UPSC Daily Current Affairs - 21st March 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Cocoa Production

Subject: Geography

Why in News?

A shortage of cocoa beans has caused processing plants in Ivory Coast and Ghana to almost shut down, as these two countries contribute 60% of global cocoa production.

About Cocoa

• Cocoa is a vital plantation crop cultivated for chocolate worldwide. Originally from the Amazon basin in South America, it thrives in humid tropical regions.

Main Points:

• Cocoa grows best in regions around the equator between 20 degrees latitude north and south.

Climatic Conditions:

• It can be cultivated up to 300 meters above sea level.
• Rainfall: It necessitates an annual rainfall ranging from 1500 to 2000 mm.
• Temperature: Ideally, it thrives in temperatures between 15°C to 39°C, with an optimum of 25°C.
• Soil: Deep, well-drained soils are essential, with most cocoa plantations situated on clay loam and sandy loam soil. The ideal pH range for growth is 6.5 to 7.0.
• Shade Requirement: Cocoa initially evolved as an under-storey crop in Amazonian forests, so commercial cultivation requires about 50% available light.
• Major Producing Regions:
  • Around 70% of the world's cocoa beans originate from four West African countries: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon.
  • In India, cocoa is primarily grown in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, often as an intercrop with Arecanut and Coconut.

Source: Business Line

GS-II

Why has Karnataka banned certain coloring agents

Why in News?

Karnataka has joined as the third state in South India to ban specific coloring agents in cotton candy and gobi manchurian due to their harmful effects.

• The government aims to increase awareness among manufacturers and consumers about the issue.
• The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 imposes severe penalties for using banned chemical substances in food products.

Survey Results and Key Findings

• Laboratory tests found harmful chemicals in many samples collected in Karnataka.
• Out of 25 cotton candy samples, 15 were unsafe due to added colors, while 10 were safe without added colors.
• Among 171 gobi manchurian samples, 107 were unsafe for containing added colors, and 64 were safe without them.

Harmful Chemicals Found

• Unsafe cotton candy samples contained sunset yellow, tartrazine, and rhodamine-b. Unsafe gobi manchurian had tartrazine, sunset yellow, and carmoisine.
• Rhodamine-b, a suspected carcinogen, is already banned. Tartrazine has restrictions on its usage.

Health Concerns

• Consuming snacks with artificial colors can lead to severe diseases like cancer.
• Prohibition on artificial colors in gobi manchurian and restrictions on the use of certain food colors.

Penalties for Offenders

• Violators face cancellation of licenses, fines, and imprisonment.
• The Food Safety and Standards Act specifies minimum fines and jail terms for using banned chemical substances.

Enforcement and Monitoring

• Health officials will conduct checks to ensure compliance with the ban.

Public Awareness Campaigns

• Efforts will continue to educate manufacturers and consumers about risks related to harmful chemicals in food products.

Regulatory Review

• Existing regulations may undergo a review to strengthen controls related to food safety.

Collaboration with Stakeholders

• Government, food manufacturers, and stakeholders will collaborate to enforce the ban effectively.

Conclusion

• Karnataka's ban on certain coloring agents aims to protect public health from harmful chemicals.
• Strict penalties, awareness campaigns, and stakeholder collaboration are essential for compliance and safety.

Source: Indian Express

Data marketplaces: the next frontier

Subject: Polity and Governance

Why in News?

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY) introduced the National Data Governance Framework Policy (NPD Framework) as a fundamental element of the evolving digital structure aimed at optimizing data utility.

Context

• Digital advancements play a crucial role in achieving India's goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy.
• According to a NASSCOM report, leveraging data and artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially contribute $450-500 billion to India's GDP by 2025.

Types of Data

• Personal Data: Information that includes identifiers enabling the identification of specific individuals.
• Non-Personal Data (NPD): Data that excludes personal information, representing a significant portion of data collected by the government and offering potential as a 'public good'.

Significance of Non-personal Data

• Non-Personal Data (NPD) serves as a crucial type of citizen data collected by the government, holding the potential to benefit society at large as a 'public good'.
• Integrating NPD into public services aims to enhance service delivery efficiency and effectiveness.
• Application of advanced analytics and AI on NPD can lead to predicting beneficial outcomes across various economic sectors.

Key Sectors for Data-Driven Insights

• Meteorological and disaster forecasts: Using NPD to improve weather predictions and disaster preparedness.
• Infrastructure capacity and citizen use patterns: Analyzing data to optimize infrastructure usage and planning based on citizen interactions.
• Mobility and housing patterns: Utilizing data to inform transportation and housing policies.
• Employment trends: Predicting and addressing changes in employment patterns and workforce requirements using NPD.
• Informing Governance and Public Functions: NPD-driven insights can enhance decision-making in governance and public functions, providing valuable information for policy formulation and resource allocation.

Challenges related to NDP

• Privacy and Security Concerns: Unregulated flow of NPD among government entities, third parties, and citizens can lead to privacy breaches and data vulnerability.
• Risk of Faulty Decision-making: Inaccurate analysis of public trends due to NPD exchange can result in flawed decision-making processes.
• Gaps in the NPD Framework: Lack of actionable guidance and practical operationalization, focusing more on high-level principles than detailed mechanisms.
• Lack of Legislation and Operationalization: While legislation is anticipated, the practical implementation and operationalization of the NPD Framework remain unresolved.

Steps by Government

• Agriculture Data Exchange in Telangana: Establishment of an agriculture data exchange platform in Telangana to enhance decision-making and innovation in the agriculture sector.
• India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX): Creation of the India Urban Data Exchange to improve urban planning, infrastructure development, and governance through data-driven insights.
• Data Exchanges for Geospatial Policy: Plans to set up data exchanges to implement aspects of the National Geospatial Policy.

Measures to Address Challenges

• Need for Critical Evaluation and Enhancement: Evaluation and improvement of the NPD Framework to address existing gaps and promote interoperability across sectors.
• Learning from International Practices: Emulating successful data exchange frameworks from countries like Australia, the UK, and Estonia to address sector-specific issues.
• Regulatory Design for Data Exchanges: Developing a regulatory framework for data exchanges to streamline public welfare functions and enhance data sharing.
• Stakeholder Consultation: Involving stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and civil society in the evaluation process to gather feedback and address implementation challenges.

Conclusion

• A comprehensive evaluation and enhancement of the NPD Framework are essential for effective governance of non-personal data.
• By drawing insights from international practices, establishing regulatory designs for data exchanges, and engaging stakeholders, India can pave the way for efficient non-personal data management.

Source: The Hindu

Centre notifies Fact-Check Unit to screen online content

Subject: Polity and Governance

Why in News?

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has authorized the Press Information Bureau's Fact Check Unit to identify and counter misinformation related to Central government departments on social media platforms before the election.

Context

• According to the IT Rules of 2021, social media platforms could lose their legal immunity from being accountable for user-generated content if they choose to retain flagged misinformation by the Fact Check Unit.

Background of the news

• Due to controversies surrounding the concept, the Union government delayed officially notifying the Fact Check Unit due to ongoing legal challenges at the Bombay High Court. However, the court recently lifted a temporary halt, allowing the government to implement the rules.

Key points from the IT Rules, 2021

• Mandates: The IT Rules (2021) emphasize that social media platforms must exercise greater diligence regarding the content on their platforms. Intermediaries are legally required to take reasonable steps to prevent the uploading of such content by users.
• Appointment of a Grievance Officer: Social media platforms must establish a mechanism for addressing grievances and promptly remove illegal and inappropriate content within specified timeframes.
• Ensuring Online Safety and User Dignity: Intermediaries are mandated to swiftly remove or restrict access to content within 24 hours upon receiving complaints involving private areas, nudity, sexual acts, impersonation, or morphed images.
• Importance of Privacy Policies: Social media platforms' privacy policies should educate users on refraining from sharing copyrighted material, defamatory content, racially offensive material, promotion of pedophilia, threats to national security, or violations of existing laws.

Effects of Fake News on Social Media

• Undermining Trust: Fake news can diminish public trust in government institutions and officials, leading to skepticism and doubts about the government's credibility.
• Destabilizing Democracy: Misinformation can distort public perceptions, potentially causing unrest, protests, or violence, thus undermining democratic processes.
• Manipulating Public Opinion: False narratives can influence public opinion in favor of or against a government or political party, impacting elections and policymaking.
• Impeding Policy Implementation: False information can create confusion and resistance to government policies, hindering their effective implementation.
• Wasting Resources: Governments may divert significant resources to address the repercussions of fake news, detracting from other important priorities.
• Fueling Division: Fake news can deepen social and political divisions by spreading divisive narratives, inciting hostility, and hindering efforts towards unity.

Strategies to Combat Fake News on Social Media

• Mandatory Fact-Checking: Implement a requirement for social media platforms to verify content before dissemination.
• Enhanced User Education: Promote media literacy and critical thinking skills to help users distinguish reliable information from misinformation.
• Strengthened Regulation: Enforce stricter rules on social media platforms to curb misinformation spread and hold them accountable for content moderation.
• Collaborative Verification: Foster partnerships between governments, fact-checking organizations, and social media platforms to verify information accuracy.
• Transparent Algorithms: Ensure transparency in algorithms used by social media platforms to prioritize content, reducing false information spread.
• Swift Removal of Violative Content: Establish mechanisms for the prompt removal of fake news and penalize those responsible for spreading it.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Launch campaigns to educate about the negative impacts of fake news and encourage responsible sharing practices.

Conclusion

To combat misinformation effectively, governments should enforce IT Rules (2021), empower fact-checking units, and promote media literacy. Collaboration among authorities, platforms, and citizens is crucial to combat fake news and uphold democratic values.

NIXI and MeitY to unveil BhashaNet Portal  

Subject: Polity and Governance

Why in News?

The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) has launched the BhashaNet portal in preparation for Universal Acceptance (UA) Day.

• Universal Acceptance advocates for equal treatment of all domain names and email addresses, regardless of their characters.

What is BhashaNet Portal?

• The BhashaNet Portal is an online platform introduced by NIXI to promote Universal Acceptance (UA).
• It focuses on enabling individuals, irrespective of their language or script, to actively engage in the digital realm.
• The portal's purpose is to offer tools, resources, and information supporting the integration of various languages and scripts into online spaces.

Objectives of BhashaNet Portal:

• To establish a truly multilingual internet where local language website names and email IDs function seamlessly across all platforms.
• To enhance digital inclusivity by overcoming linguistic barriers and advocating for the use of local languages and scripts in digital interactions.

About National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI)

• Founded on June 19, 2003, NIXI is a non-profit organization operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• NIXI is committed to boosting internet accessibility and usage in India by providing essential infrastructure and services.
• It plays a vital role in ensuring that the internet ecosystem is accessible to all, promoting digital empowerment and inclusion nationwide.

Key Services Provided by NIXI:

• Setting up Internet Exchange Points.
• Managing the .IN Registry.
• Promoting the adoption of IPv4 and IPv6 addresses through IRINN.
• Offering data center services under NIXI-CSC.

Source: PIB

GS-III

World Forest Day

Subject: Environment and Ecology

Why in News?

World Forest Day, also known as International Day of Forests, is celebrated on March 21 each year.

About World Forest Day:

• It is celebrated annually to emphasize the importance of forests and trees in our lives.
• Countries are encouraged to participate in various forest and tree-related initiatives, such as planting campaigns.
• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Forum on Forests coordinate the International Day of Forests.
• The day is observed on March 21 every year.

History:

• In 1971, the General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture suggested establishing a day dedicated to forests.
• March 21 was selected as World Forestry Day by the United Nations due to its alignment with the Vernal Equinox and Autumn Equinox in the northern and southern hemispheres.
• This year's theme is "Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World."

Source: Hindustan Times

Lianas

Subject: Environment and Ecology

Why in News?

Recently, a significant study conducted by the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia has brought attention to the impact of Lianas amidst global concerns over rising temperatures.

About Lianas:

• Lianas, also known as vines, climbers, or climbing plants, are characterized by their long, flexible stems that climb and are rooted in the ground. They often feature cascading branches.
• These plants flourish in disturbed forest environments, especially areas affected by activities like logging, natural treefalls, and landslides. They leverage trees for support to rapidly ascend towards the forest canopy.
• Adapted to varying moisture and temperature conditions, lianas possess advantages over trees due to their climbing capabilities, resilience to climate stress, and efficient utilization of water and nutrients. These traits enable them to outcompete trees for sunlight and essential resources.
• Lianas engage in intense competition with trees within the canopy, exerting pressure on tree growth and overshadowing them. Additionally, their lower capacity for carbon sequestration compared to trees further heightens the risk to carbon storage.
• Impacts on Forest Ecosystem:
  • The increasing competitive success of lianas against trees can have profound implications for forest ecosystems. These disturbance-favoring plants can influence trees across all levels, from the understory to the canopy.
  • Following significant disturbances, the rapid proliferation of lianas can impede tree regeneration, growth, and survival, leading to alterations in forest structure and ecosystem functionality. This disturbance can impede the subsequent recovery of the forest.
  • Lianas' proliferation can disrupt nutrient cycling within forests and diminish overall forest resilience to environmental shifts, rendering ecosystems more vulnerable to future disturbances.

Source: Down to Earth

Project GR00T

Subject: Science and Technology

Why in News?

AI chip leader Nvidia introduced Project GR00T, aiming to transform humanoid robots.

About Project GR00T

• Project GR00T, short for Generalist Robot 00 Technology, is an advanced AI system for humanoid robots.
• It serves as the brain for humanoid robots, enabling them to acquire new abilities and engage with the environment.
• Robots utilizing this system are programmed to comprehend natural language and mirror human movements, like mastering coordination and dexterity swiftly.
• The project's objective is to equip humanoid robots with human-like cognition and mobility through Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Humanoids learn through imitation learning, where they observe human experts' actions, and reinforcement learning via the NVIDIA Isaac Lab robotics platform.
• In imitation learning, the robot watches an expert execute a task and learns to replicate those actions.
• Reinforcement learning, a machine learning technique, trains software to make decisions for optimal results.

Source: Indian Express