Govt Withdraws New Draft of Broadcast Bill Amid Criticism
Why in News: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has withdrawn the new draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2024, following significant criticism and controversy over concerns about government overreach into online content regulation.
About the Draft Broadcast Bill:
- Controversial Provisions: The new draft Bill expanded its scope to include social media accounts, online video creators, and defined “digital news broadcasters” in broad terms. It proposed prior registration with the government for independent content creators, raising fears about potential restrictions on freedom of speech.
- Stakeholder Reactions: Independent content creators and big tech companies expressed concerns, with some pushing back publicly and others raising issues privately, fearing increased government control over online content.
- Government’s Response: The ministry has asked stakeholders to return the copies of the draft Bill, indicating a plan to rework the proposal. The decision was influenced by internal disagreements within the ministry, particularly regarding the inclusion of non-news online content creators under the category of OTT broadcasters.
- Future Steps: The ministry has announced plans to hold further consultations with stakeholders and will publish a revised draft after detailed discussions. However, the current withdrawal has left some stakeholders confused, especially those not included in the earlier private consultations.
- Background: The Bill aimed to replace the 1995 Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act and consolidate the legal framework for broadcasting, extending it to OTT content and digital news. The new draft, however, significantly altered the focus of the 2023 draft, leading to widespread criticism.
Hindenburg Alleges Conflict of Interest by Sebi Chief: Conflict-of-Interest Rules in the US and UK
Why in News: Hindenburg Research has accused Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch of a conflict of interest related to her past investments in funds linked to the Adani Group. Buch has denied the allegations, stating she followed all disclosure norms.
About Conflict-of-Interest Rules for Market Regulators:
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), US:
- Ethics Standards: The SEC commissioners must adhere to the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch. These standards prohibit employees from participating in matters where they or their close relations have a financial interest if the matter could impact that interest.
- Imputed Interests: Financial interests of an employee’s spouse, minor children, and close relations are considered. Violations can lead to disciplinary action or criminal penalties.
- Supplemental Standards: These restrict SEC employees from trading securities of investigated companies, engaging in short selling, or participating in IPOs for seven days post-offering. Employees must also obtain pre-approval for securities transactions through the Personal Trading Compliance System (PTCS).
- Disclosure: SEC employees must report and certify all securities holdings, with certain exceptions, both before starting employment and annually.
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), UK:
- Conflict of Interest Definition: The FCA’s employee handbook defines a conflict of interest as a situation where an employee’s actions might be influenced by personal relationships, access to information, or financial positions.
- Disclosure Requirements: Employees are required to regularly update their conflict of interest disclosures and formally attest to their accuracy annually.
- Conflict of Interests Portal: This confidential system records disclosures related to conflicts. Breaches can result in disciplinary action or dismissal.
- Personal Financial Disclosure: Employees must disclose securities holdings, investments in non-UK financial firms with UK subsidiaries or parent companies, e-money balances over £5,000, and other sensitive financial relationships.
Union Cabinet Approves Clean Plant Programme to Boost Horticulture Crop Yields
Why in News: The Union Cabinet approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) on Friday, a significant initiative aimed at enhancing the yield, productivity, and quality of horticulture crops across India. First introduced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her February 2023 interim Budget speech, the CPP is expected to revolutionize the horticulture sector by providing farmers with access to high-quality, virus-free planting material.
About the Clean Plant Programme (CPP):
- Objective: The CPP aims to increase the productivity and quality of fruit crops by ensuring that farmers have access to clean, virus-free planting materials.
- Funding: The Ministry of Agriculture has requested an allocation of ₹1,765 crore for the programme. This funding will be sourced equally from the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) budget and a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
How Will the CPP Work?
The CPP focuses on three main components to achieve its goals:
Development of Clean Plant Centers (CPCs):
- Purpose: Establish nine CPCs across the country.
- Functions: These centers will provide disease diagnostics and therapeutics, create mother plants for nurseries, and quarantine both domestic and imported planting materials intended for commercial propagation.
Enhancement of Infrastructure:
- Objective: Develop large-scale nurseries to multiply the clean planting materials provided by the CPCs.
- Outcome: These nurseries will distribute the multiplied planting materials to farmers, ensuring they have access to high-quality, disease-free plants.
Creation of Regulatory and Certification Processes:
- Purpose: Establish stringent regulatory and certification systems.
- Goal: Ensure accountability and traceability in the production and sale of planting materials, maintaining high standards for horticultural crops.
Why is the CPP Needed?
India, the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables globally, has seen significant growth in horticulture over the past decade. From 2013-14 to 2023-24, the area under horticulture crops increased from 24 million hectares to 28.63 million hectares, with production rising from 277.4 million metric tonnes (mt) to 352 million mt.
Rising Demand for Foreign and Exotic Fruits:
- India’s import and export of fresh fruits are substantial, with imports valued at $2.73 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. The demand for planting materials for foreign apples and exotic fruits like avocado and blueberry has surged, with significant increases in the import of these plants between 2018 and 2020.
Challenges with Current Import Processes:
- The existing process for importing plants is cumbersome, requiring a two-year quarantine period. The CPCs under the CPP will reduce this period to six months, facilitating easier access to disease-free and authentic planting materials for Indian farmers.
The World’s Largest Iceberg, A23a, Caught Spinning in a Southern Ocean Vortex
Background:
A23a, the world’s largest iceberg, has been making headlines due to its unusual behavior in the Southern Ocean. This colossal piece of ice, with an area of approximately 1,500 square miles and a depth comparable to the Empire State Building, has been spinning in place after breaking free from Antarctica in 2020.
Journey of A23a:
- Origin: A23a originated from the Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986 when it broke off from its parent iceberg, A23, which housed a Soviet Union research center at the time. A23a remained grounded in the Weddell Sea for 34 years until it finally broke free in 2020.
- Current Location: The iceberg is now spinning near the South Orkney Islands, about 375 miles northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula. It is trapped in a geophysical phenomenon known as a Taylor column.
What is a Taylor Column?
- Formation: A Taylor column forms when standard ocean currents diverge around an underwater mountain, creating a stagnant cylinder of fluid above the seamount. This phenomenon causes the water, and anything within it, such as A23a, to rotate slowly in a counterclockwise direction.
- Impact on A23a: The iceberg is caught over a seamount that is about 100 kilometers across and rises 1,000 meters from the seafloor. This has caused A23a to spin slowly in place, completing a full rotation approximately every 24 days.
Why is A23a Stuck?
- Iceberg Alley: A23a is located in Iceberg Alley, a region where large icebergs typically pass through quickly before being drawn into the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. This current usually carries icebergs to warmer waters, where they melt and disintegrate.
- Taylor Column Effect: Unlike other icebergs, A23a has become trapped in a Taylor column, preventing it from moving forward and causing it to spin in circles over the seamount.
What Happens Next?
- Melting and Movement: While A23a will continue to slowly melt as it remains in place, its eventual release from the Taylor column is uncertain. It could take a long time before the iceberg escapes the vortex.
- Impact on Sea Levels: Despite its massive size, A23a will not contribute significantly to global sea level rise as it melts because it originated from a floating ice shelf. However, the deterioration of ice shelves does pose a threat to the stability of Antarctic glaciers, which could impact sea levels in the long term.
The Technology Behind Collision Avoidance Systems in Vehicles
Context: As vehicular traffic has expanded across roads, skies, waterways, and even into space, the need for robust collision avoidance systems (CAS) has become paramount. These systems leverage advanced technology to prevent vehicles from colliding with each other, thereby enhancing safety and efficiency in various modes of transport.
What is a Collision Avoidance System (CAS)?
A Collision Avoidance System (CAS) is a technological framework designed to help a vehicle avoid collisions with other vehicles or obstacles. CAS devices collect and process real-time data about the locations of other vehicles and the vehicle they are installed in, allowing them to issue warnings or take automatic actions to prevent potential collisions.
How CAS Works in Land-Based Vehicles:
In cars, CAS typically involves tracking the speed and distance between vehicles, such as a Front Car and a Back Car. If the system detects that the distance is closing too quickly, it may activate automatic emergency braking to prevent a collision. CAS in cars uses sensors like radar, lidar, and cameras with object recognition to monitor surrounding vehicles and obstacles.
Example – The ‘Kavach’ System in Indian Railways:
Kavach is a homegrown CAS for the Indian Railways, designed to prevent train collisions. It has three main components:
- Computers: These include an onboard computer in the train and two computers for station masters. They process information from signals, interlocking points, and track RFID cards to determine the train’s location.
- Communication: Data is transmitted via fiber-optic cables and ultra-high frequency radio, with the onboard computer using GSM-Railway for network communication.
- Control: The system is integrated with the train’s braking system and alerts the pilot to potential collisions, with the ability to apply emergency brakes if necessary.
CAS in Aircraft:
Aircraft collision avoidance systems include components like transponders that respond to radio-frequency pings and build a 3D view of surrounding air traffic. The system issues alerts at different intervals, requiring pilots to either visually identify other aircraft or take evasive action. Radar altimeters and systems that alert pilots to tall structures also play a crucial role in preventing collisions.
CAS in Ships:
Ships use a combination of radar, visual sighting, and systems like Automatic Identification System (AIS) and Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) to avoid collisions. AIS helps track a ship’s location, speed, and bearing, while LRIT ensures that ships report their location regularly, facilitating long-range tracking and rescue operations.
The Role of Satellites in CAS:
Satellites have significantly enhanced CAS capabilities, particularly through systems like Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) for aircraft, which uses satellites to track aircraft locations. Similarly, Satellite-AIS (S-AIS) systems help track ships far from land-based AIS stations. The U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) and similar systems like India’s NavIC provide precise location data that can assist CAS in vehicles by enhancing navigation accuracy.