Daily Current Affairs 29 July 2023 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 29 July 2023 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Semi-Conductor Sector in India

Source: CNBC
GS III: Indian Economy

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Indian Semi-conductor Industry
3. The Challenges

Why in News?

At an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the heads of some of the biggest semiconductor companies in the United States praised India’s technology industry as the world’s fifth-largest economy tries to establish itself as a worldwide chip powerhouse.

News in Brief

• The gathering featuring some of the largest chip companies in the world emphasizes India’s desire to compete with nations like the United States, Taiwan, and South Korea as a major semiconductor powerhouse.
• The Indian government has recently granted approval for Micron Technology Inc’s proposal to establish a semiconductor manufacturing plant in India.
• The undertaking involves a substantial investment of $2.75 billion, signaling the company’s strong commitment to expanding its operations in the region.
• In a revised scheme, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has decided to restrict financial support for all chip production to a maximum of 50%.
• It is an effort to promote fair competition and ensure equitable distribution of resources in the industry.

Indian Semi-conductor Industry

• It is projected that in the year 2022, Indian consumers of chips will have to turn to foreign markets for their needs, as more than 90% of the Indian semiconductor market worth $27 billion will be sourced from outside the country.
• This trend is not unique to India, as other major markets, such as the US and EU, also heavily rely on imports for their semiconductor requirements.
• Taiwan and China have emerged as important sources for these markets, as they have a large concentration of semiconductor manufacturing facilities.

The Market 

• The Indian semiconductor market is set to experience an impressive growth trajectory in the coming years.
• This increase in growth is expected to be driven by the rising semiconductor content across various industries like consumer

  

  electronics, electric vehicles, and automobiles.

• Furthermore, the demand for smartphones is also set to soar, with an estimated one billion units expected to be sold in the country by 2026.
• The proliferation of 5G technology and the growing usage of IoT devices will also propel the adoption of smart devices.
• As a result, the Indian semiconductor industry is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 20% between 2022 and 2026, reaching a staggering USD 55 billion.
• These trends are not limited to India alone, as the global demand for semiconductors is also expected to see a significant uptick in the coming years due to technological advancements.
• India’s huge domestic market and other factors such as the chip market in India are looking promising, with the country’s large domestic market and various incentives being contributing factors to these incentives as reasons for optimism on the country’s chip market.

The Challenges

• India may be appealing in the packaging and testing of semiconductors, for example.
• India may have a comparatively unskilled labor force but large capital investment is needed for this.
• Companies that actually manufacture semiconductors, there haven’t been good technology partners for those trying to set up shop in India.
  • For instance, Vedanta and Foxconn reportedly relied on technology from European semiconductor firm STMicroelectronics.

India and Papua New Guinea sign MoU on sharing INDIA STACK

Source: PIB
GS II: Government Policies & Interventions

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. INDIA STACK
3. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Why in News?

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in India and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) in Papua New Guinea have recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the aim of exchanging a crucial technological innovation known as INDIA STACK.

News in Brief

• This innovative system comprises a set of open APIs and digital public goods that have been specially designed to make identity, data, and payment services more easily accessible on a large scale.
• This exchange is expected to bring significant benefits to both countries by enhancing their

  

  digital capabilities and facilitating greater access to essential services.

• The event that took place recently focused on important aspects of digital transformation, including:
  • Digital Public Infrastructure
  • Digital Identity
  • Digital Payment
  • Data Exchange
  • Data Governance
  • Data Protection Policies, internet, and mobile connectivity
• During the event, participants engaged in discussions that revolved around these topics, with the aim of improving living standards and enhancing efficiency and transparency in governance.
• In order to achieve this, the MoU was signed, which will enhance capacities and facilitate sharing and implementation of population-scale Digital Public Infrastructure and Transformational Platforms/projects.
• It is expected that this will lead to significant improvements in the quality of life for citizens, as well as more effective and transparent governance practices.
• During the meeting, which took place in June 2023, India signed an MoU with four countries to share INDIA STACK.
• The event saw participation from over 150 foreign delegates from 50 countries, along with more than 250 delegates who attended the summit in-person.
• Additionally, over 2000 people attended the summit live.

INDIA STACK

High Cost of Investigating Cyber Crime

Source: PIB
GS II: Policies and Developmental Studies; GS III: National Security and Challenges

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Steps Taken by Central Government
3. Cybercrime

Why in News?

Recently, the government has taken decisive action to bolster its ability to effectively combat cyber crimes.

News in Brief

• This initiative has entailed implementing a variety of measures aimed at streamlining and organizing the investigation process, with the goal of minimizing the financial burdens associated with such investigations for both law enforcement agencies and victims.

  

• By optimizing resources and implementing more efficient protocols, the government is demonstrating a clear commitment to addressing the growing threat of cyber crimes in a thorough and effective manner.
• It is reassuring to know that the government is intensifying its efforts in addressing the increasing threat of cyber crimes within the country.
• The Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution mandates that it is the duty of the States and Union Territories, through their Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute crimes, including cybercrime.
• The Central Government, on the other hand, is committed to supporting these initiatives by providing financial support and guidance to the States and UTs through various programs.
• These programs are specifically designed to enhance their capacity-building efforts in compliance with the legislative rules.
• Overall, this concerted effort between the Central Government and the States/UTs is a positive step towards strengthening our collective cybersecurity measures.

Steps Taken by Central Government

• ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre’ (I4C) was established to address all forms of cybercrime in the nation in a coordinated and thorough way.
• The ‘National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (Investigation)‘ has been formed in New Delhi:
  • To offer Investigating Officers (IOs) of all State/UT Police early-stage cyber forensic assistance through both online and offline modalities.
• launched the ‘CyTrain’ portal, a Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) platform
  • To offer certification-based online courses on critical facets of cyber crime investigation, forensics, and prosecution to all stakeholders, including police officers, judges, and prosecutors.
• To enable the public to report occurrences relating to all sorts of cybercrimes, with an emphasis on cybercrimes against women and children, the ‘National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal‘ (https://cybercrime.gov.in) has been developed.
  • The State/UT Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) responsible manage cybercrime occurrences submitted on this site, their conversion into FIRs, and any further actions on them in accordance with the law.
• The ‘Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System‘ has been introduced:
  • To allow for the quick reporting of financial frauds as well as to prevent money from being syphoned off by scammers.
  • For assistance with filing online cyber complaints, use the toll-free Helpline number ‘1930.’
• Financial support totalling Rs. 122.24 crores has been given to all States and Union Territories under the Cybercrime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) Scheme.
  • With the primary goal of enhancing the capacity of Law Enforcement Agencies in terms of investigational tools and manpower in order to reduce the cost of conducting cybercrime investigations.
• Seven Joint Cyber Coordination Teams have been established across the whole nation based on hotspots for cybercrime and locations with multiple jurisdictional difficulties.
  • To improve the coordination framework between the LEAs of the States and UTs,
• The ‘National Cyber Forensic Laboratory (Evidence)‘ has been established in Hyderabad:
  • To offer essential forensic assistance in instances involving evidence connected to cybercrime
  • To preserve the evidence and its analysis in accordance with the terms of the IT Act and Evidence Act
  • To speed up turnaround
• The Ministry of Home Affairs has also given the States and UTs central support under the ‘Assistance to States and UTs for Modernization of Police‘ Scheme for the purchase of:
  • Cutting-edge firearms
  • Training aids
  • Cutting-edge communication/forensic equipment
  • Cyber Policing equipment

8th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks

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

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. India-Australia relations

Why in News?

• The 8th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks (DPT) took place in Canberra, Australia on July 24-25, 2023.
• The talks were co-chaired by Smt. Nivedita Shukla Verma, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, and Mr. Steven Moore, Acting Deputy Secretary in the Department of Defence, Australia.

News in Brief

Gifting of Corvette INS Kirpan missile to Vietnam

Source: PIB
GS II:  International Relations

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. INS Kirpan
3. India and Vietnam Relation
4. The joint vision statement for the India-Vietnam defence partnership towards 2030

Why in News?

Hon’ble Raksha Mantri declared that the in-service missile corvette INS Kirpan would be given to Vietnam during Gen Phan Van Giang’s recent visit to India on June 17–19.

News in Brief

• The INS Kirpan set out today from Visakhapatnam on her last trip from India to Vietnam in order to carry out that plan.
• India’s dedication to assisting its like-minded allies in increasing their capacity and capabilities is seen in the handover of an indigenously constructed, in-service missile corvette, INS Kirpan, from the Indian Navy to the Vietnamese People’s Navy.
• The handover of the INS Kirpan to Vietnam is in line with India’s ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’ and ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam‘ visions.
• This is the first time India has given a fully functional corvette to a friendly foreign nation.

• The third Khukri class missile corvette to be built entirely in-country is now serving in the Indian Navy as INS Kirpan.
• The ship has taken part in several military and humanitarian assistance missions and is equipped with a variety of weaponry and sensors.
• Since its commissioning in 1991, INS Kirpan has played a significant role in several missions as part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet.
• The ship is 90 metres long and 10.45 metres wide with a maximum displacement of 1450 tonnes.
• It is manned by roughly 12 officers and 100 sailors.

• The historical ties between India and Vietnam are robust, diverse, and founded on both cultural and economic pillars.
• In September 2016, the two nations’ partnership was elevated from a Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• In the field of defence, cooperation is based on common goals for regional security, reciprocal stra

  

  tegic interests, and respecting the international system of laws.

• Over the previous ten years, ties between the two nations have improved with the signing of an MoU on defence cooperation between the two nations in November 2009.
• The joint vision statement for the India-Vietnam defence partnership towards 2030 was also signed by the two defence ministers in June 2022.
• Both navies have substantial operational exchanges, scheduled regular conversations, and information-sharing systems in the maritime sector.
• The delivery of spare parts, ship repairs, instructor deputies, and frequent goodwill visits by naval ships and delegations are just a few examples of the numerous activities included in this Navy-to-Navy cooperation that aim to improve capacity and increase capabilities.

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