National Current Affairs – UPSC/IAS Exams- 31st October 2019

by Mentors4ias · October 31, 2019

Edge Computing

Topic: Science and Technology

In News: Cloud computing is now ready to move to the next level called “ Edge Computing”. As per the research and advisory firm Gartner, by 2025, companies will generate and process more than 75% of their data outside of traditional centralised data centres i.e. at the “edge” of the cloud.

More on the Topic:

Edge Computing enables data to be analysed, processed, and transferred at the edge of a network.
The data will be analysed locally, closer to where it is stored, in real-time without latency, rather than send it far away to a centralised data centre. [Minimum Latency – The ability to process very high volumes of data with minimal delay]
So whether you are streaming a video or accessing video games in the cloud, edge computing allows for quicker data processing and content delivery.

Difference between Cloud and Edge Technology:

The basic difference between edge computing and cloud computing lies in where the data processing takes place.
At the moment, the existing Internet of Things (IoT) systems perform all of their computations in the cloud using data centres.
On the other hand, Edge Computing manages the massive amounts of data generated by IoT devices by storing and processing data locally.
That data doesn’t need to be sent over a network as soon as it processed; only important data is sent.
Therefore, an edge computing network reduces the amount of data that travels over the network.

About Cloud Computing:

Through Cloud computing, the remote servers host on the Internet store and process data, rather than on local servers or personal computers.
Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet, the parent company of Google are the technology giants that provide cloud computing infrastructure to major corporates and governments.
They want to leverage 5G technology and artificial intelligence to enable faster response times, lower latency and simplified maintenance in computing.
This is where Edge Computing comes in – which many see as an extension to the cloud, but which is different in several basic ways.

Benefits of Edge Technology:

Edge computing may offer some protection against a catastrophic attack where a single incident can compromise large amounts of a company’s data.
In some ways, it’s more resilient, because instead of one or two or even three data centers, you have distributed data and compute on the edge, which makes it much more resilient to malicious and nonmalicious events.

Challenges:

One of the most prominent concerns is the physical security of the devices, which are more vulnerable to malicious attacks.
It will be a challenge to organisations to understand, track and monitor data and their protection.

Model Mains Question: Comment on the applications of Edge computing.

Source: Hindu

Nirvik scheme

Topic: Polity and Governance

In News: Nirvik scheme announced by the Union Government recently is expected to give a fillip to export lending and insurance cover for export credit.

More on the Topic:

Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) has introduced ‘NIRVIK’ scheme to ease the lending process and enhance loan availability for exporters.

Key features of the scheme:

Insurance cover guaranteed will cover up to 90 percent of the principal and interest.
The increased cover will ensure that foreign and rupee export credit interest rates are below 4 percent and 8 percent respectively for the exporters.
The insurance cover will include both pre and post-shipment credit.
The gems, jewellery and diamond (GJD) sector borrowers with limit of over Rs 80 crore will have a higher premium rate in comparison to the non-GJD sector borrowers of this category due to the higher loss ratio.
For accounts with limits below Rs 80 crore, the premium rates will be moderated to 60 per annum and for those exceeding Rs80 crore, the rates will be 0.72 per annum for the same enhanced cover.
It mandates inspection of bank documents and records by ECGC officials for losses exceeding Rs.10 crore as against the present Rs 1crore.
The banks shall pay a premium to ECGC monthly on the principal and interest as the cover is offered for both out-standings.

Benefits of the scheme:

It will enhance accessibility and affordability of credit for exporters.
It will help make Indian exports
It will make ECGC procedures exporter friendly.
The insurance cover is expected to bring down the cost of credit due to capital relief, less provision requirement and liquidity due to quick settlement of claims.
It will ensure timely and adequate working capital to the export sector.

About ECGC:

The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) is a fully government-owned company that was established in 1957 to promote exports by providing credit insurance services.
The ECGC provides Export Credit Insurance to Banks (ECIB) to protect the banks from losses on account of export credit at the Pre and Post-Shipment stage given to exporters due to the risks of insolvency or protracted default of the exporter borrower.

Source: Hindu

BASIC Ministerial Meet

Topic: International Affairs

In News: The 29thministerial meeting of the BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India, China) countries on Climate Change was organised at Beijing, China recently.

More on the Topic:

The meeting has called for “comprehensive” implementation of the Paris climate deal amid threats by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from it.
Leaders worked out priorities and issues as a group to be highlighted at the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Chile in December 2019.
The Chile meeting will discuss the implementation of the Paris deal to cut the greenhouse gas emissions as well as mitigation, adaption and climate finance.

About BASIC Group:

The BASIC countries (also Basic countries or BASIC) are a bloc of four large newly industrialized countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China formed by an agreement in 2009.
The four committed to act jointly at the Copenhagen climate summit, including a possible united walk-out if their common minimum position was not met by the developed nations.
The grouping is working to define a common position on emission reductions and climate aid money, and to try to convince other countries to sign up to the Copenhagen Accord.
The Copenhagen Agreement is a document that delegated at the 15th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change agreed to “take note of” at the final plenary on 18 December 2009.

Source: Hindu

Indigenous Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system

Topic: Defense Sector Related Technologies

In News: The indigenous Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system to enhance the endurance of conventional submarines being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) reached a milestone recently with the successful operation of a land-based prototype.

More on the Topic:

All Scorpene submarines of the Navy are planned to be equipped with an AIP module in due course.
An AIP module enables conventional submarines to remain submerged for longer duration. Fuel cell-based AIP has merits in performance compared to other technologies.

Source: Hindu

Corporate Social Responsibility

Topic: Economy

In News: President of India Presented National Corporate Social Responsibility Awards. The NCSRA has been instituted by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to recognize outstanding contribution in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

More on the Topic:

The term “Corporate Social Responsibility” in general can be referred to as corporate initiative to assess and take responsibility for the company’s effects on the environment and impact on social welfare.
In India, the concept of CSR is governed by clause 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.
India is the first country in the world to mandate CSR spending along with a framework to identify potential CSR activities.
The CSR provisions within the Act is applicable to companies with an annual turnover of 1,000 crore and more, or a net worth of Rs. 500 crore and more, or a net profit of Rs. 5 crore and more.
The Act requires companies to setup a CSR committee which shall recommend a Corporate Social Responsibility Policy to the Board of Directors and also monitor the same from time to time.
The Act encourages companies to spend 2% of their average net profit in the previous three years on CSR activities.

Injeti Srinivas Committee Report on CSR:

The committee chaired by Injeti Srinivas, secretary, corporate affairs ministry, has submitted its recommendations on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the Minister of Corporate Affairs (MCA) recently. Recommendations of the committee are given below.
The expenses towards CSR should be eligible for deduction in the computation of taxable income.
For newly incorporated companies, the CSR obligation under Section 135 of the Companies Act shall lie only after they have been in existence for three years.
A provision to carry forward unspent CSR balance for three to five years.
CSR should not be used as a “means of resource-gap funding for government schemes”.
Special designated fund should be created for transfer of unspent CSR money beyond three to five years.
Aligning Schedule VII of the Companies Act with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The violation of CSR compliance may be made a civil offence and shifted to the penalty regime. This is a departure from the recent policy change which had provided for a three-year jail term for violating CSR norms.
Introducing impact assessment studies for CSR obligations of ₹5 crore or more.
Developing a CSR exchange portal to connect contributors, beneficiaries and agencies, allowing CSR in social benefit bonds and promoting social impact companies.

Source: Hindu

SEED Award

Topic: Awards and Honours

In News: Fourteen start-ups selected for 2019 SEED Awards.

More on the Topic:

The SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development is an annual awards scheme designed to find the most promising, innovative and locally-led start-up social and environmental enterprises in countries with developing and emerging economies.
The independent SEED International Jury of experts selects enterprises which have the potential to make real improvements in poverty eradication and environmental sustainability while contributing to a greener economy.

About SEED:

Founded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.
It is a global partnership for action on sustainable development and the green economy.
This initiative works in Asian and African countries including Ghana, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Thailand and Uganda and supports small and growing enterprises with business and capacity-building support.
SEED was originally conceived as an acronym for Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development.

Source: PIB