Global Report on Internal Displacement.

• In 2023, the number of internally displaced people increased to 75.9 million, from 71.1 million in the preceding year, according to the Global Report on Internal Displacement 2024 (GRID-2024) released recently.
• Global Report on Internal Displacement 2024:
• It is an annual report published by the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC).
• It records internal displacements due to conflict and violence and disasters.

Highlights of GRID-2024:

• In 2023, the number of internally displaced people (IDP) increased to75.9 million, from 71.1 million in the preceding year.
• Report says 7.7 million displaced by disasters (one-fourth of it was caused by earthquakes) and 68.3 million by conflict and violence.
• Sudan, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Colombia, and Yemenhost nearly half of the world’s IDPs.
• At 9.1 million, Sudan has the highest number of IDPs recorded for a single country.
• Most of the new displacement this year happened in Sudan, the Palestinian territories, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, accounting for almost two-thirds of all new displacement.

South Asia:

• The IDMC said around 5.3 million people were living in internal displacement as a result of conflict and violence across South Asia at the end of 2023, 80 percent of whom were in Afghanistan.
• Conflict and violence triggered 69,000 displacements in South Asia in 2023, with Manipur violence alone accounting for 67,000.
• It is the highest number of displacements triggered by conflict and violence in India since 2018.
• There is a sharp decline in IDP in 2023 from 2.5 million internal displacements due to natural disasters in India in 2022. Internal displacements by natural disasters in 2023 was 528,000.

Key Facts about Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC):

• It is the leading source of information and analysis on internal displacement.
• IDMC defines internal displacement as “the number of forced movements of people within the borders of their country recorded during (a) year.
• IDMC was set up in 1998 at the request of the international community to fill an important knowledge gap on the global scale and patterns of internal displacement.
• IDMC is part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), an independent, non-governmental humanitarian organisation.
• IDMC plays a unique role as a global monitor and evidence-based advocate to influence policy and action by governments, UN agencies, donors, international organisations and NGOs.
• IDMC’s GRID is the official repository of data and analysis on internal displacement.

Draft Digital Competition Bill 2024.

Digital Competition Bill 2024:

• The Digital Competition Bill 2024 addresses the evolving challenges in digital markets.
• It introduces an "ex-ante" regulatory framework, aimed primarily at major digital enterprises to prevent anti-competitive practices before they manifest.
• The Bill is inspired by global precedents, notably the EU's Digital Markets Act, and seeks to adapt similar regulatory strategies.

Key Provisions:

1.Predictive regulation:

A forward-looking, preventive, and presumptive law (an ex ante framework), which foresees the potential harms that can arise out of antitrust issues and prescribes pre-determined no-go areas is perhaps the way forward. This is one of the foremost proposals in the draft Bill.

2.Significant entities:

The Bill proposes that for certain “core digital services” like search engines, and social media sites, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) should designate companies as “Systematically Significant Digital Enterprise (SSDE)” depending on various quantitative and qualitative parameters such as turnover, user base, market influence etc.

• Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises (SSDEs): These are entities with a substantial user base and specific financial benchmarks.
• SSDEs are mandated to adhere to stringent regulatory conditions to promote fair competition.

Thresholds for Classification: 

1. If in the last 3 financial years, its turnover in India is not less than Rs 4,000 crore; or its global turnover is not less than $30 billion; or
2. Its gross merchandise value in India is not less than Rs 16,000 crore; or
3. Its global market capitalisation is not less than $75 billion; or
4. The core digital service provided by these companies should also have at least 1 crore end users, or 10,000 business users.

• Non-compliance with these criteria and reporting requirements could result in penalties.

3.Associate Digital Enterprises (ADEs): Larger corporate groups that offer core digital services and have multiple entities must identify and declare all related ADEs.

• Both SSDEs and ADEs are subject to similar regulatory obligations.

Need for the Bill:

• Currently, India follows an ex post antitrust framework under the Competition Act, 2002.
• The rapid dominance of large digital firms has the potential to irreversibly tip the scales of the market, which the current ex-post regulatory framework (which acts after violations have occurred) struggles to address effectively.
• The Bill aims to provide timely interventions to prevent potential market abuses and maintain competitive digital markets.

The Ministry of Home Affairs warns of 'digital arrest' scam by cyber criminals impersonating police officials.

Digital Arrest:

Digital arrest scams involve cybercriminals impersonating law enforcement officials, such as police or customs officers, to deceive victims into believing they face legal consequences for fabricated offenses.

Scammers use psychological manipulation, creating fear and urgency, to coerce victims into making payments or providing personal information to avoid "arrest."

These scams typically involve fake calls, emails, or social media messages where the perpetrators claim the victim’s involvement in illegal activities such as smuggling or fraud.

Victims are often asked to provide sensitive information or make payments to clear their name from false accusations.

The scam can lead to significant financial losses and personal data theft, with cases reported across multiple states in India.

Cybercrime:

Cybercrime encompasses criminal activities conducted using computers and the internet, including hacking, identity theft, phishing, and the spread of malware.

Common types of cybercrime include financial fraud, data breaches, online harassment, and cyber espionage.

The impact of cybercrime includes financial losses, theft of personal data, and damage to the reputation and trust in digital systems.

Cybercriminals employ various techniques such as social engineering, exploiting software vulnerabilities, and sophisticated phishing schemes to carry out their activities.

The rise of cybercrime has led to increased efforts in cybersecurity measures, regulatory frameworks, and public awareness to combat these threats effectively​.

Kanwar lake, Bihar’s only Ramsar site, faces challenge of survival but not a poll issue.

Kanwar Lake:

• Also known as Kabartal Wetland, it is located in the Begusarai district of Bihar, India.
• It is recognized as Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake.
• Formed by the meandering of the Gandak River, a tributary of the Ganga.
• Designated as Bihar's only Ramsar site in 2020 ​​.

Biodiversity:

• The lake is a crucial habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna.
• It supports over 50 fish species and provides a critical stopover for 58 migratory waterbirds along the Central Asian Flyway.
• Notably, it houses critically endangered species such as the red-headed vulture, white-rumped vulture, Indian vulture, sociable lapwing, and Baer’s pochard​.

Threats and Challenges:

• Major threats include water management issues like drainage, damming, and canalization, which impact the wetland's ecological balance.
• The area faces challenges from excessive chemical usage, encroachment, and illegal activities such as bird hunting and land encroachment by locals.
• Despite its Ramsar designation, there has been significant neglect, leading to its drying up and degradation, which also affects the local communities relying on its resources​ ​.

Conservation Efforts:

• The lake is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, but enforcement has been lax, leading to continued ecological degradation.