6 November 2023

• Security: India is preparing its first National Security Strategy document, addressing traditional and non-traditional threats including cybersecurity.
• Governance: The Election Commission launched ENCORE, an in-house software system for real-time election management covering nominations, turnout and financial disclosures.
• Economy: The government approved a 20,000-crore-rupee annual loss figure for film piracy and tightened penalties under the Cinematograph Amendment Act 2023.
• Technology: The government issued blocking orders against 22 illegal online betting apps under Section 69A of the IT Act 2000, including the Mahadev platform.
• Space: NASA's Lucy spacecraft confirmed the Dinkinesh binary asteroid system in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.

GS area: International Relations (Internal Security, Governance)

India is preparing its first formal National Security Strategy document. Most major powers including the USA, UK and Russia already maintain such strategies. Pakistan released a National Security Policy covering 2022-2026.

• What it will address: traditional threats (border disputes, nuclear deterrence, conventional warfare), non-traditional threats (cyber attacks, terrorism, climate-linked disasters, economic coercion).
• Cybersecurity provisions expected: a separate budget allocation, a central body of cyber warriors and state-level cyber capability building.
• Why it matters: a formal strategy document creates accountability. It forces coordination across the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs and the intelligence establishment. Without it, different agencies pull in different directions.
• Existing institutions: the National Security Council (headed by the National Security Adviser) coordinates strategic policy. The National Security Strategy would give it a published doctrine.

Static linkage: Internal Security (GS3), Governance (GS2).

GS area: Science and Technology (Cybersecurity, Internal Security)

Apple sent alerts to opposition politicians and journalists in India and other countries warning of possible state-sponsored cyber attacks on their devices. State-sponsored cyber attacks are government-organised hacking operations for political, economic or espionage purposes.

• Notable historical cases: Stuxnet (attributed to Israel and USA) targeted Iran's nuclear centrifuges in 2010. NotPetya (attributed to Russia) caused billions of dollars in damage to Ukrainian and global infrastructure. Operation Aurora (attributed to China) targeted Google and other tech companies. Pegasus spyware (developed by Israel's NSO Group) was used to target Indian journalists, activists and officials in 2021.
• India's response framework: Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (2018), CERT-In (operational since 2004), National Cyber Security Policy (2013), National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (under Section 70A of the IT Act 2000).
• Apple's Lockdown Mode: an extreme security feature that restricts device functionality to reduce attack surface, recommended for high-risk users.

Static linkage: Internal Security (Cybersecurity), Science and Technology.

GS area: Polity (Elections, Governance)

The Election Commission of India launched ENCORE (Enabling Communications on Real-time Environment), an in-house software system for managing elections end-to-end.

• Features: candidate nomination and affidavit processing, voter turnout tracking, online nomination portal, display of candidate financial affidavits, the ENCORE Nodal App for government department approvals of election-related requests.
• Significance: digital end-to-end election management reduces scope for manipulating paper-based processes. Affidavit disclosure is visible in real time, helping voters and media scrutinise candidate backgrounds.
• Article 324: vests superintendence, direction and control of all elections in the Election Commission. ENCORE is the operational tool through which that constitutional authority is exercised.

Static linkage: Polity (Election Commission, Elections).

GS area: Governance (Intellectual Property, Media)

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting highlighted that film content piracy costs the Indian film industry approximately 20,000 crore rupees annually. The Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 2023 introduced significantly tougher penalties.

• Penalties under the 2023 Act: minimum three months to maximum three years of imprisonment. Fines up to 5 per cent of the audited gross production cost of the film.
• Digital platforms: required to remove pirated links within 48 hours of notification.
• Context: the Act amends the Cinematograph Act of 1952. The amendment also revised the film certification framework.

Static linkage: Governance (Intellectual Property Rights, Media regulation).

GS area: International Relations

India will open a sixth US consulate in Seattle. The existing consulates cover Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York and San Francisco. Seattle matters because of Microsoft, Amazon and Boeing headquartered there.

• Embassy versus consulate: an embassy is in the capital city, headed by an ambassador, handling the full diplomatic relationship. A consulate is in other cities, providing services to citizens including visas, passports and emergency assistance.
• Why Seattle: a significant number of Indian technology professionals work in the Pacific Northwest. A consulate reduces travel burden for visa renewals and other services.

Static linkage: India-USA relations (International Relations).

GS area: Governance (Digital Economy, Law)

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued blocking orders against 22 illegal online betting and gambling platforms, including the Mahadev platform. The Enforcement Directorate is investigating money laundering links.

• Legal basis: Section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000 empowers the government to block online content in the interest of sovereignty, security, public order or decency.
• Constitutional position: betting and gambling are in the State List (Seventh Schedule). States regulate or prohibit gambling.
• State variations: Sikkim permits online gambling. Telangana has a zero-tolerance policy. Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu enacted anti-online-gambling laws.
• IT Rules 2021 amendment: prohibited online real-money gaming linked to chance, mandated KYC verification and restricted gambling advertisements.

Static linkage: Governance (IT law, federalism).

• World Food India 2023: the event featured a specific focus on Farmer Producer Organisations and nine crore women organised through Self Help Groups as pillars of India's food ecosystem.
• Advocate-on-Record (AoR) system: a unique Supreme Court designation. AoRs must have at least four years of legal practice, one year of training with an approved AoR and maintain an office within 16 km of the Supreme Court in Delhi. They are the link between litigants and the Court, based on the British barrister-solicitor model. Constitutional basis: Article 145 of the Constitution.