DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 26th September 2024

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – POLITY

Context: Observing that the Comptroller And Auditor General (CAG) plays a key role in ensuring transparency and accountability in public finance, President Droupadi Murmu said recently that the office of CAG has lived up to the expectations of the Constitution-makers.

Background: –

• President was addressing the opening session of the 16th assembly of Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI).

Key takeaways

• Constitutional Provision:
  • The CAG is an independent authority established under Article 148 of the Indian Constitution.
  • The CAG is appointed by the President of India.
• Tenure and Removal:
  • The CAG holds office for 6 years or until reaching the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
  • The CAG can only be removed from office through a process similar to the removal of a Supreme Court judge, i.e., through impeachment by Parliament on grounds of proven misbehavior or incapacity.
• Duties and Powers:
  • The CAG audits the accounts of the Union and State Governments, including public sector enterprises.
  • Article 149 outlines the duties and powers of the CAG, as defined by Parliament.
  • The CAG submits audit reports to the President or Governor, which are then laid before the Parliament or State Legislature.
  • The reports include audits of receipts and expenditure of the government and its agencies.
• Role and Responsibilities:
  • Ensures that public funds are used effectively and lawfully.
  • Audits the Consolidated Fund of India, State Governments, and Union Territories.
  • Audits expenditure from the Contingency Fund and Public Account of India.
  • Plays a crucial role in ensuring accountability and transparency in the financial administration of the country.
• Significance:
  • CAG acts as the guardian of the public purse and maintains financial accountability of the government.
  • The office of the CAG strengthens parliamentary control over public expenditure.
• Relevant Articles:
  • Article 148: Appointment and terms of the CAG.
  • Article 149: Duties and powers of the CAG.
  • Article 150: Form of accounts of the Union and States to be kept as prescribed by the CAG.
  • Article 151: Submission of reports of the CAG.

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – HISTORY, GS 4

Context: Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was born on September 25, 1916. His birth anniversary is observed every year on the same day as Antyodaya Diwas.

Background: –

• It serves as a day to remember and celebrate Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s life and legacy, as he was one of the most influential leaders in Indian political history.

Key takeaways

• Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (1916–1968) was an Indian politician, philosopher, economist, and a key proponent of Hindutva ideology.
• He was a significant figure in India’s political landscape, particularly within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), the precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Early Life, Education and Political Career:

• Birth: Deendayal Upadhyaya was born on September 25, 1916, in a Brahmin family in the small village of Nagla Chandrabhan, near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.
• Childhood: Orphaned at an early age, Deendayal was brought up by his maternal uncle. Despite these hardships, he excelled academically and earned a scholarship to attend high school.
• Education: He studied at the prestigious Birla College in Pilani (now Birla Institute of Technology and Science) and later went to Prayag (Allahabad) University. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree and cleared the civil services exam but did not join the service. He instead dedicated himself to public service through nationalist organizations.
• RSS Involvement: Upadhyaya joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the 1930s, where he emerged as a pracharak (full-time worker). His organizational skills and dedication soon brought him to the forefront of the RSS.
• Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS): In 1951, Upadhyaya became closely involved with the newly founded Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), led by Syama Prasad Mukherjee. He was instrumental in shaping the BJS’s ideology and was appointed General Secretary. He remained in this role for nearly 15 years.
• Party Leadership: After the untimely death of Syama Prasad Mukherjee in 1953, Deendayal Upadhyaya became the de facto leader of the BJS. In 1967, he was formally elected as the President of Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

Ideological Contributions:

• Integral Humanism:
  • Upadhyaya is best known for formulating the philosophy of Integral Humanism (Ekatma Manavavad), which was officially adopted as the guiding philosophy of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1965.
  • Integral Humanism seeks to create a harmonious balance between the individual, society, and the state. It rejected both capitalism and socialism, proposing a middle path that was grounded in Indian culture, values, and ethos.
  • The philosophy advocates for a holistic development approach that integrates the physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions of life. It emphasizes the dignity of the individual and the importance of self-reliance, decentralization of power, and social justice.
• Antyodaya:
  • Upadhyaya championed the idea of Antyodaya, which means the “rise of the last person.” This concept emphasized the upliftment of the most disadvantaged sections of society. It is a principle that resonates in several welfare schemes implemented by Indian governments even today.
• Death:Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s life was tragically cut short when he was found dead under mysterious circumstances near Mughalsarai railway station (now Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction) in February 1968.
• Schemes in His Name: Several government schemes, such as the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana and Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana, have been named after him, focusing on rural development, skill training, and poverty alleviation.
• Integral Humanism Today: His philosophy of Integral Humanism continues to be a guiding principle in Indian politics. It remains relevant in discussions about India’s development trajectory, blending economic progress with cultural values.

Key Quotes:

• “We should have before us the ideal of Integral Man, and on that basis, we should keep in view the individual, family, society, nation, and humanity. Only then can we have an integral development of man.”

Source: Indian Express

 Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – INTERNATIONAL

Context: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met his counterparts from the G4 countries.

Background:

• Jaishankar, who is in the US on an official visit, on Monday met his Japanese counterpart Yoko Kamikawa, the Foreign Minister of Germany Annalena Baerbock and Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on the sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Key takeaways

• The G4 nations refer to a coalition of four countries: Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan. These nations support each other’s bids for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
• Formation: The G4 was formed in 2005 with the primary goal of securing permanent seats on the UNSC for its members.
• Purpose: The coalition aims to reform the UNSC to better reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. This includes expanding both permanent and non-permanent membership categories to include under-represented regions.
• Challenges: Their bids for permanent seats are often opposed by the Uniting for Consensus movement, which includes countries like Italy, Pakistan, and South Korea.

Source: Business Standard

 Syllabus

• Prelims – CURRENT EVENT

Context: India has officially joined the US-led Minerals Security Finance Network.

Background: –

• The announcement, made by the US State Department on Monday, highlights the growing importance of critical minerals in the global energy transition, particularly as nations work to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
• The move comes as China continues to dominate the supply of critical minerals, raising concerns over the concentration and resilience of global supply chains.

About Minerals Security Finance Network (MSFN)

• The Minerals Security Finance Network (MSFN) is a global initiative aimed at securing and diversifying the supply chains for critical minerals.
• Initiative: The MSFN is part of the broader Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), which was established by the United States in 2022.  India was inducted to the MSP in June 2023. The MSFN was officially announced on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024.
• Purpose: The network aims to promote cooperation, information exchange, and co-financing among development finance institutions (DFIs) and export credit agencies (ECAs) from partner nations.
• India’s participation in this initiative is aimed at diversifying and securing its supply of critical minerals from nations like Argentina, Chile, Australia, and select African countries. Kazakhstan, in Central Asia, is also being explored as a potential source for India’s mineral requirements.
• Objectives
  • Securing Supply Chains: The primary goal is to ensure a stable, diversified, and secure supply of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements.
  • Reducing Dependency: The MSFN seeks to reduce global dependency on dominant suppliers like China by diversifying sources of these critical minerals.
  • Promoting Sustainable Practices: The network emphasizes sustainable and responsible mining practices, adhering to high environmental, social, governance, and labor standards.

Members and Participants

• The MSFN includes a wide range of countries and institutions:
  • Countries: United States, Australia, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway, Sweden, and the European Union.
  • Institutions: Key participants include the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Export Finance Australia (EFA), Export Development Canada (EDC), European Investment Bank (EIB), Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and many others.
• Activities and Focus Areas
  • Investment and Financing: The network facilitates investments in critical mineral supply chains, including production, extraction, processing, recycling, and recovery projects.
  • Information Sharing: MSFN promotes the exchange of information and best practices among its members to enhance the effectiveness of their efforts.
  • Public-Private Partnerships: The initiative encourages collaboration between the public and private sectors to mobilize capital and drive sustainable investment in critical mineral projects.

Source: Business Standard

 Syllabus

• Prelims – GEOGRAPHY

Context: A Japanese warship cruised for the first time to assert its freedom of navigation through the Taiwan Strait.

Background: –

• Washington and its allies are increasingly crossing the Taiwan Strait to reinforce its status as an international waterway, angering Beijing.

About Taiwan Strait

• The Taiwan Strait is a significant body of water that separates the island of Taiwan from the Asian mainland, specifically the Fujian province of China.

Geography

• Width: The strait is approximately 180 kilometers (110 miles) wide at its broadest point, narrowing to about 130 kilometers (81 miles) at its narrowest.
• Depth: The average depth of the Taiwan Strait is around 200 feet.
• Location: It connects the South China Sea to the East China Sea.

Historical Significance

• The Taiwan Strait has been a hotspot for geopolitical tensions, particularly between the People’s Republic of China (PRC, China) and the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan). Several crises have occurred here:
  • First Taiwan Strait Crisis (1954-1955): The PRC shelled islands controlled by the ROC, leading to significant military confrontations.
  • Second Taiwan Strait Crisis (1958): Another round of shelling by the PRC, which again led to heightened tensions and military engagements.
  • Ongoing Tensions: The strait remains a focal point of military and political tension, with both the PRC and ROC maintaining significant military presences in the area.

Source: The Hindu

 Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3

Context: News about the possibility of a “free AI-powered primary-care physician for every Indian, available 24/7” within the next five years is ambitious. It raises critical questions about feasibility, sustainability, and the readiness of India to tackle such enormous undertakings as India cannot jump into AI-driven health care without first addressing the foundational issues within its health system.

Background: –

• Primary health care (PHC) ensures the right to the highest attainable level of health by bringing services closer to communities. It addresses health needs, tackles broader health determinants through multisectoral action, and empowers individuals to manage their health. We risk undermining this fundamental aspect of PHC by relying on AI as it is impersonal, making people passive recipients of care rather than active participants.

Artificial Intelligence:

• According to NITI Aayog, “AI refers to the ability of machines to perform cognitive tasks like thinking, perceiving, learning, problem-solving and decision making.”
• AI uses various technologies such as computer vision, audio processing, cognitive robotics, speech analytics, language processing, and machine learning techniques to derive AI-based solutions.

Healthcare Sector in India:

• As per the NASSCOM report, the market size of the healthcare industry in India was valued at $372 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 20% from 2023 to 2030.
• AI expenditure in India is expected to reach $11.78 billion by 2025 and add $1 trillion to India’s economy by 2035, as per a World Economic Forum report. The AI in Healthcare Market is projected to grow from $14.6 Billion in 2023 to $102.7 Billion by 2028.
• In the Union Budget 2023-24, the healthcare sector has been allocated INR 89,155 crore to undertake all the new-age research and innovation-based healthcare initiatives on a massive scale.

Significance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare:

• India has only 64 doctors available per 1,00,000 people compared to the global average of 150. AI can help with the shortage of healthcare workers in India by allowing doctors to consult patients remotely through telemedicine, reaching those in remote areas.
• AI tools can quickly analyze medical tests and images, helping doctors make accurate diagnoses. Virtual health assistants can monitor patients and give advice.
• AI has been used to develop a digital nurse to help people monitor a patient’s condition and follow up with treatments, between doctor visits.
• According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, using AI to make diagnoses may reduce treatment costs by up to 50% and improve health outcomes by 40%.
• AI helps monitor the medication courses of patients which is very important to ensure the proper dose regime to be followed by the patient.

Challenges in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare:

• Due to the limited availability of high-quality, labelled healthcare data needed to train AI models. The patient data is often fragmented across different systems and formats, making integration difficult.
• Inadequate digital infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, affects the deployment of AI solutions. The poor internet connectivity in remote regions hampers the use of AI-driven services.
• Shortage of skilled professionals with expertise in both AI and healthcare. There is a need for continuous education and training programmes for healthcare providers to effectively use AI tools.
• There is an absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework specific to AI in healthcare which puts patient data privacy at risk and biases in training data can lead to unfair diagnoses.
• High initial costs of AI technologies and the need for significant investment in infrastructure and training.
• Resistance from healthcare providers and patients to adopt new AI technologies.
• The vast and diverse population presents varied healthcare needs, making standardised AI solutions challenging. Socioeconomic disparities lead to unequal access to healthcare technologies, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Government Measures to Integrate AI in Healthcare:

• The government of India has created a National Digital Health Infrastructure to implement the digital health systems across the country, which includes:
• Healthlocker includes the digital national health database backed with a cloud-based storage system which serves as a single source of health data for the nation.
• Personal Health Records (PHR) allow data to be available for citizens and medical research purposes.
• Digi Doctors is a digital directory of doctors along with their names, specialization, qualifications, and number of years of experience.
• Coverage and claims digital platform.
• National health analytics platform.
• Unique digital health ID for each citizen.

Source: The Hindu

Q1.) The Taiwan Strait, often in the news, holds significant geopolitical importance. Which of the following statements about the Taiwan Strait is/are correct?

1. The Taiwan Strait is a body of water that separates Taiwan from the Philippines.
2. The Strait is a key global shipping route and is crucial for international trade.
3. It is a strategic flashpoint for tensions between China and Taiwan due to territorial claims.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2, and 3

Q2.) Consider the following statements regarding the G4 nations:

1. The G4 nations consist of Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan, and they support each other’s bid for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
2. The Uniting for Consensus movement, which includes countries like Italy, Pakistan, and South Korea, actively supports the G4 nations’ proposals for UNSC reforms.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q3.) Consider the following statements regarding Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya:

1. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya is known for formulating the philosophy of Integral Humanism.
2. The concept of Antyodaya, championed by Upadhyaya, focuses on the upliftment of the most disadvantaged sections of society.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  26th September 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs

Q.1) –  a

Q.2) – a

Q.3) – a