”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” is every day published in the morning between 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and contains selective current affairs articles. ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” covers various topics from UPSC Prelims Syllabus and is very helpful and time managing for UPSC Aspirants. The framing of this daily current affairs compilation article is easy to read and understandable also.
In the ”UPSC Prelims Bits For Today” article, we focus on UPSC Preliminary exam-oriented current affairs covering various sections from leading National Newspapers, PIB, and other various official sources.
Data protection Bill
Data protection Bill: Why in news?
Govt is likely to introduce Data Protection Bill in the Budget Session of Parliament.
Data protection Bill: Key Points
- The draft of the revised Data Protection Bill will be released for consultation soon.
- The government is planning that the country’s data protection framework should be in tune with modern times and not look like an attempt to ‘create a paper system for a digital world’.
- The government, earlier this month, withdrew The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, in the Lok Sabha, saying that it will come up with a fresh Bill that fits into the comprehensive legal framework with reference to the suggestions made by the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Bill.
- The principles of data protection and privacy are now well established all over the world and the government is more or less already practising those principles ever since the Supreme Court gave the judgment.
- The focus now is to make sure that the implementation of the law and principles is in tune with modern times.
NASA moon rocket
NASA moon rocket: Why in news?
US space agency Nasa is set to launch its giant Moon rocket Artemis
NASA moon rocket: Key Points
- The vehicle has a two-hour window for lift-off, starting at 08:33 local time (12:33 GMT; 13:33 BST)
- The rocket, known as the Space Launch System (SLS), will send an the unmanned capsule Orion around the back of the Moon
- Nasa hopes that by 2025 it will be able to send astronauts back to the lunar surface for the first time in over 50 years
- It eventually wants to put the first woman on the moon – but for this mission, the cargo is non-human and includes Shaun the Sheep and Snoopy toys
- The SLS will be the most powerful rocket ever to blast off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida
- The flight aims to test the capsule’s heatshield as it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere before landing in the Pacific Ocean off California
Anubis
Anubis: Why in news?
The global cybersecurity company Kaspersky recently warned of more cybersecurity attacks against Android and iOS devices, with the notorious Anubis Trojan now targeting smartphones using its banking Trojan with ransomware functionalities.
Anubis: Key Points
- One mobile banking trojan, called Anubis, has been targeting Android users since 2017.
- This malware attempts to steal banking information and can lead to victims’ experiencing financial loss, privacy issues and other serious problems.
- Anubis has been observed being proliferated via deceptive/scam websites, which incorporate the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic in some manner.
- One of the scam sites used to promote Anubis is presented as an official web page, or one approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- This is implied by the genuine WHO emblem/logo emblazoned on the bottom of the page, however, this malicious website is in no way connected to WHO and is using the logo in obvious violation of publishing policy.
- Roaming Mantis is another prolific malware targeting mobile banking users.
The Kerala Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2022
The Kerala Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2022: Why in news?
The CPM-led Kerala government’s decision to limit the powers of the anti-corruption watchdog is raising serious questions.
The Kerala Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2022: What is the controversy?
- The Kerala Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2022 envisaged empowering the Chief Minister as the competent authority, instead of the Governor, accepting or rejecting an adverse declaration by the anti-corruption Ombudsman (under Section 14 (5) of the Kerala Lok Ayukta, Act, 1999.) against Cabinet Ministers.
- The Bill violated the fundamental right to equality before the law. At a stroke, it has placed the political executive above judicial scrutiny.
- By proposing to bestow appellate authority on the Chief Minister, the government had violated the principle of natural justice that “no one should be a judge in their own cause (Nemo judex in causa sua).
The Kerala Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2022: What was the original Lokayukta Act?
- The central Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 was notified on January 1, 2014. The law was a result of demands of several decades for stronger anti-corruption laws.
- The Act provides for establishing a Lokpal headed by a Chairperson, who is or has been a Chief Justice of India, or is or has been a judge of the Supreme Court, or an eminent person who fulfils eligibility criteria as specified. Of its other members, not exceeding eight, 50% are to be judicial members, provided that not less than 50% belong to the SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, or are women.
- The Lokpal and Lokayukta are to deal with complaints against public servants, a definition that includes the Lokpal chairperson and members.
- The Lokpal was appointed in March 2019 and it started functioning since March 2020 when its rules were framed. The Lokpal is at present headed by former Supreme Court Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose.
The Kerala Lok Ayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2022: Lokayuktas in the State
- Lokayuktas are the state equivalents of the central Lokpal.
- Section 63 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 states: “Every state shall establish a body to be known as the Lokayukta for the State, if not so established, constituted or appointed, by a law made by the State Legislature, to deal with complaints relating to corruption against certain public functionaries, within a period of one year from the date of commencement of this Act.”
- Originally, the central legislation was envisaged to make a Lokayukta in each state mandatory. However, regional parties which was in opposition then, argued that this would be against the spirit of federalism. The law then created a mere framework, leaving it to the states to decide the specifics.
