How is TRAI and the govt. combating spam? | Explained

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS II Polity and Governance

Background

Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC), or spam, pose a significant challenge in India, ranging from annoying promotional messages to fraudulent schemes targeting financial data.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have launched innovative measures, such as blockchain-based solutions and user-friendly reporting mechanisms, to tackle this menace effectively.

About Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

Establishment and Mandate:

• Formed under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, TRAI was created to oversee and regulate the rapidly growing telecom sector.
• It ensures fair competition, transparency, and a level playing field while nurturing conditions for sectoral growth.

Objectives:

1. Regulating telecom services, including tariff control.
2. Promoting a fair and transparent policy environment.
3. Issuing directives and regulations to address emerging challenges in the telecom domain.

Understanding Blockchain Technology (BCT)

Definition and Functioning:

• Blockchain is a decentralized, distributed ledger technology where transactions are recorded using cryptographic hashes.
• Data, structured into immutable blocks, ensures secure and unalterable records, fostering transparency and reliability.

Applications Beyond Cryptocurrencies:

• Governance: Voting and benefit transfers.
• Personal Data Security: Sharing medical records securely.
• Anti-Fraud Mechanisms: Identifying scams in financial and commercial operations.

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TRAI’s Measures to Combat Spam

1. Do-Not-Disturb (DND) Registry:

• Introduced in 2007, this empowers users to block spam calls/messages.
• Violations are addressed under the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR), 2018, with provisions for blacklisting violators.

2. Blockchain-Based Solutions:

• TRAI mandated the use of blockchain to manage sender credentials, ensuring only authorized entities can communicate with users.
• Enhancements in 2024 require complete traceability of commercial communications.

3. Tackling International and Fraudulent Spam:

• Real-time monitoring of international spam calls and VoIP-based fraudulent traffic.
• Collaboration with telecom companies to enhance technological interventions.

Technological Interventions

Sanchar Saathi Portal:

• A comprehensive platform enabling users to report spam through tools like Chakshu.
• Deactivation of unauthorized telemarketers’ numbers.

Telecom Security Operation Centre:

• Located in New Delhi, this center monitors suspicious internet traffic to detect scams in real time.

AI-Based Detection:

• Telecom companies, such as Airtel, are leveraging AI to label suspicious calls and flag international traffic, empowering users to recognize threats.

Effectiveness of Measures

Achievements:

1. Reduction in spam communications from legitimate entities adhering to regulations.
2. Enhanced traceability through blockchain-enabled systems.

Challenges:

1. Dynamic evolution of spam tactics by scammers.
2. Persistent rise in international spam calls and financial frauds.
3. Difficulty in regulating VoIP-based fraudulent traffic originating globally.

Way Forward

To address the challenges posed by the ever-evolving nature of spam, TRAI and the government must adopt a multi-pronged approach:

1. Strengthened VoIP Monitoring: Collaborate globally to regulate and authenticate international VoIP traffic.
2. Public Awareness: Promote user education on reporting spam and adopting safe practices to avoid scams.
3. Expanded AI Integration: Scale up AI-based detection systems for real-time spam identification.
4. Stricter Penalties: Impose stringent punishments to deter fraudulent entities.
5. Enhanced Public Participation: Encourage reporting through tools like Sanchar Saathi, empowering citizens to play a proactive role.

Conclusion
Spam is a complex and evolving issue. TRAI and the government’s initiatives—leveraging advanced technologies like blockchain, AI, and enhanced monitoring—represent significant strides. However, achieving sustainable success requires a synergized effort involving global collaboration, robust enforcement, and active citizen participation.

For a Viksit Bharat, focus on health

Source: The Indian Express

Syllabus: GS II Health

India’s Roadmap to a Healthy Nation by 2047

Introduction

As India aspires to become a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047, a robust healthcare system forms the bedrock of this vision. A healthy population is essential for driving economic growth, enhancing productivity, and fostering overall well-being. To achieve this, India must focus on preventive measures, equitable healthcare access, and the integration of advanced digital solutions.

Key Pillars for a Healthy India

1. Universal Health Coverage (UHC):
   • Objective: Ensure financial protection and comprehensive healthcare service delivery for all.
   • Resource Allocation: Higher public financing is essential, requiring coordinated efforts by both central and state governments.
   • Healthcare Workforce: Address the shortage of skilled professionals by expanding training programs for frontline workers and allied health professionals through technological advancements.
   • Ayushman Bharat Programme:
     • Revamp primary healthcare architecture.
     • Provide financial protection to vulnerable populations.
     • Strengthen health infrastructure.
   • Digital Health Mission: Enhance epidemiological intelligence, streamline program monitoring, and achieve system-wide integration.

Data-Driven Decision-Making for a Healthy India

1. Integrated and Disaggregated Data Systems:
   • Localized data at district and block levels is critical for resource-efficient, equity-driven decision-making.
   • Address the epidemiological shift with robust tracking mechanisms for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health issues.
2. Advanced Surveillance Systems:
   • Infectious Disease Monitoring: Real-time surveillance leveraging big data analytics to track zoonotic and emerging disease threats.
   • Techniques: Incorporate innovative approaches like wastewater surveillance and routine antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring.
   • One Health Approach: Integrate human, animal, and environmental health data to address climate change-related health risks.

Digitally Integrated Healthcare for a Healthy India

1. Patient-Centered and Interoperable Data Systems:
   • Ensure diagnostic and treatment records are accessible across public and private healthcare facilities.
   • Bridge gaps in private sector integration to enable seamless continuity of care.
2. Public-Private Collaboration:
   • Facilitate linkages between primary care, public health insurance programs (e.g., PMJAY, state insurance schemes), and secondary/tertiary hospital care.
   • Establish a unified digital ecosystem that integrates public and private health data repositories.
3. AI-Driven Insights and Community Participation:
   • Utilize artificial intelligence to analyze health data for improved diagnostics and clinical management.
   • Empower communities through digital tools for crowdsourced outbreak surveillance and to address implementation bottlenecks in health programs.

Conclusion

To realize the vision of a healthy and productive population by 2047, immediate and sustained efforts are imperative. By 2025, India must lay the foundation for a digitally integrated, data-driven, and universally accessible healthcare system. Emphasizing prevention, equity, and innovation will enable India to achieve its health goals and secure its place as a developed nation.

Abetment of suicide charges should not be ‘mechanically’ invoked: What SC said, why

Source: The Indian Express

Syllabus: GS II Polity and Governance

Abetment of Suicide in India: Laws, Punishment, and Key Legal Standards

Introduction

Abetment of suicide is a serious offence under Indian criminal law, governed by Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Supreme Court has recently reiterated the importance of sensitizing investigation agencies and courts to prevent misuse of this provision, while ensuring justice for genuine cases.

Why in News?

The Supreme Court, in a recent judgment, highlighted the need for judicious application of Section 306 IPC. The apex court emphasized that:

• Avoiding Misuse: Legal provisions should not be misused to appease grieving families, as this may lead to wrongful prosecutions.
• Fair Trials: Cases meeting the legal threshold must be prosecuted, ensuring adherence to principles of justice.
• Specific Case Highlighted: A bank manager accused of abetting a borrower’s suicide due to loan repayment issues was acquitted, as the prosecution failed to establish direct abetment.

Abetment of Suicide in Indian Criminal Law

Definition of Abetment (Section 107 IPC / Section 45 BNS):

Abetment involves:

1. Instigation: Encouraging or provoking an individual to commit an act.
2. Conspiracy: Planning an act in collaboration with others.
3. Aiding: Intentionally assisting in the commission of the act through actions or omissions.

To constitute abetment of suicide, the prosecution must prove a direct link between the accused’s actions and the suicide. Mere association or vague allegations are insufficient.

Punishment Under Section 306 IPC (Equivalent to Section 108 BNS):

• Imprisonment: Up to 10 years.
• Fine: Additional monetary penalties.
• Trial Nature: Cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.

Conviction Rates for Abetment of Suicide

According to NCRB 2022 data:

• Conviction rate for Section 306 IPC: 17.5%.
• Overall conviction rate for IPC crimes: 69.8%.
• Conviction rate for cognizable offences, including abetment of suicide: 54.2%.

This stark disparity highlights challenges in proving abetment of suicide, necessitating a higher evidentiary threshold.

Standards for Establishing Abetment of Suicide

Supreme Court’s October 2024 Judgment:

In a landmark ruling, the court quashed charges against an employer in a workplace harassment-related suicide, emphasizing:

1. Higher Evidentiary Bar: Official relationships (e.g., employer-employee) require strong evidence of intent.
2. Direct Incitement Required: Prosecution must prove that the accused intentionally provoked or directly facilitated the suicide.

Supreme Court Precedents:

1. M Mohan v. The State (2011):

1. Proof requires an active or direct act by the accused leaving the deceased with no alternative but suicide.
2. The accused must have intentionally created such circumstances.
3. Ude Singh v. State of Haryana (2019):

2. Continuous acts or conduct that create a situation with no perceived escape for the deceased may fall under Section 306 IPC.
3. Evidence of direct or indirect incitement is mandatory.

Key Challenges

1. Misuse of Provisions: Instances where grieving families file cases without substantial evidence, leading to wrongful prosecutions.
2. Evidentiary Gaps: Proving direct instigation or assistance remains a challenge, particularly in workplace and professional settings.
3. Low Conviction Rates: Highlight a need for better investigative processes and legal clarity.

Conclusion

The offence of abetment of suicide under Section 306 IPC requires a delicate balance between preventing its misuse and ensuring justice for genuine cases. Strengthening investigative mechanisms, adhering to legal thresholds, and raising awareness about the evidentiary standards are crucial. By fostering judicial prudence, India can ensure that the provision serves as a tool for justice rather than a means for harassment.

Why dead olive ridley turtles are washing ashore in Tamil Nadu

Source: The Indian Express

Syllabus: GS III Environment

Olive Ridley Turtles: Conservation Challenges and Recent Concerns

Context

Over the past two weeks, numerous dead Olive Ridley turtles have been discovered along Tamil Nadu’s coastline, particularly near Chennai. This alarming trend highlights ongoing threats to marine biodiversity and underscores the need for strengthened conservation measures.

About Olive Ridley Turtles

Overview

• Scientific Name: Lepidochelys olivacea.
• Key Feature: Among the smallest and most abundant sea turtles, Olive Ridleys are renowned for their unique synchronized mass nesting events called arribadas.

Habitat

• Found in tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans.
• Exhibit both pelagic and coastal behavior, often frequenting nesting beaches in India (Odisha), Mexico, and Costa Rica.

Biological Features

• Shell: Named for their olive-green, heart-shaped carapace.
• Diet: Omnivorous, consuming crabs, jellyfish, algae, and other marine organisms.
• Adaptability: Can dive up to 500 feet to forage on ocean floors.

Nesting Season

• Varies by region. In India, nesting occurs from November to March, with large-scale nesting events observed at Odisha’s Gahirmatha and Rushikulya beaches.

Conservation Status

• Domestic: Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, providing the highest degree of protection.
• International: Included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), restricting international trade.

Recent Causes of Mortality

1. Bycatch in Fishing Nets

1. Key Threat: Turtles often become entangled in commercial trawler nets during breeding seasons.
2. Impact: Trapped turtles are unable to surface for air, leading to suffocation and death.
3. Entanglement and Collisions

2. Discarded Gear: Ghost nets and marine debris are significant hazards, causing injuries and fatalities.
3. Vessel Strikes: Increased maritime activity near nesting grounds heightens collision risks.
4. Overfishing and Environmental Pressures

3. Habitat Disruption: Overfishing near turtle congregation areas draws more trawlers, exacerbating accidental deaths and habitat degradation.
4. Marine Pollution: Habitat contamination from waste and chemicals adds to the threats faced by these species.

Conclusion

The recent deaths of Olive Ridley turtles off Tamil Nadu’s coast underscore the urgent need for robust conservation efforts. Strengthening bycatch reduction measures, enforcing fishing regulations near nesting grounds, and promoting marine ecosystem protection are critical. The plight of Olive Ridleys serves as a reminder of the intricate balance between marine biodiversity and sustainable human activity, necessitating coordinated action at both national and global levels.