Current Affairs 12 July 2024

CONTENTS

1. Menstrual Leave Policies
2. Importance of Census for Addressing Discrimination
3. Draft Digital Competition Bill
4. Study Reveals Microdroplets of Water Can Break Down Minerals into Nanoparticles
5. Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme
6. Shield-tail snake
7. Hannibal Directive

Menstrual Leave Policies

Context:

Recently, the Supreme Court has asked the Central Government to frame a model policy on menstrual leave for female employees.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. What is Menstrual leave?
2. Arguments Against Menstrual Leave
3. Global Menstrual Leave Policies
4. Are attempts being made in India?

What is Menstrual leave?

• Menstrual leave refers to all policies that allow employees or students to take time off when they are experiencing menstrual pain or discomfort.
• In the context of the workplace, it refers to policies that allow for both paid or unpaid leave, or time for rest.
• More than half of those who menstruate experience pain for a couple of days a month; for some it is debilitating enough to hamper daily activities and productivity.
• A 2017 survey of 32,748 women in the Netherlands published in the British Medical Journal found that 14% of them had taken time off from work or school during their periods.
• The researchers estimated that employees lost around 8.9 days’ worth of productivity every year due to menstrual-cycle related issues.

State of Menstrual Leaves in India

• State Policies:
  • Bihar: Introduced in 1992, offering two days of paid menstrual leave per month to women employees.
  • Kerala (2023): Extended menstrual leave to female students across universities and institutions, and provides up to 60 days of maternity leave for female students above 18 years.
• Corporate Initiatives:
  • Zomato: Introduced a policy in 2020 granting 10 days of paid period leave annually.
  • Other Companies: Companies like Swiggy and Byjus have also implemented similar menstrual leave policies.
• Legislative Landscape:
  • Current Status: There is no national law mandating menstrual leave, resulting in decentralized implementation across states and organizations.
  • Past Attempts: Bills like the Menstruation Benefits Bill (2017) and the Women’s Sexual, Reproductive and Menstrual Rights Bill (2018) have been proposed in Parliament but not passed.
• Proposed Legislation:
  • Right of Women to Menstrual Leave and Free Access to Menstrual Health Products Bill, 2022:
    • Proposes three days of paid menstrual leave for women and transwomen.
    • Cites research indicating significant school absenteeism (40% of girls) and impact on daily activities (65%) due to menstruation.

Arguments Against Menstrual Leave:

• Not necessary: Some people argue that menstrual leave is not necessary as women can manage their menstrual pain with over-the-counter pain relief medication.
• Potential for discrimination: Others believe that menstrual leave may backfire and lead to employer discrimination against women. For example, employers may be less likely to hire women if they are required to grant menstrual leave, or may provide less opportunities for advancement to women who take menstrual leave.
• Policy implications: There is a policy dimension to menstrual leave. Compelling employers to grant menstrual leave may operate as a de facto disincentive for employers to engage women in their establishments.

Global Menstrual Leave Policies:

• Spain: On February 16, 2021, Spain became the first European country to grant paid menstrual leave to workers. Workers now have the right to three days of menstrual leave, which can be expanded to five days, per month.
• Japan: Menstrual leave was introduced as part of Japan’s labour laws in 1947. Under Article 68, employers cannot ask women who experience difficult periods to work during that time.
• Indonesia: Indonesia introduced a menstrual leave policy in 1948, amended in 2003, which states that workers experiencing menstrual pain are not obliged to work on the first two days of their cycle.
• Philippines: In the Philippines, workers are permitted two days of menstrual leave per month.
• Zambia: Zambia introduced one day of leave per month without needing a reason or a medical certificate, calling it a “Mother’s Day.”

-Source: The Hindu

Importance of Census for Addressing Discrimination

Context:

Peter Drucker’s quote, “Only what gets measured gets managed,” underscores the need for collecting data on group identities to effectively tackle discrimination. This is crucial for informed policymaking and fostering inclusive development. For instance, the lack of racial data in Germany’s census puts Black communities at a disadvantage. In response, the Afrozensus survey initiated by Black people in 2020 exposed the extensive, institutional anti-Black racism in Germany.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About the Census
2. Need for Caste Census
3. Arguments Against Caste Census
4. Case for OBC Inclusion in Census
5. Way Forward

About the Census

• The census provides information on size, distribution and socio-economic, demographic and other characteristics of the country’s population.
• The first synchronous census in India was held in 1881, and since then, censuses have been undertaken uninterruptedly once every ten years.
• India’s last census was carried out in 2011 when the country’s population stood at 121 crores.
• The Census 2021 will be conducted in 18 languages out of the 22 scheduled languages (under 8th schedule) and English, and the option of “Other” under the gender category will be changed to “Third Gender”.
• For the first time data is proposed to be collected through a mobile app by enumerators and they will receive an additional payment as an incentive.
• The last caste-based census was conducted by the British in 1931.
• Arthashastra by ‘Kautilya’ written in the 3rd Century BC prescribed the collection of population statistics as a measure of state policy for taxation.
• In India, a census is conducted every decade and Census 2021 will be the 16th national census of the country.

Key facts about India’s census

• In India, the census was first started under British Viceroy Lord Mayo in 1872 and the first synchronous census in India was held in 1881. 
• It is being conducted at an interval of 10 years. 
• The decennial Census is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Census is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, of 1948.
• The population census is a Union subject under Article 246 of the Indian Constitution.
• It is listed as serial number 69 of the seventh schedule of the constitution.

Significance of census:

• Foundation of Statistical Analyses: A census generates primary and authentic data that forms the foundation for various statistical analyses. This data is crucial for planning, decision-making, and development initiatives across sectors like administration, economy, and social welfare.
• Planning and Development: Census data provides essential information for planning and development initiatives in various sectors. It helps policymakers, government agencies, and organizations to understand demographic patterns, population trends, and distribution of resources, enabling them to formulate effective strategies and allocate resources efficiently.
• Constituency Delimitation and Representation: Census data plays a vital role in demarcating constituencies and determining representation in government bodies. It helps in deciding the number of seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Parliament, State legislatures, local bodies, and government services. This ensures proportional representation and promotes inclusivity in the political and administrative systems.
• Business and Industry Planning: Census data is valuable for business houses and industries as it helps them strengthen and plan their operations, especially for expanding into areas that were previously underserved. The data provides insights into population characteristics, consumer demographics, and market potential, facilitating business decisions and market penetration strategies.
• Grants and Resource Allocation: The Finance Commission utilizes population figures from census data to provide grants to states. The allocation of resources, funding, and development assistance is often based on the population data available from the census.

Need for Caste Census

Importance of Caste Data

• Social Structure Significance:
  • Caste remains a fundamental social structure in India, influencing various aspects like marriage patterns, residential segregation, and political representation.
  • Only about 5% of marriages in India were inter-caste as of 2011-12, highlighting the persistence of caste divisions.
• Policy Implications:
  • Constitutional provisions for social justice, including reservations, necessitate detailed caste data to ensure effective implementation.
  • Despite the Constitution mentioning class, caste has been judicially recognized as crucial for defining backward classes and supporting reservation policies.
• Benefits of Detailed Caste Data:
  • Helps rectify incorrect inclusions/exclusions in reservation categories.
  • Prevents dominant castes within reserved categories from monopolizing benefits.
  • Facilitates sub-categorization of castes and determines the creamy layer criterion.
• Control of Resources:
  • Without comprehensive caste data, elites among upper castes and dominant OBCs may disproportionately control national assets, income, and political power.

Arguments Against Caste Census

• Potential Social Division:
  • Critics argue that a caste census could deepen social divides.
  • However, historical census data on SCs and STs since 1951 has not led to conflicts among these groups.
• Administrative Feasibility:
  • Some opponents claim that caste enumeration would be an administrative nightmare.
  • Contrarily, enumerating caste is feasible and has precedent with successful enumeration of SCs and STs.
• Reservation Concerns:
  • Opponents fear that caste data could fuel demands for increased reservations.
  • In reality, detailed caste data could ensure fair and informed policymaking, curbing arbitrary reservation demands.

Case for OBC Inclusion in Census

• Educational and Public Employment Reservations:
  • OBCs are entitled to reservations in education and public employment under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution, akin to SCs and STs.
  • The Mandal Commission recommendations led to OBC reservations in the Central government.
• Electoral Representation:
  • Unlike SCs and STs, OBCs lack reservations in electoral constituencies for MPs and MLAs.
  • The 73rd and 74th Amendments mandate reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs in panchayats and municipalities.
• Judicial Requirements:
  • Judicial interventions in states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have demanded caste-wise data for upholding OBC reservations in local elections.

Past Attempts and Challenges

• Failed Attempt in 2011:
  • The Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC)-2011, conducted outside the Census Act, 1948, failed due to poor design and execution.
  • The survey by Union Ministries lacked experience in sociological surveys and faced issues with questionnaire design and caste identification.

Way Forward

• Amendment of Census Act, 1948:
  • Amend the Census Act to mandate caste enumeration, removing executive discretion.
• Improved Survey Design:
  • Incorporate caste-related questions into the regular Census questionnaire.
  • Engage sociological and anthropological experts to compile and verify state-specific caste lists.
• Enhanced Data Collection Methods:
  • Utilize internet-enabled devices for efficient and accurate data collection, ensuring inclusion of sub-castes and caste surnames.

-Source: The Hindu

Draft Digital Competition Bill

Context:

In February 2023, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) established the Committee on Digital Competition Law (CDCL) to consider the need for a specific law governing competition in digital markets. After extensive discussions, the CDCL determined that the existing Competition Act, 2002, which operates on an ex-post framework (addressing issues after they arise), should be complemented by an ex-ante framework (preventive measures to address issues before they occur). This type of regulation is rare, with the European Union being the only jurisdiction with a comprehensive ex-ante competition framework under the Digital Markets Act. Consequently, the draft Digital Competition Bill was developed, detailing the ex-ante framework aimed at improving the current regulatory system for digital markets.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Growing Need for an Ex-Ante Framework
2. Digital Competition Bill 2024
3. Criticism of the Digital Competition Bill 2024

Growing Need for an Ex-Ante Framework

Rationale for an Ex-Ante Framework

• Challenges of Digital Markets:
  • Regulating digital markets ex-post (after harm occurs) is suboptimal due to rapid growth fueled by economies of scale and network effects.
  • Digital enterprises benefit from economies of scale (cost reduction per unit) and scope (cost reduction across services), accelerating their expansion compared to traditional markets.
• Network Effects and Growth:
  • Network effects amplify the utility of digital services with increasing user numbers, further driving growth and market dominance.
• Advocating for Ex-Ante Framework:
  • A forward-looking, preventive law (ex-ante framework) anticipates potential harms from antitrust issues and prescribes pre-established prohibitions to safeguard fair competition.

Digital Competition Bill 2024

Overview and Objectives

• Legislative Purpose:
  • Introduced in March 2024, the Digital Competition Bill aims to regulate large digital enterprises to ensure fair competition and a level playing field in the digital sphere.
• Presumptive Norms and Provisions:
  • Prohibits practices like self-preferencing and leveraging data across services within conglomerates.
  • Similar to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to prevent tech giants from favoring their own services to the detriment of competitors.
• Penalties and Enforcement:
  • Heavy penalties, potentially amounting to billions of dollars, for violations of the prescribed norms.
  • Enforced by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to ensure compliance and fair market practices.

Key Proposals of the Draft Digital Competition Bill 2024

• Designation of Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises (SSDEs):
  • Criteria include financial strength tests and user base metrics to identify enterprises significantly impacting core digital services in India.
• Obligations on SSDEs:
  • Prohibited from engaging in anti-competitive practices such as self-preferencing and restricting third-party applications.
  • Non-compliance could lead to fines up to 10% of global turnover.
• Associate Digital Enterprises (ADEs):
  • Entities associated with core digital services must adhere to similar obligations as SSDEs, depending on their role and data interactions within conglomerates.

Comparison with EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA)

• Similarities:
  • Mirrors DMA’s objectives to curb monopolistic practices among large tech firms like Google, Facebook, and Amazon.
• Differences:
  • India’s bill leaves the determination of significant platforms to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), potentially impacting decision-making transparency and startup ecosystem dynamics.

Criticism of the Digital Competition Bill 2024

Concerns Raised by Stakeholders

• Compliance Burden:
  • Strict prescriptive norms could burden big tech companies, diverting resources from innovation to compliance.
• Impact on Innovation:
  • Fears that stringent regulations may stifle innovation and research efforts among tech firms.
• Broad Definitions and Discretionary Powers:
  • Unclear definitions of significant platforms and discretionary powers of the CCI could lead to arbitrary decision-making, impacting both established companies and startups.
• Operational Implications:
  • Potential restrictions on data sharing and platform modifications could disproportionately affect smaller businesses reliant on digital platforms for market access.

-Source: The Hindu, PIB

Study Reveals Microdroplets of Water Can Break Down Minerals into Nanoparticles

Context:

A recent study published in the journal Science has revealed that microdroplets of water have the ability to break down minerals into nanoparticles.

Relevance:

GS III: Science and Technology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Key Highlights of the Study
2. What are Nanoparticles?

Key Highlights of the Study

• Mineral Breakdown into Nanoparticles:
  • The study demonstrated that microdroplets can rapidly break down minerals like silica (SiO2) and alumina (Al2O3) into nanoparticles.
  • This process occurs within 10 milliseconds when a high voltage is applied to mineral microparticles suspended in water.
• Mechanisms Involved:
  • Breakup of mineral microparticles into nanoparticles is attributed to:
    • Protons penetrating crystal layers.
    • Electric fields generated by charged surfaces.
    • Surface tension of the microdroplets.
• Implications for Agriculture:
  • Nanoparticles formed can enhance agricultural productivity by converting unproductive soil into fertile land, as plants absorb silica nanoparticles to promote growth.
• Relevance to Origins of Life:
  • Microdroplets simulating proto-cells may have played a role in early biochemical reactions, indicating potential implications for understanding the origins of life.
• Atmospheric Processes:
  • Future research may explore if water microdroplets naturally interact with minerals in atmospheric conditions, potentially forming nanoparticles through ‘microdroplet showers’.

What are Nanoparticles?

• Definition and Dimensions:
  • Nanoparticles (NPs) are nano-objects defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) with all external dimensions in the nanoscale.
  • They typically range from 1 to 100 nm in size, with atom clusters preferred below 1 nm.
• Shapes and Structures:
  • NPs can vary in shape and structure, including spherical, cylindrical, conical, tubular, and irregular forms.
  • They can be crystalline or amorphous, single or multi-crystal solids, and can be either loose or agglomerated.
• Classification:
  • Based on composition, NPs are categorized into organic, carbon-based, and inorganic types.
• Applications:
  • NPs find applications across various fields such as medicine, pharmaceuticals, electronics, agriculture, and the food industry, owing to their unique properties and versatility.

-Source: The Hindu

Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme

Context:

DRDO sanctions seven new projects to the private sector under Technology Development Fund scheme.

Relevance:

GS II: Government Policies and Interventions

Technology Development Fund (TDF) Scheme: Empowering Indigenous Defence Technologies

Initiative Overview:

• The Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme is a flagship program led by the Ministry of Defence and executed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Objectives:

• Grant in Aid:
  • Provide financial support to Indian industries, including MSMEs and Start-ups, as well as academic and scientific institutions.
  • Focus on the development of Defence and dual-use technologies currently unavailable in the Indian defence industry.
• Engagement with Private Industries:
  • Cultivate a culture of Design & Development of Military Technology, especially in private industries, with a focus on MSMEs and Start-ups.
• Niche Technologies:
  • Emphasize Research, Design & Development of niche technologies, particularly those being developed for the first time in the country.
• Collaborative Ecosystem:
  • Create a collaborative platform involving the Armed Forces, research organizations, academia, qualifying/certifying agencies, and private sector entities.
• Prototype Development:
  • Support futuristic technologies by providing funding for Proof of Concept, transforming them into prototypes.

Funding Support:

• Grant Provision:
  • Funding through grants to the industry.
  • Consideration of project costs up to INR 10 Cr for funding, up to a maximum of 90% of the total project cost.
• Collaboration Dynamics:
  • Industries allowed to collaborate with academia or research institutions.
  • Academic involvement capped at 40% of the total project cost.

Project Duration:

• Timeframe:
  • Maximum development period set at two years.

-Source: The Hindu, PIB

Shield-Tail Snake

Context:

Recently, researchers have discovered a new species of a shield-tail snake in the Meghamalai-Munnar landscape of the Western Ghats.

Relevance:

GS III: Environment and Ecology

Newly Discovered Shield-tail Snake: Uropeltis caudomaculata

• Naming and Identification
  • Recently identified as Uropeltis caudomaculata, this shield-tail snake is named for the distinctive yellow spot located on each side of the base of its tail.
  • It is characterized by an increased number of ventral scales and is uniquely distributed along the eastern escarpment of the Western Ghats, stretching from Meghamalai to approximately 15 km east of Munnar.
• Distribution
  • Found exclusively in three specific locations: Meghamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu, Periyar Tiger Reserve, and Yellapetty near Munnar in Kerala.

Key Characteristics of Shield-tail Snakes

• Venom
  • These snakes are non-venomous, posing no threat to humans or other animals they encounter.
• Taxonomy
  • Belonging to the Uropeltidae family, shield-tail snakes are primitive reptiles endemic to peninsular India and Sri Lanka.
• Physical Features
  • They are distinguished by a prominent keratinous shield at the tail’s tip, a characteristic that gives them their name “shield-tailed snakes.”
• Natural Range
  • Typically found in the Western Ghats and various parts of peninsular India.
• Habitat
  • They inhabit hilly forests and are known to occupy tunnels within leaf litter, humus, rocks, and logs.
  • These burrowing species can be found up to one foot below the soil surface.

-Source: The Hindu

Hannibal Directive

Context:

According to a recent report the Israeli military reportedly employed the Hannibal Directive during the October 7 attack by Hamas.

Relevance:

GS II: International Relations

Overview of Hannibal Directive

• Operational Doctrine: Known as the Hannibal Directive, this operational policy, also referred to as the Hannibal Procedure or Hannibal Protocol, has been reportedly used by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). It emphasizes the use of maximum force to prevent the capture of Israeli soldiers, even at the cost of risking their lives and those of civilians and military personnel, as revealed by a recent media investigation.
• Objective: The directive aims to preempt politically sensitive prisoner exchanges by advocating for immediate actions, including potentially lethal force, in the vicinity of a captured Israeli soldier.
• Secrecy: While widely discussed among soldiers and analysts, the full text of the Hannibal Directive has never been officially published.
• Historical Reference: It is believed that the directive draws its name from Hannibal, the Carthaginian general who, according to historical accounts, opted to end his life rather than face capture by the Romans in around 181 BCE.

Origin and Response

• Formulation: The Hannibal Doctrine is said to have originated in response to the Jibril Agreement of 1985. This agreement involved the exchange of 1,150 Palestinian prisoners for three Israelis who had been seized in Lebanon by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC), a Syria-based militant group.

Criticism

• Ethical Concerns: Legal experts have criticized the Hannibal Doctrine for its apparent disregard for human life, particularly in situations where the immediate elimination of surrounding individuals may endanger the captured soldier’s life.

-Source: Indian Express