Q1. Write a short note on Quantum Technology. (250 words)

  • Paper & Topic: GS III – Science and Technology related topics
  • Model Answer:
  • Introduction:
  • Quantum supremacy refers to a device’s ability to solve issues that traditional computers can’t. When compared to the fastest supercomputers available, it is the ability to complete complex computations in a relatively short amount of time. John Preskill, a theoretical physicist at Caltech, created this expression in 2012 to characterise the point at which quantum computers can perform things that classical computers can’t.
  • Body:
  • Google just stated that it has achieved quantum supremacy. Quantum computers are based on the quantum mechanics premise. Google stated that their sycamore quantum computer tackled extremely difficult issues in 200 seconds.
  • Quantum computing’s potential applications include:
  • Medical care:
  • Research: The size and complexity of molecules that can be simulated and compared by traditional computers is limited (an essential process in early drug development). The number of possible interactions between these atoms is exponential if we have an input of size N, where N is the number of atoms in the investigated molecules (each atom can interact with all the others). Larger molecules will be simulated using quantum computers. Simultaneously, researchers will be able to study and simulate drug interactions with all 20,000+ proteins encoded in the human genome, resulting in higher pharmacological advances.
  • Quantum technologies could be employed in a range of applications to give faster, more accurate diagnostics. Machine learning, which is currently being used to enhance pattern detection, will benefit from increased AI capabilities. High-resolution MRI equipment will provide more detail and will assist clinicians in illness screening.
  • Treatment: Targeted treatments, such as radiotherapy, rely on the ability to quickly model and simulate complex scenarios in order to provide the best treatment possible. Using quantum computers, therapists would be able to conduct more simulations in less time, reducing radiation harm to healthy tissue.
  • Funding:
  • Algorithmic trading – the use of complex algorithms to automatically trigger share dealings depending on a wide variety of market variables – is one potential application for quantum technologies. The benefits are enormous, especially for high-volume transactions.
  • Pattern recognition is used in fraud detection, just as it is in diagnostics in healthcare. Quantum computers have the potential to greatly increase machine learning capabilities, lowering the time it takes to train a neural network and increasing the detection rate.
  • Promotion:
  • Quantum computers will be able to collect and analyse massive amounts of consumer data from many sources.
  • Big data analytics will enable businesses and governments to accurately target individual consumers and voters with messaging tailored to their interests, influencing consumer spending and election outcomes.
  • The science of weather:
  • Accurate weather forecasts are difficult to generate because there are so many variables to consider. The use of quantum computers for machine learning will increase pattern recognition, making it easier to predict extreme weather events and potentially save thousands of lives each year.
  • Climate scientists will also be able to create and analyse more complex climate models, giving them a better understanding of climate change and how to reduce its harmful effects.
  • Transportation and logistics:
  • A wide range of sectors will be able to optimise workflows linked with transportation, logistics, and supply-chain management thanks to improved data analysis and modelling.
  • Traffic management, fleet operations, air traffic control, freight and distribution could all benefit from the computation and recalculation of optimal routes.
  • Disaster Preparedness:
  • With quantum applications, tsunamis, droughts, earthquakes, and floods may become more foreseeable.

Quantum technology can help to simplify the collection of data on climate change. This, in turn, will have a significant impact on agriculture, food technology chains, and farmland waste reduction.

  • Communication that is secure:
  • Secure quantum communication lines between terrestrial stations and satellites were recently demonstrated by China.
  • Satellites, the military, and cyber security are all interested in this sector because it promises users impossibly rapid computers and secure, unhackable satellite communication.
  • The Indian scenario with quantum computing:
  • Globally, study in this field has been going on for roughly two decades, but real experimental work in India has only been going on for around five years.
  • In 2018, the government began serious discussions on quantum technology and launched 51 research projects under the QUEST (Quantum Enabled Science and Technology) initiative. However, until the NMQTA, no meaningful progress is done in this field.
  • The newly formed National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications has been allocated 8,000 crore ($ 1.2 billion) in the Union Budget 2020-21. (NMQTA). The mission aims to create quantum computing-related technologies in the midst of the second quantum revolution, with the goal of making India the world’s third largest quantum computing nation after the United States and China.
  • Conclusion:
  • Quantum computing has the ability to overcome the current restrictions imposed by regular computer power, resulting in advancements in agriculture, biotechnology, finance, healthcare, and cyber security, among other fields. This will aid the globe in overcoming current difficulties like as food insecurity, climate change cybercrime, a lack of new antibiotics to combat superbugs, as well as money laundering and terror financing. Although still in its early stages, quantum supremacy has huge future promise for humanity.

Q2. Discuss the status of Digital Payments in India. (250 words)

  • Paper & Topic: GS III – Science and Technology related topics
  • Model Answer:
  • Introduction:
  • A digital payment is an online or digital transaction that does not include a physical exchange of money. This means that both the payer and the payee exchange money via electronic means. Since demonetisation in 2016, the Indian government has been aggressively supporting and advertising internet payments. Many economic and financial decisions prompted Indians to move to online payments were guided by the concept of ‘Digital India.’ By 2023, 66.6 billion transactions totaling $270.7 billion in India are likely to transition from cash to cards and digital payments, according to an ET article.
  • Body:
  • In India, the Evolution of Digital Payments:
  • India’s payments framework – particularly the digital payments system – has been rapidly evolving over the past several years, propelled by advances in data and communication technologies and nurtured in line with RBI’s vision.
  • With the emergence of the internet in the 1990s, online banking became a reality. Online banking revolutionised the financial services industry.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) piloted the emergence of digital payments in India, which was documented in the 1998 publication Payment Systems in India.
  • The introduction of MICR (Magnetic ink character recognition code) clearing in the early 1980s, the Electronic Clearing Service and Electronic Funds Transfer in the 1990s, the issuance of credit and debit cards by banks in the 1990s, the National Financial Switch in 2003 that realised interconnectivity of ATMs across the country, the RTGS and NEFT in 2004, the Cheque Dispatch System in 2005, the National Financial Switch in 2003, the RTGS and NEFT in 2004, the Cheque Disp
  • In 2008, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was founded. It has been at the forefront of the retail payment framework’s development.
  • Non-bank organisations, such as mobile and digital wallets, have also been mentioned in the issuing of prepaid instruments (PPI). The NPCI has also taken notable steps, including as initiating grid-wise CTS operations, interoperability on NACH (National Automated Clearing House), IMPS, NFS, RuPay, APBS, and AEPS, and the National Unified USSD Platform (NUUP), UPI, and BHIM application.
  • These developments reflect the country’s evolving Digital Payments infrastructure. This was followed by a notable initiative by the Indian government, which established the Committee of Digital Payments in August 2016, chaired by Ratan P. Watal, Principal Adviser, NITI Aayog.
  • Following the November 2016 demonetisation, India’s adoption of digital payment systems skyrocketed. Demonetisation prompted Indians to convert to cashless techniques, which come with a slew of hidden charges, but when the pressure eased, they returned to using cash.
  • The importance of a cashless economy for India is as follows:
  • In India, the fundamental benefit of a cashless society is that keeping track of all economic transactions through electronic methods makes it nearly impossible to support black economies or underground markets, which are typically harmful to national economies.
  • This lowers the likelihood of black money entering the system. Conducting illicit transactions is likewise extremely dangerous. A predominantly cash-based economy encourages a thriving underground market, which supports illegal activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism, extortion, and so on. It’s more harder to launder money for such illicit operations with cashless transactions.
  • Fake currency notes can be stopped from being circulated. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) programme captured 287,404 fake currency notes worth $25.3 crore in 2019, up 11.7 percent from the previous year.
  • Increase Base of taxation: In a cashless society, it is difficult to avoid paying required taxes, and such violations are expected to be considerably minimised. Increased tax revenue for the state and more money available to pay welfare programmes would result from the expanded tax base.
  • Transparency, scalability, and accountability are all enhanced by digital transactions.
  • People will have more faith in digital technologies as a result of this.
  • Digital transactions save time and money while increasing market efficiency.
  • It will eliminate the dangers of carrying and moving large sums of money.
  • Paper banknotes and coins will be produced less in a cashless economy. As a result, a significant amount of production cost will be saved. These vital resources could be shifted to social programmes or capital investment in a cash-strapped country like India.
  • Because of the cashless transaction, a lot of data is transferred. The pattern of data transmission will assist the government plan for future expenses such as housing, energy management, and so on.
  • Transitioning to a Cashless Society: Challenges:
  • Infrastructure for acceptance and digital inclusion: Setting up a cashless economy is difficult due to a lack of suitable infrastructure. Some of the challenges that must be addressed include inefficient financial systems, bad digital infrastructure, poor internet access, a lack of a comprehensive digital payment interface, and low penetration of PoS devices. To shift to a cashless economy, increasing smartphone usage, improving internet connectivity, and developing a safe, seamless payments infrastructure are all necessary.
  • Financial Inclusion – The key precondition for a cashless economy to take off is that everyone has access to financial services. Every person should have access to banking services and should have a bank account with a debit/credit card and access to online banking. In the linked article, you may learn more about Financial Inclusion.
  • Financial and Digital Literacy – To shift to a cashless economy, ensuring financial and digital inclusivity is insufficient. Citizens should also be educated on the many financial and digital instruments that are accessible, as well as how to use them.
  • Cybersecurity — Cyber-attacks, cyber fraud, phishing, and identity theft are all threats to digital infrastructure. Cyber-attacks have recently become more sophisticated and organised, posing a clear and present threat. As a result, going cashless necessitates the establishment of safe and resilient payment interfaces. Enhanced attack defences, data protection, privacy concerns, comprehensive surveillance to prevent attacks, and institutionalised cybersecurity architecture are all part of this.
  • Changing habits and attitudes — Due to a lack of penetration of e-payment modes, digital illiteracy of e-payment and cashless transaction methods, and thirdly, the habit of handling cash as a convenience, the Indian economy relies heavily on cash. In this situation, the best course of action is to gradually encourage people to accept e-payments while also raising awareness to encourage a shift in habits and attitudes.
  • The Urban-Rural Gap — While most urban areas have high-speed internet access, semi-urban and rural areas remain without it. As a result, even though India has over 200 million smartphones, rural India is still a long way from being able to transact seamlessly over mobile phones. Even in terms of ATMs, PoS terminals, and bank branches, there is a considerable urban-rural difference, which must be bridged in order to create a cashless economy.
  • Conclusion:
  • India should take notes from other emerging countries that have reduced their reliance on cash while also bringing more people into the official banking system.
  • The goal of a cashless economy should not be sacrificed to the public good.
  • As a result, India must continue to invest in digital literacy, digital infrastructure in rural regions, and the creation of rules to combat fraud and privacy concerns.
  • This will aid India’s transition to a near-cashless economy that prioritises social and public welfare.

Q3. What are India’s most significant barriers to scientific innovation and indigenization? Examine. (250 words)

  • Paper & Topic: GS III – Science and Technology related topics
  • Model Answer:
  • Introduction:
  • India has a long history of scientific invention in subjects including mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and material science, all of which have been practised in the Indian subcontinent from ancient times. However, there is a significant gap between scientific understanding and the ‘ordinary’ man and woman in today’s world, and the government has made minimal efforts to close this gap until lately.
  • Body:
  • Critical Barriers to Indian Scientific Innovation and Indigenization:
  • Institutional issues: Our educational institutions are primarily exam oriented, and as a result, they do not place a strong emphasis on creativity, critical thinking, or open-mindedness. This stifles the spirit of innovation and indigenization.
  • Due to a lack of university-industry collaboration, application-oriented R&D is limited. Only three Indian institutes were ranked among the top 200 universities in the world in the ‘Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world ranking of institutes, 2019’. The curricula are out of date, and there is a lack of emphasis on skill development and employability.
  • Bottlenecks in the administrative process: The dominance of bureaucratic administrative structures in Indian research units, as well as government meddling in the day-to-day activities of research institutes, are at odds with intellectual sum. Science and scientists have limited public access.
  • There is no friendly connection between scientists and administrators and legislators for public participation and social support for research and scientific activity.
  • Funding Issues: India spends only 0.82 percent of GDP on R&D (public and private), and the private sector spends less than 0.2 percent of GDP on R&D. India receives only 2.7 percent of global R&D spending, while China receives 17.5 percent.
  • India has regressed due to a lack of curiosity-driven research and the role of local knowledge or “folk science” in a diversified bio and geosphere. There is no systematic way to bring together practitioners and experts from many fields on a national platform and share their knowledge with the scientific community and students.
  • Patents and trademarks have a weak IPR regime, which decreases the incentives for entrepreneurs to engage in innovation and research.
  • Reducing the fiscal deficit: India, for example, is the world’s second largest arms importer (after Saudi Arabia). Increased import dependency leads to a larger budgetary deficit. Despite having the world’s fifth largest defence expenditure, India buys 60% of its weapon weapons from other countries.
  • According to a World Economic Forum survey, only 17% of Indian respondents said the “cultural support pillar” was accessible in their nation. As a result, it discourages people from engaging in research and other activities with unclear outcomes. It has produced a societal preference for employment security and stability over risk-taking.
  • a big country, Various issues: While literacy is improving, scientific literacy is at an all-time low. Because of India’s enormous population, limited resources, and diversity of languages, mass science teaching is especially difficult. Many people will miss out on science communication initiatives if greater emphasis is paid to local languages.
  • India’s innovation policy must move beyond a focus on R&D spending to include ecosystem transformation. Our innovation policy must transition away from a focus on boosting R&D investment and toward instilling a “out-of-the-box” mindset in our universities, start-ups, and corporations.
  • Steps that required to be taken were as follows:
  • Elimination of rote learning: India’s educational policy must be reformed to place a greater emphasis on developing cognitive talents, rather than rote learning, and to place a greater emphasis on quantitative courses. The new New Education Policy, for example, is a step in the right direction.
  • Need to make use of The rise of data analytics: Focus on leveraging the data analytics boom to improve educational quality across the university system, not just our existing islands of brilliance.
  • Increased access to public data for the development of creative applications: A supportive ecosystem for this will necessitate more access to public data via the Right to Information Act, as well as a drive to provide public data (for example, on train punctuality, water scarcity, and air quality metrics) for constructing real-time innovative apps.
  • The Economic Survey 2017-18 suggests increasing national R&D spending, with the private sector and universities contributing the majority of the increase.
  • It is necessary to promote investor-led research. The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has already been created in this aim. It’s a great start, but additional resources and innovative governance structures are needed.
  • Under Make in India, several indigenous start-ups are given a boost. India needs stand-up comedy now more than ever.
  • In addition to these procedures, the following government activities must be followed to the letter and spirit in order to instil a culture of scientific innovation and indigenization.
  •  
  • The NITI Ayog developed the Atal Innovation Mission as an innovation promotion platform including academics, entrepreneurs, and researchers who use national and international experience to boost India’s innovation, R&D, and technology-oriented domains.
  • India’s Growth Program for Innovation (IIGP) 2.0: The programme helps entrepreneurs with finance, capacity building, mentoring, incubation, and business development.
  • Defence Procurement Procedure 2016 (replaced DPP 2013) includes an extra category “Buy (Indian-IDDM)” i.e. Indigenously Designed, Developed, and Manufactured, as the most preferred method of defence products acquisition, based on the recommendations of the Dhirendra Singh committee.
  • Conclusion:

With globalisation, it is easier to see the widening disparity between western and Indian approaches to supporting innovation and indigenization. India has the potential to pioneer high-tech innovation and indigenisation because it has a young population and a strong Diaspora that is more rich than any other country. If the necessary procedures are taken in letter and spirit, India will undoubtedly become a “Vishwaguru” in terms of current technological breakthroughs and indigenization.

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