UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 17th December 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Context 

Recently, on the occasion of the 75th year of India’s independence, the Prime Minister articulated a bold vision that in the coming 25 years, “Nari Shakti” would play a vital role in India’s socio-economic developmental journey.

• The PM said that Culturally and mythologically, women have enjoyed an elevated status in India. For example, it is mentioned in the Kena Upanishad that it was the goddess Uma who enlightened the three powerful but ignorant gods, Indra, Vayu, and Agni, to the profound mystery of Brahman.

Significance of silent revolution by Women

Women Centric policy making :

• Silent revolution has compelled political entrepreneurs and grounded leaders to design women centric policies.
• Some of the most dramatic pro-women policy changes concerning poverty reduction through amenities such as cooking fuel, sanitation, water, and electricity are classic examples of the impact of silent revolution.
• Such Inclusive policies are also the key drivers of long-term economic growth.

Political Empowerment:

• A research on women voters using historical data has revealed that since 2010, the gender gap in voter turnout has diminished significantly and the recent trends show women voter turnout often exceeds male voter turnout.
• Massive increase of women voters is a nationwide phenomenon and is also observed in less developed regions of the country where traditionally, the status of women has been significantly lower.
• Due to this women voters can no longer be marginalised or neglected; they demand respect and command attention.

Rule of Law garnering political attention:

• In less developed regions women and children have been the biggest victims of lawlessness, the silent revolution of rising women voters has compelled political parties to make law and order a critical political issue.

New breed of confident women leaders:

• Since 2010, many women have been contesting elections. For instance in the 1950s, in the state assembly elections, women contested approximately 7 percent of the constituencies, but by the 2010s, women were competing in 54 per cent of the constituencies.
• However, this dramatic increase is yet to translate into more women winning the elections.
• Certainly at panchayat level where 50 per cent seats have been reserved for women helping in developing a new breed of women leaders.
• Women’s political empowerment has been a bottom-up revolution in India and holds lessons for other countries.

Case study of developed world

• In advanced countries, where increased participation of women in the labour force has come at the expense of family structure.
• Fertility rates have declined dramatically below the replacement rate, the share of the ageing population has increased, and there is an alarming increase in the percentage of kinless elderly.
• Subsequently, the economies spend a large share of the GDP on providing care.
• The care industry is labour-intensive and, therefore, subject to Baumol Cost Disease, implying that the cost of providing care would keep rising over time.

Challenges of strengthening of silent revolution:

• Women Unemployment issue: According to World Bank data, the female labour force participation rate has declined from 32 per cent in 2005 to 19 per cent in 2022.
  • However, labour force participation only accounts for marketable employment opportunities and does not consider unpaid domestic services.
• Dual burden issues: Women work approximately six hours daily in marketable employment and spend around four hours additionally on unpaid household services.
  • The double burden of working women perhaps is one of the critical reasons for the decline in the women’s labour force participation rate.
  • In sharp contrast, working or non-working men in the same age group spend less than 45 minutes on unpaid domestic or caregiving services.
• Unpaid domestic work issues: A new research reveals that women in the age group of 25 to 59 years spend approximately seven hours daily in unpaid domestic services.
  • On adding unpaid domestic services in GDP, the level of India’s GDP would be significantly higher, and a truer picture of women’s economic contribution would emerge.

Learnings for India:

• The dynamics of the care industry and the breakdown of the family structure in advanced economies give important lessons to India.
• If India wants more women to participate in the labour force, and at the same time preserve the family structure, then men would have to share the burden of unpaid domestic services.
• This would require a break from tradition and the creation of new modern narratives and myths based on gender equality.

Way Forward:

As India takes over the presidency of G20, it is an occasion to celebrate “Nari Shakti” and political empowerment — a stupendous increase in women voter turnout in the decade has strengthened and made Indian democracy more progressive.

Political parties and leaders are now responding to this silent revolution by improving access and affordability to basic needs of women like amenities and securities rather than focusing on the rhetoric of caste and communalism. Thus, Indian experience is in sharp contrast to the “democratic recession” that is being experienced in the rest of the world.

Source:  Indian Express

GS-II

Context

The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) has formulated a draft National Cyber Security Strategy which looks at addressing the issue of security of national cyberspace.

About National Security Council:

• The National Security Council (NSC) of India is an executive government agency tasked with advising the Prime Minister’s Office on matters of national security and strategic interest.
• It was established by the former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 19 November 1998, with Brajesh Mishra as the first National Security Advisor.
• Prior to the formation of the NSC, these activities were overseen by the Principal Secretary to the preceding Prime Minister.

Members:

• Besides the National Security Advisor (NSA), the Deputy National Security Advisors, the Ministers of Defence, External Affairs, Home, Finance of the Government of India, and the Vice Chairman of the NITI Aayog are members of the National Security Council.
• Prime Minister can chair the meeting of NSC (for e.g. – PM chaired the meeting of NSC Post Pulwama to discuss heightened tension with Pakistan). Other members may be invited to attend its monthly meetings, as and when it is required.

Organisational structure

• The NSC is the apex body of the three-tiered structure of the national security management system in India.
• The three tiers are the Strategic Policy Group, the National Security Advisory Board and a secretariat from the Joint Intelligence Committee.

About National Cyber Security Strategy:

• Aim: It proposes a separate legislative framework for cyberspace and the creation of an apex body to address threats, responses and complaints.
• The policy will focus on both threat assessment and response.
• Need: The existing legal and regulatory frameworks do not address the evolving threat scenarios or processes to combat the cyber incidents.
• There is no dedicated body to look after cyber security at present and no one that you can hold accountable.
• Currently, the response to cyber security threats can be taken under the information technology act and the Indian Penal Code.
• Other provisions:
  • It aims to create a comprehensive system with both state-owned and private companies having to comply with cybersecurity standards.
  • It provides for a periodic cyber audit and recommends annual reviews by the apex body that will be created.
  • A centre of excellence will also be set up in Bangalore to further innovations in the area.

Key facts:

• Till November 2022, a total of 12,67,564 cyber security incidents were reported.
• In 2021, the authorities had recorded 14,02,809 such events compared to 11,58,208 in 2020 and 3,94,499 in 2019.
• Ransomware attacks jumped 51% in 2022. Maharashtra was the most targeted state in India facing 42% of all ransomware attacks.
• Cyber thieves also exploited legitimate tools like “AnyDesk” used for remote administration.

Reasons for increasing Cyber Attacks:

• Adverse relations with China: China is considered one of the world leaders in information technology.
  • Therefore, it is expected to have capabilities to disable or partially interrupt the information technology services in another country.
  • Combined with the recent border standoff and violent incidents between the armies of the two countries, the adversity in relations is expected to spill over to attacking each other’s critical information infrastructure.
• Asymmetric and covert warfare: Unlike conventional warfare with loss of lives and eyeball to eyeball situations, cyber warfare is covert warfare with the scope of plausible deniability, i.e., the governments can deny their involvement even when they are caught.
  • Similarly, even a small nation with advanced systems and skilled resources can launch an attack on a bigger power, without the fear of heavy losses.
• Increasing dependency on technology: As we grow faster, more and more systems are being shifted to virtual space to promote access and ease of use.
  • However, the downside to this trend is the increased vulnerability of such systems to cyber-attacks.

Issues with Cyber Security:

• Vulnerable points in the system: sometimes the third-party apps have built-in back door entry or may have malware attached to their installation file. Such issues can be addressed by effective user account control and careful monitoring of the system.
• State-sponsored Cyber Attacks: The problem with such state-sponsored attacks is the unlimited funding received by the hackers to break into the foreign systems.
• Low digital literacy among the public: While India is considered the world leader in the technology industry, the general level of awareness in India about internet etiquette is low.
• It is a continuous process: Cyber-attacks, by their very nature, are innovative and creative. They continue to evolve, and the next attack is more advanced than its previous version.
• Novel issues: Because of the ever-changing and fast evolving nature of technology, new issues keep creeping up in the IT sector.

Steps taken by the Government: The government aims at ensuring an open, safe, trusted and accountable Internet for the users.

• The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) issues alerts and advisories regarding latest cyber threats/vulnerabilities and countermeasures to protect computers and networks on an ongoing basis.
  • CERT-In operates the Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) to detect malicious programmes and free tools to remove the same, and to provide cyber security tips and best practices for citizens and organisations.
• Security tips have been published for users to secure their desktops and mobile phones and to prevent phishing attacks.
• CERT-In and the Reserve Bank of India [RBI] jointly carry out a cyber security awareness campaign on ‘Beware and be aware of financial frauds’ through the Digital India Platform.
• The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been designated as the nodal point in the fight against cybercrime.
• Pursuant to the United Nations General Assembly resolution 75/282: an ad-hoc committee to elaborate a ‘Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes’ was established with all the member states.
  • India being the member of the committee has proposed criminalisation of cyber terrorism under the said Convention.
• The MHA has issued National Information Security Policy and Guidelines to the Central Ministries as well as State governments and Union Territories with the aim of preventing information security breaches and cyber intrusions in the information and communication technology infrastructure.

Way Forward:

• The need of the hour is to come up with a futuristic National Cyber-Security Policy which allocates adequate resources and addresses the concerns of the stakeholders.
• Similarly, there is a need for quicker up-gradation of the existing infrastructure as information technology is a fast-evolving field and there is a need to stay ahead of the competition.
• There is a need to enhance the general awareness levels of the government installations as well as the general public to counter such threats.
• Often the private sector is seen as a key innovator and their help can be crucial in securing cyberspace.

Source:  The Hindu

Context

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin reviewed bilateral ties, including energy cooperation, in a phone conversation.

• This was the fifth phone conversation between the two leaders since February.]

India – Russia Bilateral Relation

• Political Relation:
  • Since the signing of “Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000 India-Russia ties have acquired a qualitatively new character.
  • In 2010, the Strategic Partnership was elevated to the level of Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
  • In 2019, Russia awarded PM Modi the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, the highest and the oldest Russian state decoration.
  • The Annual Summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of the Russian Federation is the highest institutionalized dialogue mechanism.
• Bilateral trade
  • India’s bilateral trade with Russia has soared to an all-time high of $18,229.03 million in just five months (April-August) of this financial year (2022-23).
    • Of the total $18,229.03 million bilateral trade in April-August, India’s imports from Russia accounted for $17,236.29 million.
    • On the other hand, New Delhi’s exports to Moscow were only worth $992.73 million, leaving a negative trade balance.
      • India had a positive trade balance with Russia from 1997-98 (the most recent year for which comparable data is available) to 2002-03.
      • But from 2003-04, New Delhi’s trade balance with Moscow has remained negative.
  • The total annual bilateral trade between the two countries stood at $13,124.68 million in 2021-22, and $8,141.26 million in 2020-21.
  • With the sharp spike in trade, Russia has now become India’s seventh biggest trading partner — up from its 25th position last year.
    • The other the six countries include - US, China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Indonesia.
• Reasons behind this record level of bilateral trade
  • The record level of bilateral trade between India and Russia is mainly due to a sudden jump in imports from Moscow, which began to surge earlier this year.
  • Fertilisers and fuel together account for over 91% of the total imports from Russia this year.
• Multilateral engagements
  • Both the countries are active members of SCO, BRICS, G20 etc. India also participated in Eastern Economic Forum, hosted by Russia, on a regular basis.
  • India-Russia-Japan trilateral consultations: The first ever trilateral consultations between India, Russia, and Japan at track II level on cooperation in the Russian Far East were held in January 2021.
• Defence Cooperation
  • India has longstanding and wide-ranging cooperation with Russia in the field of defence. This is evident from the joint manufacturing of BrahMos missile, production of AK Rifles in Amethi, 5th generation fighter jet programme etc.
  • Recently, India bought S-400 Triumf missile defence system from Russia.
• Nuclear and Space Cooperation
  • Russia is involved in the development of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in India.
  • India-Russia cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of outer space dates back to about four decades.
  • Currently, four Indian astronauts are being trained in Russia. These astronauts are part of India’s Human Spaceflight Programme (HSP) – Gaganyaan Mission.

Background:

• This year’s India – Russia Annual Summit was scheduled to be held in Russia
  • Started in 2000, so far, 21 annual summits have taken place alternatively in India and Russia.
    • The in-person summit could not take place in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic.
  • President Putin had visited Delhi in December, 2021 for the annual summit.
• The current phone call came days after PM Modi decided not to travel to Russia for the annual summit citing scheduling issues.

News Summary

• PM Modi held a telephone conversation with Russian President Putin and reiterated the requirement for peace and diplomacy over the crisis in Ukraine.
• The two leaders discussed multiple issues including mutual investment and areas like energy cooperation, agriculture, transport and logistics.

Source: Indian Express

Context

Union Home Minister will attend the Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Kolkata on December 17, 2022.

Context

According to a new study two alien planets about 218 light years away from Earth have found a twin in the ocean worlds of Europa and Enceladus — moons orbiting Jupiter and Saturn.

Highlights of the study:

• The exoplanets, Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 d, are likely water worlds — a feature that scientists have theorised for a long time, the study published in the journal Nature Astronomy noted.
• They are also larger-scale versions of Enceladus (Saturn’s moon) and Europa (Jupiter’s moon), the findings predicted.
• The study reported that the Kepler- 138 c and d are made up of ingredients lighter than rock (rocky planets like Earth) but heavier than hydrogen or helium (gas-giant planets like Jupiter).
• The researchers also discovered a fourth planet in the Kepler planetary system: Kepler-138 e.

About Saturn:

• Saturn is the second largest planet of the solar system in mass and size and the sixth nearest planet in distance to the Sun.
• Saturn has an overall hazy yellow-brown appearance.
• Saturn’s atmosphere is composed mostly of molecular hydrogen and helium.
• Saturn has 83 moons with confirmed orbits that are not embedded in its rings.
• The moons of Saturn are numerous and diverse, ranging from tiny moonlets only tens of metres across to enormous Titan, which is larger than the planet Mercury.
• Saturn got its tilt due to gravitational interactions with its neighbour Neptune according to a well-known theory.
  • But the new study argues that Saturn is no longer under Neptune’s gravitational influence.
• Titan, which is Saturn’s largest satellite, may have been responsible, suggested observations from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, which orbited Saturn from 2004-2017.
• Titan’s fast migration caused the planet to tilt further, reducing Neptune’s gravitational influence on Saturn.

About Jupiter:

• Jupiter is the biggest planet in our solar system. It has big storms like the Great Red Spot, which has been going for hundreds of years.
• Jupiter is a gas giant and doesn’t have a solid surface, but it may have a solid inner core about the size of Earth. Jupiter also has rings, but they’re too faint to see very well.
• It is made mostly of hydrogen and helium.
• Jupiter has a very thick atmosphere.
• Jupiter has 79 confirmed moons.
• Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun. That means Mars and Saturn are Jupiter’s neighboring planets.
• Jupiter has been known since ancient times because it can be seen without advanced telescopes.
• Jupiter has been visited or passed by several spacecraft, orbiters and probes, such as Pioneer 10 and 11, Voyager 1 and 2, Cassini, New Horizons, and Juno.

Source: DownToEarth

Gondwana ‘wellspring’ of mammalian evolution, not Laurasia: Research

Context

According to new research published recently, Mammals may have evolved in Gondwana, the southern landmass formed from the supercontinent Pangaea millions of years, rather than its northern counterpart Laurasia.

• Modern mammals consist of three sub groups: Montremes, marsupials and placentals.

About Monotremes (The Egg-laying Mammals):

• Monotremes or Prototherians are egg laying (oviparous) mammals. They are the most primitive mammals. Currently, only three species of Monotremes are extant viz. Duckbilled Platypus and two species of Echidnas. Monotremes are found only in Australia and New Guinea.
• The word “monotreme” means “one opening” which denotes that Monotremes have only one cloaca that is used as anus, unitary tract as well as for reproduction.
• They lay egg which has leathery shell.
• The young ones get their milk from mammary glands found on mother’s belly. No nipples are found in Monotremes.
• While platypus lays eggs on bank of stream; echidnas lay a single egg in a temporary protective pouch on mother’s belly.
• Monotremes don’t have a placenta also.

About Marsupials (Metatheria):

• Marsupials include kangaroos, wallabies, koala, possums, opossums, wombats, numbat
• There are around 330 species of Marsupials distributed in three continents viz. Australia South America and North America (only two species are found north of Mexico).
• Most (70%) are found Australia continent which includes Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. Remaining is mostly found in South America and Central America.

Key Features:

• The term marsupium means a pouch. Marsupials give birth to a relatively undeveloped young, which often resides in the pouch with the mother for a certain time after birth. This also implies that they have a relatively short gestation.
• Marsupials have different ecological niches, ranging from moles to insect eaters to plant eaters.
• They first evolved in South America some 100 million years ago when Australia, South America and Antarctica were joined together.
• Gradually, these three continents separated and the marsupials got isolated. They freely evolved in isolation.
• Most Marsupials are nocturnal and they have best sense of smell and hearing.
• Small Kangaroos are called wallabies. Red Kangaroo is largest Marsupial of the world. Further, Kangaroos are able to move more efficiently at high speed in comparison to low speed because of tendons in their hind legs and tail acts as pendulum.
• Kangaroos are able to withstand dry periods and little rainfall and can survive without water for many months.
• A male kangaroo is called a boomer, a female kangaroo a flyer, and a baby kangaroo a joey.

About Placentals (Eutheria):

• There are nearly 4000 described species in Placental mammals, of which most are rodents and bats.
• The Placental mammals give birth to live young. Before birth, the embryo is nourished in mother’s uterus via a specialized organ connected to uterus called placenta.
• We note that Marsupials also have a placenta but it is very short lived and does not make any substantial contribution in the nourishment of the foetus.

The placental animals have been divided into several orders as enumerated below:

• Artiodactyls are mammals with an even number of fingers in claws or paws like. These include cows, sheep and giraffes.
• Perissodactyls or ungulates (hooved), are large animals with an odd number of fingers on each paw, such as horses and rhinos.
• Carnivorous mammals are predators with canine teeth such as dogs, lions and tigers.
• Cetaceans are aquatic mammals without posterior limbs, such as whales and dolphins.
• Edentates are mammals with rare or absent teeth, such as sloths, armadillos and anteaters.
• Lagomorphs are small-sized mammals with three pairs of continuously growing incisor teeth specialized in gnawing, such as rabbits and hares.
• Primates are characterized by their large cranium and well-developed brain, such as humans and apes.
• Proboscideans are large animals whose nose and upper lip form a trunk (snout), such as
• Chiropterans are flying nocturnal mammals; this group includes bats.
• Rodents are animals with two pairs of continuously growing incisor teeth, such as mice, rats, beavers and squirrels.
• Sirenians are freshwater aquatic mammals lacking of posterior limbs, such as dugongs (Sea Cows) and manatees.

Source: DownToEarth