GS 2
Neither the right to privacy nor the right to information
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2023-08-08/th_chennai/articleGR1BJBCNQ-3838209.ece
Context: Nasscom claims DPDP Bill 2023 will boost the digital economy rather than prioritising privacy protection.
Relevance: GS 2
![Context: Nasscom claims DPDP Bill 2023 will boost the digital economy rather than prioritising privacy protection.](https://www.eliteias.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/image-6-801x628.png)
- The bill’s intention appears to legalize data mining rather than safeguarding privacy rights.
- A Supreme Court ruling in 2017 established the right to privacy amidst digital challenges.
Complementary vs. Competing Rights:
- Right to Information (RTI) Act 2005 provides transparency and accountability in government.
- Right to Privacy aims to protect individuals from government and private intrusions.
- Tensions between these rights emerge, as exemplified by MGNREGA’s data disclosure leading to misuse.
- DPDP Bill 2023 fails to address these tensions, making the government less transparent and citizens more transparent.
DPDP Bill 2023 Overview:
- Bill focuses on processing digital personal data while recognizing individual rights and lawful purposes.
- Broad definition of “lawful purposes” and government’s power to request information raise concerns.
- Sections 4(2) and 36 allow both government and private entities access to personal data.
Undermining the Right to Information:
- RTI Act 2005 anticipates tensions and exemptions from disclosing certain information.
- DPDP Bill 2023 weakens RTI by simplifying exemptions, undermining larger public interests.
- For example, public servants’ disclosure of immovable assets could be limited.
Ignoring Context and Shortcomings:
- DPDP Bill 2023 has flaws such as oversight by a government-appointed Data Protection Board.
- European GDPR sets higher data protection standards but faces criticism over data collection.
- Lack of universal literacy, digital and financial literacy, and an overburdened legal system in India reduce citizens’ ability to seek legal recourse for privacy harms.
![DPDP Bill 2023 has flaws such as oversight by a government-appointed Data Protection Board.](https://www.eliteias.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/image-7.png)
Centre seeks more time to frame CAA rules
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2023-08-08/th_chennai/articleGU0BJBOSA-3838226.ece
Context: The Union Home Ministry has been seeking extensions to frame the rules associated with the CAA.
Relevance: GS -2 Citizenship
Background:
- The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed in 2019, facilitates citizenship for non-Muslim undocumented migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
- The law has been ineffective since its enactment.
![The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed in 2019, facilitates citizenship for non-Muslim undocumented migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.](https://www.eliteias.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/image-8-445x628.png)
Extension Requests:
- The Ministry has requested an eighth extension to frame the rules of the CAA.
- The request was made to the parliamentary committee on subordinate legislation in the Lok Sabha.
- The extension has been granted by the committee.
- The previous extension request was made in January, pushing the deadline to June 30.
Passage of CAA:
- The CAA was passed on December 11, 2019.
- It received presidential assent on December 12 of the same year.
Rule-Framing Deadline and Process:
- According to the Manual on Parliamentary Work, ministries should frame rules governing legislation within six months after a law’s passage.
- If this deadline is not met, the ministry can seek an extension from the Committee on Subordinate Legislation.
- The extension request should include reasons for the delay.
Focus on Non-Muslim Migrants:
- The CAA aims to expedite citizenship for non-Muslim migrants from specific neighboring countries.
Ongoing Ineffectiveness:
- Despite being passed, the CAA remains unimplemented due to the absence of framing rules.
- The delays in rule formulation have led to the law’s inability to come into effect.
Continued Delays and Impact:
- The Home Ministry’s repeated extensions highlight the ongoing challenges in establishing a framework for the CAA.
- The lack of clarity and operational guidelines due to delayed rule-making impact the law’s intended objectives.
GS 3
India’s mining policy shift
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2023-08-08/th_chennai/articleGJQBJB44A-3838308.ece
Context: On August 2, 2023, Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023.
Relevance: GS Paper – 3 Issues Relating to Development
- The bill aims to attract private sector investment in the exploration of critical minerals by reclassifying certain minerals as “critical and strategic.”
![The bill aims to attract private sector investment in the exploration of critical minerals by reclassifying certain minerals as "critical and strategic."](https://www.eliteias.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/image-9-454x628.png)
Critical Minerals Importance:
- Minerals like lithium, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements (REEs) are essential for clean energy transitions and technological advancements.
- They play a role in electric vehicle batteries, energy storage, semiconductor manufacturing, defense equipment, aerospace, and more.
- Import dependence on these minerals leads to supply chain vulnerabilities and disruptions.
India’s Import Dependency:
- India heavily relies on imports for various critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and REEs.
- Lack of domestic supply leads to vulnerabilities, supply chain disruptions, and import dependency.
Role of Private Sector in Exploration:
- Studies suggest India’s geological potential for mineral resources is significant.
- Private sector participation in mineral exploration is crucial for discovering economically viable reserves.
- Different stages of exploration are categorized as per the United Nations Framework for Classification of Resources.
Lack of Private Participation:
- India has explored only a small fraction of its geological potential.
- Public sector entities like Geological Survey of India and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited have led exploration with limited private sector involvement.
Bill’s Objectives and Changes:
- The Mines and Minerals Bill 2023 seeks to encourage private sector involvement in exploration.
- Six atomic minerals, including lithium, have been reclassified, allowing private sector entities to explore and mine them.
- Prohibited exploration activities are now allowed, and a new Exploration License (EL) is introduced.
Exploration License (EL):
- EL will be granted for five years (extendable by two) through competitive bidding.
- Private explorers bid on a share of the auction premium, eventually paid by mining lease holders.
- EL covers 29 minerals, including critical, strategic, and deep-seated minerals.
- EL allows activities up to 1,000 sq km, with retention of up to 25% of initially authorized area.
Challenges and Concerns:
- Revenue generation for private explorers is uncertain, as they receive a share of the premium post-mine auction.
- It could take years for revenue realization due to government clearances and complexities.
- Experts raise concerns about auctioning exploration licenses without a known value.
Global Comparisons:
- Countries like Australia involve private explorers in risk-taking, accelerating exploration.
- Unlike India, private explorers in other jurisdictions can sell their discoveries to miners.
Conclusion:
- The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2023 aims to boost private sector participation in critical mineral exploration.
- While it addresses certain challenges, concerns about revenue realization and auctioning process validity remain.
- The bill’s implementation will determine its success in encouraging private investment and enhancing India’s mineral exploration capabilities.
The quest for a room-temperature superconductor
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2023-08-08/th_chennai/articleGR1BJBCN4-3838215.ece
Context: Physicists in South Korea reported synthesizing a room-temperature superconducting material.
Relevance: GS 3 Science and Technology
- Room-temperature superconductors can carry electric current with zero losses and have applications in various fields.
- Superconductivity research has evolved with cooling technologies and techniques to verify materials’ superconducting properties.
Importance of Room-Temperature Superconductors:
- Room-temperature superconductors could revolutionize power transmission, industrial processes, and scientific applications.
- Materials that achieve superconductivity at or near room temperature are highly sought after.
Beyond the hype
Context: Recent claims from researchers in South Korea about a room-temperature superconductor called LK-99 have garnered significant interest.
Relevance: GS 3 Science and Technology
Introduction:
- Room-temperature superconductivity claims generate widespread attention and hype in the condensed-matter physics field.
Importance of Room-Temperature Superconductors:
- Traditional superconductors exhibit zero electrical resistance and have various industrial, research, and diagnostic applications.
- The quest is for materials that exhibit superconductivity at room temperature without extreme cooling or pressure.
LK-99 Claim Details:
- LK-99 is a copper-substituted lead apatite, claimed to be a room-temperature and ambient-pressure superconductor.
- Previous claims of room-temperature superconductors have failed to withstand independent scrutiny.
Need for Independent Verification:
- Room-temperature and pressure superconductors are highly valuable and prestigious.
- Scientists may rush to publish results before thorough verification.
- Independent verification by qualified scientists is crucial for validating such claims.
- The South Korean group must share all data to allow proper verification.
Challenges in Verification:
- Verifying superconductivity requires sophisticated equipment and precise information on material creation.
- Some claims, like one this year, have shared synthesis instructions but not samples, hindering proper scientific evaluation.
Caution for Non-Experts:
- Due to the high stakes and small margin of error, non-experts should wait for qualified research groups to independently verify claims.
- Rushing to conclusions without proper verification could be misleading.
Conclusion:
- The allure of revolutionary technology should be tempered by the need for robust verification in the field of room-temperature superconductivity.
- Independent scrutiny and data sharing are essential to determine the validity of such groundbreaking claims.
Prelims
Exercise Malabar to be held from August 11-21
Context: The 31st edition of the Malabar multilateral exercise will be conducted off Sydney, Australia.
- The exercise includes participation from India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S.
- Australia is hosting the exercise for the first time.
- It will be held in the East Australian exercise area, covering a significant sea expanse off Sydney.
- The exercise will feature both harbor and sea phases.
![Context: The 31st edition of the Malabar multilateral exercise will be conducted off Sydney, Australia.](https://www.eliteias.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/image-10.png)
Australia’s Involvement:
- Australia is also hosting the Sea Power conference from November 7 to 9.
- India has received an invitation to attend the conference, and sources indicate India’s likely participation.
- After Exercise Malabar, the India-Australia bilateral naval exercise, AUSINDEX, will follow.
- Malabar has been described as one of India’s most complex naval exercises in the past.
Significance:
- The participation of India, Australia, Japan, and the U.S. in Malabar reflects strong maritime cooperation among these countries.
- The exercises aim to enhance interoperability, strengthen maritime security, and deepen defense ties between the participating nations.