AMIGOS IAS Daily Current Affairs (7^th August 2024)

On U.P.’s stringent anti-conversion law

GS 2: Polity and Governance: UP’s Anti-conversion law

Why is it in the news?

• On July 30, 2024, the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which significantly strengthens the provisions of the original 2021 anti-conversion law.
• This amendment introduces harsher penalties and broader provisions, heightening concerns about its potential for misuse.

More about the news

• Foreign Funding for Conversion: The amendment was proposed to address alleged involvement of “foreign and anti-national elements” in unlawful conversions, according to the Bill’s statement of reasons.
• Data from the state government indicates that 427 cases were registered under the original Act between January 1, 2021, and April 30, 2023.
• Increased Jail terms:
• Under the amended Bill, the minimum prison term for unlawful conversion has increased from one year to five years, with a maximum of ten years, and the fine has risen from ₹15,000 to ₹50,000.
• For unlawful conversions involving minors, women, or individuals from Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, the prison term has been extended from 2-10 years to 5-14 years, and the fine has been increased from ₹25,000 to ₹1 lakh.
• Introduction of New Offense Categories: Additionally, the amendment introduces two new categories of offenses: one for obtaining foreign funds or funds from illegal institutions, with a penalty of up to 14 years in prison and a ₹10 lakh fine, and another for severe offenses involving threats, force, or trafficking, which could result in 20 years to life imprisonment.
• Alters the process for filing complaints: Previously restricted to aggrieved individuals or their immediate family, the revised law now allows “any person” to file an FIR related to violations, thus legitimizing third-party complaints.
• Strict Bail Conditions:
• Furthermore, the amendment introduces stringent bail conditions similar to those in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
• Under the new Section 7, all offenses are cognizable and non-bailable, and bail can only be granted if there are “reasonable grounds for believing” the accused is not guilty and unlikely to re-offend, making it very difficult to obtain bail before trial.
• In comparison to other States with anti-conversion laws, such as Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh’s law is more stringent. While many states require prior notification of conversion, Uttar Pradesh mandates a 60-day notice and a police inquiry.
• Additionally, unlike other states where only the aggrieved individual or their immediate family can file FIRs, Uttar Pradesh permits broader third-party complaints. The severe bail conditions and the potential for life imprisonment are also more extreme compared to the laws in other states, where sentences typically range from 2 to 10 years.
• However, the constitutionality of the amendment is expected to be challenged in the Supreme Court, with ongoing petitions questioning the original 2021 Act and similar anti-conversion laws.
• A prior Bench had suggested that some provisions of the 2021 Act might contravene Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion.

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Additional Information:

Need for an Anti-Conversion Law in India:

• Protect Traditions and Beliefs: To prevent conflicts from religious conversions and maintain the influence of specific religions.
• Prevent Social Conflicts: To avoid community disputes that can arise from religious conversions.
• Address Fraudulent Marriages: To counteract cases where individuals marry under false pretences of their religion and later coerce their partners to convert.
• Judicial Acknowledgement: The Supreme Court has recognized forced conversions as a violation of individual religious freedom and a threat to secularism.

Way Forward:

• Aligning with Constitutional Rights: Amend the law to conform with Articles 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) and 25 (Freedom of Religion) of the Indian Constitution, ensuring adherence to personal liberty rights as upheld by the Supreme Court in Shafin Jahan vs. Ashokan K.M. (2018).
• Implement Safeguards Against Misuse: Introduce guidelines to prevent misuse by restricting complaints to aggrieved parties or close family members and setting up a preliminary investigation, as recommended by the Supreme Court in Lata Singh vs. State of Uttar Pradesh (2006).
• Promote Awareness and Education: Initiate awareness campaigns and educational programs to inform the public about their rights and legal provisions on religious conversion and inter-faith marriages, in collaboration with civil society organizations, legal experts, and community leaders.
• Ensure Fair Bail Provisions: Revise bail provisions to ensure they balance justice and the accused’s liberty, following the Supreme Court’s guidance in Arnesh Kumar vs. State of Bihar (2014), and avoid unreasonable bail denials in the absence of prima facie evidence.
• Promote Judicial Oversight: Enhance judicial oversight to prevent arbitrary actions and uphold constitutional principles, as highlighted by the Supreme Court and Gujarat High Court’s protection for inter-faith marriage parties.

Constitutional Rights: According to the various Judicial Pronouncements, forceful religious conversion is against the basic Fundamental Rights of the Indian Constitution. Article 14 (Equality Before the Law): Ensures all individuals are treated equally under the law, rejecting discrimination based on religious conversions.Article 21 (Right to Life): Protects the fundamental right to life and personal liberty, which is compromised by forceful religious conversions.Article 25 (Freedom of Conscience and Religious Freedom): Guarantees the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate one’s religion, which is violated by coercive conversion practices.

Has the U.K. changed its stance on ICC arrest warrants?

GS 2: International Relations: UK drops objections to ICC arrest warrants

Why is it in the news?

• On July 26, 2024, the U.K. government shifted its position on the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor’s application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
• This change marked a notable departure from the stance of the previous Conservative administration and aligned with the Labour government’s recent policy decisions, such as restoring funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

More about the news

• The controversy began when ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan applied for arrest warrants on May 20, 2024, targeting both Hamas leaders and Israeli officials in response to the conflict arising from Hamas’s Operation al-Aqsa flood and Israel’s Operation Iron Swords.
• Khan’s application was based on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including claims that Israel used starvation as a method of warfare, which is prohibited under the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
• Previously, the Conservative government opposed the ICC’s move, arguing that the Court’s jurisdiction over Israeli citizens required clarification. They maintained that the 1993 Oslo Accords, which were later superseded by the 1998 Rome Statute, did not grant Palestine criminal jurisdiction over Israeli citizens.
• However, the ICC’s 2021 ruling confirmed that the Court could exercise jurisdiction over crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, regardless of Israel’s non-ratification of the Rome Statute.
• With the U.K. now removing its objections, the ICC may proceed with issuing arrest warrants against the Israeli leaders. This development could result in Netanyahu becoming the first head of government supported by Western countries to face ICC indictment.
• Such a scenario could lead to increased international isolation for Israel, diplomatic tensions with its allies, and potential legal and travel restrictions for Netanyahu. Conversely, the ICC might face criticism over its focus on powerful nations, impacting its credibility and relevance.

Bill seeks to expand NDMA role, fails to strengthen its status

GS 3: Disaster Management: Amendments to DM Act

Why is it in the news?

• The government has recently introduced a Bill in Parliament seeking to amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005 which aims to enhance the operational efficiency of disaster response mechanisms.
• The key changes include an expanded role for the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in guiding state governments and central organs during disasters.
• However, the Bill does not address the need to upgrade and strengthen the NDMA’s institutional status, which would have empowered the body to coordinate more effectively with state agencies and provided it with additional financial and human resources.

More about the news

Background:

• The Disaster Management Act was enacted following the 2004 tsunami, though the idea for such legislation had been considered since the 1998 Odisha super cyclone.
• The Act established the NDMA, State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), which focuses on disaster-related research, training, awareness, and capacity building.
• Complemented by the National Disaster Management Policy in 2009 and the National Disaster Management Plan in 2016, this framework has proven effective over the years, saving lives and providing crucial relief, rescue, and rehabilitation services.
• With increasing natural disaster incidents, intensified by climate change, agencies like the NDMA have become even more critical, necessitating expanded responsibilities and resources.

Key Enhancements Proposed by the Amendment Bill:

• It introduces Urban Disaster Management Authorities for large metropolitan areas, which will be headed by municipal commissioners. This aims to create a unified approach to urban disasters, such as flooding.
• Additionally, the Bill mandates that every state establish and maintain a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), addressing the current inconsistency in SDRF size and capability across states.
• The Bill also seeks to legally recognize the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by the Cabinet Secretary, as the primary body for national emergencies with serious or national ramifications.
• The bill empowers National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) to prepare the disaster plan at national level and state level instead of National Executive Committee and State Executive Committee.
• National plan should be reviewed every three years and updated at least once in every five years.
• The Bill also suggests that the NDMA set guidelines for minimum relief standards, including compensation recommendations for loss of life, property, and livelihoods. Furthermore, the Bill clarifies that “man-made causes” in the context of disasters exclude law-and-order situations, such as riots, which will not invoke provisions of this law.
• One notable provision in the Bill is the legitimization of the role of vice-chairperson of the NDMA. Although this position has been vacant for about a decade, the Bill allows for day-to-day operations to be managed by any Member designated by the chairperson or vice-chairperson.
• However, critics argue that the NDMA should be elevated to the status of a government department or even a full-fledged ministry to match its growing role and importance. Currently, the NDMA operates under the Home Ministry, leading to inefficient decision-making processes and a lack of administrative financial powers.
• The NDMA is also under-resourced, with only three members currently working, compared to the previous six to seven members who managed different types of disasters.
• Overall, while the Bill introduces important changes, it overlooks the need to address the NDMA’s institutional deficiencies, which could hinder its effectiveness in managing and coordinating disaster response efforts.

UPSC Civil Services Mains (PYQ:

Q. Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (2020)

Antitrust complaint against Google

GS 3: Economy: Anti-Competitive Practices

Why is it in the news?

• An Indian start-up lobby group has lodged an antitrust complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against Google, accusing it of anti-competitive practices in the online advertising sector.
• This complaint, filed by the Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF), highlights Google’s dominant position and its reliance on advertising revenue, which ADIF argues stifles competition and harms Indian businesses.
• The complaint follows previous scrutiny by the CCI, which fined Google in 2022 for exploiting its market dominance in the Android ecosystem.

More about the news

• ADIF’s challenge focuses on Google’s ad-ranking system, which allows advertisers to bid for keyword placements, leading to inflated ad prices.
• The group also criticizes Google for self-preferencing its own services and for its Privacy Sandbox initiative, which could undermine the effectiveness of non-Google advertising platforms by phasing out third-party cookies.
• This complaint arises amidst ongoing discussions in India about a new digital competition law, inspired by European regulations.
• The proposed Digital Competition Bill, 2024, aims to prevent tech giants from self-preferencing and misusing data across their platforms. It includes provisions for pre-emptive compliance and heavy penalties for violations, potentially requiring major tech companies to overhaul their operations.
• The Bill also introduces the concept of Associate Digital Enterprises (ADEs), which would be subject to similar obligations as Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises (SSDEs), depending on their involvement in core digital services.

Additional Information:

Antitrust Law:

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• Antitrust, or competition law, safeguards trade and commerce by preventing unfair restraints, monopolies, and price-fixing, ensuring robust competition and economic growth.
• India’s antitrust law,the Competition Act, 2002, replaced the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) based on recommendations from the Raghavan Committee.
• The Act forbids anti-competitive agreements, abuse of market dominance, and regulates combinations that may significantly harm competition in India.
• Following the provisions of the Act, the Competition Commission of India and Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) {later replaced by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) in 2017} were established.

About Competition Commission of India:

• It is a statutory body tasked with implementing the objectives of the Competition Act, 2002.
• Its goals are to promote and sustain competition, protect consumer interests, and ensure free trade.
• The commission functions as a quasi-judicial body, offering opinions to statutory authorities and adjudicating cases.
• Objectives:
• Eliminate practices that negatively impact competition.
• Promote and sustain a competitive market environment.
• Protect consumer interests.
• Ensure the freedom of trade within India’s markets.

What is Digital Competition Bill, 2024?

• Proposed in March 2024, the bill aims to regulate large digital enterprises, by preventing big tech companies from favoring their services or misusing data and to ensure a level-playing field and fair competition in the digital space.
• The bill includes provisions to establish presumptive norms to prevent anti-competitive practices and promises substantial penalties, potentially reaching billions of dollars, for violations.
• The new law mirrors the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) by targeting anti-competitive practices of major tech firms, requiring them to open their services and avoid favoring their own offerings over competitors.

Significant provisions:

• The Bill proposes to designate enterprises with significant market presence and financial strength in India as Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises (SSDEs), with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) empowered to make these designations.
• SSDEs are those enterprises that provide core digital services in India and have a significant presence and significant financial strength in the country.
• The Bill aims to designate Associate Digital Enterprises (ADEs) to assess and regulate how data shared within a tech group benefits its affiliated companies.
• The CCI can investigate and take action against enterprises outside India for non-compliance with the Act or its regulations.

RBI’s Digital rupee project

GS 3: Economy: e-Rupee

About the news

• The e-rupee, or digital rupee, is a digital currency issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) designed to provide an electronic alternative to physical cash.
• Digital Representation of Fiat Currency: Unlike banknotes, which are tangible, the e-rupee exists solely in electronic form and operates within a computer network. It is a legal tender used for transactions, similar to traditional cash, but cannot be used offline.
• Although the e-rupee is a legal tender, it differs from bank deposits in that it does not earn interest. Users can convert their bank deposits into e-rupees and vice versa for convenience.
• Launched on a pilot basis in December 2022, the digital rupee was introduced as an alternative to cryptocurrencies and aims to offer greater transaction transparency and reduce the costs associated with traditional currency production.
• Initially, the digital rupee saw a surge in adoption, with daily transactions exceeding 1 million towards the end of last year. However, its use has since declined to around 100,000-200,000 transactions per day.
• In an effort to boost adoption, major fintech companies such as Google Pay, PhonePe, Amazon Pay, MobiKwik, and Cred are seeking to join the RBI’s digital rupee project.
• Integrating the digital rupee into these popular payment platforms could help expand its use case and increase its acceptance. Despite these efforts, the RBI does not currently plan a full-scale launch of the digital currency and expects it to remain in the pilot stage for the next few years.

Additional Information:

Necessity of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs):

• Cost Efficiency: CBDCs will significantly reduce costs related to physical cash management, including printing, storage, and transportation, resulting in lower overall expenses.
• Boosts Digital Economy: CBDCs will address the cash needs of underserved areas, boost India’s digital economy, enhance financial inclusion, and improve the efficiency of the financial system.
• Financial Security in Uncertain Times: CBDCs will protect people’s savings during crises, as they are backed by the central bank, unlike bank deposits which are only insured up to ₹5 lakh.
• Enhanced Payment Options: e₹ will offer multiple payment methods, including e-wallets, mobile banking, and UPI.
• High Currency Circulation: India maintains a notably high ratio of currency in circulation relative to its GDP.
• Increased Payment Security: e₹ provides a much safer payment option compared to traditional methods.

Challenges in Implementing CBDCs:

• Cyber Security Risks: CBDC systems may face similar cyber-attack risks as current payment systems, requiring rigorous security measures and costly protection.
• Privacy Concerns: CBDCs will generate vast amounts of real-time data, raising challenges related to user privacy, data anonymity, and the potential for credential compromise, as they offer less privacy compared to cash transactions.
• Digital Divide and Financial Illiteracy: The CBDC may exacerbate financial inclusion challenges due to the digital divide, with only 48.7% of rural males and 24.6% of rural females having used the internet, highlighting significant gender-based and regional barriers.
• Operational Burden and Costs: Managing CBDCs will impose significant operational burdens and costs on the central bank.

Distinguishing CBDC from Cryptocurrency:

• Algorithmic Issuance vs. Crypto Mining: CBDCs will be issued through algorithm-based processes prioritizing energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, unlike cryptocurrencies that rely on energy-intensive mining methods.
• Legal Consumer Protection: CBDCs, issued solely by the central bank and convertible from existing bank balances, offer the benefits of virtual currencies with enhanced consumer protection, unlike private cryptos that lack such safeguards.

Global CBDC Milestones:

• The Bahamas was the first country to launch a nationwide CBDC, introducing the Sand Dollar in 2020.
• In 2020, Nigeria followed by rolling out its own digital currency, the eNaira.
• China became the world’s first major economy to pilot a digital currency, the e-CNY, in April 2020.

UPSC Civil Services Prelims PYQs

Q. With reference to Central Bank digital currencies, consider the following statements: (2023)

1. It is possible to make payments in a digital currency without using US dollar or SWIFT system.

2. A digital currency can be distributed with condition programmed into it such as a time-frame for spending it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

AI helps scientists develop safe form of antibiotic produced by pigs

GS 3: Science and Technology: AI driven antibiotic

Why is it in the news?

• Researchers at the University of Texas have made significant strides in antibiotic development by using artificial intelligence (AI) to modify Protegrin-1, an antibiotic naturally produced by pigs, making it safe for human use.
• This modification, resulting in a new version called bacterially selective Protegrin-1.2 (bsPG-1.2), aims to preserve the antibiotic’s efficacy while reducing its toxicity to human cells.

More about the news

• The team employed a large language model (LLM), similar to ChatGPT, to analyze over 7,000 variations of Protegrin-1 and select the safest and most effective version.
• The modified antibiotic has shown promising results in preliminary animal trials. Mice treated with bsPG-1.2 and infected with multidrug-resistant bacteria experienced a significant reduction in bacterial levels in their organs within six hours.
• This breakthrough is considered revolutionary for addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health concern. Microbiologists and experts see this development as a potential game-changer in combating AMR, which poses a major threat due to the increasing ineffectiveness of existing antibiotics.
• The World Health Organization has emphasized the urgent need for new, effective antibiotics, as AMR is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide.
• In 2019 alone, AMR contributed to an estimated 4.95 million deaths globally, with India accounting for a significant portion of these fatalities.
• This new AI-driven approach to antibiotic development could potentially transform the field of drug discovery, offering a promising avenue for creating antibiotics that are both potent against resistant bacteria and safer for human use.
• However, experts caution that responsible use of new antibiotics is crucial to prevent future AMR issues.

Additional Information:

About World Health Organization (WHO):

• Established in 1948, this specialized United Nations agency links nations, partners, and communities to advance global health, ensure safety, and provides technical support to countries in assessing health trends.
• It Commenced its operations on April 7, 1948, this date is now annually commemorated as World Health Day.
• Membership: WHO currently has 194 member states.
• India became a party to the WHO on 12 January 1948.

About Antimicrobial resistance (AMR):

• Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc.) develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics), rendering standard treatments ineffective, causing infections to spread and cause severe illness, and death.
• Microorganisms that develop resistance to antimicrobial drugs are often termed “superbugs.”
• Causes for its spread:
• Antimicrobial Misuse and Overuse
• Insufficient Clean Water and Sanitation
• Inadequate Infection Prevention and Control
• Lack of Awareness
• High Rates of Communicable Diseases
• Initiatives against AMR:
• National (India)
• National Action Plan (NAP) on AMR (2017): The NAP adopts a “One Health approach”, aiming to enhance awareness, bolster surveillance, foster research, and improve infection prevention and control.
• Signing of the Delhi Declaration on AMR: The Delhi Declaration, endorsed by Indian ministers, aims to tackle AMR through a collaborative approach involving research institutes, civil society, industry, SMEs, and public-private partnerships.
• Guidelines on Antibiotic Use: The National Health Policy 2017 established specific guidelines to restrict over-the-counter sales of antibiotics and banned their use for growth promotion in livestock.
• Antibiotic Stewardship Program (AMSP): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched the AMSP as a pilot in 20 tertiary care hospitals across India to manage and reduce antibiotic misuse and overuse in hospital wards and ICUs.
• Global
• World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW): Since 2015, WAAW has been a global campaign designed to raise awareness of AMR and promote best practices among the public, health workers, and policymakers to combat drug-resistant infections.
• Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS): Launched by WHO in 2015, GLASS aims to address knowledge gaps and guide strategies by progressively integrating data on AMR in humans, antimicrobial use, and resistance in the food chain and environment.

UPSC Civil Services Mains PYQ’s:

Q. Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without Doctor’s prescription, be contributors to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved. (2014)

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