InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions ina your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically
Table of Contents:
GS Paper 2:
- Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)
GS Paper 3:
- Issues with UAPA
Content for Mains Enrichment
- Anarcho-capitalism
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
- Rajamannar Committee for Centre-State Relations
- Acceptance of awards from private organizations
- Patent exclusions
- Working on Web browsers
- Diel Vertical Migration
- IUCN Red List Updation 2023
- Nature-based Solutions
- Myanmar world’s biggest opium producer
Mapping
- Valparai plateau
Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)
GS2/ GS3 Paper
Syllabus: Governance/ Science and Technology
Source: TH
Context: The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit in New Delhi concluded with representatives from 28 countries and the European Union adopting the ‘New Delhi Declaration.’
This is in continuation of previous article: Regulating Artificial Intelligence
Major points of the New Delhi Declaration:
| Key Points | Details |
| Focus | The declaration focuses on mitigating risks associated with AI development and deployment and advocates for equitable access to critical AI resources. |
| Importance | Acknowledgement of the rapid progress in advanced AI systems and their potential for economic growth |
| Concerns flagged about advanced AI systems | Concerns related to misinformation, unemployment, lack of transparency, fairness, protection of intellectual property, and threats to human rights and democratic values. |
| Support for India’s collaborative AI approach | Endorsement of India’s collaborative approach in building AI systems, supporting projects for equitable access to critical AI resources, including computing, diverse datasets, algorithms, software, and testbeds, in compliance with intellectual property and data protection laws. |
| Inclusive AI benefits | Ensuring that AI benefits are inclusive and accessible to all countries worldwide, including the Global South. |
| Principles for a global AI framework | Advocacy for a global AI framework grounded in democratic values and human rights, safeguarding dignity, personal data protection, intellectual property rights, privacy, security, fostering innovation, and promoting trustworthy, responsible, sustainable, and human-centred use of AI. |
| AI innovation in the agriculture sector | Agreement to prioritize AI innovation in the agriculture sector as a new thematic priority. Recognition of the importance of AI in sustainable food production, resilient agricultural practices, climate change adaptation, ecosystem regeneration, and improvement of land and soil quality. |
| Pursuit of a diverse membership for GPAI | Commitment to pursue a diverse membership for GPAI, with a particular focus on including low and middle-income countries. The declaration aims to ensure a broad range of expertise, national and regional views and shared |
About GPAI:
Issues with UAPA
GS3/GS2 Paper
Syllabus: Internal Security
Source: TH
Context: The article discusses a recent judgment by the Division Bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in the case of journalist Fahad Shah, highlighting issues related to personal liberty and the application of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), India’s primary anti-terror statute.
What did the court say?
The court granted bail to Fahad Shah and partially set aside the charge against him. It emphasized the need for circumspection in enforcing anti-terror laws that allow vast interference with personal liberty. The High Court raised concerns about the UAPA’s procedural aspects, specifically, Section 43-D(5), which restricts bail if accusations are deemed ‘prima facie true.’
The judgment rejected the government’s argument that publishing an article could be considered an act of terror, emphasizing the need for common sense in criminal law. It underscored that the UAPA should not extend to punishing alleged defamation of the country.
What is UAPA?
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is an anti-terrorism law enacted in India (in 1967) with the aim of preventing unlawful activities and combating terrorism. The Act assigns absolute power to the central government, by way of which if the Centre deems an activity as unlawful then it may, by way of an Official Gazette, declare it so.
Key features of UAPA:
- Under UAPA, both Indian and foreign nationals can be charged.
- It will be applicable to the offenders in the same manner, even if the crime is committed in a foreign land, outside India.
- It has the death penalty and life imprisonment as the highest punishments.
- Under the UAPA, the investigating agency can file a charge sheet in maximum of 180 days after the arrests and the duration can be extended further after intimating the court.
- As per amendments of 2019: The Act empowers the Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA)to grant approval of seizure or attachment of property when the case is investigated by the said agency.
- The Act empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases of terrorism in addition to those conducted by the DSP or ACP or above rank officer in the state.
- It also included the provision of designating an individual as a terrorist.
Arguments in Favour:
| Arguments | Description |
| National Security | UAPA empowers the government to preventively act against individuals and organizations involved in or supporting terrorism, safeguarding the nation’s security. |
| Counterterrorism Measures | Designation of individuals and organizations like Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, and Lashkar-e-Taiba as terrorists under UAPA, enabling asset freezes, travel bans, and sanctions. |
| Preventive Detention | UAPA enables the preventive detention of individuals suspected of unlawful activities, crucial for averting potential threats in cases lacking sufficient evidence for formal trials. |
| Global Commitments | UAPA amendments align with the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, showcasing India’s commitment to international efforts against transnational terrorism. |
| Effective Prosecution | Use of UAPA in prosecuting and convicting Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, based on intercepted communications, electronic evidence, and modern investigative techniques. |
| Deterrence | Severe penalties under UAPA in the case of the 2001 Parliament attack, discouraging individuals from engaging in or supporting activities detrimental to the nation’s security, as seen in the hanging of Afzal Guru. |
Issues with UAPA:
| Issues with UAPA | Description |
| The broad and vague definition of ‘Terrorism’ | The UAPA’s definition of ‘unlawful activities’ is broad and vague, potentially encompassing legitimate political activities or dissent under the label of ‘terrorism.’ |
| Pre-emptive Arrests and Detentions | UAPA allows pre-emptive arrests and prolonged detentions without bail, permitting arrests based on suspicion or the anticipation of potential offences. |
| Poor conviction | A 2022 PUCL report revealed that less than 3 per cent of UAPA arrests resulted in convictions between 2015 and 2020, raising concerns about the legitimacy and effectiveness of the charges. |
| State Overreach | The Act includes acts “likely to threaten” or “likely to strike terror,” granting broad powers to label individuals, including ordinary citizens or activists, as terrorists without the actual commission of such acts. |
| Denial of Rights | Section 43(D)(5) of UAPA prevents the release of bail if the police charge sheet indicates reasonable grounds for believing the accusation is prima facie true. Only a small percentage of detainees secured bail according to the PUCL report. |
Court’s Perspective on UAPA:
- Justice Rohinton Nariman urged the SC to strike down “the offensive portions of the UAPA”.
- SC: Arup Bhuyan vs State Of Assam (2011): Mere membership in a banned organization is not incriminating; involvement in violence or incitement is necessary.
- SC: The People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India (2004): Combating terrorism with human rights violations is self-defeating.
- SC: Union of India v. K A Najeeb (2021): Constitutional courts can grant bail, overriding UAPA restrictions, if the fundamental rights of the accused are violated.
- SC: Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan v. Union of India (2018): Legitimate uprisings against governmental actions are recognized, emphasizing peaceful and non-violent protests.
Way forward:
| Reform Measures | Brief Description |
| Amend the Law | Narrow down vague definitions like “unlawful activity” and “terrorist act” to exclude constitutionally protected activities such as peaceful protests and dissenting opinions. |
| Shift the Burden of Proof | Ensure the burden of proof lies with the prosecution, not the accused. The current UAPA reverses the normal principle of criminal law, making it challenging for the accused to get bail or a fair trial. |
| Establish a Review Mechanism | Create an independent review mechanism to monitor and challenge government decisions on designations. The existing process lacks transparency and can be biased. |
| Use the Law as the Last Resort | Reserve UAPA for extreme cases and avoid using it as the primary response to security threats or social unrest. It should not suppress dissent, criticism, or opposition, respecting citizens’ rights and freedoms. |
| Promote Dialogue and Reconciliation | Emphasize the use of dialogue, negotiation, and reconciliation as preferred methods to address conflicts and grievances, avoiding unnecessary use of the UAPA. |
Conclusion
Drawing the line between individual freedom and state obligation to provide security is a case of classical dilemma. It is up to the state, judiciary, and civil society, to strike a balance between constitutional freedom and the imperative of anti-terror activities.
Mains Link:
Do you agree that the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act could prove catastrophic for fundamental rights? Is sacrificing liberty for national security justified? Discuss and provide your opinion. (15M)
Anarcho-capitalism
Content for Mains Enrichment
Source: TH
Context: Anarcho-capitalism is a political philosophy advocating for the abolition of the state and the privatization of law and order through free-market competition among private companies.
Recently gaining attention with Javier Milei winning the presidency in Argentina, anarcho-capitalists believe that private firms, driven by market forces, can offer policing and legal services more efficiently and at better quality than state-run systems.
However, critics argue that this ideology is impractical, leading to conflicts and favouring the rich.
Ethical Issues with Anarcho-Capitalism:
| Issues | Description |
| 1. Justice Inequality: | Critics argue that a privatized legal system could favour the wealthy, allowing them to manipulate the legal process with financial influence, leaving the poor at a disadvantage. |
| 2. Lack of Accountability: | In a system driven by profit, concerns arise about the accountability of private firms in upholding justice, as their primary allegiance may be to those who can afford their services. |
| 3. Access to Services: | There are worries that the less affluent may face challenges in accessing services, creating a system where justice is available only to those who can afford it. |
| 4. Monopoly Concerns: | Instead of promoting competition, critics argue that privatization could lead to monopolies where a few powerful entities control the legal and security services, limiting choices for consumers. |
| 5. Public Goods: | Privatizing basic services may infringe on the principles of equal access and societal well-being. |
Rajamannar Committee for Centre-State Relations
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The article discusses the enduring relevance of the Rajamannar Committee’s work in the current political context.
About the Committee:
Formed in 1969 by the Tamil Nadu government, the committee, headed by P.V. Rajamannar, made critical recommendations for greater devolution of powers to states.
| Recommendation | Description |
| Inter-State Council | Proposed the creation of a council to facilitate coordination and cooperation among different States. ISC was established in 1990 |
| Devolution of revenues | Suggested a broader distribution of financial resources to empower States economically. |
| Excise duties and cesses shareable | Recommended the compulsory division of certain taxes between the Union and the States. |
| Transfer of subjects to State List | Advocated the shift of specific subjects, like mineral oil resources, from the Union List to the State List. |
| Legislative Competence for States | Emphasized the need for States to have the authority to amend Central laws enacted by Parliament. |
| Consultations with States | Urged obligatory discussions with States before making decisions that impact their interests. |
Significance: It played a significant role in articulating the States’ viewpoint on Centre-State relations.
Acceptance of awards from private organizations
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: Economic Times
Context: The Indian government issues new guidelines mandating prior approval from competent authorities, such as ministry secretaries or the cabinet secretary for higher officials, for government employees accepting awards from private organizations.
- The move, prompted by non-compliance with existing norms, emphasizes that awards should lack monetary benefits and must come from reputable institutions.
- The guidelines aim to ensure strict adherence to regulations outlined in the Central Civil Services (Conduct) rules of 1964 and subsequent orders, prioritizing government recognition over private awards.
Patent exclusions
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The recent judgments from Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy of the Madras High Court raised concerns regarding exclusions to patentability in pharmaceutical and medical patents under Section 3 of the Patents Act, 1970, in India.
| Case | Focus | Key Points |
| Novozymes vs Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs | Section 3(e) – Exclusion of mere aggregations | Known aggregates can be patent-eligible if individual components meet patent criteria; evidence is required to demonstrate synergistic properties. |
| Hong Kong and Shanghai University vs Assistant Controller of Patents | Section 3(i) – Exclusion of medical treatment processes | Exclusion extends beyond in vivo/invasive diagnoses; and includes processes for disease diagnosis. |
The court emphasizes the need for clear, bright-line rules in patent law for consistency, certainty, and efficiency in decision-making by the Indian Patent Office.
Working on Web browsers
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Web browsers work by translating code into the dynamic web pages that users interact with online
| Steps | Description |
| 1. User Input | Users enter a website’s address (URL) into the browser’s address bar or click on a link. |
| 2. Request and Response | The browser sends a request to the server for the contents of the specific web page. |
| 3. Deconstructing the Response | The response consists of files encoded in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. |
| HTML defines the structure, CSS adds style, and JavaScript provides dynamic functionality. | |
| 4. Rendering | Browser deciphers HTML, applies CSS, and executes JavaScript. |
| Assembles the final webpage presented to the user. | |
| 5. Managing Data | Browsers use cookies to store data like login status and preferences. |
| Cache stores frequently accessed files, speeding up page loading times. | |
| 6. Security | Browsers use encryption protocols (e.g., HTTPS) for secure data exchange. |
Diel Vertical Migration (DVM)
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: The article discusses Diel Vertical Migration (DVM), a synchronized movement observed in deep-sea marine animals, particularly zooplankton, where they swim up to the ocean’s surface at night and return to deeper waters during the day.
Significance of the DVM:
- This migration serves as a survival strategy, allowing them to feed on phytoplankton in the safer darkness while avoiding daytime predators.
- DVM is a crucial player in the Earth’s carbon cycle. Animals in the mesopelagic (middle water between 200m to 1000m ) layer actively remove carbon from the upper ocean as they consume surface-dwelling plankton. When these organisms return to deeper waters, they transport the carbon with them.
- DVM is the largest daily migration on the planet by biomass, occurring in all oceans.
- DVM contributes to carbon sequestration, as migratory animals become part of the food chain in the twilight zone, passing on carbon to their predators.
- The carbon-rich waste produced by these predators eventually sinks to the ocean floor
IUCN Red List Updation 2023
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IUCN
Context: The latest update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reveals that climate change poses a threat to numerous species, including Atlantic salmon and green turtles.
- The report, released at the COP28 UN climate conference, also includes the first global assessment of freshwater fish.
Key Findings:
- The assessment indicates that 25% of freshwater fish species are at risk of extinction, with at least 17% affected by climate change.
- The report highlights various threats, including decreasing water levels, rising sea levels, shifting seasons, pollution, dams, overfishing, and invasive species.
- Additionally, the update features conservation successes, such as the scimitar-horned oryx and the saiga antelope, but notes that changing climatic conditions could undermine their future.
- The report also reveals the impact of illegal logging and trade on big-leaf mahogany, which has moved from Vulnerable to Endangered on the Red List.
IUCN:
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the Red Data Book, is a list of the global conservation status and extinction risk of biological species.
It was founded in 1964 and is the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus, and plant species.
Nature-based Solutions
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IUCN
Context: Six new countries and a United Nations agency have joined the ENACT Partnership, a global initiative aimed at coordinating efforts to address climate change, land and ecosystem degradation, and biodiversity loss through Nature-based Solutions.
- ENACT, launched at COP27 in 2022, involves working with nature to deliver climate, biodiversity, and land restoration action.
The partnership, led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), aims to enhance the protection and resilience of at least 1 billion vulnerable people, secure up to 2.4 billion hectares of healthy ecosystems, and increase global mitigation efforts.
Nature-based solutions are based on the notion that when ecosystems are healthy and well-managed, they provide essential benefits and services to people, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, securing safe water resources, making air safer to breathe, or providing increased food security.
Examples: Protecting and restoring coral reefs, Building greener cities etc.
Myanmar world’s biggest opium producer
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TOI
Context: Myanmar has become the world’s largest producer of opium in 2023, surpassing Afghanistan, according to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report.
- Myanmar’s opium production is estimated at 1,080 metric tonnes, while Afghanistan’s production has plummeted by 95% to around 330 tonnes due to the Taliban’s ban on poppy cultivation.
- Conflict, instability, poor market access, and inflation have driven farmers in Myanmar to cultivate poppy, contributing to the highest opium production in over 20 years.
Opium:
It is a highly addictive non-synthetic narcotic that is extracted from the poppy plant, Papaver somniferum. The opium poppy is the key source of many narcotics, including morphine, codeine, and heroin.
Valparai plateau
Mapping
Source: TH
Context: In preparation for the annual migration season of elephants in the Valparai plateau, the Forest Department, NGOs like the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF), and local residents are taking measures to facilitate the free movement of the elephants.
About Annual Migration:
Elephants in the Valparai plateau undertake an annual migration that typically starts in September and continues until March. The elephants usually migrate from the Kerala side to the Valparai plateau (Tamil Nadu)
What is Valparai plateau?
It is a region located in the Western Ghats mountain range of India, specifically in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. Valparai is a hill station known for its tea, coffee plantations, and cardamom plantations. The area serves as a crucial habitat for wildlife, including elephants that undertake an annual migration through the region. The Valparai plateau is part of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), contributing to its biodiversity and ecological significance.
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