DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS
July10,2024
Science and Technology/Ethics (Mains)
Internet Archive and Backlash from Book Publishers
Context
Traditional publishers such as Hachette,
Harper Collins, Wiley, and Penguin
Random House are suing Internet Archive.
About
● Internet Archive (IA) is a non-profit
which aims to digitise, preserve, lend,
and share multi-media content.
● It is embroiled in a major legal challenge
as it faces off against traditional
publishers accusing it of copyright
violations.
● The free digital library is fighting the
forced removal of around half a million
books from its platform. The platform
aims to function like a free library.
Case Against Internet Archive
● Internet Archives digitized a great
number of books and uploaded them. It
included historical sources, old classics,
etc.
● Many traditional publishers have alleged
that the Internet Archive violated their
copyrights and illegally made their books
available to the public by scanning
physical copies and distributing digital
files.
● Hachette vs Internet Archive, 2020: In
this case, traditional publishers Hachette,
HarperCollins, Wiley, and Penguin
Random House sued Internet Archive.
Although the district court ruled in favour
of the publisher, the court also held that
not all books on the Internet Archive were
free.
● National Emergency Library’ (NEL)
Initiative: The Internet Archive launched
this initiative during the pandemic when
physical libraries were inaccessible to
readers. Publishers also opposed this
initiative together.
Doctrine of Fair Use
● Overall, IA uses a system known as
“controlled digital lending” to limit the
number of people who can access an e-
book.
● Hence, by offering free services during
the pandemic, the Internet Archive used
the doctrine of fair use to defend itself
in the case, but this did not hold up.
● However, the ruling led to the removal
of books from the ‘Internet Archives
website.
Although the judgment favoured the
publishers Internet Archives' free service
during the Pandemic must be applauded.
Further, this judgment also paved the way for
Copyright violation laws on the Internet
which is on a surge with the advent of AI-led
GPT.
Source: The Hindu

Outcomes of the Judgement

Positives

● The judgment upholds the law and

publishers must be paid for the monetary
loss which they invest during the
publishing of a book.
● Internet Archive's free book initiative
was equivalent to book piracy as it hurt
the economic interests of publishers and
writers.

Negatives

● Books are fundamental necessities for

millions of students who were
completing their tasks and homework
using Internet Archives free initiative.
● The ruling did not account for those
copyright violators who are engaged in
piracy on the internet.

Conclusion
 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY(PRELIMS)

Genome Editing Mission

● Lower Body Weight leads to lower
Context income for the farmers although the fish
is highly priced in the market.
Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean ● Pearl spots are sold in the retail market for
Studies (KUFOS) is preparing to launch a about ₹650 to ₹700 a kg which is among
genome editing mission to boost the the highest in the market as compared to
production of Pearl Spot Fish. other common fishes.
● Currently, Kerala produces only 2,000
About tonnes of pearl spots annually against the
market demand of 10,000 tonnes.
● Pearl spot fish is the State Fish of Kerala.
● If the mission becomes successful, it will
It is commonly known as “Karimeen” in
on the one hand ensure the increment in
Kerala.
productivity of the Pearl Spot while on
● It is an indigenous fish which is
the other hand will fulfill market demand.
extensively found along the east and
south-west coasts of Peninsular India. Source: The Hindu
● It is an important candidate species for
aquaculture in ponds which can be grown
both in both brackishwater and
freshwater environments.
● It is cultured in traditional ponds in
Kerala where it is considered a delicacy
fetching a high price of up to Rs. 150/ kg.

Issues with Current Pearl Spot Farming

● The low body weight of the fish is a major

cause of concern for farmers currently.
The fish can attain a weight of 300 to 400
grams in a year.
 GOVERNANCE (PRELIMS)
Naavu Manujaru Programme
Context
‘Naavu Manujaru’ Programme has
been launched in Schools in Kerala to
inculcate social harmony among
students.
About
● Naavu Manujaru’ Programme is a
capacity-building program for students
studying in Karnataka Schools.
● Nodal Agency: Department of State
Educational Research and Training
(DSERT),
● The main objective of the program is to
turn all educational institutions in the
State into centres of social harmony,
tolerance and scientific temper.
● The program aims to improve the
capacity of the students to think
independently, and rationally and
understand the pros and cons of every
issue. It will also be helpful for the
overall development of the students.
Discussion Sessions
• The program involves discussions and
dialogues for two hours per week with
three periods of 40 minutes.
● These sessions will be done in all
government, aided, and unaided primary
and high schools of the State.
● It will include one period of ‘Value
Education’ and two periods of ‘Socially
Useful Productive Work (SUPW)’.
Major Themes of Discussion
● The Program will include discussions on
social harmony and its significance,
based on local and national festivals,
folk games, sports etc.
● It will also include a discussion on the
thoughts of social reformers, visiting
and sharing information on
outbound/local famous places, cottage
industries, discussion on nuclear and
non-nuclear families, discussion on
elimination of inequality and dialogue
on constitutional values like equality,
liberty and fraternity.
Source: The Hindu
 HEALTH / ECONOMY (MAINS)
HPV Vaccine
Context
Recently, there were discussions which
were directed towards the HPV Vaccines
and their efficacy in the current scenario.
About
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
● Human papillomavirus (HPV) is
considered as one of the main reasons
behind the Cervical Cancers and
‘precancerous lesions’ in human beings.
● It infects both men and women. But in
Women, its impact is more disastrous as
it causes Cervical Cancer.
● Most of the Women who have died due to
Cervical Cancer have been found infected
with HPV.
Vaccination Among Teenage Girls
● An ethical issue has arisen as the
government is going for vaccination of
the teen-age girls.
● The government has announced a
universal’ vaccination of girls against
HPV in order to reduce the mortality due
to cervical cancer.
● It is a ‘selective’ vaccination of high-risk
groups as the virus transmits during
sexual intercourse.
● The Vaccination drive will be focused on
pre-puberty girls. It is based on the
Western notion that teenage girls
indulging in promiscuous physical
relations and becoming carriers of the
virus are a huge risk factor for the entire
adult population.
Notions against the HPV Vaccination
Drive
● Scientific Base: Most of the men and
women who are HPV positive do not get
virus-induced cancer. Hence, HPV is not
solely responsible for Cervical Cancer.
● Declining Trends of Cervical Cancer:
The Population Based Cancer Registries
(PBCR) of India and the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
have acknowledged the declining trends
of cervical cancer prevalence in India and
the globe, regardless of vaccine coverage
or efficacy.
● Reflection of Patriarchal Society: Men
are also the carriers of the HPV. Then
why should women alone targeted for
vaccination?
● Promiscuous Physical Relations: In
India, this idea is rarely prevalent and
against the social norms. The idea of
multiple sexual partners among teenage
girls is a Western notion and its
 application in Indian society is not expenditure on health is among the highest in
justified. the world.

State of HPV Vaccination in India Source: The Hindu

● The Serum Institute of India (SII)

developed an HPV vaccine called
‘Cervavac’ and promoted it as an
indigenous and affordable vaccine.
● Cervavac uses similar techniques;
deploying virus-like particles (VLPs)
produced using Recombinant
Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (rDNA)
techniques to generate an immune
response against HPV infections.
● The Cervavac vaccine is currently
recommended universally under the
government vaccination programme for
girls between the ages of nine to 26 at a
price of ₹500 for two doses.
● For those who are not covered under the
government program, it can go up to
₹2,000 increasing the out-of-pocket
health expenditure.

Conclusion

The research conducted by premier institutes

has clearly shown the declining trend of HPV
infections and cervical cancers around the
world. Further, the efficacy of universal HPV
vaccination to prevent cervical cancer has not
been proven yet. The government must take
initiatives to prevent unethical vaccination in
light of research conducted on HPV
vaccination. It must ensure the necessity of
such Vaccination which is costly for a
country like India where out-of-pocket
 QUESTIONS

1. Discuss the importance of Genome 2) It aims to improve the capacity of the

Editing in increasing the productivity
of the Livestock sector.
2. Discuss the ethical, scientific and
economic issues associated with the
HPV Vaccination Program in India.
3. Recently, a Genome Editing Mission
students to think independently and
rationally.
3) The program involves discussions
and dialogues for two hours per week.
Which of the following statements is/are

was launched to increase the Correct?

productivity of Pearl Spot Fish by

A. One Only
which of the following state
B. Two Only
governments?
C. All Three
A. Kerala
D. None
B. Rajasthan
C. West Bengal Answer: C
D. Andhra Pradesh

Answer: A

4. Consider the following statements with

reference to the ‘Naavu Manujaru
Programme’ launched by Karnataka:
1) It aims to turn all educational
institutions in the State into centres of
social harmony, tolerance and
scientific temper.