Mains

IndiaAI Mission

About:

• Launched by the Indian government for the next five years.
• Implemented by ‘IndiaAI’ Independent Business Division under Digital India Corporation (DIC).
• Aims to establish a comprehensive ecosystem for fostering AI innovation through partnerships.

Key Features:

• IndiaAI Compute Capacity:
  • Public-private partnership to build AI compute infrastructure with over 10,000 GPUs.
  • AI marketplace for offering AI as a service and pre-trained models.
  • One-stop solution for AI innovation resources.
• IndiaAI Innovation Centre:
  • Develops indigenous Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) and domain-specific models.
• IndiaAI Datasets Platform:
  • Streamlines access to quality non-personal datasets for AI research and development.
  • Unified platform for seamless data access for startups and researchers.
• IndiaAI Application Development Initiative:
  • Focuses on developing impactful AI solutions for socio-economic transformation.
• IndiaAI FutureSkills:
  • Reduces barriers to entry in AI programs.
  • Increases AI courses at various levels of education.
• IndiaAI Startup Financing:
  • Supports deep-tech AI startups.
  • Provides streamlined access to funding for futuristic AI projects.
• Safe & Trusted AI:
  • Promotes responsible AI development with indigenous tools, frameworks, and guidelines.

Significance:

• Boosts innovation and domestic AI capabilities.
• Creates highly skilled jobs.
• Drives responsible and inclusive growth of India’s AI ecosystem.
• Positions India as a leader in using AI for social good and global competitiveness.

 

Aadhaar Seeding with Voter ID

About

• Election Commission Proposal: Suggested amending the Representation of the People Act, 1950 to remove the need for a “sufficient cause” for not providing Aadhaar.
• Concerns: Opting out of Aadhaar could entail a false declaration, punishable under the RP Act, 1950.

Aadhaar Overview

• Unique Identity Number: 12-digit unique identifier issued to Indian residents based on biometric and demographic data.
• UIDAI: Statutory authority established in 2016 for Aadhaar administration.

Concerns

• Data Security: Instances of breaches and misuse of Aadhaar data.
• Inclusion Errors: Exclusion from services due to data errors or authentication failures.
• Mandatory Usage: Viewed as an infringement on privacy rights.
• Linkage Concerns: Linked with other databases, raising privacy and misuse concerns.

Aadhaar and Right to Privacy

• Right to privacy became a fundamental right in India (2017).
• This challenged Aadhaar’s use due to privacy concerns.
• Court limited mandatory Aadhaar use and stressed protecting biometric data.
• Enrolment became voluntary, rejecting government’s push for mandatory Aadhaar.

 Way Ahead

• Benefits: Streamlined government services, reduced corruption, and promoted financial inclusion.
• Challenges: Need to address privacy and security concerns for responsible Aadhaar usage.

Prelims

INS Jatayu base

• India established INS Jatayu, its second naval base in Lakshadweep (after INS Dweeprakshak).
• Upgraded base with radars, airfield, and BrahMos missiles strengthens India’s security in the region.
• Counters China’s growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean.
• Lakshadweep: India’s smallest UT, archipelago of 36 islands (12 atolls, 3 reefs) near Kerala.

 

Pritzker Architecture Prize

• Highest international honor for architects (established 1979).
• Founded by Jay A. Pritzker and funded by the Pritzker family.
• Most awards to Japanese architects (Riken Yamamoto is the 9th).
• Only Indian laureate: Balkrishna Doshi (2018). (63 words)

 

Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI)

• Aims for industrial development and job creation in the North Eastern Region (NER).
• Launched by the Government of India as a Central Sector Scheme.

Key Features:

• Duration:Effective from notification date till 2034 with 8 years of additional liabilities.
• Zones:Districts categorized as Zone A (developed) and Zone B (underdeveloped).
• Fund Allocation:60% of Part A funds earmarked for 8 NER states, 40% distributed on First-In-First-Out basis. (69 words)

 

Kaziranga National Park (KNPTR)

Location: Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Nagaon districts, Assam

Significance:

• World Heritage Site (1985)
• Home to over 70% of the world’s one-horned rhinoceros population (listed as Schedule I & vulnerable)
• Declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950 and National Park in 1974

 

V-SAT Stations for Tribal Villages in India

Pilot Project:

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs collaborates with ISRO to deploy V-SAT stations in 80 villages across Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.

V-SAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal):

• Two-way satellite ground station with a dish antenna.
• Transmits data for internet access in remote locations without physical networks.
• Bounces signal from satellites, offering an alternative to traditional infrastructure.

Significance:

• Aims to bridge the connectivity gap in geographically remote tribal villages.
• Potential to significantly improve digital inclusivity.
• Provides internet, medical, educational access, and supports e-governance initiatives.

Concerns:

• Latency issues due to signal bouncing from satellites.
• Weather and environmental conditions can affect signal quality. 

Penicillin G Production in India

Resumption after Halt:

• Health Minister announced restarting Penicillin G production (stopped in 1990s).

Penicillin G (Benzylpenicillin):

• Active ingredient for various antibiotics treating pneumonia, meningitis, etc.
• Narrow-spectrum antibiotic for serious bacterial infections.
• Natural antibiotic administered intravenously/intramuscularly.
• Production stopped due to cheaper Chinese alternatives in the 1990s.

Revival Factors:

• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme incentivizes domestic manufacturing.
• Significant step towards pharmaceutical self-reliance. 

Haiper: Text-to-Video AI

New Player:

• Haiper, founded by ex-DeepMind, TikTok, and academic researchers, introduces a new text-to-video model.
• Follows OpenAI’s Sora launch, capable of generating minute-long videos.

Haiper’s Model:

• Aims for “a new path towards AGI” (human-like AI).
• User-friendly platform for generating video content.
• Offers text-to-video, image animation, video repainting tools (free on website).
• Current limitation: short video length (2 seconds).
• Company working on extending video outputs.
• Publicly available tool, unlike OpenAI’s Sora (still in beta).

INS Kolkata: Indian Naval Destroyer

About INS Kolkata:

• Lead ship of Kolkata-class stealth guided-missile destroyers.
• Significant addition to Indian Navy’s arsenal.
• Successor to Project 15 ‘Delhi’ class destroyers.
• Designed by Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design.
• Commissioned in 2014, marking a milestone in indigenous warship construction.

Features:

• Length: 164 meters
• Width: 18 meters
• Full load displacement: 7400 tonnes
• Propulsion: Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) system for speeds exceeding 30 knots
• Power generation: 4.5 Megawatts (enough for a small town)
• Crew: 30 officers and 300 sailors

Recent Activity:

• Responded to missile/drone attacks on merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden.

The Gulf of Aden:

• Deepwater gulf of the Indian Ocean.
• Located between Yemen, Somalia, Arabian Peninsula, and Socotra Island.
• Vital shipping lane for global trade, especially oil from the Persian Gulf.
• Connects Asia, Africa, and Europe.
• Major ports: Aden (Yemen), Djibouti City (Djibouti), Berbera (Somalia).

Right to Repair Portal India

Launched by: Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA)

Goal: Empower consumers with repair information and reduce e-waste.

Vision: Promote a circular economy by encouraging product repair and reuse.

• Repairing and reusing products reduces waste compared to a throw-away culture.

Key Features:

• Provides repair information across sectors (automobiles, electronics, durables, farming equipment).
• Offers access to product manuals, repair videos, spare part details (price, warranty).
• Enables submitting feedback on products and services.

Expected Impact:

• Empower consumers to make informed choices about buying and maintaining products.
• Promote a circular economy model for sustainable consumption.