Context: European Union lawmakers approved the AI Act.

It marked a significant step in regulating AI technologies.

Highlights:

• The Act aims to protect fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law, and environmental sustainability from high-risk AI.
• Certain AI applications threatening citizens’ rights will be banned.
• Biometric categorization systems.
• Emotion recognition in workplaces and schools.
• Social scoring,
• Predictive policing based solely on profiling.
• AI manipulation of human behavior.

Concerns:

It may become outdated due to the rapid evolution of AI technology.

Conclusion:

There is a need for ongoing collaboration between businesses and lawmakers.

 Prelims connect (Institutions in News):

Source: Indian Express

Context: The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) plans to set up an Innovation Lab for advanced auditing techniques.

 NFRA’s Initiatives:

• Establishment of an Innovation Lab for advanced auditing techniques.
• Engagement with Audit Committees and Independent Directors during inspections.
• Embracing technology for fraud detection and identification of related party transactions (RPTs).
• Advocacy for professional skepticism and the ‘Trust but Verify’ approach among auditors.
• Push for global convergence in reporting and assurance standards.

Source: Indian Express

Context:   Niti Aayog recommended easing e-commerce routes for MSME exports.

Key Recommendations:

• Simplify merchandise trade processes and establish a single national trade portal.
• Address payment reconciliation challenges associated with exports.
• Ensure accurate measurement of MSME exports.
• Target specific sectors with global demand, like handicrafts and textiles, for export promotion.

Source: The Hindu

Context: The Supreme Court Collegium dismissed an input regarding a Kerala High Court judge candidate’s political affiliation.

Synopsis:

• The Collegium emphasized that a political background alone is not sufficient to reject a candidate as a judge.
• There are previous instances of appointing judges with political affiliations.

Source: The Hindu

Context:  increasing women’s participation in elections.

In recent Lok Sabha elections, women’s participation has notably increased, with female voter turnout surpassing male turnout in 2019.

Indicating  increased registration and participation.

Highlights:

• More constituencies now have a higher number of female voters.
• The overall turnout gender gap has narrowed, with women’s turnout surpassing men’s in 2019.
• The geographical spread of high female turnout constituencies has expanded across states.

Source: The Hindu

Context: Supreme Court to hear plea alleging Centre may exploit vacancies in Election Commission for unfair advantage.

Arguments:

• Implementation of previous Supreme Court judgment for Chief Justice ‘s inclusion in the EC selection committee.
• Emphasis on the Election Commission’s critical role in ensuring free and fair elections.
• Request for insulation of Election Commission from political interference.
• Urgency due to risk to electoral integrity and functioning with vacancies.

Source: The Hindu

Context: The Supreme Court halted Assam’s attempt to revoke notification of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Situated in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra River, Morigaon district, Assam.
• here the Rhino Density is the Highest globally, second only to Kaziranga in Assam.
• it acts as a source population for initiatives like the Indian Rhinoceros Vision 2020 (IRV).
• Nickname: “Mini Kaziranga” due to similar landscape and rhino population.Top of Form

Greater one-horned rhinoceros:

• Also known as the “Indian rhino,” (largest among all rhino species).

o          Its distinctive features include a solitary black horn.

Habitat:

Commonly found in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and in Assam, India.

Protection Status:

IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Source: The Hindu

Context:

• India’s indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, commenced core loading.
• Core loading involves placing nuclear fuel assemblies inside the reactor core.

India’s FBR program:

• Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd (BHAVINI) was established in 2003 to build and operate the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)
• Once operational, India will be the second country after Russia with a commercial operating FBR, while China has a smaller FBR program

 Significance of FBR program:

• Department of Atomic Energy’s (DAE) three-stage power programme aims to utilize thorium reserves for electricity generation.
• FBRs play a crucial role in the three-stage programme by converting fertile materials like U238 and thorium into fissile materials like Pu239 and U233.
• India’s “closed fuel cycle” approach involves reprocessing spent fuel to separate useful isotopes for fuel multiplication. and eventual thorium utilization in the third stage.
• India-US civil nuclear deal has increased the pace of its nuclear programme.

Source: Indian Express

Context:

• The joining of political parties by independent constitutional authorities and senior government officials after leaving office has raised concerns about propriety.

 Constitutional restrictions to ensure Probity:

• Retired Supreme Court judges cannot appear as lawyers in any court in India,
• High Court judges face similar restrictions except for appearances before the Supreme Court or other High Courts.
• CAG and Public Service Commission members cannot take up employment with Central or State governments post-retirement.
• However, there are no restrictions on joining political parties, contesting elections, or being nominated to political posts after demitting office.

 Issue of cooling off period:

• Election Commission recommended cooling-off period for retired bureaucrats in 2012.
• Supreme Court dismissed a writ petition seeking cooling-off period, stating that it is legislature’s job to decide on this.

 Conclusion:

• Cooling-off period for contesting elections may not align with democratic principles, as it is the right of every citizen to contest elections.
• Yet, it is crucial to uphold the principle of justice being seen to be done, applicable even after officials demit office.

Source: The Hindu

• EFTA comprises of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

• India signed a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

TEPA:

• Offers easier market access for Indian services firms, including architects, accountants, and nurses,
• Aims to attract $100 billion in investments and create a million jobs over 15 years.

Significance:

• Swift conclusion of the EFTA reflects India’s renewed engagement in trade pacts.
• It is India’s second major trade pact since the UAE deal and the first with a western grouping.
• Signifies India’s shift towards embracing free trade.

Inclusion of non-trade issues like labor, human rights, environment, and gender signifies a positive shift in India’s approach, significant for potential allies like the EU.

Key points:

• The CAA, fast-tracks citizenship for minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

Criticism:

• CAA’s discriminatory as it favors specific religious communities.
• The CAA’s association with the National Register of Citizens: heightened fears among Muslims about potential loss of citizenship without proper documentation.
• the CAA’s use for political messaging by the government exacerbates concerns about religious bias in government policies.

Related Concepts:

The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is the register containing names of Indian CITIZENS.

It is prepared by recording particulars of all the persons enumerated during Census.

Source: The Hindu

Analysis of Research and development (R&D) funding landscape:

• Despite significant increase in Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD), the overall numbers in percentage of GDP remains low.
• GERD is mainly fueled by the government sector (~63%).
• 54% of R&D funding goes primarily to four institutions-DRDO (~30%), Department of Space (~18%), ICAR (~12%), Department of Atomic Energy (~11%)
• Higher Educational Institutions contribute only 8.8% to overall R&D.
• Despite low allocation to R&D, India has emerged as a powerhouse in producing academic talent.

 Challenges in India’s R&D ecosystem:

• Ensuring equitable fund distribution,
• fostering interdisciplinary collaborations,
• upholding global standards.

 Steps taken by government:

• National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) – holds the potential to incentivize private sector engagement in India’s R&D ecosystem.
• Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) Act, underscores the government’s dedication to catalyzing research and innovation.

 The way ahead

• Closing the existing gap demands a dual strategy:
  • encouraging private sector involvement and
  • fortifying academia’s research infrastructure.

Source: The Hindu