UPSC DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS (2ND OCTOBER, 2023)
Gandhi’s South African Experience
GS Paper 1 Syllabus: India’s Struggle for Independence
Context: The article discusses the historical significance of Tolstoy Farm near Johannesburg, where Mahatma Gandhi first experimented with ideas that later became central to his philosophy.
- 2nd October 2023 is Mahatma Gandhi’s 154th Birth Anniversary.
About Gandhi’s Tolstoy Farm:
- Foundation of Tolstoy Farm: Gandhi established Tolstoy Farm in 1910 while supervising the satyagraha by South African Indians. The farm aimed to be a self-supporting agricultural commune that provided for basic needs and emphasized personal growth and spiritual understanding through hard labour.
- Tolstoy Farm as Gandhi’s Laboratory: Tolstoy Farm served as a laboratory for Gandhi to experiment with various principles and ideals, including diet, nature cure, harmonious living with nature, brahmacharya, and more.
- This reflected a shared philosophy with Count Leo Tolstoy and Henry David Thoreau
- Revival Efforts: Tolstoy Farm fell into disrepair during the Apartheid era. Post-1994, part of the farm has been developed into a ‘Peace Garden,’ and there are plans to involve the local community and teach Gandhian ideals.
Events that shaped Gandhi in South Africa:
| Event | Description |
| Moderate Phase of Struggle | Gandhi relied on sending petitions and memorials to authorities in South Africa and Britain |
| Hoped that authorities would address Indian grievances as they were British subjects | |
| Satyagraha against Registration Certificates | New legislation required Indians to carry registration certificates with fingerprints. Gandhi formed the Passive Resistance Association to protest. Gandhi and others who refused registration were jailed. |
| Campaign against Restrictions on Indian Migration | The protest expanded to include new laws restricting Indian migration. Indians defied the law by crossing provinces and refusing licenses. Many Indians were jailed. |
| Setting up of Tolstoy Farm | Gandhi established Tolstoy Farm to house Satyagrahis’ families and support their sustenance. Allowed him to focus on the struggle more effectively. |
| Campaign against Poll Tax and Invalidation of Indian Marriages | A three-pound poll tax was imposed on Ex-indentured Indians, burdening the poor. In 1913, Gandhi fought against the invalidation of non-Christian marriages. |
Learning from South Africa: –
| Learning | Description |
| Immense Capacity of Masses | Realized that the masses could participate and sacrifice for a cause they believed in. |
| Utilized this capacity in major movements like Non-cooperation and Civil Disobedience in India | |
| Unity | Successfully united Indians from different religions, classes, and genders under his leadership. |
| Unpopular Decisions | Recognized that leaders sometimes need to make unpopular decisions, as seen in the Chaur-Chauri incident in 1922 |
| Non-Violent Movement | Developed his unique style of leadership and non-violent protest techniques, which he applied in India. |
| Distinctive Gandhian Methods | Introduced Gandhian methods such as truth, non-violence, civil disobedience, and non-cooperation during his time in South Africa. |
| Participation of Women | Advocated for the participation of women in the Indian National Movement, believing in their inner strength. |
Conclusion
In South Africa, Gandhiji witnessed the ugly face of white racism and the humiliation and contempt to which Asians who had gone to South Africa as labourers were subjected. He decided to stay in South Africa to organise the Indian workers to enable them to fight for their rights. He stayed there till 1914 after which he returned to India.
Significance of October 2:
The United Nations declared October 2 as the ‘International Day of Non-Violence’ in honour of Gandhi’s principles. October 2 also marks the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri, India’s former Prime Minister, who played a crucial role during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He was born on October 2, 1904.
Concerns about using Aadhaar in welfare schemes
GS Paper 2 Syllabus: E-Governance
Context: Recent Moody’s report highlights issues with India’s digital ID program.
What is Aadhar?
Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to Indian residents. It serves as proof of identity and address and is linked to an individual’s biometric and demographic information. It has revolutionized service delivery by simplifying access to government services and benefits, eliminating intermediaries, and plugging leaks into government programs.
Concerns Highlighted by Moody’s Report:
| Concerns | Details |
| Privacy and Security Concerns | Aadhaar’s concentration of sensitive information with specific entities increases data breach risks (privacy and security risks) |
| Biometric Authentication Concerns | The adoption of Aadhaar for welfare scheme payouts like MGNREGA hinders effective implementation. |
| Concerns about Aadhaar’s biometric reliability and the burden of establishing authorization. | |
| Concerns Related to Service Denials | Service denials are common, especially for manual labourers in hot, humid climates. |
| Moody’s Recommendation | Moody’s suggests decentralized ID systems like digital wallets with blockchain capabilities for more user control and reduced fraud. |
Government’s Stand:
| Government’s Response | Details |
| Aad haar’s biometric system is reliable, safe and secure | |
| Recognition by International Agencies | The government pointed out that international agencies like the IMF and the World Bank have praised Aadhaar. |
| Several nations have engaged with UIDAI to explore deploying similar digital ID systems. | |
| Facilitation of Schemes like MGNREGA | The government highlighted that Aadhaar seeding in MGNREGS is done without biometric authentication, addressing concerns raised in the report. |
Other issues with the Aadhar system (*not in the report):
Systemic Flaws and Data Breaches:
| Issue | Details |
| Inadequate Facilities | Limited facilities for enrolling, updating, and retrieving Aadhaar details. |
| Elderly, disabled, and illiterate individuals face challenges with online grievance systems. | |
| Lack of Alternatives | Lack of acceptable alternatives for identity verification when Aadhaar fails. |
| Leads to an ‘either Aadhaar or no benefits’ situation. | |
| Lack of Archiving Policy | Some citizens are blocked from government services despite having valid Aadhaar cards and numbers. |
| CAG audit report highlights issues with data archiving policy and data management. | |
| Lack of Adequate Security | UIDAI’s devices and applications may not securely store residents’ personal information. |
| Concerns about the security of Aadhaar information used for digital verification by other agencies/companies. | |
| Misuse of the System | Informed consent was compromised in the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System and the Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS). |
| Instances of corrupt business correspondents extorting money from people through AePS. | |
| Organized scams like the “scholarship scam” in Jharkhand reported. | |
| Biometric Database | Private companies are legally restricted from asking for Aadhaar, but UIDAI provides authentication services to banks and mobile carriers. |
| Businesses that should compensate the government for using Aadhaar are not disclosing the process to the public. |
Exclusion of Marginalized Sections:
| Issue | Details |
| Aadhaar-related Hassles | Inconvenience and problems faced by millions, especially disadvantaged groups, in accessing welfare schemes. |
| Excessive Imposition | Aadhaar is often required for benefits not originally mandated by the Supreme Court. |
| For instance, an Aadhaar is needed for basic rights like Anganwadi services or school enrolment. | |
| Arbitrary Exclusions | Governments withdraw or suspend benefits without warning or informing recipients of Aadhaar linkage issues. |
| Payment Problems | Pressure to link bank accounts with Aadhaar and the use of the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System cause payment issues. |
| Problems include delayed, rejected, diverted, and blocked payments, affecting NREGA, pensions, and maternity beneficiaries. |
Steps to be taken:
- The government must restrict mandatory Aadhaar to permissible purposes and must also provide viable alternatives when Aadhaar authentication fails.
- Benefits should not be withdrawn or suspended without prior notice. Concerned persons should be given an opportunity to respond or appeal.
- The UIDAI must ensure an easier enrolment, updation and retrieval of lost card processes to all, for free, at the block level or below, in a well-supervised public facility.
- A comprehensive review of the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System and direct benefit transfer systems is essential.
- RBI and NPCI should monitor all types of payment problems and place detailed monthly reports in the public domain.
- The NPCI should ensure stronger safeguards against the vulnerabilities of AePS and better grievance redressal
- Informed consent norms should be reviewed.
- The Aadhaar Act could be amended to reinstate the dropped provision for independent oversight of the UIDAI by a high-powered “Identity Review Committee.”
Conclusion
Given the above drawbacks and hassles, the accountability lies on the UIDAI to address the gaps and to facilitate realizing the true potential of the Aadhaar system.
Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath initiative
Content for Mains Enrichment
Context: The “Ek Tareekh Ek Ghanta Ek Saath” initiative is a massive voluntary effort for cleanliness in India, endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The initiative encourages citizens to engage in one hour of “shramdaan” (voluntary labour) for cleanliness at 10 am on October 1st as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
Various groups and organizations, including Resident Welfare Associations, village communities, NGOs, market associations, faith groups, and the private sector, have come forward to participate in shramdaan at different locations.
Swachhata Pakhwada 2023, with the theme “Garbage Free India,” is organized alongside this initiative and has seen the participation of over 31 crore citizens across the nation in various cleanliness-related activities.
Usage: The example shows values of Environmental Consciousness, Community Engagement, Environmental Stewardship and Social Responsibility.
Apple’s ‘Mother Nature’ campaign
Content for Mains Enrichment
Context: The article discusses Apple’s ‘Mother Nature’ campaign and its environmental efforts,
What is Apple’s ‘Mother Nature’ campaign?
Apple’s ‘Mother Nature’ campaign is an environmental initiative launched by Apple, showcasing the company’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Examples:
- Recycling Program: Since 1994, Apple has run a gadget-recycling program, incentivizing customers to trade in their old devices for new ones.
- Positive Environmental Impact: Apple’s buyback policy, recycling initiatives, and responsible sourcing of materials place it ahead of its competitors in terms of environmental responsibility.
Despite its efforts, Apple has faced criticism for practices like “planned obsolescence” with its smartphones, and allegations of environmental transgressions (linked to pollution from Chinese component manufacturing facilities).
Usage: The Campaign can be used in Environment/ Corporate Social Responsibility Related Questions.
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
2023 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize
Context: Ruixiang Zhang, an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, USA, will receive the 2023 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize for his exceptional contributions to mathematics.
About Dr. Zhang’s work:
His work spans various areas of mathematics, including analytic number theory, combinatorics, Euclidean harmonic analysis, and geometry.
About the Prize:
The SASTRA Ramanujan Prize, established in 2005, is presented annually by SASTRA University in Tamil Nadu on Ramanujan’s birth anniversary, December 22 (at its centre Kumbakonam, the hometown of the renowned mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan). It recognizes mathematicians under 32 years old who work in areas influenced by Srinivasa Ramanujan, in honour of his remarkable accomplishments within that age. The prize includes a $10,000 cash award and a citation, and it has gained international recognition. Previous recipients include Manjul Bhargava and Akshay Venkatesh
IGMS 2.0 Public Grievance Portal
Context: The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) (Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions) launched IGMS 2.0. Public Grievance portal and Automated Analysis in Tree Dashboard portal
What is Intelligent Grievance Monitoring System (IGMS) 2.0?
IGMS is an artificial intelligence (AI) driven Grievance Monitoring System. It aims to enhance the efficiency of the public grievance redressal process.
| Portal | IGMS 2.0 Public Grievance Portal |
| Implementing Agency | DARPG in collaboration with IIT Kanpur |
| Objectives | Provide instant tabular analysis of Grievances Filed and disposed of. Offer State-wise and district-wise Grievances Filed data. Offer Ministry-wise data. Enhance grievance redressal process with AI capabilities. |
| Key Highlights | Upgrades DARPG’s CPGRAMS portal with AI capabilities. |
About CPGRAMS:
CPGRAMS is an online platform available 24/7 for citizens to lodge grievances related to service delivery. It connects all Ministries/Departments of the Government of India and States and offers role-based access. Citizens can track grievance status using a unique registration ID and use the appeal facility if not satisfied with the resolution by the Grievance Officer.
- Close to 20 lakh grievances are received annually on the CPGRAMS portal.
- CPGRAMS is now available in 22 scheduled languages.
- Special Campaign 3.0: The campaign has made a significant impact, clearing office space and promoting the eOffice work culture.
ISRO logo imprints show lunar soil ‘lumpy’
Context: The Chandrayaan-3 rover, Pragyan, which has the Indian national emblem and the ISRO logo on its rear wheels, has been unable to leave a clear imprint of these symbols on the lunar soil.
- This inability to imprint the symbols has provided new insights into the properties of lunar soil in the South Pole region.
Features of Lunar Soil:
- It is not dusty but rather lumpy, indicating that something is binding the soil together.
- Lunar Soil is a thick layer of regolith, fragmental and unconsolidated rock material, that covers the entire lunar surface.
- Lunar soil contains no organic matter.
- This discovery could have significant implications for future missions targeting lunar habitation and sustained human presence, especially in the context of potential water discovery in the region.
The testing of emblem and logo imprints was conducted using a lunar soil simulant (LSS) created by ISRO Satellite Integration and Test Establishment (Isite).
United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes (UNTOC)
Context: The Minister of State for Home Affairs attended a two-day conference in Palermo, Italy, marking the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crimes (UNTOC).
The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is a global and legally binding instrument adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2000 and enforced in 2003.
It is the first comprehensive treaty aimed at combatting transnational organized crime including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and illicit firearms trafficking.
Currently, there are 191 parties to the Convention, including India (who joined it in 2022 and ratified it in 2011). Central Bureau of Investigation as the national Nodal Authority from India. India also enacted the Criminal Law Amendment Act in 2013, which specifically defines human trafficking.
About Transnational Organized Crime:
Transnational organized crime refers to criminal activities that operate across national borders, involving organized groups engaged in various illegal activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and cybercrime.