IT minister launches Stay Safe Online campaign to tackle cybercrime (GS Paper 3, Internal Security)
Why in news?
- As part of India's G20 presidency, Electronics & Information Technology Minister launched the ‘Stay Safe Online’ campaign and the ‘G20 Digital Innovation Alliance’ (G20-DIA).
‘Stay Safe Online’ campaign:
- The objective of the 'Stay Safe Online Campaign' is to raise awareness among citizens to stay safe in the online world due to the widespread use of social media platforms and the rapid adoption of digital payments.
- The exponential increase in the number of internet users in India and the rapidly evolving technology landscape have brought unique challenges.
- The campaign is expected to make citizens of all age groups aware of the cyber risk and ways to deal with it.
G20-DIA:
- The G20 Digital Innovation Alliance (G20-DIA) is to identify, recognize, and enable the adoption of innovative and impactful digital technologies developed by startups, from G20 nations as well as the invited non-member nations, which can address the needs of humanity in the critically important sectors of agri-tech, health-tech, ed-tech, fin-tech, secured digital infrastructure, and circular economy.
Way Forward:
- During India's G20 presidency, the MeitY will focus on three priority areas, namely digital public infrastructure (DPI), cyber security, and digital skill development, together with the Stay Safe Online campaign and DIA programme under the DEWG.
- MeitY aims to carry forward the vision of the digital transformation of the global digital economy for public service delivery through innovation and a future-ready digitally skilled workforce in a secure cyber environment.
The recommendation to ban the sale of single cigarettes
(GS Paper 2, Health)
Why in news?
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare in its latest report about cancer management, prevention and diagnosis recommended that the government institute a ban on the sale of single sticks of cigarettes.
Details:
- It also recommended that the government increase taxes on all tobacco products and utilise the acquired revenue for cancer prevention and awareness.
- The Committee observed that there is an urgent need to disincentivise the consumption of tobacco and alcohol in the country.
- The tobacco consumed in different ways accounts for nearly 50% of all cancers, collectively referred to as tobacco-related cancers which can be prevented.
What are the proposals and their rationale?
- Broadly, the measures endeavour to curb consumption as well as the accessibility of tobacco products, including cigarettes.
- The report, pointing to the National Health Policy’s (2017) endeavour for a relative reduction in current tobacco use by 30% in 2025, suggests that it is imperative that the government take effective measures to contain the sale of tobacco products. To this effect, it recommends that the government prohibit the sale of single sticks of cigarettes and lay stringent penalties and fines on offenders.
- It also suggests that the government abolish all designated smoking areas in airports, hotels and restaurants in addition to encouraging a smoke-free policy in organisations.
- The Committee also foundthat India has the lowest prices for tobacco products and thus, it must look to increase taxes on them. The revenue acquired from additional taxation, it proposes, could be used for cancer prevention and awareness.
- These measures flow from the observation that oral cancer accounts for the highest proportion of cancer cases in the country.
- Additionally, the committee also sought a ban on gutka and pan masala alongside a prohibition on their direct and indirect advertisement. This is based on the observation that, in India, more than 80% of tobacco consumption is in the form of chewing tobacco with or without areca nut, aggressively marketed as a mouth freshener.
Why the particular concern over single-stick cigarettes?
- Single sticks are more economical to acquire than a full pack of cigarettes. This may particularly appeal to adolescents and youth who may have limited money in hand. Single sticks are also preferred by people who may want to take it up for experimentation and have not started smoking on a regular basis.
- A ban on single-stick sales would compel a potential consumer to buy the entire pack which may not be particularly economical, thus curbing potential experimentation and the scope for regular intake. Moreover, a potential ban would also mean that the consumer would have to carry around the packet.
- Single stick sales, owing to their easier accessibility and affordability, can also work as a disincentive to quit smoking. Nicotine in tobacco products is highly addictive, and without cessation support only 4% of users who attempt to quit tobacco consumption will succeed, according to the WHO.
- Such support includes professional support and proven cessation medications, which can more than double their chances of successful quitting.
Biomass to ethanol IIT study finds enzyme that breaks forest scraps into renewable energy
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati have found that a specific enzyme can effectively convert woody biomatter into bioethanol, a renewable fuel which can even be used as a substitute for petrol or in food medicine.
RfGH5_4:
- The enzyme known as RfGH5_4, which was derived from a bacterium called Ruminococcus flavefaciens, effectively breaks down the cellulose and hemicellulose in woody biomatter and converts it into bioethanol. This bacterium is found in the gut of cows and other cud-chewing animals.
- The efficiency of the enzyme, RfGH5_4, was tested by breaking down and fermenting molecules of biomasses such as main stalk and small branches of cotton, sorghum stalk, sugarcane bagasse, finger millet stalk and maize leaves, into simple sugars.
- While chemical processes can be used to manufacture bioethanol fuel, it is usually produced by fermentation of sugar, normally sourced from fuel or energy crops such as corn, maize, wheat, potato among others.
Potential:
- The study shows that large amounts of organic carbon are stored in agricultural and plant biomass in the form of molecules like cellulose and hemicellulose.
- The research is significant as it can help India lower its dependence on crude oil imports, which currently stands at 85 per cent. Domestically produced ethanol can be blended with petrol to drastically reduce the reliance on other countries.
- India hopes to bring in 20 per cent ethanol blending with gas in some parts of the country by 2023, followed by a pan India rollout in 2025-2026.
Applications:
- Going one step towards finding more sustainable alternatives to using non-renewable sources of energy, these findings will not only convert wasted residual biomass into an effective resource to fuel cars, but can be used in food medicine as well.
- It can also be applied to other things such as the food and pulp industries, pharmaceuticals, textiles among others.
Way Forward:
- The enzyme is multifunctional and proved to be an efficient catalyst. This makes it stand out from other enzyme groups present in nature, and available commercially.
- The enzyme remained stable at temperatures between 5 degrees Celsius and 45 degrees Celsius, making it widely applicable.
