Weekly Current Affairs (22nd to 30th September 2023) Part - 2 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

AI Chatbot for PM-KISAN Scheme

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare launched an AI chatbot — the first of its kind to be integrated with a major flagship scheme of the central government — for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana(PM-KISAN scheme).

• The Chatbot will provide the farmers with “prompt, clear and accurate” responses to their queries.

What are the Key Features of the AI Chatbot for PM KISAN?

• It has been developed and improved with the support of EkStep foundation and Bhashini.
• In the first phase of the development, the AI Chatbot will assist farmers in seeking information related to their application status, payment details, ineligibility status etc.
• The AI Chatbot, accessible through the PM-KISAN mobile application, is integrated with Bhashini which offers multilingual support, catering to the linguistic and regional diversity of the PM-KISAN beneficiaries.
• This integration of advanced technology will not only enhance transparency but also empower farmers to make informed decisions.

What is an AI Chatbot?

About:

• Chatbots, also called chatterbots, is a form of Artificial Intelligence (AI) used in messaging apps.
• This tool helps add convenience for customers—they are automated programs that interact with customers like a human would and cost little to nothing to engage with.
• Key examples are chatbots used by businesses in Facebook Messenger, or as virtual assistants, such as Amazon's Alexa and ChatGPT etc.
• Chatbots tend to operate in one of two ways—either via machine learning or with set guidelines.
• However, due to advancements in AI technology, chatbots using set guidelines are becoming a historical footnote.

Machine Learning Chatbot:

• A chatbot that functions through machine learning have an artificial neural network inspired by the neural nodes of the human brain.
• The bot is programmed to self-learn as it is introduced to new dialogues and words.
• In effect, as a chatbot receives new voice or textual dialogues, the number of inquiries that it can reply to and the accuracy of each response it gives increases.
• Meta (as Facebook's parent company is now known) has a machine learning chatbot that creates a platform for companies to interact with their consumers through the Messenger application.

What is PM KISAN Scheme?

About:

• It was launched on 24th February, 2019 to supplement financial needs of land holding farmers.
• Financial Benefits:
• Financial benefit of Rs 6000/- per year, in three equal installments every four months, is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

Scope of the Scheme:

• The scheme was initially meant for Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) having landholding upto 2 hectares but scope of the scheme was extended to cover all landholding farmers.

Funding and Implementation:

• It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding from the Government of India.
• It is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Objectives:

• To supplement the financial needs of the Small and Marginal Farmers in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm income at the end of each crop cycle.
• To protect them from falling in the clutches of moneylenders for meeting such expenses and ensure their continuance in the farming activities.

PM-KISAN Mobile App:

• It was developed and designed by the National Informatics Centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Physical Verification Module:

• A mandatory physical verification of 5% beneficiary every year is being done as per the provisions laid down in the scheme.

Excluded Category: The following categories of beneficiaries of higher economic status shall not be eligible for benefit under the scheme:

• All Institutional Land holders.

Farmer families which belong to one or more of the following categories:

• Former and present holders of constitutional posts.
• Former and present Ministers/ State Ministers and former/present Members of LokSabha/ RajyaSabha/ State Legislative Assemblies/ State Legislative Councils,former and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations, former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats.
• All serving or retired officers and employees of Central/ State Government Ministries /Offices/Departments and its field units Central or State PSEs and Attached offices /Autonomous Institutions under Government as well as regular employees of the Local Bodies
• (Excluding Multi Tasking Staff /Class IV/Group D employees)
• All superannuated/retired pensioners whose monthly pension is Rs.10,000/-or more (Excluding Multi Tasking Staff / Class IV/Group D employees) of above category
• All Persons who paid Income Tax in last assessment year.
• Professionals like Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, and Architects registered with Professional bodies and carrying out profession by undertaking practices.

Supreme Court to Revisit Legislative Immunity on Bribery

Context: The Supreme Court of India has referred the 1998, 5-judge Constitution Bench judgement P V Narasimha Rao case to a 7-judge Bench for reconsideration.

• The case deals with the interpretation of Articles 105(2) and 194(2) of the Constitution, which extends parliamentary privilege and immunity to members of Parliament and State Legislatures against criminal prosecution on bribery charges for any speech or vote in the House.
• The decision was taken in another case related to bribery charges against an MLA, who had relied on Article 194(2) for quashing the charge sheet and criminal proceedings.

What is the Case of PV Narasimha Rao v/s State,1998?

Case:

• The P V Narasimha Rao case refers to the 1993 Jharkhand Mukti Morcha(JMM) bribery case. In this case, Shibu Soren and some of his party MPs were accused of taking bribes to vote against a no-confidence motion against the then P V Narasimha Rao government.
• No-confidence motions are significant political events that usually occur when there is a perception of the government losing majority support.
• The Supreme Court had quashed the case against the JMM MPs, citing immunity under Article 105(2) of the Constitution.

Articles 105(2) and 194(2) of the Constitution:

Article 105(2):

• No member of Parliament shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in Parliament or any committee thereof, and no person shall be so liable in respect of the publication by or under the authority of either House of Parliament of any report, paper, votes or proceedings.
• The purpose of Article 105(2) is to ensure that members of Parliament can perform their duties without fear of consequences.

Article 194(2):

• No member of the Legislature of a State shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in the Legislature or any committee thereof, and no person shall be so liable in respect of the publication by or under the authority of a House of such a Legislature of any report, paper, votes or proceedings

Why did the Supreme Court Refer the Matter to a 7-Judge Bench?

• The Supreme Court referred the matter to a 7-judge Bench because it recognized the need to reexamine the correctness of its previous 1998 constitution bench ruling in the PV Narasimha Rao case.
• The purpose of Articles 105(2) and 194(2) is to ensure that members of Parliament and the State Legislatures can discharge their duties freely, without fear of consequences for their speech or vote.
• The objective is not to give legislators higher privileges in terms of immunity from the general criminal law of the land.

What are the Parliamentary Privileges?

About:

• Parliamentary privileges are special rights, immunities and exemptions enjoyed by the two Houses of Parliament, their committees and their members.
• These privileges are defined in Article 105 of the Indian Constitution.
• Under these privileges, the members of Parliament are exempted from any civil liability (but not criminal liability) for any statement made or act done in the course of their duties.
• The privileges are claimed only when the person is a member of the house. 
• As soon as s/he ends up being a member, the privileges are said to be called off.

Privileges:

Freedom of Speech in Parliament:

• The freedom of speech and expression guaranteed to a citizen under Article 19(2) is different from the freedom of speech and expression provided to a member of the parliament. 
• It has been guaranteed under Article 105(1) of the Indian constitution. However, freedom is subject to rules and orders that regulate the proceedings of the parliament.

Limitations:

• Freedom of speech should be in accordance with the constitutional provisions and subject to rules and procedures of the parliament, as stated under Article 118 of the Constitution.
• Article 121 of the Indian Constitution states that members of parliament cannot discuss the conduct of Supreme Court or High Court judges while they are performing their duties.
• The only exception is if there is a motion to present an address to the President requesting the judge's removal.

Freedom from Arrest:

• Members enjoy immunity from arrest in any civil case 40 days before and after the adjournment of the house or during a session.
• Arrest within the Parliament's limits requires the house's permission.
• If the detention of any members of the parliament is made, the chairman or the speaker should be informed by the concerned authority, of the reason for the arrest.
• But a member can be arrested outside the limits of the house on criminal charges against him under the Preventive Detention act, the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), the National Security Act (NSA), or any such act.

Right to Prohibit the Publication of Proceedings:

• Article 105(2) of the Constitution, no person shall be held liable for publishing any reports, discussions etc. of the house under the authority of the member of the house. 
• For paramount and national importance, it is essential that the proceedings should be communicated to the public to aware them of what is going on in the parliament.

Right to Exclude Strangers:

• The members of the house have the power and right to exclude strangers who are not members of the house from the proceedings. This right is very essential for securing free and fair discussion in the house.

Climate Ambition Summit 2023

Context: The United Nations Climate Ambition Summit (CAS) held in United Nations Headquarters, New York on 20th September 2023, aimed to accelerate climate action as a prelude to the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC).

• However, China, the US and India , who collectively account for about 42% of global greenhouse gas emissions and are the top three emitters in that order were all absent from the CAS.

What is the Climate Ambition Summit (CAS)?

About:

• The CAS is a prominent international event aimed at addressing the pressing issue of climate change.
• The CAS is designed to showcase “first mover and doer” leaders from government, business, finance, local authorities, and civil society who came with credible actions, policies and plans – and not just pledges – to accelerate the decarbonization of the global economy and deliver climate justice.
• The central aim of the CAS is to uphold the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature limit, which seeks to prevent severe climate consequences by capping global warming at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Participants at the Summit:

• A total of 34 states and 7 institutions had speaking slots, including India's neighbouring countries Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan, as well as emerging economies like South Africa and Brazil.
• Key players such as the European Union, Germany, France, and Canada also addressed the audience.

Criteria for Participation:

• Countries were required to present updated pre-2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), net-zero targets, and energy transition plans.
• Commitments to no new coal, oil, and gas projects, fossil fuel phase-out plans, and ambitious renewable energy targets were expected.
• Countries were urged to pledge to the Green Climate Fund and provide economy-wide plans for adaptation and resilience.

Highlights of the Summit:

Updated Climate Goals:

• Brazil pledged to reinstate its original 2015 climate goals, emphasizing the need for more ambitious measures and a transition away from fossil fuels.
• Nepal aimed for Net Zero emissions by 2045 instead of 2050, while Thailand targeted Net Zero by 2050, and Portugal set a carbon-neutral goal for 2045.
• All G-20 governments were asked to commit to presenting more ambitious NDCs featuring absolute emissions cuts by 2025.
• The summit emphasized the need to deliver climate justice, particularly to communities on the front lines of the climate crisis who are disproportionately affected.

Other Announcements:

• Canada, which was one of the largest expanders of fossil fuels in 2022, announced the development of an emissions cap framework for the oil and gas sector.
• The EU and Canada call for global carbon pricing to cover at least 60% of emissions.
• Current carbon pricing mechanisms cover only 23% of emissions, generating USD 95 billion.
• In another development, Germany announced the launch of the International Climate Club, which it will co-chair with Chile, aiming to decarbonise industrial sectors and scale up green growth.
• The CAS highlighted the importance of comprehensive plans addressing adaptation and resilience across entire economies.

Paris Climate Accord

• Legal status: It is a legally binding international treaty on climate change.
• Adoption: It was adopted by 196 countries at the Conference of the Parties COP 21 in Paris in December 2015.
• Goal: To limit global warming to well below 2° Celsius, and preferably limit it to 1.5° Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
• Objective: To achieve the long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-century.
• India is a signatory to the Paris Agreement. India reaffirmed its commitment to the agreement in August 2022 by submitting an updated NDC to the UNFCCC. The NDC outlines India's goals for 2021–2030.

What are India's Climate Commitments?

• In 2022, India updated its climate pledges to reduce emissions intensity by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030. This is a 10% increase from its previous 2016 pledge. The updated pledge is part of India's NDCs.
• India sets 2030 target to produce 50% of its energy need through non-fossil fuels.
• India aimed to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent by 2030.
• India pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

National Education Policy 2020 in Higher Education

Context: In a special session of Parliament, the Parliament Standing Committee on Education, presented a comprehensive report on the "Implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Higher Education."

• The report examined the progress and challenges in implementing this significant policy shift in India's higher education sector.

What are the Major Highlights of the Report?

Diversity of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs):

• The report emphasized that a significant portion of India's higher education system operates under State Acts, with 70% of universities falling under this category.
• Furthermore, 94% of students are enrolled in State or private institutions, leaving just 6% in Central higher educational institutions.
  • This underscores the critical role played by States in providing higher education

Key Issues Discussed:

• Disciplinary Rigidity: The panel raised concerns about the rigid separation of disciplines, which can hinder interdisciplinary learning and innovation.
• Limited Access in Disadvantaged Areas: Access to higher education in socio-economically disadvantaged regions remains limited, impeding the equitable distribution of educational opportunities.
• Language Barriers: There's a dearth of higher education institutes (HEIs) that offer instruction in local languages, potentially excluding a substantial section of the population.
• Faculty Shortage: A scarcity of qualified faculty members is plaguing the higher education sector, adversely impacting the quality of education.
• Lack of Institutional Autonomy: Many institutions face a lack of autonomy, hindering their ability to adapt and innovate.
• Research Emphasis: The panel noted a diminished emphasis on research within the current higher education system.
• Ineffective Regulatory System: The regulatory framework governing higher education was deemed ineffective, requiring comprehensive reform.

Concern Related to Multiple Entry Multiple Exit Programme: The panel expressed concerns that implementing the MEME system in Indian institutions, while flexible in theory, may not align effectively due to unpredictability in student entry and exits. This unpredictability could disrupt the pupil-teacher ratio.

Recommendations:

• Equitable Funding: Both the Union and State Governments should allocate sufficient funds to support Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) in higher education.
  • Clear targets for the Gross Enrolment Ratio should be set for SEDGs to ensure increased access to higher education.
• Gender Balance: Efforts should be made to enhance gender balance in admissions to HEIs.
• Inclusive Admissions and Curriculum: Admission processes and curriculum should be made more inclusive to cater to diverse learner needs.
• Regional Language Courses: Development of more degree courses taught in regional languages and bilingually should be encouraged.
• Accessibility for Physically Challenged: Specific infrastructural steps should be taken to make higher education institutions more accessible to physically challenged students.
• Anti-discrimination Measures: Strict enforcement of no-discrimination and anti-harassment rules was recommended to ensure a safe and inclusive environment.
• HEFA Diversification: The Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) should diversify its funding sources beyond government allocations.
  • Exploration of partnerships with private sector organizations, philanthropic foundations, and international financial institutions for funding should be pursued.

What is National Education Policy 2020?

About:

• The National Education Policy 2020 seeks to tackle the evolving development needs of India.
• It calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the education system, including its regulations and management, to establish a modern system that aligns with 21st-century educational goals, including Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), while respecting India's cultural heritage and values.
• It replaces the thirty-four year old National Policy on Education, 1986, modified in 1992 (NPE 1986/92).

Salient Features:

• Universal Access: NEP 2020 focuses on universal access to school education, including pre-school to secondary levels.
• Early Childhood Education: The 10+2 structure will shift to a 5+3+3+4 system, bringing 3-6-year-olds under school curriculum, with a focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
• Multilingualism: Mother tongue or regional language will be the medium of instruction till Grade 5, with options for Sanskrit and other languages.

Indian Sign Language (ISL) will be standardized.

• Inclusive Education: Special emphasis on Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs), support for children with disabilities, and establishment of "Bal Bhavans."
• Elimination of Barriers: The policy promotes a seamless education system with no rigid distinctions between arts and sciences, curricular and extracurricular activities, and vocational and academic streams.
• GER Enhancement: Aim to increase Gross Enrolment Ratio from 26.3% to 50% by 2035, adding 3.5 crore new seats.
• Research Focus: Creation of National Research Foundation to boost research culture and capacity.
• Language Preservation: Support for Indian languages, including an Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI) and strengthening language departments.
• Internationalization: Facilitation of international collaborations and entry of top-ranked foreign universities.
• Funding: Joint efforts to increase public investment in education to 6% of GDP.
• PARAKH Assessment Center: The establishment of PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) as a national assessment center signifies a significant step towards competency-based and holistic assessment in education.
• Gender Inclusion Fund: The policy introduces a Gender Inclusion Fund, emphasizing the importance of gender equality in education and supporting initiatives to empower disadvantaged groups.
• Special Education Zones: Special Education Zones are envisioned to address the specific needs of disadvantaged regions and groups, furthering the policy's commitment to equitable access to quality education for all.