UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 06-03-2021
iasparliament
March 06, 2021
Blockchain in Space
JP Morgan has successfully tested a space-based payment infrastructure utilising blockchain technology, using GomSpace’s satellites.
It is the world’s first bank-led tokenised value transfer in space.
It was executed via smart contracts on a blockchain network that was established between two GOMX-4 satellites orbiting the earth in the low Earth orbit (LEO).
This has validated the approach towards a decentralised network where communication with the earth is not necessary.
It may lead to a potential peer-to-peer satellite marketplace in the long term, allowing data transfers between satellites against payment.
Technology and Innovation Report 2020
This report was released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
[Frontier technologies are those that take advantage of digitalization and connectivity.
They are Artificial intelligence, Internet of things, Big data, blockchain, fifth-generation mobile telephony, 3D printing, robotics, drones, gene-editing, nanotechnology and solar power.]
It provides a "Country Readiness Index" that assesses the countries’ progress in using frontier technologies, in view of their capacities related to physical investment, technological effort and human capital.
It scores countries on their readiness based on - ICT deployment, skills, R&D, industry activity and access to finance.
It spotlights developing countries that perform better on frontier technologies than their per capita GDP would suggest.
India was the biggest ‘over-performer’ in frontier technologies.
Most of the “best-prepared” countries are from Europe, except the Republic of Korea, Singapore and the United States.
Freedom in the World Report 2021
This report has claimed that India’s status as a “free” country has declined to “partly free”.
Titled as “Democracy Under Siege”, it was released by Freedom House, a watchdog of human rights.
It rates people’s access to political rights and civil liberties in 210 countries and territories.
These countries are declared as “free”, “partly free” or “not free”.
Indicators - Electoral process, political pluralism and participation, government functioning, Freedom of expression and belief, associational and organisational rights, rule of law, personal autonomy and individual rights.
World Report on Hearing
This report was released by the World Health Organization (WHO).
One in every four individuals, or around 2.5 billion people, across the world will experience mild-to-profound hearing loss by 2050.
It is estimated that at least 700 million people will suffer from disabling hearing loss and require ear and hearing care.
WHO defines disabling hearing loss as greater than 40 decibels (dB) loss in adults and greater than 30 dB in children.
Reasons for the disability - Exposure to excessive noise, genetic causes, complications at birth, certain infectious diseases, chronic ear infections, the use of particular drugs and ageing.
Over 5% of the global population have disabling hearing loss. But only 17% of those who required hearing aid, actually used one.
AI Gamechangers’ Programme
National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) has launched the ‘AI Gamechangers’ programme.
This programme promotes artificial intelligence (AI) led innovation in India, with Microsoft as the ‘Innovation Partner’.
It will be a platform for startups, enterprises, academia, governments, and NGOs to showcase their AI-based products and solutions.
It will recognise innovators for their successful AI implementation at NASSCOM’s Xperience AI Summit.
