Syllabus: GS-II

Subject: International Relations (I)

Topic: International institutions, agencies and for a

Issue: Sudan Refugees

Context: UN High Commissioner for Refugees called for urgent and additional support to meet the needs of Sudan refugees.

• Sudan war – conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted in mid-April last year.
• Places in news(Prelims): Darfur region and Abyei

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:

• Established in 1950 to address the refugee crisis that resulted from World War II.
• HQ: Geneva, Switzerland
• Mandate:
  • To aid and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and
  • To assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country.
• Functions in accordance with the
  • 1951 Refugee Convention and
  • 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees
• India is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-III

Subject: Science & Technology

Topic: Bio-Technology

Issue: Brain computer interface

Context: Embedment of computer chip in the human brain.

• Neuralink, co-founded by Elon Musk, is working on linking the nervous system to computers.
• The brain computer interface is about the size of a large coin and is designed to be implanted in the skull, with ultra-thin wires going directly into the brain.
• The product is called “Telepathy” — which will enable users to control their phones or computers “just by thinking.”

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-II

Subject: Polity

Topic: Judgements

Issue: IT Act 2000 and IT Rules 2023

Context: Bombay High Court delivered a split verdict in a petition that challenged Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023.

Information Technology Amendment Rules, 2023:

• It empowers the Centre to establish a fact-checking unit (FCU) to identify fake, false and misleading information about the government’s business on social media platforms.
• The government can then ask the platforms to remove such content/ news related.
• Failing to comply, intermediaries may lose their safe harbour status under Section 79 of the IT Act, 2000.

Petitioner’s arguments:

• Rules violate the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19 (1)(a) and right to practice and trade or profession under Article 19(1)(g).

Information Technology Act, 2000

It is a primary law in India dealing with cybercrime and electronic commerce.

Key Provisions:

• Key terms like “electronic record,” “digital signature,” “information technology,” etc. are defined under this Act.
• Legal recognition of digital signatures and their use for authenticating electronic records.
• Penalises various cybercrimes like hacking, data theft, and online fraud.
• Safe harbour provision: Intermediaries not liable for any third-party information, data, or communication.
• Empowers government to block information from public access under specific conditions like sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India etc.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-III

Subject: Economy

Topic: Banking and Financial Intermediaries

Issue: Payments Banks

Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed curbs on Paytm Payments Bank Ltd(PPBL).

• PPBL has been barred from.
  1. Taking further deposits or undertaking credit transactions or top-ups in any customer accounts, prepaid instruments, wallets, FASTags.
• Reasons for actions: Persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns in the bank.
• However, customers are free to withdraw or use their balances in these accounts without restrictions.
• RBI issued orders under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act,1949 which gives powers to issue directions on public interest/interest of banking policy.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS-III

Subject: Economy

Topic: Fiscal Policy.

Issue: Centre’s Fiscal Deficit’s.

Context: As of December-end 2023, India’s government fiscal deficit was 55% of the full-year target, slightly lower than the previous fiscal year.

1. The estimated fiscal deficit for 2023-24 about 5.9% of GDP.
2. The government aims to bring the fiscal deficit below 4.5% of GDP by 2025-26, continuing its path of fiscal consolidation.

Formula’s (Prelims):

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus: GS-II

Subject: International Relations

Topic: International Institutions, agencies and fora

• New Members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have confirmed joining BRICS.
• Members aim to reshape what they see as an outdated world order through BRICS.
• Argentina, initially invited, has declined the invitation to join BRICS.

Take Away Notes for Mains:

Institution in News (Prelims)

Source: Mint

Syllabus: GS-II

Subject: Polity

Topic: Bills/Acts/Rules. 

Context: The Union Cabinet approved the draft of the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024. It is aimed at addressing paper leaks and organized cheating in public exams like UPSC, SSC, Railways, NEET, JEE, and CUET.

• It is proposed by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
• Protection for candidates defined in the Bill.

• There is an absence of substantive national law to address exam malpractices, the Bill aims to rectify that.
  

  Institution in News(Prelims): Department of Personnel & Training: 1.    Acts as a watchdog ensuring adherence to standards in recruitment, service conditions, postings, transfers, and deputations. 2.    Provides guidelines to Ministries/Departments and advises on personnel management. 3.    Functions as cadre controlling authority for IAS and three Secretariat Services. The two organizations through which the Department ensures recruitment of personnel for the Government ·         Union Public Service Commission (UPSC): ·         Staff Selection Commission (SSC):

Source: Indian Express