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Current Affairs and News Dosage

Initiative (CANDI)

15-16 June 2022

A One Stop Solution for Current Affairs

Our Current Affairs and News Dosage Initiative – CANDI covers the most
important topics from The Hindu, Indian Express, Livemint, PIB, ORF, Yojana,
Kurukshetra, Down to Earth etc. This covers topics important for UPSC Civil
Services Examination in a detailed and crisp perspective helping for MAINS
as well as to boost your PRELIMS score. All the news articles are analysed and
summarized for easy reading and understanding. The news articles are
complemented by infographics and diagrams. We provide summaries of
important editorials from The Hindu and Indian Express in a crisp manner.
Important facts are highlighted for your convenience.
 MAJOR NEWS ARTICLES

Cabinet approves mega 5G auction

What in News?
 The Union Cabinet has approved the auction of airwaves capable of offering fifth
generation, or 5G, telecom services, including ultra-high-speed Internet.
 It also gave its nod for setting up of captive 5G networks by big tech firms.
About 5G
 5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard after 1G,
2G, 3G, and 4G networks.
 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and
everything together including machines, objects, and devices.
 5G wireless technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-
low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a
more uniform user experience to more users.
 Higher performance and improved efficiency empower new user experiences and
connects new industries.
Possible impact of 5G network in India
 It will prepare India for the next generation of mobile telephony
o This will bring about a revolutionary change in communication with benefits
spanning various sectors.
o The world is increasingly transitioning to the era of machine-to-machine
communications, smart factories, remote surgeries etc.
o In this context, the current auction will prepare India for the next generation of
mobile telephony.
 Fillip for education and healthcare
o With the enhanced mobile broadband feature of 5G, the full potential of digital
education can be unleashed.
 Expanding on PM eVidya, it can deliver high-quality educational content
through mobile applications to every student in the country.
 5G will also provide a major impetus to digital universities.
 Vocational training programmes, delivered in the ‘phygital’ mode, can
improve the employability of youth and women.
o In healthcare, the ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) feature of
5G will enable user-friendly point-of-care diagnostics and the creation of much-
needed connected ambulances.
o Along with m-Health, 5G will also significantly improve access to world-class
medical advice, resulting in better follow-up care.
 NextGen banking
o India has already become a world leader with the Unified Payment Interface
(UPI).
o With the help of Geospatial Information Systems, it can reach the next level of
simple, seamless and secure payments such as ‘one-tap payment’ and ‘cashier-
less store’ models.
o Similarly, the payments bank model can be expanded through incremental steps
towards a completely mobile formal banking system.

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 o This will enable citizens to securely access various bank facilities through a
virtual branch experience.
 Transportation
o In transportation and mobility, the massive machine type
communication (mMTC) feature of 5G can prove to be a game-changer.
o A network of EVs and charging stations can be created, optimising the
availability of the charging infrastructure.
 This will enhance the cost-effectiveness of EVs’ ecosystem.
o Integrating initiatives across transit systems, like FASTag for toll and entry tax,
can not only improve efficiency within the transportation sector but also reduce
our carbon footprints.
o Alongside the launch of the drones-as-a service ecosystem in India, the ultra-
reliable low latency communications (URLLC) feature will be crucial for
navigation and drone traffic control.
o Ports across the globe struggle with long waiting times and inventory congestion.
The deployment of machine vision with software-enabled automatic-guided
vehicles can help in better port-space management.
 Friend of farmers, bedrock of industry 4. 0
o In agriculture and renewable energy, farms can be equipped with a diverse range
of sensors to continuously monitor the factors impacting the health of crops.
o Even small farmers with little virtual training can improve irrigation efficiency
as well as crop yields through 5G.
o In manufacturing and industry, the impact of 5G will be most visible and
tangible. Here, 5G private networks will be the cornerstone of industry 4. 0.
o In manufacturing factories, such networks can improve efficiency by an
estimated 2-4 times while reducing carbon emissions.
 Efficient service delivery, safer public spaces
o In governance and public safety, service delivery and citizen-engagement efforts
can be improved with faster and safer digital identity verification.
o This will in turn enable faster implementation of direct benefit transfers and
other such schemes.
o Real-time automated monitoring of public spaces and traffic using city-owned
private 5G networks will improve public safety and congestion in India’s metro
cities.
o Deployment of IoT-based systems on similar networks, using the network
function virtualisation feature of 5G, will improve the efficiency of projects under
the Smart Cities Mission.
Key Highlights
 Approval for 5G auctions
o The Cabinet has approved 5G auctions at reserve prices recommended by the
sector regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
 The sale is valued at over Rs 4. 5 lakh crore just at the reserve price.
o With this, the country is set to witness the biggest-ever auction of spectrum with
the government putting up 72,000MHz of mobile airwaves on sale.
 This is the largest such quantity being sold at one go.
o The 5G spectrum in nine frequency bands will be auctioned to telecom operators
such as Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio.
 Nod for captive 5G networks

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 o The Cabinet also gave its nod for setting up of captive 5G networks by big tech
firms.
o As per the notice, big tech firms will be allowed to take the 5G spectrum for their
captive non-public network, on lease from the telecom companies.
o However, direct allocation to the big tech companies will follow a demand study
and TRAI’s recommendation on aspects such as pricing and modalities of such
allocation.
 Captive 5G networks are also known as private 5G network.
 It is essentially a local area network that uses 3GPP-based network
spectrum, to create unified connectivity and a secure means of
communication within a specific area.
 Private 5G network is on the cusp of taking off around the world.
 Last year, Germany issued 5G private licenses to over 33 companies —
like BASF, BMW, Bosch, Lufthansa etc — to run exclusive networks.

US Fed raises rates by 75bps, biggest in 28 yrs

What in News?
The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 75 basis points or 0.75 percentage points,
the biggest hike in 28 years.
About US Federal Reserve:
 The Federal Reserve System is the central bank of the United States.
 It was founded by the US Congress in 1913 to provide the nation with a safer, more
flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system.
 The Board of Governors, located in Washington, D.C., provides the leadership for the
System.
 The chairman and vice-chairman are appointed by the US President for four-year
terms.
Why US Fed Rate Changes Impact Indian Markets:
 US is an already developed nation with limited growth possibilities. On the other hand,
India is still a developing economy with massive growth opportunities.
o Hence, interest rates in India are much more flexible than in the US.
 So what foreign investors do is that they borrow heavily in the US and infuse that
capital in the Indian market where interest rates are high.
 This significantly reduces their borrowing costs, which could have been higher if they
resorted to borrowing the same capital in the Indian financial markets.
Impact of Rise in the US Fed Interest Rates:
 Not just India, markets globally are affected when the interest rates are hiked in the
US.
o There is a popular quote in world affairs which says “when America sneezes, the
world catches a cold.”
 Rate hikes result in foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) cashing out from Indian Stock
Markets, as Indian markets would become less attractive to them.
o The rate hike also positively impacts US treasuries’ yield, which motivates
foreign investors to pull their money out of the Indian markets and invest it in
their own country.
 An increase in interest rates would result in a weaker Indian Rupee in comparison to
the USD.

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 o This would again bring foreign investors lower returns on their investments.
 Though foreign investors with a long-term horizon will not panic with marginal rate
hikes, small-terms investors will indeed back off because volatility in the market
coupled with a weaker rupee requires hedging the positions, cutting short the returns.
Impact of Cuts in the US Fed Interest Rates:
 Developing economies like India will benefit from rate cuts because foreign investors
will be attracted towards the high returns the Indian economy promises, and inflation
is not a significant concern.
 A rate cut in the US Fed interest rates is a positive cue for the Indian markets as it
would drive fresh foreign investors to the markets.
Conclusion:
 The changes in US Fed rates don’t take place overnight.
 So the news regarding any significant step to be taken by the Federal Reserve starts
roaming around the markets months before the news gets a nod from the Federal
Reserve.
 This serves the equity markets with ample warning and time to prepare, eliminating
any drastic moves.
Highlights:
 The US Federal Reserve has hiked the key interest rate by 75 bps to a range of 1.5% -
1.75% and said it is "strongly committed" to bring inflation to two percent.
 The decision to increase the rate by 75 bps -- the biggest since 1994 -- comes days after
the retail inflation in the country surged to 8.6 percent in May, the highest since 1981,
as energy and food costs surged.
Increase in FPI outflows from India:
 As mentioned earlier in the article, when rate hike by US Federal Reserve leads to
foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) cashing out from Indian Stock Markets, as Indian
markets would become less attractive to them.
 Net foreign fund outflow from India in 2022 has crossed the Rs 2 lakh crore mark, the
biggest annual figure ever and more than double the previous high of Rs 80,917 crore
recorded in 2018.
 Of the total, over 90%, or about Rs 1.9 lakh crore, was because of selling by foreign
portfolio investors (FPIs) in the stock market.
 On Wednesday, the INR closed 7 paise down at a record low of Rs 78.07 against the
USD.
 The FPI outflow could continue for a few more months, at least till the time there is
clarity about how far the US Fed will move to tighten liquidity in the US.

Can the new Google chatbot be sentient?

In News:
Recently, an engineer associated with Google has claimed that an Artificially Intelligent (AI)
chatbot he was working on had become sentient and was showing the ability to think and
reason like a human being.
About Artificial Intelligence:
 Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of a computer or a robot to do tasks that are
usually done by humans because they require human intelligence and discernment.

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 The term is frequently applied to the project of developing systems endowed with the
intellectual processes characteristic of humans, such as the ability to reason, discover
meaning, generalize, or learn from past experience.
 AI algorithms are trained using large datasets so that they can identify patterns, make
predictions and recommend actions, much like a human would, just faster and better.
Difference between AI and Regular Programming:
 Regular programs define all possible scenarios and only operate within those defined
scenarios.
 AI ‘trains’ a program for a specific task and allows it to explore and improve on its own.
 A good AI programme ‘figures out’ what to do when met with unfamiliar situations.
 For example, Microsoft Word cannot improve on its own, but facial recognition software
can get better at recognizing faces the longer it runs.
Current Scenario:
 Governments worldwide are ramping up investment in AI and figuring out ways to apply
and encourage its applications.
 For instance, in Europe, spending on AI is estimated to increase by 33 percent between
2020 and 2023.
 Currently AI is used in the following Things/Fields:
o Virtual Assistant or Chatbots
o Agriculture and Farming
o Autonomous Flying
o Retail, Shopping and Fashion
o Security and Surveillance
o Sports Analytics and Activities
o Manufacturing and Production
o Live Stock and Inventory Management
o Self-driving Cars or Autonomous Vehicles
o Healthcare and Medical Imaging Analysis
o Warehousing and Logistic Supply Chain
Steps taken by the Central Government to Promote AI:
 In 2020, the Central Government increased the outlay for Digital India to USD 477
million to boost AI, IoT, Big Data, Cybersecurity, Machine Learning and Robotics.
o India’s flagship digital initiative i.e. Digital India aims to make the internet more
accessible, promoting e-governance, e-banking, e-education and e-health.
 In the 2019 Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government
would offer industry-relevant skill training for 10 million youth in India in technologies
like AI, Big Data and robotics.
 Additionally, policy-level initiatives by the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY) and programmes around AI by NASSCOM and Defence Research &
Development Organization (DRDO) have laid the groundwork for future disruption and
created a roadmap for AI in India.
o One such initiative was establishing the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and
Robotics (CAIR), a laboratory of the DRDO, in 2014 for research and
development in AI, robotics, command and control, networking, information and
communication security.
Various Initiatives/Programmes for AI:
 US – India AI Initiative:

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 o The Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) launched the US-India
Artificial Intelligence Initiative in March 2021 to foster AI innovation by sharing
ideas and experiences, identifying new opportunities in research and
development and bilateral collaboration.
 Applied AI Research Centre in Telangana:
o In October 2020, the Telangana government collaborated with Intel India,
International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) and Public
Health Foundation of India (PHFI) to launch INAI (Intel AI), an applied AI
research centre in Hyderabad.
o The centre will focus on solving challenges in India’s healthcare and smart
mobility segment.
 Responsible AI for Youth:
o Responsible AI for Youth is a national programme for government schools to
empower the young generation to become AI-ready and reduce the skill gap in
India.
o Established by the National e-Governance Division of MeitY, the platform aims
to help the students develop a new-age tech mindset and relevant skill-sets.
 MCA 3.0 Portal:
o The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) recently launched a new version of its
portal, version 3.0, MCA 21, which will leverage data analytics, AI, and ML, to
simplify regulatory filings for companies.
o The idea behind the revamp is to promote ease of doing business and compliance
monitoring.
 AI Portal:
o Jointly developed by MeitY and NASSCOM in June 2020, the Indian government
launched a dedicated AI portal. India AI is slated as a central hub for everything.
o The portal will act as a one-stop-shop for all AI-related developments and
initiatives in India.
 Promoting AI in Schools:
o The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is
preparing a new National Curriculum Framework for School Education in
pursuance of the National Education Policy 2020.
o This will also aim at introducing a basic course on AI at the secondary level.
News Summary:
 Recently, an engineer associated with Google has claimed that an Artificially Intelligent
(AI) chatbot he was working on had become sentient and was showing the ability to
think and reason like a human being.
 According to the employee, the AI was sentient enough to be compared to a human
child in terms of expressing thoughts and feelings.
 He said that the chatbot, called LaMDA (language model for dialogue applications), was
able to have conversations with him about rights and personhood.
 However, Google has stated that the claims about LaMDA being sentient are false and
that the company has tons of evidence against it.
About LaMDA:
 LaMDA is Google's modern conversational agent enabled with a neural network capable
of deep learning.
 The algorithm is trained using 1.56 trillion words of public dialogue data and web text
on diverse topics.

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 The chatbot is not yet public, but users are permitted to interact with it.
 Google claims that LaMDA can make sense of nuanced conversation and engage in a
fluid and natural conversation.
What is a Neural Network?
 A neural network is an AI tech that attempts to mimic the web of neurons in the brain
to learn and behave like humans.
 Early efforts in building neural networks targeted image recognition.
 The artificial neural network (ANN) needs to be trained like a dog before being
commanded.
 For example, during the image recognition training, thousands of specific cat images
are broken down to pixels and fed into the ANN.
 Using complex algorithms, the ANN’s mathematical system extracts particular
characteristics like the line that curves from right to left at a certain angle, edges or
several lines that merge to form a larger shape from each cat image.
 The software learns to recognise the key patterns that delineate what a general ‘cat’
looks like from these parameters.

Sant Tukaram

What in News?
Recently, Prime Minister inaugurated the Sant Tukaram Shila Mandir in the temple town
of Dehu in the Pune district.
 Shila Mandir is a temple dedicated to a slab of stone (shila) on which Sant Tukaram
meditated for 13 days.
o Shila refers to a rock that is currently on the Dehu Sansthan temple premises, and
that for centuries has been the starting point of Wari, the annual pilgrimage to
Pandharpur.
 The rock where he sat for 13 days is considered pious and a place of pilgrimage for
the wakari sect.
Who was Sant Tukaram?
 About:
o Sant Tukaram was a Warkari saint and poet.
 The sect is spread across Maharashtra and Sant Tukaram and his works are
central to it.
o He was famously known for Abhanga devotional poetry and community-oriented
worship through spiritual songs known as Kirtans.
o Also, composed a Marathi genre of literature called Abhanga poetry which fused
folk stories with spiritual themes.
 His Philosophy:
o Tukaram mentions four more people in his Abhangas work who had a major
influence on his spiritual development: the previous Bhakti Sants Namdev,
Dnyaneshwar, Kabir, and Eknath.
o Tukaram’s teachings were regarded as Vedanta-based.
 Social Reform:
o His message about a casteless society and his denial of rituals had led to a social
movement.
o His Abhangs became the strong weapon against the Brahmanical dominance of
society.

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 Lumpy Skin Disease

What in News?
Recently, around 1,229 cattle across five districts of Gujarat have been infected
with Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
What is Lumpy Skin Disease?
 Causes:
o LSD is caused by infection of cattle or water buffalo with the poxvirus Lumpy
Skin Disease Virus (LSDV).
o According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), The mortality rate is
less than 10%.
o Lumpy skin disease was first seen as an epidemic in Zambia in 1929. Initially, it
was thought to be the result of either poisoning or hypersensitivity to insect bites.
 Transmission:
o Lumpy skin disease is primarily spread between animals by biting insects (vectors),
such as mosquitoes and biting flies.
 Symptoms:
o It primarily consists of fever, fluid excretion from eyes and nose, dribbling of saliva
from the mouth and blisters on the body.
o The animal stops eating and faces problems while chewing or eating, resulting in
reduced milk production.
 Prevention and Treatment:
o Vaccination against these diseases is covered under the Livestock Health and
Disease Control Programme of India.
o There are no specific antiviral drugs available for the treatment of lumpy skin
disease. The only treatment available is supportive care of cattle. This can include
treatment of skin lesions using wound care sprays and the use of antibiotics to
prevent secondary skin infections and pneumonia.
o Anti-inflammatory painkillers can be used to keep up the appetite of affected
animals.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

What in News?
On the eve of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD – 15th June), the Social Justice
and Empowerment Ministry has released a report on the state of Elderly People in India.
 The report was based on a survey conducted by a Non-Governmental
Organisation across 22 cities.
What is Elder Abuse?
 Elder abuse can be defined as “a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate
action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which
causes harm or distress to an older person”.
 It is a global social issue which affects the Health and Human Rights of millions
of older persons around the world, and an issue which deserves the attention of the
international community.
 Elder abuse is a problem that exists in both developing and developed
countries yet is typically underreported globally.

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 o Prevalence rates or estimates exist only in selected developed countries
— ranging from 1% to 10%.
o As such, it demands a global multifaceted response, one which focuses on
protecting the rights of older persons.
What are the Key Highlights about the WEAAD?
 About:
o WEAAD occurs every year on 15th June.
o It was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in
its resolution 66/127 in 2011.
 Theme for 2022:
o Digital Equity for All Ages.
 Aim:
o To raise awareness about the plight of elderly people who are abused and
harmed.
 The primary goal is to develop a better understanding of elder abuse and
neglect by raising awareness about the cultural, social, economic, and
demographic factors that influence such abuse and neglect.
What are the Key Highlights of the Report?
 Economic Conditions:
o India has shown that 47% of elderly people are economically dependent on their
families for income and 34% relied on pensions and cash transfers, while 40% of
the surveyed people have expressed a desire to work “as long as possible”.
 Citizens willing to Work:
o 71% of senior citizens were not working, while 36% were willing to work and
40% wanted to work “as long as possible”.
 As much as 30% of the elders were willing to volunteer their time for various
social causes.
 Healthcare Facilities:
o 87% elders reported there is availability of healthcare facilities nearby,
however 78% elders mentioned unavailability of app-based online healthcare
facilities and a significant 67% elderly reported they do not have any health
insurance at this critical stage in their lives and only 13% are covered under
government insurance schemes.
 Elder Abuse:
o 59% of elders felt that elder abuse was “prevalent” in society, but 10% reported
being victims themselves.
What are the Related Initiatives?
 Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP)
 Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)
 Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY)
 Vayoshreshtha Samman
 Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007
 Elder Line, the first Pan-India toll-free helpline number (14567)
 SAGE (Seniorcare Aging Growth Engine) initiative
Way Forward
 There is a need to pay greater attention to the social security of senior citizens in
the country.

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 The Centre must come up with a comprehensive preventive package, which
provides awareness regarding common geriatric problems with a focus on nutrition,
exercise, and the promotion of mental well-being.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

What in News?
The Union Cabinet was apprised about the Agreement signed among the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states on cooperation in the field of youth work
among the authorized bodies of the member states of SCO.
 Following adoption of the agreement on cooperation in youth work by the member
states in 2021, the agreement was signed by the Indian Minister of Youth Affairs and
Sports.
What are the Key Highlights of the Agreement?
 Objective:
o To strengthen mutual trust, friendly relations and cooperation among young
people of SCO member States.
o Recognizing the importance of ensuring the development of youth
cooperation as an element of deepening friendly relations among the SCO
Member States.
o Seeking to further improve the conditions for youth cooperation based on
international experience.
 Areas of Cooperation:
o Strengthen cooperation in the field of work with youth and public youth
organizations (associations) implementing state youth policy,
o Support initiatives aimed at enhancing international youth cooperation,
o Training of professional staff in the sphere of work with youth,
o Exchange of scientific, reference and methodological materials, work
experience of state bodies, youth public organizations, other organizations and
associations involved in the implementation of state youth policy and support of
youth initiatives,
o Carrying out joint research and activities on various youth policy issues and
youth cooperation,
o Exchange of scientific publications, research works on topical issues of
preventing youth involvement in destructive structures,
o Promote joint economic and humanitarian initiatives aimed at engaging youth
in entrepreneurship and innovative projects to increase their employment and well-
being,
o Supporting the activities of the SCO Youth Council.
 The SCO Youth Council was created in 2009 at the initiative of the Youth
Organizations of the SCO member states.
What is Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)?
 About:
o SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization.
o It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organization aiming to
maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
o It was created in 2001.
o The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003.

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 Genesis:
o Prior to the creation of SCO in 2001, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and
Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five.
o Shanghai Five (1996) emerged from a series of border demarcation and
demilitarization talks which the four former Soviet republics held with China to
ensure stability along the borders.
o Following the accession of Uzbekistan to the organization in 2001, the
Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.
o India and Pakistan became members in 2017.
o On 17th September, 2021, it was announced that Iran would become a full
member of the SCO.
 Objectives:
o Strengthening mutual trust and neighborliness among the member states.
o Promoting effective cooperation in -politics, trade & economy, research & technology
and culture.
o Enhancing ties in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection,
etc.
o Maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region.
o Establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political &
economic order.
 Membership:
o Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan
and Iran.
 Structure:
o Heads of State Council – The supreme SCO body which decides its internal
functioning and its interaction with other States & international organisations, and
considers international issues.
o Heads of Government Council – Approves the budget, considers and decides upon
issues related to economic spheres of interaction within SCO.
o Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs – Considers issues related to day-to-day
activities.
o Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) – Established to combat terrorism,
separatism and extremism.
 SCO Secretariat – Based in Beijing to provide informational, analytical &
organizational support.
 Official language:
o The official working language of the SCO Secretariat is Russian and Chinese.

Neobanks

What in News?
The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) is taking a hard look at the neobank business model
where fintechs plug into a conventional bank’s network and become customer-facing
banking service providers.
 The concern is that the digital model business can scale up very fast and could grow
to be bigger than the underlying bank in terms of customers. Although neobank
customers continue to be accountholders of the underlying bank, the only channel
available to these users is the fintech-owned digital platform.

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What are Neobanks?
 A neobank is a kind of digital bank without any branches. Rather than being
physically present at a specific location, neobanking is entirely online.
 Neobanks are financial institutions that give customers a cheaper alternative to
traditional banks.
 They leverage technology and artificial intelligence to offer personalised services to
customers while minimising operating costs.
 Neobanks entered the financial system with the tag of 'challenger banks' because they
challenged the complex infrastructure and client onboarding process of traditional
banks.
 In India, these firms don't have a bank licence of their own but rely on bank
partners to offer licensed services.
o That’s because the RBI doesn’t allow banks to be 100% digital yet.
o The RBI remains resolute in prioritising banks’ physical presence, and has spoken
about the need for digital banking service providers to have some physical presence
as well.
 RazorpayX, Jupiter, Niyo, Open,etc are the examples of top Neobanks of India.
What are the Different Operating Models of Neobanks?
 Non-licensed FinTech (Financial Technology) firms that collaborate with conventional
banks to have a mobile/Web platform and a wrapper around their partner banks’
products.
 Traditional banks that are undertaking their digital initiatives.
 Licensed neobanks (usually with digital banking licences in those countries that allow
it).
What are the Differences Between Traditional Banks and Neobanks?
 Funding and customers' trust: Traditional banks have many advantages over
neobanks, such as funding and most importantly customers' trust.
o However, legacy systems are weighing them down and they find it difficult to adapt
to the growing needs of a tech-savvy generation.
 Innovation: While neobanks don’t have the funds or customer base to overthrow
traditional banks, they have something special in their arsenal - innovation.
o They can launch features and develop partnerships to serve their customers much
more quickly than traditional banks.
 Underserved by traditional banks: Neobanks cater to retail customers, and small and
medium businesses, which are generally underserved by traditional banks.
o They leverage the mobile-first model to differentiate themselves by introducing
innovative products and providing superior customer service.
 Venture capital and private equity investors: They have been keeping a keen eye on
the market opportunities for such banks and are taking an increasing interest in them.
 Smartphone penetration: As of 2020, India had a Smartphone penetration rate of
54%, which is estimated to increase to 96% by 2040.
o Even though 80% of the population has access to at least one bank account,
financial inclusion levels are yet to improve.
What are the Challenges for Neobanks?
 Fulfilling the needs of a segment of the market: The key to their success lies in
fulfilling the needs of a segment of the market, and adopting the right technology,
business strategy and work culture.

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 Regulatory hurdles: Since the RBI doesn’t yet recognise neobanks as such, officially
customers may not have any legal recourse or a defined process in case of an issue.
 Impersonal: Since neobanks don’t have a physical branch, customers don’t have
access to in-person assistance.
 Limited services: Neobanks generally offer fewer services than traditional banks.
What are the Advantages of Neobanks?
 Low costs: Fewer regulations and the absence of credit risk allow neobanks to keep
their costs low. Products are typically inexpensive, with no monthly maintenance fees.
 Convenience: These banks offer customers the majority (if not all) of banking services
through an app.
 Speed: Neobanks allow customers to set up accounts quickly and process requests
speedily. Those that offer loans may skip the usual time-consuming application
processes in favour of innovative strategies for evaluating credit.
 Transparency: Neobanks are transparent and strive to provide real-time notifications
and explanations of any charges and penalties incurred by the customer.
 Deep insights: Most neobanks provide dashboard solutions with highly enhanced
interfaces and easy to understand and valuable insights for services such as payments,
payables and receivables, and bank statements.
What is the difference between Digital Banks and Neobanks?
 A digital bank and a neobank aren’t quite the same, even though they appear to be
based on the mobile-first approach and emphasis on digital operating models.
 While the terms are sometimes used mutually, digital banks are often the online-
only subsidiary of an established and regulated player in the banking sector, a
neobank, on the other hand, exists solely online without any physical branches and
independently or in partnership with traditional banks.
Way Forward
 Neobanking can work as an extension of measures undertaken to solve the
challenges of financial inclusion and bundling banking services with other financial
services—for example, services like opening of bank accounts for immigrants,
facilitated through new onboarding procedures not based on traditional documentation
of identification. With narrow targets initially, neobanks could expand by adding more
functionalities and services over time.
 Although digital and neobanks are gathering momentum, most are yet to show
sustained profitability. Nevertheless, they have great potential to be disruptors in
banking and financial services, and the key towards becoming profitable entities would
be to convince traditional banks to invest in new-age technology and re-engineer
processes to provide seamless and swift customer experiences.

New Norms for Sentence Remission

What in News?
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a set of guidelines to the States and the Union
Territories on the grant of special remission to prisoners to commemorate the 75th year
of Independence.
What are the Guidelines for Special Remission?
 Special Remission:

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 o As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, special remission would
be granted to a certain category of prisoners. These prisoners would be released
in three phases.
 Prisoners Eligible for Special Remission:
o Women and transgender convicts of ages 50 and above and male convicts of
60 and above.
 These convicts must have completed 50% of their total sentence
period without counting the period of general remission earned.
o Physically challenged or disabled convicts with 70% disability and more who
have completed 50% of their total sentence period,
o Terminally ill convicted prisoners who have completed two-thirds (66%) of their
total sentence and
o Poor or indigent prisoners who have completed their sentence but are still in jail
due to non-payment of fine imposed on them by waiving off the fine.
o Persons who committed an offence at a young age (18-21) and with no other
criminal involvement or case against them and who have completed 50% of their
sentence period would also be eligible.
 Prisoners Excluded from the Scheme:
o Persons convicted with death sentence or where death sentence has been
commuted to life imprisonment or persons convicted for an offence for which
punishment of death has been specified as one of the punishments.
o Persons convicted with sentence of life imprisonment.
o Convicts involved in terrorist activities or persons convicted under - Terrorist
and Disruptive (Prevention) Act, 1985, Prevention of Terrorist Act,
2002, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, Explosives Act, 1908, National
Security Act, 1982, Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016.
o Persons convicted for dowry death, counterfeiting currency notes, offence of
rape & human trafficking, offences under Protection of Children from Sexual
Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, Immoral Trafficking Act, 1956, Prevention of Money
Laundering Act, 2002, etc., offences against the State (Chapter-VI of IPC) and any
other law which the State governments or the Union Territory administrations
consider appropriate to exclude would not qualify for the special remission.
What is Remission?
 About:
o Remission is the complete ending of a sentence at a reduced point. Remission
is distinct from both furlough and parole in that it is a reduction in sentence as
opposed to a break from prison life.
o In remission, the nature of the sentence remains untouched, while the duration
is reduced i.e., the rest of the sentence need not be undergone.
o The effect of the remission is that the prisoner is given a certain date on which he
shall be released and in the eyes of the law he would be a free man.
o However, in case of breach of any of the conditions of remission, it will be cancelled,
and the offender has to serve the entire term for which he was originally sentenced.
 Background:
o The Remission system has been defined under the Prison Act, 1894 to be a set
of rules formulated for the time being in force regulating the award of marks to, and
the consequent shortening of sentence of, prisoners in Jail.

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 o It was observed in the Kehar Singh vs. Union of India (1989) case that
Courts cannot deny to a prisoner the benefit to be considered for remission of
sentence.
 By denying, the prisoner would have to live in the prison till his/her last
breath without there being a ray of hope to be free again.
 This would not just be against the principles of reformation but will also
push the convict into a dark hole without there being a semblance of light at
the end of the tunnel.
o The Supreme Court also in the case of State of Haryana vs. Mahender Singh
(2007) observed that, even though no convict has a fundamental right of
remission, but the State in exercise of its executive power of remission must
consider each individual case keeping in view the relevant factors.
 Further, the Court was also of the view that a right to be considered for
remission must be held to be legal one.
 This is by keeping in view the constitutional safeguards for a convict covered
under Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution.
 Constitutional Provisions:
o Both the President and the Governor have been vested with sovereign power
of pardon by the Constitution.
o Under Article 72, the President can grant pardons, reprieves, respites or
remissions of punishment or suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any
person.
 This can be done for any person convicted of any offence in all cases where:
 The punishment or sentence is by a court-martial, in all cases where the
punishment or
 The sentence is for an offence under any law relating to the Union
government’s executive power, and in all cases of death sentences.
o Under Article 161, a Governor can grant pardons, reprieves, respites or
remissions of punishment, or suspend, remit or commute the sentence.
 This can be done for anyone convicted under any law on a matter which comes
under the State’s executive power.
o The scope of the pardoning power of the President under Article 72 is wider
than the pardoning power of the Governor under Article 161.
 Statutory Power of Remission:
o The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) provides for remission of prison
sentences, which means the whole or a part of the sentence may be cancelled.
o Under Section 432, the ‘appropriate government’ may suspend or remit a
sentence, in whole or in part, with or without conditions.
o Under Section 433, any sentence may be commuted to a lesser one by the
appropriate government.
o This power is available to State governments so that they may order the release
of prisoners before they complete their prison terms.
Meaning of the Terms
 Pardon: It removes both the sentence and the conviction and completely absolves the
convict from all sentences, punishments, and disqualifications.
 Commutation: It denotes the substitution of one form of punishment with a lighter
form of punishment. For example, a death sentence may be commuted to rigorous
imprisonment.

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 Remission: It implies reducing the period of the sentence without changing its
character. For example, a sentence of rigorous imprisonment for five years may be
remitted to rigorous imprisonment for one year.
 Respite: It denotes awarding a lesser sentence in place of one originally awarded due
to some special fact, such as the physical disability of a convict or the pregnancy of a
woman offender.
 Reprieve: It implies a stay of the execution of a sentence (especially that of death) for
a temporary period. Its purpose is to enable the convict to have time to seek pardon or
commutation from the President.

Agnipath Scheme

What in News?
Recently, the government has unveiled Agnipath scheme for recruiting soldiers across
the Three services (Army, Navy and Airforce).
What is the Agnipath Scheme?
 About:
o It allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the Armed Forces for a
period of four years.
o Under this scheme, the youth joining the army will be called Agniveer. Youth
will be able to be recruited into the army for a short duration.
o Under the new scheme, around 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers will be recruited annually,
and most will leave the service in just four years.
o However, after four years, only 25% of the batch will be recruited back into their
respective services, for a period of 15 years.
 Eligibility Criteria:
o It is only for personnel below officer ranks (those who do not join the forces as
commissioned officers).
 Commissioned officers are the army's highest ranked officers.
 Commissioned officers hold an exclusive rank in the Indian armed forces. They
often hold a commission under the president's sovereign power and are
officially instructed to protect the country.
o Aspirants between the ages of 17.5 years and 21 years will be eligible to apply.
 Objectives:
o It aims at providing an opportunity to the patriotic and motivated youth with
the ‘Josh’ and ‘Jazba’ to join the Armed Forces.
o It is expected to bring down the average age profile of the Indian Armed Forces by
about 4 to 5 years.
o The scheme envisions that, the average age in the forces is 32 years today, which
will go down to 26 in six to seven years.
 Benefits for Agniveers:
o Upon the completion of the 4-years of service, a one-time ‘Seva Nidhi’ package of Rs
11.71 lakhs will be paid to the Agniveers that will include their accrued interest
thereon.
o They will also get a Rs 48 lakh life insurance cover for the four years.
o In case of death, the payout will be over Rs 1 crore, including pay for the
unserved tenure.

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 o The government will help rehabilitate soldiers who leave the services after four
years. They will be provided with skill certificates and bridge courses.
What are the Related Concerns?
 Difficult to Find Another Job:
o The 'Agnipath' scheme opens the way for recruitment of about 45,000 soldiers into
Army, Navy and Air Force in the first year but on a short-term contract of four years.
After the completion of the contract, 25% of them will be retained and the rest will
leave the forces.
o Our four years of service will mean other jobs will be out of reach after that,
and we will be left behind our peers.
 No Pension Benefit:
o Those hired under the 'Agnipath' scheme will be given a one-time lumpsum of a
little more than Rs 11 lakh when they end their four-year tenure.
o However, they do not receive any pension benefits. For most, seeking a second
job is essential to support themselves and their families.
 Training May Remain Unutilized:
o Forces will lose experienced soldiers.
o The jawans joining the Army, Navy and Air Force will be given technical training so
that they are able to support the ongoing operations. But these men and women
will leave after four years, which could create a void.
What is the Significance of Such Step for the Country?
 Furure Ready Soldiers:
o It will create “future-ready” soldiers.
 More Employment Opportunities:
o It will increase employment opportunities and because of the skills and
experience acquired during the four-year service such soldiers will get employment
in various fields.
 Higher Skilled Workforce:
o This will also lead to availability of a higher-skilled workforce to the
economy which will be helpful in productivity gain and overall GDP (Gross
Domestic Product) growth.

Ultrathin Heteroprotein Film

What in News?
Scientists have developed Ultra-Thin Hetero Protein films with excellent thermal,
mechanical and pH stability which can pave the way for expanding applications of thin
films in biomedical and food packaging industries.
 It consists of two globular proteins: Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and Lysozyme
(Lys). They used the technique called using Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique which
gives the films thickness in the order of nanometer.
 Globular proteins or spheroproteins are spherical proteins and are one of the common
protein types. Globular proteins are somewhat water-soluble, unlike the fibrous or
membrane proteins.
What are the Benefits of Ultrathin Heteroprotein Film?
 Thinner as compared to the other protein or plastic films.
 They are soft and thin and have the advantage of being more flexible than the other
films.

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 In the recent past, several modifications of these protein films with the help of suitable
heteroprotein complexes were reported by different research groups. These
complexes were usually developed from bulk solutions.
 Films of BSA and Lys can be useful for fabricating highly stable biodegradable thin
films of different protein complexes for expanding its applications in the area of thin-
film technology.
 Diverse physicochemical methods such as parameter alteration or incorporation of
different fatty acids or polyol moieties (glycerol, starch, gelatin, etc.) into this protein
complex can make the film free standing for diverse applications.
What are the Proteins?
 About:
o Proteins are composed of amino acids, arranged into different groups. These
fundamental amino acid sequences are specific and its arrangements are controlled
by the DNA (Deoxyribonuceicacid).
o There are two types of protein molecules, fibrous proteins and globular proteins.
 Fibrous proteins are insoluble and elongated.
 Globular proteins are soluble and compact.
 Functions:
o Enzymes: Enzymes mostly carry out all numerous chemical reactions which take
place within a cell. They also help in regenerating and creating DNA molecules and
carry out complex processes.
o Hormones: Proteins are involved in the creation of various types of hormones which
help in balancing the components of the body. For example hormones like insulin,
which helps in regulating blood sugar and secretin. It is also involved in the
digestion process and formation of digestive juices.
o Antibody: Antibody also known as an immunoglobulin. It is a type of protein which
is majorly used by the immune system to repair and heal the body from foreign
bacteria. They often work together with other immune cells to identify and separate
the antigens from increasing until the white blood cells destroy them completely.
o Energy: Proteins are the major source of energy that helps in the movements of our
body. It is important to have the right amount of protein in order to convert it into
energy. Protein, when consumed in excess amounts, gets used to create fat and
becomes part of the fat cells.

Bharat Gaurav Scheme

What in News?
India’s first private train, under the Bharat Gaurav scheme has been flagged off from
Coimbatore.
 The train will cover several historical destinations on the route while giving the
passengers an insight into the cultural heritage of the country.
What is Bharat Gaurav Scheme?
 About:
o Launched in November 2021, under the scheme, trains now have a third
segment for tourism. Till now, the Railways had passenger segments and goods
segments.
 These trains are not regular trains that will run as per a timetable but will
be more on the lines of the Ramayana Express being run by the IRCTC.

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 o It was announced under the theme-based tourist circuit trains. These trains will
be run by both private players and IRCTC, in theme-based circuits.
 By theme-based tourism (circuits), the railways mean trains like Guru Kripa
that go to all places related to Guru Nanak or a Ramayan-themed train to
touch upon places related to Lord Ram.
o Anyone, from societies, trusts, consortia and even state governments can
apply to take these trains and run them on special tourism circuits based on
a theme.
 Service Provider will offer all-inclusive packages to tourists including rail travel,
hotel accommodation, sightseeing arrangement, visit to historical/heritage
sites, tour guides etc.
 Benefits of such Scheme:
o These trains will help realise India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent
historical places to the people of India and the world.
o They will also help in tapping the vast tourism potential of India.
What are the other Related Scheme?
 Swadesh Darshan Scheme:
o Swadesh Darshan, a Central Sector Scheme, was launched in 2014 -15 for
integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in the country.
 PRASHAD Scheme:
o The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation
Drive’ (PRASAD) was launched by the Ministry of Tourism in the year 2014-15 with
the objective of holistic development of identified pilgrimage destinations.
 Buddhist Conclave:
o Buddhist Conclave is organised every alternate year with the objective of
promoting India as a Buddhist Destination and major markets around the globe.
 Dekho Apna Desh’ Initiative:
o It is an initiative to encourage the citizens to travel widely within the
country and explore the wonders of India thus enabling the development of
Domestic Tourism tourist facilities and infrastructure in tourism spots in the
country.
What is the State of Tourism in India?
 Tourism in India is important for the country's economy and is growing rapidly.
 According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the travel & tourism industry’s
contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was USD 121.9 billion in 2020 and
this is expected to reach USD 512 billion by 2028.
 In India, the industry’s direct contribution to the GDP is expected to record an annual
growth rate of 10.35% between 2019 and 2028.
 Also, the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019 ranked India 34th out
of 140 countries overall, showing India’s efforts to improve in the field.

Prithvi-II Missile

What in News?
Recently, India successfully conducted the night trial of surface-to-surface nuclear-
capable short-range ballistic missile Prithvi-II.
 Earlier, Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Agni-IV was tested which can travel as far
as 4,000 km.

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What are the Key Highlights about Prithivi-II Missile?
 About:
o Prithvi-II is an indigenously developed Surface-to-Surface Missile Short-Range
Ballistic Missile (SRBM), which has a range of around 250 km-350km and can
carry a one tonne payload.
o Prithvi II class is a single-stage liquid-fueled missile that has warhead mounting
capability of 500 kg-1000kg.
o The missile is a proven system and is capable of striking targets with a very high
degree of precision.
o The state-of-the-art missile uses an advanced inertial guidance system with
manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target.
o It was initially developed for the Indian Air Force as its primary user and
was later inducted into the Indian Army as well.
o While the missile was inducted into India's Strategic Forces Command for the first
time in 2003, it was the first missile developed under the IGMDP.
 Developed by:
o Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India under
its Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
What are the Prithvi Missiles?
 The Prithvi missile system comprises various tactical Surface-to-Surface Short-
Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM).
 Its development began in 1983, and it was India’s first indigenous ballistic missile.
 It was first test-fired in 1988, from Sriharikota, SHAR Centre.
o It has a range of from 150 to 300 km.
 The naval variant of Prithvi I and Prithvi III class missiles have the code-
name Dhanush.
 The propulsion technology was likely based on the Soviet SA-2 surface-to-air missile.
o Soviet SA-2 Surface-to-Air Missile:
 Developed in the mid-1950s, the Soviet SA-2 surface-to-air missile was the
first effective Soviet Union surface-to-air missile.
 Developed as a missile for the battlefield, it could carry a nuclear warhead in its
role as a tactical nuclear weapon.
 The Prithvi I missiles have been in service with the Indian Army since 1994.
o Reportedly, Prahar missiles are replacing with Prithvi I missiles.
 Prithvi II missiles have been in service since 1996.
 Prithvi III having a more extended range of 350 km, was successfully test-fired in 2004.
What is Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)?
 About:
o IGMDP was an Indian Ministry of Defence programme to research and develop a
comprehensive range of missiles.
o The project started in 1982–1983 under the leadership of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
o This Programme made Dr APJ Abdul Kalam the missile man of India.
o The integrated guided missile programme was complete in, 2008.
 Five Missiles Developed under the IGMDP:
o PRITHVI (Short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile)
o AGNI (Medium to intercontinental surface-to-surface missile)
o TRISHUL (Short range low-level surface-to-air missile)

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 o AKASH (Surface-to-air missile having a range of up to 25 Km and multi-target
handling system)
o NAG (Third generation “fire & forget”, “top attack” anti-tank missile)

Indian Railway Innovation Policy

What in News?
Recently, the Minister of Railways has launched Indian Railway Innovation Policy-
“StartUps for Railways”.
What are the Key Highlights of the Policy?
 About:
o Grant up to Rs. 1.5 Crore to innovators on equal sharing basis with provision of
milestone-wise payment.
o The complete process from floating of problem statement to development of
prototype is online with defined time line to make it transparent and objective.
o Trials of prototypes will be done in Railways.
o Enhanced funding will be provided to scale up deployment on successful
performance of prototypes.
o Selection of Innovator/s will be done by a transparent and fair system which
will be dealt through an online portal inaugurated today by the Minister of Railways.
o Developed Intellectual property rights (IPR) will remain with innovators only.
o De-centralization of complete product development process at divisional level to
avoid delays.
 Issues Identified:
o Eleven problem statements such as rail fracture, headway reduction, etc., have
been taken up for this program’s phase 1 out of the more than 100 problem
statements received from various divisions, field offices or zones of Indian Railways.
 Expected Benefits:
o This policy will bring scale and efficiency in the field of operation,
maintenance and infrastructure creation through participation of a very large and
untapped startup ecosystem.
o It also aims to leverage innovative technologies developed by
Indian Startups/MSMEs/Innovators/Entrepreneurs to improve operational
efficiency and Safety of Indian Railways.
o It will Promote “Innovation Culture‟ in the country for co-creation and co-
innovation in the Railway sector.
What are the Key Facts about Indian Railways?
 About:
o The Indian Railways network is one of the longest in the world.
o It facilitates the movement of both freight and passengers and contributes to
the growth of the economy.
o The Indian Railway was introduced in 1853, when a line was constructed from
Bombay to Thane covering a distance of 34 km.
o Indian Railways is the largest government undertaking in the country.
o The length of the Indian Railways network was 67,956 km (Railway yearbook 2019-
20).
 Zones:
o In India, the railway system has been divided into 16 zones.

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 Indian Railways is the proud owner of four UNESCO accorded World Heritage
Sites namely Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (1999), Nilgiri Mountain
Railway (2005), Kalka Shimla Railway (2008) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus,
Mumbai (2004).
o There are two more in waiting or in the tentative list namely Matheran Light
Railway and Kangra Valley Railway.

Digital News Report 2022

What in News?
Recently, Digital News Report 2022 was released by Reuters Institute.
 The Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism is dedicated to exploring the future
of journalism worldwide through debate, engagement, and research.
 This year’s report, the eleventh overall, is based on a survey conducted by YouGuv, a
British market research and data analytics firm, in January/February 2022 through
online questionnaires.
o It covers 46 markets in six continents.
What are the Key Highlights of the Report?
 Trust Issue:
o People are trusting news content less and less.
 Decline in Traditional News Media:
o Consumption of traditional news media declined in nearly all the countries
surveyed.
 Increase in Consumers who Avoid News:
o The proportion of news consumers who avoid news has risen sharply across
countries, with the report describing the phenomenon as “selective avoidance”.
 Growth in Digital Subscription:
o Despite small increases in the proportion of people willing to pay for online news
(mostly in richer countries), the growth in digital subscriptions for news content
seems to be leveling off.
 Access Way:
o The smartphone has become the dominant way in which most people first access
news in the morning.
o While Facebook remained the most-used social network for news, it is TikTok that
has become the fastest-growing network, reaching 40% of 18-24-year-olds, with
15% using the platform for news.
What is ‘Selective Avoidance’ of News?
 About:
o Even though the majority of people remain engaged with news, the report finds that
a growing minority are increasingly rationing or limiting their exposure.
 The report calls this behavior “selective avoidance”.
o The avoidance of news has doubled in Brazil (54%) and the U.K. (46%) since
2017.
 Reasons for the Avoidance:
o Due to the repetitiveness of the news agenda — especially around politics
and Covid-19 (43%)
o Worn out by the news (29%)
o Trust issues (29%)

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 o Negative effects on mood (36%)
o Leads to arguments (17%)
o Led to feelings of powerlessness (6%)
o No time for news (14%)
o Hard to understand (8%)
What about Preferred Modes of News Consumption?
 Across markets and age groups, text is still king when it comes to news
consumption.
 However, younger audiences were more likely to say they watch the news.
o In India, 58% mostly read the news while 17% mostly watch it.
o On the other hand, the comparable figures for Finland, which has a historic pattern
of high newspaper consumption, was 85% and 3% respectively.
What about the Main Gateway to News?
 Smartphone being the preferred mode of access, direct access to apps and websites
were becoming less important over time, giving ground to social media, which is
becoming more important as a gateway to news due to its ubiquity and convenience.
 At an aggregate level, with social media preference (28%) surging ahead of direct access
(23%)” notes the report.
What about the Trends in India?
 India is a strongly mobile-focused market.
 72% of the survey respondents accessed news through smartphones and 35% did
so via computers.
 Also, 84% of the Indian respondents sourced news online, 63% from social
media, 59% from television, and 49% from print.
 YouTube (53%) and WhatsApp (51%) were the top social media platforms for sourcing
news.
 India registered a small increase in the level of trust, with 41% trusting news
overall.
 A minority of respondents - 36% and 35% - felt that legacy print brands and public
broadcasters lacked undue political influence and business influence, respectively.

Periodic Labour Force Survey 2020-21

What in News?
Recently the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2020-21 released by the Ministry
of Statistics and Programme Implementation(MOSPI)
What are the Highlights of PLFS?
 Unemployment Rate:
o It shows that the unemployment rate fell to 4.2% in 2020-21, compared with
4.8% in 2019-20.
o The rural areas recorded an unemployment rate of 3.3% and urban
areas recorded an unemployment rate of 6.7%.
 Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR):
o The percentage of persons in the labour force (that is, working or seeking work or
available for work) in the population increased from 40.1% in the previous year
to 41.6% during 2020-21.
 Worker Population Ratio (WPR):
o It increased from 38.2% of the previous year to 39.8%.

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 Migration Rate:
o The migration rate is 28.9%. The migration rate among women was 48% and
47.8% in rural and urban areas, respectively.
Key Terms
 Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate is defined as the percentage of
unemployed persons in the labour force.
 Labour Force: The Labour force, according to Current Weekly Status (CWS), is the
number of persons either employed or unemployed on an average in a week preceding
the date of the survey.
 Current Weekly Status(CWS) Approach: The urban unemployment PLFS is based on
the CWS approach.
o Under CWS, a person is considered unemployed if he/she did not work even for
one hour on any day during the week but sought or was available for work at
least for one hour on any day during the period.
 Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR is defined as the percentage of employed
persons in the population.
What is the Periodic Labour Force Survey?
 Considering the importance of the availability of labour force data at more frequent
time intervals, the National Statistical Office (NSO) launched the Periodic Labour
Force Survey (PLFS) in April 2017.
 The objective of PLFS is primarily two fold:
o To estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators (viz. Worker
Population Ratio, Labour Force Participation Rate, Unemployment Rate) in the
short time interval of three months for the urban areas only in the CWS.
o To estimate employment and unemployment indicators in both usual Status
and CWS in both rural and urban areas annually.
What are Recent Initiatives to fight Unemployment?
 Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE)
 PM-DAKSH (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi)
 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
 Start Up India Scheme
Types of Unemployment in India
 Disguised Unemployment: It is a phenomenon wherein more people are employed
than actually needed.
o It is primarily traced in the agricultural and unorganised sectors of India.
 Seasonal Unemployment: It is unemployment that occurs during certain seasons of
the year.
o Agricultural labourers in India rarely have worked throughout the year.
 Structural Unemployment: It is a category of unemployment arising from
the mismatch between the jobs available in the market and the skills of the
available workers in the market.
o Many people in India do not get jobs due to a lack of requisite skills and due to poor
education levels, it becomes difficult to train them.
 Cyclical Unemployment: It is a result of the business cycle, where unemployment
rises during recessions and declines with economic growth.
o Cyclical unemployment figures in India are negligible. It is a phenomenon that is
mostly found in capitalist economies.

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 Technological Unemployment: It is the loss of jobs due to changes in technology.
o In 2016, World Bank data predicted that the proportion of jobs threatened by
automation in India is 69% year-on-year.
 Frictional Unemployment: Frictional Unemployment also called Search
Unemployment, refers to the time lag between the jobs when an individual is
searching for a new job or is switching between the jobs.
o In other words, an employee requires time for searching for a new job or shifting
from the existing to a new job, this inevitable time delay causes frictional
unemployment.
o It is often considered voluntary unemployment because it is not caused due to the
shortage of jobs, but in fact, the workers themselves quit their jobs in search of
better opportunities.
 Vulnerable Employment: This means, people, working informally, without proper job
contracts and thus sans any legal protection.
o These persons are deemed ‘unemployed’ since records of their work are never
maintained.
o It is one of the main types of unemployment in India.

ODOP: Handicraft Sector

What in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Textile inaugurated the 'Lota Shop' at National Crafts Museum,
New Delhi.
 The shop was opened by Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India Limited
(CCIC), popularly known as the Central Cottage Industries Emporium.
o It showcases fine handcrafted curios, souvenirs, handicrafts and textiles based
on the traditional craft forms of India.
 The government also reiterated that it is working towards 'One District One
Product' which will give impetus to the Handicraft sector as well as the Artisans.
What is One District One Product?
 About:
o The ‘One District, One Product’ (ODOP) was launched by the Ministry of Food
Processing Industries, to help districts reach their full potential, foster
economic and socio-cultural growth, and create employment opportunities,
especially, in rural areas.
 It was launched in January, 2018, by the Uttar Pradesh Government, and due
to its success, was later adopted by the Central Government.
o This initiative is carried out with the ‘Districts as Exports Hub’ initiative by
the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Department of Commerce.
 ‘Districts as Exports Hub’ initiative provides financial and technical
assistance to the district level industries so that the small-scale industries
can be helped and they can provide employment opportunities to the local
people.
 Objectives:
o It aims to identify, promote and brand a product from one district.
o To turn every district in India, into an export hub through promotion of the
product in which the district specialises.

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 o It envisions to accomplish this by scaling manufacturing, supporting local
businesses, finding potential foreign customers and so on, thus helping to achieve
the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.
What is the Status of Handicraft Sector in India?
 About:
o Handicrafts are items that are constructed by hand using simple tools rather
than mass production methods and equipment. While very similar to basic arts
and crafts, there is one key difference with handicrafts.
 The items produced as a result of the efforts are designed for a specific function
or use as well as being ornamental in nature.
o The handloom and handicraft industry has been the backbone of India’s rural
economy for decades.
o India produces woodware, artmetal wares, handprinted textiles, embroidered
goods, zari goods, imitation jewellery, sculptures, pottery, glassware, attars,
agarbattis, etc.
 Trade:
o India is one of the largest handicraft exporting countries.
o In March 2022, the total handicraft export excluding handmade carpets from India
was USD 174.26 million which was an 8% increase from February 2022. During
2021-22, the total exports of Indian handicrafts were valued at USD 4.35 billion; a
25.7% increase from the previous year.
 Significance of the Sector:
o Largest Employment Generator:
 It is one of the largest employment generators after agriculture, providing a
key means of livelihood to the country’s rural and urban population.
 Handicraft is one of the most important sectors in the Indian economy
employing more than seven million people.
o Eco-Friendly:
 The sector functions on a self-sustaining business model, with craftsmen
often growing their own raw materials and is well known for being a pioneer
of environment-friendly zero-waste practices.
 Challenges:
o Artisans face challenges such as inaccessibility of funds, low penetration of
technology, absence of market intelligence and poor institutional
framework for growth.
o In addition, the sector is plagued by implicit contradiction of handmade products,
which are typically at odds with scale of production.
What Factors Support the Growth of the Sector?
 Government Schemes:
o The central government is actively working towards developing the industry to
maximize its potential.
o The introduction of several schemes and initiatives is helping craftsmen to
overcome the challenges they face.
 Rise of Dedicated Trade Platforms:
o Few platforms like Craftezy, have emerged that lend the much-needed support to
Indian artisans in finding visibility in domestic and global markets.
o These global handicraft trade platforms come with a free supplier induction
process and aim at giving it an organized image in the global market.

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 Using Technology for Inclusion:
o Technology that can help cross boundaries has proven to be a boon for the
handicraft industry.
o E-commerce has opened doors to seamless access to consumer goods, and this
has enabled inclusive growth as all manufacturers in any part of the globe can
showcase their products through these online platforms.
o Even social media platforms are helping immensely with marketing Indian
handicrafts globally.
 Exports Vs Imports:
o In the last five years, exports of Indian handicrafts have gone up by more than
40%, as three-fourths of handicrafts are exported.
o Indian handicrafts are majorly exported to more than a hundred countries, and the
US alone constitutes about a third of India’s handicrafts exports.
 Change in Behavior of Artisans:
o To generate enhanced income, artisans adapt to new skills and create products
that meet new market demands.
o Thus, on account of the introduction of technology and the ease it brings to their
table, there is a significant change in the behaviors of sellers and buyers of
handicrafts.
What are the Related Government Initiatives?
 Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana:
o To support artisans with their infrastructure, technology and human resource
development needs.
o The objective of mobilising artisans into self-help groups and societies with the
agenda of facilitating bulk production and economies in procurement of raw
materials.
 Mega Cluster Scheme:
o The objective of this scheme includes employment generation and
improvement in the standard of living of artisans.
o This programme follows a cluster-based approach in scaling infrastructure and
production chains at handicraft centres, specifically in remote regions.
 Marketing Support and Services Scheme:
o This scheme provides interventions for domestic marketing events to artisans
in the form of financial assistance that aids them in organising and participating
in trade fairs and exhibitions across the country and abroad.
 Research and Development Scheme:
o This initiative was introduced to generate feedback on economic, social,
aesthetic and promotional aspects of crafts and artisans in the sector, with the
objective of supporting implementation of aforementioned schemes.
 National Handicraft Development Programme:
o The important component of this programme is carrying out surveys, upgrading
design and technology, developing human resources, providing insurance and
credit facilities to artisans, R&D, infrastructure development and marketing
support activities.
 Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme:
o The approach of this scheme is to scale up infrastructure and production chain at
handicraft clusters. Additionally, this scheme aims to provide adequate
infrastructure for production, value addition and quality assurance.

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 Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts:
o The main objective of the council is to promote, support, protect, maintain and
increase the export of handicrafts.
o The other activities of the council are knowledge dissemination, providing
professional advice and support to members, organizing delegation visits and fairs,
providing liaison between exporters and the government and carrying out
awareness workshops.
Way Forward
 Indian craft sector has the scope to become a billion-dollar marketplace with the
right support and business environment.
 Developing a systematic approach, which nurtures the intrinsic value of craft
skills and opens avenues for product design and manufacturing will increase access
to new markets.
 Alongside, capitalising on e-commerce for online visibility and operational
efficiencies will prove to be a critical success factor as the sector evolves and gains
further traction.
 The present time of globalization, the handicraft sector has massive
opportunities in the domestic and global markets. While the precarious condition of
artisans needs careful interventions for their upliftment, the government has
already been making great strides by adopting measures that will make handicraft
products competitive globally and improve the conditions of our craftsmen.

PRELIMS PLUS

World Blood Donor Day

 World Blood Donor Day is observed every year on 14th of June with an aim to raise
awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion and also to
thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood.
 The slogan for this year is 'Donating blood is an act of solidarity. Join the effort and
save lives'.
 World Blood Donor Day marks the Birth Anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, who first
distinguished human blood into A, B, AB and O groups.
 As per the World Health Organization, blood donation by one per cent of the
population is generally the bare minimum for meeting a nation's most basic blood
needs. According to available data, India fell short of the WHO standard by 1.9
million units or 15 per cent.

International Albinism Awareness Day

 International Albinism Awareness Day is observed every year on June 13 to bring

about awareness among the people for the prevention of attacks and discrimination
against persons with Albinism and also about the rights of people with Albinism.
 The theme for International Albinism Awareness Day this year is 'United in making
our voice heard'. The General Assembly of United Nations adopted a resolution on
18th of December in 2014, proclaiming that with effect from 2015, 13th of June will
be observed as International Albinism Awareness Day.

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  Albinism is a non-contagious, rare and genetically inherited health condition
present at birth, which results in the lack of melanin in the skin eyes and hair.
 It is causing vulnerability to the sun and bright light.Due to this, people with
albinism are prone to many issues, both social and biological. Almost all people with
albinism are visually impaired and are prone to developing skin cancer.
 One in 17,000 people in the world is born with Albinism. As per reports, about one
lakh to two lakh people in India have this condition. Albinism in India is often
confused with another condition, Leucoderma, which is characterised by patchy
skin colour changes.
 Albinism is not infectious and Albinos are equally normal.

Haploptychius sahyadriensis

 India’s newest recorded snail named after Western Ghats

 The Western Ghats of Maharashtra have yielded a carnivorous land snail new to the
world of science.
 The Haploptychius sahyadriensis is endemic to the Vishalgad Conservation Reserve
in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district
 The Haploptychius sahyadriensis, recorded from the northern Western Ghats of
Maharashtra, is the third member of the genus Haploptychius.
 The other two – H. andamanicus and H. pfeifferi – were recorded in the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands in the 1860s.
 It is named after the type locality of the species in the northern part of the Western
Ghats, which is Sahyadri in Sanskrit
 The ‘Sahyadri snail’ is distinguished from other Indian and Southeast Asia’s
Haploptychius in having a sub-oblique helical shell, low spire and presence of a
strong parietal lamella.
 The new species also has a unique genital anatomy

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