The Prayas ePathshala

Exams आसान है !

13 March 2023

DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

Q 1. The reliance on imports from China is increasing despite the government’s efforts to promote domestic manufacturing, which have led to a significant trade deficit with China. Analyze how it would affect the Indian economy. What needs to be done to close the trade gap? (250 words)

Paper & Topic: GS III – Indian Economy

Model Answer:

Introduction:

The China Customs Department’s most current data indicates that the trade imbalance between China and India will reach $100 billion for the first time in 2022. This defeats the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat, especially in light of the rising geopolitical tensions between the two countries. The country is becoming more dependent on Chinese imports despite official initiatives to promote indigenous production. Several times, the failure to reduce China’s influence is expressed through calls for a boycott of Chinese products.

Body:

Trade deficits lead to:

The majority of Chinese imports are used as intermediary goods by Indian producers.
The recent increase in Chinese imports can largely be attributed to the Indian manufacturing sector, which is beginning to show indications of revival.
A huge increase in chemicals and technical equipment, particularly electrical and non-electrical instruments, is responsible for a sizable amount of the rise in imports from China.
They are used in the neighborhood’s manufacturing sector. Cheaper Chinese goods are the main driving force behind India’s current real estate and building boom, the digital economy, and even the green makeover.
These imports are increasing at a high rate (22% in 2022) despite a drop in exports to China (38% in 2022). This raises concerns. impact on India’s economy.
India hasn’t historically diversified its supply chains, which are still mostly dependent on China. For instance, the Indian market for electronic goods still focuses mostly on the assembly of goods and has few options for the purchase of components.
Over the past three decades, China’s industrial sector has grown, whereas India’s has stagnated and become relatively ineffective.
China is close to the United States, and Chinese companies are eager to offer items at low prices, making it more affordable and cost-effective to import things from China than to do so domestically.

Mitigating techniques:

There are no easy solutions to lessen reliance on them. India’s manufacturing sector needs a long-term, ongoing policy boost.
The government will also need to locate alternate sources for a number of important Chinese raw materials and intermediate products. Not just India is looking for alternatives.
Better China alternatives are being sought as the China Plus One strategy is currently being discussed around the world.
The government should adopt a pragmatic approach and encourage indigenous manufacturers through trade with China. For instance, bilateral semiconductor collaboration with countries like the USA and the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).
Government action has been taken in China.
FDI restriction in China: avoiding opportunistic takeover of native enterprises by scrutinising Chinese investments and restricting Chinese companies from taking part in 5G testing
API import dependence will be decreased with the support of the PLI Scheme and promotion of bulk drug parks.
It is effectively forbidden to import Chinese power equipment.

Next steps:

To keep its strategic competitiveness, India still needs to import the majority of its necessities. Yet, by reducing China’s involvement, it might diversify this dependence.
India may diversify its reliance by working more closely with the United States, Europe, South Korea, and Japan. As a result, it will become more reliant on countries with which it already enjoys friendly political relations.
It will be wise to promote self-reliance even more in critical areas where India is a net importer and where money and technology will be very important.

Q2. What is a deepfake. Examine the dangers they present and the steps needed to halt the deepfakes threat. (250 words)

Paper & Topic: GS III – Science and Technology

Model Answer:

Introduction:

Deep fakes are digital media (video, audio, and images) that have been purposefully and intelligently manipulated. A unique strategy for swiftly and broadly propagating computational propaganda and false information is the use of deep fakes. Deep fakes have evolved from little annoyances to high-stakes conflict with the goal of dividing society and, in some cases, affecting election outcomes. It allows for hyper-realistic digital deceit that could be harmful to individuals, groups, businesses, and democracy.
Indian cybercrime police have recently begun tracking specific programmes and websites that employ artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to photograph unsuspecting people in their undies.

Deep fake risks consist of:

Face swapping, lip-syncing, and puppeteering are examples of media fabrication techniques made possible by Deep Fake. These techniques are frequently used without the subject’s knowledge or consent and are dangerous for psychology, security, political stability, and the economy.

Democratically damaging:

A convincing falsehood can also influence how democracy is addressed, undermine trust in institutions, and destabilise international ties.
To twist the narrative and sway belief, deploy a deep fake that powers misleading information about organisations, public policy, and politicians.
A plausible fake could harm a political candidate’s reputation and image.
Leaders can also employ them to increase populism and solidify their hold on power. Deep fakes have the potential to be a very formidable tool for stoking societal division, planting the seeds of polarisation, and quashing opposition.
Another problem is the liar’s dividend, which is the dismissal of an unfavourable reality as being utterly false or fake news.

Damage to people’s reputations as individuals:

Someone acting erratically or saying despicable things can be revealed by a deep fake.
Their reputation could be severely harmed, and their personal and professional lives could be destroyed.
Even if the victim could reveal the deep fake, it might already be too late to undo the initial injury.
Deep fakes can also be employed to persuade individuals to part up cash, sensitive information, or favours.
A deep fake could be a powerful tool used by a nation-state to jeopardise public safety, spread mistrust, and cause commotion in the target country.
Nation-state actors with geopolitical aspirations, ideological beliefs, violent extremists, and commercial interests may utilise deep fakes to slant media narratives.
Terrorist organisations and rebel groups might utilise it to portray their adversaries as making inflammatory remarks or acting provocatively to stir up anti-state sentiments among the general public.

Very suspect images to be worried about:

The system becomes vulnerable because deep bogus images, audio, and videos can be used by hackers to spread rumours, frighten or blackmail individuals, take revenge, or commit fraud on social networking and dating sites.
It has become one of the modern cyberspace scams, along with fake news, spam/phishing attacks, social engineering fraud, catfishing, and academic fraud.
Since it can be used to create fake pornographic videos and make politicians appear to say things they did not, the potential for harm to individuals, groups, and societies is enormous.
The accuracy of deep fakes is increasing as technology develops.
Someone with advanced machine learning capabilities and access to the victim’s publicly accessible social media profile could initially only generate deep fakes.
Regular users now have more access to websites and apps with this feature thanks to an increase in their creation.

Future Perspectives:

To defend the truth and uphold freedom of expression, we need a multi-stakeholder and multi-modal strategy.
Media literacy among journalists and consumers is the best line of defence against profound fakes and misinformation.
Initiatives to promote media literacy must be strengthened in order to create an informed public.
As media consumers, we must be able to decipher, understand, translate, and use the information we encounter.
Even a quick media knowledge intervention that explains the context and reasons can lessen the harm.
Media literacy needs to be raised before the problems deep fakes cause can be solved.
Effective laws that arise from a coordinated effort by the governing community, the technological industry, and civil society can assist to make the manufacture and spread of hostile deep fakes less attractive.
To detect deep fakes, verify media, and amplify reputable sources, we also need technology tools that are user-friendly and broadly accessible.

Conclusion:

Deep fakes are dangerous, thus it is up to each of us to exercise critical thinking while reading online media, think twice before publishing on social media, and help find a solution to this infodemic.
To safeguard free speech and uphold the truth, a multi-stakeholder and multi-modal approach is necessary.
With joint efforts and collective tactics spanning statutory limitations, platform policy, technical intervention, and media literacy, the threat posed by malicious deep fakes can be diminished.