Current Affairs 13 January 2025

Content:

1. Docking Trial: ISRO Overcomes Drift, Nudges Satellites Closer
2. Kerala’s Maternal Mortality Ratio Climbs as Fertility Levels Fall to a New Low
3. Companies Look to Localise Data Storage, Telecom Tech
4. An Unlikely Mystery: Studies Shed New Light on How Genes Are Made
5. The Reforms Needed in the MEA
6. Should Voter IDs Be Linked with Aadhaar?
7. How the Draft Rules for Implementing Data Protection Fall Short

Docking trial: ISRO overcomes drift, nudges satellites closer

Context : ISRO is attempting to dock two satellites (SDX01 – Chaser, SDX02 – Target) in space as part of the SPaDeX mission, designed to demonstrate spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking technologies.

Relevance : GS 3(Space)

Launch Details: The PSLV C60 rocket launched the two satellites into space on December 30, 2024, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

Trial Update:

• ISRO successfully brought the satellites within 3 meters of each other in a trial attempt.
• The satellites were initially 15 meters apart and later brought closer to 3 meters, before moving them back to a safe distance for further analysis.

Setback and Recovery:

• The docking experiment faced a delay due to an unexpected drift between the satellites, which had to be addressed before proceeding.
• The drift was more than expected, causing the postponement of the docking attempt from January 7 to January 8.
• ISRO overcame the drift issue and is now proceeding with further data analysis before attempting the docking.

Significance of the Mission:

• The SPaDeX mission is crucial for developing technologies required for future space missions, such as:
  • Sending an Indian astronaut to the moon.
  • Moon sample return missions.
  • Establishing an Indian space station.
• Successful execution will place India among the leading countries (U.S., Russia, China) capable of spacecraft docking.

Next Steps: Docking will be attempted after analyzing trial data. If successful, India will join the ranks of the U.S., Russia, and China in mastering spacecraft docking.

Kerala’s maternal mortality ratio climbs as fertility levels fall to a new low

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) Trends:

• Kerala’s MMR is rising, currently reported at 19 per one lakh live births, but the State Health Department estimates it at 29.
• The increase in MMR is due to a decline in fertility rates, not necessarily more maternal deaths.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance)

Declining Births:

• Kerala’s fertility rate has dropped to a historic low of 1.46 (2021 VSR), significantly below the replacement level fertility of 2.1.
• The State recorded 3.93 lakh births in the latest data, a decline from an average of 5-5.5 lakh annually in previous years.

Impact of Declining Fertility:

• Reduced births increase MMR despite stable maternal health outcomes.
• Kerala’s demographic transition is leading to fewer children born, with an expected future increase in elderly population and associated social challenges.

Demographic Transition:

• Kerala achieved replacement-level fertility in 1987-88 and saw a consistent decline in birth rates since 1991.
• The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) dropped to 1.46 in 2021, with projections suggesting further decline to 1.35.

Social and Economic Consequences:

• Migration of reproductive-age individuals for jobs or education is contributing to low birth rates.
• The proportion of elderly population is expected to surpass children in the next decade, creating challenges in caregiving and welfare.

Delayed Childbearing and Increased Risks:

• Rising age of marriage and delayed childbearing may lead to higher pregnancy-related morbidities.
• Though evidence is still limited, this could contribute to increased health risks for older mothers.

Population Data and Reporting Concerns:

• Official birth registration data is being debated, with discrepancies in reporting and delayed publication of the Vital Statistics Report (VSR) after 2021.
• The lack of accurate and timely data hinders a clear understanding of demographic trends.

Health Department’s Response:

• The State Health Department’s ongoing efforts to address maternal health challenges, despite the structural issues related to declining fertility, are facing mounting difficulty.
• Holding the MMR at 20 by 2030 seems increasingly unlikely due to demographic shifts.

Companies look to localise data storage, telecom tech

Shift to Localisation:

• Indian companies are capitalising on policy changes to localise both data storage and telecom equipment production.
• Firms are increasingly focusing on manufacturing networking equipment and establishing data storage solutions within India.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance )

Key Players:

• CloudPhotonix: A firm founded by transceiver industry veterans, aiming to replace Chinese-made components in telecom networks by producing locally.
• DigiBoxx: A cloud storage platform offering services with servers and data centres based in India, addressing data localisation demands and regulatory requirements.

Data Localisation and Regulation:

• The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 allows the possibility of future data localisation in certain sectors.
• The Reserve Bank of India already mandates that payment data of Indians be stored locally.
• Data localisation is being driven by privacy concerns and regulatory compliance, making local storage increasingly sought after by firms, even at higher costs.

Optical Transceiver Market Growth:

• The global optical transceiver market is projected to reach $47.64 billion by 2035, driven by increased demand for networking and telecom equipment.
• Transceivers, a key component in networking, have primarily been imported into India; however, local production is gaining momentum.

Challenges and Opportunities:

• Local production of transceivers and telecom equipment is seen as a response to the push for reducing reliance on foreign, particularly Chinese, technology following geopolitical tensions since 2020.
• CloudPhotonix is targeting the growing need for indigenous networking components, which are crucial for both telecom networks and data centres.

Cost and Security Considerations:

• While local data storage options like DigiBoxx may be more expensive, they are gaining traction due to the need for compliance with regulations and the rising importance of data privacy.
• The emphasis on data security is driving firms to consider local storage solutions to ensure compliance and protect their digital assets.

Industry Support:

• Union Secretary for Electronics and Information Technology, S. Krishnan, welcomed the localisation efforts in the telecom and data storage sectors, noting that these moves are commercially driven and aligned with national interests.

An unlikely mystery: studies shed new light on how genes are made

Gene Duplication and Evolution:

• In 1970, biologist Susumu Ohno proposed that gene duplication is a key mechanism for creating new genes.
• When genes are duplicated, one copy maintains the original function, while the other is free to mutate and potentially gain new functions.
• A key challenge to this theory was the problem of protein over-production from duplicated genes, which can lead to diseases.

Relevance : GS 3(Science )

Recent Research on Gene Duplication:

• University of Nevada, Reno: Researchers found that the promoters of duplicated genes have more methylated DNA than non-duplicated genes.
• Methylation helps prevent over-expression of proteins, reducing harmful effects of duplication and enabling the new gene to survive and evolve.
• This process also increases mutation rates, contributing to gene evolution.

Exogenous DNA and Incipient Genes:

• Max Planck Institute Study: Researchers inserted random DNA sequences into human cells, creating proteins and observing their effects on cell growth.
• Over time, they found that 40% of the new DNA sequences influenced cell growth, behaving like incipient genes that could become relevant for evolution.

Gene Retention in Evolution:

• For a gene to be retained in a genome, it must serve a functional purpose or be allowed to mutate beneficially.
• An example of gene retention is the ABO blood group system, where different variants (A, B, O) have persisted across species, even though some variants don’t seem to be essential.

Key Concepts of Gene Function and Structure:

• The human genome contains 20,000 protein-coding genes and 20,000 genes responsible for creating RNA that regulates other genes.
• Promoters and enhancers play a crucial role in determining when and where genes are transcribed into mRNA for protein production.
• The human genome consists of 24 chromosomes, with males having one X and one Y chromosome, and females having two X chromosomes.

Implications for Evolutionary Biology:

• These studies highlight the complexity of gene creation, duplication, and evolution, offering new perspectives on how new genes arise and are preserved over time.
• Random DNA insertions can have evolutionary significance, contributing to the adaptation of organisms.

The reforms needed in the MEA

India’s Rising Global Stature:

• India has gained prominence through consistent economic growth, political stability, and autonomous foreign policy.
• Successes include the G20 presidency, strategic autonomy during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, leadership in vaccine diplomacy, and advocacy for the Global South.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance)

Challenges Faced by the MEA:

• The MEA is understaffed, with around 850 Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers for 193 embassies and consulates worldwide.
• The U.S. has 14,500, the U.K. 4,600, and Russia 4,500 foreign service officers, highlighting a significant gap.
• India’s current intake of 32-35 officers annually is insufficient to meet future needs, and it would take decades to reach an optimal workforce of 1,500 officers.

Recommendations for Improvement:

• Lateral Hiring: Absorb officers from other government services, including defense personnel and academics with international relations expertise.
• Internal Restructuring: Consolidate fragmented divisions to improve coordination, especially in regional affairs (e.g., India’s neighborhood countries).
• Improved Incentives for Domestic Postings: Enhance housing, medical, and educational support for officers stationed in India, and provide financial incentives to make domestic assignments more attractive.

Issues with Diplomatic Expertise:

• Language Skills: Officers’ language training often loses relevance due to frequent postings, which do not align with their linguistic expertise.
• Specialist Roles: The IFS must balance generalist and specialist roles, encouraging officers to specialize in areas like cybersecurity, space policy, and AI.

Technological Adaptation:

• The MEA must build capacity in emerging technologies and retain domain specialists to handle areas like cybersecurity and AI, which require technical expertise beyond the generalist role of IFS officers.

Positive Steps Taken:

• Establishment of divisions like Policy, Planning, and Research and the Centre for Contemporary China Studies signals the MEA’s efforts to adapt to global changes.
• The leadership of Dr. S. Jaishankar has fostered innovation, assertiveness, and alignment of foreign policy with India’s long-term goal of becoming a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).

Looking Ahead:

• As India moves toward its 100 years of independence in 2047, the MEA must evolve its structure and strategy to support India’s growing global influence and ambitions.

Should voter IDs be linked with Aadhaar?

Context of the Debate:

• The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have accused each other of manipulating electoral rolls ahead of Delhi Assembly elections.
• This has reignited the discussion around linking Voter IDs (EPIC) with Aadhaar numbers for better electoral roll accuracy.

Relevance: GS 2(Governance)

History of the Proposal:

• 2015: The Election Commission (EC) launched the National Electoral Rolls Purification and Authentication Program (NERPAP) to address duplicate entries in electoral rolls by linking voter data with Aadhaar.
• 2015 Supreme Court Ruling: The Court ruled that Aadhaar could only be used for welfare schemes and PAN linking, causing the EC to halt the NERPAP.
• 2018 Puttaswamy Case: The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar Act, prompting the EC to seek amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
• 2021 Amendment: The RP Act and The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, were amended to allow Aadhaar linkage, with the provision being voluntary.

Implementation & Challenges:

• 2023 Clarification: The EC stated that Aadhaar submission is not mandatory, but Forms 6 and 6B for voter registration have not been updated yet.
• The linkage aims to address issues like duplicate entries but raises concerns about the accuracy of Aadhaar data and its ability to remove non-citizens from the rolls.

Pros of Linking EPIC with Aadhaar:

• Duplication Elimination: Linking Aadhaar with EPIC can help in removing duplicate entries from the electoral rolls, enhancing electoral accuracy.
• Over 650 million Aadhaar numbers have already been uploaded in the process of finalizing electoral rolls.

Cons and Concerns:

• Errors in Aadhaar Database: Even minor errors could lead to wrongful rejections or deletions from the electoral roll.
• Aadhaar is Proof of Residence, Not Citizenship: It cannot confirm voter eligibility based on citizenship.
• Privacy Risks: While Aadhaar linking may not directly violate privacy, there are concerns about misuse since electoral rolls are accessible to political parties.

Way Forward:

• Public Confidence: Emphasize the benefits of linking EPIC with Aadhaar to clean up the electoral roll, ensuring a more transparent and efficient election process.
• Amend Forms: Modify Forms 6 and 6B to reflect that providing Aadhaar details is not mandatory, as clarified by the EC in 2023.
• Protect Voter Privacy: Address concerns regarding privacy and ensure voter trust in the integrity of the electoral process.

Conclusion: Linking Voter IDs with Aadhaar could help eliminate duplicate entries but requires careful handling of privacy concerns, accuracy of data, and voluntary participation. Public awareness and updated forms are crucial in moving forward.

How the draft rules for implementing data protection falls short

Context of the Draft Rules:

• Released by MeitY: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released the draft rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act), 2023 after a 16-month wait.
• The rules, open for public feedback until mid-February, outline the implementation framework of the DPDP Act, India’s first comprehensive data privacy law.
• Critics, especially civil society, have expressed concerns about the lack of a specialized regulator, insufficient protections against government data access, and excessive delegation of regulatory functions to the government.

Relevance : GS 2(Governance )

Lack of Detail in Draft Rules:

• General Guidance Provided: The draft rules touch on key mechanisms such as notice and consent for data collection, breach notifications, and parental consent for children’s data.
• Shortcomings in Detail: The rules provide limited practical guidance on how these mechanisms will be implemented to improve the lives of India’s digital citizens.

Shortcomings in User Rights:

• Right to Access and Erasure:
  • The DPDP Act grants users the right to access, correct, and erase their data, but the rules fail to clarify how users can exercise these rights.
  • The rules only mention that users must follow steps published by businesses to make requests, without specifying clear processes for exercising the right to erasure (e.g., removing specific search engine links).
  • The rules also lack clarity on how data processors can object to erasure requests, especially if they affect third-party content.

Shortcomings in Protecting Children’s Data:

• Parental Consent Requirement:
  • The DPDP Act mandates that data processors seek verifiable parental consent before processing the personal data of children under 18, but the draft rules offer no clear mechanism for how businesses should identify children and collect this consent.
  • The rules only state that data processors must ensure parents are identifiable adults but do not address critical questions such as verifying parent-child relationships or dealing with children lying about their age.
  • The rules do not provide solutions for cases where families share devices or for platforms that need to verify age claims.

Overall Evaluation:

• Despite a long drafting and consultation period, the rules released by MeitY are criticized for being vague, incomplete, and lacking operational clarity.
• The government needs to consult experts, address practical implementation questions, and clarify timelines for rule enforcement.

Call to Action:

• The government must seek expert advice, conduct consultations, and refine the rules to ensure they address privacy concerns and provide clear guidelines for businesses and data processors before finalizing the implementation framework.