Daily Current Affairs UPSC 01 May 2024

TacticAI

• Deepmind's TacticAI provides tactical insights in Football.
• TacticAI predicts outcomes of Corner kicks using Geometric deep learning approach.
• Geometric deep learning focuses on processing data with geometric structures like graphs, point clouds, and meshes.
• TacticAI helps in identifying key patterns of tactics used by teams and developing effective responses with tactical insights.

Front Running

SEBI Amends Mutual Fund Norms to Prevent Front Running

• SEBI has made changes to mutual fund regulations to address front running.
• Front running is when a broker or trader uses advance information about client orders to make trades before them.
• This unethical practice aims to profit from price movements based on non-public knowledge.
• Front running disrupts market fairness, can be illegal, and undermines confidence in financial markets.
• The new regulations require Asset Management Companies to establish mechanisms to prevent front running.

Blood Minerals

Apple accused of using 'blood minerals' from DRC

• Blood minerals are mined in conflict areas with violence and human rights violations.
• Linked to funding armed groups and fueling conflicts in Central Africa.
• Examples include tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold (3TG) minerals.

Eggshell skull Principle

Supreme Court Rejects Eggshell Skull Rule Application

• The Supreme Court has decided not to apply the 'eggshell skull' rule in a recent case.
• The eggshell skull principle is a common law concept used in civil litigation.
• Principle: The defendant is held accountable for injuries caused to a person, even if the victim has a fragile skull.
• This rule is typically used to seek higher compensation for damages.

Paradox of thrift (PoT) Theory

Keynesian Economics Overview

• Popularized by British economist John Maynard Keynes.
• Believes that higher savings can lead to a fall in overall savings and investments.
• Emphasizes the importance of boosting consumer spending for economic growth.

Criticism of Keynesian Economics

• Ignores the potential for saved income to be lent out by banks.
• Ignores the potential impact of inflation and deflation in an economy.

Re-polling

1.Re-polling conducted by Election Commission of India in Manipur and Arunachal             Pradesh for ongoing Lok Sabha General Elections.

2.Provisions related to Re-polling under Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951.

• Section 57: Re-polling needed due to natural calamity, violence, etc.
• Section 58(2): Re-polling required because of damage or destruction of voting machines.
• Section 58A: Election countermanded due to Booth capturing.
• Section 52: Re-polling necessary in case of death of candidate from recognised political party.

Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS)

AstraZeneca Admits Rare Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccine

• AstraZeneca has acknowledged that its COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, can cause rare side effects including TTS.
• TTS stands for Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia (VITT).
• TTS is characterized by blood clots and low platelet count.
• Blood clots can form in unusual places in the body such as the brain, abdomen, lungs, and arteries.
• Symptoms of TTS include difficulty breathing, chest pain, abdominal pain, and swelling in the legs.

Magnetic monopole

1.UK Physicists Find Evidence of Magnetic Monopoles in Haematite.

• Monopoles are particles with isolated magnetic poles.
• They are the magnetic equivalent of electric charges.
• Dirac first predicted their existence in 1931.

Personality in news

Raja Ravi Varma (29th April 1848- 2nd October 1906)

Unveiling of First True Copy of Raja Ravi Varma's Painting Indulekha.

Contribution:

• Known for combining Hindu mythological themes with European realist historicist painting style.
• First Indian artist to use oil paints, introduced by the British.
• Used art as a tool for social reform.

Famous Paintings:

• 'Lady in the Moonlight'.
• 'Stolen Interview'.
• 'Shakuntala'.

Awards:

• Painting 'Hamsa Damayanti' won first prize at Vienna Exhibition in 1873.
• Awarded Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal by British government in 1904.

Values:

• Nationalism.
• Compassion.
• Tolerance.

"Case filed over Deepfake Video of Home Minister in Maharashtra"

Definition of Deepfakes

• Synthetic media created using AI and deep learning techniques.
• Combination of "deep learning" and "fake".

How Deepfakes work

• Uses Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs).
• Consists of Generator and Discriminator.
• Generator creates fake content, while Discriminator distinguishes fake from real.

Applications of Deepfakes

• Natural and accurate dubbing in movies and TV shows.
• Training simulations in fields like medicine and aviation.
• Helps professionals improve skills and decision-making abilities.

Issues associated with Deepfakes

• Political Manipulation.
• Weaponization against women.
• Security Risks.
• Legal Issues.
• Ethical Issues.

Measures to counter Deepfakes

• In India: Section 66D of the IT Act, 2000 and Rules of Intermediary Guidelines.
• At Global level: Bletchley Declaration for scientific cooperation in addressing AI risks and responsibilities.

"Medical Education Obligates Service to the Poor: Madras HC"

• High Court hearing petitions on waiving service bond period.
• Service bonds: agreement between medical students and government to work in specific areas.

Need for Service Bonds:

• Uneven distribution of healthcare workforce.
• Reciprocity to ensure effective use of taxpayers' money.

Ethical Issues with Compulsory Service Bond:

• Infringement of fundamental rights.
• Impact on quality of care, motivation, and job satisfaction.
• Brain drain and discouragement of talented individuals.
• Discrimination and inequality.

Way Forward:

• Voluntary participation with incentives.
• Adequate compensation and incentives.
• Targeted recruitment and training.
• Flexible models for service periods and assignments.

Assam Rifles seize military-grade weapons near Indo-Myanmar border

1.Porous Border Issues in India

• Definition of porous border.
• Refers to border areas not protected enough to stop people from crossing.
• Can be open (unfenced) or closed (fenced).

2.Open borders with Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar

• Facilitates cross-border movement of people.
• India aims to completely fence its border with Myanmar.

3.Porous border issues with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China

• Poses threat to national security.
• Facilitates cross-border terrorism, illegal migration, smuggling, and trafficking.

4.Examples of drug trafficking routes along Myanmar and Pakistan borders

• Proximity to Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent.

Challenges in Sealing Porous Borders

Natural causes

• Rugged terrain, marshy land, riverine borders, extreme climatic conditions.
• Example: Siachen Glacier.

Lack of demarcation

• Some borders with neighbours are disputed and not demarcated.

People-to-people connect

• Example: India and Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR).
• Allows people to travel up to 16 km inside each other's country without a visa.
• Recently suspended by India.

Initiatives for effective border management

Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique (BOLD-QIT): It is being deployed under CIBM for the use of different kinds of intrusion detection sensors (radar, electro optics, etc.).

Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM) Scheme: A Central Sector Scheme for the construction of border fence, border flood lights, etc.

Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023: Strategic projects concerning national security located within 100 km of distance from the International Borders, LAC, and LoC are exempted from the purview of the Act (thus exempted from some prior approvals).

"Parties Submit New NCQG Proposals under Paris Agreement"

Proposed New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG)

• Proposed in COP21 for setting post-2025 climate finance goal.
• Aims to raise the floor on climate finance above the current $100 billion annual target.
• Seeks to address key shortcomings in the current climate financing mechanism.

Issues with the $100 billion annual target

• Distributional imbalance: 80% of global climate finance focused in OECD countries and East Asia Pacific region.
• Overemphasis on mitigation financing: Adaptation only made up about 8% of total climate financing in 2019-2020.
• Nature of Climate Finance: Nearly 94% of existing climate investment is either through debt or equity (return seeking).

Paris Agreement (2015) on Climate Financing

• Article 9 stipulates that developed country Parties shall provide financial resources for mitigation and adaptation to developing country Parties.
• Builds on existing obligations under the Convention to provide financial assistance for climate action.

"Decade of Street Vendors Act, 2014"

Key Provisions of the Street Vendors Act

• Establishment of Town Vending Committees in each Local Authority.
• Survey of Street Vendors every five years.
• Issuance of Certificate of Vending to identified vendors.
• Ceiling limit of 2.5% of the population for accommodating vendors.

Challenges in Implementing the Act

• Administrative challenges leading to harassment and evictions of vendors.
• Governance issues with exclusion of vendors in city planning.
• Societal stigma hindering urban development.

Suggestions for Improvement

• Sensitizing police and local officials to avoid excessive actions.
• Ensuring representation of street vending activities in urban planning.
• Revision of ceiling on number of vendors based on city population.

"Public Investment Propels India to Fastest Growing Economy: IMF"

• Refers to gross fixed capital formation by the state.
• Includes physical and intangible investment.

Impact of Public Investment on Economic Growth

• Enhances demand.
• Raises productivity.
• Attracts private investment.

Potential Negative Effects of Public Investment

• Crowding out private investment.
• Higher taxes and borrowing can reduce private sector income.

Key Initiatives by India for Enhancing Public Investment

• 100% FDI allowed in most sectors.
• PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan for connectivity infrastructure.
• National Monetisation Pipeline for private sector investment.
• Reducing compliance burden on citizens and businesses.