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The government has introduced the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024, which ease restrictions on transferring elephants within or between states.

Key provisions of the Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024

• Liberalizes conditions for transferring captive elephants within or between states in India.
• Conditions for Transfer: It determined criteria for transfer of elephants. 
  • Elephants may be transferred under certain circumstances:
    • When the current owner is unable to adequately care for the elephant.
    • When it is deemed that the elephant will receive better care elsewhere.
    • When the state’s Chief Wildlife Warden determines it is necessary for the elephant’s well-being.
• The rule has outlined Health certification by veterinarians required for intra-state and inter -state transfers.
  • Transfer Within State: Before transferring an elephant within the state:
    • A veterinarian must certify the elephant’s health.
    • The Deputy Conservator of Forests must confirm the suitability of the current and prospective habitats.
    • The Chief Wildlife Warden has the authority to approve or reject the transfer based on these assessments.
  • Inter-State Transfer: Similar conditions apply for transferring elephants between states:
    • The elephant’s genetic profile must be registered with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change before the transfer is initiated.
• The rule has given some Transportation Guidelines for Elephants:
  • Accompanying Personnel:  Elephants being transported must be accompanied by a mahout and an elephant assistant to ensure their welfare during the journey.
  • Health Certification: A health certificate from a veterinary practitioner is necessary to confirm the elephant’s fitness for transport and absence of musth or infectious diseases.
  • Quarantine Protocol: In cases of contagious diseases, the transfer can only proceed after completing a mandatory quarantine period recommended by the veterinary practitioner.
  • Pre-Loading Care: Elephants must be adequately fed and provided with water before loading onto transport vehicles to ensure their well-being.
  • On-Route Provisions: Provision of food and water must be ensured throughout the journey to meet the elephants’ nutritional and hydration needs.
  • Tranquilization Protocol: Tranquilizers or sedatives may be administered by a veterinary practitioner if elephants exhibit nervous or temperamental behavior, ensuring their safe transportation.

Wildlife Protection Act: Trade and Transfer in Elephants

• Previous Prohibitions: 

• • Until August 2022, the Wildlife Protection Act strictly prohibited the trade in wildlife, including both wild and captive elephants.

• Introduction of Exemption Clause:

• • Amendments to the Act introduced an exemption clause, permitting the transfer of captive elephants for the first time.

• Parliamentary Committee Recommendations:  

• • Parliamentary Committee, chaired by Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh, recommended the removal of this exemption clause, except for elephants owned by temple trusts, advocating for a balance between tradition and conservation.

• Final Legislation: 

  • Despite recommendations, the amended act  allowed  the movement of captive elephants. 
  • However, only elephants with an existing certificate of ownership are eligible for transfer.

Impacts of Amendments Made to the Wildlife Protection Act Regarding Captive Elephant Transfers      

The amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act aimed to balance the welfare of captive elephants with the preservation of cultural practices.

• Enhancing Elephant Care:

  • Better care and well-being: The amendments acknowledge that transferring some captive elephants to suitable habitats can lead to better care and well-being.
  • Enhance the living conditions: The Act intends to enhance the living conditions of these elephants by facilitating transfers.

• Addressing Management Challenges:

  • Space, nutrition, and health: Captive elephants often encounter challenges related to space, nutrition, and health. The transfer of elephants will mitigate these problems. 
  • Smooth relocation of elephants: The amendments establish a legal framework for responsible transfers, ensuring smooth relocation of elephants under specific conditions and with appropriate oversight.

• Enhanced Conservation of Genetic Diversity:

  • It  promotes traceability and preserves genetic diversity: Registering the genetic profile of elephants before transfer promotes traceability and preserves genetic diversity.
    • This measure contributes to the long-term conservation of elephant populations.

• Recognition of Cultural and Religious Practices:

  • While conservation efforts are paramount, the Act recognizes the cultural and religious importance of elephants in India.
    • Temple trusts, often custodians of captive elephants, are exempt from transfer provisions.

• Balancing Tradition and Conservation: 

• • Amendments strive to maintain cultural practices while ensuring the welfare of captive elephants.

News Source: The Hindu

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According to the World Air Quality Report 2023, Delhi has the worst air quality of any capital city in the World.

About World Air Quality Report 2023

• Published By: It is Published  by IQAir, a Swiss Organization.
• Data Collection: It collected data from 7,812 places throughout 134 countries, regions, and territories.

Key Highlights of the World Air Quality Report 2023

• Poor Quality Air: India has the third poorest air quality, with an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter.
  • India performed better than only two of its neighbors, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
• Most Polluted Country: While Bangladesh remained the world’s most polluted country, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 79.9 micrograms per cubic meter, Pakistan ranked second, with a level of 73.7.
• Most Polluted City of India and World: For the fourth year in a row, Delhi was named the world’s most polluted capital city.
  • Begusarai, Bihar, has been described as the world’s most polluted urban area.
  • Ten of the top eleven most polluted cities in the world are from India, with the other being Lahore, Pakistan.
• PM 2.5 Levels in India: 96 percent of India’s population experiences  PM2.5 levels that are more than seven times the WHO annual PM2.5 recommendation.

What is Particulate Matter?

• About: It is made up of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air.
• Production: PM can originate in a variety of locations. In general, any form of burning or dust-generating activity produces PM. 
• Variation in Sizes: PM comes in a variety of sizes. 
  • Larger particles are typically derived from the soil. 
  • Smaller particles result from the combustion of fossil fuels, such as petrol in automobiles, diesel in trucks, and coal used in power plants.
• Categories of Particulate Matter: Primary PM is directly emitted by a smokestack or tailpipe. Chemical processes cause secondary PM to form downwind of gaseous emission sources.
• PM 2.5: PM 2.5 is an atmospheric particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers, which is approximately 3% the diameter of a human hair.
• Effects of PM 2.5: PM 2.5 particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and even reach the bloodstream, and prolonged exposure can result in lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other chronic health problems.

News Source: The Hindu

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Star-rating system for states on the basis of their promptness in granting environmental clearances to industrial or infrastructure projects has not been operationalised yet.

Reasons for Delay in Operationalising Star Rating System for SEIAA

• Advocating Fishermen’s Rights: The MoEFCC implemented the star-rating system in 2022, but it was challenged before the NGT by a Tamil Nadu-based NGO advocating for fishermen’s rights.
• Reduction in Scrutiny: The petitioners stated that it was arbitrary and would reduce scrutiny throughout the environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure.

• Violation of the 2006 EIA order: The petitioners also stated that the Ministry’s order violated the 2006 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification, which requires a thorough examination of all project impacts.
  • However, the Ministry defended its decision, stating that the rating criteria do not intend to affect any of the processes or timescales outlined in the EIA notification 2006.

Star Rating System for SEIAA (State Environmental Impact Assessment Authorities)

• Basis of Star Rating System: In 2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) introduced a star-rating system based on pollution control, environmental management practices, and regulatory compliance.
• About Ratings: The rating, which industries must apply for every year, ranges from one to five stars, with five stars representing the highest degree of environmental compliance and performance.
• Functioning of the Rating System: According to the star rating system, the SEIAA would receive points on a range of 0 to 7.
  • A SEIAA would receive two points for granting permission in less than 80 days, one point for clearing a project between 80 and 105 days, and 0.5 points for clearance issued between 105 and 120 days.
  • If an SEIAA takes more than 120 days to grant environmental clearance, they will receive zero points.
• Incentivizing States: The proposed star-rating system will be used to “rank” and “incentivize” states based on how swiftly and efficiently they can get environmental approvals.
• Encouraging Efficiency: The ranking method is designed to promote decision-making efficiency while maintaining regulatory safeguards.
• Incentivizing Industries: Industries with higher ratings will be eligible for different incentives and advantages, hence promoting ease of doing business.

Environmental Clearance Process

• Industries Needing Clearances:  The environmental clearance process is warranted for 39 types of projects listed in the Environmental Impact Assessment notification of 2006.
  • These include the mining of minerals, the building of airports and townships, and the installation of thermal power plants, to name a few. 
• Categorization of Projects: These projects are categorized based on the kind of environmental clearance they would require.
• Categories: Category A projects require mandatory environmental clearance at the central level, and category B projects are reviewed at the state level by the SEIAAs.
  • The SEIAAs further categorize these projects into B1 and B2, with the latter not requiring an environmental impact assessment to be carried out in order for clearance to be granted.
  • Those in the B2 category have to meet a separate set of parameters for clearance. 
• Responsibility of SEIAAs: The SEIAAs are responsible for providing permissions and environmental clearance for more than 90% infrastructure, developmental and industrial projects in the country.

News Source: The Indian Express

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Tata AIA Life Insurance (Tata AIA) recently unveiled the Tata AIA Rising India Fund. 

About New Fund Offer

• New Fund offer Meaning: ​​A new fund offer (NFO) refers to the initial sale of fund shares issued by an investment company to investors.
  • For Example: Mutual funds are the most common type of new fund offering.
• Purpose: Similar to an IPO in the stock market, NFOs are intended to raise capital for the fund and attract investors.
• Target Group: NFOs are marketed, although less vigorously than IPOs, and typically target specific groups of investors.
• Managing the Funds: Professional fund managers manage these funds, making investment decisions on behalf of the investors.

Types of New Fund Offering

• Open-Ended: Investors may invest in and redeem their investments in these schemes anytime. Investors can typically join or quit the plan at the applicable NAV. They are also subjected to the exit load, if any, even after the initial NFO is withdrawn.
• Closed-Ended: A Closed-Ended NFO refers to the launch of a mutual fund scheme with a fixed maturity period. Nonetheless, the fund companies advertise these closed-ended schemes on the stock exchanges.
• Interval Funds: These types of mutual funds combine features of open-end and closed-end funds. These NFO funds offer periodic intervals, such as quarterly or semi-annually, during which investors can buy or sell shares. Outside of these specified intervals, the fund typically restricts redemptions, creating a form of liquidity management.

News Source: The Hindu

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India’s goal to turn India into a gas-based economy has accelerated with the initiation of the first-ever Small Scale LNG unit. 

India launches 1st Small Scale LNG Plant

• GAIL (India) Ltd, the country’s biggest gas company, has commissioned this plant at its Vijaipur site in Madhya Pradesh.
• The Vijaipur facility has SSLNG skids capable of producing 36 tonnes of LNG daily.
  • It includes treatment skids (ZPTS) and liquefaction skids (cryo boxes) to convert natural gas into LNG.
• India plans to raise the proportion of natural gas in its primary energy mix to 15% by 2030, up from slightly over 6% currently, primarily because of its lower pollution emissions.

What is Small Scale LNG?

• SSLNG involves cooling and transporting natural gas on a smaller scale than usual methods. 
• Ensure delivery in remote areas: It uses special trucks and small boats to deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) to businesses and industries in areas without pipelines.
• Management system: The SSLNG unit is managed by an automated SCADA system.
• SSLNG provides LNG to businesses and industries either in its liquid form or when it’s super-chilled. 
• • In more common situations like supplying CNG for vehicles or gas for homes, the LNG is turned back into gas before it’s delivered to the users.
• Establishment of SSLNG: SSLNG can begin at big LNG places or by making small LNG factories where there are lots of natural gas.
  • Example: GAIL’s SSLNG unit at Vijaipur is one example of starting small to get LNG at more places.

Advantages of Small Scale LNG (SSLNG):

• Enhanced Accessibility: SSLNG facilitates gas distribution in areas without access to natural gas pipelines, overcoming delivery challenges and expanding the availability of cleaner fuel options.
• Flexibility: SSLNG units are modular and can be quickly deployed to meet local demand, making them suitable for remote areas, industrial settings, and transportation needs.
• Promotes Sustainability: SSLNG encourages the adoption of cleaner fuels, reducing emissions when used in vehicles like trucks, buses, and marine vessels.
• Improves Energy Security: By decentralizing distribution, SSLNG enhances energy security and diversifies the sources of fuel supply.

Challenges and Limitations:

• Limited Vehicle Options: The availability of LNG-powered vehicles remains limited, which slows down the adoption of LNG as a fuel.
• Underdeveloped Retail Infrastructure: A lack of extensive LNG retail networks makes it challenging for consumers to access LNG fuel easily.
• Higher Initial Costs: LNG vehicles are usually more expensive to buy upfront compared to regular diesel cars.
• Financing Hurdles: The absence of specialized financing options for LNG vehicles poses challenges for prospective buyers looking to invest in this technology.
• Limited Pipeline Coverage: SSLNG faces challenges in areas where there is no existing natural gas pipeline network, hindering its distribution to remote locations.
• Regulatory and Permitting Issues: SSLNG projects may face regulatory hurdles and permitting delays, including environmental and safety regulations, which can slow down implementation and increase project timelines and costs.

Difference Between SSLNG and LNG

News Source: Indianexpress

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Recently, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), an ISRO Facility at Thumba, has developed a multi-purpose ‘SAKHI app’ that will help astronauts on Gaganyaan space flight mission.

SAKHI App

• It refers to ‘Space-borne Assistant and Knowledge Hub for Crew Interaction’ (SAKHI) 
• Developed by: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), an ISRO Facility at Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram.
• Purpose:  During the Mission;
  • It will perform a range of tasks such as looking up vital technical information or communicating with one another for Gaganyaan Crew. 
• Utility: 
  • Health Monitoring: 
    • It will provide information on key parameters like blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation & invaluable insights into the crew’s physical condition throughout the mission.
    • It  will also remind them about their hydration and dietary schedules and sleep patterns. 
  • Connectivity: 
    • Astronauts can use the app to maintain a log on the mission in multiple formats including voice records, texts and images. 
    • It will keep the crew connected with the onboard computer and ground-based stations, guaranteeing a seamless communication link. 
• Current Status of SAKHI App: Currently an engineering model tested of the custom-built (hand-held smart device featuring SAKHI). The development of a flight model is in progress. 

Gaganyaan human Spaceflight Mission Expected Schedule

• ISRO is hoping to launch it in 2025. 
• Recently, India announced the names of the four astronaut designates for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.

News Source: THE HIndu

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Recently, the Reserve Bank of India launched the UDGAM Portal for unclaimed deposits in India.

RBI UDGAM Portal

• UDGAM refers to the ‘Unclaimed Deposits-Gateway to Access Information’.
• Launched by: RBI
• Purpose: It facilitates the registered users 
  • To search unclaimed deposits/accounts across multiple banks at one place in a centralized manner. 
  • To provide information on the claim/settlement process of each bank (which will be available in the search result).
• Banks Covered: Currently, 30 banks representing 90% of unclaimed deposits  (in value terms) in Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund of RBI in India are part of UDGAM.
• A unique Unclaimed Deposit reference number (UDRN) is assigned to each unclaimed account. 
  • This protects  privacy and prevents identification of the bank branch or account holder by any third party
  • Enables the bank branches to seamlessly settle claims received from the customers/depositors, who have made successful searches in the UDGAM portal. 
• Inputs are required to search unclaimed deposits:  A user is required to register on the portal by providing his/her name and mobile number. 
• It provides information related to both the Individual & Non Individuals category of Unclaimed Deposits.

About Unclaimed Deposits

• According to RBI – Balances in savings / current accounts which are not operated for 10 years, or term deposits not claimed within 10 years from date of maturity are classified as “Unclaimed Deposits”. 
• These amounts are transferred by banks to the “Depositor Education and Awareness” (DEA) Fund maintained by the Reserve Bank of India. The depositors are, however, still entitled to claim the deposits at a later date from the banks where such deposits were held along with interest, as applicable. 

Reason Behind the increase of Unclaimed Deposits:

• Due to non-closure of savings / current accounts which depositors do not intend to operate anymore 
• Due to not submitting redemption claims with banks for matured fixed deposits. 
• Accounts belonging to deceased depositors, where the nominees/ legal heirs do not come forward to make a claim on the banks concerned. 

News Source: BS

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The springtime festival of Nowruz marks the beginning of the Iranian or Persian New Year. 

• Google celebrated ‘International Nowruz Day 2024’ on 19 March 2024 with a specially designed Google Doodle created by the talented Iranian guest artist, Pendar Yousefi.

About Nowruz Festival:

• About: Nowruz, the Farsi word for “new day,” marks the beginning of the Iranian or Persian New Year. 
• The festival of Nowruz is named after the Persian king, Jamshed, who is credited for creating the Persian or the Shahenshahi calendar
• History: It is an ancient festival with roots in Zoroastrianism. 
• Nowruz celebrations: It begins on the vernal equinox, which falls around March 20th or 21st each year. 
  • The United Nations celebrates the International Day of Nowruz on March 21st.
• Traditional customs: It includes rituals involving fire and water, dances, exchanging gifts, and more.
• Part of UNESCO Intangible List: Nowruz was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of India in 2016.
• Significance: It symbolizes the renewal of nature and the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Nauroz in India: The festival is observed around August 16-17 by the Parsi community following the Shahenshahi calendar which does not account for leap years.
  • It is believed that the festival was introduced to India by Nusservanji Kohyaji, a prosperous merchant from Surat in the 18th century. 
  • He frequently journeyed to Iran and upon his return, initiated the celebration of Nowruz in India.

News Source: Indian Express 

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Exercise Tiger Triumph, India, U.S. tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise is being held from 18th – 31st March, 2024.

About the Exercise Tiger Triumph

• A Bilateral Tri-service: It is the bilateral tri-service amphibious military exercise involving the armed forces of India and the US. It is the first tri-service military exercise between the two countries. 
  • Its 1st edition was held in 2019.
• Location: Eastern seaboard (US)
• Aim: To develop interoperability for conducting HADR operations and refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enable rapid and smooth coordination between forces of both countries.
• Phases:
  • The Harbour Phase: Personnel from both navies would participate in training visits, subject matter expert exchanges, sports events and social interactions.
  • Post Harbour Phase: On Completion of the Harbour Phase, the ships, with the troops embarked, would sail for the Sea Phase and undertake maritime, amphibious and HADR operations in accordance with injected situations.

Other Joint Exercises of India-US

• Military Training: Yudh Abhyas and Vajra Prahar
• Air Forces: Cope India
• Naval Exercise (along with Japan): Malabar
• HADR: In September 2022, the QUAD countries (US, India, Japan and Australia) signed the “Guidelines for the Quad Partnership on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) in the Indo-Pacific”.

News Source: The Hindu

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Recently the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released its 6th Synthesis Report, which updated and summarized the IPCC’s sixth assessment cycle.

• The IPCC is currently in its Seventh Assessment cycle (AR7).

About IPCC Assessment Reports

• These are comprehensive Assessment Reports about knowledge on climate change, its causes, potential impacts and response options.

• The IPCC uses ‘modelled pathways’ to estimate what it will take to limit the warming of the earth’s surface. 
  • These pathways are drawn using Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) that describe human and earth systems. 
• IPCC reports comprise three Working Group reports namely:
  • Physical science
  • Climate adaptation
  • Mitigation action
    • One synthesis report consolidates findings from the three Working Group reports. 
    • Sixth Synthesis Report: The sixth synthesis report merges the main conclusions of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) with contributions from the three Working Groups and three Special Reports.
• Other Reports: There are thematic special reports. Each report assesses climate-related scientific literature to capture the state of scientific, technical, and socio-economic knowledge on climate change.

Key Highlights of Future Emission Scenarios Presented by IPCC

• Per-capita GDP disparities: According to the report, by 2050, per-capita GDP in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and West Asia (which account for 60% of the world’s population) will remain lower than the global average.
• Consumption inequities: The Global North and South are likely to continue to consume commodities, services, and energy at disparate rates.
• Mitigation load: Developing countries are expected to bear a heavier burden of carbon sequestration and the implementation of Carbon Capture and Storage technology.
• Unprecedented global warming: Human activities have resulted in a considerable increase in mean surface temperature and CO2 concentrations. Fossil fuel use remains the principal driver of GHG emissions.
• Reductions in Emissions: To restrict warming to 1.5ºC, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced rapidly and consistently.
• Technology Utilization: Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies may supplement emission reductions but must be used carefully due to sustainability considerations.
• Phasing Out of Fossil Fuel: The paper emphasizes the importance of significantly reducing fossil fuel use and eliminating fossil fuel subsidies.
• Protecting Ecosystems: The pledge to end deforestation by 2030, as well as the implementation of biodiversity policies, are urgent imperatives because forest conservation offers enormous mitigation potential.
• Shift in  demand: Energy saving and changing food habits can result in significant emissions reductions, especially in high-emission sectors such as transportation and agriculture.
• Adaptation activities: It  must be stepped up to confront growing climate risks, particularly among vulnerable populations; integrated climate resilient development pathways are critical for synergistic mitigation and adaptation actions.
• Role of Finance: Finance plays an important role in advancing climate action through increased funding, technology transfer, and international cooperation.

Shortcomings in Current Modelling Approach

• Flaws: IAMs focus on least-cost assessments, failing to account for historical responsibilities and nation-specific capabilities.
• Least-cost assessments: IAMs frequently focus on determining the most cost-effective strategies to reduce emissions, such as establishing solar plants or afforestation projects, which are typically less expensive in nations like India than in the United States.
• Inequitable distribution: Developing countries are expected to bear a disproportionate share of both mitigation efforts and carbon removal technology, putting additional strain on regions already dealing with developmental issues and socioeconomic inequality.
• Flawed approach: The unequal allocation of climate burdens undermines the ideals of justice and shared but differentiated obligations inherent in international accords.
• Ignoring Equity: The report fails to take into account the Global North’s historical obligation as well as the Global South’s developing energy demands.

News Source: The Hindu

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This Article is based on the news “Many elections, AI’s dark dimension” which was published in the Hindu. With a series of elections to be held worldwide in 2024, it is essential to recognise that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to disrupt democracy. 

AI in Elections: A Global Perspective

• Electoral Landscape: With the seven-phase general election in India being announced and held from April 19 to June 1, 2024, political parties and the electorate cannot, however, afford to ignore the AI dimension. 
• This year, elections are also scheduled to be held (according to some reports) in as many as 50 other countries across the globe, apart from India, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• Advisory by the Government: Recently, the Indian Government clarified its AI advisory on generative AI services and elections was directed towards “significant” platforms and not startups.
• Impact & Manipulation: In March 2018, the Cambridge Analytica scandal brought into mainstream public discourse the impact of social media on electoral politics, and the possibility of manipulating the views of Facebook users using data mined from their private posts. 

Significant Potential of AI in Elections

• Increased and Effective Voter Engagement: By spreading awareness through social platforms in education campaigns, AI can help the voters to understand the issues and candidates, which can consequently result in increased engagement and inform voters more effectively.
• The ECI can use social media to disseminate relevant information like important dates for the new voter registration, date and time of voting, etc. It can also encourage first-time voters to participate in the democratic process. 
• Promoting Inclusiveness: With the help of AI-based Apps like Bhashini, the information can be made available in multiple Indian languages. This will be helpful for the deprived sections of the society.
  • AI technologies can help voters with disabilities, such as those who are visually impaired, making the voting process more accessible and inclusive.
• Election Transparency and Security: AI can help in the implementation of transparent advertising policies, rolling out content labels, and restricting election-related queries to combat misinformation.
• Machine learning algorithms can help in the identification of election threats that may indicate attempts at interference, ensuring the security of electronic voting systems and voter databases.
• To Streamline Electoral Processes: AI can automate various associated tasks, from voter registration to tallying and can lead to more efficient electoral processes, reduce human error and provide faster, more reliable results.
• The AI-based chatbot can be introduced on the Election Commission’s website to address the grievances. 
  • AI tools will monitor polling processes,analyze data, and ensure election integrity through machine learning algorithms and preventive measures.
• Strengthened Democracy: The ECI is also making optimum use of the technology with options like online voter registration and releasing the voter’s list on the website. They can use AI and Social Media to create awareness and broader reach and address grievances.
• Cost-Effective: Generative AI can create campaign materials at a significantly lower cost and with greater efficiency. 
  • AI allows marketers and advertisers to automate and optimize advertising campaigns, saving time and resources. 

What Challenges Are Associated with the Use of AI in Elections?

• Misinformation & Disinformation: Deepfakes and other AI-generated content can create hyper-realistic digital falsification and can potentially be used to damage reputations, fabricate evidence, and undermine trust in democratic institutions. 
• Supportive Studies: A new study published in PNAS Nexus predicts that disinformation campaigns will increasingly use generative AI to propagate election falsehoods and will help spread toxic content across social media platforms almost daily in 2024.

• • The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Perception Survey ranks misinformation and disinformation among the top 10 risks, with easy-to-use interfaces of large-scale AI models enabling a boom in false information and “synthetic” content. It also warned that disinformation could destabilise societies by discrediting and questioning the legitimacy of governments.
• Influence through Deceptive Content: The hyper-realistic deep fakes of pictures, audio, or video could influence voters powerfully before being fact-checked. 

• • Visual Tools: Generative AI companies with the most popular visual tools prohibit users from creating “misleading” images. However, researchers with the British nonprofit Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) succeeded in making deceptive election-related images more than 40% of the time.
• Social Media Amplification: Social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter compound the influence and misinformation risks, which significantly cut their fact-checking and election integrity teams. 
  • While YouTube, TikTok and Facebook do require labelling of election-related advertisements generated with AI, that may not be a foolproof deterrent.
• Microtargeting: through micro-targeting techniques, AI algorithms can be used to manipulate voter preferences and undermine the fairness of elections by influencing voters.
  • Biasness: AI systems could exhibit bias due to the data they were trained on.
    • Example: This could make the Cambridge Analytica scandal appear microscopic. 
  • The persuasive ability of AI models would be far superior to the bots and automated social media accounts that are now baseline tools for spreading disinformation.
• Privacy Concerns: The main privacy concerns surrounding AI is the potential for data breaches and unauthorized access to personal information. With so much data being collected and processed, there is a risk that it could fall into the wrong hands, either through hacking or other security breaches.
  • Example: A Japanese hospital faced public outrage when it was revealed they used patient data without consent to develop an AI diagnostic tool.
  • Also, a ‘deepfake’ video of Rashmika Mandanna went viral on social media.
• Erosion of Trust: The mere existence of AI-generated content can foster a general atmosphere of distrust, where people question the authenticity of all information. This phenomenon is known as the liar’s dividend.
  • It suggests that when fake content is so easily produced, the public may become sceptical even of genuine information, leading to a breakdown in the credibility of election-related communications.
• No Specific Law: India lacks specific laws to address deepfakes and AI-related crimes, but provisions under many legislations could offer civil and criminal relief. 
  • Example: Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) is applicable in cases of deepfake crimes that involve the capture, publication, or transmission of a person’s images in mass media, thereby violating their privacy. 
  • Such an offence is punishable with up to 3 years of imprisonment or a fine of ₹2 lakh. 

Actions Taken by India

• Issuance of Advisory to Digital Platforms: 

  • The Indian government has asked digital platforms to provide technical and business process solutions to prevent and weed out misinformation that can harm society and democracy. 
    • The government said a legal framework against deepfakes and disinformation will be finalised after the elections.
    • The government also said companies should not generate illegal responses under Indian laws or “threaten the integrity of the electoral process”. 

• Collaboration: 

  • The ECI engaged with leading technology firms, including OpenAI, to develop strategies for combating AI-driven misinformation and enhancing the security of the electoral process. 
    • It aims to identify potential vulnerabilities in the election ecosystem and deploy AI solutions to detect and neutralize threats like deepfakes or automated bots spreading false information.
    • Google-ECI Partnership: Google has partnered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to prevent the spread of false information during the general elections. Google is committed to providing reliable information and preventing deceptive AI-generated content.

• Guidelines for Political Advertisements on Digital Platforms: 

  • By setting such policies, the ECI seeks to ensure that voters are informed about the source and intent of the content they are exposed to, reducing the risk of manipulation through micro-targeted ads.

• Voter-Friendly Environment: 

  • To foster public trust and counteract the potential spread of misinformation, the ECI is also investing in public awareness campaigns. 
    • It aims to educate voters about the risks associated with digital content and encourage critical engagement with information sources, enhancing the electorate’s resilience against disinformation.

• Multi-faceted Approach: 

  • The ECI’s approach of regulatory measures, technological solutions, and public education demonstrates its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process in the age of AI. 
    • Use in Kolkata: The Election Commission in Kolkata plans to use AI to detect irregularities at sensitive booths early during the Lok Sabha elections. 

Way Forward

• Regulation Framework: There is a need to establish a precise legal framework mechanism for the use of AI in elections, such as regulations on data protection, transparency in AI-driven advertising and standards for the ethical use of AI.
• Collaboration: Governments and electoral bodies must collaborate with technology companies to combat misinformation and secure electoral processes. 
  • Policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society must collaborate to develop policies and practices that support the responsible use of AI technologies.
  • Examples: Recently, companies like OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft and Google signed a pledge last month to fight AI content that can be deemed misleading during the polls. 
• Public Awareness: Educating the public about the challenges of AI-generated misinformation can empower voters to evaluate the information critically. 
  • Campaigns that promote digital literacy and critical thinking are needed to promote against disinformation.
• Technological Solutions: The time has come to develop AI systems capable of detecting and flagging false information and deepfakes. 
  • There is a need to develop ethical AI that prioritizes transparency and accountability.
• Consider Other Significant Issues: The threat from AI-generated deepfakes that can potentially impact elections, become ammunition for revenge pornography, or help create child sexual abuse material needs to be taken into account as well.
• Maintain Privacy: The responsible development and deployment of AI is desirable to minimize individual privacy and civil liberties risks. 
  • AI algorithms should be designed to minimize the collection and processing of personal data and ensure that the data is kept secure and confidential.

Conclusion

This is an era where technological evolution is inevitable. Maintaining democratic principles whilst utilising technology for advancement calls for significant thought and constant ethical examination. The proper integration of social media and AI will influence political discourse and decision-making for years to come as Bharat moves towards the Amrit Kaal of its democracy.

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Context

This Article is based on the news “Heat, aridity, clear skies: why forests are already ablaze in the Nilgiris” which was published in the Indian Express. Forest fires have been raging in the Coonoor forest range in the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu for almost a week.

Nilgiris Forest Fire: Key Highlights

• Bambi Bucket Operations: The Indian Air Force deployed a Mi-17 V5 helicopter to conduct multiple “Bambi Bucket operations” that dumped some 16,000 litres of water on the fires.
  • The Bambi Bucket, also called a helicopter bucket or a helibucket, is a specialised container that is suspended by cable under a chopper, and which can be filled by lowering into a river or pond before being flown above a fire and discharged aerially by opening a valve at the bottom of the bucket.

What is Forest Fire?

• Wildfire, also called forest, bush or vegetation fire, can be described as any uncontrolled and non-prescribed combustion or burning of plants in a natural setting such as a forest, grassland, brushland or tundra.

Forest Fires in India: Statistics

• Forest Fires in India: According to the biennial India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019 published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI), more than 36% of India’s forest cover was prone to frequent fires. 
  • About 4% of the forest cover was ‘extremely prone’ to fire, and another 6% was ‘very highly’ fire prone.
• Vulnerable States: The eleven main states with frequent occurrence of forest fires in recent times are: 
  • Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telengana Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 
• Forest Fire Vulnerability Across Ecosystems: According to the FSI, severe fires break out in dry deciduous forests, while evergreen, semi-evergreen, and montane temperate forests are comparatively less prone to fires. 
  • The forests of Northeast India, Odisha, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand are the most vulnerable to fires during the November to June period.
• Triggering Factors: 
  • Human activities trigger 95% of forest fires in India, such as burning agricultural practices, deforestation, firewood burning etc. 
  • Drought and higher temperatures further aggravate the risk of forest fire. 
• Forest Fire Season in India: November to June is considered to be forest fire season in India especially from February onward as summer approaches. 
  • April-May are usually the worst fire months across the country.
• Forest Fire Situation in 2024: During March 2024, the highest number of forest fires were reported from Mizoram (3,738), Manipur (1,702), Assam (1,652), Meghalaya (1,252), and Maharashtra (1,215), as per FSI data.

Causes of Forest Fires in India

Causes of Forest Fires in India are as follows;

• Natural Causes: 

  • Lightning: Lightning-caused forest fires are caused by thunderstorms where the lightning strikes combustible materials on the ground under conditions that support combustion.
  • Volcanic Eruption: Hot magma from the earth’s crust is expelled as lava during a volcanic eruption, causing it to flow down mountainsides and spread out over the forest floor, starting fires. 
  • High Temperatures: Hot and dry temperatures and high tree density help the spread of forest fires.

• Anthropogenic Causes: 

• • Fire is caused when a source of fire like naked flame, cigarette or bidi, electric spark or any source of ignition comes into contact with inflammable material.

What Are Reasons For Forest Fires in India This Year?

• Rise in Mean Temperatures: Over the past two months, the recorded maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures have remained above-normal over the southern states, which has helped build the heat load over the region well before the onset of the summer season. 
  • Maximum temperatures here touched 40 degrees Celsius which is unusual for mid March.
• Drymass Availability: As a result, there has been an early availability of dry biomass in these forests since the winter season itself.
• Hottest Month of South India: This February was South India’s hottest since 1901, and January was the fifth warmest in more than a century.
• Prevalence of Excess Heat Factor (EHF): The IMD has warned of the prevalence of EHF to be significantly higher than normal over western Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Karnataka. 
  • EHF predicts the chances of a heatwave over a region.
• Prevalence of Aridity: In the absence of rain and prevailing high temperatures, the IMD has classified almost all districts of southern India under ‘mild’ aridity.

Classification of Forest Fires 

• Surface Fire: A forest fire may burn primarily as a surface fire advancing across the forest floor as the flames spread through the surface litter and vegetation.
• Underground Fire: The fires of low intensity, consuming the organic matter beneath and the surface litter of forest floor are sub-grouped as underground fire. 
  • These fires usually spread entirely underground and burn for some meters below the surface. 
• Ground Fire: These fires are fires in the subsurface organic fuels, such as duff layers under forest stands, Arctic tundra or taiga, and organic soils of swamps or bogs. 
  • This fire burns root and other material on or beneath the surface i.e. burns the herbaceous growth on forest floor together with the layer of organic matter in various stages of decay. 
  • They are more damaging than surface fires, as they can destroy vegetation completely. 
• Crown Fire: A crown fire is one in which the crown of trees and shrubs burn, often sustained by a surface fire. 
  • On hill slopes, if the fire starts downhill, it spreads up fast as heated air adjacent to a slope tends to flow up the slope spreading flames along with it. If the fire starts uphill, there is less likelihood of it spreading downwards.

Impact of Forest Fires

• Biodiversity Loss: Forest fires have adverse effects on the forest cover, tree growth, vegetation, and the overall flora and fauna. 
  • Fires render several hectares of forest useless and leave behind ash, making it unfit for any vegetation growth.
• Soil Erosion: Forest fires leave the soils bare to the action of natural elements i.e. sun, wind and rain, leading to soil erosion and loss of top fertile soil.
• Soil Fertility: It leads to destruction of soil organic matter and affects the soil structure adversely. 
  • Nitrogen reserves of the soil are depleted.
  • Fire also destroys humus and soil micro-flora, which in turn affects the forest growth.
  • In North-Eastern India, the shortening of fire-associated jhum cycles has also had a detrimental effect on soil fertility. 
  • Shorter jhum cycles reduce fallow biomass available for burning and gives soil fertility less time to recover, resulting in lower economic yields and efficiency.
  • Jhum Cultivation is a traditional agricultural practice whereby land is cleared by burning the vegetation, is cultivated for several years, and then is abandoned in favour of another site when the productivity of the soil declines.
• Growth in IAS: Some invasive alien species (IAS) in India’s forests are fire-assisted. 
  • Forest fragmentation, coupled with fires-have resulted in degradation of ecosystems, making them more vulnerable to invasion by alien species. Ex- Lantana camara fuels further fires.
• Damage to Wild animals: Forest fire results in enormous loss to wildlife and birds. It causes loss of habitat for the wild fauna making them susceptible to death due to poaching, adverse weather conditions or killing by predator species.
• Air Pollution: Forest fires emit heat-trapping gases such as N₂O and other aerosols that influence the regional and global climate. 
  • Forest clearing and persistent changes in vegetation composition and structure after a fire may result in net emissions. 
• Climate Change: Forest fires contribute to climate change by releasing carbon stored in trees, undergrowth, litter, and soils into the atmosphere. 

Initiatives Taken to Prevent Forest Fires in India

• National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) 2019: Under the revised NDMP 2019, Forest Fire has been included and addressed as a hazard, with specific time bound action plans, and clear roles & responsibilities of Central, State agencies and key stakeholders. 
• Forest Fire Alert System: Since 2004, the FSI developed the Forest Fire Alert System to monitor forest fires in real time. 
  • In its advanced version launched in January 2019, the system now uses satellite information gathered from NASA and ISRO.
• Fire Weather Index based Forest Fire Danger Rating System (FFDRS): It Identifies vulnerable areas on the ground for
  • Risk reduction and mitigation
  • Identification of highly fire prone areas
  • Resource allocation and mobilization
• Van Agni Geo-portal: It serves as a single point source for the information related to forest fires in India.
• National Action Plan on Forest Fires (NAPFF):  It was launched in 2018 by MoEF&CC to minimize forest fires by informing, enabling and empowering forest fringe communities and incentivizing them to work with the State Forest Departments.

Way Forward

• Forest Fire line: It includes preventing fire through removal of forest litter all along the forest boundary known as “Forest Fire Line” .
  • This line prevents fire breaking into the forest from one compartment to another. The collected litter was burnt in isolation. 
• Creating Firebreaks: Generally, the fire spreads only if there is a continuous supply of fuel (Dry vegetation) along its path. 
  • The best way to control a forest fire is therefore, to prevent it from spreading, which can be done by creating firebreaks in the shape of small clearings of ditches in the forests.
• National Forest Fire Knowledge Network:  It must be established to cover all dimensions of forest fire in the country. 
  • Such a network must be tuned to the felt need of all stakeholders, including forest fire managers, policy makers and planners, decision makers, community etc. 
• Capacity Building:  Enhance the capacity of forest personnel and institutions for timely detection of possible fire events and for fighting forest fires.
  • There is an urgent need for enhancing the capacity of forest guards at the best levels in terms of training, workforce, equipment etc. to enable them to effectively deal with forest fires.
• Separate Division for Forest Fire Management: It is required that for effective dealing, a separate division be established for forest fire management, which could deal exclusively with the forest fire issue.
• Promote Forest Fire Research and Technology Innovations: The research institutes are needed to do research in developing appropriate techniques in getting prior information about forest fire, detecting it, and suitable mechanism to suppress it. 
• Strengthening Collaboration: Necessary collaboration is required with organisations involved in generating early warning about forest fire. 
  • Meteorological Departments and other national and international sources providing weather related information may be collaborated to get prior information about the temperature and rainfall situation which are the main deciding factors for forest fires.

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