Context: Amidst competitive global politicking, as the world struggles to contain the toxic legacies of 2023 — cruel regional wars, civic conflicts and undeniable stories of anthropogenic harms — technocrats, ecocrats, and bureaucrats across the world continue to device and launch quiet initiatives portending a better and larger future for human rights.
Relationship between AI and sovereignty:
Politics and geopolitics of AI governance
The key challenges in regulating AI at the international level include:
These challenges highlight the complexity of regulating AI at the international level and the need for nuanced, adaptable, and collaborative approaches to address the diverse and rapidly evolving AI landscape.
To address these challenges and harness the potential of AI, countries can consider the following solutions and ways forward:
Context: The article discusses the threats faced by India’s civic space, particularly organizations fighting against communalism. Emphasizes the importance of protecting constitutional freedoms.
Key highlights:
Challenges:
The shrinking space for civil society in India can be attributed to several factors, including:
Case study
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Way forward:
Context: The Indian Navy has deployed ships and aircraft to maintain enhanced surveillance and maritime security operations in the North/Central Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden.
News:
Gulf of Aden:
Context: A two-year field study conducted by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) scientists on the effectiveness of Liquid Nano Urea has revealed a significant reduction in rice and wheat yields compared to the application of conventional nitrogen (N) fertilizer.
News:
These results highlight the importance of conducting extended, long-term field assessments spanning 5-7 years to determine the equivalence of nano urea to traditional urea and its sustainability in sustaining crop yields.
Key Findings on the Effectiveness of Liquid Nano Urea:
Liquid Nano Urea:
Composition:
- Liquid Nano Urea is urea presented in nanoparticle form, serving as a liquid nutrient alternative to traditional urea for supplying nitrogen to plants.
Characteristics:
- Urea is a chemical nitrogen fertilizer, typically white, providing essential nitrogen, a key nutrient for plant growth.
- The nano urea is engineered to substitute conventional urea, potentially reducing the requirement for the latter by at least 50%.
Concentration:
- A 500 ml bottle of Liquid Nano Urea contains 40,000 mg/L of nitrogen, equivalent to the nitrogen impact of one bag of conventional urea.
Launch:
- Introduced in June 2021, Liquid Nano Urea was launched by the Indian Farmers and Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO).
Development:
- Developed domestically at the IFFCO-Nano Biotechnology Research Centre in Kalol, Gujarat, aligning with the principles of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India) and Atmanirbhar Krishi (Self-reliant Agriculture).
Importance:
- Particularly significant as India relies on imports to fulfill its urea requirements.
Application Method:
- Liquid Nano Urea is applied as a foliar spray, intended for use once leaves have emerged on the crops.
Context: The Arctic region has reported the first case of death of a polar bear due to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
News:
About polar bear:
Survival Dependence on Arctic Sea Ice:
Predatory Characteristics:
Ecological Significance:
Impact on Seal Population:
H5N1 Virus (Bird Flu):
Recently, the President of India presided over a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan to bestow the prestigious National Sports and Adventure Awards 2023.The awards are administered by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India.
2023: Chirag Shetty and Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy (badminton).
2023:
Regular Category: Lalit Kumar (wrestling), RB Ramesh (chess) among others.
Lifetime Category:Jaskirat Singh Grewal (golf), Bhaskaran E (kabaddi) among others.
https://pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=151772&ModuleId=3
12th National Sports Daywas celebrated across India on 29 August.
Why is National Sports Day Celebrated?
Highlights of NSD 2023:
National Sports Policy: India's National Sports Policy functions as a guiding framework channeling the nation's sporting aspirations. This policy underscores grassroots development and talent identification, acknowledging that a strong foundation is vital for sustained success. Athletes, coaches, and the creation of world-class sports infrastructure receive incentives and support, forming a multi-pronged approach that addresses the array of challenges encountered in India's sports sector. The National Sports Policy outlines a clear roadmap for the holistic growth of sports in the country. It recognizes the importance of nurturing talent from a young age and provides guidelines for the establishment of sports academies and training centers. The policy's emphasis on creating a sports culture at the grassroots level is a testament to its commitment to building a strong foundation for the future. |
The Asian Games is the biggest sports competition in Asia, held once every four years. The symbol for the Asian Games is the rising sun with interlocking rings. It is recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
Background and Inauguration:
After the Second World War, many Asian countries gained independence and the Indian International Olympic Committee proposed the idea of Asian Games as a sporting event, where all Asian nations can be represented.The first-ever Asian Games were held in New Delhi in 1951.
Regulation: Asian Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from 1951 to 1978. Since 1982, the Olympic Council of Asia has regulated the Asian Games.
India as a Host: India is a founder member of Asian Games and also the host of the first Asian Games. The 9th edition of the Asian Games was also held in New Delhi in November and December 1982. Appu, the Indian elephant, was the first mascot to be used for the Asian Games.
Recently, the 19th Asian Games (of 2022, held in 2023)came to a close at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium (also called Big Lotus) in China. Hockey player PR Sreejesh was India’s flagbearer at the parade of athletes.
The 20th Asian Games will be held in Japan in 2027.
India’s Milestones:
India’s Medals Tally: With an unprecedented haul of 107 medals (28 gold, 38 silvers and 41 bronze), India set a new benchmark for themselves at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China.
At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, India performed well and returned with 70 medals, including a haul of 16 gold medals.
It was the first time in Asian Games history that India’s medals tally crossed the three-figure mark. By doing so, they became the only fourth country after China (383), Japan (188) and the Republic of Korea (190) to win 100 or more medals in a single edition of the Asian Games.
Athletes Performance: Athletics turned out to be the most productive sport with a total of 29 medals - six gold, 14 silver and nine bronze.
Hockey: The India men's hockey team won an Asian Games gold and booked a Paris Olympics berth with a 5-1 thrashing of Japan.
Introduction of New Sports:2023 Games saw two medal sports make their debut: e-Sports and Breakdancing.
Apart from them, Cricket, and board games - Go, Xiangqi, and Chess returned to Asian Games in this edition after not featuring in the 2018 Asiad.
Doping is the act of consuming artificial and often illegal substances to gain an advantage over others in sporting competitions (For example: anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, stimulants and diuretics).
Doping products are often illegally produced, trafficked and distributed. As they are rarely approved for public use, their consumption is dangerous and poses a serious health risk to both professional and amateur sports people.
Anti Doping is opposing or prohibiting illegal doping to improve athletic performance.
India’s Initiatives Related to Anti-Doping:
National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA):
The National Anti-Doping Act 2022:
The act aims to ensure the highest standards of integrity while participating and preparing for sports competitions, both domestically and internationally.
National Dope Testing Laboratories (NDTL):NDTL under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is responsible for sample analysis and research work in the field of dope analysis.The NDTL is WADA-accredited, this accreditation is a testament to the NDTL's commitment to quality and accuracy in its testing procedures.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)anti-doping report, 2022, released by the WADA reveals alarming statistics on global doping violations, emphasising the need for stringent measures to safeguard the integrity of sports.
India Leads Globally in Doping Offences:
Comparison with Other Nations:
Overall Increase in Testing and AAFs:
What are the Implications of These Findings for India?
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
Way FORWARD
China's Approach:Consideration of criminalising doping, with penalties including jail time for athletes and coaches, similar to China's approach.
China criminalised doping in sports resulting in a significant drop in doping cases.Under these rules individuals encouraging athletes to use banned substances may face up to three years in prison and a fine. Organisers of doping may receive even harsher penalties, and knowingly offering banned substances to athletes is deemed a criminal offence.
In the 2022 WADA report, China had significantly fewer positive results, demonstrating the effectiveness of strict penalties.
Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) is the pool of funds generated by 5% Universal Service Levy that is charged upon all the telecom fund operators on their Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR). This fund is deposited in the Consolidated Fund of India and is dispatched on the approval of the Indian Parliament.
The USOF comes under the Indian Telegraph Act 1885. The act was amended in 2003 to give statutory status to the fund. The Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications governs the fund and related provisions.
The aim of USOF is to provide a balance between the provision of Universal Service to all uncovered areas, including the rural areas.
The USOF is in the news as the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has asked to reduce the license fee by 8% which comprises USOF (5%) and License Fee (3%). The proposal has come on the account of debts faced by Telecom Companies, and the rising demand for telecom services with the advent of Work From Home (WFH) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Telecom service providers have urged the Ministry of Finance to suspend the universal service obligation fund (USOF) levy until the existing corpus is exhausted.
About Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)
What is the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF)?
Adjusted gross revenue (AGR)?
Telecom operators are required to pay license fee and spectrum charges in the form of ‘revenue share’ to the Government. The revenue amount used to calculate this revenue share is known as AGR.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are known by the acronym MSME.
Vulcan Centaur is a two-stage-to-orbit, heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by United Launch Alliance (ULA).
A recent study suggests that the sisal leaves could make sanitary napkins more sustainable in India.
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We provide offline, online and recorded lectures in the same amount.
Every aspirant is unique and the mentoring is customised according to the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirant.
In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
We provide you the best and Comprehensive content which comes directly or indirectly in UPSC Exam.