The Hindu Newspaper Analysis

Editorial Topic : A New Push in the Bay of Bengal

 GS-2 Mains Exam : IR

Revision Notes

Question: Analyze the role of BIMSTEC in promoting economic development and security in the Bay of Bengal region. What are the key areas of cooperation highlighted during the 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat held in New Delhi in July 2023?

Context

• 2nd BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Retreat: Held in New Delhi in July 2023.
• Focus: Security, connectivity, trade, and investment within the Bay of Bengal region.

BIMSTEC and India’s Interests

• BIMSTEC: Regional organization with 7 member states (India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand).
• India’s objectives:
  • Multilateral engagement with eastern neighbors.
  • Economic development, security, and foreign policy.
  • Counterbalance China’s growing influence.
  • Access to the sea for landlocked northeast region.
  • Deeper engagement in the Indo-Pacific through ASEAN.

Key Points from the Retreat

• Retreat divided into two parts:
  • Assessment of current regional cooperation.
  • Discussion of expectations for the upcoming summit.
• Proposals and ideas:
  • Establish Centers of Excellence in agriculture, disaster management, and maritime transport.
  • India to support cancer research and e-visas for BIMSTEC patients.
  • Sri Lanka proposed inclusion of kidney disease in healthcare cooperation.
  • Promote private sector involvement in trade and youth entrepreneurship.
  • Strengthen connectivity, cybersecurity, and counter narcotics/arms trafficking.
  • Sri Lanka emphasized mineral resource mapping and vertical integration of production.
  • Bangladesh highlighted Blue Economy cooperation and fishing bans.
  • Bhutan focused on tourism and cultural exchange.
  • Nepal advocated for a “whole of the region” approach.
  • Thailand prioritized non-traditional security cooperation.
  • Myanmar emphasized combating online scamming.

Conclusion

• Strong intent among member states for regional cooperation.
• Implementation of proposals to be determined at the upcoming summit.
• BIMSTEC seen as a platform for India’s “Neighborhood First,” “Act East,” and SAGAR policies.

 

 

 

 

The Hindu Newspaper Analysis

Editorial Topic : Using Children’s Personal Data Legally and Securely

 GS-2 Mains Exam : Education

Revision Notes

Question: Question: Explain the purpose and benefits of the Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) introduced under the National Education Policy 2020. What are the potential risks and challenges associated with linking APAAR and UDISE+?

Context

• Children’s personal data is highly sensitive.
• Adherence to data privacy and minimization crucial.

Indian Education System

• Massive system: 1.5 million schools, 97 million teachers, 265 million students.
• UDISE+ platform: Collects real-time data on schools, teachers, students, performance.
• Aims: Improve education quality, resource allocation, monitoring, trend analysis.

APAAR and National Education Policy 2020

Introduction to APAAR:

• APAAR: Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry identification.
• Purpose: Serves as a unique identifier for students, collating academic credentials in one place.
• Demographic Info: Includes Aadhaar details via voluntary consent.

Enhancing Ease of Schooling:

• Linking APAAR and UDISE+.
• Automating admissions to reduce dropouts and enhance continuing education opportunities.
• Collaborations: DigiLocker and ed-tech companies with State governments.
• Risk: Exposing student data to various actors in the educational ecosystem.

Data-sharing Policy and Regulatory Overhauls:

• 2020 Policy: Data-sharing policy for school education and literacy.
• Need for Update: Reflect changes post-Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023.
• Compliance Issues: Lack of clear regulations or standards, especially for ed-tech players.

Concerns about Consent and Data Collection:

• Verifiable Parental Consent: Limited guidance.
• UDISE+/APAAR Regime: May violate DPDP Act’s requirements.
• Data Collection: Must be for specified legitimate purposes only.
• Potential Violation: Sharing data for incremental purposes not authorized.

Ministry’s Perspective:

• Benefits: Tracking student migration, efficient educational records management.
• Importance: Streamlining systems to manage records effectively.

Three-part Test (Justice K.S. Puttaswamy Case):

• Fundamental Right to Privacy: Recognized by the Supreme Court.
• Three Conditions:
  1. Legitimate state interest.
  2. Necessary and proportionate restriction.
  3. Restriction imposed by law.
• Aadhaar Integration: Must comply with the test.
• Data Privacy: Importance of data minimization due to sensitive nature.

Need for Specific Protocols:

• Exchange of Children’s Data: Requires clear protocols and roles for data fiduciary, processor, and principal.
• Data Security: Privacy policy dictates certain requirements but lacks specifics for children’s data sharing.
• Legal Liability: Policy and report emphasize no legal liability of the Ministry.
• Grievance Redressal: Lack of clear forum and mechanism for addressing grievances.

Way Forward:

• Standard Operating Procedures: Both technical and legal under a governance framework.
• Data Authenticity: Preservation and legal obligations for stakeholders.