DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 9th December 2024

Syllabus:

• Prelims & Mains – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Recently, Dhanush sent a legal notice to Nayanthara, demanding Rs. 10 crore for allegedly infringing the copyright over a movie.

Background: –

• The Copyright Act, 1957 is a comprehensive legal framework in India that governs copyright protection and enforcement. The Act has been amended multiple times, with significant amendments in 1983, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1999, and 2012.

Key provisions of the Copyright Act

• Copyright grants exclusive rights to the creator of original works such as literary, artistic, musical, or dramatic works, including films, computer programs, and sound recordings.
• The Act provides the owner with economic and moral rights:
  • Economic Rights: Right to reproduce, distribute, communicate to the public, and adapt the work.
  • Moral Rights: Right to claim authorship and object to distortion or mutilation of the work.
• Duration of Copyright Protection:
  • Literary, Artistic, Dramatic, and Musical Works: Life of the author + 60 years.
  • Cinematograph Films, Sound Recordings, and Anonymous Works: 60 years from the year of publication.
• The law provides protection to the transformative work which is a creative/ artistic work that takes existing material (text, music, art) and significantly modifies, reinterprets, or builds upon it to create something new and distinct. For example, the comedy group AIB’s 2015 spoof video ‘Every Bollywood Party song’ starring the late actor Irrfan, was a parody of rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh’s ‘Party all night’, and it would not amount to infringement as it can be termed as inspired work.
• According to the copyright law, no exclusive intellectual property rights apply to creative works in the public domain. So, the Old Testament and New Testament, or the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, one of the most widely used translations of the Bible, are not protected by copyright. Similarly, the Ramayana and Mahabharata are not protected by copyright, but the television series Ramayana created by Ramanand Sagar or B R Chopra’s Mahabharata are “transformative works” that are protected.
• Copyright infringement: A copyrighted work will be considered “infringed” only if a substantial part is made use of without authorisation.
• Section 52 lists acts that don’t constitute infringement, even in cases where one has a copyright over the work. Section 52(1)(a) exempts “a fair dealing with any work” from being termed “infringement” if it’s for private or personal use, like research, criticism or review, or reporting of current events and affairs.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus:

• Prelims – SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Context: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning for the Marburg virus disease.

Background: –

• An outbreak of deadly Marburg virus disease (MVD), often referred to as the ‘bleeding eye virus’, has killed at least 15 people, and infected at least 66 in Rwanda.

Key takeaways

• The Marburg virus is a highly infectious pathogen that causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and non-human primates.
• Causative Agents: The Marburg virus (MARV) and Ravn virus (RAVV) are the causative agents of Marburg virus disease (MVD).
• Family: Both viruses belong to the Filoviridae family, which also includes the Ebola virus.
• First Detection: The virus was first identified in 1967 in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and in Belgrade, Serbia, during laboratory work with African green monkeys imported from Uganda.

Transmission:

• Natural Host: The natural host of the Marburg virus is the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus).
• Animal to Human: Direct contact with bat feces, saliva, or tissues of infected animals.
• Human-to-Human Transmission: The virus spreads among humans through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals.
• High-Risk Activities: Transmission can occur through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated objects, and during burial ceremonies involving direct contact with the body of the deceased.

Symptoms:

• Initial Symptoms: High fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and a rash with flat and raised bumps.
• Severe Symptoms: As the disease progresses, symptoms can include liver failure, delirium, shock, bleeding (hemorrhaging), and multi-organ dysfunction.
• Fatality Rate: The average case fatality rate is around 50%, but it can vary from 24% to 88% depending on the virus strain and case management.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

• Diagnosis: MVD is diagnosed through blood tests such as ELISA or RT-PCR.
• Treatment: There is no specific antiviral treatment for MVD. Supportive care, including rehydration therapy and symptomatic management, improves survival.
• Preventive Measures: Preventive measures include avoiding contact with bats in mines or caves, using protective clothing, and isolating infected individuals.

Source: Hindustan Times

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: Around 1.45 crore registrations have been made under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and 6.34 lakh installations completed, Parliament was informed recently.

Background:

• As per official data, Gujarat has seen the maximum solar installations under the scheme at 2,86,545, followed by Maharashtra with 1,26,344 installations and Uttar Pradesh at 53,423.

Key takeaways

• The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is a Central Sector Scheme. 
• Launch Date: February 15, 2024.
• Objective: PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana targets to achieve 1 crore rooftop solar installations in residential sector by FY27 with an outlay of Rs 75,021 crore.

Key Features:

• Subsidy: The scheme offers a subsidy of 60% for systems up to 2 kW capacity and 40% for systems between 2 to 3 kW capacity.
• Free Electricity: Eligible households will receive up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
• Eligibility: Indian citizens who own a house with a suitable roof and have a valid electricity connection.
• Application Process: Interested households can register on the national portal, select their state and electricity distribution company, and apply for the rooftop solar system.

Benefits:

• Financial Relief: Reduces electricity costs for households.
• Sustainable Energy: Promotes the use of renewable energy and reduces carbon emissions.
• Energy Independence: Enhances energy security by reducing reliance on traditional power sources.

Model Solar Village

• Under the “Model Solar Village” component of the scheme, the focus is on establishing one Model Solar Village per district throughout India. 
• This initiative aims to promote solar energy adoption and empower village communities to achieve energy self-reliance. An allocation of ₹800 crore has been designated for this component, with ₹1 crore provided to each selected Model Solar Village.
• To qualify as a candidate village, it must be a revenue village with a population of over 5,000 (or 2,000 in special category states). Villages are selected through a competitive process.

Source: Economic Times

Syllabus:

• Prelims – GEOGRAPHY

Context: Syrian rebels declared President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster after seizing control of Damascus on Sunday (December 8, 2024), ending his family’s iron-fisted rule after more than 13 years of civil war in a seismic moment for West Asia. 

Background: –

• The Islamist rebels also dealt a major blow to the influence of Russia and Iran in the region, key allies who propped up Assad during critical moments in the civil war.
• Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which spearheaded the rebel advances, was formerly an al Qaeda affiliate known as the Nusra Front until its leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani, severed ties with the global jihadist movement in 2016. HTS is Syria’s strongest rebel group and some Syrians remain fearful it will impose draconian Islamist rule.

Key takeaways

• Syria is a country located in West Asia, in the region known as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant.
• Location: Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east and southeast, Jordan to the south, and Israel and Lebanon to the southwest.
• Capital: Damascus, which is also the largest city.
• History:
  • Ottoman Rule: The region was part of the Ottoman Empire until the end of World War I.
  • French Mandate: After World War I, Syria came under French mandate until it gained independence in 1946.
  • Modern State: The modern Syrian state was established in the mid-20th century, with Damascus as its capital.

Culture and Religion:

• Ethnic Groups: The population is predominantly Arab, with significant Kurdish, Armenian, Assyrian, and other minority groups.
• Religion: The majority of the population follows Islam (87%), with Sunni Islam being the largest group (74%), followed by Alawism and other Shia Islam (13%), and Christianity (10%).
• Cultural Significance: Cities like Damascus and Aleppo hold great cultural significance, with Damascus being the seat of the Umayyad Caliphate during Islamic rule.

Economy:

• GDP: The GDP (PPP) is approximately $50.28 billion, with a per capita GDP of around $2,900.
• Currency: Syrian pound (SYP).
• Economic Challenges: The ongoing conflict has severely impacted the economy, leading to significant challenges in infrastructure and development.

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus:

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: The RBI recently asked banks to collaborate with its initiative MuleHunter.AI to weed out mule accounts which are used to commit financial fraud.

Background: –

• RBI has been taking various measures in coordination with banks and other stakeholders to prevent and mitigate digital fraud in the financial sector.

Key takeaways

• MuleHunter.ai is an advanced artificial intelligence tool developed by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) to combat financial fraud, particularly focusing on detecting and flagging mule accounts.
• The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), established to foster innovation and technology in the financial sector
• Purpose of MuleHunter.AI : To detect and prevent the misuse of mule accounts for money laundering and other illicit financial activities.

Key Features:

• AI/ML-Based Detection: Utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to analyze transaction data and account details.
• Pattern Recognition: Identifies patterns of mule account behavior with greater precision and speed compared to traditional rule-based systems.
• Near-Real-Time Monitoring: Provides near-real-time monitoring of accounts to quickly detect suspicious activities.

What is a mule bank account?

• A mule account is a bank account that is used by criminals for illegal activities, including the laundering of illicit funds. 
• A mule account is typically bought over by the criminals from their original users, individuals who are often from lower income groups, or have low levels of technical literacy.
• The related term “money mule” is used to describe the innocent victims who are used by the criminals to launder stolen or illegal money via their bank accounts. When such incidents are reported, the money mule becomes the target of police investigations, while the actual criminals remain undetectable.

Source: Business Standard

Q1.) With reference to MuleHunter.AI, which of the following statements is/are correct?
(Type: True/False style question)

1. MuleHunter.AI is an initiative by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub to detect and prevent financial fraud.
2. It relies exclusively on Aadhar database to detect mule account behavior.
3. Mule accounts are primarily used for illegal activities like money laundering.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, and 3

Q2.) Which of the following states has seen the highest number of solar rooftop installations under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, as of recent data?

1. Maharashtra
   B. Uttar Pradesh
   C. Gujarat
   D. Rajasthan

Q3.) Consider the following statements about Syria:

1. Syria is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the west and Iraq to the east.
2. Damascus, the capital of Syria, is the largest city in the country.
3. The Euphrates River flows through Syria, playing a significant role in its agriculture.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, and 3

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  Today’s – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) – c

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – d