Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Biofortification

Source: TH 

Why in News?

Recently, biotechnologists have found significant variation in nitrogen-use efficiency among popular Indian rice varieties, enabling the development of high-yielding, low-nitrogen varieties to cut fertiliser costs and reduce pollution. The most efficient varieties had a nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) that was five times higher than the least efficient ones. 

• In another development, the Prime Minister of India launched 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient, biofortified seed varieties developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to boost farm productivity and farmers' incomes. 

What is Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE)? 

• About: 
  • It is used to describe the efficiency of a plant in using applied or fixed nitrogen for biomass production.  
  • It is further defined as the ratio between crop yield and the amount of nitrogen absorbed from the soil through roots or from the atmosphere through fixation by bacteria. 
  • NUE in cereals, particularly rice, is a critical factor in agricultural sustainability.  
• Concerns: 
  • Poor NUE wastes Nitrogen fertilisers worth Rs 1 lakh crore a year in India and over USD 170 billion per year globally. 
  • Nitrogen fertilisers are the main source of nitrous oxide and ammonia pollution of air and nitrate/ammonium pollution of water, affecting our health, biodiversity, and climate change. 
  • India is the world’s second-largest source of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a greenhouse gas that heats up the atmosphere far more than carbon dioxide.  
    • In 2020, nearly 11% of such global man made emissions were from India, next only to China (16%). The major source of these emissions is fertiliser usage. 

What is Nitrogen Pollution?  

• About: 
  • Nitrogen pollution is caused when some nitrogen compounds like ammonia and nitrous oxide become too abundant in the environment posing health risks. 
  • In the past 150 years, human-driven flows of reactive nitrogen have increased tenfold, contributing to a dangerous accumulation of unused reactive nitrogen. 
  • The uptake by crops of nitrogen as fertiliser is limited. Each year, 200 million tonnes of reactive nitrogen (80%) is lost to the environment, leaching into soil, rivers and lakes and emitted to the air.  
    • As a result, ecosystems are over-enriched, biodiversity lost and human health affected. In some forms, it contributes to ozone depletion and climate change. 
• Effects: 
  • Climate Change and the Ozone Layer: 
    • Nitrous oxide is 300 times more potent than methane and carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. 
    • It is also the biggest human-made threat to the ozone layer. 
  • Biodiversity and Ecosystems: 
    • Nitrogen pollution can degrade soils. Excessive application of synthetic fertilisers make soil acidic, damaging soil health and reducing the productivity of soils. 
    • It can cause the inadvertent fertilisation of trees and grasslands or nitrogen tolerant species to outcompete more sensitive wild plants and fungi. 
    • Nitrogen pollution can create “dead zones” in the ocean and cause toxic algal blooms to spread in marine ecosystems. 
  • Air: 
    • Nitrogen oxides generated from coal power plants, factory emissions and vehicle exhausts, can lead to smog and ground-level ozone. 
    • Agricultural ammonia emissions combined with pollution from vehicle exhausts create extremely dangerous particulates in the air, which can exacerbate respiratory diseases. 

What are the Biofortified Seed Varieties Developed by ICAR? 

• About: The biofortified seed varieties, launched recently by the PM, cover 61 crops, including 34 field crops and 27 horticultural varieties. 
  • Crop Varieties: Cereals, millets, forage crops, oilseeds, pulses, sugarcane, cotton, and fibre crops.  
  • Horticulture: Fruits, vegetables, plantation crops, tubers, spices, flowers, and medicinal plants. 
  • Some Examples: 
    • CR Dhan 416: It is a rice variety ideal for coastal saline areas. It is moderately resistant to brown spot, neck blast, sheath rot, rice tungro disease, and glume discoloration, besides offering full resistance to brown plant hopper, grasshopper and stem borer. 
    • Durum Wheat Variety: It is adapted for irrigated conditions and suitable for Maharashtra, Karnataka, and the plains of Tamil Nadu. It is tolerant to terminal heat, resistant to stem and leaf rusts, and biofortified with higher levels of zinc (41.1 ppm) and iron (38.5 ppm). It also contains 12% protein. 
• About Biofortification: 
  • Biofortification is the process by which the nutrient density of food crops is increased through conventional plant breeding, improved agronomic practices and modern biotechnology without sacrificing any characteristic that is preferred by consumers. 
  • It is recognized as a nutrition-sensitive-agriculture intervention that can reduce vitamin and mineral deficiency. 
  • Examples of biofortification projects include: 
    • Iron-biofortification of rice, beans, sweet potato, cassava and legumes; 
    • Zinc-biofortification of wheat, rice, beans, sweet potato and maize; 
    • Provitamin A carotenoid-biofortification of sweet potato, maize and cassava; and 
    • Amino acid and protein-biofortification of sorghum and cassava. 
• Need of Biofortification: 
  • Malnutrition: India has very high levels of malnutrition among women and children. According to NFHS-5 2019-21, 57% of women in the age group 15-49 and 67% children between 6 and 59 months are anaemic. Iron, Vitamin A, and Iodine deficiencies are the most prevalent ones. 
    • Biofortification can help reduce the occurrence of malnutrition and hidden hunger by providing deficient nutrients.  
  • Disease Resilient: Biofortified crops are often more resilient to pests, diseases, high temperatures, and drought, while also offering high yields. 
  • Sustainable: Once biofortified seeds are developed, they can be replicated and distributed without losing their micronutrient concentration, making them cost-effective and sustainable. 
  • No Behaviour Change Needed: It seamlessly delivers nutrients without altering people's food habits or cultural practices, making it a socio-culturally acceptable approach. 
  • Cost Effective: Biofortification is cost-effective using the existing technology and delivery platforms. The Copenhagen Consensus estimates that every 1 Rupee spent on fortification results in 9 Rupees in benefits to the economy.

Drishti Mains Question  Q. How biotechnology can help in achieving food and nutritional security? Q. What challenges are associated with edible products created using biotechnology which hinder its widespread adoption in India?

Dalit Business Owners Face Income Disparity

Source: TH

Why in News?

A study from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore reveals that Dalit business owners in India face a notable income gap compared to other marginalised groups despite similar levels of education and social capital. 

• The study underscores the impact of institutional stigma on economic outcomes for Dalits, highlighting the persistent disparities in their business income.

What are the Key Highlights of the Study?

• Methodology: The study utilises data from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) of 2011, covering over 42,000 households across 373 districts in India to analyse income disparities among business-owning households.
• Impact of Institutional Stigma
  • The study highlights the unique stigma-related disadvantages faced by Dalit business owners, which are not comparable to other identity-based challenges like gender, race, or ethnicity.
  • The study defines institutional stigma as the prejudice and negative perceptions ascribed to individuals based on their demographic group membership, which perpetuates through interconnected social mechanisms.
  • Dalit business owners face lower income levels due to their historically marginalised status, which restricts their access to resources, opportunities, and individual dignity, hindering their economic advancement.
• Income Disparities: Dalit business owners face a significant income gap, earning approximately 16% less compared to other marginalised communities, such as Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and religious minorities like Muslims.
  • This income gap persists even when controlling for factors such as education, land ownership, urban setting, and social environment.
• Social Capital: Social capital refers to the networks of relationships among people that enable a society or community to function effectively.

  • Social capital generally benefits business owners by providing access to networks and resources; however, Dalits benefit significantly less from these networks compared to other disadvantaged groups.

  • A standard deviation increase in social capital results in a 17.3% increase in business income for non-stigmatized communities, but only a 6% increase for Dalit households.
• Human Capital: Human capital refers to the personal attributes, including knowledge, skills, education, health, and other valued factors, that contribute to the production process.
  • The study highlights that although education benefits Dalits, it is insufficient to overcome the income disadvantage resulting from stigma.
• Limitations of the Study:

  • The study’s measure of social capital is somewhat limited, capturing connections but not the number or strength of these ties.

  • The study uses 2011 data, which may not fully capture current economic dynamics and changes in caste-based income disparities. The findings may need re-evaluation with more recent data to assess the present-day relevance of the results.

What are the Implications of this Income Disparities?

• Challenging Conventional Views: The study challenges the conventional view that caste identity is just one of many factors contributing to income disparity, instead highlighting the unique stigma-related disadvantages faced by Dalits.
• Need for Fair Economic Systems: The findings underscore the need for economic systems that are fair and do not determine success based on one’s born identity. 
  • The study calls for a deeper understanding of the underlying processes of discrimination faced by Dalit communities.
• Targeted Interventions: The study suggests that policy interventions should focus on addressing the specific stigma-related challenges faced by Dalits, rather than relying on universal strategies that may not effectively mitigate the income gap.
  • The findings open avenues for further research into the impact of stigma on economic outcomes that can better support marginalised communities in India.

Who are Dalits?

• About: Dalits, historically referred to as "untouchables," are a marginalised group in India positioned at the bottom of the traditional caste hierarchy. This group has faced systemic discrimination, social exclusion, and economic deprivation for centuries. 
  • Dalits constitute approximately 16.6% of India's population. They are primarily concentrated in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, and Maharashtra.
• Historical Evolution of the Term "Dalit":
  • The term "Dalit" derives from the Sanskrit word "Dal," which means "ground," "suppressed," or "crushed." It was first used by Jyotiba Phule, a 19th-century social reformer, to describe those oppressed by the caste system.
    • Throughout history, Dalits have been known by various terms, including Antyajas, Pariahs, and  Chandalas.
    • Mahatma Gandhi used the term "Harijan" (children of God) to describe Dalits. While intended to be more respectful, many, including Dalit leaders, found it patronising and insufficiently empowering.
  • Scheduled Castes: The British administration officially recognised these groups as "Scheduled Castes" in 1935, formalising their status within the legal framework.
    • Currently, legally Dalits are known as Scheduled Castes in India, and the Constitution mandates a list of these castes for compensatory programs. As of now, there are approximately 166.6 million Dalits in India. 
      • However, the list excludes Dalit converts to Christianity and Islam, although it includes those who converted to Sikhism.
      • The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, states that only persons professing Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism are deemed to be members of a Scheduled Caste.
• Dalit Oppression: 
  • Caste System: The roots of Dalit oppression trace back to the origins of the caste system, as described in the Manusmriti, a sacred Hindu text from the 2nd century BCE. Dalits were historically confined to menial tasks.
    • In the traditional Varna system, untouchables were classified as Panchama Varna, occupying the lowest rung in society. They were relegated to menial and polluting occupations and faced severe discrimination.
  • Key Dalit Movement in Pre-Independence India:
    • Bhakti Movement: The 15th-century Bhakti Movement promoted social equality and challenged orthodox Hinduism. It included Saguna (God with form) and Nirguna (formless God) traditions.
      • Saints like Ravidas and Kabir, who inspired Dalits by advocating for social equality and spiritual salvation.
    • Neo-Vedantic Movements: Initiated by reformers like Dayanand Saraswati, these movements aimed to address untouchability within the caste system.
      
      • Arya Samaj founded by Dayanand Saraswati in 1875, aimed to reform Hinduism by rejecting the caste system and promoting social equality. 
      • Satyashodhak Samaj established by Jyotiba Phule in 1873, this movement sought to liberate non-Brahmins from Brahminical dominance.
        • It focused on educational and social reforms to uplift the lower castes and challenged the existing caste hierarchies.
    • Sanskritization Movement: M.N. Srinivas defined Sanskritization as low-caste groups adopting high-caste customs to elevate their status.
      • Dalit leaders mimicked Brahmanic practices (e.g., vegetarianism) as a form of social assertion and elevation.
    • Gandhi’s Contributions: He criticised untouchability and founded the Harijan Sevak Sangh in 1932 to work towards the upliftment of Dalits.
      • Mahatma Gandhi viewed untouchability as a social evil and aimed to integrate Dalits into mainstream society.
    • Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Contributions: He led various movements and legal battles for Dalit rights, including the Mahad Satyagrah (1927) and Kalaram Temple Satyagrah (1930).
      • Dr. B.R. Ambedkar founded the Bahiskrit Bharat and Samaj Samta Sangh, and established the Scheduled Castes Federation to promote political representation and social equality.

What are the Challenges Faced by Dalits in Contemporary India?

• Social Discrimination and Exclusion: Dalits are often segregated in villages and urban areas, excluded from public spaces, and subjected to untouchability practices.

  • Discrimination persists even during crises, such as the 2004 Tsunami, where Dalits in Tamil Nadu faced severe exclusion from relief efforts.

• Economic Exploitation: Many Dalits work as bonded labourers due to debt, despite the practice being outlawed in 1976. They often receive minimal or no wages, with resistance met by violence.

  • About 80% of Dalits live in rural areas, primarily as landless labourers or marginal farmers, exacerbating their economic vulnerability.

  • Despite legal prohibitions, manual scavenging remains a prevalent and degrading occupation for many Dalits.
  • According to the "Income and Wealth Inequality in India" report, the top 1% of Indians received 22.6% of the national income in 2022, up from 11.5% in 1951, while the income share for the bottom 50% dropped from 20.6% to 15%, and the middle 40% saw their share decline from 42.8% to 27.3% over the same period.  
    • These figures underscore a growing income gap that has adversely affected all disadvantaged communities, including Dalits.
• Political Marginalisation: Despite reservations in political representation, Dalit issues are often sidelined by mainstream political parties.
  • Although there has been political mobilisation in recent years and the rise of Dalit leaders, the tangible benefits for the majority of Dalits have been limited.
• Ineffective Laws: Laws like the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 remain poorly implemented due to a lack of political will and institutional support.
• Judicial Injustice: Dalit women face severe discrimination due to a combination of caste, class, and gender biases. They are often subjected to sexual exploitation and violence, with conviction rates for these crimes being significantly lower compared to other women in India. 
  • In certain regions, young Dalit girls are coerced into prostitution under the pretense of religious or cultural practices.
• Migration and Urban Challenges: Many Dalit families migrate to cities, where they often end up in urban slums, doing the lowest-paying jobs with minimal security.

  • However, there is a growing Dalit middle class in cities, gaining access to education and secure employment in public service, banking, and private industries.

Way Forward

• Black Capitalism in the US: The experience of black entrepreneurship in the US, supported by targeted inclusion in supply chains, offers a model for how similar measures could benefit Dalit businesses in India.
  • While some Indian corporations have shown positive signs in supporting Dalit businesses, broader and more systemic changes are needed.
• Enhancing Access to Networks: Develop initiatives to integrate Dalit entrepreneurs into broader business networks, including both formal and informal sectors.
  • Encourage larger corporations to actively include Dalit businesses in their supply chains and procurement processes.
• Improving Financial Support: Ensure that the Stand Up India initiative is effectively implemented with better oversight.
  • Explore alternative funding mechanisms and provide risk capital to overcome barriers faced by Dalit entrepreneurs.
• Addressing Social Discrimination: Implement policies and programs that address caste-based discrimination within market systems and promote equitable treatment of Dalit entrepreneurs.
• Policy Integration: Align economic empowerment initiatives with broader social justice goals to ensure that advancements in the market also contribute to addressing social inequalities.

Drishti Mains Question: Q. Examine the impact of institutional stigma on the economic outcomes with specific reference to Dalit entrepreneurs. How can policy interventions address these challenges?

Uniform Civil Code

Source: IE

Why in News?

In his speech on the occasion of 78^th Independence Day, the Prime Minister called for a uniform civil code (UCC), framing it as a secular civil code.

What is the Uniform Civil Code?

• About:
  • The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is outlined in Article 44 of the Constitution as part of the Directive Principles of State Policy, which states that the government should strive to establish a uniform civil code for all citizens across India. 
    • However, its implementation is left to the discretion of the government. 
  • Goa is the only state in India where a UCC is in place, following the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867.
• Historical Context: 
  • While the British established uniform criminal laws in India, they avoided standardising family laws due to their sensitive nature.
  • During the debates the Constituent Assembly discussed the UCC and Muslim members raised concerns about its impact on community personal laws, proposing safeguards for religious practices. 
  • On other hand supporters like K.M. Munshi, Alladi Krishnaswami, and B.R. Ambedkar argued for the UCC to promote equality.
• Supreme Court of India’s Stance on UCC:
  • Mohd. Ahmed Khan vs Shah Bano Begum Case, 1985: The Court noted with regret that “Article 44 has remained a dead letter” and advocated for its implementation.
  • Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India, 1995 and John Vallamattom v. Union of India, 2003: The Court reiterated the need for implementing the UCC.
  • Shayara Bano v. Union of India, 2017: The Supreme Court ruled that the practice of triple talaq was unconstitutional and violated the dignity and equality of Muslim women. 
    • It also suggested that Parliament should pass legislation to regulate Muslim marriages and divorces.
  • Jose Paulo Coutinho v. Maria Luiza Valentina Pereira Case, 2019: The Court praised Goa as a “shining example” where “the uniform civil code is applicable to all, regardless of religion except while protecting certain limited rights” and called for its implementation across India.
• Law Commission’s Stance:
  • In 2018, the 21st Law Commission, led by former Supreme Court judge Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan, released a consultation paper on “Reforms of family law,” stating that the “formulation of a Uniform Civil Code is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage.”

What are the Significances of the UCC?

• National Integration and Secularism:
  • Promotes Unity: The UCC would foster national integration and secularism by creating a shared identity and sense of belonging among all citizens.
  • Reduces Conflicts: It would decrease communal and sectarian conflicts arising from different personal laws.
  • Upholds Constitutional Values: The UCC would reinforce the principles of equality, fraternity, and dignity for all individuals.
• Gender Justice and Equality:
  • Ensures Equality: The UCC would address gender discrimination and oppression by providing equal rights and status to women in marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, and maintenance.
    • It would empower women to challenge patriarchal and regressive practices that violate their fundamental rights.
• Simplification and Rationalisation of the Legal System:
  • Simplifies Laws: The UCC would streamline and rationalise the legal system by eliminating the complexities and contradictions of multiple personal laws.
  • Harmonizes Legal Frameworks: It would reconcile civil and criminal laws by addressing anomalies and loopholes arising from diverse personal laws.
  • Enhances Accessibility: The UCC would make the legal system more accessible and understandable for the general public.
• Modernisation and Reform of Outdated Practices:  
  • Updates Practices: The UCC would modernise and reform outdated and regressive practices in some personal laws.
  • Eliminates Harmful Practices: It would remove practices contrary to human rights and constitutional values, such as triple talaq, polygamy, and child marriage.

What are Challenges in Implementing the UCC?

• Diverse Personal Laws: India’s numerous communities follow distinct personal laws for marriage, divorce, inheritance, and succession. Harmonising these diverse practices into a single code poses a significant challenge.
• Religious Sensitivities: Different religious communities have deeply rooted traditions and laws. 
  • They also argue that the UCC would infringe upon their constitutional rights under Article 25, which guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion.
• Political and Social Opposition: The UCC is often seen through a political lens. Parties and leaders may resist or support the UCC based on electoral considerations, leading to inconsistent policies and delays.
• Social Concerns: There is a fear that the UCC could disrupt traditional practices and create social unrest.
• Legislative and Legal Hurdles: Crafting a comprehensive UCC requires extensive legislative work and detailed legal drafting along with administrative capacities to address the nuances of various personal laws.

Way Forward

• Unity and Uniformity: The UCC should acknowledge India's multiculturalism and maintain its diversity, emphasising that unity is more crucial than uniformity. 

  • The Indian Constitution supports both integrationist and multicultural approaches to address cultural differences.

• Discussion and Deliberations with Stakeholders: It is essential to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including religious leaders, legal experts, and community representatives, in the development and implementation of the UCC. 

  • This engagement ensures that the UCC reflects diverse perspectives and is perceived as fair and legitimate by all citizens.

• Striking a Balance: The lawmakers should focus on removing practices that conflict with constitutional standards while ensuring cultural practices align with principles of substantive equality and gender justice. 

  • Integrating culturally sensitive practices into a uniform system without alienating communities is a delicate balancing act.
• Constitutional Perspective: The Indian Constitution supports cultural autonomy and aims for cultural accommodation, with Article 29(1) protecting the unique cultures of all citizens. 

  • Communities should assess whether practices such as polygamy and unilateral divorce align with their cultural values. The goal should be to create a just code that promotes equality and justice.

• Education and Awareness: Ensuring that all citizens are aware of and understand the UCC is crucial for effective implementation, requiring extensive outreach and education efforts.

Drishti Mains Question: Discuss the major challenges in implementing the Uniform Civil Code across India. How can these challenges be addressed effectively?

Possible Decline in Coffee Production

Source:TH

Why in News?

Recently, Coffee Board of India hinted that India's coffee production for 2024-25 may see a significant drop due to plant and berry losses caused by high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and landslides in key growing regions.

What’s the Status of Coffee Production in India?

• India is the 6th largest coffee producer and 5th largest exporter globally, accounting for 3.14% of global coffee output.
• 70% of India's coffee produced is exported, while 30% is consumed domestically. India is renowned for its high-quality coffee varieties.
  • India produced around 3.6 lakh metric tonnes of green coffee in 2023–24 crop year.
• Coffee Varieties in India: Arabica and Robusta.
  • Characteristics of Arabica: Grown at higher altitudes and it has higher market value due to its aroma.
  • Characteristics of Robusta: Known for its strength and used in various blends.
• Causes of Declining Coffee Output:
  • Prolonged drought and soaring temperatures during the April-May period led to scorching of blossom clusters and fruit burn at the pinhead stage.
  • Heavy Rainfall in July, caused severe issues like berry dropping, stalk rot, and wet foot conditions due to flooding.
  • Landslides in key coffee-growing areas like Sakleshpur and Wayanad resulted in significant plant and plantation losses. These combined factors have led to an estimated yield loss of 15% to 20% in the coffee belt, with the actual damage potentially being higher.

What are the Key Facts about Coffee Production?

• History:
  • Coffee was introduced to India during the late 17th century; the Dutch (who occupied much of India throughout the 17th century) helped spread the cultivation of coffee across the country, but it was with the arrival of the British in the mid-19^th century that commercial coffee farming fully flourished.
• About:
  • Coffee in India is grown under a canopy of thick natural shade in ecologically sensitive regions of the Western and Eastern Ghats. 
    • This is one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots of the world.
  • Coffee contributes significantly to sustain the unique bio- diversity of the region and is also responsible for the socio-economic development in the remote, hilly areas.
  • Coffee offers protection against oxidative damage, reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, and lowers the risk of age-related diseases.
• Climatic Conditions Required:
  • Climate  - Hot and humid; temperature - ranging between 15°C and 28°C; rainfall - 150 to 250 cm.
  • Frost, snowfall, high temperature >30°C and strong sun shine is not good for coffee crops and is generally grown under shady trees.
    • Dry weather is necessary at the time of ripening of the berries.
  • Stagnant water is harmful and the crop is grown on hill slopes at elevations from 600 to 1,600 metres above sea level.
  • Well drained loam containing a good deal of humus and minerals like iron and calcium is ideal for coffee cultivation.
• Soil Type:
  • Coffee can be grown on lots of soils but the ideal types are fertile volcanic red earth or deep sandy loam.
  • For coffee trees to grow, it is important that the soil is well drained which makes heavy clay or heavy sandy soils inadequate.
• Major Areas:
  • In India, coffee is traditionally grown in the Western Ghats spread over Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
    • Karnataka is the largest producer accounting for about 70% of the total coffee production, followed by Kerala at 23%
  • Coffee cultivation is also expanding rapidly in the nontraditional areas of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha as well as in the North East states. 

Read More: India’s Coffee, Araku Coffee, World Coffee Conference 2023 

Watermarking on AI Generated Content

Source: ToI

Why in News?

Recently, ChatGPT-maker OpenAI developed a tool to detect whether its AI (Artificial Intelligence) chatbot has been used to write essays, research papers, or generate photos.

• To address issues concerning the authenticity and ownership of such content, leading technology companies like OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, Google, and Adobe are developing and implementing watermarking techniques.

What is Watermarking on AI Generated Content?

• About:
  • The AI watermarking technique is used to identify what’s AI-generated and what is an original work. 
    • It is a digital signature that serves as a unique identifier, akin to a fingerprint, allowing for the tracing of the AI model used to create the content back to its origin.
• Need of Watermarking:
  • Authentication and Validation: It provides a reliable method for verifying the authenticity of digital files, crucial in combating deepfake videos, manipulated images, and deceptive media in a digitally-driven world.
  • Tamper-Evident Records: Integrating AI watermarking with blockchain and public key infrastructure ensures that any attempts to alter or manipulate content are detectable, preserving the integrity of digital records.
  • Trust and Confidence: By assuring the authenticity of media, AI watermarking helps content creators, distributors, and consumers combat misinformation and counterfeiting, bolstering trust and understanding of content provenance.
• Steps to Ensure AI Authenticity: 

  • Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA): A collaboration between Adobe, Intel, Microsoft, Sony, and other leading firms to establish standards for verifying the authenticity of audio-visual content.

  • Use of Blockchain Technology: Blockchain technology ensures transparency by providing an immutable, publicly accessible record of digital asset ownership and provenance.
  • Ethereum Improvement Proposal: This project proposes adding C2PA consent data, including content consent for AI and ML (Machine Learning) data mining, to on-chain metadata, leveraging blockchain technology to enhance security and transparency.

PM-PRANAM

Source: PIB

The Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha provided information regarding the PM-PRANAM initiative of the government.

• PM-PRANAM stands for PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother-Earth.
  • It was announced in the 2023-24 Budget by the Union government.
• Aim: To complement state/UT efforts to promote:
  • Sustainable and balanced use of fertilisers.
  • Encourage the adoption of alternative fertilisers.
  • Promote organic and natural farming practices.
• Financial Mechanism: States and UTs that reduce their chemical fertiliser consumption compared to the past 3 years' average will receive 50% of the savings from the fertiliser subsidy.
  • This grant can be used for the benefit of the local population, including farmers.
• Fertiliser Types Covered: Urea, DAP (Diammonium Phosphate), NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium), and MOP (Muriate of Potash). 
• Scope: All States and UTs in India.
• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA):
  • It is chaired by the Prime Minister, and sets priorities for public sector investments.
  • It continuously reviews economic trends to develop an integrated economic policy framework and oversees policies and activities in the economic field, including foreign investment, requiring high-level decisions.

Read More: PM-PRANAM Scheme and Increased FRP

Perseid Meteor Shower

Source: TH

In 2024, the Perseid meteor shower began around July and will last until late August with peak activity occurring from 11th to 13th August, 2024. The meteor shower might be visible to the naked eye in many places between midnight and dawn, especially in the northern hemisphere. 

• The Perseid meteors are debris left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle, which orbits the Sun in an elliptical path that takes 133 years to complete once.
  • The name Perseid is believed to be derived from the Perseus constellation.
  • Comets are frozen leftovers from the formation of the solar system composed of dust, rock, and ices. 
• When the earth moves through the cloud of debris intersecting its path around the Sun, Earth’s gravity pulls the debris towards itself, producing the meteor shower.
• A meteor shower is a raining-down of meteors (small pieces of rock in space) over the earth from space at a particular time of year. 
  • Most meteors burn up in the atmosphere. 
  • Some that take a more tangential path through the air produce small fireballs.
• Meteors are better known as "shooting stars".The light phenomenon in the atmosphere is called a "meteor", while the dust particle is called a "meteoroid".

Read More: Sky Canvas: Artificial Meteor Showers

Civil Registration System (CRS) Portal

Source: TH

The centralised Civil Registration System (CRS) portal, responsible for registering births and deaths across India, has been facing significant technical issues, leading to widespread disruptions in the issuance of certificates.

• According to the 2023 Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, all births and deaths in India from 1st October 2023 will be digitally registered through the CRS portal.  
  • The digital birth certificates will serve as proof of date of birth for various services. 
  • The centralised database will update the National Population Register (NPR), ration cards, property registration and electoral rolls. 
    • The NPR, collected in 2010 and updated in 2015, has a database of 119 crore residents.
  • So far, 23 States and six union territories have migrated to the new portal. States such as Tamil Nadu which have their own portals send the data compulsorily to the Centre in a real-time basis as mandated by the 2023 amendment.
• States have flagged issues in the CRS portal, such as slow performance, frequent error messages, and data syncing problems. These issues have caused delays in issuing certificates.

Read more: India’s Civil Registration System Report

No Legal Right on Child for Sperm/Egg Donors

Source: TH

Recently, The Bombay High Court ruled that a sperm or egg donor does not have legal rights over a child and cannot claim to be the biological parent.

• Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman (the surrogate) agrees to carry and give birth to a child on behalf of another person or couple (the intended parent/s).
  • A surrogate, sometimes also called a gestational carrier, is a woman who conceives, carries and gives birth to a child for another person or couple (intended parent/s).
• Under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 a widow or divorcee aged 35-45 or a legally married couple can avail of surrogacy if they have a medical condition necessitating this option.
  • The intended couple shall be legally married for at least 5 years. Indian man aged 26-55 years and a woman aged 25-50 years, who have no previous biological, adopted, or surrogate child.
• It also bans commercial surrogacy, which is punishable with a jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakhs.
• The law permits only altruistic surrogacy, where no money is exchanged, and the surrogate mother must be genetically related to the intended parents.
• Upon birth, the child is legally recognised as the biological child of the intended couple.

Read more: Assisted Reproductive Technology