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21.03.2025 UPSC CURRENT AFFAIR ANALYSIS

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS 21.03.2025

NEWS:X Corp. challenges content blocking orders by authorities
GS-2: Governance
ISSUE:
X Corp has moved the Karnataka High Court against content blocking orders issued by Union and State governments.
The petition challenges the legality of issuing blocking orders under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act, 2000, instead of Section 69A, which specifically deals with content removal.

Concerns Over Government’s “Censorship Portal”

X Corp has opposed the Union Home Ministry’s Sahyog portal, calling it a “censorship portal”
.
that allows multiple government agencies to issue content blocking orders.
The company argues that the lack of transparency in the blocking process threatens free speech and platform neutrality

Under IT Act, 2000

Section 69A: Allows the government to block online content under specific national security and public order concerns.
Section 79(3)(b): Removes safe harbor protection for platforms if they fail to comply with government orders.
X Corp contends that blocking orders should only be issued under Section 69A, not Section 79(3)(b).

Sahyog’ Portal

it has been developed to automate the process of sending notices to intermediaries by the Appropriate Government or its agency
under IT Act, 2000 to facilitate the removal or disabling of access to any information, data or communication link being used to commit an unlawful act.

NEWS:The Challenge of Policing Digital Giants,

GS-2 GOVERNANCE

Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed a ₹213.14 crore fine on Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) for abusing market dominance.
WhatsApp’s 2021 privacy policy forced users to share data across Meta platforms for advertising and business advantages.
CCI deemed this anti-competitive, restricting fair competition in the OTT messaging and digital advertising space.
Meta appealed to the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which granted a temporary stay, with Meta depositing 50% of the penalty

Global Action Against Big Tech

US Antitrust Actions:
- Meta faces antitrust litigation for acquiring WhatsApp & Instagram to eliminate competitors.
- Google was fined for monopolistic search and advertising practices
European Regulations:
Germany’s Cartel Office fined Meta for abusing user data without consent.
EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and GDPR regulate data use and prevent market exploitation.

India’s Legal & Regulatory Gaps

Competition Act, 2002 lacks provisions to tackle data-driven monopolies.
Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act) governs data use, but doesn’t cover competition and anti-trust concerns.
Need for integrating DPDP Act with Competition Law for better regulation.

CCI

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is a statutory and quasi-judicial body
working under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It was established under the Competition Act, 2002
for the administration, implementation and enforcement of the Act, and was duly constituted in March 2009.

Objectives:

Functions:

Investigate negative effects on competition.
Regulate mergers to prevent market capture.
Eliminate anti-competitive practices and regulate combinations.
Undertake competition advocacy, create public awareness, and provide training.
Provide opinions on competition issues referred by statutory authorities.

NEWS:TNPCB cancels public hearing on Silahalla power project

GS-3 ENVIRONMENTConservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

ISSUE:

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has cancelled the public consultation on the controversial Silahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project, scheduled to be held in the Nilgiris
Farmers’ associations and the Silahalla Protection Committee have been opposing the project since its announcement more than a decade ago
more than a decade ago. They said it affected farmland and the livelihoods of residents of over 20 villages.
Residents had also planned on voicing their opposition during the meeting with the TNPCB
the Union Ministry of Environment and Climate Change had prepared an environmental impact assessment of the project already, and the TNPCB was to table it before local residents.
People were confused that the meeting called for by the TNPCB was about land acquisition for the project, but it was to simply share the impact assessment and seek the opinion of the public
According to the Collector, approval of the local communities was mandatory to implement the project.
“There is no doubt that the assent of locals will be sought before the project is sanctioned, which could take many years,

Sillahalla Pumped Hydro-electric Storage Project (SPHESP)

It is located in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu.
It has installed capacity of 1,000 MW with 4 units of size 250MW each.
Total cost of the project is Rs 4,200 cr (approx)
It is Pumped Storage Type Project
The upper dam is located on Sillahalla stream which is tributary of Kundah River.

How does a pumped storage hydropower plant work?

Here, the turbine acts as a pump, moving water back uphill.
During periods of high electricity demand, the stored water is released through turbines.
A pumped-storage plant works much like a conventional hydroelectric station, except the same water can be used over and over again.

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was the first biosphere reserve in India established in the year 1986.
It is located in the Western Ghats and includes 2 of the 10 bio-geographical provinces of India.
The total area of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is 5,520 sq. km.
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve encompasses parts of Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve falls under the bio-geographic region of the Malabar rain forest.
The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Wyanaad Wildlife Sanctuary Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley are the protected areas present within this reserve.
MAINS QUESTION