Current Affairs 17 October 2022 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 17 October 2022 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Indian Cyber Space and Quantum Techniques

Source : Indian Express
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

What is discussed under Indian Cyber Space and Quantum Techniques?

1. What is Quantum Computing, Classical Computing and Encryption?
2. India in Quantum Computing
3. Way Forward

Why in News ?

There were reports that the Indian Army is developing cryptographic techniques to make its networks resistant to attacks by systems with quantum capabilities.

Key Facts

• Army has worked with business and academic institutions to develop solutions for secure communications and cryptography.
• This action expands on the previous year’s plan to construct a quantum computing facility at the military engineering school in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh.

What is the issue?

• The use of quantum-resistant systems has become critical due to the vulnerability of conventional encryption models and the growing number of military applications of quantum technology.
• This necessitates updating the quantum cryptography-resistant current encryption standards.
• Current protocols like the RSA will quickly become outdated.
• Cyberattacks using quantum technology have the potential to penetrate even the most resistant targets, creating a serious weakness in the current digital infrastructure.
• Making these systems hack-proof will cost a lot of money.

What is Quantum Computing, Classical Computing and Encryption?

Classical Computing

• Classical computing is also called as binary computing where information is kept in bits logically represented by a 0 (off) or a 1 (on).
• Information for computer or Digital information or data is made up of bits (either a one or a zero), short form of binary digit.
• These bits form together a combinations of ones and zeroes, and they form a kind of code.

  

• These codes will be translates into data.
• In digital world everything broken into Binary. 

Quantum Computing

• Branch of research concerned with the creation of computer-based technologies based on the ideas of quantum theory.
• A quantum is the smallest discrete unit of a phenomenon.
• The quantum level of energy and matter is explained by quantum theory.
• To carry out particular computational operations, quantum computing employs a combination of bits.

What is encryption?

• It is a privacy tool in which data that can be readable by humans are changed into secret code.
• hackers, cybercriminals, and other online threat can’t read hence it will be safe to sore data.
• Both the sender and the recipient must apply a “secret” encryption key, which is a set of algorithms that scrambles and unscrambles data back into a readable state, to unlock the message.

India in Quantum Computing

• A combined team from the Defence Research and Development Organization and IIT-Delhi successfully tested a QKD link between two cities in Uttar Pradesh, Vindhyachal and Prayagraj, which are each 100 kilometres apart, in February 2022.
• Centre declared quantum technology a mission of national importance.
• Union Budget 2020-21 had proposed to spend Rs 8,000 crore on the newly launched National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications.
• Current Status
  • Few capabilities in developing advanced systems capable of withstanding quantum cyberattacks.

Way Forward

• India must consider procuring the United States National Security Agency’s (NSA) Suite B Cryptography Quantum-Resistant Suite.
• Implementing and developing capabilities in quantum-resistant communications
• Partnerships with other techno-democracies.

6th East Asia Summit Education

Source : PIB
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

What is discussed under 6th East Asia Summit Education?

1. About East Asia Summit
2. Major Indian initiatives in Education

Why in News ?

India participates at the 6th East Asia Summit Education Minister’s Meeting held in Hanoi, Vietnam.

About East Asia Summit

• East Asia Summit is a regional forum, inaugurated in 2005.

  

• The summit is held annually by the leaders of 16 nations which are part of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Oceanian regions, on the basis of ASEAN Plus Six mechanism.
• The summit includes ten ASEAN members namely, Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore.
• Other members of the summit are India, Japan, China, Australia, the Republic of Korea, the United States, New Zealand, and Russia.
• India is the founding member of East Asia Summit and has committed to enhance the strength and increase the efficiency of this forum.
• Trade is an important focus for the summit.
• Challenges : Tensions between the members of the Summit continued to impede the members developing a more ambitious program.

Major Indian initiatives in Education

• National Education Policy 2020 : Aim to increase the GER to 100% in preschool to secondary level by 2030.
• PM SHRI scheme : Provide high-quality education in an equitable, inclusive and joyful school environment.
• e-Learning Platforms
• DIKSHA : Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing portal and mobile app created by MHRD.
• e-PG Pathshala : Initiative of the MHRD, which provides high quality, curriculum-based interactive e-content in 70 subjects across all disciplines of social sciences, arts, fine arts and humanities, natural & mathematical sciences, linguistics, and languages.

75 Digital Banking Units

Source : PIB
GS III : Indian Economy

What is discussed under 75 Digital Banking Units?

1. What are Digital Banking Units?
2. How this Bank differ from traditional Banking?

Why in News ?

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi dedicated 75 Digital Banking Units (DBU) across 75 districts to the nation via video conferencing.

What is Digital Banking Unit?

• The DBUs will enable those who do not have ICT infrastructure to access banking services digitally.

  

• They will also assist those who are not tech savvy to adopt digital banking.
• Products and services will be offered to customers in 2 modes :
  • Self Service Mode
  • Digital Assistance Mode

How DBU differ from traditional Banking?

• They will provide banking services including cash deposit & withdrawal 24 x 7.
• Services shall be provided digitally.
• People not having connectivity or computing devices can do banking transactions from DBU in a paperless mode.
• Bank staff will be available to help and guide users for banking transactions in assisted mode
• Will help in providing digital financial literacy and create awareness for adopting digital banking.

What are the services provided?

• Banking services like opening a savings account, checking the balance, printing a passbook, transferring money, investing in fixed deposits, applying for loans, giving stop-payment instructions for issued checks, applying for credit or debit cards, viewing the account statement, paying taxes, paying bills, making nominations, etc. are among the services provided by DBU.
• The DBUs would also support end-to-end digital processing of a small ticket MSME/retail loan as well as onboarding to government credit link initiatives through the Jan Samarth portal.

What are the Benefits?

• DBUs will enable customers to have cost-effective, convenient access and enhanced digital experience of banking products and services throughout the year.
• They will spread Digital Financial Literacy and special emphasis will be given to customer education on cyber security awareness and safeguards.
• Adequate digital mechanisms to offer real-time assistance and redress customer grievances.

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