CURRENT AFFAIRS – 21/03/2024
Contents
CURRENT AFFAIRS – 21/03/2024
Delhi tops list of world’s most polluted capital cities in 2023
(General Studies- Paper III)
Source : The Indian Express
The World Air Quality Report for 2023, compiled by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, sheds light on the global scenario of air pollution.
- It utilizes data from various monitoring stations worldwide, including those operated by government bodies, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations.
Key Highlights
- Delhi’s Pollution Status:
- In 2023, Delhi, the capital city of India, emerged as the most polluted capital globally, based on its annual average PM 2.5 level.
- The PM 2.5 level in Delhi stood at 92.7 µg/m3, surpassing 113 other capital cities included in the report.
- Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, trailed closely behind Delhi, with a PM 2.5 level of 80.2 µg/m3.
- Such high levels of particulate matter indicate significant air quality challenges in these densely populated urban centers.
- WHO Guidelines and Exceedance:
- The report underlines the stark contrast between the recorded PM 2.5 levels and the air quality guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- According to WHO, annual average PM 2.5 levels should ideally not exceed 5 µg/m3, emphasizing the severity of pollution levels in Delhi and Dhaka.
- Intra-Country Comparison:
- Interestingly, within India itself, certain cities exhibited even higher levels of pollution than Delhi.
- Begusarai, located in the state of Bihar, reported an alarming average PM 2.5 level of 118.9 µg/m3, surpassing both Delhi and Dhaka.
- Similarly, Guwahati, situated in Assam, recorded a concerning average of 105.4 µg/m3.
- Comparison with Previous Years:
- The World Air Quality Report for 2023 reveals a concerning trend of worsening air quality in Delhi compared to the previous year.
- In 2022, the average annual PM 2.5 concentration was marginally lower at 92.6 µg/m3, marking a 10% increase in pollution levels in 2023.
- Monthly Variations:
- Delhi experienced its most polluted months in 2023 during November and December, with PM 2.5 levels soaring to 255.1 µg/m3 and 210 µg/m3, respectively.
- Conversely, August emerged as the cleanest month with a notably lower average PM 2.5 concentration of 34.8 µg/m3.
- International Comparison:
- Among 134 countries or regions assessed in the report, India ranked third in terms of annual average PM 2.5 levels, with a concerning figure of 54.4 µg/m3.
- This ranking positions India behind Bangladesh and Pakistan, both of which recorded levels exceeding 70 µg/m3.
- Population Exposure and Health Implications:
- The report highlights the staggering scale of population exposure to hazardous PM 2.5 concentrations in India.
- Approximately 1.36 billion individuals in the country are subjected to PM 2.5 levels exceeding the WHO recommended annual guideline of 5 µg/m3.
- Moreover, a staggering 1.33 billion people, constituting 96% of the population, experience PM 2.5 levels surpassing the guideline by over seven times.
- This alarming trend is mirrored at the city level, with more than 66% of India’s cities reporting annual averages greater than 35 µg/m3.
- Exceedance of WHO Guidelines:
- Delhi’s air quality dilemma is further underscored by the revelation that the city spent 56% of its annual hours in 2023 at PM 2.5 levels exceeding WHO guidelines by more than 10 times.
- Such prolonged exposure poses significant health risks to residents.
- Delhi’s persistent struggle with air pollution is evident as it has consistently topped the IQAir list of capital cities with the highest annual average PM 2.5 levels from 2018 to 2022.
- Health Consequences:
- The report underscores the direct link between exposure to PM 2.5 particles and various health problems, including cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, and elevated mortality risks.
- These findings emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address air pollution and safeguard public health in Delhi and across India.
What is PM 2.5?
- 5 stands for Particulate Matter 2.5, which refers to fine particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller.
- These particles are extremely small, with a diameter smaller than the width of a human hair.
- 5 particles are a type of air pollutant that can pose significant health risks when inhaled.
- Sources:
- 5 particles can come from both natural and human-made sources. Natural sources include wildfires, volcanic eruptions, and dust storms.
- Human-made sources include vehicle emissions, industrial processes, construction activities, and the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
- Health Impacts:
- 5 particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, leading to a range of health problems.
- Short-term exposure to high levels of PM2.5 can cause respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, as well as exacerbate pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.
- Long-term exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, and premature death.
2023 warmest year on record
(General Studies- Paper III)
Source : The Indian Express
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has officially confirmed that 2023 stands as the warmest year on record, according to its latest report released on Tuesday.
- Moreover, the past decade, spanning from 2014 to 2023, has been designated as the warmest ever recorded.
Key Highlights
- Global Surface Temperature Rise:
- The WMO’s annual State of the Climate Report reveals that the global mean surface temperature in 2023 surged to 1.45 degrees Celsius above the average of the pre-industrial period of 1850-1900.
- This increase significantly surpasses the 1.29 degrees Celsius rise observed in 2016.
- Decadal Average Temperature:
- Between 2014 and 2023, the decadal average of the global mean surface temperature soared to 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial average, marking it as the warmest 10-year period ever documented.
- Greenhouse Gas Concentrations:
- The report highlights unprecedented concentrations of three major greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)—in 2022, which was the last year for which comprehensive global data was available.
- Carbon dioxide concentrations in 2022 reached 417.9 parts per million (ppm), marking 150% of pre-industrial levels.
- Similarly, methane concentrations stood at 1,923 parts per billion (ppb), representing 264% of pre-industrial levels.
- Nitrous oxide concentrations in 2022 were observed at 335.8 ppb, constituting 124% of pre-industrial levels.
- Implications of Rising Greenhouse Gas Levels:
- The unprecedented rise in greenhouse gas concentrations underscores the escalating pace of climate change.
- These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the observed increase in global temperatures.
- Such trends pose profound challenges for ecosystems, weather patterns, and human societies worldwide.
- Ocean’s Role in Climate Change:
- With 70% of Earth’s surface covered by water, the rising levels of greenhouse gases contribute to excess energy, which accumulates in the form of heat and is absorbed by the oceans.
- This phenomenon, combined with the absorption of carbon dioxide, leads to ocean acidification, rising sea levels, and other adverse effects.
- Ocean Heat Content in 2023:
- The WMO highlighted that the ocean heat content in 2023 surpassed the previous year’s value, reaching a 65-year high.
- The upper 2,000 meters of the ocean continued to warm, with particularly strong warming observed in the Southern, North Atlantic, and South Atlantic Oceans.
- Regional Oceanic Trends:
- Certain regions experienced unusual warmth, including the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
- The Pacific Ocean also warmed, primarily due to the onset of El Niño conditions in June of the previous year.
- Marine Heat Waves and El Niño Influence:
- Similar to terrestrial heatwaves and coldwaves, the oceans experience marine heatwaves and marine cold waves.
- In 2023, an El Niño year, characterized by higher-than-normal sea surface temperatures along the equatorial Pacific Ocean, led to the persistence of marine heatwaves, notably along the North Atlantic Ocean.
- Impact of Marine Heatwaves and Ocean Warming
- According to the WMO, a significant portion, at least 32% of the total global ocean area, experienced marine heatwaves every day throughout the year 2023.
- This surpasses the 23% area affected during the 2016 El Niño episode, indicating the magnitude of ocean warming in 2023.
- In contrast, only under 4% of the oceanic area experienced marine cold waves, further highlighting the prevalent warming trend.
- Contribution to Ice Melt and Sea Level Rise:
- The combination of high temperatures and warm oceans accelerated the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, leading to a notable rise in sea levels during 2023.
- The WMO report attributes this rapid rise in sea level to the influence of El Niño conditions.
- Regional Impacts of El Niño:
- During the onset of El Niño conditions, particularly from April to June, sea levels along the tropical Pacific Ocean surged above long-term mean values.
- This rising trend extended to central and South America regions from July to September.
- El Niño, coupled with the positive Indian Ocean Dipole, contributed to higher-than-average sea levels along the Western Indian Ocean region.
- Arctic and Antarctic Sea-Ice Decline:
- Both the Arctic and Antarctic witnessed significant reductions in sea-ice extent during 2023.
- Antarctic sea-ice extent remained at record lows between June and early November, accompanied by a slow ice growth rate due to warming in the Southern Ocean.
- The lowest ever sea-ice extent in the Antarctic, measured at 1.79 million square km, was observed in February.
- El Niño’s Influence on Weather Patterns:
- El Niño influences rainfall patterns globally, typically suppressing rainfall over regions such as the Amazon basin, central America, southwest Europe, major parts of Africa and central Asia, southeast Asia, and northern Australia.
- These impacts were realized in 2023.
- El Niño triggered high-intensity heatwaves, strong cyclones, and hurricanes worldwide.
- Cyclone Mocha, for instance, struck Bangladesh in May, causing extensive damage and displacing over two lakh people.
- Additionally, Hawaii experienced a deadly wildfire, destroying 2,200 structures in Lahaina.
- Socio-Economic Consequences:
- Extreme weather events, including heatwaves, floods, droughts, wildfires, and intense tropical cyclones, inflicted significant socio-economic losses on every continent.
- Vulnerable populations bore disproportionate impacts, exacerbating humanitarian crises, with millions experiencing acute food insecurity and hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes.
India’s voters deserve a bond — of probity
(General Studies- Paper II)
Source : The Hindu
In the Budget Speech of 2017-18, the Finance Minister outlined the government’s goal of eliminating black money and addressing the opaque nature of political party funding in India.
- He highlighted the persistent issue of political parties relying heavily on anonymous cash donations, which hindered transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
Key Highlights
- Problem Statement and Objectives
- The Finance Minister identified the lack of a transparent method for political funding even after decades of Independence.
- He acknowledged the failure of previous attempts to incentivize donations through legislative amendments and highlighted the prevalence of anonymous cash donations as a major obstacle.
- Design of the Electoral Bond Scheme
- To tackle this problem, the Finance Minister proposed the Electoral Bond Scheme (EBS) as a reform measure.
- The EBS aimed to introduce greater transparency and accountability in political funding by providing a “clean” channel for donations.
- The scheme was designed to allow individuals and entities to donate to political parties through transparent means without revealing their identity, thus addressing the reluctance of donors to contribute through cheque or other traceable methods.
- Expected Outcomes and Implications
- The primary expected outcome of the EBS was to change the landscape of political funding, preventing the generation of black money and ensuring that donations to political parties were traceable and accounted for.
- However, despite the implementation of the EBS, significant challenges persisted in curbing the flow of unaccounted money into election campaigns.
- While the EBS aimed to bring about transparency and accountability, its effectiveness in achieving these objectives remains questionable.
- The scheme may have succeeded in providing political parties with a legitimate source of funding, but it did not necessarily address the broader issue of unaccounted money in election campaigns.
- The continued prevalence of large sums being spent on elections indicates that the root causes of black money in politics remain unresolved.
- The Electoral Bond Scheme (EBS) indeed established a supposedly clean channel for funds to flow from the donor’s bank account to the political party’s account.
- However, the assumption that funds used to purchase the bonds are inherently clean is questionable.
- The Supreme Court pointed out that a similar transparent channel existed through Electoral Trusts, undermining the unique transparency claim of the EBS.
- Reports from the State Bank of India revealed instances where purchasers bought bonds disproportionate to their business income, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the fund sources.
- It remains uncertain whether funds reaching the political parties’ designated accounts were truly “clean.”
- Lack of Safeguards and Investigation Challenges
- Defenders of the EBS argued that doubts regarding fund sources could be investigated.
- However, the challenge lies in determining who would conduct such investigations, as the agencies accused of being under the ruling party would likely be involved.
- Moreover, Section 7(4) of The Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018, mandated confidentiality of buyer information, severely restricting investigative efforts unless demanded by a competent court or initiated by a law enforcement agency.
- The EBS designers claimed that banks were legally prohibited from keeping records of the bond purchaser’s identity, in line with the anonymity provision of the scheme.
- This lack of purchaser information made it nearly impossible to establish links between buyers and recipients.
- Similar to dispensing currency notes, the State Bank of India (SBI) had no records of specific bond purchasers, with the alphanumeric number on the bond serving merely to verify authenticity for audit purposes.
- Limited information disclosed by the State Bank of India (SBI) to enforcement agencies raises questions about the effectiveness of investigations.
- While disclosing purchaser identities, the scope of investigations is confined to fund sources, excluding the crucial donor-political party link necessary for probing allegations of quid pro quo.
- Confidentiality Clause
- The confidentiality clause applies to information submitted by the purchaser, to be kept undisclosed until requested.
- However, it remains unclear how this absolves the SBI from maintaining records essential for enforcing the law of the land.
- Without record-keeping, the basis for collating information linking bond purchasers and political parties becomes questionable, casting doubt on the transparency and accountability of the scheme.
- Implications of Court Mandated Disclosures
- The Supreme Court’s mandate for disclosures opens the floodgates to allegations of corruption, potentially leading to endless investigations under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
- Tax authorities may also scrutinize fund sources used in bond purchases, implicating contributors to the ruling party in allegations of quid pro quo.
- Conversely, non-disclosing contributors may face adverse consequences, undermining the scheme’s objective of avoiding such repercussions.
- Parliamentary Responsibility in Finding Solutions
- Critics of the Electoral Bond Scheme (EBS) have rebuked the courts for not proposing alternative methods of political funding, arguing that Parliament holds the mandate to address such issues.
- They emphasize Parliament’s superior wisdom in crafting laws, as demonstrated in instances like the appointment of Election Commissioners.
- They advocate for a consultative process within Parliament to navigate the complexities of political funding, rather than relying on court directives or secretive policy-making.
- Public Debate and Accountability
- The lack of transparency in political funding perpetuates a cycle where parties hold each other accountable while leaving the electorate in the dark.
- Voters aspire for parties with distinct ideologies but not ones so similar that they appear indistinguishable.
- The notion that people get the government they deserve is questioned, as voters deserve better representation and accountability from political parties.
About the Electoral Bond Scheme (EBS)
- The Electoral Bond Scheme (EBS) is a financial instrument introduced by the Government of India in 2018 as a method for individuals and organizations to make donations to political parties in a transparent and accountable manner.
- Issuance of Bonds:
- Electoral Bonds are financial instruments similar to promissory notes that can be purchased by any citizen or entity from specified branches of authorized banks.
- These bonds are issued in multiples of ₹1,000, ₹10,000, ₹1,00,000, ₹10,00,000, and ₹1,00,00,000, with no maximum limit on the purchase amount.
- Anonymity of Donors:
- One of the unique features of the Electoral Bond Scheme is that the identity of the donor is kept anonymous.
- Donors can purchase electoral bonds from authorized banks and donate them to registered political parties of their choice without disclosing their identity to the public or the recipient party.
- Electoral Bonds are valid for a specified period (15 days) from the date of issuance and can be encashed only through designated accounts of registered political parties within the stipulated period.
- The bonds cannot be encashed after the expiry of the validity period.
Eliminating diseases, one region at a time
(General Studies- Paper II)
Source : The Hindu
The Carter Center recently announced significant progress towards eradicating guinea worm disease, with cases dropping from 3.5 million annually in 1986 to just 13 cases across five countries in 2023.
- This achievement marks a remarkable reduction of 99.99% and positions guinea worm disease as the second disease, after smallpox, to be eradicated without the aid of medicines or vaccines.
- This success has brought increased attention to disease elimination efforts globally, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to eradicate diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and Neglected Tropical Diseases by 2030.
Key Highlights
- Differentiating Elimination from Eradication
- Elimination of transmission differs from eradication in that it targets achieving zero transmission in a defined region, whereas eradication involves permanently ceasing infection with no risk of reintroduction.
- Both the objectives significantly enhance public health, particularly benefiting vulnerable populations.
- Benefits and Challenges of Disease Elimination
- Disease elimination efforts attract increased involvement from field staff and community health workers, driven by clearly defined goals, and garner international support.
- This heightened commitment, both politically and bureaucratically, along with public support, positively impacts the health system.
- However, elimination is resource-intensive and can strain weak health systems, potentially neglecting other critical health functions.
- Thus, careful analysis of costs and benefits, alongside informed political support, is necessary to ensure optimal outcomes with minimal adverse impacts.
- Strategic Approach to Disease Elimination
- While elimination is scientifically feasible for all diseases targeted by India, strategic prioritization is essential.
- Focusing on pathogens with high population impact and low prevalence makes elimination more feasible.
- Initially, efforts should aim to reduce disease numbers to a practical level through disease control strategies.
- This approach allows for understanding the processes and costs of elimination while strengthening existing health systems to manage elimination rigor effectively.
- Investment in Surveillance Systems
- To effectively pursue disease elimination, the government must invest in robust surveillance systems capable of capturing every instance of the disease.
- This includes strengthening laboratory facilities for screening and confirmation, ensuring availability of medicines and consumables, and providing training to the workforce on the rigorous requirements of an elimination strategy.
- Furthermore, surveillance efforts must continue even after elimination is achieved to detect any potential reintroduction of the pathogen.
- Feasibility of Disease Elimination
- Achieving nationwide elimination of targeted diseases within the designated time frame may pose challenges.
- However, elimination is feasible for certain diseases in specific regions of the country.
- For example, kala azar is now limited to five states in India, primarily prevalent in a few blocks within two states.
- Targeted Disease Elimination Strategies
- India accounts for 40% of the global case load of lymphatic filariasis, targeted for elimination by the World Health Assembly in 1997.
- Although prevalent in only a few states, lymphatic filariasis can be eliminated through a combination of surveillance, vector control, drug administration, and morbidity management.
- Adapting Strategies for Challenging Pathogens
- Certain pathogens targeted for elimination have long incubation periods, high prevalence across the country, and may have developed drug resistance.
- For such diseases, elimination strategies need to be reworked into localized and phased approaches.
- This involves targeting diseases that can be easily eliminated within defined geographical regions, such as states, districts, or blocks.
- After achieving regional certification, these areas can be ring-fenced, with enhanced control measures in adjoining areas before proceeding with elimination efforts.
- Regional Approach to Multi sectoral Collaboration
- Multi sectoral collaboration and innovation are more effectively fostered at the regional level.
- Encouraging locally effective solutions facilitates disease elimination, allowing smaller units to redeploy resources without compromising essential tasks.
- Ownership and Planning at National and State Levels
- While elimination efforts proceed regionally, both national and state governments must take ownership of the process.
- Planning for regional elimination should align with national objectives, ensuring a coordinated approach across the country.
- The Union government plays a crucial role in controlling disease spread across states and at entry ports, preventing reintroduction.
- National elimination efforts are most effective when initiated at the regional level and scaled up across the country.
- Technical and Material Support for Regional Implementation
- Regional implementation requires technical and material support, with progress monitored closely.
- This support ensures that regional elimination efforts are well-resourced and effectively managed.
About the Guinea worm disease
- Guinea worm disease, also known as dracunculiasis, is a parasitic infection caused by the nematode worm Dracunculusmedinensis.
- It is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated water containing copepods (tiny crustaceans) infected with Guinea worm larvae.
- Transmission:
- Guinea worm disease is primarily transmitted when people drink water contaminated with water fleas (copepods) containing infective Guinea worm larvae.
- Once ingested, the larvae mature and mate inside the human body, with female worms growing up to 2-3 feet long and males up to 1 inch long.
- After mating, the female Guinea worm migrates through the subcutaneous tissues of the host, usually towards the lower limbs.
- Symptoms:
- The initial stages of Guinea worm disease are asymptomatic.
- However, about one year after infection, individuals may experience symptoms such as fever, swelling, pain, and itching as the adult female worm forms a blister or ulcer on the skin surface, typically in the lower extremities.
- Eventually, the blister ruptures, causing an extremely painful burning sensation, and the worm emerges slowly over several days to weeks.
- Complications:
- While Guinea worm disease is rarely fatal, it can cause significant disability and impairment in affected individuals.
- Complications may include secondary bacterial infections of the ulcer, joint pain, and disability due to restricted movement.
- The emergence of the worm can be excruciatingly painful and can lead to secondary infections if not managed properly.
- Prevention and Control:
- The primary strategy for preventing Guinea worm disease is through community-based interventions aimed at reducing the transmission of the parasite.
- Key preventive measures include providing access to safe drinking water sources, filtering drinking water to remove copepods, promoting behavioral changes to discourage drinking contaminated water, and providing health education to at-risk populations.
- Eradication Efforts:
- The Guinea Worm Eradication Program, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners, has made significant progress in reducing the global burden of Guinea worm disease.
- India successfully eradicated guinea worm disease through a national eradication program launched in 1983-1984.
- The last reported case of guinea worm disease in India was Banwari Lal from the Jodhpur district in Rajasthan in July 1996.
- The eradication efforts involved intersectoral collaboration between health, water supply, and rural development departments, along with support from organizations like UNICEF and the WHO.
- Currently, guinea worm disease remains endemic in only five African countries: Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, and South Sudan.
Data marketplaces: the next frontier
(General Studies- Paper III)
Source : The Hindu
Digitisation plays a crucial role in India’s aspiration to become a $5 trillion economy, with data and artificial intelligence (AI) expected to contribute significantly to GDP growth.
- According to a NASSCOM report, data and AI could add around $450-500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025.
- However, rapid digitisation of government operations has led to a surge in citizen data, comprising both Personal Data and Non-Personal Data (NPD).
Key Highlights
- Non-Personal Data (NPD) as a Public Good
- NPD, which excludes personal identifiers, holds immense potential as a public good.
- Integrating NPD into the delivery of public services is advocated to create synergies and develop scalable solutions.
- Utilizing advanced analytics and AI on NPD across various sectors can facilitate predictions of socially and economically sound outcomes.
- Key areas where data-driven insights can enhance governance include meteorological and disaster forecasts, infrastructure capacity, mobility and housing patterns, and employment trends.
- Challenges in NPD Regulation
- Unlike Personal Data, there is a significant lack of regulation for NPD in India.
- Efforts have been made at the executive level to formulate governance policies, with the Kris Gopalakrishnan-led expert committee addressing crucial issues such as de-anonymisation risks, institutional frameworks for NPD governance, and data sharing mechanisms.
- Subsequently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY) released the National Data Governance Framework Policy (NPD Framework), aiming to maximize data-driven governance.
- However, neither of these initiatives provides for an enforceable regime for NPD in India.
- Unregulated NPD and its Implications
- The absence of regulation leaves vast reservoirs of NPD unregulated, supported only by limited guidance on dissemination, use, or exchange.
- This unregulated accumulation leads to suboptimal legal and policy decisions, resulting in ineffective strategies at both sectoral and national levels.
- Without proper governance mechanisms in place, the potential benefits of NPD for informed decision-making and effective governance remain underutilized.
- Challenges of Unprotected NPD Interflow
- The unprotected interflow of Non-Personal Data (NPD) across government departments, third-parties, and citizens poses risks of privacy breaches and unfair advantages for certain actors, such as Big Tech.
- Imperfect analysis of public trends can lead to faulty decision making, while inefficient data exchange fails to leverage interdisciplinary legislative and policy-making potential.
- Need for Critical Evaluation and Regulation
- A critical evaluation of the NPD Framework is necessary to address existing gaps and supplement efforts to regulate NPD by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY).
- This evaluation should focus on creating a regulatory design for data exchanges, making NPD interoperable across sectors, and digitizing and automating public-welfare functions.
- By establishing clear guidelines and safeguards for NPD usage and sharing, digitization of civic functions can become more participatory and efficient.
- Role of Data Exchanges in Decision Making
- Data exchanges serve as scalable ecosystems that bring together multiple stakeholders, enabling advanced analytics for outcome-oriented decision making and achieving economies of scale.
- By facilitating collaboration and data sharing, they contribute to more informed and effective decision making.
- Global Examples of Data Exchange Frameworks
- Countries like Australia, the U.K., and Estonia have implemented data exchange frameworks and protocols across various sectors such as housing, employment, aged care, and agriculture.
- These frameworks aim to streamline data sharing and enhance decision-making processes to address societal challenges like unemployment.
- Initiatives in India
- In India, states like Telangana have developed specific data exchanges, such as the agriculture data exchange, to improve sector-specific outcomes.
- Additionally, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has collaborated with the Indian Institute of Science to establish the India Urban Data Exchange.
- Furthermore, the Department of Science & Technology has announced plans to set up data exchanges to implement aspects of the National Geospatial Policy.
- Need for a Blueprint for Governance
- Given the growing interest in data exchange structures in India, there is a critical need to formulate a blueprint for governing them.
- This blueprint will align with global discussions on data exchange regulation and complement the efforts of organizations like MeiTY and expert committees in governing Non-Personal Data (NPD) in India.
- By providing an actionable pathway and forward-thinking framework, this blueprint will operationalize high-level principles of NPD governance and ensure effective management of data exchanges in India.
What is Non-Personal Data (NPD)?
- Non-Personal Data (NPD) refers to information that does not pertain to identified or identifiable natural persons.
- This type of data can originate from both human and non-human sources.
- Human NPD is data that has been anonymized to the extent that the individual to whom it relates cannot be re-identified.
- On the other hand, non-human NPD includes data that does not relate to a human being initially, such as weather data.
- NPD is categorized into public, community, and private non-personal data based on its source and characteristics.
- Public NPD is data collected or generated by the government in publicly funded works, community NPD is raw data sourced from a community of natural persons, and private NPD is data collected or generated by private entities through proprietary processes.
- Types of Data:
- Non-Personal Data can include a wide range of information, such as demographic data, geographic data, economic data, environmental data, sensor data, transaction data, and machine-generated data.
- This data is typically collected and analyzed in bulk to identify patterns, correlations, and trends.
About the National Data Governance Framework Policy (NPD Framework)
- The National Data Governance Framework Policy (NPD Framework) in India aims to regulate anonymized non-personal data (NPD) held by governmental authorities and make it accessible for research purposes.
- The NPD Framework proposes the establishment of the India Data Management Office (IDMO) under the Digital India Corporation to consolidate data access and sharing of non-personal data across government entities.
- Each Ministry/department would have a Data Management Unit working closely with the IDMO.
- The policy envisions creating a large repository of India-specific datasets that can be utilized by researchers, start-ups, and academia to foster innovation and development in the country.
- Additionally, the NPD Framework aims to set guidelines for sharing non-personal data by private entities, distinct from the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022, which focuses on individual privacy online.