30 July 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

1. The problem with India’s blocking of the Chinese

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS2 – International Relations, GS2 – Social Justice – Education

Context

Indian businesses urgently need more visas for Chinese technicians to address significant skill gaps in factory operations. Despite acknowledging the expertise of Chinese professionals, national security concerns have restricted visas, highlighting India’s educational shortcomings and the need for foreign technical assistance to enhance productivity and global competitiveness.

Introduction to the Skill Gap:

• Indian authorities have promised more visas to Chinese technicians to address the skill gap in Indian industries.
• Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, acknowledged the significant skill gap between Chinese and Indian factory supervisors and workers.
• Chinese professionals are noted for their high productivity, enabling more efficient production processes compared to their Indian counterparts.

Dependence on Chinese Expertise:

• Indian businesses across various sectors, such as footwear, textiles, engineering, and electronics, rely on Chinese technicians to operate Chinese-made machines effectively.
• Machines bought from China are lying idle, and export orders remain unfulfilled due to the lack of skilled technicians.
• Major industrial figures, including the chairman of the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India and leaders of industry associations, advocate for more visas for Chinese technicians.

Official Recognition of Skill Deficit:

• The acknowledgment of India’s skill deficit is crucial, highlighting that even labour-intensive production requires a high level of expertise.
• China developed this expertise over the past 40 years, becoming a global manufacturing hub with less expensive experts than those from other countries.

National Security Concerns and Visa Restrictions:

• Despite the need for Chinese expertise, the Indian government imposes restrictions on Chinese professionals due to national security concerns.
• In 2019, Chinese nationals received 200,000 visas, but the number dropped sharply following border clashes in 2020, with accusations of visa violations and money laundering against Chinese personnel.
• Visa issuance for Chinese technicians is currently undergoing intensive screening, delaying the process.

Challenges with Self-Reliance and Foreign Expertise:

• The rhetoric of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) contrasts with the reality of India’s dependence on foreign expertise, especially from China.
• The experience of East Asian countries demonstrates the importance of foreign knowledge combined with a solid domestic educational foundation for economic development.

Educational Shortcomings in India:

• India has made efforts to build more schools and increase enrollment, but the quality of education remains poor.
• Surveys indicate that only about 15% of Indian school students have basic reading and arithmetic skills needed for the global economy, compared to 85% of Chinese students.
• China continues to excel in education, with students performing at world-class levels in international assessments like the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Economic Implications of Educational Deficiencies:

• India must improve its education system to harness foreign expertise effectively and develop its domestic capabilities.
• The economic success of countries like Korea and China is attributed to their investment in education and strategic use of foreign knowledge.
• India’s poor educational outcomes hinder its ability to compete globally and attract foreign investment.

The Reality of India’s Workforce and Economic Growth:

• India’s technology-related service exports have stagnated, and even top graduates struggle to find jobs.
• The IT sector, once a significant source of employment, has seen job losses, with many workers turning to the gig economy.
• Predictions of India becoming a global economic superpower overlook the country’s inability to educate its workforce and provide dignified jobs.

Missed Opportunities and the Need for Reform:

• India has missed opportunities to benefit from the shift in global manufacturing away from China, with countries like Mexico and Vietnam capitalising instead.
• Foreign investors are reluctant to invest in India due to its labour-intensive manufactured exports remaining stagnant in global markets.
• National security and self-reliance policies that hinder foreign expertise can further impede India’s economic progress.

Conclusion:

• India must address its educational deficiencies and embrace foreign expertise to improve its human capital and economic prospects.
• The global competition for economic advancement is intensifying, and India risks falling behind if it does not take urgent steps to enhance its education system and workforce skills.

Practice Question:  Discuss the implications of India’s dependency on Chinese technicians for industrial productivity and the impact of visa restrictions on this dependency. (150 Words /10 marks)

2. Any further delay in Census taking is perilous

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS2 – Governance

Context

The delayed Census, initially planned for 2021, remains unaddressed due to budget cuts and administrative hurdles, impacting access to services and legislative implementations like the Women’s Reservation Act. Despite ongoing preparations, the government must prioritise and allocate sufficient resources to conduct the Census promptly to ensure accurate population data.

Introduction

• The delay in the decennial Census operations, initially scheduled for 2021, raises significant concerns.
• Despite hopes for commencement in October 2024, budget constraints and administrative challenges persist.
• The Census is crucial for accessing benefits, implementing the women’s Reservation Act, and addressing demands for caste-based data.

Delay in Census Operations

• The Centre did not extend the June 30, 2024 deadline to freeze administrative boundaries for the Census, raising hopes for the commencement of decennial Census operations in October 2024.
• Typically, it takes about three months after boundaries are set to prepare for the fieldwork.

Budget Allocation Concerns

• The Budget 2024-25 allocated ₹1,309.46 crore for the Census, significantly less than the ₹3,768 crore allocated in 2021-22, indicating further delays.
• The government has not announced a new schedule for the Census.

Importance of the Census

• Conducting the Census is crucial as the absence of a Census since 2011 has prevented many people from accessing various schemes, benefits, and services.
• The implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, reserving 33% of seats in Parliament and Assemblies for women, is dependent on the Census.

Preparations for the Census

• Sufficient provisions should be made in the 2025-26 Census Budget to conduct the postponed 2021 Census by 2026.
• The first phase in 2025 should include house listing, housing census, and updating the National Population Register (NPR).
• Preliminary arrangements such as preparing updated maps, pre-testing questionnaires, and training officers have been ongoing in anticipation of the Census.

State Readiness

• The Census Directorate in Tamil Nadu is ready to undertake the task once the new Census date is fixed.
• Quick refresher training for officials is needed.
• The allocated ₹1,309.46 crore in the 2024-25 budget can be used for preliminary activities like firming up enumeration areas, finalising questionnaires, and refresher training.

Delimitation Concerns

• The Constitution (Eighty-Fourth Amendment) Act of 2001 postponed the delimitation of constituencies until the first Census after 2026.
• If the Centre plans to use the 2027 Census for delimitation, the Census reference date should be announced soon, along with a new deadline for freezing administrative boundaries.

National Population Register (NPR) Clarifications

• The NPR, created during the 2010 Houselisting and Housing Census phase of Census 2011, was updated in 2015.
• The NPR will be updated again during the first phase of the forthcoming Census.
• The draft form of the NPR includes new questions like “mother tongue, place of birth of father and mother, and last place of residence,” which were not part of the NPR in 2010.
• Some States and citizen groups oppose these new questions, fearing they are steps toward the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
• The Centre has clarified that NPR data will not be used for the NRC.

Caste-Based Census Demand

• There is a growing demand for a caste-based Census to understand the economic well-being of marginalised communities.
• In 2021, the Union Government stated in the Supreme Court that a caste Census (excluding Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) is unfeasible and administratively difficult.
• The Centre needs to decide whether to include caste information in the next Census.

Conclusion

• In conclusion, the prolonged delay of the Census hampers access to crucial services and benefits and stalls significant legislative implementations.
• It is imperative for the government to allocate sufficient resources and address administrative challenges promptly to ensure the Census is conducted at the earliest possible date.

Practice Question:  Discuss the implications of the delayed Census 2021 on policy implementation and service delivery in India. (150 Words /10 marks)

3. Teaching computers to forget

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 9)

Topic: GS3 – Science and Technology

Context

With the rise of complex Machine Learning models and associated data management challenges, Machine Unlearning (MUL) has emerged as a potential solution. MUL aims to address issues of data correction, bias, and privacy by enabling AI systems to effectively “forget” outdated or sensitive information, offering a viable alternative to traditional data pruning.

Introduction

• Policymakers face challenges due to the rising complexity of Machine Learning (ML) models, particularly concerning data correction and privacy issues.
• The concept of Machine Unlearning (MUL) has emerged as a potential solution to address these challenges.

The Antithesis of ML

• Machine Unlearning (MUL): MUL involves adding an algorithm to AI models to identify and delete false, incorrect, discriminatory, outdated, and sensitive information, essentially making machines “forget” certain data.
• Data Lineage Issues: The constant data churning by Large Language Models (LLMs) creates a complex web of algorithms, leading to manipulation, adversarial outputs, and difficulty in removing sensitive information.
• Data Poisoning: The absence of a sandbox approach allows hackers to insert manipulated data, producing biassed results.

Data Pruning vs. MUL

• Data Pruning: Deleting entire datasets and re-training AI models leads to high computational costs and potential loss of accuracy.
• MUL Advantages: MUL offers a cost-effective and efficient alternative, enhancing unlearning accuracy and reducing unlearning time.

Implementation Approaches

Private Approach

• Responsibility of Data Fiduciaries: Private companies test MUL algorithms and apply them across training models to ensure efficient data deletion.
• Challenges: Smaller companies might face expertise and affordability issues, discouraging them from implementing MUL solutions.

Public Approach

• Government Involvement: Governments can prepare statutory blueprints, either through soft-law or hard-law approaches, to mandate the implementation of MUL models.
• Legislative Context: Rising mentions of AI in legislative proceedings indicate potential future government intervention.
• Example: The European Union’s AI Act considers data poisoning a cyber attack, directing data fiduciaries to implement security controls.

International Approach

• Global Framework: Nation states can collaborate to prepare a uniform MUL framework for domestic adoption, facilitating global AI governance.
• Role of International Organizations: Organisations like the International Electrotechnical Commission can set MUL standards for cross-jurisdictional application.

Conclusion

• Machine Unlearning (MUL) represents a formal blueprint to address issues related to Generative AI and preserve user privacy rights.
• While MUL is still in its preliminary stages, addressing technical and regulatory considerations is crucial for its effective implementation in the evolving AI landscape.

PYQ: Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does AI help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of Al in healthcare? (150 words/10m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2023)

Practice Question:  Discuss the concept of Machine Unlearning (MUL) and its potential role in addressing challenges related to data privacy and bias in Machine Learning models. (150 Words /10 marks)