{"id":1489,"date":"2023-05-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/uncategorized\/16-05-2023\/daily-current-affairs-16-05-2023\/"},"modified":"2024-07-10T16:41:45","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T11:11:45","slug":"daily-current-affairs-16-05-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-05-2023\/daily-current-affairs-16-05-2023","title":{"rendered":"Daily Current Affairs &#8211; 16-05-2023"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><u>Permafrost<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/ Physical Geography, GS 3\/Environment\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>In News\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">According to a new study, with rising global temperatures, thawing permafrost is likely to destabilise thousands of industrial sites and linked contaminated areas in the Arctic.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>What is Permafrost?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Permafrost is essentially any ground that stays frozen \u2014 0<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> degree Celsius or lower <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u2014 for at least two years straight.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">These permanently frozen grounds are often found in Arctic regions such as Greenland, Alaska (the United States), Canada, Russia, and Eastern Europe.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is composed of \u201ca combination of soil, rocks, and sand that are held together by ice. The soil and ice in permafrost stay frozen all year long.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0However, although the ground remains perennially frozen, permafrost regions aren\u2019t always covered with snow.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cfstatic.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/file_library\/mix_content\/526124879546838460_PDF_ORIGINAL.png\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Developments\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Countries and corporations began building infrastructure on the Arctic\u2019s permafrost.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The region witnessed a further expansion of industrial and economic development during the Cold War \u2014 it became a center for resource extraction and military activities.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This led to the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>accumulation of industrial and toxic waste<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> on or in permafrost which was never removed.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The t<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>oxic waste<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> from these industrial facilities has been buried in the permafrost, on the assumption that it would stay locked away permanently.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But danger looms as the planet continues to heat up.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As Earth\u2019s climate warms, the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>permafrost is thawing<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That means the ice inside the permafrost melts, leaving behind water and soil.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Consequences\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Arctic is getting warmer nearly four times<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> as fast as the rest of the planet due to climate change.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Toxic substances<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> would be unleashed across the region, threatening numerous species living there and the health of people who depend on them.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Thawing permafrost can severely impact the planet. One of its most dangerous consequences is the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Moreover, \u201cPlant matter frozen in permafrost doesn\u2019t decay, but when permafrost thaws, microbes within the dead plant material start to break the matter down, releasing carbon into the atmosphere.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Thawing permafrost would unleash thousands of dormant viruses and bacteria.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Measures\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Because of dangers, scientists are closely monitoring Earth\u2019s permafrost.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Scientists use satellite observations from space to look at large regions of permafrost that would be difficult to study from the ground.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>NASA\u2019s Soil Moisture Active Passive( SMAP)mission<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> orbits Earth collecting information about moisture in the soil.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">SMAP\u2019s measurements will help scientists understand where and how quickly the permafrost is thawing.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-climate\/thawing-permafrost-cause-industrial-pollution-arctic-new-study-says-8610772\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><u>IE<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><u>Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) &amp; Mission DefSpace<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Syllabus: GS 3 \/ Security<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) reached a milestone with the signing of its 250th\u00a0contract \u2013 the first one under Mission DefSpace &#8211; and 100th\u00a0SPRINT (Navy) contract in New Delhi in May 2023.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Mission DefSpace<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Background: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mission DefSpace was launched by the Prime Minister during DefExpo at Gandhinagar in October, 2022.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Objectives: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It aims to nurture the Indian Private Space industry through challenges addressing every stage of a space mission \u2013 from mission planning to satellite data analytics.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Challenges: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was launched with 75 Defence Space Challenges relevant to the end users. The challenges are classified into five buckets viz. Launch System, Satellite System, Communication &amp; Payload System, Ground System and Software System, provide a holistic 3600 overview of space.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Eligibility: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Private Industries, including Start-ups, MSMEs and Individual Innovators, are eligible to apply.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 624px;\" cellspacing=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>CubeSats<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The first iDEX contract of Mission DefSpace was exchanged for development of cubesats.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites, which are modular; low-cost; easy to manufacture, integrate, and launch; and form a critical component for launch-on-demand capabilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">CubeSats are built to standard dimensions (Units or \u201cU\u201d) of 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm. They can be 1U, 2U, 3U, or 6U in size, and typically weigh less than 1.33 kg (3 lbs) per U.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>SPRINT<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The 100th\u00a0SPRINT (Navy) contract was exchanged for the development of a lightweight ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) based communication system for satellite communication.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Background: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Under the \u2018SPRINT\u2019 initiative, a total of 75 Challenge statements for the Indian industry were unveiled by PM Modi during the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) seminar \u2018Swavlamban\u2019 In July 2022.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Target: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The initiative aims at inducting at least 75 technologies\/products into the Indian Navy by August 2023 as part of \u2018Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav\u2019.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Background: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">iDEX is the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) which was launched by the Prime Minister in 2018.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Objective: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It aims to engage start-ups to contribute to the defence sector and develop defence and aerospace setup in the country.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Implementing agency: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">iDEX is being implemented by Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), established under the Department of Defence Production, MoD.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/ministry-of-defence-signs-250th-contract-under-innovations-for-defence-excellence\/article66854098.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><u>TH<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><u>Forest Rights Act, 2006<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Indian Polity &amp; Constitution, GS3\/Environment<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Recently a two-day convention on forest rights was held in Delhi, where State governments and the Centre were condemned over the failure to implement the Forest Rights Act, 2006.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>What is the Forest Rights Act, 2006?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Background<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the colonial era, the British diverted abundant forest wealth from the nation to meet their economic needs. While procedure for settlement of rights was provided under statutes such as the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Indian Forest Act, 1927, these were hardly followed.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As a result, tribal and forest-dwelling communities, who had been living within the forests in harmony with the environment and the ecosystem, continued to live inside the forests in tenurial insecurity, a situation which continued even after independence as they were marginalized.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The symbiotic relationship between forests and forest-dwelling communities found recognition in the<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> National Forest Policy, 1988<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">. The policy called for the need to associate tribal people in the protection, regeneration and development of forests.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, was enacted <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>to protect the marginalised socio-economic class of citizens and balance the right to environment with their right to life and livelihood.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Objective:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>undo the historical injustice<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> occurred to the forest dwelling communities.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To ensure land tenure, livelihood and food security of the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To strengthen the conservation regime of the forests by<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> including the responsibilities and authority of Forest Rights holders<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> for sustainable use, conservation of biodiversity and maintenance of ecological balance.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To empower and strengthen the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>local self governance.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Highlights of the Act:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Recognition of Rights:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> It recognizes the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>rights of the forest dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to forest resources, on which these communities were dependent for a variety of needs, including livelihood, habitation and other socio-cultural needs.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Act encompasses Rights of Self-cultivation and Habitation which are usually regarded as<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> Individual rights; and Community Rights <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">as Grazing, Fishing and access to Water bodies in forests, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Habitat Rights<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> for PVTGs, Traditional Seasonal Resource access of Nomadic and Pastoral community, access to biodiversity, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>community right to intellectual property and traditional knowledge<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, recognition of traditional customary rights and right to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage any community forest resource for sustainable use.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Allocation of Forest Land:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> It also provides rights to allocation of forest land for <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>developmental purposes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to fulfil basic infrastructural needs of the community. In conjunction with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Settlement Act, 2013 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>FRA protects the tribal population from eviction without rehabilitation and settlement.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Role of Gram Sabha: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Act further enjoins upon the Gram Sabha and rights holders the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>responsibility of conservation and protection<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> of biodiversity, wildlife, forests, adjoining catchment areas, water sources and other ecologically sensitive areas as well as to stop any destructive practices affecting these resources or cultural and natural heritage of the tribals.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Gram Sabha is also a highly empowered body under the Act, enabling the tribal population to have a decisive say in the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>determination of local policies and schemes impacting them.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Significance<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Act empowers the forest dwellers to access and use the forest resources in the manner that they were <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>traditionally accustomed,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to protect, conserve and manage forests.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It protects forest dwellers from <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>unlawful evictions and also provides for basic development facilities<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> to access facilities of education, health, nutrition, infrastructure etc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>first time Forest Rights Act recognises and secures Community Rights<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> or rights over common property resources of the communities in addition to their individual rights.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Right to intellectual property and traditional knowledge <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">related to biodiversity and cultural diversity.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Rights of displaced communities.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Rights over developmental activities.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Challenges in Implementation<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Systemic issues: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There is lack of coordination between the tribal, revenue and forest department on implementation of the Act.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are multiple laws that are in conflict with FRA and to operationalise FRA on the ground, changes in rules and other laws are important such as in case of ownership of minor forest produce. It requires change in the number of state laws, excise laws, Panchayat laws etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Increased role of Gram Sabha: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The other important issue with FRA is the lack of recognition of Community Forest Resource rights. There is a huge resistance from the forest department to recognize CFR Rights and sharing of power with Gram Sabha for conservation and management of forest resources.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Rejection of claims:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> A large number of claims are being rejected; pending or limited rights are recognised. The area recognized has been drastically reduced from the area, which has been claimed without any proper reasons.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has written to State Governments that in case of rejection, reasons have to be communicated and chances of appeal to be given to claimants, which is hardly happening.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Way Ahead<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Process of Recognition of Rights: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The State Governments should ensure that on receipt of intimation from the Forest Rights Committee, the officials of the Forest and Revenue Departments remain present during the verification of the claims and the evidence on the site.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Use of any technology, such as<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> satellite imagery, should be used to supplement evidenc<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">e tendered by a claimant for consideration of the claim and not to replace other evidence submitted by him in support of his claim as the only form of evidence.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Minor Forest Produce(MFP): <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The monopoly of the Forest Corporations in the trade of MFP in many States, especially in case of high value<\/span><\/span><\/span> <span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">MFP<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> such as, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>tendu patta, <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">is against the spirit of the Act and should henceforth be done away with.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Community Rights:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> The District Level Committee should ensure that the records of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>prior recorded other traditional community rights are provided to Gram Sabhas,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> and if claims are filed for recognition of such age-old rights, such claims are not rejected except for valid reasons.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Community Forest Resource Rights:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> The State Government should ensure that the forest rights relating to protection, regeneration or conservation or management of any community forest resource, which forest dwellers might have traditionally been protecting and conserving for sustainable use, are recognized in all villages and the titles are issued.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Awareness-Raising:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> Each State should prepare suitable communication and training material in local language for effective implementation of the Act.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_delhi\/issues\/36485\/OPS\/GCVB82IPG.1+GOJB83BPS.1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><strong><u>TH<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 20pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><u>What is a transformer, the ML model that powers ChatGPT?<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 11pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Indian Economy &amp; Related Issues, Science &amp; Technology<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>In Context<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A new artificial intelligence technology, called Chat GPT, is sparking discussions in recent days.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>About the Chat GPT<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>About:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">ChatGPT is a chatbot<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> launched by OpenAI<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in November 2022.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Chat-GPT is a variant of the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> <span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>language model<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">OpenAI, in a revolutionary move, also created a user interface that is <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>letting the general public experiment with it directly<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Core functions:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Like other language models, Chat-GPT is<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> designed to generate human-like text<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> based on the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>input <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">it receives.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is trained on a large text dataset and can generate a wide range of responses to various prompts and questions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This helps them <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>mimic speech patterns<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> while dispatching encyclopedic knowledge.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Basically, that means that it\u2019s a computer program that can<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> understand and \u201ctalk\u201d to us<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in a way that\u2019s very close to conversing with an actual human.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A very clever and knowledgeable human at that, who knows around 175 billion pieces of information and is able to recall any of them almost instantly.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Other functions:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although the core function of a chatbot is to mimic a human conversationalist, ChatGPT is versatile.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For example, it can <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>write and debug computer programs, to compose music, teleplays, fairy tales, and student essays; to answer test questions (sometimes, depending on the test, at a level above the average human test-taker)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>About \u2018transformer\u2019<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The capital \u2018T\u2019 in ChatGPT, for example, stands for \u2018transformer\u2019.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A transformer is a two-part neural network.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> first part is an \u2018encoder\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> that ingests the input sentence in the source language (e.g. English);\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>second part is a \u2018decoder\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> that generates the translated sentence in the target language (Hindi).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Functions:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Encoding:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The encoder <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>converts each word<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> in the source sentence to an <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>abstract numerical form<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> that captures the meaning of the word within the context of the sentence, and stores it in a memory bank.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Decoding:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Just like a person would write or speak, the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>decoder generates one word at a time<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> referring to what has been generated so far and by looking back at the memory bank to find the appropriate word.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Both these processes use a mechanism called <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u2018attention\u2019.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Computer vision:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Transformers have also become popular in computer vision.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">They simply cut an image into small square patches and line them up, just like words in a sentence.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By doing so, and after training on large amounts of data, a transformer can provide better performance than <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>convolutional neural networks (CNNs)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Today, transformer models constitute the best approach for image classification, object detection and segmentation, action recognition, and a host of other tasks.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Significance:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Transformers\u2019 ability to ingest anything has been exploited to create joint vision-and-language models that allow users to search for an image (e.g. Google Image Search), describe one, and even answer questions regarding the image.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the last year, transformer models have <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>become larger<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> and train on<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> more data than before<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">. When these colossuses train on written text, they are called large language models (LLMs).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: square;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">ChatGPT uses hundreds of billions of parameters whereas GPT-4 uses hundreds of trillions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While these models are trained on simple tasks, such as filling in the blanks or predicting the next word, they are very good at answering questions, creating stories, summarising documents, writing code, and even solving mathematical word problems in steps. Transformers are also the bedrock of generative models that create realistic images and audio. Their utility in diverse domains makes transformers a very powerful and universal model.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Concerns<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The scientific community is yet to figure out how to evaluate these models rigorously.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are also instances of \u201challucination\u201d, whereby models make confident but wrong claims.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none; width: 626px;\" cellspacing=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #fff2cc; vertical-align: top; width: 626px; border: 1px solid #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>What is \u2018attention\u2019?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Attention in ML allows a model to learn how much importance should be given to different inputs.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the translation example, attention allows the model to select or weigh words from the memory bank when deciding which word to generate next.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While describing an image, attention allows models to look at the relevant parts of the image when generating the next word.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Machine learning<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Machine learning (ML) is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that allows software applications to become more accurate at predicting outcomes without being explicitly programmed to do so.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Machine learning algorithms use historical data as input to predict new output values.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Applications:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Recommendation engines are a common use case for machine learning.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Other popular uses include fraud detection, spam filtering, malware threat detection, business process automation (BPA) and Predictive maintenance.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Way ahead<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We must urgently address societal concerns, such as data privacy and attribution to creative work, that arise as a result of their use.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">At the same time, given the tremendous progress, ongoing efforts to create guardrails guiding their use, and work on leveraging these models for positive outcomes (e.g. in healthcare, education, and agriculture), optimism wouldn\u2019t be misplaced.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Anticipating possible futures requires engagement with the opportunities and challenges flagged by ChatGPT.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Current requirement is mapping out and planning for the changes that will be required in the education system, labour codes and new commodities that are bound to emerge as a result.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Source: IE<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><u>Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Syllabus: GS 2\/Government Policies and Interventions\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Recently, the Ministry of Housing &amp; Urban Affairs launched the mega campaign \u2018Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar\u2019.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>About Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The nationwide campaign aims to highlight cities to setup \u2018Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (RRR) Centres, one-stop collection centers, for citizens to contribute clothes, shoes, old books, toys, and used plastic to be reused or recycled.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The RRR Centres are scheduled to be launched nationwide and will serve as a one-stop solution for citizens, institutions, commercial enterprises, etc. to deposit unused or used plastic items, clothes, shoes, footwear, books, and toys.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">After collection, these items will be given to different stakeholders to be refurbished for reuse or would be made into new products, thus truly taking forward the Government\u2019s vision of circular economy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Significance<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The 3Rs form the backbone of \u2018Waste to Wealth\u2019 and has empowered many craftsmen, recyclers, Self Help Groups, entrepreneurs, startups, etc. to recycle waste into a host of products.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The campaign will strengthen citizens\u2019 resolve under<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> SBM-U 2.0 <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8211; to reduce, reuse and recycle \u2013 and will also champion <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Mission LiFE\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">s objective of taking collective action for the protection and conservation of the environment by adopting sustainable daily habits.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 624px;\" cellspacing=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color: #d9d2e9; vertical-align: top; border: 1px solid #000000;\"><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current-affairs\/21-10-2022\/mission-life-lifestyle-for-environment\"><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><strong><u>Mission LiFE<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The concept of LiFE ((Lifestyle for Environment) was introduced by the Prime Minister at COP26 at Glasgow on 1 November 2021.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mission LiFE is envisioned as an India-led global mass movement that will nudge individual and collective action to protect and preserve the environment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mission LiFE aims to protect and preserve the environment and bring about a pro-planet behavioural change that can be instilled through individual action in day-to-day life.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><strong><u>Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was launched by the Prime Minister in 2022 with the overall vision of creating \u2018Garbage Free Cities.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It has introduced Used Water Management as a newly funded component for towns with less than 1 lakh population.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This showcases the Mission\u2019s commitment to improving the overall Used Water Management ecosystem in Urban India by ensuring that no untreated used water is discharged into water bodies (as per the Water+ Protocol).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1924187\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><u>PIB<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><u>Amrit Bharat Station Scheme<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Government policies &amp; intervention,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Indian Railways is planning to overhaul the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>signage system at railway stations for better traveling comfort of passengers<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, on the basis of fresh design principles.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Up to 1,275 stations have been selected under the<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>About<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> uniform signages<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> at all stations across the country, will ensure a consistent and easy-to-understand system for passengers (i<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>ncluding elderly, women, children, divyangjan).<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Indian Railways has the largest number of stations in the world than any other rail network. It is important that every passenger should have easy access to facilities by having standard signage.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The current system of signages is inconsistent and inadequate.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>Amrit Bharat Station Scheme<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>About:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Ministry of Railways has formulated a new policy for <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>modernisation of stations named &#8216;Amrit Bharat Station&#8217; scheme.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Three railway stations viz. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Rani Kamalapati, Gandhinagar Capital, &amp; Sir M.Visvesvaraya Terminal have been commissioned.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Building upon the experience of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>these three stations<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">, 1275 stations selected under <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Amrit Bharat Station Scheme<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> include stations located in major cities and places of tourist and pilgrimage importance.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Objective:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The scheme will primarily focus on providing safe, comfortable and clean railway premises.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The plan&#8217;s objective is to create master plans for railroad stations and implement them gradually to improve the facilities.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Key Features Proposed:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">provisions for roof top plazas,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">longer platforms,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">ballastless tracks,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">and 5G connectivity.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1924203\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><u>PIB<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><u>Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS)\u00a0<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Science and Technology<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>In News<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Scammers are reportedly <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>using leaked biometric details,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> bypassing the need for OTPs, to siphon money from users\u2019 bank accounts.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>What is an Aadhaar-enabled Payment System?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is a bank-led model which allows online financial transactions at Point-of-Sale (PoS) and Micro ATMs through the business correspondent of any bank using Aadhaar authentication.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is created by National Payments Corporation of India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The only inputs required for a customer to do a transaction under this scenario are:-<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Bank Name<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Aadhaar Number<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Fingerprint captured during enrollment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Banking Services Offered by AePS:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Cash Deposit<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Cash Withdrawal<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Balance Enquiry<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mini Statement<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Aadhaar to Aadhaar Fund Transfer<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Authentication<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">BHIM Aadhaar Pay<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The model removes the need for OTPs, bank account details, and other financial details.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">An Aadhaar card holder who has a linked bank account can use the AePS facility to make transactions quickly and easily.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The transaction amount will only be deducted from the Aadhaar linked bank account.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>How is biometric information leaked?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Aadhaar numbers are readily available in the form of photocopies, and soft copies, and criminals are using Aadhaar-enabled payment systems to breach user information. Scammers have, in the past, made use of silicone to trick devices into initiating transactions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Biometric information is part of identity. Unlike a password, it can\u2019t be changed. When cybercriminals access biometric data \u2014 fingerprints, retina, facial, or voice \u2014 they gain information which can be linked to identity forever.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>How to secure Aadhaar biometric information?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Rarely share your biometric data: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If anyone asks to collect biometric data, check to see if one can supply an alternate form of identification.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Aadhaar lock: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Users are also advised to ensure that they lock their Aadhaar information by visiting the UIDAI website or using the mobile app.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: circle;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This will ensure that the biometric information, even if compromised, cannot be used to initiate financial transactions. Aadhaar can be unlocked when the need for biometric authentication arises.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><u>What can be done in case of a financial scam using Aadhaar?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In case of any suspicious activity in their bank accounts <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>users should lock the Aadhaar biometric information.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Users should<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> inform their banks and the concerned authorities<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> as soon as possible. Timely reporting can ensure that any money transferred using fraudulent means is returned to the victim.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: disc;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As per the RBI a customer\u2019s entitlement to zero liability arises where the unauthorised transaction occurs, and the customer notifies the bank within three working days of receiving a communication from the bank regarding such unauthorised transaction.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Source:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span> <a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/technology\/explained-gaps-aadhaar-enabled-payment-system-aeps-abused-cybercriminals\/article66842275.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc;\"><u>TH<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Permafrost Syllabus: GS1\/ Physical Geography, GS 3\/Environment\u00a0 In News\u00a0 According to a new study, with rising global temperatures, thawing permafrost is likely to destabilise thousands of industrial sites and linked contaminated areas in the Arctic. What is Permafrost? Permafrost is essentially any ground that stays frozen \u2014 0 degree Celsius or lower \u2014 for at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[76],"class_list":["post-1489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-gs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/3062913Screenshot_6.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1489","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1489"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1489\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26476,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1489\/revisions\/26476"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}