Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: Ahead of the September 26 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance, the World Health Organization last week published its first-ever guidance on antibiotic pollution from manufacturing.

Background: –

• AMR — and consequently, the creation of “superbugs” — affects healthcare everywhere, but has especially poor outcomes in patients suffering from multiple diseases.

Key takeaways

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health threat that occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the effects of antimicrobial drugs like antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics. This resistance makes infections harder to treat, leading to prolonged illness, higher medical costs, and increased mortality.

Causes of AMR:

• Misuse and Overuse of antimicrobials:
  • The primary drivers of AMR are the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and agriculture. For example, using antibiotics for viral infections or not completing prescribed antibiotic courses can contribute to resistance.
  • Excessive use of antimicrobial drugs can lead to the creation of resistant or extremely resistant superbugs, which can circulate in hospitals, through drinking water, or sewers. Infections caused by these pathogens will not respond to commonly prescribed antibiotics.
• Poor Infection Control: Inadequate infection prevention and control practices in healthcare settings can also accelerate the spread of resistant microorganisms.

Impact on Health:

• Treatment Challenges: AMR makes common infections harder to treat and increases the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. It also complicates medical procedures like surgeries and cancer treatments, which rely on effective antimicrobials to prevent infections.
• Economic Burden: The economic impact of AMR is substantial, with significant healthcare costs and potential losses in global GDP.

Preventive Measures:

• Infection Prevention: Enhancing infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings and communities.
• Vaccination: Promoting vaccination to reduce the need for antimicrobials by preventing infections.
• Global Collaboration: International cooperation is essential to tackle AMR effectively, as resistant pathogens do not respect borders.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT, GS 3

Context: Recently, Home minister Shah inaugurated four Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) platforms — Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), the ‘Samanvaya’ platform, a Cyber Commandos programme and a Suspect Registry.

Background: –

• Cyber security is no longer limited to the digital world and has become an important aspect of national security.

Key takeaways

• The changing geo-political and economic shifts have compelled the Indian government to take active steps to evolve in cyberspace.
• This includes strengthening internal safety and security under the Ministry of Home Affairs, investment in defence infrastructure, and having bilateral agreements with countries across the globe, to remain coordinated and have defensive-offensive strategies for the interest of the nation, its citizens, and the industry.
• The I4C, established in 2018, is a department under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) tasked with establishing a national-level coordination centre to address cybercrime-related issues.
• Home minister Shah inaugurated four I4C platforms — Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), the ‘Samanvaya’ platform, a Cyber Commandos programme and a Suspect Registry.

Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC)

• The Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC) has been established at the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) in New Delhi.
• It involves representatives from major banks, financial intermediaries, payment aggregators, telecom service providers, IT intermediaries, and law enforcement agencies from various states and union territories.
• The primary goal of CFMC is to facilitate immediate action and seamless cooperation to tackle online financial crimes. This initiative exemplifies “Cooperative Federalism” in law enforcement.

Samanvaya Platform (Joint Cybercrime Investigation Facilitation System)

• The Samanvaya Platform is a web-based module designed to act as a one-stop portal for cybercrime data repository, data sharing, crime mapping, data analytics, and cooperation among law enforcement agencies across the country.
• It aims to streamline the process of cybercrime investigation and enhance coordination among various agencies.

Cyber Commandos Programme

• The Cyber Commandos Programme involves the creation of a special wing of trained “Cyber Commandos” within states, union territories, and central police organizations.
• These commandos are trained to counter cyber security threats and assist in securing the digital space. The programme aims to bolster the cyber defense capabilities of the country.

Suspect Registry

• In the Suspect Registry system, the I4C will share a list of all the repeat offenders in their server, which can be accessed by police personnel of any state and also by the bank officials before opening bank accounts.

Source: PIB

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – ENVIRONMENT

Context: The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) has cleared multiple projects – a transmission line in Little Rann of Kutch, a controversial transmission line project in Goa’s Mollem national park as well as a clutch of infrastructure projects in tiger corridors of central India, among others.

Background:

• The NBWL is primarily responsible for promotion and conservation of wildlife.

About National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)

• The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory organization under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It was constituted in 2003, replacing the Indian Board for Wildlife, which was formed in 1952.
• Chaired by the Prime Minister of India, it serves as the top advisory body on matters concerning wildlife conservation and protection.

Key Functions:

• Policy and Planning: The NBWL is responsible for formulating policies and plans for the conservation of wildlife and forests in India.
• Approval of Projects: It evaluates projects like construction, mining, or development activities in or around protected areas such as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. No project can be carried out in such areas without NBWL’s clearance.
• Advisory Role: It advises the central and state governments on wildlife-related issues, including the creation and management of protected areas.
• Conservation of Endangered Species: The NBWL plays a significant role in identifying and protecting endangered species. It helps in creating programs and laws to ensure their protection.
• Monitoring Protected Areas: It oversees the functioning of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves, ensuring their proper management.
• Safeguarding Biodiversity: The board promotes measures for the conservation of biodiversity, aligning with international treaties like the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• Boundary Alterations: No changes to the boundaries of protected areas can be made without the NBWL’s approval.

Composition:

• The NBWL has 47 members including the chairperson. Among these, 19 members are ex-officio members. Every new government constitutes a new board, based on the provisions of the WLPA, with the new PM as the chair.
• Chairperson: The Prime Minister.
• Vice-Chairperson: The Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
• Under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA), the NBWL can constitute a Standing Committee (SC-NBWL). This committee focuses on project clearances, while the NBWL deals with broader policy-level decisions.

Key takeaways from NBWL meeting

• The SC-NBWL, headed by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, pulled up the Madhya Pradesh tourism department for carrying out constructions in Son Gharial sanctuary and adjacent tiger corridors without permits.
• Even after intense protests against deforestation in Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, the NBWL conditionally cleared the 400 k/V transmission line on 27 hectares of forest.
• Two approvals were granted for erection of transmission lines in Gujarat. One in the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary in the Great Rann of Kutch and another in the Wild Ass sanctuary in Little Rann of Kutch over 100 hectares.
• The board approved widening of the National Highway 46 between Itarsi and Betul through the tiger corridor between Satpura and Melghat tiger reserve. The project will use 101 hectares of forest land and approval was granted with the condition that the National Highways Authority of India will build animal passages.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: India’s G20 task force’s release of comprehensive report outlining global strategy for digital public infrastructure development has triggered public debate about DPI.

Background: –

• DPI has the power to dramatically improve the lives of citizens and transform governance.

About Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)

• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) refers to the foundational digital systems and services that enable efficient, inclusive, and secure delivery of public and private services to citizens.
• DPI is designed to serve as a shared platform, providing public goods that are open, scalable, and interoperable, fostering innovation and economic growth.

Key Elements of Digital Public Infrastructure:

• Digital Identity: A robust and secure digital identity system allows individuals to prove their identity online and access various services. In India, Aadhaar is a prime example, providing a unique identification number to residents, used for accessing government benefits, financial services, and more.
• Digital Payments: A reliable and inclusive digital payment system ensures that financial transactions can be performed electronically with ease and security. In India, platforms like Unified Payments Interface (UPI) have revolutionized digital payments, enabling seamless real-time bank transfers across the country.
• Data Exchange: Secure platforms that allow the sharing of data between individuals, businesses, and governments while respecting privacy. For example, India’s DigiLocker enables citizens to store and share documents digitally, reducing paperwork and increasing efficiency.
• Public Digital Platforms: These platforms provide foundational services that are reusable across multiple sectors. Examples include the India Stack, which includes tools like Aadhaar for identity, UPI for payments, and e-KYC (Know Your Customer) for authentication.

Key Benefits:

• Inclusivity: DPI enables access to essential services (e.g., healthcare, education, banking) for all, especially underserved populations. It reduces the digital divide by creating accessible digital systems.
• Efficiency: DPI leads to faster, more transparent service delivery. It eliminates manual, paper-based processes and enhances government-to-citizen, business-to-customer, and peer-to-peer interactions.
• Cost-effectiveness: DPI reduces transaction costs for businesses and governments by minimizing reliance on intermediaries and streamlining operations.
• Fosters Innovation: By providing open and interoperable digital tools, DPI creates an environment for startups, businesses, and developers to build applications and services on top of it, driving economic growth.

Issues to be examined with regard to DPI:

• DPIs are essentially multi-sided platforms, where the value of the platform on one side increases with the increase in the number of participants on the other side. These inherent network effects of DPIs can lead to winner-takes-all outcomes, resulting in the creation of monopolies or oligopolies.
• For instance, the UPI payment system has resulted in the creation of a virtual duopoly of service providers. Participants captured these zero-price markets while harvesting vast amounts of user data over time.
• Concerns regarding the privatisation of public data, data security, and data privacy arise due to the operation of private entities.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The Centre has relaxed the automatic exclusion criteria under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), allowing families owning “two-wheelers, motorised fishing boats, refrigerators, landline phones” and earning “up to Rs 15,000 per month” to now avail the rural housing scheme.

Background: –

• The exclusion criteria revision is significant in view of the Centre’s aim to construct two crore additional houses under the rural housing scheme by 2028-29

About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

• The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is a flagship housing initiative launched by the Government of India with the aim of providing affordable housing to all.
• The scheme has two components based on the geographical area: PMAY-Urban (PMAY-U) for urban areas and PMAY-Gramin (PMAY-G) for rural areas. It seeks to address the housing needs of the economically weaker sections (EWS), lower-income groups (LIG), and middle-income groups (MIG) in both urban and rural settings.

PMAY-Urban (PMAY-U)

• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India is implementing Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Urban (PMAY-U).
• Under the Mission, Ministry has been providing Central assistance to States/ UTs through following four verticals:
  • Beneficiary-led Individual House Construction or Enhancement (BLC): Under this vertical, Central Assistance of ₹1.5 lakh is provided to individual eligible families belonging to EWS categories.
  • Affordable Housing in Partnership with public or private sector (AHP): Central Assistance of ₹1.5 lakh per EWS house is provided by Government of India in projects where at least 35% of the houses in the projects are for EWS category and a single project has at least 250 houses.
  • “In-situ” Slum Redevelopment (ISSR): Slum redevelopment grant of ₹1 lakh per house is admissible for all houses built for eligible slum dwellers using land as Resource with participation of private developer.
  • Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS): An interest subsidy was given to eligible beneficiaries seeking housing loans.
• The Mission is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) except the CLSS vertical of PMAY-U which is implemented as a Central Sector Scheme.

PMAY-Gramin (PMAY-G)

• Rural housing programme,as an independent programme, started with Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) in 1996. Although IAY addressed the housing needs in the rural areas, certain gaps were identified.
• To address these gaps, the of has IAY has been re-structured into Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana –Gramin (PMAY-G) w.e.f. 1st April 2016.
• PMAY-G aims at providing a pucca house, with basic amenities, to all houseless householder and those households living in kutcha and dilapidated house, by 2024.
• The Centre and states share expenses in the 60:40 ratio in case of plain areas, and 90:10 for Northeastern states, two Himalayan states and the UT of J&K. The Centre bears 100% cost in case of other UTs including Ladakh.
• Once of the most important features of PMAY-G is the selection of beneficiary. PMAY-G instead of selecting a the beneficiary from among the BPL households selects beneficiary using housing deprivation parameters in the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC), 2011. The SECC data captures specific deprivation related to housing among households. Using the data households that are houseless and living in 0,1 and 2 kutcha wall and kutcha roof houses can be segregated and targeted . The Permanent Wait List so generated also ensures that the states have the ready list of the household to be covered under the scheme in the coming years.

Source: Indian Express

Q1.) Consider the following statements regarding the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL):

1. The NBWL is a statutory organization constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and is chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
2. Projects involving construction or development activities in or around protected areas require the clearance of the NBWL.
3. The NBWL can directly alter the boundaries of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries without further approval from any other authority.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q2.) Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY):

1. PMAY-Urban is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), except for the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) vertical, which is a Central Sector Scheme.
2. Under PMAY-Gramin, the cost of unit assistance is shared between the Central and State Governments in a 60:40 ratio in all areas of India.
3. The selection of beneficiaries under PMAY-Gramin is based on housing deprivation parameters in the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC), 2011.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, and 3

Q3.) Consider the following statements regarding Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI):

1. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in India includes platforms like Aadhaar for digital identity and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for digital payments.
2. DPI fosters innovation by providing closed, proprietary systems that restrict access to startups and developers to ensure data privacy and security.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  12th September 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) –  b

Q.2) – a

Q.3) – a