Current Affairs 03 February 2025

Content:

1. 260 Myanmar refugees take shelter in Manipur
2. Livestock census: enumerators flock to villages as country counts its cows, camels, and quail
3. How much in subsidies do fossil fuels receive?
4. On live-in relationships in Uttarakhand
5. The various challenges associated with AI-driven genetic testing
6. U.K. to introduce laws against AI tools used to generate sexual abuse images

260 Myanmar refugees take shelter in Manipur

Context & Background

• Myanmar has been experiencing a civil war following the military coup in 2021, leading to intensified clashes between the military junta and resistance groups.
• Ethnic communities, particularly in regions bordering India, are deeply affected, leading to an influx of refugees into Indian states like Manipur and Mizoram.

Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security )

Recent Developments

• New Refugee Influx:
  • Since January 27, approximately 260 Myanmar refugees have entered India via the Moreh border in Manipur.
  • The influx follows intensified fighting and airstrikes by the Myanmar military.
  • Earlier, around 100 refugees had sought temporary shelter but returned once the bombings subsided.

• Verification of Manipuri Youth’s Death:
  • Security agencies are investigating reports about the death of a Manipuri youth in Myanmar.
  • Officials suspect the reports might be exaggerated as propaganda to glorify insurgent groups.
  • There are also unconfirmed reports of Kuki-Zo tribal people being killed in Myanmar.

• Impact on Manipur’s Ethnic Strife:
  • Manipur has already been facing ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
  • The arrival of refugees, particularly from ethnic groups involved in Manipur’s conflict, could further complicate the fragile security situation.

Insurgent Groups & Security Concerns

• People’s Liberation Army (PLA):
  • A banned Meitei insurgent group advocating Manipur’s secession from India.
  • The Indian government extended the ban on eight insurgent groups, including PLA’s political wing, Revolutionary People’s Front, for another five years (2024-2029).
  • A recent funeral for a PLA cadre killed in Myanmar witnessed significant local participation, reflecting ongoing support for insurgent groups.

Strategic & Security Implications

• Border Security Challenges:
  • The continued influx of refugees raises concerns about illegal migration, potential infiltration by insurgents, and humanitarian issues.
  • The Indian government may have to tighten border surveillance while ensuring humanitarian assistance.

• Geopolitical Concerns:
  • India has maintained a policy of non-interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs but remains concerned about instability along the border.
  • The conflict has spillover effects on India’s Northeast, particularly with the ethnic overlap between Manipur’s Kuki-Zo people and Myanmar’s Chin community.

Way Forward

• Humanitarian Assistance: Temporary shelter and aid need to be provided to genuine refugees while preventing the misuse of refugee status by insurgents.
• Stronger Border Control: Intelligence monitoring and border security must be strengthened to prevent cross-border militant activities.
• Diplomatic Engagement: India needs to engage diplomatically with Myanmar’s military and opposition groups to ensure regional stability.

Livestock census: enumerators flock to villages as country counts its cows, camels, and quail

Context & Importance

• India has initiated its 21st Livestock Census (Oct 2024 – July 2025).
• Encompasses 16 species and 219 breeds of livestock.
• Cost:₹419 crore; Involves 1 lakh enumerators & 17,000 supervisors.
• Crucial for policy-making in disease control, breed improvement, and rural livelihoods.

Relevance : GS 3 ( Economy, Agriculture, and Rural Development )

Key Findings from Past Census (20th Census Trends)

• Declining populations:
  • Camels (-37.1%), pigs (-12.03%), horses/ponies (-45.2%), donkeys (-61.2%), mules (-57.1%).
• Rising poultry sector: Increased by 16.08%.

Enumeration Process

• Data recorded via 21st Livestock Census app.
• Information collected:
  • Household details, breed, age, milch/non-milch status, tagging of animals.
  • Metal tags used for identification.
• Stray animals: Recorded separately by verifying ownership with locals.

Challenges Faced by Farmers

• Lumpy Skin Disease (2022) caused cattle deaths.
• High cost of livestock: A buffalo costs ₹1.5 lakh, subsidy limited to₹70,000.
• Lack of infrastructure: Villages lack milk collection centers or dairies.
• Expensive medicines & fodder: Grassland erosion forces farmers to buy fodder.

Women in Livestock Farming

• First-time enumeration of women livestock farmers.
• Over 70% of animal rearers are women.
• Case Studies:
  • Poonam & Neelam Chaudhary: Dairy farming since 2015, managing 12 buffaloes.
  • Milan Sharma: From German project manager to cattle farmer; built a self-sustained dairy.

Emerging Trends & Policy Implications

• Impact of Cow Protection Laws: Haryana’s cattle population has increased due to slaughter bans.
• Pet ownership rise: Increase in exotic dog breeds in Haryana homes.
• Need for Policy Reforms:
  • Increased subsidies for cattle.
  • Expansion of healthcare & medicine support.
  • Grazing land restoration to reduce fodder dependency.
  • More milk collection centers in rural areas.

Way Forward

• Census data will guide sustainable livestock policies.
• Digitized livestock records can streamline animal healthcare.
• Enhanced financial support for small dairy farmers and women entrepreneurs.
• Strengthening disease control mechanisms to prevent outbreaks like Lumpy Skin Disease.

How much in subsidies do fossil fuels receive?

Understanding Fossil Fuel Subsidies

• Fossil fuel subsidies lower costs for either producers or consumers, reducing incentives for a shift to renewable energy.
• Estimates of total subsidies vary widely, from less than $1 trillion to $7 trillion, based on definitions.

Relevance : GS 3(Economy , Environment)

Explicit Subsidies (Direct Government Payments)

• Global explicit subsidies in 2022: $1.5 trillion (comparable to Russia or Australia’s GDP).

• Breakdown:
  • 80% went to consumers (lowering fuel prices).
  • 20% went to producers (reducing extraction/refining costs).

• Reasons for the 2022 surge:
  • Russia-Ukraine war caused energy price spikes (gas prices rose up to 400%).
  • Governments implemented price caps on gas and electricity to support households.
  • Consumption subsidies doubled from 2021 to 2022, then normalized in 2023.

Country-Wise Variations in Subsidies (2021 Data)

• Highest per capita subsidies: Fossil fuel-rich countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, Libya, Algeria (>$500 per person, sometimes over $1,000).
• Subsidies as % of GDP: Exceeded 10% in some major oil-producing countries.
• Lower subsidies per capita:
  • Europe, North & South America, East Asia: <$100 per person.
  • Africa & South Asia: <$20 per person (sometimes near zero).
  • India: $3 per person in 2021 (down from $9 in 2015).

Implicit Subsidies (Unaccounted Societal Costs of Fossil Fuels)

• The $7 trillion figure includes external costs of fossil fuel use:
  • Explicit subsidies (18%): Consumption (14%), Production (4%), VAT exemptions (5%).
  • Implicit subsidies (77%):
    • Air pollution costs (30%)
    • Climate change impact (30%)
    • Road use impacts (17%)

Policy Approaches to Reducing Fossil Fuel Subsidies

• Direct measures: Cutting producer/consumer subsidies.
• Market-based solutions: Carbon pricing, pollution taxes, congestion charges.
• Transition strategies: Investing in low-cost renewable alternatives before subsidy removal to prevent fuel poverty.

Key Takeaways

• Fossil fuel subsidies distort market incentives, delaying the transition to clean energy.
• Explicit subsidies surged in 2022 due to geopolitical energy crises.
• Implicit costs are far greater, highlighting the need for structural reforms in energy policies.
• Phasing out subsidies must be coupled with renewable investments to avoid socio-economic disruptions.

On live-in relationships in Uttarakhand

Context : Mandatory Registration & Documentation

• The Uttarakhand UCC mandates registration of live-in relationships at both commencement and termination.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance )

• Applicability: Not just to Uttarakhand residents but also to individuals residing elsewhere in India.

• Process:
  • Registration can be done online or offline (requires a 16-page form).
  • Documents needed:
    • PAN card, Aadhaar linked to phone number, proof of residence/domicile.
    • If aged between 18-21, Aadhaar-linked details of parents/guardians must be provided.
  • Parents/guardians must be notified in case one or both partners are aged 18-21.

Relationship Criteria & Background Disclosure

• Only unmarried, heterosexual couples are allowed to register.
• Prohibited Relationships: If falling under “degrees of prohibited relationships” (as per Hindu Marriage Act, 1955), religious/community approval is required.
• Disclosure of Relationship History:
  • Applicants must declare their current marital status (single, married, divorced, widowed, etc.).
  • If previously in a live-in relationship, proof of termination must be furnished.

Housing & Landlord’s Role

• If already cohabiting: Must provide shared household proof (electricity/water bill).

• If renting:
  • Landlord details, contact number, and rent agreement must be submitted.
  • The registrar must contact the landlord for verification.
  • Landlords must ensure tenants possess a provisional or final live-in registration certificate.
  • Failure to comply results in penalties for landlords.

• If not cohabiting yet:
  • A provisional certificate is issued, valid for 30 days (+15 days extension).
  • Couples must secure accommodation and apply for final registration within this timeframe.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Failure to register within a month:
  • Civil & criminal penalties: Up to 3 months jail, ₹10,000 fine, or both.

• False information or concealment:
  • Stricter penalty: Up to 3 months jail, ₹25,000 fine, or both.

• Non-registration complaint:
  • Registrar can issue a compliance notice.
  • False complaints attract fines, with repeat offenses facing higher penalties.

Concerns & Criticism

• Right to Privacy Violation (Article 21):
  • Experts argue mandatory registration infringes upon informational privacy & decisional autonomy.
  • Contradicts Justice K.S. Puttaswamy case (2017), which upheld the fundamental right to privacy.

• Social Surveillance & Data Security Risks:
  • Third-party disclosures lack safeguards, leading to potential misuse.
  • No penalties for data leaks, raising concerns over risks to interfaith/inter-caste couples.

• State Overreach:
  • The law equates live-in relationships with marriage, imposing excessive formalities and legal oversight.

Conclusion

Uttarakhand’s live-in relationship registration law introduces strict regulations, documentation mandates, and penalties, raising serious privacy, surveillance, and legal overreach concerns.

The various challenges associated with AI-driven genetic testing

Context : Rapid Advancements in AI and Genomics

• AI accelerates genetic data processing, enabling faster and more comprehensive analysis.
• AI-driven discoveries, like the identification of “junk DNA” associated with tumors, enhance medical research and diagnostics.
• Companies like Gene Box use AI to detect genetic predispositions and provide personalized healthcare insights.

Relevance : GS 3 (Science , Technology)

Ethical and Accuracy Concerns

• Genetic tests are not definitive; they predict risks rather than confirm diseases.
• Conditions like Alzheimer’s have genetic links, but non-genetic factors (lifestyle, environment) also play a role.
• “Variations of unknown significance” complicate genetic interpretations, requiring additional family testing.
• Predicting traits like intelligence or success is unreliable, as genetics contributes only about 30% to outcomes.

Data Security and Privacy Risks

• Companies storing vast amounts of genetic data are vulnerable to cyberattacks.
• Case Study: 23andMe Data Breach (2023)
  • Hackers accessed personal genetic data of 6.9 million users, selling it on the dark web.
  • The company faced lawsuits, a $30 million fine, and massive layoffs.
  • Users struggled to delete their data, raising concerns over long-term data security.

Regulatory and Legal Challenges

• Many genetic testing firms operate outside HIPAA regulations, leaving user data unprotected.
• Lack of clear global regulations on AI-driven genetic data usage and ownership.
• Ethical dilemma: Should users be informed of genetic risks they didn’t seek testing for?

Commercialization and Investor Influence

• AI-driven genetic startups, like Nucleus, attract significant VC funding (e.g., backed by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel).
• Startups claim they can analyze complex traits (extroversion, longevity) with genetic testing, raising scientific concerns.
• The push for monetization may lead to overpromising and potential misuse of genetic data.

The Future of AI in Genomics

• Increasing integration of AI in personalized healthcare despite ethical and security concerns.
• Need for stringent regulations to balance innovation with data protection.
• Users must remain cautious about sharing genetic data with companies lacking strong security frameworks.

Conclusion

While AI-driven genetic testing offers revolutionary possibilities in medicine, it also brings significant challenges, particularly in data security, ethical implications, and regulatory oversight.

U.K. to introduce laws against AI tools used to generate sexual abuse images

Context : The U.K. will be the first country to introduce laws against AI tools used to generate child sexual abuse images.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance , International Relations)

• The new legislation will criminalize the possession, creation, or distribution of AI tools designed for such content.

• Punishments:
  • Up to 5 years in prison for creating/distributing AI-generated sexualized child images.
  • Up to 3 years in prison for possessing AI-generated “paedophile manuals.”
  • Up to 10 years in prison for operating websites that facilitate child abuse content sharing or grooming techniques.

Rationale Behind the Move

• AI is being misused to accelerate grooming, manipulate images, and blackmail victims.
• The rise of AI-powered child abuse materials has amplified online sexual exploitation.
• The law aims to curb AI’s role in enabling these crimes and prevent perpetrators from exploiting loopholes.

Ministerial Statements

• Yvette Cooper (Interior Minister):
  • AI is being used to groom and manipulate children at an unprecedented scale.
  • The legislation sets a global precedent and calls for other countries to follow.

Global Implications

• First-of-its-kind legislation tackling AI-generated child exploitation content.
• May influence other nations to introduce similar AI-specific child protection laws.
• Raises concerns about AI regulation, digital ethics, and law enforcement capabilities to monitor AI-driven abuse.

Challenges & Future Considerations

• Enforcement mechanisms: Identifying and policing AI-generated content will require advanced tracking tools.
• AI & digital rights debate: Ensuring AI regulations do not overreach into ethical AI research and development.
• International collaboration: Need for cross-border legal frameworks to tackle AI-based child abuse globally.