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UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 06-03-2021

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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.

 

Source: PIB, The Hindu, Down To Earth

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