11 November 2023

MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

Q1. India’s cyber security situation is complicated, with both potential and challenges. Discuss.

GS II – Science and Technology related issues

Introduction:

• Cybersecurity is the process of preventing theft or unwanted access to computer data. It covers guarding against, identifying, and responding to assaults on data, systems, and networks. The goal of cybersecurity methods is to defend against a range of dangers, such as malware, viruses, phishing scams, and cyberattacks. Since more and more Indian businesses and government organisations are falling victim to cyberattacks, cybersecurity has emerged as a major concern in India. An international report placed India as the third-worst country for cybersecurity risk occurrences in the first half of 2023, behind the United States and Brazil.

India’s Cybersecurity Challenges:

• Technology proliferation: The Internet of Things (IoT) and the spread of linked gadgets make cyber security issues even more pressing. By the end of 2023, there will be an estimated 14.4 billion IoT devices in use in India, which greatly increases the attack surface for cybercriminals.
• Lack of knowledge and education: One of India’s largest cybersecurity problems is a lack of knowledge and education. Many people and organisations in the nation are still oblivious to the dangers and ramifications of cyberattacks, which leaves them open to abuse.
• Absence of qualified personnel: By the end of 2023, India is predicted to have a 3 million cybersecurity professional deficit. Organisations are faced with a significant problem in properly managing their cyber security posture and swiftly responding to emerging threats because to this lack.
• Absence of infrastructure: Sensitive systems are vulnerable to cyberattacks due to the usage of outdated IT hardware and operating systems.
• No distinct procedural code exists for the investigation of offences involving computers or the internet: There is no specific procedural code for the investigation of offences involving computers or the internet.
• Localization is necessary because most cybercrime is international and cross-border. Gathering evidence from overseas locations is not only challenging but also time-consuming. Big tech corporations do not readily provide other information, other from the instant suspension of controversial websites and accounts of suspects in the majority of social media crimes.
• In addition to these, issues with India’s cyber security include striking a balance between privacy rights and cyber security, allocating little funds to combat cyberthreats, and extending the use of information technology in all spheres of the national economy.

Cybersecurity Opportunities in India:

• Creation of cybersecurity startups: The creation of cybersecurity startups is one of the most promising fields. These firms have the ability to lead the cybersecurity industry internationally in addition to meeting the nation’s demands.
• Talent development in cybersecurity: This is another area where there is room for expansion. The Indian government has initiated a number of programmes to support young people’s acquisition of cybersecurity skills, realising the value of developing a trained labour force. One national competition that seeks to find and develop talent in the cybersecurity industry is the Cyber Security Grand Challenge.
• Collaboration between the public and private sectors should be strengthened: There is also room for improved cooperation between the public and private sectors. Even though the government has made great progress in addressing cybersecurity issues, it cannot do so on its own. When it comes to creating and implementing efficient cybersecurity solutions, the private sector is crucial.
• Fintech sector development: India’s fintech industry and the nation’s future as a digital power depend on cybersecurity. Fintech solutions are being rapidly adopted by Indian customers, according to the Economic Survey 2023. According to the survey, 87% of Indians have adopted fintech, compared to the global average of 64%, citing data from the most recent Global FinTech Adoption Index.

Path ahead:

• Establishing consistent and standardised protocols for handling electronic evidence is crucial, as it differs greatly from evidence pertaining to conventional crimes.
• State governments must develop the necessary resources to combat cybercrime. One way to achieve this would be to establish a distinct cyberpolice station in every district or range, or to have personnel with the necessary technological skills in every police station.
• As new technologies emerge, state-run cyber forensic labs need to be updated.
• Since the majority of cyberattacks come from beyond our borders, maintaining the security of our digital realm would require international cooperation.
• All things considered, there are a lot of prospects for growth and development in the cybersecurity industry in India. Even if the nation has advanced significantly in recent years, considerable effort has to be done to address the dangers and ramifications of cyberattacks.

Q2. Describe the several variables that have made Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) more common in India. Discuss the methods to lessen the effects of such occurrences in light of the NDMA (2020) standards.

GS II – Environmental Conservation related issues

Introduction:

• Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) are unexpected releases of water from glacial lakes that can cause devastating natural disasters.  Extreme flash floods like these happen when glacial lakes are held back by natural dams composed of ice, rock fragments, or moraine that break or breach. Usually, the melting of glaciers in high-altitude regions results in the formation of these glacial lakes.
• Events such as the 2013 Chorabari Tal glacial lake outburst in Uttarakhand, the 2015 Gya glacial lake outburst in Ladakh, and the 2023 Lhonak Lake outburst in Sikkim have demonstrated a rise in the frequency of glacial lake outburst floods.

The following factors enhanced the frequency of GLOFs:

• Climate Change: As Earth’s temperature rises, glaciers melt more quickly, causing glacial lakes to expand and become unstable. The natural dam in these lakes may weaken or burst when the volume of water in them exceeds its carrying capacity, releasing a deluge of water downstream.
• Retreat of Glaciers: When glaciers get smaller and recede, more rock and debris are exposed. These materials can build up downstream and create unstable natural dams.
• Physical Triggers: A number of events, including landslides, avalanches, and earthquakes, can cause an ice dam to fall. These occurrences cause the dam to weaken and eventually collapse by shaking loose the ice or debris. The earthquake in Nepal may have caused the current eruption in Sikkim.
• High-Risk Zones: Infrastructure and populated areas close to glacial lakes are more susceptible to GLOFs. The hazards are increased in these areas by the rapid urbanisation and development.
• Monitoring and Early Warning: The capacity to anticipate and react to possible GLOFs is hampered in many impacted locations by inadequate monitoring and early warning systems.

Guideline for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods by the NDMA:

Assessment of risks and hazards:

• Classifying all glacial lakes, glaciers, and pertinent waterbodies according to possible GLOF threats.
• Determining the origin and propensity of danger processes by evaluating a broad range of conditioning and triggering elements.
• Providing the scientific foundation for planning and decision-making, as well as identifying the possible threat posed by the hazard for areas downstream and downslope.
• A compilation and analysis of tried-and-true techniques for the gradual release of water from glacial lakes in order to prevent unexpected breaches brought on by landslides or spilling water.
• Install and activate the relevant alert systems.

Inter-Agency Arrangement

• To ensure the prompt, clear, and efficient distribution of alerts, information, and data, central and state agencies must effectively coordinate and communicate with one another.

The structural actions

• Decrease the lake’s water content to lessen the potential peak flow at the moment of the controlled breaching of the moraine dam;
• the building of an outlet control structure, the syphoning or pumping of lake water, and the tunnelling beneath or through an ice dam or moraine barrier.
• preventing peak floods from damaging downstream infrastructure.
• Stabilising riverbanks near populated areas and scree slopes that have previously experienced landslides is necessary.

Non-Clinical Interventions

• In the GLOF danger zones, discourage or forbid elements on or near low river terraces.
• Make it legally required for mandang infrastructure developers, particularly private hydropower producers, to participate in risk reduction and early warning systems for GLOFs.
• Zoning laws for land use aim to prevent development in high-risk areas.

Being Aware and Ready

• It is possible to launch a well-thought-out print and electronic mass media campaign in the states that are susceptible to harm.
• An Early Warning System (EWS) for floods and glacier landslides can be designed by combining traditional knowledge with contemporary technologies.
• To put preparatory measures into action on the ground, the Central and State Governments must closely collaborate with NGOs and other stakeholders.

Development of Capacity

• supplying instruction and training to professionals working for organisations that manage and assess GLOFs.
• improving PRIs’ and at-risk local communities’ capacities to track and get ready for the possibility of a GLOF.
• Promoting community education can enhance preparedness for potential catastrophic events.
• With an annual frequency of 1.3 GLOFs, one report claims that during the past 40 years, the Himalayas have experienced more GLOF incidents than any other mountainous region. Therefore, by implementing these policy measures and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of individuals who reside in this high-risk area, it is necessary to fight together to minimise the danger and impacts of GLOFs in the Himalayas.