SEPTEMBER

29
Digital India Bill 2023
Nipah Virus
UNFPA
Atal Pension Yojana
National Board For Wild Life
Green Ammonia
MGNREGS
Green Revolution
Li-ion Battery
Line Of Actual Control
 INDIAN Page 1
DIGITAL INDIA BILL 2023
EXPRESS (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)
Context: The government is currently developing a comprehensive strategy to oversee the
implementation of emerging technologies. As part of this initiative, there is a possibility of
imposing explicit restrictions on certain cutting-edge technologies, particularly those deemed
hazardous to users' well-being or those posing potential national security threats.
Digital India Bill 2023
• Aim: The Digital India Bill 2023 aims to replace India’s existing Information Technology Act
of 2000 and provide comprehensive oversight of the digital landscape.
• This Bill will operate in coordination with other significant laws and policies, including but
not limited to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, the National Data Governance
Policy, and the Indian Penal Code amendments addressing cybercrime.

Provisions of Bill
• Classification: The regulations seek to categorize intermediaries, including social media
platforms, e-commerce platforms, AI platforms, and fact-checking platforms, with specific
rules tailored to each category.
• Risk Assessments for Intermediaries: Intermediaries will be required to conduct risk
assessments and utilize this data to classify themselves into relevant categories based on
Information Technology Act, 2000 their operations and services.
• IT Act, 2000, governs all activities related to • Establishment of a New Internet Regulator: A new regulatory authority for the internet will
the use of computer resources. be established, akin to existing bodies like TRAI or SEBI.
• It covers all ‘intermediaries’ who play a role • Additional Provisions: MeitY could potentially designate activities such as deliberate
in the use of computer resources and misinformation, identity theft, and cyberbullying of children as punishable offenses.
electronic records. • Fundamental Rules: Some of the foundational rules currently applicable to internet
• Section 69 of the IT Act: It confers on the platforms, including safe harbor provisions, may undergo modifications in light of these
Central and State governments the power to proposed regulations.
issue directions to intercept, monitor or • Penalties for Violations: The regulations may introduce penalties for violations and user-
decrypt any information generated, related harms associated with emerging technologies, encompassing generative AI
transmitted, received or stored in any platforms like ChatGPT, as part of the regulatory framework.
computer resource.
 NIPAH VIRUS
THE HINDU Page 20
(Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci & Tech (Diseases))

Context: In a significant development, India has taken proactive steps

to address the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala. Last week, the Indian
government initiated contact with Australia to secure monoclonal
antibody doses, a crucial resource in combating the deadly virus.

Nipah Virus (NIV)

• About: It is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can be transmitted from
animals to humans.
• Responsible for Nipah Virus encephalitis: RNA virus belonging to the
Paramyxoviridae family, Henipavirus genus, and is closely related to
the Hendra virus.
• Initial occurrence of the outbreak: Malaysia (1998) and Singapore
(1999).
• The estimated case fatality rate for the Nipah Virus ranges from
40% to 75%, which can vary depending on the outbreak's local
epidemiological surveillance and clinical management capabilities.
• Spread: The virus can be transmitted to humans either through
contact with infected animals, consumption of contaminated food,
or through direct person-to-person transmission. Fruit bats are
recognized as the natural reservoir of the virus.
• Symptoms: Acute encephalitis and respiratory illnesses
• Prevention: Currently, there are no vaccines for both humans and
animals.
 UNFPA
PIB Sept 27
(Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Social Issue)

Context: The United Nations Population Fund, India, has released the
“2023 India Ageing Report,” which projects a significant increase in
the elderly population in India.

Major Findings of the Report

• Elderly Population: The population of people aged 80+ years is
projected to grow by around 279% between 2022 and 2050.
• Elderly Ppopulation share: In 2050, it is projected that the
elderly demographic in India will comprise more than 20% of the
overall population, which marks a significant increase from the
current share of approximately 10% in 2021.
• Gender Differences in Life Expectancy: Women, on average,
have a longer life expectancy compared to men, with variations
across states.
• Inter-State Variations: States in southern India and some
northern states like Himachal Pradesh and Punjab report a higher
share of elderly population compared to the national average in International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)
2021. • About: IIPS is a prominent research and training institution
specializing in population studies, Located: Mumbai, India.
UN Population Fund (UNFPA) • Establishment: 1956 through collaboration between the
• About: Originally known as the United Nations Fund for Government of India, the United Nations, and the Sir Dorabji
Population Activities from 1969 to 1987. Tata Trust.
• It is a trust fund and it is the largest international source of • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
assistance for population programs. • Regional Center: IIPS serves as a regional center for the Asia and
• Regulated by: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Pacific region, making it a hub for population research and
• Establishment: 1969 studies in this geographic area.
 BUSINESS Sept 27
ATAL PENSION YOJANA
STANDARD (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Scheme)

Context: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)

recently penned a letter to the government, seeking an enhancement in the
guaranteed pension amount provided by the Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

• Launched: 2015
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Finance
• Administered By: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority
• Eligibility: Any Indian citizen in the age group of 18-40 years having savings
bank account/ post office savings bank account.
• Aim: To provide social security for the people working in an unorganised sector
as people working in such sectors mainly belong to a low-income group.
• Coverage: The Scheme has been implemented comprehensively across the
country covering all states and Union Territories.
• Guaranteed Pension: 1000 to 5000 per month from the age of 60 years.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority

• About: It is a statutory regulatory body set up under PFRDA Act enacted in 2014.
• Objective: To promote old age income security by establishing, developing, and regulating pension funds and to protect
the interests of subscribers to schemes of pension funds and related matters.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Finance.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Composition: Chairperson and not more than six members, of whom at least three shall be Whole-Time Members, to be
appointed by the Central Government.
 Page 7
NATIONAL BOARD FOR WILD LIFE
HINDUSTAN TIMES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: National Wildlife Board's Standing Committee to Decide Conservation Forest Conservation Amendment Act 2023
Strategies for Vanishing Grasslands. • Exempted Categories of Land: The Act exempts some
• Many natural grasslands have either degraded or lost due to agricultural expansions, types of land from the Act, including forest land along a
overgrazing, large areas being converted to plantations / protected areas/ Industrial railway line or a public road maintained by the
establishment. government.
• The issue of conserving grasslands and other ecosystems is particularly significant • Assignment/Leasing of Foreign Land: The Actl extends
because on August 4, the Centre notified the Forest Conservation Amendment Act the prior approval requirement for assigning forest land
2023. to all entities, including government-owned ones. The
approval must be subject to terms and conditions
National Board For Wild Life (NBWL) prescribed by the central government.
• It is a statutory organization constituted in 2003 under the Wildlife Protection Act, • Land Under the Purview of the Act: It defines forest
• 1972 (2003 Amendment) land as either land that is notified as a forest under the
• It is chaired by the Prime Minister and its vice chairman is the Minister of IFA, 1927 or any other law, or land that is notified as a
Environment. forest on or after Oct 25, 1980, in a government record.
• Mandate: The Board is responsible for the promotion of conservation and • Permitted Activities in Forest Land: The Act restricts
• development of wildlife and forests. de-reservation of forests or use of forest land for non-
• It is responsible for publishing status reports of wildlife at least once in 2 years. forest purposes, but the central government may
• No alteration of boundaries in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries can be done approve such use with conditions.
• without recommendation of the NBWL.
 GREEN AMMONIA
PIB Sept 27
(Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – ENV AND Eco)

• Context: Recently, Chidambaranar Port Authority , Tamil Nadu The Haber-Bosch Process
successfully handled 3×20 ISO Green Ammonia Containers, weighing • The typical ammonia production method
37.4 tons of Green Ammonia, from Damietta Port, Egypt. involves extracting hydrogen from natural gas
using steam, which generates carbon dioxide
Green Ammonia (CO2) as a by-product.
• Ammonia: Ammonia, a sharp-smelling gas, plays a pivotal role in the • Subsequently, this hydrogen is combined with
manufacturing of agricultural fertilizers. nitrogen from the atmosphere under high
• Green Ammonia: Green ammonia production refers to a process pressure and elevated temperatures, a process
where the creation of ammonia is entirely reliant on renewable known as the Haber-Bosch process.
energy sources and is devoid of carbon emissions.
• Production: Traditionally, ammonia is primarily synthesized from
methane, water, and air through a combination of steam methane
reforming (SMR) to produce hydrogen and the Haber process.
• Green ammonia involves slashing emissions from ammonia
production by taking natural gas out of the equation and instead
making hydrogen by splitting water with electricity sourced from
renewables.
• The rest of the Haber-Bosch process remains the same, powered by
renewable electricity.
 MGNREGS
DTE Sept 27
(Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – ECONOMY)

Context: During this monsoon season, an analysis reveals that there has been a significant
increase in the demand for rural employment through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) when compared to previous years.

• According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), 29 percent of districts — or 210

of India’s 713 districts — are facing a rainfall deficit.
• In states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and
Puducherry, the demand has remained higher than that of COVID-19 years.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)

• Objective: Guaranteed Right to Work: MGNREGS is a demand-driven scheme, that seeks
to provide guaranteed 100 days of wage employment per year to every rural household
whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
• Features: Legal right to work, a time-bound guarantee of work and unemployment
allowance (within 15 days), Decentralised planning – i.e. Gram Sabha recommends work,
demand-driven scheme.
• MGNREGA Act, 2005: It specifies a list of works that can be undertaken to generate
employment such as water conservation, land development, construction, agriculture.
• Role of MGNREGA in addressing rural distress: Jobs to unskilled/semi-skilled, Reduction in poverty levels, Women labour force participation,
Benefits to agri-sector, Rural Development, Creation of rural assets, Reviving MSME sector.
• MGNREGA: Challenges: Employment provided remains below guaranteed minimum, Non-payment of unemployment allowance, Low wage
rate, Corruption and leakages, Poor quality of assets and inefficient monitoring and maintenance, Regional disparity, Too much centralisation
weakening local governance, Insufficient budgetary allocation.
 GREEN REVOLUTION
TIMES OF INDIA Page 1
(Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Economy)

Context: Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, a renowned geneticist who

spearheaded India's agricultural transformation in the 1960s by
advocating for the adoption of hybrid crop varieties and chemical
fertilizers to achieve self-sufficiency in grain production, has sadly
passed away.

Green Revolution in India

• In India led by: M.S. Swaminathan (Father of green revolution in
India).
• Initiated by: Intensive Agriculture District Program (IADP) as an
experimental project.
• This program was implemented in seven districts across India.
• M.S. Swaminathan Invites Norman: Norman Borlaug proposed a
revolution similar to those witnessed in Mexico and Japan for
Indian agriculture.
• Launch of the High-Yielding Variety (HYV) Program: This pivotal
moment marked the inception of the High-Yielding Variety (HYV)
program, which played a central role in the Green Revolution.
Father of Green Revolution Objectives of Green Revolution
• Begging Bowl: In 1940, India earned the label of • Short Term: The revolution was launched to address India’s hunger
a "begging bowl" from Richard Bradly. crisis during the second Five Year Plan.
• He initiated the Green Revolution during the • Long Term: The long term objectives included overall agriculture
1960s, and he is globally recognized as the modernization based on rural development, industrial
'Father of the Green Revolution.' development; infrastructure, raw material etc.
DTE LI-ION BATTERY
Sept 27
(Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: In the recent month, Australia has witnessed a concerning trend with at least
two significant lithium-ion battery fires.
• When a lithium-ion battery fire breaks out, the damage can be extensive. These fires
are not only intense, they are also long-lasting and potentially toxic.
• The reality is that lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles are very safe. In fact, from
2010 to June 2023, only four electric vehicle battery fires had been recorded in
Australia.

About Li-ion Battery

• Type: rechargeable battery.
• Battery Structure: Electrolyte and Electrodes in Li-Ion Batteries
• The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2019 was collectively granted to John B.
Goodenough, M.M Stanley Whittingham, and Akira Yoshino in recognition of their
contributions to the advancement of lithium-ion batteries.
• Applications: Electronic gadgets, Electric Vehicle, Tele-communication, Aerospace,
Industrial applications

Li-ion Battery Recycling Technology

• This technology is used to extract valuable materials from discarded batteries in an
efficient and environmentally friendly way.
• Indigenous Technology: To be capable of handling various types of discarded Li-ion
batteries.
• Highly Efficient: Capable of extracting over 95% of Lithium, Cobalt, Manganese, and
Nickel, yielding around 98% pure oxides/carbonates.
• Developed By: Centre of Excellence on E-waste Management.
• Mission LiFE: It is India’s global initiative to combat climate change and promote
sustainable living.
 LINE OF ACTUAL CONTROL
LIVEMINT Page 8 (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Security)

Context: In a significant move set to redefine the geopolitical

dynamics of Ladakh, India is nearing the final stages of a major
infrastructure project aimed at bolstering connectivity to a
crucial and isolated outpost near the disputed line of Actual
Control (LAC).

• This initiative comes as a response to China's assertive

actions and military aspirations in the region, which have
exacerbated an ongoing border dispute.

Line of Actual Control (LAC)

• About: The LAC is the demarcation that separates Indian-
controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory known
as Mc Mohan Line.
• Three Areas: Western (Ladakh, Kashmir),
o Middle (Uttarakhand, Himachal) and
o Eastern (Sikkim, Arunachal).
• As LAC is not fully and officially demarcated, it has led to
differing perceptions regarding the alignment, with China
making territorial claims in the following areas.
• The countries disagree on the exact location of the LAC in
various areas, so much so that India claims that the LAC is
3,488 km long while the Chinese believe it to be around
2,000 km long.