Topic To Be Covered:

● EU-Brexit Reason and Britain Economic Crisis (Class

● Pro Tem Speaker Issue (YT Big News)
● Great Nicobar Island Project (May TCP)
● Hindu Population Share Dipped 7.82%: PM-EAC (May TCP)
● WHO's New Global Malaria Strategy for 2030 (May TCP)
● Ancient History (Class Notes)
● Marine Heatwaves and Coral Bleaching in the Lakshadweep Sea (May TCP)
● Trillions More Need to be Invested if SDGs are to be Rescued: UN Report (May TCP)
● Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) 2023 (May TCP)
● Cyber 1-What is Internet, ICANN, Optical Fibre Types of Cyber Attacks (Class)

Brexit Meaning and Impact: The Truth About

the U.K. Leaving the EU
What Is Brexit?
Brexit is a portmanteau of the words “British” and “exit” that was coined to
refer to the United Kingdom’s decision in a June 23, 2016, referendum to
leave the European Union (EU). Brexit took place at 11 p.m. Greenwich Mean
Time on Jan. 31, 2020.

On Dec. 24, 2020, the U.K. and the EU struck a provisional free-trade
agreement ensuring the free trade of goods without tariffs or quotas. However,
key details of the future relationship remain uncertain, such as trade in
services, which make up 80% of the U.K. economy. This prevented a no-deal
Brexit, which would have been significantly damaging to the U.K. economy.

A provisional agreement was approved by the U.K. parliament on Jan. 1,

2021. It was approved by the European Parliament on April 28, 2021. While
the deal, known as the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), allowed
tariff- and quota-free trade in goods, U.K.-EU trade still faces customs checks.
This means that commerce is not as smooth as when the U.K. was a member
of the EU.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
● Brexit refers to the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union
(EU).
● Brexit took place on Jan. 31, 2020, following the June 2016 referendum
in the country.
● The Leave side received 51.9% of the vote, while the Remain side got
48.1%.
● Negotiations took place between the U.K. and the EU from 2017 to
2019 on the terms of a divorce deal.
● There was a transition period following Brexit that expired on Dec. 31,
2020.

The United Kingdom (U.K.) finally left the European Union (EU) on 31st
January 2020. It was a long-awaited historical move which will bring an
important change in the policies and politics of the remaining 27 European
Union members states and the U.K. mainly. It becomes important to see how
this will shift the policymaking process and what are the ways in which
nations are going to tackle it.

Well-planned Exit
■ Despite being a huge move, the final exiting process did not
create turmoil. The credit goes to the Withdrawal Agreement
that was negotiated between the EU and the U.K., earlier in
2019.
■ Withdrawal Agreement:
 ○ Under this, a transition period of 11 months has
finalised until December 2020. However, it might get
delayed until 2022 or 2023.
○ During this period, the U.K. will continue to
participate in the EU’s Customs Union and in the
Single Market.
○ The U.K. will apply EU law even if it is no longer a
Member State and will also continue to abide by the
international agreements of the EU.
○ The transition period makes sure that there is not a
sudden shock but a degree of continuity and allows
both parties to secure an orderly Brexit, minimising
disruption for the citizens, businesses, public
administrations, as well as for the international
partners.

Impact on the U.K. and the EU

■ By leaving the EU, the U.K. automatically, mechanically, legally,
leaves hundreds of international agreements concluded by or
on behalf of the EU, to the benefit of its Member States, on
topics as different as trade, aviation, fisheries or civil nuclear
cooperation.
■ However, with just 11 months to negotiate, there are only
chances of very basic and minimal deals covering trade,
fisheries and security.

○ In that case, at the end of 2020, differing aspirations

for the trade talks might raise the prospect of a new
no-deal scenario.
○ In the absence of a deal, the earlier accord on
citizens’ rights, money and the Irish border will
remain intact.
■ Both of them will have to be ready for the economic shift in
trading on World Trade Organization (WTO) terms.
■ The first priority is the trade deal to ensure the tariff and
quota-free flow of goods between the EU and U.K.

○ However, the EU will only agree to zero tariffs and

zero quotas if the U.K. pledges zero dumping – that
is, not lowering social and environmental standards
to outcompete the EU.
■ Negotiations will clash over the EU’s refusal to bring services
into the trade deal.
 ■ The EU seeks to link goods trade to maintaining the status
quo on access to British waters which is considered to be a
matter of concern for the U.K., so it might give rise to clashes.
■ Even the non-trade subjects will be full of political troubles
because the EU Member States will have to change their
policies according to the new deals and the regulations.

Impact on India
■ India has had strong historical ties with the U.K. and currently,
it is one of India’s most important trading partners. In the last
four years alone, the number of Indian companies investing in
the U.K. has quadrupled.
■ Similarly, the U.K. is one of the largest investors in India,
among the G20 countries. Hence, it is important to see how
India and the U.K. can manoeuvre through Brexit and enter into
new trade agreements that are mutually beneficial to both
economies.
■ Brexit will directly impact not only the Indian stock market but
the global market in totality, including the emerging markets in
the world. This is because of the high volatility in the pound.
■ Both the U.K. and EU account for 23.7% of Rupee’s effective
exchange rate. With Brexit, foreign portfolio investments will
outflow and will lead to the weakening of the rupee.
 ■ India’s businesses based in the U.K. will be hampered as till
now they had border-free access to the rest of Europe.

○ The investors are concerned as India invests more in

the United Kingdom than the rest of Europe
combined.

Real Effective Exchange Rate

■ It is the weighted average of a country's currency in relation to

an index or basket of other major currencies. The weights are
determined by comparing the relative trade balance of a
country's currency against each country within the index.
■ This exchange rate is used to determine an individual country's
currency value relative to the other major currencies in the
index.

Foreign Portfolio Investments

■ These stands for those investors who invest for a shorter-term

in a company as compared to Foreign Direct Investors (FDI).
 ■ These generally participate through the stock markets and
gets in and out of a particular stock at much faster
frequencies.

Impact on the World

■ Brexit will weaken the EU economically and politically. The U.K.
was the EU’s second-biggest economy (after Germany) a
major net budget contributor, key military force and one of the
bloc’s two nuclear powers (another one is France) and
permanent UN security council members.
■ The U.K.’s departure has distracted attention from a number of
other big and urgent problems, including the climate crisis.
■ In the longer term of balancing of global powers, a smaller
Europe can be a weaker Europe in the face of an ambitious
China and an increasingly protectionist US.

Suggestions
■ The EU and the U.K. are bound by history, geography, culture,
shared values and a strong belief in rules-based
multilateralism which will be reflected in its future partnership
as well.
■ The EU and the U.K. will have to focus on building a new
partnership. The process will start as soon as the 27 Member
States will approve the negotiating mandate, proposed by the
European Commission.

○ The mandate sets out terms and ambitions for

achieving the closest possible partnership between
the EU and the U.K.
■ Both of them will have to work together, beyond these
historical and trade links, on security and defence areas in
which the U.K. has experiences and assets. These will be used
the best as part of a common effort to tackle the global
challenges and changes such as climate change, cybercrime,
terrorism, inequality etc.

○ These challenges require collective responses and

the more the U.K. is able to cooperate with the EU
and other partners around the world, the greater are
the chances of addressing these challenges
effectively.
■ The EU and the U.K. need to consult each other and cooperate
bilaterally while working with the regional and global
institutions such as the United Nations, the World Trade
 Organization, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
and the G20.
■ The EU will need to be significantly tougher, with a centralised
foreign policy and stronger rules ensuring European
companies can compete with overseas rivals like China and
the US. Brexit makes that imperative even more urgent.

The EU’s core idea is that the member nations are stronger together and
pooling the resources and initiatives is the best way of achieving common
goals. Even if the U.K. has moved out of it, it will continue to move forward as
27. Meanwhile, other nations of the world will have to accommodate
themselves according to the shifting balance of power and politics.

Pro-tem Speaker
Bhartruhari Mahtab has been appointed and administered oath by the
President of India as the pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha.

■ Speaker Protem is appointed by the President under Article

95(1) of the Constitution to perform the duties of the Speaker
till the election of the Speaker.
■ Pro-tem is a Latin phrase which means “for the time being”.
 ■ The pro-tem speaker is appointed to preside over the sittings
of the newly elected house. Usually, the senior most member
of the house is made the pro-tem speaker.
■ When the new Speaker is elected by the House, the office of
the Speaker Pro Tem ceases to exist.
■ Duties of pro tem speaker:
○ The Pro-tem Speaker presides over the first sitting of
the Lok Sabha and administers the oath of office to
the newly elected MPs.
○ To conduct the vote for the speaker and deputy
speaker. He also administers the floor test.

The Office of Speaker of Lok Sabha

Introduction
■ About:

○ The Office of the Speaker in India is a living and

dynamic institution which deals with the actual
needs and problems of Parliament in the
performance of its functions.
○ Article 93 of the Constitution provides for the
election of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.
 ○ The Speaker is the constitutional and ceremonial
head of the House.
○ Each House of Parliament has its own presiding
officer.

● There is a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker

for the Lok Sabha and a Chairman and a
Deputy Chairman for the Rajya Sabha.
■ History:

○ The institutions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker

originated in India in 1921 under the provisions of
the Government of India Act of 1919
(Montague-Chelmsford Reforms).
○ At that time, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker
were called the President and Deputy President
respectively and the same nomenclature continued
till 1947.
○ The Government of India Act of 1935 changed the
nomenclatures of President and Deputy President to
the Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.
The Office of the Speaker: Lok Sabha
■ The Lok Sabha, which is the highest legislative body in the
country, chooses its Speaker who presides over the day to day
functioning of the House.
■ Electing the Speaker of the Lok Sabha is one of the first acts of
every newly constituted House.
■ Election of Office of the Speaker:

○ Criteria: The Constitution of India requires the

Speaker should be a member of the House.

● Although there are no specific

qualifications prescribed for being elected
the Speaker, an understanding of the
Constitution and the laws of the country is
considered a major asset for the holder of
the Office of the Speaker.
● Usually, a member belonging to the ruling
party is elected Speaker. The process has
evolved over the years where the ruling
party nominates its candidate after
informal consultations with leaders of
other parties and groups in the House.
 ● This convention ensures that once elected,
the Speaker enjoys the respect of all
sections of the House.
○ Voting: The Speaker (along with the Deputy Speaker)
is elected from among the Lok Sabha members by a
simple majority of members present and voting in
the House.

● Once a decision on the candidate is taken,

his/her name is normally proposed by the
Prime Minister or the Minister of
Parliamentary Affairs.
○ Term of Office of the Speaker: The Speaker holds
Office from the date of his/her election till
immediately before the first meeting of the next Lok
Sabha (for 5 years).

● The speaker once elected is eligible for

re-election.
● Whenever the Lok Sabha is dissolved, the
Speaker does not vacate his office and
continues till the newly-elected Lok Sabha
meets.
■ Role and Powers of Speaker:

○ Interpretation: He/She is the final interpreter of the

provisions of the Constitution of India, the Rules of
Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha
and the parliamentary precedents, within the House.

● In matters regarding interpretation of these

provisions, he/she often gives rulings
which are respected by members and are
binding in nature.
○ Joint Sitting of Both Houses: He/She presides over a
joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament.

● Such a sitting is summoned by the

President to settle a deadlock between the
two Houses on a bill.
○ Adjournment of Sitting: He/She can adjourn the
House or suspend the meeting in absence one-tenth
of the total strength of the House (called the
quorum).
○ Casting Vote: The speaker does not vote in the first
instance but in the case of a tie; when the House is
 divided equally on any question, the Speaker is
entitled to vote.

● Such a vote is called a Casting Vote, and

its purpose is to resolve a deadlock.
○ Money Bill: He/She decides whether a bill is a
money bill or not and his/her decision on this
question is final.
○ Disqualifying Members: It is the speaker who
decides the questions of disqualification of a
member of the Lok Sabha, arising on the ground of
defection under the provisions of the Tenth
Schedule.
● The 52nd amendment to the Indian
Constitution vests this power in the
Speaker.
● In 1992, the Supreme Court ruled that the
decision of the Speaker in this regard is
subject to judicial review.
○ Chairing the IPG: He/She acts as the ex-officio
chairman of the Indian Parliamentary Group (IPG)
which is a link between the Parliament of India and
 the various parliaments of the world.

● He also acts as the ex-officio chairman of

the conference of presiding officers of
legislative bodies in the country.
○ Constitution of Committees: The Committees of the
House are constituted by the speaker and function
under the speaker’s overall direction.

● The Chairmen of all Parliamentary

Committees are nominated by him/her.
● Committees like the Business Advisory
Committee, the General Purposes
Committee and the Rules Committee work
directly under his Chairmanship.
○ Privileges of the House: The Speaker is the guardian
of the rights and privileges of the House, its
Committees and members.

● It depends solely on the Speaker to refer

any question of privilege to the Committee
of Privileges for examination, investigation
and report.
■ Removal of Speaker:

○ Exceptions: Usually, the Speaker remains in office

during the life of the Lok Sabha. However, under
following conditions, the speaker, may have to vacate
the office earlier:

● If he ceases to be a member of the Lok

Sabha.
● If he resigns by writing to the Deputy
Speaker
● If he is removed by a resolution passed by
a majority of all the members of the Lok
Sabha.
○ Notification: Such a resolution can be moved only
after giving 14 days’ advance notice.

● When a resolution for the removal of the

Speaker is under consideration of the
House, he/she may be present at the
sitting but not preside.
Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
■ Election:

○ The Deputy Speaker is also elected by the Lok Sabha

from amongst its members right after the election of
the Speaker has taken place.
○ The date of election of the Deputy Speaker is fixed by
the Speaker (date of election of the Speaker is fixed
by the President).
○ Upto the 10th Lok Sabha, both the Speaker and the
Deputy Speaker were usually elected from the ruling
party.

● Since the 11th Lok Sabha, there has been a

consensus that the Speaker comes from
the ruling party/alliance and the post of
Deputy Speaker goes to the main
opposition party.
■ Term of Office and Removal:

○ Like the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker remains in

office usually during the life of the Lok Sabha (5
years).
 ○ The Deputy Speaker may vacate his/her office earlier
in any of the following three cases:

● If he ceases to be a member of the Lok

Sabha
● If he resigns by writing to the Speaker
● If he is removed by a resolution passed by
a majority of all the then members of the
Lok Sabha.
○ Such a resolution can be moved only after giving 14
days’ advance notice.
■ Responsibilities and Powers:

○ The Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the

Speaker’s office when it is vacant.

● He/She also acts as the Speaker when the

latter is absent from the sitting of the
House.
● In both the cases, he/she assumes all the
powers of the Speaker.
 ○ He/She also presides over the joint sitting of both
the Houses of Parliament, in case the Speaker is
absent from such a sitting.
○ The Deputy Speaker, like the Speaker, has the
privilege of the Casting Vote in case of tie.
○ The Deputy Speaker has one special privilege, that is,
whenever he/she is appointed as a member of a
parliamentary committee, he/she automatically
becomes its chairman.

Note: The Deputy Speaker is not subordinate to the Speaker. He is directly

responsible to the House.

Speaker Pro Tem:

■ When the Speaker of the last Lok Sabha vacates his office
immediately before the first meeting of the newly-elected Lok
Sabha, the President appoints a member of the Lok Sabha as
the Speaker Pro Tem.

○ Usually, the senior most member is selected for this.

 ○ The President himself administers oath to the
Speaker Pro Tem.
■ He/She presides over the first sitting of the newly-elected Lok
Sabha and has all the powers of the Speaker.
■ The main responsibility is to administer oaths to the new
members and to enable the House to elect the new Speaker.
■ When the new Speaker is elected by the House, the office of
the Speaker Pro Tem ceases to exist.

Great Nicobar Island Project Conundrum

Why in News?
Recently, the opposition party has described the proposed Rs 72,000-crore
infrastructure upgrade at the Great Nicobar Island as a "grave threat" to the
island's indigenous inhabitants and fragile ecosystem, and demanded
immediate suspension of all clearances and a thorough, impartial review of
the proposed project, including by the concerned Parliamentary committees.

Great Nicobar Island

■ Great Nicobar is the southernmost and largest of the Nicobar

Islands, a sparsely inhabited 910-sq-km patch of mainly
tropical rainforest in southeastern Bay of Bengal.
 ○ Indira Point on the island, India’s southernmost
point, is located 90 nautical miles (<170 km) from
Sabang at the northern tip of Sumatra, the largest
island of the Indonesian archipelago.
■ The Andaman and Nicobar Islands consist of 836 islands,
divided into two groups known as the Andaman Islands
located in the north and the Nicobar Islands situated in the
south, separated by the 10° Channel which is 150 kilometres
wide.
■ Great Nicobar has two national parks, a biosphere reserve,
small populations of the Shompen, Onge, Andamanese and
Nicobarese tribal peoples, and a few thousand non-tribal
settlers.

What is the Great Nicobar Island Project?

■ About:
○ The Great Nicobar Island (GNI) project, launched in
2021, is a mega project to be implemented at the
southern end of the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
● It involves developing a trans-shipment
port, an international airport, township
 development, and a 450 MVA gas and
solar-based power plant on the island.
○ The project was implemented after a report by NITI
Aayog which identified the potential to utilise the
advantageous position of the island, which is
approximately equidistant from Colombo in Sri Lanka
to the southwest and Port Klang (Malaysia) and
Singapore to the southeast.
■ Features:
○ The mega infrastructure project is being
implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO) and
is proposed to include an International Container
Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield
international airport.
○ It is close to the Malacca Strait, the main waterway
that connects the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, and
the ICTT is expected to allow Great Nicobar to
participate in the regional and global maritime
economy by becoming a major player in cargo
transshipment’.
● The site for the proposed ICTT and power
plant is Galathea Bay on the southeastern
 corner of Great Nicobar Island, where there
is no human habitation.
■ Strategic Importance:
○ The upgrade is aimed at facilitating the deployment
of additional military forces, larger and more
warships, aircraft, missile batteries, and troops.
● Close surveillance of the entire area around
the archipelago, and the building up of a
strong military deterrence at Great
Nicobar is of vital importance to India’s
national security.
○ The island is close to the Malacca Strait, the main
waterway that connects the Indian Ocean to the
Pacific, and the ICTT is expected to allow Great
Nicobar to participate in the regional and global
maritime economy by becoming a major player in
cargo transshipment’.
○ The Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean regions are
extremely important for India's strategic and
security interests. This is because the Chinese
military (the People's Liberation Army Navy) is trying
to increase its presence and influence in this entire
region.
 ● India is particularly concerned about the
possibility of China building up its naval
forces at important choke points in the
Indo-Pacific area, such as the Malacca,
Sunda, and Lombok Straits.
○ Furthermore, China is attempting to expand its
foothold in this region by building a military facility
on the Coco Islands, which are located just 55 km
north of India's Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
● This raises concerns for India, as the
Andaman & Nicobar Islands are
strategically very important for India's
maritime security in the region.

What are the Challenges Related to the Great Nicobar Island

Project?
■ Impact on Indigenous Tribes: The Shompen and Nicobarese
are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of
hunter-gatherers, with an estimated population of only a few
hundred individuals. They live in a tribal reserve on the island.
○ There are serious concerns that the proposed
infrastructure upgrade could have a potentially
 devastating impact on the Shompen tribe and their
way of life, which is closely tied to the island's
natural environment.
○ Also, the project violates the letter and spirit of the
Forest Rights Act (2006), which holds the Shompen
as the sole legally empowered authority to protect,
preserve, regulate and manage the tribal reserve.
■ Threat to Island Ecology: The project will impact the island’s
ecology with the felling of nearly a million trees. It is feared
that the port project will destroy coral reefs with spinoff
effects on the local marine ecosystem, and pose a threat to the
terrestrial Nicobar Megapode bird and leatherback turtles
who nest in the Galathea Bay area.
○ This area is about 15% of the GNI’s land mass and
constitutes one of the country’s largest forest
diversions in a nationally and globally unique
rainforest ecosystem.
■ Seismic Vulnerability: Proposed port is located in a
seismically volatile zone, which experienced permanent
subsidence of around 15 feet during the 2004 tsunami. This
raises concerns about the safety and viability of constructing
such a large-scale infrastructure project in a high-risk,
disaster-prone area.
 ■ Lack of Adequate Consultation: There is an accusation against
the local administration of not consulting the Tribal Council of
Great and Little Nicobar Islands adequately, as per legal
requirements.
○ In April 2023, National Green Tribunal (NGT)
declined to interfere with the environmental and
forest clearance granted to the project. The Tribunal,
however, ordered that a high-power committee
should be constituted to look into the clearances.

Way Forward
■ Inclusion of Tribal Councils: Ensure that the Tribal Councils of
Great and Little Nicobar Islands are integral to all
decision-making processes, respecting their traditional
knowledge and legal rights under the Forest Rights Act (2006).
■ High-Power Committee: Following the NGT’s order, establish a
high-power committee to oversee environmental and forest
clearances, ensuring it includes representatives from
environmental groups, tribal councils, and independent
experts.

PM-EAC Report on Share of Religious Minorities

According to a new analysis by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime
Minister (PM-EAC), the percentage of Hindus in India has decreased by 7.82%
between 1950 and 2015, while the percentages of Muslims, Christians, and
Sikhs have increased.

What are the Key Findings of this PM-EAC Report?

■ Declining Majority Population across the World:
○ From 1950 to 2015, as per the data collected on the
religious demographics of 38 OECD countries, 30 of
these countries experienced a significant decrease
in the proportion of Roman Catholics, the
predominant religious group.
● In 167 surveyed countries, the average
reduction of majority populations globally
during the period 1950-2015 was 22%.
● The decline of the majority religious
population was steeper in OECD countries,
with an average decline of 29%.
● In Africa, animism or native religion was
the dominant religion in 24 countries in
1950.
● By 2015, they are no longer a
majority in any of these 24
countries in Africa.
 ● In the South Asian region, the majority
religious group is increasing while minority
populations have significantly declined in
countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri
Lanka, Bhutan, and Afghanistan.
■ Findings for India:
○ Decline in Share of Hindu Population: The
population of Hindus has declined by 7.82%. As per
2011 census, Hindu population in India as of 2011 is
approximately 79.8%.
○ Rising Share of Minority Population: The share of
Muslim population rose from 9.84% to 14.095% and
Christian population rose from 2.24% to 2.36%.
● Sikh population increased from 1.24% to
1.85% and the share of the Buddhist
population rose from 0.05%to 0.81%.
● The Jain and Parsi community populations
decreased. The share of Jains dropped
from 0.45% to 0.36%, and the share of the
Parsi population decreased by 85% from
0.03% to 0.0004%.
○ Healthy Population Growth Rate: As per the data
from National Family Health Survey, India's Total
 Fertility Rate (TFR) is currently around 2, which is
close to the preferred TFR of 2.19. TFR is a reliable
indicator for projecting population growth.
● For Hindus, it declined from 3.3 in 1991 to
2.1 in 2015, and further to 1.9 in 2024.
● In Muslims, it declined from 4.4 in 1991 to
2.6 in 2015, and further to 2.4 in 2024.
○ Equality for Minorities: In India, minorities
experience equal benefits and live a comfortable life,
while global demographic shifts remain a cause for
concern.

What are Demographic Patterns and its Relevance?

■ Demographic patterns
○ It refers to the systematic variations and trends
observed in human populations.
○ These patterns emerge from the study of population
dynamics, including factors such as birth rates,
death rates, migration, and population composition.
■ Relevance:
○ Understanding Population Trends:
 ● Demographic data is used to identify
patterns over time. By studying birth and
death rates, they can predict population
growth or decline.
● It is crucial for planning infrastructure,
healthcare, education, and social services.
○ Analysing Causes and Consequences:
● It investigates the causes behind
population changes. Factors like economic
development, education, healthcare, and
cultural norms influence birth and death
rates.
● Consequences include workforce
dynamics, dependency ratios (proportion
of non-working age groups), and
implications for social security systems.
○ Policy Formulation and Implementation:
● Healthcare: Understanding age-specific
health needs helps allocate resources
effectively.
● Education: Demographics guide
educational planning, such as school
infrastructure and teacher recruitment.
 ● Urban Planning: Population distribution
affects city infrastructure, housing, and
transportation.
● Ageing Population: Policies address the
needs of elderly citizens, including
pensions and healthcare.

What are the Basic Population Control Theories?

■ Malthusian Theory: It was proposed by Thomas Robert

Malthus, an English economist and demographer, in his 1798
work "An Essay on the Principle of Population."
○ It revolves around the relationship between
population growth and resources.
○ Population Growth: Malthus argued that populations
tend to grow exponentially, meaning they increase at
a geometric rate (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, etc.), while the
availability of resources only increases
arithmetically (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.).
● Therefore, population growth will
eventually outstrip the capacity of
resources to sustain it.
○ Resource Constraints: Malthus identified two
primary constraints on resources: subsistence (food)
and the ability of the environment to support the
population (limited land, water, etc.).
● He believed that as population increased,
pressure on these resources would
intensify, leading to scarcity, famine, and
ultimately, a decrease in population
through "positive checks" such as disease,
starvation, and war.
○ Checks on Population Growth: Malthus classified
checks on population growth into two categories:
● Positive Checks: These are the natural
forces that decrease population growth,
such as famine, disease, and war.
● Preventive Checks: These are conscious
decisions made by individuals or societies
to control population growth, such as
delayed marriage, abstinence, and birth
control.
○ However, Malthus was ultimately proved wrong as
breakthroughs in agricultural technology made
countries, such as India, net food surplus.
■ Demographic Transition Theory: It outlines the process of
population change over time as societies progress through
different stages of economic and social development.
■ Stage 1 - Pre-Industrial Society:
○ Characterised by high birth rates and high death
rates, resulting in a relatively stable population size.
○ Birth rates are high due to the absence of birth
control and cultural preferences for large families.
○ Death rates are also high due to limited medical
knowledge, poor sanitation, and widespread
disease.
■ Stage 2 - Transitional Phase:
○ Begins with industrialisation and improvements in
healthcare and sanitation.
○ Death rates decline significantly due to advances in
medicine, hygiene, and food production.
○ Birth rates remain high initially, leading to rapid
population growth as death rates plummet.
○ This stage often witnesses a population explosion.
■ Stage 3 - Industrial Society:
○ Birth rates start to decline due to various factors
such as urbanization, education, economic changes,
and the empowerment of women.
 ○ However, birth rates remain somewhat higher than
death rates, resulting in continued population growth,
albeit at a slower pace.
■ Stage 4 - Post-Industrial Society:
○ Both birth rates and death rates are low, resulting in
a stable or slowly growing population.
○ Birth rates may even fall below replacement level,
leading to concerns about population ageing and
demographic imbalance.
■ Stage 5:
○ In some models, a fifth stage is proposed where
birth rates fall below replacement level, resulting in
population decline (E.g. Germany).
○ This stage is characterised by a significant ageing
population and potential demographic challenges.
 WHO’s New Global Malaria Strategy for 2030
The World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled an ambitious new operational strategy
to accelerate progress against malaria and achieve the disease elimination targets
outlined in the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030.
What is global status of Malaria?
Malaria remains a major global health challenge, with an estimated 608,000 deaths and
249 million new cases in 2022. Africa bears a disproportionate burden, accounting for
95% of malaria deaths and 94% of cases worldwide. Progress has stalled in recent
years, particularly in high-burden countries, due to factors such as:
● Resource constraints
 ● Humanitarian crises
● Climate change
● Drug and insecticide resistance
Key Elements of the Strategy
The new strategy outlines four strategic objectives:
1. Develop norms and standards: Establish a unified technical vision and
evidence-based strategies for malaria control.
2. Introduce new tools and innovations: Stimulate the development and timely
deployment of technologies to augment existing interventions.
3. Promote strategic information for impact: Monitor trends, evaluate programs,
and identify gaps to inform decision-making at all levels.
4. Provide technical leadership: Convene stakeholders, advocate for priority
activities, and empower communities to access quality health services.
The strategy is built on three equity-oriented principles:
● Country ownership and leadership
● Resilient health systems
● Equitable access to quality services
Observation
A key focus of the strategy is addressing inequities in access to malaria prevention,
detection, and treatment. Vulnerable groups such as young children, pregnant women,
refugees, migrants, and indigenous populations are often the most affected. The WHO
emphasizes the need for a paradigm shift to:
● Tackle the root causes of the disease
● Prioritize accessibility, efficiency, sustainability, and integration of services
● Ensure consistent access to appropriate tools for all at-risk populations
About World Malaria Day 2024
The theme for World Malaria Day 2024, “Accelerating the fight against malaria for a
more equitable world,” underscores the importance of equity in the global malaria
response. It aligns with the Yaoundé Declaration signed by African health ministers in
March 2024, which commits to equitable access to malaria interventions even in
hard-to-reach and conflict-affected areas.
Achieving these targets will require intensified efforts, increased funding, and innovative
approaches to expand access to life-saving tools.

UNESCO’s State of Ocean Report 2024

Recently, the UNESCO State of Ocean Report 2024 highlighted the need for
enhanced oceanographic research and data collection to address escalating
ocean crises, including warming, acidification, deoxygenation and rising sea
levels.

What are the Key Findings of the State of Ocean Report 2024?
■ Inadequate Data and Research: The report identifies a critical
gap in data and research on accelerating ocean warming.
○ There is an urgent need for regular data to monitor
ocean warming and its impacts, supporting the
challenge for healthy and resilient oceans.
■ Ocean Warming: The upper 2,000 meters of oceans warmed
at a rate of about 0.32 Watt/m² from 1960 to 2023, which has
accelerated to 0.66 Watt/m² in the past two decades.
 ○ This warming trend is expected to continue, causing
irreversible changes over the centennial to millennial
timescale.
■ Earth Energy Imbalance (EEI): Increased greenhouse gas
emissions from human activities has resulted in the increased
uptake of the EEI by oceans.
○ EEI is the balance between incoming energy from
the Sun and outgoing energy from the Earth.
○ About 90 % of the EEI is being absorbed by oceans,
resulting in a cumulative increase in ocean heat
content (OHC) in the upper 2,000 m of the water
column.
● OHC is the total amount of heat stored by
oceans.
○ This warming may prevent ocean layer mixing,
potentially reducing oxygenated deep waters and
leading to deoxygenation.
● Deoxygenation can have long-term
negative impacts on the health of coastal
and large marine ecosystems and coastal
communities.
■ Ocean Acidification: There has been a mean global increase in
ocean acidification in all ocean basins and seas.
 ○ The open ocean has been experiencing a continuous
decline in pH (increase in acidic levels), with an
average global surface ocean pH decline of
0.017-0.027 pH units per decade since the late
1980s.
● Coastal waters can turn acidic due to
natural processes, such as freshwater
influx, biological activity, temperature
change and climate patterns like El Nino
Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
● Human activities like nutrient input from
agricultural and industrial activities also
influence the chemistry of coastal areas.
○ However, limited long-term observations, particularly
in coastal areas, hinder a complete understanding of
this phenomenon.
■ Continuation of Sea Level Rise: The global mean sea level
from 1993 to 2023 increased at a rate of about 3.4 mm/yr.
○ The world will have to improve the space-based and in
situ observing systems for monitoring sea level rise at
global, regional, and coastal scales.
 ■ Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR): The report acknowledges
the growing interest in mCDR technologies aimed at capturing and
storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
○ Examples like altering the chemical composition of
seawater so that oceans absorb more carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere or adding nutrients such as
iron to encourage the growth of microscopic
plankton that can sink to the seafloor and be stored
for centuries or longer.
○ There has been an increased interest in mCDR
technologies with the growing number of start-ups
developing mCDR techniques, alongside funding by
the United States and the European Union for mCDR
research announced in 2023.
○ There has been some challenges like the limited use
of mCDR and how they will interact with the ocean
carbon cycle, possibly causing unintended
consequences such as threat to marine life in the
long term.

What are the Impacts of the Global Warming on the Indian

Ocean?
■ Cyclones and Marine Heatwaves: The Indian Ocean is
warming faster than other oceans, with the potential for
irreversible changes like cyclones and heatwaves.
○ The Indian Ocean plays a significant role in the
formation of monsoons and pre-monsoon cyclones
that bring rain and pose threats to South Asia, East
Africa, and West Asia.
○ The North Indian Ocean doesn't generate as many
cyclones as the Pacific or Atlantic Ocean, but their
numbers and rapid intensification have been
growing making them the deadliest storms by
mortality.
● For example, the 2019 Cyclone Fani in
Odisha, India, caused widespread
destruction with its high winds and storm
surge.
○ Marine heatwaves are becoming more frequent and
intense, causing coral bleaching and harming marine
life.
● For instance, a 2010 marine heatwave in
the Indian Ocean caused widespread coral
bleaching in the Lakshadweep Islands.
■ Altered Ocean Circulation and Marine Life: Warming can
weaken upwelling, a process that brings cooler, nutrient-rich
waters to the surface. This can harm fish populations that
depend on these nutrients.
○ For example, a decline in upwelling in the Arabian
Sea can negatively impact the sardine fishery.
○ As the ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide, it
becomes more acidic, harming organisms with
calcium carbonate shells and skeletons, such as
coral reefs and shellfish.
● The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is
already experiencing significant damage
due to ocean acidification, and similar
threats are faced by coral reefs in the
Indian Ocean.
○ Warmer water holds less oxygen. Increased
stratification due to warming can prevent deep
ocean mixing, leading to oxygen depletion in deeper
layers. This can create dead zones where marine life
cannot survive.
■ Human Populations at Risk: Disrupted fisheries, cyclones, and
droughts all threaten food security for millions of people who
depend on the Indian Ocean for their livelihood.
 ○ Rising sea levels due to global warming threaten
coastal communities with inundation and erosion.
Low-lying areas in India, such as Mumbai and
Kolkata, are particularly vulnerable.
○ Tourism and recreation industries that rely on
healthy coral reefs and beaches will be negatively
impacted by bleaching and coastal degradation.
○

What are the Steps Taken by India to Mitigate the Effects of

Oceanic Heatwaves?

■ Monitoring and Research:

○ Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
(INCOIS)
■ Cyclone Preparedness:
○ National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
○ IMD Cyclone Warnings
■ Additional Measures:
○ National Missions on Climate Change
○ Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
○ Renewable Energy Target
○ National Hydrogen Mission
Way Forward
■ Developing and utilising real-time weather forecasts and
cyclone warnings to coastal communities.
○ For example, India should aim to enhance the
capabilities of the Indian National Centre for Ocean
Information Services (INCOIS) for more accurate
and timely predictions.
■ Several geo-engineering techniques like stratopheric aerosol
injection, marine cloud brightening etc can be utilised on a
large scale to tackle the issue of oceanic warming.
■ Promotion of sustainable coastal development practices
building seawalls and leevees that minimise damage to
infrastructure and communities during extreme weather
events.
○ For example, the Odisha government's initiative to
plant casuarina trees along the coast proved
effective in mitigating the impact of Cyclone Fani.
■ Conducting public awareness campaigns and regular
evacuation drills to educate coastal communities about
cyclone risks and evacuation procedures.
■ Establishing marine protected areas to conserve coral reefs
and other fragile ecosystems.
 ■ Collaboration of international efforts to address climate
change and limit global warming will ultimately benefit the
Indian Ocean.

Conclusion
Overall, the UNESCO report highlights critical knowledge gaps and the need
for improved data collection to understand and address the multiple threats
facing oceans across the globe. It also explores potential solutions like mCDR
and coastal habitat restoration, emphasising the need for further research to
address associated uncertainties.

UN: Trillions Required to Rescue SDGs

Recently, a new report released by the United Nations (UN) stated that more
investment is needed if the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
agreed upon by all United Nations members back in 2015, are to be achieved
by 2030.

■ The reason for this situation is due to staggering debt burdens

and sky-high borrowing costs faced by developing countries
that prevent them from responding to the confluence of crises
they face.
What are the Key Highlights of UN Financing for Sustainable
Development Report 2024 ?
■ Key Issues:
○ Lack of Basic Services: Rising geopolitical tensions,
climate disasters and a global cost-of-living crisis
have hit billions of people globally, which has halted
the progress on healthcare, education, and other
development targets.
○ Increase in Debt Services: Debt services in the Least
developed countries (LDC) will increase from USD 26
billion annually in 2022 to USD 40 billion annually
between 2023 and 2025.
● Stronger and more frequent disasters,
caused by the ongoing climate crisis,
account for more than half of the debt
upsurge in vulnerable countries.
○ Higher Burden of Interest Payment: The poorest
countries now spend 12% of their revenues on
interest payments, 4 times more than they spent a
decade ago.
● Roughly 40% of the global population live in
countries where governments spend more
 on interest payments than on education or
health.
○ Slowing Development Fundings: In Least developed
countries, development fundings are slowing down.
● Due to several reasons such as low
domestic revenue growth due to tax
evasion and avoidance, falling rate of
corporate tax (which was 28.2% in 2000 to
21.1% in 2023), due to globalisation and
tax competition etc.
● Also, Official Development Assistance
(ODA) from OECD countries and climate
finance commitments are not being met.
● According to the Financing for Sustainable
Development Report: Financing for
Development at a Crossroads Report 2024,
around USD 4.2 trillion investments is
needed to close the development financing
gap.
● This number was USD 2.5 trillion
before the Covid-19 pandemic
began.
■ Suggestions:
 ○ International financial system, which was set up at
the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference, is no longer fit
for purpose.
● A “massive surge of financing” and a
“reform of the international financial
architecture” can help to achieve SDGs
goals by 2030.
● Setting up a new coherent system that is
better equipped to respond to crises.
○ To achieve the SDGs global cooperation, targeted
financing, and, crucially, the political will is the need
of the hour.

What is the Progress of India in Achieving SDGs?

■ Progress: India ranks 112th out of 166 countries (from 121st in
2022) in terms of progress towards the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) in United Nations SDG Index and
Dashboards Report 2023.
■ Progress in Key Goals:
○ Goal 1- No Poverty: India has successfully lifted
millions of people out of poverty, reducing the
 poverty rate from 45% in 1993 to around 21% in
2011.(Goal 1: No Poverty)
● Around 415 million people exited poverty
within a span of just 15 years between
2005 to 2021 in India, according to the
latest Global Multidimensional Poverty
Index (MPI) 2023
○ Goal 2- Zero Hunger: The prevalence of
undernourishment in India has decreased from
18.2% in 2004-2006 to 14.5% in 2016-2018.
● However, India is still home to a quarter of
all undernourished people worldwide,
making the country a key focus for tackling
hunger on a global scale.
○ Goal 3- Good Health and Well-being: India has made
significant improvements in maternal and child
health, with a reduction in maternal mortality ratio
from from 384 in 2000 to 103 in 2020 (UN MMEIG
2020 report).
● Under-five mortality rate has also declined
from 89 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 34
in 2019.
 ○ Goal-4 Quality Education: According to the
Education Ministry, the literacy rate in rural India
stands at 67.77%, while in urban India, it is 84.11%
● The ASER 2023 data shows that in the
surveyed rural districts, more than 85% of
youth (age 14-18) are currently enrolled in
some kind of educational institution.
○ Goal 5- Gender Equality: The female labour force
participation rate in India increased from 23.3% in
2017-18 to 37.0% in 2022-23 (PLFS-5)

What Measures can be Adopted to Boost SDG Financing?

■ Dedicated Investment Funds: Establishing specialized
investment funds dedicated to financing projects and
initiatives that directly contribute to specific SDGs.
○ These funds could be structured as public-private
partnerships, attracting investments from
governments, institutional investors, and
impact-driven private investors.
■ Policy and Institutional Reforms: Ensure national policies and
regulations are conducive to SDG implementation.
 ○ Enhancing domestic resource mobilization through
measures such as progressive taxation, reducing tax
evasion and tackling illicit financial flows can
increase the availability of funds for SDG
implementation.
■ International Cooperation: International cooperation and
coordination among governments, international organizations,
civil society, and the private sector are crucial for mobilizing
resources, sharing best practices, and addressing common
challenges in SDG financing.
○ Providing debt relief for developing countries to free
up resources for SDG investments.
○ Developed countries should meet their Official
Development Assistance (ODA) commitments to
support SDG implementation in low-income
countries.
○ Bringing Global Tax Reforms to address tax havens
and ensuring multinational corporations pay their fair
share of taxes.
■ Technology and Innovation: Data analytics and predictive
modeling techniques can be used to analyze large datasets
 and identify trends, patterns, and investment opportunities
related to SDGs.
○ By these tools, financial institutions, investors, and
policymakers can make informed decisions,
optimize resource allocation, and maximize the
impact of SDG financing initiatives.

Indian Space Situational Assessment Report 2023

Why in News?
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released the Indian
Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) for 2023, which provides a
comprehensive overview of the current state of India’s space assets and their
vulnerability to potential collisions in space.

What does the ISSAR 2023 Report Highlight?

■ Space Object Population:
○ Global Increase: Globally, 3,143 objects were added
in 2023 from 212 launches and on-orbit breakup
events.
○ Indian Additions: India contributed to this with the
launch of 127 satellites by the end of December
2023.
 ● In the year 2023, all seven launches of
ISRO, namely SSLV-D2/EOS7,
LVM3-M3/ONEWEB 2, PSLV-C55/
TeLEOS-2, LVM3-M4/ Chandrayaan-3, and
PSLV-C57/Aditya L-1, were successful.
● A total of 5 Indian satellites, 46 foreign
satellites, and 8 rocket bodies (including
POEM-2) were placed in their intended
orbits.
■ Indian Space Assets:
○ Operational Satellites: As of 31st December 2023,
India has 22 operational satellites in Low Earth Orbit
(LEO) and 29 in Geostationary Orbit (GEO).
○ Deep Space Missions: There are three active Indian
deep space missions, Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter,
Aditya-L1, and Chandrayaan-3 Propulsion Module.
■ Space Situational Awareness Activities:
○ ISRO regularly carries out analyses to predict close
approaches by other space objects to Indian space
assets.
○ In case of critical close approaches, ISRO carries out
Collision Avoidance Maneuvers (CAMs) to
safeguard its operational spacecraft.
 ● About 1 lakh close approach alerts were
received from USSPACECOM (US Space
Command), and over 3,000 alerts for close
approaches within a distance of 1 km were
detected for ISRO satellites.
○ No close approaches with other space objects were
detected for the Chandrayaan-3 mission throughout
its mission phases, and also for Aditya-L1 during its
Earth-bound phase.
■ Collision Avoidance Maneuvers (CAMs):
○ The report highlights a significant increase in the
number of CAMs conducted by ISRO in 2023.
○ ISRO conducts Collision Avoidance Analysis (COLA)
to assess and prevent potential collisions.
● A total of 23 Collision Avoidance
Maneuvers (CAMs) were carried out during
2023 to protect Indian space assets,
compared to 21 in 2022 and 19 in 2021.
■ Satellites Re-entry:
○ The report details the successful re-entry of 8 Indian
satellites in 2023. This includes the controlled
de-orbiting of Megha-Tropiques-1, showcasing
 ISRO’s commitment to responsible space debris
management.
■ International Cooperation on Space Sustainability:
○ ISRO is an active participant in many international
fora such as the Inter-Agency Debris Coordination
Committee (IADC) with 13 space agencies, the
International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) space
debris working group, International Astronautical
Federation (IAF) space traffic management working
group, International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) space debris working group
and UN-Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space (COPUOS), contributing to discussions and
guidelines on space debris and long-term
sustainability of outer space activities.
○ ISRO, as the chair of IADC for 2023-24, hosted the
42nd annual IADC meeting in April 2024.
○ ISRO participated in the IADC annual re-entry
campaign and contributed to the revision of IADC
space debris mitigation guidelines and other space
sustainability aspects.
■ Challenge of Space Debris:
 ○ The report also acknowledges the ongoing challenge
of space debris. It notes that 82 rocket bodies from
Indian launches remain in orbit, with fragments from
a 2001 PSLV-C3 mishap still contributing to the total.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

■ ISRO is a major constituent of the Department of Space (DOS),

Government of India.
○ The department executes the Indian Space
Programme primarily through various Centres or
units within ISRO.
■ ISRO was previously the Indian National Committee for Space
Research (INCOSPAR), set up in 1962, as envisioned by Dr
Vikram A Sarabhai.
■ ISRO was formed on 15th August 1969 and superseded
INCOSPAR with an expanded role to harness space technology.
○ DOS was set up and ISRO was brought under DOS in
1972.
■ The prime objective of ISRO/DOS is the development and
application of space technology for various national needs.
■ ISRO has developed satellite launch vehicles, PSLV and GSLV,
to place the satellites in the required orbits.
■ ISRO has its headquarters in Bengaluru.
■ Its activities are spread across various centres and units.
○ Launch Vehicles are built at Vikram Sarabhai Space
Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram
○ Satellites are designed and developed at U R Rao
Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru.
○ Integration and launching of satellites and launch
vehicles are carried out from Satish Dhawan Space
Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota
○ Development of liquid stages including cryogenic
stage is carried out at Liquid Propulsion Systems
Centre (LPSC), Valiamala & Bengaluru
○ Sensors for Communication and Remote Sensing
satellites and application aspects of the space
technology are taken up at Space Applications
Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad
○ Remote Sensing satellite data reception processing
and dissemination is entrusted to National Remote
Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad.
■ The activities of ISRO are guided by its Chairman, who would
also be the secretary of DOS and Chairman of Space
 commission (the apex body that formulates the policies and
oversees the implementation of the Indian Space Programme).

Way Forward
■ Establish a global framework for Space Traffic Management
(STM) to standardise procedures for collision avoidance and
inter-operator coordination.
■ Promote responsible space practices, including debris
mitigation measures and sustainable satellite deployment.
■ Encourage innovation in active debris removal and on-orbit
servicing technologies.
■ Facilitate international collaboration to share resources,
expertise, and data for space situational awareness.
■ Review and update space regulations to accommodate the
evolving needs of the space sector and raise awareness about
space sustainability.

Cyber Security
According to EY’s latest Global Information Security Survey (GISS) 2018-19 –
India edition, one of the highest number of cyber threats have been detected
in India, and the country ranks second in terms of targeted attacks. Although
Banking and Telecom are the most attacked sectors but Manufacturing,
Healthcare, and Retail have also faced a significant number of cyber attacks.

Cyber Security
■ Cyber Security is protecting cyber space including critical
information infrastructure from attack, damage, misuse and
economic espionage.
■ Cyber Space: A global domain within the information
environment consisting of the interdependent network of
information technology infrastructures, including the Internet,
telecommunications networks, computer systems, and
embedded processors and controllers.
■ Critical Information Infrastructure: According to Section 70(1)
of the Information Technology Act, CII is defined as a
“computer resource, the incapacitation or destruction of which,
shall have debilitating impact on national security, economy,
public health or safety”.
■ Cyber Attack: It is a malicious and deliberate attempt by an
individual or organization to breach the information system of
another individual or organization.

Motives behind Cyber Attacks

 ■ To seek commercial gain by hacking banks and financial
institutions.
■ To attack critical assets of a nation.
■ To penetrate into both corporate and military data servers to
obtain plans and intelligence.
■ To hack sites to virally communicate a message for some
specific campaign related to politics and society.

Types of Cyber Attacks

■ Malware, short for malicious software refers to any kind of
software that is designed to cause damage to a single
computer, server, or computer network. Ransomware, Spy
ware, Worms, viruses, and Trojans are all varieties of malware.
■ Phishing: It is the method of trying to gather personal
information using deceptive e-mails and websites.
■ Denial of Service attacks: A Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack is
an attack meant to shut down a machine or network, making it
inaccessible to its intended users. DoS attacks accomplish
this by flooding the target with traffic, or sending it information
that triggers a crash.
■ Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, also known as
eavesdropping attacks, occur when attackers insert
 themselves into a two-party transaction. Once the attackers
interrupt the traffic, they can filter and steal data.
■ SQL Injection:

○ SQL (pronounced “sequel”) stands for Structured

Query Language, a programming language used to
communicate with databases.
○ Many of the servers that store critical data for
websites and services use SQL to manage the data
in their databases.
○ A SQL injection attack specifically targets such kind
of servers, using malicious code to get the server to
divulge information it normally wouldn’t.
■ Cross-Site Scripting (XSS):

○ Similar to an SQL injection attack, this attack also

involves injecting malicious code into a website, but
in this case the website itself is not being attacked.
○ Instead the malicious code the attacker has injected,
only runs in the user's browser when they visit the
attacked website, and it goes after the visitor directly,
not the website.
 ■ Social engineering is an attack that relies on human
interaction to trick users into breaking security procedures in
order to gain sensitive information that is typically protected.

Latest Cases

■ WannaCry: It was a ransomware attack that spread rapidly in

May, 2017. The ransomware locked users’ devices and
prevented them from accessing data and software until a
certain ransom was paid to the criminals. Top five cities in
India (Kolkata, Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Pune and Mumbai) got
impacted due to it.
■ Mirai Botnet: Mirai is malware that infects smart devices that
run on ARC processors, turning them into a network of
remotely controlled bots or zombies. This network of bots,
called a botnet, is often used to launch Distributed Denial of
Service (DDoS) attacks. In September 2016, Mirai malware
launched a DDoS attack on the website of a well-known
security expert.

Components of Cyber Security

 ■ Application Security: It encompasses measures or
counter-measures that are taken during an application’s
development process to protect it from threats that can come
through flaws in the app design, development, deployment,
upgrade or maintenance.
■ Information security: It is related to the protection of
information from an unauthorized access to avoid identity theft
and to protect privacy.
■ Network Security: It includes activities to protect the usability,
reliability, integrity and safety of the network.
■ Disaster Recovery Planning: It is a process that includes
performing risk assessment, establishing priorities, developing
recovery strategies in case of an attack.

Need for Cyber Security

■ For Individuals: Photos, videos and other personal information
shared by an individual on social networking sites can be
inappropriately used by others, leading to serious and even
life-threatening incidents.
■ For Business Organizations: Companies have a lot of data and
information on their systems. A cyber attack may lead to loss
of competitive information (such as patents or original work),
loss of employees/customers private data resulting into
 complete loss of public trust on the integrity of the
organization.
■ For Government: A local, state or central government
maintains huge amount of confidential data related to country
(geographical, military strategic assets etc.) and citizens.
Unauthorized access to the data can lead to serious threats on
a country.

International Mechanisms:
■ The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a
specialized agency within the United Nations which plays a
leading role in the standardization and development of
telecommunications and cyber security issues.
■ Budapest Convention on Cybercrime: It is an international
treaty that seeks to address Internet and computer crime
(cybercrime) by harmonizing national laws, improving
investigative techniques, and increasing cooperation among
nations. It came into force on 1 July 2004. India is not a
signatory to this convention.
■ Internet Governance Forum (IGF): It brings together all
stakeholders i.e. government, private sector and civil society
on the Internet governance debate. It was first convened in
October–November 2006.
 ■ Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
(ICANN): It is a non-profit organization responsible for
coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several
databases related to the namespaces and numerical spaces of
the Internet, ensuring the network's stable and secure
operation. It has its headquarters in Los Angeles, U.S.A.

Laws related to Cyber Security in India

Information Technology Act, 2000

■ The act regulates use of computers, computer systems,

computer networks and also data and information in electronic
format.
■ The act lists down among other things, following as offences:

○ Tampering with computer source documents.

○ Hacking with computer system
○ Act of cyber terrorism i.e. accessing a protected
system with the intention of threatening the unity,
integrity, sovereignty or security of country.
○ Cheating using computer resource etc.

Strategies under National Cyber Policy, 2013

 ■ Creating a secure cyber ecosystem.
■ Creating mechanisms for security threats and responses to the
same through national systems and processes.

○ National Computer Emergency Response Team

(CERT-in) functions as the nodal agency for
coordination of all cyber security efforts, emergency
responses, and crisis management.
■ Securing e-governance by implementing global best practices,
and wider use of Public Key Infrastructure.
■ Protection and resilience of critical information infrastructure
with the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection
Centre (NCIIPC) operating as the nodal agency.

○ NCIIPC has been created under Information

Technology Act, 2000 to secure India’s critical
information infrastructure. It is based in New Delhi.
■ Promoting cutting edge research and development of cyber
security technology.
■ Human Resource Development through education and training
programs to build capacity.

Challenges
 ■ Increased use of mobile technology and internet by people.
■ Proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) and lack of proper
security infrastructure in some devices.
■ Cyberspace has inherent vulnerabilities that cannot be
removed.
■ Internet technology makes it relatively easy to misdirect
attribution to other parties.
■ It is generally seen that attack technology outpaces defence
technology.
■ Lack of awareness on Cyber security.
■ Lack of Cyber security specialists.
■ Increased use of cyberspace by terrorists.

Recent Steps taken by Government

■ Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative: It was launched in 2018 with
an aim to spread awareness about cybercrime and building
capacity for safety measures for Chief Information Security
Officers (CISOs) and frontline IT staff across all government
departments.
■ National Cyber security Coordination Centre (NCCC): In 2017,
the NCCC was developed. Its mandate is to scan internet
traffic and communication metadata (which are little snippets
 of information hidden inside each communication) coming into
the country to detect real-time cyber threats.
■ Cyber Swachhta Kendra: In 2017, this platform was introduced
for internet users to clean their computers and devices by
wiping out viruses and malware.
■ Training of 1.14 Lakh persons through 52 institutions under the
Information Security Education and Awareness Project (ISEA)
– a project to raise awareness and to provide research,
education and training in the field of Information Security.
■ International cooperation: Looking forward to becoming a
secure cyber ecosystem, India has joined hands with several
developed countries like the United States, Singapore, Japan,
etc. These agreements will help India to challenge even more
sophisticated cyber threats.

Way Forward
■ Real-time intelligence is required for preventing and containing
cyber attacks.
■ Periodical ‘Backup of Data’ is a solution to ransomware.
■ Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for predicting and accurately
identifying attacks.
■ Using the knowledge gained from actual attacks that have
already taken place in building effective and pragmatic
defence.
■ Increased awareness about cyber threats for which digital
literacy is required first.
■ India needs to secure its computing environment and IoT with
current tools, patches, updates and best known methods in a
timely manner.
■ The need of the hour for Indian government is to develop core
skills in cyber security, data integrity and data security fields
while also setting stringent cyber security standards to protect
banks and financial institutions.