28 August 2023 : Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs

28-August-2023

Daily Current Affairs For UPSC ,Daily Current affairs of The hIndu and Indian Express.

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1. Migrant workers forced to flee back home, Gurugram high-rises feel the pinch

Topic: GS3 – internal migration

Context:

• Communal clashes in Nuh and nearby areas led to migrant labourers fleeing Haryana, leaving a workforce gap in Gurugram’s high-rises.
• Migrant workers, including housekeeping staff, from slum clusters were a significant part of the workforce in the city.
• The absence of these workers has created difficulties for employers in managing daily chores and operations.

Important data:

• According to the Census of India 2011, the total number of internal migrants in India was 36 crore or 37% of the country’s population.
• The Economic Survey of 2017 pegs the size of the migrant workforce at roughly 20 per cent or over 10 crore in 2016.
• The states with the highest number of migrant workers are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
• The most common reasons for migration are to find work, to escape poverty, and to reunite with family members.

Importance of migrant workers for a developed states:

• Migrant workers play a crucial role in various sectors of India’s developed states.
• They provide labor for construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and service industries.
• Migrant workers help meet labor shortages and contribute to economic growth.
• Their willingness to work in diverse jobs supports overall productivity.
• Remittances sent by migrant workers to their hometowns boost local economies.
• Migrant workers contribute to cultural diversity and urban development.

Challenges faced by migrant workers:

• Lack of job security and social protection.
• Poor working and living conditions.
• Exploitation and low wages.
• Limited access to healthcare and education.
• Discrimination and social isolation.
• Separation from families and support networks.
• Vulnerability to economic fluctuations and crises.

Way forward:

• Improved labor rights and legal protections for migrant workers.
• Access to affordable healthcare, education, and social services.
• Fair wages and equal treatment in employment.
• Adequate housing and living conditions.
• Skill development and training opportunities.
• Social integration and community support programs.
• Collaboration between sending and receiving states for coordinated policies.
• Addressing root causes of migration through inclusive development.

Mains question:  Discuss the challenges faced by migrant workers in India and suggest potential strategies to address their issues and ensure their socio-economic well-being.

2. The state of scholarships for minorities

Topic: GS3 – internal migration

Background:

• India has a significant Muslim minority population.
• Muslims lag behind other communities in education.
• The government has implemented several schemes to provide educational assistance to religious minorities.
• Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee’s 2006 report highlighted neglect of Muslims in development indicators, leading to creation of Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2006.
• Central educational schemes included Pre-Matric Scholarship, Post-Matric Scholarship, Merit-cum-Means Scholarship, Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF), Padho Pardesh, Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship, Naya Savera, and others. 

Recent developments:

• The government has discontinued two key educational schemes for religious minorities.
• The scope of another scheme has been narrowed.
• The budget for educational schemes has been reduced.

Impact:

• The number of beneficiaries of educational schemes has declined.
• The allocation of funds for educational schemes is not in line with proportional representation of minorities.
• The utilization of funds under the scholarship schemes is delayed.

Way forward:

• Niti Aayog has suggested enhancing pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarships.
• It has also recommended increasing the number of scholarships for girls from minority communities.

Recommendations:

The government should:

• Restore the discontinued educational schemes.
• Expand the scope of existing schemes.
• Increase the budget for educational schemes.
• Ensure timely utilization of funds under the scholarship schemes.

Take steps to address the underlying causes of educational disparities among religious minorities

3. Why is Apple’s change of heart on ‘Right to Repair’ movement a big policy shift?

Topic: GS3 – Science and technology

Context:

• Apple has reversed its stance on the “right to repair” movement and is now supporting legislation that gives consumers and third-party firms the right to repair damaged electronic products.
• The shift in Apple’s stance signifies a change in the approach of tech companies towards repair rights and consumer ownership.
• The “right to repair” movement aims to allow consumers to repair their own devices without restrictions imposed by manufacturers.

What is ‘Right to Repair’ movement?

• “Right to Repair” movement advocates for the right of consumers to repair their own electronic devices.
• It seeks to challenge restrictions imposed by manufacturers on repairing devices, such as smartphones and laptops.
• The movement aims to counter laws like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that limit repair options.
• Supporters argue that consumers should have access to tools, parts, and information needed for device repairs.
• The movement aims to promote sustainability, reduce electronic waste, and empower consumers.

4. Don’t treat countries merely as a market, PM tells global industry

Topic: GS3 – Global economy.

Context:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasizes the need for global businesses to move beyond profit-driven focus.

Highlights of Prime Minister’s speech at B20 Summit India:

• He highlights the importance of balancing the interests of producers and consumers for a sustainable market.
• Modi questions the efficiency of global supply chains after pandemic-induced disruptions.
• He presents India as a reliable solution to supply chain disruptions and emphasizes the need for equal partnerships.
• Businesses should adopt a consumer-centric approach and consider an annual “International Consumer Care Day.”
• Uneven availability of critical materials and rare earth metals can lead to a new form of colonialism.
• Global growth’s future is linked to the future of businesses, which can transform obstacles into opportunities.
• Emerging issues like cryptocurrencies and AI require an integrated global framework for addressing stakeholders’ concerns.

5. Somatic mutations: a genomic revolution hiding inside our cells

Topic: GS3 – Science and technology.

What is the article about?

• The human genome consists of 23 pairs of chromosomes inherited from parents, carrying genetic blueprints.
• Errors in DNA copying during cell division can result in mutations, though accuracy is maintained by proofreading proteins.
• Despite high accuracy, studies estimate an error rate of 0.64-0.78 mutations per billion base pairs per division.
• Mutations vary in effect based on developmental stage and can lead to driver mutations causing tumor formation.
• The human body should be seen as a mosaic of genetically similar but distinct cells due to genetic variants.
• Somatic genetic variants are vital for physiological processes, like immune cell diversity.
• Advancements in genetic sequencing technology have led to an explosion of knowledge about somatic variants.
• Somatic variants play a crucial role in cancer development, detection, diagnosis, and tracking treatment response.
• Genetic diseases can arise from somatic genetic variants, affecting disease severity based on when they occur.
• Somatic mosaicism is an under-recognized cause of immune disorders and genetic diseases.
• The U.S. National Institutes of Health’s ‘Somatic Mosaicism across Human Tissues’ (SMaHT) Network aims to study somatic variants’ biological and clinical significance.
• SMaHT’s data-centric approach seeks to provide novel insights and advancements in disease understanding and management.

6. Create global framework for ethical use of AI:PM

Context:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for a global framework to ensure the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) as he flagged concerns over algorithmic bias and its disruptive impact on society.
• The Prime Minister was speaking at the Business 20 (B20) Summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), ahead of the G20 Summit next month.

Details:

• Emphasising the need to deepen mutual trust and cooperation between countries, Modi called for a similar, integrated approach to deal with issues related to cryptocurrencies.
• Modi also reiterated the importance of India’s role in setting up resilient and inclusive global supply chains.
• Noting the excitement around AI, Modi pointed out some ethical considerations. He mentioned that Global business communities and governments have to ensure the expansion of ethical AI across different sectors to prevent any sort of disruption citing the examples of the aviation and financial sectors which have seen global coordination.
• Positioned India as a crucial element and solution to the global supply chains which were disrupted during the pandemic.
• Stressing on mutual trust, Modi pitched India as a key player internationally.
• Cautioning against a “self-centric” approach, Modi said that if businesses and governments don’t shoulder global responsibility, it could result in a “new colonial model”.
• Modi also urged business leaders to look beyond consumer rights, and focus on consumer care which would send a positive signal and will resolve consumer rights issues.
• The Prime Minister also highlighted the contribution of various Indian MSMEs and private companies in the success of the country’s lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3.

7. BRICS DECLARATION:

Topic:GS2-IR

Context:

• The 15th BRICS Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 22-24 August 2023.
• These are some of the key takeaways emerging from the BRICS leaders’ summit in Johannesburg as tough diplomatic negotiations and the informal meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping played out in the run-up to the declaration.

Key takeaways:

• On UN Security Council reforms, the BRICS declaration introduced the phrase “legitimate aspirations” and the word “democratic” in the paragraph. Last year, BRICS had merely talked about “aspirations” of India, Brazil and South Africa and making the UNSC “representative, effective and efficient”.
• It supported a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s memberships.
• This would ultimately lead to a stronger response to prevailing global challenges.
• It also supported the 3 legitimate aspirations of emerging and developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, including Brazil, India and South Africa, to play a greater role in international affairs, in particular in the United Nations, including its Security Council.”
• On the issue of the Russia Ukraine war, the BRICS declaration used the word “conflict in and around Ukraine”, instead of last year’s formulation of the “situation in Ukraine”.
• There was, however, no mention of the Black Sea Grain Initiative which was an important issue this time.
• Afghanistan was a noteworthy miss in the 94-paragraph declaration running into 17 pages, especially considering that there was an extensive paragraph on it in the June 2022 declaration.
• BRICS — largely portrayed as an anti-West platform acknowledged G20 as a “premier multilateral forum” and the “Indian Presidency” this time.
• It stated that two more BRICS countries — Brazil and South Africa—will preside over the G20 in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
• It reaffirmed the importance of the G20 to continue playing the role of the premier multilateral forum in the field of international economic and financial cooperation.
• It also noted the opportunities to build sustained momentum for change by India, Brazil and South Africa who would be presiding over the G20 from 2023 to 2025.

8. Dengue vaccines under development in India.

Topic: GS3- Science and tech

Context:

• With the expanding geography of dengue infections in India as well as the world, the need has increasingly been felt for a vaccine that can protect against all four serotypes, or strains, of the virus.
• Nearly half the world’s population lives at the risk of dengue at present.

Dengue in India:

• The disease in India has spread from just eight states and Union Territories in 2001 to all states by 2022 — Ladakh was the last bastion, from where two infections were reported last year.
• This year, 31,464 dengue cases and 36 deaths have been reported across the country till July, as per the latest data.
• Several efforts are underway within the country to develop a vaccine against the mosquito-borne disease, which can cause internal bleeding, circulatory shock, and death.
• The dengue virus is called DENV, and its serotypes are DENV1, DENV2, DENV3, and DENV4.

Which vaccines are being tested at present?

At present, three vaccine candidates are being tested on humans in India.

FIRST CANDIDATE:

• First is a vaccine by Panacea Biotec, based on live weakened versions of the four dengue serotypes.
• These versions were developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US where they deleted parts of the genetic code of DENV1, DENV3, and DENV4 and then genetically engineered a DENV2 backbone using parts from the weakened DENV4, on which the others were tacked.
• These were grown in cell culture by Panacea Biotec to develop the vaccine.
• The company has completed a phase I/II study in 100 healthy adults between 18 and 60 years of age. This showed no severe adverse events and more than 75% of the participants developed antibodies against all four of the dengue serotypes.
• A larger phase III trial is likely by December this year, after the vaccine manufacturing capability is scaled up. The trial will be conducted across 20 sites, enrolling 10,335 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 80 years.

SECOND CANDIDATE:

• A second vaccine candidate was developed by the Serum Institute of India with the same weakened virus from the US.
• A phase I trial with 60 healthy adults of 18 to 45 years has already been completed, showing the vaccine to be safe and well-tolerated.

THIRD CANDIDATE:

• The same technology has also been used by Indian Immunologicals Limited to develop a vaccine. This has started the phase I clinical trial in 90 persons between the ages of 18 and 50 years.

CHALLENGES OF DEVELOPING A VACCINE:

• One of the main challenges of developing a dengue vaccine is antibody dependent enhancement (ADE)—a person with low levels of antibodies against one serotype of dengue may end up getting a more severe infection with another serotype.
• This was what led to the controversy surrounding the first dengue vaccine to be approved.
• Only after a vaccination programme had been rolled out in the Philippines was it found that the vaccine could actually increase the risk of severe disease in the people who had not been infected before.

STEPS TAKEN TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM:

• To tackle this problem, both the Indian research teams selected a specific part of the envelope protein known to not cause ADE.
• The team from International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, created a Virus-Like Particle using these parts of the virus.
• The vaccine was shown to offer almost 100% protection against all four serotypes. This has been tested on mice and monkeys, but is yet to be tested on humans. The vaccine was developed in collaboration with Sun Pharmaceuticals.
• The other team, which has researchers from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (Mumbai) and Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (Thiruvananthapuram), among others, used the same envelope parts of the four viruses, along with another part called non-structural-1, and built a genetic sequence.

8. Govt calls meeting of states, bank officials on ‘PM Vishwakarma’ today.

Topic: GS2-Govt policies

Context:

• The Government has called a meeting of senior officials from states, public sector banks and State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC), to discuss the implementation of the Rs 13,000 crore ‘PM Vishwakarma’ scheme, which seeks to support traditional artisans and craftsman.
• The Skill Ministry has called a meeting on August 28, in which principal secretaries of states, managing directors of banks, and SLBC representatives have been invited.

About PM Vishwakarma:

• The scheme, which would be launched on September 17, would be implemented by three ministries — MSME, Skill Development and Finance.
• The target is to enroll as many as 3 lakh beneficiaries in the current fiscal.

Details:

• The meeting will discuss the roadmap for implementation of the scheme and process of identification of beneficiaries of PM Vishwakarma scheme.
• Under the scheme, the skilled workmen will be given training for4-5 days to upgrade their skill, following which they will become eligible for loan.
• The main thrust of the scheme will be on rural areas, where village-level and district-level committees will identify the beneficiaries.
• In urban India, municipal corporations will identify the beneficiaries.

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