29 July 2023

MAINS DAILY QUESTIONS & MODEL ANSWERS

Q2. Examine the difficulties that extremist and criminal organisations’ use of communication networks, such as the internet and mobile phones, poses for India’s internal security. Describe the steps taken by the government to track and stop the online dissemination of unlawful activity and extremist ideology.

GS III – Internal Security

• Extremists and criminals now frequently use the internet to carry out their activities, which presents serious problems for India’s internal security. Cybercrime, radicalisation, fake news and misinformation, and the disruption of important infrastructure are some of the major problems. The government has taken a number of actions to combat these illicit activities.

Internet-based threats to India’s internal security by means of extremist and criminal activity:

• Cybercrime: A variety of illegal actions, such as identity theft, fraud, and cyberattacks, are being carried out by criminals online. These actions put sensitive information at risk and can hurt people and organisations.
• Radicalization: Extremists are utilising the internet to attract people into their groups and propagate their views. As a result, extremism and terrorism have grown in India.
• False information and misinformation: Extremists and criminals can now easily propagate false information and misinformation online, which can lead to racial and political unrest and hurt both people and society as a whole.
• Data privacy: Because the internet is so widely used, worries have been expressed concerning data privacy. There is a chance that radicals and criminals would misuse or steal personal information as it is disseminated online at an increasing rate.
• Critical infrastructure disruptions: Cyberattacks on vital systems, like power grids and financial networks, can lead to extensive disruptions and constitute a serious risk to national security.
• When radicals and criminals utilise encryption, it can be challenging for law enforcement to keep track of and stop their actions.
• In general, the internet has developed into a crucial instrument for extremists and criminals to conduct their operations, causing serious difficulties for India’s internal security. The public and the government must be aware of these issues and take the necessary action to address them.
• India’s internal security faces challenges as a result of the use of communication networks like mobile and the internet.

Due to the extensive usage of communication networks like mobile phones and the internet, India’s internal security is currently confronted with a variety of difficulties. Among the principal difficulties are:

• Cybercrime: As more people utilise the internet and mobile devices, cybercrime has increased in India. Cyberattacks, identity theft, fraud, and other illegal actions that jeopardise sensitive information and hurt people and organisations are included in this.
• Radicalization: Extremist organisations are now more able to recruit new members and promote their ideologies because to the internet and mobile technology. As a result, extremism and terrorism have grown in India.
• Internet and mobile technology have made it simple to transmit false information and misinformation, which can exacerbate racial and political tensions and hurt both people and society as a whole.
• Data privacy: As communication networks are used more often, worries regarding data privacy have increased. There is a chance that the growing amount of personal information shared online will be exploited or stolen.
• Critical infrastructure disruptions: Cyberattacks on vital systems, like power grids and financial networks, can lead to extensive disruptions and constitute a serious risk to national security.
• In general, India’s internal security has faced both opportunities and challenges as a result of the growing usage of communication networks. It is critical that both the government and the general public are aware of these issues and take the necessary action to address them.

Government of India actions made to track and stop the spread of extremism:

The Indian government has implemented a number of initiatives to track and stop the growth of extremism throughout the nation, including:

• Cybercrime Units: To investigate and bring cases against those involved in cybercrime, including cyber terrorism, the government has formed cybercrime units inside law enforcement authorities.
• The Prevention of Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act gives the government the authority to take legal action against people and organisations that support terrorism and the spread of extremist ideology.
• In order to stop people from being involved in extremist activities, the government has put in place a number of counterterrorism and counter radicalization initiatives, such as deradicalization programmes and public awareness campaigns.
• Cooperation with international organisations: The government has been exchanging knowledge and best practises on halting the spread of extremism and terrorism with international organisations like Interpol and the United Nations.

Conclusion:

• Overall, the Indian government is employing a thorough strategy to keep tabs on and stop the growth of extremism in the nation. However, it is an ongoing process, and as the danger changes, there is always potential for development and the adoption of new countermeasures.

Q2. What is the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems? Also highlight the efforts of government in this regard.

GS II – Government Policies and Interventions

• One of the most important environmental challenges that we are currently dealing with is plastic. About 3.5 million tonnes of plastic trash are produced in India each year. Since plastic waste production has a negative influence on the marine ecology, it is vital to promote sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.

Marine plastic waste effects:

• Plastic garbage clogs our sewers, endangering marine life and posing health dangers to those who live nearby landfills or in the natural world.
• There are also huge monetary expenses associated with marine plastic contamination.
• A March 2020 prediction estimated that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ blue economy will suffer direct losses of USD 2.1 billion annually.
• These economic losses are accompanied by enormous social costs. Plastic pollution and rubbish brought in by the tides have a negative influence on the health of coastal residents.
• Fishing nets that have been abandoned or cast aside can entangle boats, and plastic garbage can clog engines.
• It may cause issues for sectors including shipping, fishing, aquaculture, and maritime tourism that impact the coastal community’s way of life.

Measures So Far:

• The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), and other organisations have created the GloLitter Partnerships Project. initial support from the Norwegian government.
• to stop and lessen marine plastic waste from fishing and transport.
• Additionally, it will help developing nations lessen their reliance on plastics in the maritime transport and fishing industries and reduce marine pollution, especially plastic litter.
• aid in locating options for plastic recycling and reusing as well.
• This international effort to address marine litter has gained the support of 30 nations, including India.
• World leaders made a commitment to “Beat Plastic Pollution” and totally phase out its usage during the 2018 World Environment Day, which was hosted in India.

Particular to India:

• According to the 2016 Plastic trash Management Rules, each municipal entity is in charge of putting infrastructure in place for the collection, processing, and disposal of plastic trash.
• The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) idea was first established by the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2018.
• Finding plastic components that can be replaced with non-plastic, recyclable, or biodegradable materials is the first step in product design.
• To achieve this, nations must adopt sustainable and circular economic principles along the entire value chain of the plastics industry.
• Plastics are cheap, thus there are less financial incentives to use recycled plastics. Priority should be given to achieving pricing structure and environmental health balance.
• Technologies and innovation: Creating instruments and technologies to help governments gauge and keep track of plastic waste in cities.
• India should launch initiatives similar to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific’s “Closing the Loop” programme, which helps cities come up with more creative policy responses to the issue.
• Promoting a plastic-free workplace: Replace all single-use items with reusable ones or more environmentally friendly single-use substitutes.
• Extended responsibility can be used in the retail (packing) industry, where producers are in charge of assembling and recycling the goods they put on the market.
• Municipal and neighbourhood initiatives: beach and river cleanups, public awareness campaigns, including levies and bans on single-use plastic bags.
• Collaboration among several stakeholders: Government departments at the national and municipal levels must work together to establish, implement, and oversee policies relating to the management of plastic trash.
• Recently, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (IISc) discovered a means to produce a replacement for single-use plastic (SUP) that might, in theory, help lessen the issue of environmental plastic waste buildup.

Key Ideas:

• The procedure of creating the polymer in the study involved using non-edible castor oil and allowing them to react with the cellulose (from agricultural waste) and DI-isocyanate.
• These polymers can be moulded into sheets that have the characteristics needed to create bags, utensils, or containers.
• The substance is non-toxic, leak-proof, and biodegradable.

Potential Benefits:

• Regarding the issue of single-use plastics (SUP), given the rise in their use and the difficulty in managing landfills overflowing with them, such alternatives could result in a paradigm shift, particularly in the packaging industry, which is the biggest user of SUP.
• Agricultural stubble burning is a problem that needs to be addressed since it causes air pollution in numerous northern Indian states.
• Every winter, for instance, the air quality index in Delhi lowers to a “severe” or “hazardous” level, in part because of the burning of agricultural waste in the nearby areas.
• While replacing single-use plastics with agricultural waste won’t solve the issue of air pollution, it will give farmers more options to make money.
• Employ in Healthcare Facilities: Because the substance is non-toxic and biodegradable, researchers intend to employ it in healthcare settings as well.

Conclusion:

• 80% of the plastic waste generated worldwide, according to a report, gets into the environment. Plastic trash accumulation is harmful to the environment, and when it ends up in the ocean, aquatic ecosystems may suffer significantly. In order to prevent plastic pollution, countries must adopt circular and sustainable economic practises throughout the plastics value chain.