Context;

1. India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations
2. Legal Gaps in India’s Unregulated AI Surveillance
3. Stuck in the Classroom — Students, Teachers, NEP 2020
4. The Challenge of Universal Health Coverage

India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations

• Visit Significance: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India marks continuity in bilateral relations.

• Security Assurance: Dissanayake assured that Sri Lanka will not allow its territory to be used against India’s security.

Relevance : GS 2 (International Relations )

Practice Question : Discuss the impact of Chinese influence on India-Sri Lanka relations and suggest ways the two countries can strengthen their bilateral ties. (250 Words )

Key Issues:

• Chinese Ships: Frequent presence of Chinese ships has been a major irritant in bilateral ties.
• Adani Group Projects: Joint statement did not mention the status of Adani Group projects.

Areas of Cooperation:

• Agriculture and Digital Economy: India committed to helping Sri Lanka in these areas.
• Joint Working Group: Proposal to establish a joint working group on agriculture.

Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA):

• Negotiations: 14 rounds of negotiations held so far.
• Focus Areas: Trade in goods, services, and technology cooperation.

Fisheries Dispute:

• Stated Positions: Both sides stuck to their positions.
• Facilitation: Colombo should facilitate early meetings between fishermen’s associations.

13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution:

• Autonomy: Envisages autonomy to Provincial Councils.
• JVP Opposition: JVP ran a campaign against the Amendment.

Political Dynamics:

• Massive Mandate: Dissanayake’s coalition secured a massive mandate in the November 14 parliamentary election.
• New Direction: Opportunity to show a new direction in ties with India

The Legal Gaps In India’s Unregulated AI Surveillance

Background:

• 2019 Announcement: India announced the creation of the world’s largest facial recognition system for policing.

Relevance : GS 3(Technology , Internal security )

Practice Question : Analyze the constitutional and legal challenges posed by the deployment of AI-powered surveillance systems in India. Discuss need of balancing technological advancement with citizens’ privacy rights.(250 Words )

• Deployment: AI-powered surveillance systems deployed across railway stations and Delhi Police preparing for AI crime patrols.

• Future Plans: Launching 50 AI-powered satellites to enhance surveillance infrastructure.

Legal and Constitutional Concerns:

• Global Parallels: AI surveillance often results in “dragnet surveillance”, collecting data indiscriminately.
• US Example: Section 702 of FISA shows how well-intended laws can overreach, infringing on rights.

Concerns in India:

• Telangana Police Data Breach: Revealed concerns about data collection practices.
• Scope of Data Collection: Hyderabad police accessed databases from social welfare schemes, raising transparency issues.

Right to Privacy:

• Article 21: Right to privacy guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
• K.S. Puttaswamy vs Union of India (2017): Recognised privacy as a fundamental right, extending to “informational privacy”.
• Lack of Safeguards: Current surveillance infrastructure lacks proportional safeguards.

Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023:

• Framework: Aimed to manage consent and ensure data privacy accountability.
• Criticism: Broad exemptions grant government unchecked power to process personal data.
• Exemptions:
  • Section 7(g): Waives consent for data processing during epidemics.
  • Section 7(i): Exempts government from consent for employment-related data.
• Citizen Obligations: Section 15(c) requires accurate data submission, potentially punitive.

Impact on Civil Liberties:

• Western Approach:
  • EU’s AI Act: Risk-based approach categorizing AI activities into risk levels.
  • Prohibitions: Real-time biometric identification for law enforcement is prohibited unless exceptions apply.
• India’s Lack of Regulation: AI deployment without legislative debate or guidelines.
• Regulatory Void: Citizens vulnerable to privacy infringement, discrimination, and data breaches.

Recommendations:

• Regulatory Framework: Needed to address AI’s impact on civil liberties.
• Transparent Data Collection: Public disclosure of data collection practices.
• Consent Mechanisms: Narrow exemptions with independent judicial oversight.
• Risk-Based Approach: Adopt a framework similar to the EU’s, categorizing AI activities based on risk.

Conclusion:

• Balancing Technology and Rights: AI in governance must balance technological potential with constitutional rights.
• Proactive Regulatory Approach: Ensuring AI serves public interest without compromising civil liberties.

Stuck in the Classroom — Students, Teachers, NEP 2020

Concern:

• Indian Higher Education (HE) Students: Spending more time in classrooms compared to EU and North American counterparts, but at risk of being undereducated.

Relevance : GS 2(Eduction )

Practice Question :Discuss the impact of increased classroom time on the quality of education and student learning outcomes in Indian higher education institutions. Compare this with EU and North America standards? (250 Words )

Reason for Concern:

• Higher Proportion of Teaching Time: More time spent in courses.
• Higher Number of Courses: Increased number of courses per semester under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Contrast and Impact:

• EU/North America:
  • Courses: Approximately four per semester.
  • Lecture Time: Max three hours per course per week.
  • Total Classroom Time: Max 12 hours per week.

• India:
  • Courses: Approximately five per semester.
  • Lecture Time: Four hours per course per week.
  • Total Classroom Time: 20 hours per week.
  • Result: Less time for self-study, reading, assignments, leading to exhaustion and reduced learning.

Impact on Assessments:

• Previous System: Four courses per semester, more scope for continuous assessment.
• Current System: Increased classroom time reduces feasible assessments to two per course.
  • Impact: Favors multiple choice questions over more complex assessments like term papers or reflective essays.

Learning Dynamics:

• Risk of Rote Learning: Increased classroom time risks perpetuating school dynamics where students are passive recipients.
• Need for Reflective Learning: Students need time to reflect, plan, and execute their learning individually and with peers.

Continuous Assessment:

• NEP 2020 Emphasis: Continuous assessment with three or four components over the semester.
  • Benefits: Mix of low and high stakes assessments, continuous effort, tailored frequency and type, continuous feedback for both faculty and students.

Impact on Teaching Quality:

• Indian Teachers: Extra classroom hours reduce time for research, course revisions, development, and cross-disciplinary collaborations.
  • EU/North America: Two to three courses per semester, average nine hours teaching load per week.
  • India: 14-16 hours teaching load per week, dependent on interpretation of UGC guidelines.

Elite Institutions vs. Public Universities:

• Elite Institutions (IITs, IIMs, Central Universities): Possibly fewer than eight classroom hours per week, higher resources.
• Public Universities and Colleges: Bulk of teaching and learning happens here, not in elite institutions.

Recommendation:

• Reconsider Number of Courses and Classroom Time: In new four-year undergraduate programs.
  • Goal: Improve teaching and learning outcomes, align with global standards, reduce rote learning, enhance self-learning skills, ensure readiness for higher education.

The challenge of Universal Health Coverage

Current Issue:

• Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in India: Discussion often overlooks the complexity of multiple health systems and their unique challenges.

Relevance : GS 2 (Governance )

Practice Question :What are the main challenges to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in India, and how do regional disparities in health expenditure and health metrics impact this goal?(250 Words )

Variation in Government Health Expenditure:

• High Spending States: Himachal Pradesh (₹3,829), Kerala (₹2,590), Tamil Nadu (₹2,039).
• Low Spending States: Uttar Pradesh (₹951), Bihar (₹701).
• Source: National Health Accounts — Estimates for India 2019-20.

State-Specific Health Metrics:

• West Bengal:
  • Low Fertility Rate: 1.64.
  • High Teenage Pregnancy Rate: 16%.

• Kerala and Himachal Pradesh:
  • Low Fertility Rates: Comparable to West Bengal.
  • Low Teenage Pregnancy Rates: 2.4% and 3.4%.

Funding Gaps:

• West Bengal: Government health expenditure (₹1,346 per capita) is 61% of the required ₹2,205 for UHC.
• Madhya Pradesh: Similar shortfall with expenditure at ₹1,249 per capita.
• Implication: Increased government expenditure alone may not solve healthcare issues.

Out-of-Pocket Expenditure:

• West Bengal: High out-of-pocket expenditure at 67%.
• Andhra Pradesh: Similar trend with 64%.
• Source: National Health Accounts — Estimates for India 2019-20.

Design Challenges:

• Systemic Issues: Increased government spending not reducing out-of-pocket rates, indicating deeper systemic issues.
• Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: High in both poor and prosperous states (e.g., Jharkhand, Bihar, Kerala, Punjab).

Public Sector Healthcare Supply:

• West Bengal: Adequate public sector hospitals; high C-section rates.
• Scheme Redundancy: Swasthya Sathi scheme may not be needed if public hospitals can provide free care.

Health Concerns:

• High Blood Sugar Rates: Significant in West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat.
• Low Hypertension Rates: Relative to other states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana.
• Primary Care: Urgent need to address genetically inherited insulin insufficiency through primary care.

Healthcare Infrastructure:

• Primary Health Centres: 58% shortfall in West Bengal, impacting healthcare delivery.

Complex Healthcare Landscape:

• Unique Challenges: Healthcare is a complex system with unique local challenges.
• Holistic Approach: Essential to integrate public health initiatives, regional policy adaptations, and climate resilience.

Recommendation:

• Tailored Strategies: Address health system challenges with region-specific strategies and proactive primary care.
• Holistic Solutions: Avoid blanket solutions, focus on unique local health profiles and cultural contexts.