Today in History (September 26th, 1820)
On this day, in 1820, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Indian educator and social reformer considered the father of Bengali prose, was born.
Summary of Today’s News
Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is a law enacted by the Indian Parliament in 1958. It grants special powers and immunity to the armed forces, including the Army, Air Force, and Central paramilitary forces, for maintaining public order in designated “disturbed areas.” An area is declared “disturbed” under section 2 of the act, usually due to religious, racial, linguistic, regional, or caste-based differences or disputes. The governor of a state or Union territory can issue an official notification declaring an area as disturbed, after which the central government can decide to deploy armed forces. Under Section 4 of AFSPA, armed forces have the authority to use force, even to the point of causing death, as well as to destroy arms and ammunition dumps, fortifications, shelters, and hideouts. They can also make arrests without a warrant and conduct searches and seizures without a warrant.
Digital India Act, 2023
The Digital India Act, 2023 is a comprehensive legislative overhaul of the Information Technology Act, 2000. It addresses modern digital challenges including AI, cybercrime, data protection, deepfakes, and competition among internet platforms. The Act responds to emerging user harms like catfishing, doxxing, trolling, and phishing. It works in conjunction with the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022, emphasizing data privacy and lawful data use. Key features involve regulating new technologies such as 5G, IoT, cloud computing, and cryptocurrency. It reclassifies online intermediaries, removes safe harbour immunity for misinformation, sets digital standards for AI, and criminalizes cyberbullying and identity theft, prioritizing online safety and regulation.
Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)
The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) is an international initiative focused on promoting responsible and human-centric development and use of AI. It supports advanced research and practical applications in AI-related priorities to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Comprising 25 member countries, including the US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, and others, India joined as a founding member in 2020. The Secretariat is based at the OECD. India’s leadership in GPAI reflects its role as a trusted technology partner advocating for ethical technology use. AI is projected to contribute significantly to India’s economy, with an estimated 967 billion USD by 2035 and 10% of the 5 trillion USD GDP target by 2025.
