CSIR - Ministry Of Science and Tech GOI

SECTION OFFICER (GEN/F&A/S&P)” & “ASSISTANT SECTION OFFICER (GEN/F&A/S&P)

VACANCIES : 444

Eligibility - Graduation

Age Limit - 33 years (Gen)

🔵 Have We Crossed The Line? AI's 'Nudify' Apps Spark Controversy

https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/nudify-apps-ai-to-undress-woman-popularity-1989801

Graphika, a social network analysis company, revealed some concerning results in its recent survey. The survey claimed that alone in September, more than 24 million people visited 'Nudify' sites, which are AI-driven apps that use AI algorithms to manipulate images, remove clothing, and expose individuals to compromising positions without their consent.

The survey highlighted the surge in cases of toxic internet trends and the worrying proliferation of non-consensual pornography through Artificial intelligence. The rise of deep fake videos and the popularity of nudify apps present a worrying intersection of technology and privacy invasion, raising ethical and legal concerns.

#AI #Women

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🔵 What does a special package mean for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups? | Explained - The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/what-does-a-special-package-mean-for-particularly-vulnerable-tribal-groups-explained/article67622417.ece

Who are the PVTGs?

Initially known as Primitive Tribal Groups, the PVTGs are defined by the government as tribal communities that show either a declining or stagnant population, use of pre-agrarian technology, economic backwardness, low literacy etc. They are found to be living in some of the remotest and most inaccessible areas in the country.

There are 75 such communities which are spread over 18 States and Union Territories, according to government figures. A book, The Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in India: Privileges and Predicaments, published by the Anthropological Survey of India in 2016 and edited by K.K. Misra and others, says the highest number of PVTGs are found in Odisha (15), followed by Andhra Pradesh (12), Bihar and Jharkhand (9), Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh (7), Tamil Nadu (6) and Kerala and Gujarat (5 each). The rest, the writers said, are scattered in Maharashtra and West Bengal (3 each), Karnataka and Uttarakhand (2 each), and one each in Rajasthan, Tripura and Manipur. All the four tribal groups in the Andaman, and one in Nicobar Islands, are recognised as PVTGs. The last available Census that counted all 75 communities was from 2001, which put their total number around 27.6 lakh.

#Tribals

Social Catalysts for the Escalation of Freebie (Revadi) Culture :

Materialization of Vote Banks: The electorate’s preferences have evolved with economic shifts, influenced by media narratives and growing consumerism.

Politicization of Criminality: Candidates with dubious backgrounds tend to exploit freebies, such as liquor and cash, to entice voters.

Legal lag (Failure to put social control mechanism in place) : ECI has acknowledged its limited jurisdiction over regulating election freebies, owing to legal lacunae.


Positive Dimensions:

Female Empowerment: Initiatives like free bus passes for women in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have incentivized women's labor force participation, fostering economic self-reliance and family stability.

Redressing Marginalization: Displaced communities, who sacrifice lands and traditional livelihoods for infrastructural projects, find respite in freebies. The World Bank recognized the necessity of safety nets in the 1980s to alleviate marginalization.

Socio-Economic Upliftment: Freebies can act as catalysts in addressing economic disparities and facilitating welfare for the underprivileged strata of society


Preventing class polarisation .
Social inclusion and Social Integration .
Adaption function fulfilling under AGIL
Addressing Poverty, Exclusion, Deprivation
Govt being an instrument of welfare rather than instrument of power



Negative Dimensions:

Elitist Critique: Sociologists argue that critiques of freebie culture emanate from elite perspectives, who are ineligible beneficiaries.

Intensifying Disparities: The intergenerational repercussions of freebie culture can exacerbate social inequalities.

Cult of Personality: Unsolicited freebies often contribute to the glorification of political figures, undermining democratic ethos.

Unsustainable Pledges: Overzealous election manifestos with impractical freebies risk fiscal irresponsibility. NK Singh, the chairperson of the 14th Finance Commission, opined that freebies are a quick passport to fiscal disaster.

Democracy Erosion: Freebie distribution can undermine the sanctity of unbiased electoral processes.

Societal Disruption: Freebies can trigger social tensions and impede holistic development, as witnessed in Sri Lanka.

Clientelism: The patron-client dynamic epitomized by freebie culture compromises democratic principles, wherein electoral support is bartered for material benefits.

Revadi Culture: PM Narendra Modi denounced freebie culture as “Revadi culture”, highlighting its potential perils for national development.

Credits : Fizzle Bomber

@DecipherCivils

🔵 An icy warning: The Hindu Editorial on threats from contracting glaciers - The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/an-icy-warning-the-hindu-editorial-on-threats-from-contracting-glaciers/article67618613.ece

Few barometers measure the climate crisis as evocatively as the state of glaciers, a key component of the cryosphere. The World Meteorological Organization’s recent report, The Global Climate 2011-2020, gives a broad view of the planet’s response to greenhouse gas emissions. In the section on the state of glacier health, it points out that, on average, the world’s glaciers thinned by approximately a metre a year from 2011 to 2020. When compared across decades, there is significant regional variability, but the overall pattern remains that glaciers in all regions of the world are becoming smaller. In fact, some of the reference glaciers, which are used to make long-term assessments of glacier health, have already melted away as the nourishing winter snow is completely melting away during summer. In Africa, glaciers on the Rwenzori Mountains and Mount Kenya are projected to disappear by 2030, and those on Kilimanjaro by 2040. The report points to the rapid growth of pro-glacial lakes and the likelihood of glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF), posing additional threats to ecosystems and livelihoods. The reports singled out how “...water from glacial melt contributed to one of the decade’s worst flooding disasters, the Uttarakhand floods of June 2013”.

#Environment

🔆 Your brain thrives on loving relationships 🔆

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Classic Example of Dynastic Politics.

🔵 Are crimes against women on the rise? | Explained - The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/are-crimes-against-women-on-the-rise-explained/article67622430.ece

What was the nature of the majority of crimes against women?

The majority of crimes against women were of cruelty by husband or his relatives (31.4%), kidnapping and abduction of women (19.2%), assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty (18.7%) and rape (7.1%). Further, 13,479 cases were registered under the Dowry Prohibition Act.

Activists and lawyers attribute this to a PATRIARCHAL society. “Despite high levels of education, male mindsets and societal attitude remain unchanged,” says Supreme Court lawyer Shilpi Jain. According to women’s rights activist Mariam Dhawale, India over the last few years has witnessed a strengthening of regressive value systems which women’s movements had struggled to overcome for decades. “

There is a glorification of anti-women practices

,” she points out. According to Jayashree Velankar, director of women’s organisation, Jagori, “

dowry or bride price both connote commodity status of women who are traded between families for their productive and reproductive labour. What we need is a strong political will, and not mere rhetoric, to bring in policies and programmes that will focus on creating conditions to elevate women’s status.

”

#Crime #Women

🔵 Majority of Kerala youths seeking foreign education come from families earning below Rs 5 lakh, Says CPPR Study - Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR)

https://www.cppr.in/innews/kerala-youth-migration

Many students see education as a way to migrate, and financial barriers are not a significant issue due to available loans and travel agency support. However, post-migration life brings challenges like cultural adaptation and finding appropriate job opportunities.From the study we undertook, a diverse spectrum of student migrants becomes apparent. These range from individuals aspiring to secure positions at top-tier universities to those opting for shorter courses focusing on obtaining permanent residency.It is noteworthy that 59 per cent of the respondents in the study are aged between 23 and 25, predominantly originating from central Kerala.Under the methodical approach of SNOWBALL SAMPLING, the survey delves deep into the socio-economic and academic backgrounds of the respondents.It further seeks to understand their present situations and the circumstances that led them there, while also probing into their future aspirations and considerations. This comprehensive survey offers a panoramic view of the many facets of student migration.

The 2018 Kerala Migration Survey reported women’s participation in migration at 15.8 per cent. Yet, in the study, females represented 32 per cent of the respondents, aligning with data showing nearly half of over 7200 students securing Canadian visas from one facilitator being female. Therefore, the findings suggest that more women from Kerala are pursuing overseas education.The study also showcased the distribution of migrant students predominantly between general and other backward caste (OBC) categories, with the representation of both Scheduled Castes (SC/ST) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) being minimal.The low migration trends of students hailing from the SC/ST category are also supported by the Kerala Migration Survey, illuminating that

at present, youth migrating for education is still dominated more by youth from general and OBC categories.

The study found diversity among migrants based on their academic and financial backgrounds. It revealed that 38 per cent of student migrants scored below 75 per cent in their previous degree course.

#Education #Migration

Empowering Women Through Childcare Support

#Women #Employment

Transwoman's Libraries Are Changing How Villages See Queer People

#Queer #Breaking_Barriers

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🔵 Can Bihar increase its reservation pool? | Explained - The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/can-bihar-increase-its-reservation-pool-explained/article67628656.ece

The story so far: On November 17, the Governor of Bihar approved two laws increasing the quantum of reservations in jobs and education in the State to 75%, including 20% for Scheduled Castes, 2% for Scheduled Tribes, 18% for Other Backward Classes, and 25% for Extremely Backward Classes, and 10% for economically weaker sections (EWS). The two laws have once again sparked debate around the permissible limits of reservations in India, particularly in view of the “50%” limit prescribed by the Supreme Court of India in the Mandal Commission case (Indra Sawhney, 1992), as well as the court’s emphasis on “adequate” representation of the oppressed classes as opposed to “proportionate representation”.

What is the 50% rule?

The Supreme Court has historically maintained that reservations, whether in jobs or education, should not exceed 50% of the total seats/posts. In 1963, a seven judge bench in M.R. Balaji explained that reservations were in the nature of an “exception“ or “special provision“ under our constitutional scheme. Therefore, they cannot be provided for more than 50% of the posts or seats. Though this understanding of reservations changed in 1976 — with it being recognised that reservations are a facet of EQUALITY rather than an exception to it — the 50% limit has remained unaltered.

A nine judge bench in the Mandal commission case in 1990 reaffirmed the 50% limit and held that it is a BINDING rule, and not merely a matter of prudence. However, it is not a rule without exceptions.

A State can exceed the limit in exceptional circumstances, that is, to provide reservations to communities which hail from far flung areas of the country and have been kept out of the mainstream of the society. This is not a geographical test but a social one.

Besides, last year, the Supreme Court upheld the 103rd Constitutional Amendment which provides for 10% additional reservations to the EWS. This means, for the time being, that

the 50% limit applies only to non-EWS reservations, and States are permitted to reserve a total of 60% of the seats/posts including EWS reservations.

#Reservation

🔵 Cases of human trafficking victims being forced to commit cybercrimes on the rise - The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cyber-frauds-manned-by-human-trafficking-victims-expanding-beyond-southeast-asia-according-to-joint-interpol-operation/article67624356.ece

The first Interpol operation against fraud schemes fuelled by victims of human trafficking has unearthed further evidence that the trend is expanding beyond the southeast Asian region. Indian enforcement agencies also participated in the exercise.
The fraud schemes included fake cryptocurrency investments, fraudulent work-from-home offers, and lottery and online gambling scams.

Known as “Operation Storm Makers II”, the Interpol exercise resulted in the arrest of 281 persons in different countries, on charges such as human trafficking, passport forgery, corruption, telecommunications fraud, and sexual exploitation. While 149 human trafficking victims were rescued, over 360 investigations were opened, several of which are still being pursued by law enforcement agencies.

#Crime #Human_Trafficking #Cybercrime

Came across this “Dowry Rates Article by Dainik Bhaskar Bihar.”

How do you think dowry system will end in India ?