Daily Current Affairs - 28-10-2021

The National e Governance Division (NeGD) of the Ministry of Electronics and IT organised “AI Pe Charcha (AI Dialogue)” on October 28, 2021.

Theme of the dialogue

AI Pe Charcha was organised under the theme- “AI for Date Driven Governance”.

Aim of the session

This session was organised with the aim of covering importance of data driven and AI-enabled governance along with best practices from across the globe.

About AI Pe Charcha

AI Pe Charcha is an initiative of “Ministry of Electronics & IT”. It is a series of panel discussions, which involves several global and domestic leaders from Government as well as industry. In the event, researchers & academicians share their views & experiences on Artificial Intelligence, breakthrough innovations, related case studies, best practices from world as well as challenges faced in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

Topic of discussion

In the ‘AI for Data Driven Governance’ session, experts will speak about leveraging AI for Public Sector, Postal Services, Defence & Security and Future Cities. They will also showcase a “presentation on important AI-driven solutions” which have played an important role amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Potential of AI in India

As per PwC report, by 2030, AI have potential to provide a global economic value addition of up to USD 15.7 trillion. After recognising this potential, government of India released “National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (NSAI)” in 2018. This strategy is a roadmap for the government for adopting artificial intelligence in a bid to increase efficiency in delivery of services. India also deregulated the geospatial sector and allowed private players to bring state-of-the-art solutions in this sector and bring innovation in AI-enabled hotspot mapping & analytics. This will lead to transformation in sectors like health and infrastructure. It will also help in designing climate change resilient cities.

Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman, is on the official visit to Italy for attending ‘G20 Joint Finance and Health Ministers’ meeting in Rome.

Highlights

G20 Rome Summit

G20 Rome Summit is the climax of G20 process and the final stage of intense work, at the Leaders’ level, which is carried out within the Ministerial Meetings, Engagement Groups and Working Groups throughout the year. This summit will be the 16th G20 gathering at Heads of State & Government level.

Location of the meeting

The working meetings of Heads of State and Government is scheduled to held at Rome Convention Centre ‘La Nuvola’.

Background

The first G20 heads of the state & government was held in Washington in November 2008. While the last meeting was held virtually under the Presidency of Saudi Arabia in November 2020.

About G20

G20 is an intergovernmental forum. It comprises of 19 countries and European Union (EU). The group works for addressing major issues related to global economy like climate change mitigation, international financial stability, and sustainable development. It comprises of world’s largest economies, including developed as well as developing nations. It accounts for 90 percent of gross world product (GWP).

India has successfully test-fired a surface-to-surface ballistic missile called Agni-5 on October 27, 2021.

Key Point

Credible Minimum Deterrence

The successful launch of the Agni-5 missile aligns with India’s policy to have a “credible minimum deterrence”. This policy underpins the commitment of ‘No First Use’.

Who built Agni-5?

The Agni-5 missile has been built by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO).

Background

The first test of the Agni-5 missile was carried out in April 2012. Last test was conducted around three years ago in 2018.

About Agni-V

Agni-V is an Indian nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Missile is having a range of around 5000 to 8000 km. It is a three-stage, solid-fuelled and road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile. It is transported by a truck and launched using a canister.

Significance of Agni V

Agni V is used to enhance India’s nuclear deterrence against China. Earlier, the longest-range missile in India was Agni-III, which had the range of 3000–3500 km. This range was not sufficient to reach targets eastern and north-eastern region of China. Thus, DRDO was working on the upgraded version of this missile called Agni-V since 2007.

Union Health Ministry has asked states and Union Territories to come up with district-level plan and launch a “Har Ghar Dastak” (Knock every door) campaign across poor performing districts.

Key Facts

Vaccine coverage

In India, currently 10.38 Crore people are due to get their second dose of vaccine from 17 states, as of October 27, 2021. More than 1.6 crore people are from Uttar Pradesh, 1.1 Crore from Madhya Pradesh, 76 lakhs in Maharashtra, 86 lakhs in Rajasthan, 60 lakhs in Tamil Nadu while 72 lakhs in Bihar are due for their second doses.

Cut-off for vaccine coverage

Central government has set-up a cut-off of 77% coverage for first dose while 33% cut off for second dose. These figures are also the national averages of respectively the first and second shot.

Other steps to boost vaccination

States under focus

Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh are the states under focus because of low vaccination rate. For instance, In Bihar, vaccination coverage stands at 39% for first dose while 13% for second dose.

India applied for a $2 billion loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to purchase about 700 million Covid-19 vaccines.

Highlights

Vaccine Project

Project will support the procurement of safe & effective vaccines against Covid-19. it implemented under Asia-Pacific Vaccine Access Facility, mechanism of ADB.

Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX)

The Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility is worth $9 billion vaccine initiative by ADB. This initiative provides equitable support to its developing member countries in procurement of Covid-19 vaccines.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

AIIB is a multilateral development bank, set up with the aim of improving economic and social outcomes in Asia. Bank comprises of 103 members, including 16 prospective members from the world. It started operating on December 25, 2015.

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

This regional development bank was established on December 19, 1966. Its headquarter is in Philippines. It also has 31 field offices across the world for promoting social & economic development in Asia.

Indian government is to set up a private sector-led non-profit company to fast-track the implementation of proposed “Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative”.

Key Points

About ONDC

Quality Council of India (QCI)

QCI was set up as a public private partnership model under the Societies Registration Act in 1997, for providing accreditation services to several sectors for persons, product, and services.

India is in the final stage of clearing the National Cybersecurity Strategy in the aftermath of increasing cyber-attacks and threats from nation-state actors against India.

Key Facts

India’s rank in Global Cybersecurity Index

India has managed to avoid any major cyber-attacks or threats. As a result, in Global Cybersecurity Index 2021, India has jumped from 47 to 10.

Challenges with policy

As the policy is implemented, country will face the challenge of addressing cyber-skilling. As per report, there will be around 1.5 million job vacancies in cybersecurity in India by 2025.

Cyber-Shikshaa programme

Microsoft and Data Security Council of India (DSCI) have invested in the ‘Cyber-Shikshaa programme’. This programme will help in creating a pool of skilled women security professionals in India. Microsoft is also coordinating with MeitY to skill security leaders in cybersecurity.

National Cyber Security Strategy 2020

National Cyber Security Strategy 2020 was drafted with the aim of improving cyber awareness and cybersecurity by means of stringent audits. Under the policy, empanelled cyber auditors will carefully look at the security features of organisations. To reinforce the idea that cyber-attacks can happen on regular basis, table-top cyber crisis management exercises will be conducted.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched “Krishi Udan 2.0 scheme” on October 27, 2021.

Key Points

Krishi Udan Scheme

Central government had launched Krishi Udan scheme in September 2020. Under the scheme, airport charges like parking charges & terminal navigational landing charges were waived off. Charges were waived off if the agricultural cargo is more than 50 per cent of the total chargeable weight carried.

Krishi Udan 2.0

Under Krishi Udan 2.0, central government has planned for granting full waiver of airport charges at select airports. Waiver would be given even if agricultural cargo is lower than 50 per cent of total chargeable weight carried. Centre will also facilitate the development of hub and spoke model across India. Government will also create cargo terminals at the airports in phase-wise manner. Moreover, government will encourage states to reduce sales tax to one per cent on aviation turbine fuel, which is used in freighter aircraft and passenger aircraft for transporting cargo.

Cargo terminals

Aim of the scheme

The scheme has been launched with the aim of channelising the immense potential of Indian agriculture with logistical help of civil aviation in a bid to achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income. It will also help in alleviating wastage of farm produce and increase its value.

e-Kushal platform

This online platform would be developed under Krishi Udan 2.0 scheme for facilitating information dissemination to stakeholders with respect to transportation of agriculture produce.

World Bank recently published its report titled “The Changing Wealth of Nations 2021”. As per report, South Asia suffers the most in terms of loss of human capital loss because of air pollution.

Highlights

Key findings of the report

Concerns highlighted in the report

The United States issued first passport with an “X” gender marker, marking a milestone in recognising the rights of people who are not identified as male or female.

Background

This step was taken following the fight of Dana Zzyym, who is an intersex activist from Fort Collins. Zzyym has battling legally with the US State Department since 2015 to get a passport that did not require Zzyym to lie about gender by selecting either male or female.

What is the issue with Zzyym?

Zzyym was born with ambiguous physical sexual characteristics but was raised as a boy. Zzyym underwent several surgeries that failed to make Zzyym appear fully male. In the Navy, Zzyym served as a male but later came to identify as intersex while studying and working at Colorado State University. US state department denial of Zzyym’s passport, stopped Zzyym from attending two Organization Intersex International meetings.

LGBT rights in US

In the United States, ‘Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights’ have evolved significantly with time. All 50 states in USA had criminalized same-sex sexual activity until 1962. However, by 2003, USA had invalidated all the remaining laws against same-sex sexual activity. By 2015, they won the right to marry in all 50 states in USA. In many states and municipalities of US, LGBT are explicitly protected from discrimination in housing, employment, and access to public accommodations.

Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises launched the “SAMBHAV National Level Awareness Programme, 2021” in new Delhi on October 27, 2021.

Key Points

About SAMBHAV National Level Awareness Programme

The mass outreach program called “SAMBHAV National Level Awareness Programme” will run for one-month under the Ministry of MSME. Under the initiative, students from different colleges or ITIs from across the India will be encouraged to take entrepreneurship. Around 130 field offices of the Ministry will help in encouraging the students. During the campaign, college students will be made aware of the several schemes that the Ministry of MSME is implementing through Audio or Video film presentations. These programmes will be conducted across 1,300 colleges in India, in which around 1,50,000 students will participate.

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)

MSME is the apex executive body that formulate and administer the rules, regulations and laws related to micro, small and medium enterprises in India. Narayan Rane is the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Ministry of Small-Scale Industries and Agro & Rural Industries was established in October 1999. But it got split into the Ministry of Small-Scale Industries and Ministry of Agro & Rural Industries in the year 2001.

Central government has notified a four-year “Integrated Teacher Education Programme”, in line with the New Education Policy (NEP).

Key Points

Significance of the scheme

New integrated course will help in creating teachers who are in sync with the new education policy. New education policy introduced several changes in the curriculum such as teaching in regional language, teaching coding to school kids etc. Thus, the new integrated degrees will prepare teachers according to the need. It will have a new curriculum. New BEd courses will also bring in specialisation in the education of ‘special children’.

Aim of the government

The government has a aim of making four-year integrated Bed, the minimum degree required for teaching by 2030. National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), working under the aegis of Ministry of Education, has created the curriculum of this course in a way that it enables student-teacher to get degree in education and specialised discipline like science, mathematics, history, arts, economics, or commerce.

Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP)

Four Year ITEP will start from the academic session 2022-23. Admission for the course will be carried out by National Testing Agency (NTA) by means of a National Common Entrance Test (NCET). Multidisciplinary institutes will offer the course. It will be the minimal degree qualification for schoolteachers.

ESA’s Proba-1 minisatellite was launched two decades ago, on October 27, into orbit. It has completed 20 years.

Key Points

CHRIS

The main hyperspectral CHRIS (Compact High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer) goes along with monochromatic 5-m spatial resolution High Resolution Camera.

Significance of proba-1

Proba-1 mission carry several low-cost, commercial-off-the-shelf systems and components. It is sometimes described as ‘NewSpace before NewSpace’. This mission continues to deliver imagery to scientists across the world. It also provides valuable data on longevity of space systems and components.

Proba-2

Launch of Proba-1 was followed by the launch of Sun-observing Proba-2 mission in 2009 and vegetation-tracking Proba-V mission in 2013 as well as double-satellite Proba-3 for demonstrating precision formation flying. Proba-3 also seeks to study the Sun’s corona that has been planned for launch in 2023.

European Space Agency (ESA)

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation comprising of 22 member states. It is dedicated for the exploration of space. ESA was established in 1975. It is headquartered in Paris.