TOPIC : GS 2 Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Accountability, E-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; Citizens Charters, Transparency & Accountability and institutional and other measures.
Fitful approach
What is the news?
- The Centre’s recent notice to messaging service provider WhatsApp to withdraw its updated privacy policy is an avoidable intervention into a legitimate business decision.
- WhatsApp this year updated its privacy policy
New Provision
- According to which users would no longer be able to stop the app from sharing data such as location and number with its parent Facebook unless they delete their accounts altogether.
- Intense backlash against this decision triggering an exodus of its users to rival platforms such as Signal forced WhatsApp to push the update to forward
- Eventually, it decided not to enforce this as well preferring to follow up with reminders to people over the next several weeks.
What’s App in India
- WhatsApp has over two billion users in the world about half a billion of whom are in India, and who use it for free.
- Its privacy updates are designed to make the business interactions that take place on its platform easier while also personalising ads on Facebook.
- In its affidavit in the High Court company has reportedly said that it is not forcing users to accept the updated privacy policy.
- They have an option to delete their accounts
Government Decision
- If company is ready to take the risk of users abandoning it, government intervene is the problematic
- MeitY has made a charge that WhatsApp has discriminated against its Indian users.
- Company to leverage this position to impose unfair terms and conditions on Indian users, particularly those that discriminate against Indian users vis-a-vis users in Europe.
What can be done ?
- It can be argued that there are enough alternatives to WhatsApp in the market.
- Importantly, it has to be pointed out that Europe’s citizens are protected by strong data laws that go by the name of General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR.
Way forward
- WhatsApp has reportedly said in its affidavit that it is being singled out, and that its policy is not different from those of private apps such as Google, Big Basket, Koo, as well as public apps such as Aarogya Setu, Bhim, IRCTC, and others.
- A fitful approach to issues concerning the user may do more harm to India’s approach to data protection and freedom than anything else.
Mains question
India must have data protection laws in place before acting against WhatsApp. Crtically Analyse
PRELIMS PUNCHERS
- Iceberg A76
An iceberg nearly half the size of Puerto Rico that broke off the edge of Antarctica is now the world’s largest. The formation of the iceberg does however, bring renewed attention to the broader issue of ice loss, in both the Antarctic and Greenland
The iceberg, known as A76, following a naming convention established by the National Ice Center, naturally split from Antarctica’s Ronne Ice Shelf into the Weddell Sea through a process known as calving. the forces that severed it from the Ronne Ice Shelf were part of the shelf’s normal life span and may not be directly related to climate change. The Ronne Ice Shelf near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula is one of the largest of several enormous floating sheets of ice that connect to the continent’s landmass and extend out into surrounding seas.
Sources : https://indianexpress.com/article/world/antarctica-gives-birth-to-worlds-largest-iceberg-7323619/
- The Chipko movement
Chipko Andolan, was a forest conservation movement in India. It began in 1973 in Uttarakhand, then a part of Uttar Pradesh at the foothills of Himalayas and went on to become a rallying point for many future environmental movements all over the world. Beyond the eco-socialism hue, it is being seen increasingly as an ecofeminism movement movement was awarded the Right Livelihood Award “for its dedication to the conservation, restoration and ecologically-sound use of India’s natural resources
It created a precedent for starting nonviolent protest in India. However, it was Sunderlal Bahuguna, a Gandhian activist, who gave the movement a proper direction and its success meant that the world immediately took notice of this non-violent movement, which was to inspire in time many similar eco-groups by helping to slow down the rapid deforestation, expose vested interests, increase social awareness and the need to save trees, increase ecological awareness, and demonstrate the viability of people power
- Chandra Taal Lake
Chandra Tal is a lake in the Lahaul part of the Lahul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh . Chandra Taal is near the source of the Chandra River. Despite the rugged and inhospitable surroundings, it is in a protected niche with some flowers and wildlife in summer. It is a favourite spot for tourists and high-altitude trekkers. It is usually associated with Spiti, but geographically is a part of Lahaul. Kunzum La separates Lahaul and Spiti valleys.
The lake is one of two high-altitude wetlands of India which have been designated as Ramsar sites. Tourism seems to be having is effect on this pristine hidden paradise. The lake is one of two high-altitude wetlands of India which have been designated as Ramsar sites. Tourism seems to be having is effect on this pristine hidden paradise. It is on the Samudra Tapu plateau, which overlooks Chandra river a source river of the Chenab. The name of the lake originates from its crescent shape. It is at an altitude of about 4,300 metres in the Himalayas. Mountains of scree overlook the lake on one side, and a cirque encloses it on the other.
4.Chendamangalam Saree
Chendamangalam Saree are from Kerala. It is recognizable by its puliyilakara border, a thin black line that runs side by side with the sari’s selvedge. It has extra-weft chuttikara and stripes and checks of varying width. The Indian government has identified three clusters in Kerala Balaramapuram, Chendamangalam and Kuthampully that have been given a Geographical Indication GI tag
The history is widely believed that weaving in Chendamangalam was introduced by the Paliam family. It is Called the Paliath Achans, the family was hereditary to the prime minister post to the Maharaja of Cochin, having been associated with Chendamangalam from the 16th century onwards. Other GI Tagged Products from Kerala includes Kasaragod Sarees, Pokkali Rice, Nilambur Teak, Wayanad Robusta Coffee, Tirur Betel Leaf, etc.
Sources : https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2021/may/06/weave-forwomen-in-law-2298865.html
PRELIMS QUESTIONS
Qn 1 Consider the following statement with reference to Chandra Tal Lake
- It is part of the Lahul and Spiti district of Uttarakhand
- Chandra river a source river of the Ravi
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only                                (b) 2 only
(c). Both of them                (d). None of the above
Answer : D
Chandra Tal is a lake in the Lahaul part of the Lahul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh . Chandra Taal is near the source of the Chandra River. Despite the rugged and inhospitable surroundings, it is in a protected niche with some flowers and wildlife in summer. It is a favourite spot for tourists and high-altitude trekkers. It is usually associated with Spiti, but geographically is a part of Lahaul. Kunzum La separates Lahaul and Spiti valleys.
The lake is one of two high-altitude wetlands of India which have been designated as Ramsar sites. Tourism seems to be having is effect on this pristine hidden paradise. The lake is one of two high-altitude wetlands of India which have been designated as Ramsar sites. Tourism seems to be having is effect on this pristine hidden paradise. It is on the Samudra Tapu plateau, which overlooks Chandra river a source river of the Chenab. The name of the lake originates from its crescent shape. It is at an altitude of about 4,300 metres in the Himalayas. Mountains of scree overlook the lake on one side, and a cirque encloses it on the other.
Qn 2 .Consider the following statement with reference to GI tags of India
- Chendamangalam Saree are from Andhra Pradesh has got GI tag
- Nilambur Teak from Kerala has got GI tag
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only                                (b) 2 only
(c). Both of them                (d). None of the above
Answer : B
Chendamangalam Saree are from Kerala. It is recognizable by its puliyilakara border, a thin black line that runs side by side with the sari’s selvedge. It has extra-weft chuttikara and stripes and checks of varying width. The Indian government has identified three clusters in Kerala Balaramapuram, Chendamangalam and Kuthampully that have been given a Geographical Indication GI tag
The history is widely believed that weaving in Chendamangalam was introduced by the Paliam family. It is Called the Paliath Achans, the family was hereditary to the prime minister post to the Maharaja of Cochin, having been associated with Chendamangalam from the 16th century onwards. Other GI Tagged Products from Kerala includes Kasaragod Sarees, Pokkali Rice, Nilambur Teak, Wayanad Robusta Coffee, Tirur Betel Leaf, etc.