Big Tech’s Failure—Unsafe Online Spaces for Women    
Green Hydrogen    
By-Elections (Bypolls)    
India-Canada Relations    

1.    Big Tech’s Failure—Unsafe Online Spaces for Women
Context
•    Kamala Harris’s Candidacy and Digital Attacks: After U.S. President Joe Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the 2024 Democratic Party nominee, she became a target of digital harassment:
o    Deepfake Videos and Disinformation: Harris was subjected to manipulated content, including a video shared by Elon Musk where she allegedly
criticized Biden’s health and questioned her own capability, as a woman of color, to lead.
o    Right-Wing Trolling and Stereotypes: Figures like former President Donald Trump and media personalities mocked her, with derogatory content including sexist, racist comments, and explicit jokes circulating widely online.
o    Fabricated Romantic Scandal: AI- generated content falsely depicting a romantic relationship between Harris and Trump gained massive circulation, underscoring the reach of disinformation even when known to be false.

Global Pattern of Gender-Based Digital Abuse
•    Harassment of Women Leaders:
o    Prominent women like Nikki Haley (U.S. politician), Giorgia Meloni (Italian Prime Minister), and Rumin Farhana and Nipun Roy (Bangladeshi politicians) have faced similar digital abuse, often involving deepfakes and explicit content.
o    Different Impact on Women vs. Men: Male politicians typically face criticism related to actions or policies, while women encounter objectification, body-shaming, and sexually explicit harassment, which directly undermines their dignity and mental health.
Big Tech’s Accountability Issues
•    Safe Harbour and Platform Responsibility: Tech companies, protected by "safe harbour" laws, claim they are merely platforms for user- generated content and therefore not fully responsible for its regulation. This immunity allows Big Tech to avoid strict content moderation.
•    Inadequate Safeguards: Despite technological advancements, platforms invest minimally in safety features. Labeling AI-generated or harmful content often proves ineffective, as complete removal is often necessary to protect victims from harm.
The Misconception of Empowerment through Technology
•    Gender Bias in AI Systems: Technology, often seen as empowering, tends to amplify existing societal biases. AI systems are frequently developed using biased datasets, leading to tools that

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inadvertently reinforce stereotypes and enable new forms of harassment.
•    Underrepresentation of Women in Tech Roles: Low participation of women in tech, particularly at companies like Meta, Google, and OpenAI, limits the development of inclusive AI frameworks. This contributes to an environment where digital tools fail to adequately protect women.
Proposed Solutions
 

Conclusion

bias, ensuring they are trained with diverse data to promote fairness.
    Policy and Legal Measures: Governments should enact regulations to ensure digital spaces remain safe, with clear policies that mandate accountability for Big Tech companies.

•    Content Moderation and Accountability:
o    Stricter Moderation and Faster Action: Tech companies need dedicated content moderation teams with faster response times, especially for explicit content, to protect victims from prolonged harm.
o    Corporate Responsibility: Platforms offering explicit or potentially harmful services should be regularly audited and held accountable. Harmful apps should face removal from app stores if found to endanger user safety.
•    Increased Representation and Ethical AI Development:
o    Gender-Inclusive Tech Development: Increasing the presence of women in AI development can help address gender biases in digital platforms.
o    Ethical and Safe AI Models: Mustafa Suleyman, in The Coming Wave, advocates for both technical and non-technical solutions to address the impacts of AI. Steps include:
    Bias Testing and Safety Research: AI models should undergo testing for gender

For digital spaces to be safer for women, Big Tech, governments, and society must collaborate. Immediate changes, such as investing in proactive moderation processes, increasing women’s roles in AI development, and strengthening accountability measures, are necessary to create a more inclusive and secure online environment.

Prelims Question:
With reference to Big Tech's role in online safety, consider the following statements:
1.    Safe harbour laws protect tech companies from liability for user-generated content.
2.    Deepfake videos have primarily been used for artistic purposes rather than misinformation.
3.    AI-driven platforms can unintentionally reinforce societal biases.
Which of the above statements are correct?
A)    1 and 3 only
B)    2 only
C)    1 and 2 only
D)    1, 2, and 3
Answer: A) 1 and 3 only

Mains Question:
"Big Tech platforms have contributed to an unsafe online environment for women through insufficient accountability and ineffective content moderation." Analyze how gender biases in AI and digital platforms contribute to online abuse.

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Discuss the steps that governments and tech companies can take to make digital spaces safer for women.

2.    Green Hydrogen
Why in News
•    IRENA’s Projection: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) projects hydrogen to comprise 12% of the global energy mix by 2050. To support a sustainable transition, 66% of this hydrogen should be derived from water instead of natural gas.
•    Report Released: IRENA recently published the World Energy Transitions Outlook report.
Understanding Hydrogen
•    Abundance and Role: Hydrogen is one of Earth’s most abundant elements, serving as a potential clean alternative fuel.
•    Types of Hydrogen (based on production process):
o    Green Hydrogen: Created through electrolysis of water powered by renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind), producing a low carbon footprint. Byproducts include water and water vapor.
o    Brown Hydrogen: Derived from coal, with emissions released into the atmosphere.
o    Grey Hydrogen: Produced from natural gas but without emissions capture, leading to atmospheric release.
o    Blue Hydrogen: Also from natural gas, but with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to reduce emissions.
Uses of Hydrogen

•    Energy Carrier: Hydrogen is not an energy source but a carrier that stores and delivers energy efficiently.
•    Applications:
o    Common in petroleum refining
and fertilizer production.
o    Emerging uses in transportation, utilities, distributed power systems, and combined heat-and- power systems.
o    Due to zero or near-zero emissions, hydrogen and fuel cells hold potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across various sectors.
Global Status of Green Hydrogen
•    Current Production: Less than 1% of global hydrogen production is green hydrogen.
•    Electrolyser Capacity: To meet 2050 goals, global electrolyser capacity must grow from the current 0.3 gigawatts to nearly 5,000 gigawatts.
India’s Hydrogen Landscape
•    Hydrogen Consumption: India consumes approximately 6 million tonnes annually, mainly for ammonia and methanol production in fertilizers and refineries. This demand could rise to 28 million tonnes by 2050 with expansion in industry, transport, and power.
•    Cost Competitiveness: By 2030, the cost of green hydrogen in India is expected to be competitive with hydrocarbon fuels (coal, crude oil, natural gas). With anticipated production scale, demand for hydrogen could increase fivefold by 2050, with 80% expected to be green hydrogen.
•    Export Potential: India, benefiting from low renewable energy tariffs, is on track to become a net exporter of green hydrogen by 2030.

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Benefits of Green Hydrogen for India
•    Climate Commitments: Supports India’s commitment under the Paris Agreement to reduce emission intensity by 33-35% from 2005 levels by 2030.
•    Reducing Fossil Fuel Imports: Green hydrogen could reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels.
•    Economic Opportunities: Localization of electrolyser production and expansion in green hydrogen projects could create a
$18-20 billion market and generate thousands of jobs.
Potential for Green Hydrogen Production
•    Geographic Advantage: India’s abundance of sunlight and wind resources, along with favorable geography, supports green hydrogen production.
Challenges
•    High Costs and Infrastructure Needs:
o    Fuel Cells: Converting hydrogen into usable energy (e.g., for cars) remains costly.
o    Infrastructure: Hydrogen refueling stations are underdeveloped, limiting adoption of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Steps Taken
•    National Hydrogen Mission: Announced in the 2021-22 Union Budget, the National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHM) aims to establish a roadmap for hydrogen as a key energy source.
Key Indian Initiatives for Renewable Energy
•    Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM)
•    International Solar Alliance (ISA)
•    PM-KUSUM Scheme
•    National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy
•    Rooftop Solar Scheme

Prelims Question:
With reference to green hydrogen, consider the following statements:
1.    Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources.
2.    India aims to be a net importer of green hydrogen by 2030.
3.    Hydrogen is primarily used as an energy source for power generation.
Which of the above statements are correct?
A)    1 only
B)    1 and 3 only
C)    2 and 3 only
D)    1, 2, and 3
Answer: A) 1 only

Mains Question:
"Green hydrogen has the potential to transform India’s energy landscape, but high costs and infrastructural challenges hinder its large-scale adoption." Discuss the significance of green
hydrogen for India’s climate and energy goals and suggest measures to overcome the current challenges in its production and use.

3.    By-Elections (Bypolls)
Overview
•    Definition: Bypolls, or special elections, are held to fill vacant seats in India’s legislative bodies.
•    Purpose: The primary objective is to ensure timely representation for constituencies with vacant seats, allowing uninterrupted legislative participation for the affected area.
Reasons for Conducting Bypolls
Bypolls are necessitated when a legislative seat becomes vacant due to:
•    Death of a sitting member,
•    Resignation from office,

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•    Disqualification based on legal or ethical grounds, or
•    Expulsion of a member.
Legal Framework: Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA)
•    Section 151A: This section mandates that by-elections must be held within six months from the date the vacancy arises.
•    Exceptions to the Six-Month Rule:
o    Section 151A(a): The six-month rule does not apply if the remaining term of the Parliament or legislative assembly is less than one year.
o    Section 151A(b): In cases where it is difficult to conduct bypolls

per Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
2.    The six-month rule for by-elections applies irrespective of the remaining term of the Parliament.
3.    The Election Commission can defer bypolls after consulting the Central Government under specific circumstances.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A)    1 and 2 only
B)    1 and 3 only
C)    2 and 3 only
D)    1, 2, and 3
Answer: B) 1 and 3 only

within six months, the Election        

Commission (EC) may, after consulting with the Central Government, decide to defer the bypoll.
Impact of By-Elections
•    Popularity Gauge: Bypolls serve as a critical indicator of political parties’ popularity and provide insights into public sentiment.
•    Assessment of Support: They allow political parties to evaluate their support base and recalibrate strategies.
•    Government Stability: Bypoll outcomes can affect the majority of the ruling government in the legislative body. A significant loss in bypoll seats can lead to a decline in government stability and hinder effective decision-making.

Prelims Question:
With reference to by-elections in India, consider the following statements:
1. By-elections must be held within six months of the occurrence of a vacancy as

Mains Question:
"By-elections serve as a litmus test for the popularity of political parties and can impact the stability of the ruling government." Discuss the importance of bypolls in India’s political system and the potential implications of their outcomes on governance and policy-making.

4.    India-Canada Relations
Background
•    Establishment of Relations: Diplomatic relations were established in 1947, soon after India’s independence.
•    Strategic Partnership: Bilateral relations were elevated to a strategic partnership during PM Modi’s visit to Canada in 2015.
Commercial Relations
•    Trade Status: India is Canada’s 10th largest trading partner.
•    Trade Volume:
o    Exports to Canada: $4.10 billion (2022-23), up from $3.76 billion (2021-22).
 

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o    Imports from Canada: $4.05 billion (2022-23), up from $3.13 billion (2021-22).
CEPA/EPTA Negotiations
•    Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA): Talks were re- launched in March 2022.
•    Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA): An interim agreement aimed at mutual commercial gains.
•    Trade Suspension: Talks were paused in September 2023 following diplomatic tensions related to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nuclear Cooperation
•    Initial Cooperation: Canada’s aid to India’s nuclear program began in 1956, but the relationship suffered after India’s 1974 Smiling Buddha nuclear test.
•    Restoration: Nuclear cooperation resumed with the 2010 Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA).
•    Historic Contribution: Canada helped build CIRUS, India’s first research reactor.
People-to-People Ties
•    Indian Diaspora in Canada: One of the world’s largest Indian diasporas, numbering 1.6 million (over 4% of Canada’s population).
•    Political Representation: Canada’s House of Commons includes 22 Members of Parliament of Indian origin.
Key Challenges in India-Canada Relations Separatist Khalistani Groups
•    Safe Haven for Separatists: Canada is perceived as providing a safe environment for Khalistani groups, which New Delhi sees as political pandering by Canada’s Liberal Party.
•    Political Support: Some members of the Trudeau government, including NDP

leader Jagmeet Singh Dhaliwal, are seen as sympathetic to pro-Khalistan causes.
•    Khalistani Referendum: New Delhi has objected to events like a Khalistani secessionist referendum held among the Sikh diaspora in Canada.
•    Controversial Parade Incident: A parade in June 2023 in Canada depicted a float celebrating the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi, sparking outrage in India.
Other Friction Points
•    Attacks on Indian-Origin People: Reports of violence against Indians in Canada have caused diplomatic concern.
•    Comments on India’s Internal Affairs: Canada’s statements regarding India’s farmer protests were met with criticism from India, which saw it as interference.
India-Canada Diplomatic Row: Background Killing of Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) Chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar
•    Background: Nijjar, wanted by India and with a bounty from the NIA, was killed in a targeted shooting in June 2023 in Surrey, Canada.
•    G20 Summit Meeting: PM Modi raised concerns about Khalistani extremism with Canadian PM Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi in September 2023.
•    Parliament Allegations: On September 18, 2023, Trudeau claimed credible allegations linking Indian agents to
Nijjar’s killing, which India dismissed as unfounded.
Recent Diplomatic Escalation
•    Tit-for-Tat Expulsions: In response to
Trudeau’s statements, both countries
expelled diplomats in a tit-for-tat move.
•    Lawrence Bishnoi Connection: Canadian authorities suspect that Lawrence

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Bishnoi’s criminal network (active in Canada) may be tied to India’s actions against dissidents.

Prelims Question:
With reference to India-Canada relations, consider the following statements:
1.    Canada was the first country to aid India’s
nuclear power program.
2.    The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Canada was signed in 2015.
3.    Canada has a significant population of Indian-origin people, constituting more than 4% of its total population.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A)    1 and 3 only
B)    2 and 3 only
C)    1 and 2 only
D)    1, 2, and 3
Answer: A) 1 and 3 only

Mains Question:
"India-Canada relations are marred by diplomatic challenges, including issues related to separatist movements and differing political interests." Examine the key challenges in India-Canada relations, especially in light of recent diplomatic tensions, and suggest steps that could strengthen bilateral cooperation.