During his interaction with Gates, PM Modi covered a spectrum of critical topics ranging from AI to India's impressive advancements in digital technology. Pointing to technology's role in sectors like agriculture, education, and healthcare, Modi ruled out a digital divide in India.
1: Dimension-Trends of Digital Divide
2: Dimension-Implications of digital divide
Way forward
Whilst several government initiatives like the National Digital Literacy Mission and the Pradhan MantriGramin Digital SakshartaAbhiyan have been introduced to increase digital literacy, there is a need to ramp up such efforts.
It is also important to improve the existing digital infrastructure to ensure physical access to ICT to different sections of society. At the same time, underprivileged groups need to be motivated to incorporate technology into their daily lives and digital skills need to be imparted to allow such a change.
Fact Box Statistics of Digital India
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UPSC PYQ Q: Implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based projects/programmes usually suffers in terms of certain vital factors. Identify these factors and suggest measures for their effective implementation. (UPSC 2019) |
The Government e Marketplace (GeM) plans to seek the Centre’s approval to enable work contracts for construction and building projects to also be bid out through the platform with a transparent monitoring mechanism to assess the progress in such contracts.
1: Dimension-Role of GeMin public procurement in India
2: Dimension-Need of GeM in public procurement
Fact Box: About GeM
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Cyber slavery is emerging as a form of organized crime of unprecedented severity and scale. Over 5,000 Indian nationals are reported to be held captive in Cambodia, coerced into committing cyber frauds targeting individuals in India.
1: Dimension-Factors responsible for growth of cybercrime
2: Dimension-A global challenge
Fact Box: Cyber slavery
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The cVIGIL app of Election Commission of India has become an effective tool in the hands of people to flag election code violations. Since the announcement of General Elections 2024, over 79,000 complaints have been received.
About cVigil
The gross non-performing assets (GNPA) of banks are set to improve further upto 2.1 per cent by the end of the Financial Year 2025, as per a report.
What is a Non-Performing Asset?
Types of NPA:
Satellite analysis shows Gaza’s farms devastated and nearly half of the territory’s trees razed. The war has made the area unlivable.
What is Ecocide?
Caracal is suffering are on the path to extinction.
About Caracal
S.No. |
Term |
About |
1. |
Digital divide |
Digital divide can be explained as the inequalities between the digital haves and the have-nots in terms of their access to the internet and the ICTs.
|
2. |
Economic inequality |
Economic inequality is the unequal distribution of income and opportunity between different groups in society. |
3. |
Global South |
o The Global South is a geographical, geopolitical, historical and developmental concept, all at the same time - with exceptions" o Geographically, the term refers to the 32 countries below the equator (in the southern hemisphere), in contrast to the 54 countries that lie entirely north of it. |
4. |
Gross fiscal deficit (GFD) |
o The gross fiscal deficit (GFD) is the excess of total expenditure including loans net of recovery over revenue receipts (including external grants) and non-debt capital receipts. The net fiscal deficit is the gross fiscal deficit less net lending of the Central government. |
Context:
During President DroupadiMurmu's visit to Mauritius, India reinforced its commitment to strengthening ties with African nations, highlighting the significance of the Indian Ocean Region and Africa in its foreign policy agenda.
India's Engagement with Africa:
Enhancing India-Africa Relations:
Context:
The Supreme Court of India's recent ruling declared the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional, raising concerns about its effectiveness in addressing the issue of black money in politics.
Gap between the professed and the actual:
Money and the election:
Cronyism uncovered:
Context:
The Centre's fiscal deficit has seen a significant increase, reaching Rs15 lakh crore by the end of February, indicating a notable deviation from the earlier trajectory and posing challenges for fiscal management.
Factors contributing to deficit surge:
Two key factors have contributed to the surge in the fiscal deficit for February.
Challenges and targets for fiscal consolidation:
Verifying, please be patient.