Daily Current Affairs

24-November-2023

1. Governor holds no veto power over Bills, says SC

Topic: GS2 – Indian polity.

Context:

• The Supreme Court has issued a significant judgment emphasizing the procedure a Governor must follow when withholding assent to a Bill.

More information on this news:

• The ruling states that if a Governor withholds assent, they must send the Bill back to the State legislature “as soon as possible” with a message for reconsideration.
• If the Assembly reiterates the Bill, with or without amendments, the Governor is bound to give assent, eliminating discretion.
• The judgment, based on a petition by the Punjab government against a Governor’s action, is seen as favorable for Tamil Nadu, where 10 Bills were returned by the Assembly to Governor R.N. Ravi.
• The court underscores the Governor’s obligation to follow the course of action indicated in the first proviso of Article 200, mandating communication to the State Legislature for reconsideration.
• It establishes that the ultimate decision on accepting the Governor’s advice belongs solely to the legislature, emphasizing the non-binding nature of the Governor’s message.
• Withholding a Bill without further action would be deemed unconstitutional, as it could potentially veto the functioning of a duly elected legislature, contrary to democratic principles.
• The judgment safeguards the parliamentary pattern of governance and prevents undue interference by an unelected Head of State in the legislative domain.

2. Political rivals come together to hold Kambala

Topic: GS1 – India art and culture.

Context:

• Congress and BJP political rivals in Karnataka, Puttur Congress MLA Ashok Kumar Rai and BJP leader Umesh Shetty, have collaborated to organize the Kambala buffalo race in Bengaluru.
• The event, scheduled for November 25 and 26, marks the first time both parties are jointly hosting a mega event.

About Kambala:

Origin and History

• Kambala is a traditional buffalo race practiced in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi of Karnataka, 
• It is believed to have originated centuries ago as a way to train buffaloes for agricultural work and to assess their strength and speed.
• Kambala is deeply ingrained in the cultural identity of the Tuluva people, who are the primary practitioners of this sport.

The Race

• Kambala races are typically held during the winter months, between November and March, after the paddy harvest.
• The races take place on a pair of parallel, waterlogged paddy fields, approximately 140 meters in length.
• Two buffaloes are paired together and guided by a kambalakar (racer) who runs behind them, holding a rope connected to a wooden plough.
• The kambalakar encourages the buffaloes to run as fast as possible by shouting commands and using a whip.
• The buffaloes that complete the race in the shortest time are declared the winners.

Cultural Significance

• Kambala is more than just a sport; it is a celebration of the Tuluva people’s agricultural heritage and their connection to the land.
• The races are accompanied by a vibrant cultural atmosphere, with traditional music, dance,and food stalls.
• Kambala also serves as a social gathering for the Tuluva community,bringing people together from different villages and towns.

Conservation Efforts

• In recent years, there have been concerns about the welfare of buffaloes participating in Kambala races.
• Animal rights activists have raised objections to the use of whips and the potential for injuries to the buffaloes.
• The Supreme Court of India has issued guidelines to ensure the humane treatment of buffaloes during Kambala races.
• Kambala organizers are working to address these concerns and ensure the sustainability of this traditional sport.

Additional Points

• Kambala is often referred to as the “sport of kings” due to its association with the Tuluva royalty.
• The buffaloes participating in Kambala are specially trained and groomed for the races.
• Kambala has become a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the world to witness this unique spectacle.

3. COP 28: India’s equity demand.

Topic: GS3 – climate action

Global Carbon Budget and Climate Change:

• A near-linear relationship exists between global warming and cumulative carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, impacting the global climate.
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement emphasize the ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’ (CBDR-RC) principle, recognizing different responsibilities of states in tackling climate change.

Global Carbon Budget Definition:

• The ‘global carbon budget’ refers to the maximum cumulative global anthropogenic CO2 emissions, aiming to limit global warming to a specified level with a given probability.
• The remaining carbon budget indicates the allowable CO2 emissions to meet temperature targets.

Historical Cumulative Emissions:

• Developed countries have historically appropriated a disproportionately larger share of the global carbon budget.
• South Asia, including India, has contributed only around 4% to historical cumulative emissions, despite having nearly 24% of the global population.

Importance for India:

• India must recognize its ‘fair share of the carbon budget’ as a strategic national resource, depleting rapidly due to over-exploitation by developed countries.
• Failure to assert control over this resource might result in India being shortchanged by developed countries.

Challenges and Realities:

• In most emissions scenarios, the world breaches a 1.5-degree Celsius temperature increase by the early 2030s.
• Developed countries have pressured developing nations for rapid, economy-wide changes, creating challenges for countries’ growth trajectories.

India’s Stance at COP 28:

• India should assert its demand for a fair share of its carbon budget or equivalent reparations at COP 28.
• The government’s initiatives, such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and Global Biofuel Alliance, highlight India’s commitment to sustainable practices.
• India must emphasize the need for stronger and more fruitful commitments from developed countries, including promised climate-specific finance and technology.

Addressing Carbon Debt:

• Scientists estimate developed countries’ carbon debt to the world at over $51 trillion, with India’s historical emissions granting it a carbon credit equivalent of 338 GtCO2-eq.
• The Glasgow Climate Pact recorded “regret” for the failure of developed countries to provide the promised US $100 billion a year, emphasizing the need for more finance and less rhetoric.

Call for Action:

• India needs to challenge developed countries to fulfill their commitments, bringing about fairness in the global order.
• The demand for a fair share of the carbon budget and the fulfillment of promised financial assistance are essential for addressing climate change challenges and promoting sustainable development.

Question: Examine India’s stance on the global carbon budget at COP 28, highlighting key considerations and challenges.

4. Deepfake alarm: challenges as AI’s shadow looms over the entertainment industry.

Topic: GS3 – Science and technology

Context:

• A deepfake video featuring Rashmika Mandanna’s likeness surfaced, raising concerns about AI misuse.
• The video morphed her facial features onto British-Indian social media personality Zara Patel.

Entertainment Industry and AI Applications:

• Entertainment media, particularly the film industry, has showcased AI applications through deepfake videos.
• Examples include AI-generated videos featuring popular actors, creating both fascination and concern.

Misuse of Generative AI and Deepfakes:

• Deepfakes pose a high-risk aspect due to generative AI’s ability to create nearly perfect renditions.
• Threats include the creation of new, realistic content with potential for misuse and personal attacks.

Challenges and Threats Associated with Deepfakes:

• Existing cybercrime measures for morphing and revenge porn may seem inadequate against the advanced capabilities of generative AI.
• Deepfakes challenge traditional methods, making systems designed for previous cyber threats less effective.

Government Initiatives and Vigilance:

• The Indian government has been vigilant in implementing measures to tackle AI-related issues.
• High-level meetings and discussions involving social media platforms and AI experts aim to address challenges posed by deepfakes.

Legal Recourse for Deepfake Victims:

• Victims are advised to report deepfake incidents to social media platforms, which are legally bound to address and remove such content.
• Legal remedies under Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, Copyright Act, and other relevant provisions can be pursued.

Role of AI in Countering Deepfakes:

• AI models are being developed to counter dark AI activities, providing tools to prevent misuse and alert consumers to AI-altered content.
• Open-source tools and initiatives like the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) aim to authenticate digital media.

Support for Deepfake Victims:

• Victims can lodge complaints with the National Cyber Crime Helpline and seek assistance from cyber lawyers.
• Online forums such as stopncii.org offer support, especially in cases involving intimate or non-consensual content.

Concerns for Actors and Influencers:

• Actors and influencers, especially women and marginalized genders, often face the brunt of cybercrimes, including deepfakes.
• Lack of a national union in Indian cinema raises concerns about potential AI misuse by studios, affecting actors’ livelihood.

Hope for AI Solutions:

• Ongoing developments in AI include tools to combat deepfakes, such as Intel’s FakeCatcher and the use of innovative techniques to detect AI-altered content.
• Transparency initiatives and open technical standards contribute to the fight against deepfakes and AI misuse.

Conclusion and Future Outlook:

• Increased awareness, legislative efforts, and human-friendly AI models are crucial in addressing the challenges posed by deepfakes.
• The evolving landscape of AI and deepfakes necessitates a proactive approach to safeguard individuals and prevent malicious uses of technology.

Question: How does the emergence of deepfake technology impact societal and individual security, and what measures should be adopted to address the challenges posed by deepfakes in the context of artificial intelligence and cybercrime?

5. Fathima Beevi, first woman judge in Supreme Court, dead

Topic: GS2 – important personalities

Context:

• Fathima Beevi, the pioneering woman who served as the first female judge in the Supreme Court, has passed away.

Educational and Judicial Milestones:

• In 1950, Justice M. Fathima Beevi was the first student to achieve full marks in all subjects and complete a law degree.
• Eight years later, she secured the top position in a Public Service Commission exam, joining the judicial services as a munsiff.
• Later, she became the inaugural woman member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and, in 1983, the first Muslim woman judge in the Kerala High Court.

Historic Entry into Supreme Court:

• Committed to reshaping the role of women in the Indian judiciary, she broke more barriers, becoming the first woman judge in the Supreme Court of India in 1989.

Governorship and Controversial Decision:

• Served as the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1997 to 2001.
• Her controversial decision involved administering the oath of office to Jayalalithaa after the AIADMK’s electoral victory in 2001, despite disqualification due to convictions.
• The Supreme Court unseated Jayalalithaa in September 2001, and Fathima Beevi’s tenure concluded abruptly a few months after Jayalalithaa’s swearing-in.

Displeasure and Resignation:

• Fathima Beevi faced displeasure from the Centre for her report on the midnight arrest of then DMK president M. Karunanidhi, leading to her resignation.

6. ‘Need a regulator like SEBI for AI’

Topic: GS3 – Science and technology

Context:

• India is planning to establish norms for regulating artificial intelligence (AI), according to Sanjiv Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC).

More on this news:

• Sanyal suggests a regulatory model similar to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for the AI sector, emphasizing the need for a regulator that comprehends the technology’s evolution.
• He argues against relying solely on self-regulation or bureaucratic regulation in the AI space and proposes the establishment of a regulatory system with manual overrides, comparable to circuit breakers in financial markets.
• The suggested approach includes introducing skin in the game, ex-ante accountability, and regular audits to ensure transparency and accountability in AI operations.
• Drawing parallels with the financial world, Sanyal believes that similar principles can be applied to regulate the evolution of AI, and he anticipates the evolution of regulatory norms in this regard.

7. ‘Banks may need to shift to hyper-personalised banking’

Topic: GS3 – Indian economy.

Context:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) deputy governor M. Rajeshwar Rao emphasizes the need for banks to shift from a sectoral approach to an ecosystem approach.

More information on this news:

• Rao envisions the future of banking as hyper-personalized, suggesting a transition from isolated service provisions to hyper-personalized embedded banking.
• He anticipates a change in the traditional form of business segmentation, with a shift towards customer preferences-based verticals.
• The break-up of assets and liabilities in banks is likely to undergo drastic changes in the evolving banking landscape.
• Rao emphasizes that banks will remain primary drivers of India’s growth but underscores the importance of their trajectory during the transition period.
• In the new paradigm, markets are expected to be central points for intermediation, with banks becoming one among many entities interacting in the marketplace.
• The traditional banking business model needs to pivot to align with the changing dynamics of the banking industry.

What is hyper-personalized banking:

Hyper-personalized banking is a strategy that uses data and analytics to tailor banking products and services to the unique needs and preferences of each individual customer. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as:

• Analyzing customer spending patterns to identify opportunities for cross-selling or upselling products and services.
• Using machine learning to predict customer behavior and proactively offer assistance or recommendations.
• Personalizing marketing campaigns and communications to target specific customer segments.
• Developing customized financial plans and recommendations based on individual customer goals and risk tolerance.

The goal of hyper-personalized banking is to create a more engaging and satisfying customer experience that leads to increased loyalty and profitability.

Here are some of the benefits of hyper-personalized banking:

• Increased customer satisfaction and loyalty
• Improved customer acquisition and retention rates
• Higher cross-selling and upselling rates
• Reduced marketing costs
• Improved risk management

Here are some of the challenges of hyper-personalized banking:

• Collecting and analyzing large amounts of customer data
• Protecting customer privacy
• Ensuring that personalization is ethical and non-discriminatory
• Measuring the ROI of hyper-personalized banking initiatives

Despite the challenges, hyper-personalized banking is a growing trend in the financial industry. As banks collect more data about their customers and develop more sophisticated analytics tools, they are able to tailor their products and services in ways that were never before possible.

Question: Critically examine the potential benefits and challenges of hyper-personalized banking in the context of financial inclusion and responsible banking practices.

8. Spike in illness and pneumonia cases in China, WHO seeks more information

Topic: GS2- Health

Context:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally asked China for information regarding a significant rise in respiratory diseases and the formation of pediatric pneumonia clusters.
• This action comes in response to reports from an international infectious disease monitoring service and anonymous media sources that highlight outbreaks of pneumonia in children in northern China that go undetected.

Uncertain Link to Chinese Authorities’ Reports

• WHO voiced doubts in a statement about any possible link between these pneumonia clusters and the increase in respiratory illnesses that Chinese officials had noted.
• As of right now, it’s unknown how the two phenomena relate to one another.

Chinese National Health Commission’s Report on Respiratory Diseases

• On November 13, the Chinese National Health Commission announced a rise in respiratory illnesses, which they linked to the relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
• This rise is reported to be consistent with a trend seen in other nations as well, where respiratory illnesses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) increased following the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions.

WHO’s Request for More Details from China

• In light of the developing situation, WHO has formally asked China for more information in order to better understand the factors surrounding the rise in pediatric respiratory infections and pneumonia clusters.
• World Health Organization is still actively looking into and responding to this possibly alarming development.

9. Governor can’t keep a Bill pending indefinitely: SC

Topic: GS2- Polity

Context:

• The Governor, as the leader of the state who is not elected, is granted constitutional powers, but the Supreme Court has made it clear that these powers cannot be used to impede the state legislature’s regular legislative session.
• The court emphasized the constitutional requirement for swift action, noting that a Governor cannot keep a law pending indefinitely without taking any action.

Constitutional Authority and Withholding Assent

• The Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, led the three-judge panel that explained the Governor’s powers under Article 200, emphasizing the ability to refuse to sign a law.
• Nonetheless, the court made it clear that the Governor must take a prescribed measure in certain situations.
• This is getting in touch with the state legislature as soon as possible and letting them know that the bill needs to be reexamined.

Judgment on Punjab Government’s Plea

• The Punjab administration had appealed to the Supreme Court against Governor Banwarilal Purohit for delaying bills sent by the state legislature.
• The court emphasized the necessity of speed in the Governor’s acts by elaborating on the constitutional importance of the phrase “as soon as possible” in Article 200.

Implications for Tamil Nadu and Kerala Governments

• The Supreme Court’s decision takes on greater significance in light of recent judicial challenges against the governors’ inactivity on bills filed by the governments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• The Governor cannot, as a symbolic head, stall the passage of bills that the state legislature has duly passed, according to the court’s ruling.

Preservation of Federalism and Democratic Functioning

• The court emphasized how important the governor is to maintaining federalism, which is thought to be a fundamental component of the Constitution, as its symbolic head.
• It issued a cautionary note about unchecked discretion, claiming that doing so could jeopardize democratic institutions.
• The ruling emphasized how essential federalism and democracy are to preserving citizens’ basic liberties and goals in life.

Governor’s Advisory Role and Legislative Autonomy

• The court made it clear that the legislature has the last say over whether or not to follow the Governor’s recommendations, even if it acknowledged the Governor’s position as a leading statesman.
• The democratically elected legislature makes the final decision, maintaining the independence of the legislative procedures even though the governor may suggest revisions or reconsideration.

10. Halal certification

Topic: GS2- Governance

Context:

• The Uttar Pradesh government banned halal-certified products on November 18, 2023.
• This ban applies to all halal-certified food products and medicines, excluding those for export and Meat items.
• The ban covers the production, storage, distribution, and sale of these products.

What is ‘Halal Certification’?

• Halal certification is a process that ensures that a product or service complies with Islamic Law.
• It guarantees that the food is prepared in accordance with Islamic law and is unadulterated.
• It also ensures that the product does not include any “forbidden” components, and has not been in contact with any substances or objects considered “impure”.
• Halal certification is mainly applied to meat products and other food products such as milk, canned food, and additives. It also applies to the cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors.
• In India, halal certification is usually provided by a third-party body.
• Some private companies that provide halal certification in India include: MTR, Venky’s, Sufi, and McDonald’s.

Halal certification in India

• Halal certification in India serves as documentation affirming a product or service’s adherence to Islamic dietary laws.
• It ensures that the food is prepared in accordance with Islamic principles and is free from adulteration.
• Typically, halal certification in India is applicable to the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical sectors. While it is commonly associated with meat products, it also extends to various food items like milk, as well as food additives.
• In India, third-party bodies, including many private companies, are involved in providing halal certification. The certification process incurs certain costs, encompassing consignment certification charges for non-meat products, auditor expenses per man day, and professional fees.
• However, a recent development in the most populous state of India, Uttar Pradesh, involves the prohibition of the distribution and sale of Halal-certified products.
• This ban was prompted by a police case against a company and several other organizations accused of “exploiting people’s religious sentiments” to enhance sales through the issuance of allegedly “forged” halal certificates.

Who issues Halal Certificate?

• In India, various third-party entities, including Halal India Private Limited, HALAL Certification Services India Private Limited, Jamiat Ulama-E-Maharashtra, and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind HALAL Trust, issue Halal certification to companies and products.
• Certification is granted to products sourced acceptably and slaughtered according to Islamic law.
• Halal foods adhere to Islamic cleanliness standards in production, processing, and storage, ensuring they are free from prohibited components.

11. SEBI Launches Investor Risk Reduction Access (IRRA) Platform

Topic: Prelims

Context:

• Major stock exchanges including BSE, NSE, NCDEX, MCX, and MSE collaborated to build the Investor Risk Reduction Access (IRRA) platform, which was unveiled by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

• When trading members or stockbrokers registered with SEBI encounter technical difficulties, the platform acts as a safety net for investors.

Objective and Functionality of IRRA

• The major goal of IRRA is to reduce investor risk in the event of technical issues at the trading member’s end, including primary and disaster recovery sites.
• Investors can use it to square off transactions, terminate open positions, and cancel pending orders in the event of unplanned outages that prevent access to the trading member’s website.
• But the platform isn’t meant to be used for creating new orders or positions.

Background and need for IRRA

• The securities market’s growing reliance on technology has resulted in an increase in the number of reported technical issues with trading members’ systems, which have caused service interruptions and investor complaints.
• Investors holding open positions are exposed in such circumstances, particularly in times of market turbulence.
• In order to address these disruptions, SEBI has indicated that stock exchanges would be introducing contingency services in December 2022.

Operational Mechanism of IRRA

• When technical problems prevent trading members from providing client service across exchanges from both primary and disaster recovery sites, they may activate IRRA.
• If there is an interruption in services across all markets, stock exchanges have the option to proactively enable IRRA services depending on characteristics such as connection, order flow, and social media posts.
• When the platform is activated, it downloads trades, notifies investors, and offers a link to IRRA.

IRRA Accessibility and Limitations

• Investors can use a mobile application and web URL for Internet-based trading (IBT) to access IRRA after obtaining authorization.
• Investors can examine and cancel pending orders as well as close open positions across various exchanges and segments using the tool.
• IRRA, however, is not accessible to institutional clients or those who trade algorithms.
• There will be no securities available for square-off that are exchanged on a trade-for-trade basis.

12. How farm fires are counted

Context:

• There has been much discussion about the effects of agricultural fires on pollution in the nation’s capital.
• This year, there were 55,725 farm fires reported in six states: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
• The season began on September 15 and ended on November 23.
• Punjab saw the greatest number of fires—36,323—with the state recording a peak of 3,230 fires on November 5.
• Understanding the scope of agricultural burning and how it affects air quality concerns requires knowledge of these data.

Data Collection by IARI’s CREAMS Laboratory

• Since September 15, the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modeling from Space (CREAMS) Laboratory of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has been in charge of gathering and sharing daily reports on paddy residue fires.
• The data provides a thorough breakdown of farm fire incidences, including location, timing, and intensity, and it covers Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi.

Satellite Technology and Monitoring Protocols

• Three NASA spacecraft are used for data collection: MODIS on the Terra and Aqua satellites, VIIRS on the Suomi NPP satellite.
• With their twice-daily land surface temperature records, these satellites offer extensive coverage of the area.
• Burnt regions are also mapped by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-2 satellites.
• In 2021, uniform monitoring procedures were implemented to guarantee precision and uniformity in the reporting of agricultural fires.

Identifying Paddy Fires and Assessing Intensity

• It is imperative to distinguish crop residue fires in paddy fields from other causes by evaluating the field’s reflectance signature over an extended period of time.
• By detecting land surface temperatures and expressing the intensity as energy released per unit area, the satellites are able to identify current fires.
• Authorities can use this information to pinpoint hotspots and create focused responses to the problem.

Data Utilization and Limitations

• The produced bulletin is distributed to federal and state agencies to support their decision-making about pollution management strategies.
• There are, however, certain drawbacks, including the reliance on satellite passes, the influence of weather on measurements, and possible delays in data reception.
• For better monitoring in the future, it is emphasized that more frequent satellite passes and continuous improvements in private-sector satellite constellations are required.

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