Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – Science

Context: An international team of researchers has just released the most comprehensive “three-dimensional” map of the universe, which, scientists hope, could reveal some clues about dark energy.

Background:-

• Dark energy, the mysterious form of energy that makes up about 68% of the universe, has intrigued physicists and astronomers for decades. Dark energy has been noted as “the most profound mystery in all of science”

About Dark Energy

• Everything we see – the planets, moons, massive galaxies, you, me, this website – makes up less than 5% of the universe. About 27% is dark matter and 68% is dark energy. While dark matter attracts and holds galaxies together, dark energy repels and causes the expansion of our universe.

Takeaways from the research:

• Using Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument or DESI, which is mounted over the Mayall 4-Meter Telescope in Arizona, United States, researchers have been able to measure light from six million galaxies — some of which existed as far back as 11 billion years ago — to prepare the most detailed map of the universe as yet with very precise information about the distances between these galaxies.
• The hypothesis of dark energy comes mainly from the observed phenomenon of the universe expanding at a rapid rate.
• The vast empty spaces between stars and galaxies have been measured to be expanding at an accelerating pace, despite the countervailing force of gravitation that has the effect of pulling things together.
• Scientists have been unable to find any explanation for this rapid expansion, and have been forced to hypothesise that there must be some “dark” energy causing this expansion.
• Understanding the nature of dark energy is one of the fundamental problems in science right now, because it can offer key insights into the origin and evolution of the universe, as well as its eventual fate.

Source: The Indian Express

Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains -Science & Environment

Context: In March, the Union government had approved a new e-vehicle policy with the aim to facilitate the entry of global EV manufacturers in the country.

Background:

• Attracting global EV players will provide Indian consumers with access to latest technology, boost the Make in India initiative, strengthen the EV ecosystem by promoting healthy competition among EV players leading to high volume of production, economies of scale, lower cost of production, reduce imports of crude Oil, lower trade deficit, reduce air pollution, particularly in cities, and will have a positive impact on health and environment.

About the policy and Indias EV landscape:

• The policy involves lowering the duty for EV imports — this has been a long-standing demand for EV majors like Tesla — for companies setting up a manufacturing plant with a minimum investment of Rs 4,150 crore.
• Alongside, the policy also lays out clear localisation targets that companies have to achieve — 25 per cent by the third year and 50 per cent by the fifth — in order to boost domestic value addition.
• Access to one of the largest and fastest growing markets in the world — India is the third largest auto market behind China and the US — at a time when others are slowing down, will be a big draw for electric vehicle manufacturers like Tesla.
• While the EV market is currently small in the country, it is gaining traction — in 2023, sales of electric vehicles surpassed 1.5 million, dominated by two-wheelers and three-wheelers.
• The scope for growth in various segments is immense, especially considering the government wants to increase the share of electric vehicles to 30 per cent by 2030.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus

• Prelims – Current Event

Context: The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken action against companies engaging in AI Washing.

Background:

• SEC Chairman Gary Gensler emphasized the importance of truthfulness in AI-related marketing. He warned that companies should ensure their representations about AI usage are accurate and not deceptive.

About AI WASHING

• AI washing is a marketing tactic where companies exaggerate the involvement of Artificial Intelligence (AI)in their products and services.
• This term is derived from “greenwashing”, which refers to companies making misleading claims about their environmental impact.
• AI washing refers to the practice of making exaggerated or false claims about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in marketing, advertising, or business operations.
• Companies engage in AI washing to make their offerings seem more advanced than they are, capitalizing on the growing interest in AI technology.
• This can mislead consumers and investors who may assume that the company is using advanced AI technologies.
• For instance, a company might claim that its product is “powered by AI” when in reality, the AI component is minimal or non-existent. This can be misleading as consumers might assume that the product is more sophisticated or capable than it actually is.
• AI washing has become a global phenomenon, with regulatory bodies like the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) taking action against companies for misleading AI claims.

Source: Down To Earth

Syllabus

• Prelims : Current Event

Context: Shallow fakes, also known as cheap fakes, are a cause for concern, especially during elections.

Background:

• With rapid dissemination on social media, shallow fakes can go viral quickly. False or misleading content can become ingrained in public discourse. As we approach the Lok Sabha elections, staying informed and discerning between genuine and manipulated content is essential.

About SHALLOW FAKES

• Shallow fakes are manipulated images, videos, and voice clips created without AI technology.
• Unlike deepfakes, which rely on sophisticated AI algorithms, shallow fakes use traditional editing tools to deceive viewers.
• They are increasingly used in political contexts, particularly during elections, to spread misinformation.

Characteristics:

• Quality: The term “shallow” implies that these fakes are lower in quality compared to deepfakes.
• Methods: Shallow fakes involve conventional photo editing or altering video speed to change speech patterns.
• Misleading Context: They often mis-caption or mis-contextualize existing images or videos, falsely claiming they are from a different time or place.

Difference Between Shallow Fakes and Deepfakes:

• Deepfakes: Utilize AI and machine learning to create photorealistic and audio-realistic content.
• Shallow fakes: Rely less on complex editing techniques and more on connecting partial truths to small lies using traditional tools.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus

• Prelims – Science

Context: India has initiated an anti-dumping probe into the import of a chemical used in the rubber industry from China and Japan.

Background:

• This investigation was prompted by a complaint filed by a domestic player. The specific chemical under scrutiny is ‘Insoluble Sulphur’. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) is currently examining the alleged dumping of this chemical.

About ANTI DUMPING

• Dumping occurs when a company exports a product at a price lower than what it typically charges in its own home market.
• In response to this unfair trade practice, countries may impose an anti-dumping duty (ADD) on foreign imports that are believed to be priced below fair market value.

Anti-Dumping Duty (ADD):

• ADD is a customs duty applied to imports to protect domestic industries from dumped goods.
• It rectifies the situation arising from the dumping of goods and its trade-distortive effects.
• In the long term, ADD can reduce international competition for domestic companies producing similar goods.
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) permits the use of anti-dumping measures as an instrument of fair competition.
• ADD is different from countervailing duties, which target goods that have received government subsidies in the originating or exporting country.

Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR):

• The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in India.
• It serves as the apex national authority responsible for administering various trade remedial measures, including anti-dumping investigations, countervailing duties, and safeguard measures.
• The DGTR plays a crucial role in providing trade defence support to domestic industries and exporters facing trade remedy investigations from other countries.
• Its objective is to ensure fair trade practices and protect the interests of Indian businesses in the global marketplace.

Source: Economic Times

Previous Year Question

Q1. Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of the use of ozone depleting substances?

1. Bretton Woods Conference
2. Montreal Protocol
3. Kyoto Protocol
4. Nagoya Protocol

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2

Context: The International Labour Organization (ILO) released a report titled ‘Profits and poverty: The economics of forced labour’, which has found that forced labour generates illegal profits worth USD 36 billion per year.

Background:

• “Forced labour perpetuates cycles of poverty and exploitation and strikes at the heart of human dignity. We now know that the situation has only got worse. The international community must urgently come together to take action to end this injustice,” said the ILO Director General.

Forced Labour:

• According to ILO, forced or compulsory labour is “all work or service that is extracted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which said person has not offered himself voluntarily”.
• Forced labour is defined, for purposes of measurement, as work that is both Involuntary and under penalty or menace of a penalty (coercion).
• Involuntary work refers to any work undertaken without the free and informed consent of the worker.
• Coercion refers to the means used to compel someone to work without their free and informed consent.

Key Highlights of the Report:

• Forced labour generates illegal profits worth USD 36 billion per year, which is a 37% increase since 2014. This increase is attributed to both a growth in the number of people forced into labour and higher profits generated from the exploitation of victims.
• Total annual illegal profits from forced labour are highest in Europe and Central Asia (USD 84 billion), followed by Asia and the Pacific (USD 62 billion), the Americas (USD 52 billion), Africa (USD 20 billion), and the Arab States (USD 18 billion).
• Traffickers and criminals are estimated to generate close to USD 10,000 per victim, up from USD 8,269 a decade ago. Forced commercial sexual exploitation accounts for more than two-thirds (73%) of the total illegal profits, despite accounting for only 27% of the total number of victims in privately imposed labour.
• After forced commercial sexual exploitation, the sector with the highest annual illegal profits from forced labour is industry (USD 35 billion), followed by services (USD 20.8 billion), agriculture (USD 5.0 billion), and domestic work (USD 2.6 billion). The industry sector includes mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and utilities. The services sector encompasses activities related to wholesale and trade, accommodation and food service activities, art and entertainment, personal services, administrative and support services, education, health and social services, and transport and storage. The agriculture sector includes forestry, hunting as well as the cultivation of crops, livestock production, and fishing.
• There were 27.6 million people engaged in forced labour on any given day in 2021, representing an increase of 2.7 million since 2016.

Recommendations made by the Report:

• The report emphasises the urgent need for investment in enforcement measures to stem illegal profit flows and hold perpetrators accountable. It highlights the importance of strengthening legal frameworks, providing training for enforcement officials, extending labour inspection into high-risk sectors, and better coordination between labour and criminal law enforcement.
• While law enforcement measures are crucial, the report underscores that forced labour cannot be ended through enforcement actions alone. It must be part of a comprehensive approach that prioritises addressing root causes and safeguarding victims.
• Promoting fair recruitment processes is deemed crucial as forced labour cases can often be traced back to recruitment abuses. Ensuring the freedom of workers to associate and bargain collectively is also essential in combating forced labour.

Source: Hindu

Q1.)With reference to the Anti-Dumping Duty, consider the following statements:

1. Anti-Dumping Duty is a customs duty applied to imports to protect domestic industries from dumped goods.
2. The World Trade Organization permits the use of anti-dumping measures as an instrument of fair competition.
3. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies serves as the apex national authority responsible for administering various trade remedial measures including anti-dumping investigations.

How many of the above given statements are not correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q2.) Consider the following statements:

1. Shallow fakes are manipulated images, videos, and voice clips created without AI technology.
2. Deepfakes uses sophisticated AI and machine learning algorithms to create highly realistic and often indistinguishable counterfeit content.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q3.)Which one of the following best describes the term “AI washing”?

1. Conveying a false impression that a company’s products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound.
2. Practice of making exaggerated claims about the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in marketing, advertising, or business operations.
3. Ignoring the moral consequences while involving Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business operations.
4. Making mandatory provisions for involving Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a government project/programme.

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  5th April  2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – c

Q.2) – c

Q.3) – b