Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

• Hindi in the world: In the era of cultural-flattening, India must strengthen its linguistic traditions

GS Paper 2

• Japan’s evolving relations with the Global South
• Shaping a more disabled-friendly digital ecosystem
• Ladakh, a fragile region, needs autonomy
• More Minnus, Draupadis – Every tribal success story is a reminder how much govts need to do for genuine Adivasi empowerment
• Fossil and time: On the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill

GS Paper 3

• Let’s Go Against the Grain of Wheat, Rice Bias
• Generative AI prompts serious questions of copyright
• Boosting productivity – Nano-fertilisers will improve efficiency

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Education, more than wealth, determines women’s marital age
• WHO says Equatorial Guinea confirms 1st outbreak of Marburg
• Black soldier fly larvae can be a cheap, nutritious alternative to cereal-based poultry fee
• ICHR not rewriting Indian history, only filling gaps: Govt
• Modi, Macron, Biden announce: 470 Airbus, Boeing planes for Air India
• Study finds alarming levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in Norwegian Arctic ice, may affect wildlife
• Data embassies may only be allowed to store non-personal information

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 1

Hindi in the world: In the era of cultural-flattening, India must strengthen its linguistic traditions

News– Fiji is hosting the 12th World Hindi Conference between February 15 and 17.

What is the status of Hindi in the UN?

India has achieved limited progress at the United Nations regarding Hindi. The UN has now made a provision to provide all the important messages and press releases in Hindi.

However, the government is making all efforts to ensure a rightful place for Hindi at the UN.

What are the challenges before Hindi and other other languages?

Speaking in Hindi or regional languages is considered inferior in India, due to the burden of colonialism. The ability to converse in English has become a status symbol.

Some politicians indulge in linguistic chauvinism. But, the family members of such politicians are schooled in English medium.

How can Indian languages have a global presence?

Indian languages need to be first respected in their motherland.

Every language keeps evolving. No language can continue to grow without accommodating some more meaningful terms from sister languages. However, there should not be mindless adulterations.

Hindi needs to be saved from the onslaught of English and other Indian languages from English and Hindi. Hindi-speaking people should ensure respect and recognition for all other Indian languages. Usage is the lifeblood of any language.

There is a need for hand-holding between Indian languages. Quality translations from Indian languages to other Indian and world languages are necessary. It is time to evolve a mechanism for translating award-winning literary works in Indian languages into all UN languages.

Engineering and medical education in Hindi is now a reality. If other Indian languages follow suit, they could evolve as languages of the knowledge era. New concepts, new technologies and new knowledge-creation demand new coinages and new terms.

In a globalised world, Hindi also needs to engage with other foreign languages, especially in the neighbourhood.

Understanding our very own cultural moorings, taking legitimate pride in our history and our heritage is the prerequisite for the sustenance of languages. In that sense, Hindi and other Indian languages have to further strengthen their roots and then expand their horizons.

GS Paper 2

Japan’s evolving relations with the Global South

News– Japan is now emphasising on the Global South amidst a major transformation of its foreign and security policies under Kishida’s leadership.

How has Japan shown impressive leadership in the world of strategic ideas in recent times?

Japan has constructed and popularised the Indo-Pacific construct over the last decade and more.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe first articulated the idea of the Indo-Pacific in an address to the Indian Parliament in August 2007. He called for a coalition of Asian democracies that eventually took the form of the Quadrilateral forum.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has now taken the initiative to raise the Global South to the top of the G7 agenda.

In a major policy speech in Washington last month, Japan’s PM Kishida cautioned other G7 countries on the dangers of neglecting the Global South. Kishida is conscious that the West has neglected political engagement with the Global South in recent decades.

Kishida is firm in his conviction that the G7 can’t “impose its values” on the Global South. Kishida has told his G7 partners that we need to be more committed to our values.There is a need to have a firm understanding of historical and cultural backgrounds of the global south.

Japan now wants the G7 to reconnect with the Global South in more fundamental ways. Kishida believes that greater cooperation between the G7 and the developing countries is also critical for addressing the current global challenges.

What are the major changes in foreign and security policies of Japan under Kishida’s leadership?

Kishida is among the few leaders in Asia who has clearly articulated the implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago this month. If unilateral change of the status quo by force is unchallenged, it will happen elsewhere in the world, including Asia.

Kishida has announced sweeping reform in Japan’s defence policy. This involved doubling the defence spending to 2% of the GDP over the next 5 years, building a large missile force, boosting cybersecurity capabilities, and taking larger responsibilities for regional security and capacity building in the Indo-Pacific.

Japan has adopted new realist diplomacy. Japan now recognises the essential relationship between diplomacy and defence.

How is Kishida’s new approach beneficial from the Indian perspective?

Kishida’s new approach provides the basis for more substantive and wider collaboration between Delhi and Tokyo in the developing regions of the world.

India should welcome Kishida’s new interest in the Global South. Japan’s initiatives on the Indo-Pacific and the Quad have broken the misperception of Asia as being merely Sino-centric.

The India-Japan partnership on the Global South might help overcome the traditional divides between East and West as well as North and South.

Shaping a more disabled-friendly digital ecosystem

News– The article explains the issue of accessibility of digital space for persons with disabilities.

What are some statistics related to people with disabilities?

As per estimation in Census 2011, 2.21% of India’s population is disabled. This is a gross underestimation.

According to the World Health Organization, about 16% of the global population is disabled. If it is applied to the Indian context, there are at least 192 million disabled people.

India had 750 million Internet/smartphone users in 2020. Applying the 16% figure here, means roughly 12 crore Internet users with disabilities.

What is the status of accessibility of digital space?

A report evaluates the accessibility of 10 of the most widely used apps in India, across five sectors. These sectors were chosen based on broad stakeholder consultation with people with disabilities.

Based on the number of violations, the level of accessibility of the apps was categorised as

“high”, “medium” and “low”. The report found that four apps ranked low, five were in the medium category.

What is the way forward to improve the accessibility of digital space?

There is a need to work with these service providers. They need help to design practices and processes that will not only improve app accessibility but also educate their stakeholders about accessibility and people with disabilities.

This will also help change attitudes of the business community around disability in the country. They will move away from a charity approach to a rights-based and investment outlook.

Technology is used to automate a large number of accessibility tests, and combine that with in-depth manual testing to provide comprehensive accessibility feedback to developers.

AI can help to further automate the accessibility testing process. Feedback from users with disabilities can now be analysed at scale to provide actionable insights to developers and companies.

Everything digital must be accessible to everyone. This starts with incorporating the principles of accessibility and inclusive design into every digital offering from inception.

India needs to be truly accessible for all people with disabilities. Organisations, companies, civil society, the government and the courts must work upon it.

Ladakh, a fragile region, needs autonomy

News– The residents of Ladakh are agitating to pursue their demand for special constitutional Status.

What is the reason behind the grievances of people in Ladakh?

Political status– Their real need for relatively free and autonomous functioning and substantial local employment generation is still not fulfilled.

For 1,000 years, Ladakh was an independent kingdom before being integrated into Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The memory of this long history has not been erased. It is now being ruled from New Delhi.

Since 1995, Ladakh has had an AHDC with the aim of enabling locally determined development. However, decision-making was mostly dominated by Srinagar and Delhi.

In 2019, the Indian government had announced that Ladakh would get special constitutional status providing it autonomy.

Before the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council election, Sixth Schedule status was promised to the region, similar to some parts of north-east India. This promise is yet to be fulfilled.

Developmental model– Ladakh is a sensitive ecosystem. Cultures and livelihoods are sensitive to the fragility of ecosystems that cannot bear heavy human activity.

High-altitude pastoralism, agriculture, and trade have been the mainstays of Ladakhi economy and society for centuries. Administrators appointed from Delhi do not comprehend the need of such a landscape.

Ladakh is already groaning under infrastructure development, intense armed forces presence, and excessive tourism.

Since Ladakh became a UT, there is even more focus on an exploitative ‘development’ path. There is enormous commercial interest for mining, tourism, hydropower, and other natural resources.

Ladakh already faces serious problems of landslides, erosion, solid waste and effluents, disturbance to wildlife, and cordoning of common lands for development projects.

What is the way forward to fulfil the demand of Ladakhi people?

There are opportunities for Ladakh and Delhi to work together. A Hill Council decision for Ladakh agriculture to become fully organic could be backed by the Central government. Communities could be assisted to claim and operationalise collective rights over grasslands using the Forest Rights Act.

Tourism could be fully oriented towards community-run, ecologically sensitive visitation.

A constitutional status that enables locally determined pathways, driven by a sensitive local population is the need of the day.

More Minnus, Draupadis – Every tribal success story is a reminder how much govts need to do for genuine Adivasi empowerment

News: Minnu Mani, a tribal girl from the Kurichiya tribe in Kerala has secured a contract in the Women’s Premier League auction.

This is an effort towards empowering the tribal communities in India, however, there are also problems associated with the tribal communities.

What are the concerns associated with tribals in India?

Declining conditions: As per the Tribal Development Report 2022, tribes constitute 8.6% of the population.

Despite a lower share, their condition is worse than others when it comes to access to sanitation, drinking water, education and proper nutrition.

The report also says that tribal communities have been pushed away from the fertile lands which has affected their livelihoods. Of the total Scheduled Tribe districts in the country, 90% are in either forested or hilly or dry areas.

Concerns with amendments to Forest Conservation Rules: Tribals have protested against the amendments made in the Forest Conservation Rules last year.

They say that the amendments take away the rights of tribes and forest dwellers over forest resources provided by the Forest Rights Act, 2009.

Moreover, these amendments give an advantage to businesses to easily obtain forest land for commercial purposes. Thus, affecting the tribal welfare.

Political Issues: Tribals have been mostly used for political purposes such as to get votes while their conditions have not been improved.

Fossil and time: On the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill

News: Recently, the Ministry of Mines has introduced a Draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, 2022. The bill provides more powers to the Geological Survey of India(GSI).

About the Draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill

What are Geo-Heritage sites?

What is the need for the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill?

There are numerous initiatives to preserve cultural history and man-made artefacts from archaeology. But, there has been limited effort to preserve and communicate the natural ‘geo-history’ rock formations, sediment and fossil.

For decades, researchers have been warning that India’s neglect of ‘geo-history’ will lead to an erasure of India’s geo history from the public mind and destruction as well as the appropriation of this natural wealth. The bill aimed at protecting the geo-history of India.

What are the challenges associated with the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill?

–Absolute vesting of powers in the GSI alone may impede palaeontological research.

-Given the premium for land and India’s economic needs, there will be conflict over questions of preservation and livelihood.

What should be done to make the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill comprehensive?

Need an inclusive body: A more inclusive body, on the lines of a National Geoheritage Authority, has to be created and vested with powers.

Proper framing of rules: The legislation will act as a ring fence. Hence, the government should not use it as a tool for suppressing independent investigation.

GS Paper 3

Let’s Go Against the Grain of Wheat, Rice Bias

News: The article discusses the reasons behind the decline in the use of millets and the efforts taken by the government to revive it.

What were the reasons behind the decline in the use of millets?

One of the reasons behind the decline in the use of millets is the green revolution.

Green revolution technology and policy environment gave rice and wheat an advantage over millets and millets were considered as inferior crops, despite of its multiple benefits.

What are the benefits of millets?

Millets are nutritious. They reduce – a) Iron deficiency anaemia, b) Risk of type II diabetes, c) BMI and obesity, d) Calcium deficiency e) helps with hyperlipidemia.

Millets are also found to help overcome malnutrition. Within millets, minor millets are even more nutritious and healthy.

Moreover, millets are the least water demanding crops. They can live in harsh environments and withstand various biotic and abiotic stresses like rise in temperature, drought etc.

However, the government has taken several measures to promote millets.

What steps have taken by the government to promote millets?

GoI and some states have taken some initiatives since 2012 to promote millets.

Millets were officially declared as Nutri Cereals in 2018 which was declared as the National Year of Millets. 

India has also brought millets on the global platform by getting UNGA to declare the year 2023 as an International Year of Millet.

However, despite these efforts, there is hardly any improvement in the consumption of millets.

As per NSSO’s consumer expenditure survey, the consumption of millets amongst the lower section of the society has declined from 1. 59 kg millets/ month per capita in 1993-94 to 0. 27 kg by 2011-2012.

However, the budget 2023-24 has tried to address the issues related to millets.

What are some efforts announced in the Budget 2023-24 for millets?

The budget has designated millets as “Shree Anna”. Therefore, emphasis needs to be given to expand the area under millet and increase their productivity by making them attractive to the producers.

The budget has also announced support for R&D in millets through a centre of excellence to be set up in Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad.

What can be the way ahead?

First, India needs to speed up technological development for millets. Millet specific machines and equipment need to be developed to handle large scale production.

Second, Producers need to be empowered through FPOs, SHGs and cooperatives, to take advantage of rising consumer preference and willingness to pay better prices for millets.

Read More: Millet Production in India – Explained

Generative AI prompts serious questions of copyright

News: The improvements in artificial intelligence (AI) with ChatGPT has shown the importance of generative AI.

How generative AI aid in creating AI generated art?

-Ordinary people with no formal artistic training can create stunning visual arts and images in the style of famous artists using generative AI tools like DALL-E and Stable Diffusion.

What are the challenges associated with AI generated art?

Issue of copyright: To create output in the styles of so many artists, the AI must have been trained on hundreds of samples of their work. Every output it generates is an original work that has no one-to-one correspondence to any part or whole of any image of a given artist.

However, it is not clear whether it constitute the offence of “copying” under copyright law or not.

The US Copyright Office has already declared that AI generated art is not entitled to intellectual property protection as it lacks the “nexus between the human mind and creative expression”.

Boosting productivity – Nano-fertilisers will improve efficiency

News: Recently, the government approved the commercial release of nano-DAP (di-ammonium phosphate). The first batch of nano-DAP will hit the market in the upcoming kharif sowing season.

About nano-DAP

DAP is the second-most used plant nutrient in India. The actual production cost of conventional DAP is around Rs 4,000 per bag.

On the other hand, a 500 ml bottle of nano-DAP, equivalent to a 50-kg bag of conventional DAP, is likely to cost the farmers around Rs 600. It is less than half the subsidised price of Rs 1,350 for normal DAP.

About other nano-fertilisers

The government already rolled out nano-urea in 2021. Urea is the most-consumed fertiliser in India.

Nano versions of the third-most important plant nutrient potash and micronutrients like zinc and copper are said to be in advanced stages of development.

What are the advantages of Nano-fertilisers?

More effective suppliers of plant nutrition: Nano-fertilisers containing soil nutrients in ultra-minuscule-sized particles, measuring less than one-billionth of a millimetre. They generally prove more effective suppliers of plant nutrition because of a) the larger number of particles per unit of volume, b) a higher cumulative surface area, c) greater water solubility and d) after sprayed on leaves, nano-particles easily penetrate the stomata and other openings to get assimilated in plant cells.

Hence, they also provide increased yield on the field. For instance, crops sprayed with liquid nano-urea have been found to give a 3-16% higher yield than those treated with equivalent quantities of granulated urea.

Saving on fertiliser subsidies: India’s fertiliser subsidy bill is estimated at Rs 2.25 trillion this year. It can be dropped down to nill with the introduction of nano-fertilisers.

Provide chances for export: The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative, which has pioneered the research, development and commercialisation of these patent-protected nano fertilisers is already receiving requests from other countries for nano fertilisers.

The other advantages are, a) Nano-fertilisers will make India self-reliant in vital farm inputs, b) minimise the damage to the environment as they do not pollute air, soil and water like normal fertilisers do, c) facilitate higher farm output at a lower cost to boost the profitability of agriculture and d) raise farmers’ income.

They make farming sustainable and eco-friendly.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Education, more than wealth, determines women’s marital age

Source: The post is based on the article “Education, more than wealth, determines women’s marital age” published in The Hindu on 15th February 2023.

What is the News?

The Assam government is cracking down on child marriage and has registered over 4,000 cases just this year alone.

What are the factors that determine women’s marital age?

Education: Data from NFHS-5 show that the more educated a woman, the higher her negotiating power about when she wants to get married. 

– Interestingly, this is not a recent phenomenon. Data suggests that for decades now, better-educated women have had more of a say on when they should get married.

Wealth: Wealth has only recently gained relevance as a controlling factor in deciding a woman’s marital age.

– Among older generations, even wealthier families married women at a younger age.

Caste: The median marriage age among SC/ST/OBC women was below 20 even among younger generations, while that of non-SC/ST/OBC women crossed 20.

Location: The difference in the median marriage age between rural and urban women was wider among younger generations. 

– So, the negotiating power of urban women has improved at a higher pace than that of rural women.

WHO says Equatorial Guinea confirms 1st outbreak of Marburg

Source: The post is based on the article “WHO says Equatorial Guinea confirms 1st outbreak of Marburg” published in Down To Earth on 15th February 2023.

What is the News?

The World Health Organization(WHO) says that Equatorial Guinea has confirmed its first-ever outbreak of Marburg disease.

What is Marburg Disease?

Marburg Disease is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus causes severe viral haemorrhagic fever in humans.

Marburg and Ebola viruses are both members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus). Both diseases are rare and have the capacity to cause outbreaks with high fatality rates.

First Identified in: The Marburg virus was first identified in 1967 after it caused simultaneous outbreaks of disease in laboratories in Marburg, Germany and Belgrade, Serbia.

– In a 2004 outbreak in Angola, Marburg killed 90% of 252 people infected.

Transmission: Marburg virus originates in bats and spreads between people via close contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, or surfaces, like contaminated bedsheets. 

Symptoms: Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.

Fatality rate: The average case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks depending on virus strain and case management.

Treatment: There are no authorized vaccines or drugs to treat Marburg, but rehydration treatment to alleviate symptoms can improve the chances of survival. 

Black soldier fly larvae can be a cheap, nutritious alternative to cereal-based poultry fee

Source: The post is based on the article “Black soldier fly larvae can be a cheap, nutritious alternative to cereal-based poultry feed” published in Down To Earth on 15th February 2023.

What is the News?

India is among the top five chicken and egg producers in the world, but there are challenges to the business for small poultry farmers because of the quality, quantity and cost of poultry feed.

What are the challenges in the availability of poultry feed for chickens?

Poultry feeds account for up to 70% of the entire cost of poultry production.

Besides, the conventional feed supplied to the poultry, majorly cereals and soya, competes with the food demands of a growing human population.

Hence, in addition to rising costs, feed resource availability is a major determinant of the sustainability of the poultry sector.

What are the solutions available in poultry feed for chickens?

The above concerns have in recent years drawn the attention of researchers towards exploring low-cost alternatives to conventional poultry feed.

One such alternative is brewers dried grains, a byproduct of the brewing industry. Though rich in protein and amino acids, its limitations include high moisture and fibre content.

Rice bran is another economically viable alternative to wheat in certain parts of the country. It has a comparable apparent metabolisable energy as wheat. However, studies show that the laying performance of the chicks declined on the incorporation of rice bran into the feed.

Hence, researchers now focussed on the utilization of insects as a substitute for conventional poultry feed. They found that larvae of black soldier fly can be a good alternative.

What is Black Soldier Fly?

Black soldier fly is a common and widespread fly of the family Stratiomyidae.

They feed on a variety of organic matter, from rejected food waste to manure.

They also have high waste-to-biomass conversion efficiency. This means, unlike hot-blooded mammals and birds, which use a lot of energy to keep themselves warm, insects are efficient converters of food into body mass.

Why Black Soldier Fly can be a good alternative for poultry feed?

Black Soldier Fly larvae can be a low-cost, low-footprint, eco-friendly as well as natural feed companion to poultry farmers.

The larvae are capable of converting organic waste into a wide range of useful vitamins and minerals.

They are thus rich in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and so on, which makes them a promising candidate for livestock feed.

ICHR not rewriting Indian history, only filling gaps: Govt

Source: The post is based on the article “ICHR not rewriting Indian history, only filling gaps: Govt” published in Indian Express on 15th February 2023.

What is the News?

The Minister of Education has informed Lok Sabha that the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) has not launched any project to rewrite Indian history and it is only “filling gaps”.

What is the Indian Council of Historical Research(ICHR)?

ICHR was established in 1972. It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Education.

It is registered under the Societies Registration Act (Act XXI of 1860) as a literary and charitable society.

Aim: To promote and give directions to historical research and to encourage and foster objective and scientific writing of history.

Functions: To provide fellowships and financial assistance to young teachers in colleges, universities and registered research organizations, as well as to senior scholars who might need financial support;

– To bring historians together by providing financial assistance for holding symposia, seminars, workshops, etc for exchanging views related to history;

– To provide publication subsidy to the seminars, congress proceedings and journals so that these publications may reach researchers and scholars;

– To publish a biannual Journal – the Indian Historical Review.

Located in: ICHR is based in Delhi with regional centres in Pune (Maharashtra), Bengaluru (Karnataka), and Guwahati (Assam).

Modi, Macron, Biden announce: 470 Airbus, Boeing planes for Air India

Source: The post is based on the article “Modi, Macron, Biden announce: 470 Airbus, Boeing planes for Air India” published in Indian Express on 14th February 2023.

What is the News?

Indian Prime Minister, US President and French President took the lead in announcing Air India’s order for 470 new aircraft – 250 from Airbus and 220 from Boeing.

What is the deal announced by India, US and France?

Tata Group-owned Air India from India has signed a deal with Boeing of the US and Airbus of France to procure 470 jets — splitting the order with 250 jets from Airbus and 220 from Boeing. This makes it the largest-ever pipeline of new aircraft ordered by an Indian airline.

Significance of this deal: This is the first time in more than 17 years that Air India has placed an aircraft order. It is also the first order placed by the carrier under the ownership of the Tata Group.

– The airline’s last order was for 111 planes – 68 from Boeing and 43 from Airbus – and that deal was worth $10.8 billion. The order was placed in 2005.

– This deal is also important for the deep ties between India, France and US. It also reflects the achievements and aspirations of the civil aviation sector.

Study finds alarming levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in Norwegian Arctic ice, may affect wildlife

Source: The post is based on the article “Study finds alarming levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in Norwegian Arctic ice, may affect wildlife” published in WION on 13th February 2023.

What is the News?

An Oxford University-led study has found alarming levels of toxic PFAS (Per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) also known as “Forever Chemicals” in the ice around Svalbard, Norway which poses a risk to the region’s wildlife.

What are PFAs or Forever Chemicals?

PFAS are a class of about 12,000 chemicals often used to make thousands of consumer products resist water, stains and heat.

They are called “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down.

Uses: PFAs are used to make nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, cosmetics, firefighting forms and many other products that resist grease, water and oil.

WStudy finds alarming levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in Norwegian Arctic ice, may affect wildlifehat are the impacts of PFAs?

PFAs can migrate to the soil, water and air during their production and use. Since most PFAs do not break down, they remain in the environment for long periods of time. Some of these PFAs can build up in people and animals if they are repeatedly exposed to the chemicals.

Varieties of health risks that are attributed to PFA exposure include decreased fertility, developmental effects in children, interference with body hormones, increased cholesterol levels and increased risk of some cancers.

Data embassies may only be allowed to store non-personal information

Source: The post is based on the article “Data embassies may only be allowed to store non-personal information” published in Business Standard on 15th February 2023.

What is the News?

The Government of India is likely to allow only non-personal datasets to be stored in data embassies.

Note: Non-personal data refers to any dataset that does not contain information that can be used to identify an individual. These datasets could be consumer shopping trends, vehicle registration figures, tax collection information, etc.

What is a Data Embassy?

A data embassy refers to server resources owned and maintained by a nation-state outside its territorial boundaries, according to its own laws. 

The idea is to ensure the normal functioning of a state and its digital services in case of situations like a cyberattack or a natural disaster.

Data embassies enjoy diplomatic immunity. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, grants diplomatic agents safe passage and freedom of travel in a foreign land and protection from local lawsuits and prosecution. Such benefits largely depend on the principle of reciprocity of the privileges.

Significance: Data embassies will be safe zones to store data for friendly nations without any interference from local laws. This will be beneficial for countries wanting to diversify the locations of their data storage without losing jurisdictional control over it.

Which countries have implemented the data embassies concept?

Estonia was the first country to set up a data embassy outside its territory — in Luxembourg in 2017 — because of its “high-quality technical capacity”, as well as its openness to work with this new concept.

Bahrain introduced a law in 2018 that says the data on the cloud should be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the data principal’s domicile country. 

Note: Experts believe many other such countries could be storing their critical national data outside their territories, which is not known in the public domain due to security reasons.