19 March 2024

• Polity: The Supreme Court agreed to hear petitions seeking a stay on the CAA Rules 2024 but declined to halt the implementation pending hearing.
• Science: Mission Divyastra analysis in defence journals focused on India's MIRV capability: a single Agni-5 can now carry multiple warheads targeting independent locations.
• Economy: The Patents (Amendment) Rules 2024 changes took full effect, including the shortened examination timeline of 31 months.
• Governance: The artificial intelligence and elections debate continued, with analysts noting that India had the highest AI penetration factor among G20 nations.

GS area: Science and Technology, Polity (elections)

As India's general election approached, the use of artificial intelligence in campaigns emerged as a governance challenge:

• Deepfakes: AI-generated audio and video content that clones a politician's voice or appearance. Several state elections in 2023-24 saw deepfake campaign material.
• AI hallucinations: AI systems generating false claims about candidates or policies. Voters cannot easily verify AI-generated information at scale.
• Micro-targeting: AI analysis of voter data allows campaigns to send individually tailored messages at low cost, raising questions about manipulation and data privacy.

India's regulatory context:

• AI penetration factor: India ranks highest among G20 and OECD nations on AI technology penetration. This makes the risk and the opportunity both larger.
• NITI Aayog National Strategy for AI (2018): India's first policy framework, built around seven principles of responsible AI.
• No mandatory pre-deployment regulation: India has not enacted a statute equivalent to the EU AI Act. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued advisories but these are non-binding.
• Tech Accord for Combatting Deceptive AI in Elections (2024): a voluntary pledge by major technology companies to detect and label AI-generated electoral content.

Static linkage: Science and technology (AI), polity (elections).

GS area: Economy (IPR), Polity (judiciary)

The Delhi High Court upheld the trademark claim of "Dolma Aunty," a well-known momo vendor at Lajpat Nagar, against a restaurant chain that had registered "Dolma Aunty Momos" as a trademark. The legal concept:

• Passing off: a common law tort protecting unregistered trademarks. The tort arises when a business uses a name or mark so similar to a competitor's that consumers are likely to be deceived into thinking the goods or services are from the original business.
• Distinct from infringement: trademark infringement applies to registered marks under the Trade Marks Act 1999. Passing off applies even to unregistered marks with established goodwill.
• Established goodwill: the vendor had built a reputation over decades. The Court held that this goodwill was a protectable property right even without registration.
• Trade Marks Act 1999: trademark registration lasts 10 years and is renewable indefinitely.

Static linkage: Economy (IPR), polity (judiciary).

GS area: Environment (biodiversity)

Two tiger reserve stories converged on genetic health of wildlife populations:

Similipal: the Melanistic (black) tigers of Similipal are a unique local variant caused by a recessive mutation that gives them dark stripes wider than normal. This genetic trait exists only in the Similipal population. The reserve's isolation means the gene pool is limited.

Ranthambore: tigers in Ranthambore National Park face inbreeding depression because the population is genetically isolated (surrounded by human settlements). Genetic rescue (introducing individuals from a genetically distinct population) is being evaluated.

• Inbreeding depression: reduced biological fitness resulting from breeding among closely related individuals. Produces lower birth rates, higher disease susceptibility and developmental defects.
• Genetic rescue: introducing unrelated individuals from a healthier population to increase genetic diversity.

Static linkage: Environment (tiger conservation, genetics).

GS area: Science and Technology (space)

ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre developed the SAKHI (Space-borne Assistant and Knowledge Hub for Crew Interactions) app for the Gaganyaan astronauts. Functions:

• Health monitoring: tracks vital signs during the mission.
• Earth communication: provides a communication interface.
• Mission logs: records activities in multiple formats.
• Hydration and dietary reminders: health prompts tailored to space conditions.
• Sleep pattern management: critical for health in microgravity.

Gaganyaan's current timeline puts the crewed mission in 2025, after two uncrewed missions.

Static linkage: Science and technology (space, ISRO).

• Parthenogenesis in Drosophila: scientists genetically modified fruit flies to reproduce asexually. 44 genes were identified as responsible. About 4 per cent of modified eggs developed parthenogenetically. Potential application: pest control through sterilised males that still mate but produce no offspring.
• Indigenous sickle cell disease drug: Akmus Drugs and Pharmaceutical developed India's first room-temperature stable hydroxyurea oral suspension for sickle cell disease. Price: Rs 600, approximately 1 per cent of the global price. Part of the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (2023, target elimination by 2047).
• Status of leopards: India's 13,874 leopard population (2022 census) with 3,907 in Madhya Pradesh. The declining trend in the Shivalik hills and Gangetic plains is attributed to habitat loss and road kills.