What’s in today’s article?

• About International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
• About India Mobile Congress (IMC)
• News Summary

About International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

• The International Telecommunication Union is a United Nations specialized agency for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
• It was originally founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks.
• Functions:
  • Allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits
  • Develops technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect
  • Strives to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

About India Mobile Congress (IMC)

• The India Mobile Congress is one of the largest telecom, media, and technology forums in Asia, organized annually.
• It serves as a platform for industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and stakeholders to come together and discuss the future of digital communications and telecommunications in India and across the globe.
• The event focuses on advancements in areas like 5G technology, artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure.
• Key Objectives of IMC:
  • Showcase Technological Advancements: IMC highlights the latest innovations in the telecom and digital sectors, offering a platform for startups, companies, and innovators to showcase their solutions.
  • Global Collaboration: The event encourages collaboration between global and Indian telecom players, creating opportunities for cross-border partnerships in the technology and communications sector.
  • Policy Discussions: IMC serves as a space for discussions between government officials, industry leaders, and policymakers on telecommunication regulations, digital governance, and infrastructure development.
  • Enabling Digital India: IMC aligns with the Digital India vision by promoting advancements in digital communication and laying the foundation for future technologies like 6G, AI, and cloud computing.

News Summary

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 and the 8th edition of the India Mobile Congress at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• The event aimed at setting global telecommunication standards and discussing the future of telecommunications as a global good.
• The Prime Minister emphasized India's significant role in the telecom sector, with 120 crore mobile users, 95 crore internet users, and 40% of global digital transactions being from India.
• Key Highlights of the PM’s Speech:
• India's Telecom Achievements:
  • PM Modi praised India's transformative journey in telecom, stating that telecom has bridged the urban-rural divide and created opportunities for millions.
  • India has rapidly adopted 5G technology, making it the second-largest 5G market globally, and is already progressing towards 6G technology.
• Digital Public Infrastructure:
  • PM Modi highlighted the success of the Digital India initiative, built on four pillars: affordable devices, extensive connectivity, accessible data, and a ‘Digital First’ approach.
  • Platforms like UPI, JAM Trinity, and ONDC have created millions of opportunities and contributed to the country's digital transformation.
• Women in Tech:
  • PM Modi stressed the importance of women-led development in technology and mentioned initiatives like Drone Didi and the Bank Sakhi program to empower women in rural areas.
  • He emphasized the rising role of women in India's tech sector, noting that 40% of STEM students are women and many women are leading startups.
• Global Governance of Technology:
  • PM Modi called for the establishment of global standards for ethical AI, data privacy, and cybersecurity, emphasizing that global collaboration is essential to build a secure and inclusive digital ecosystem.
  • He urged global institutions to create a framework similar to the aviation industry for governing digital tools and technologies.
• Responsible Innovation:
  • PM Modi underlined the need for human-centric, responsible innovation in the digital revolution, ensuring that no country or community is left behind.

Q1. What is the difference between Data Science & Artificial Intelligence?

Data science combines statistical tools, methods, and technology to generate meaning from data. Artificial Intelligence takes this one step further and uses the data to solve cognitive problems commonly associated with human intelligence, such as learning, pattern recognition, and human-like expression.

Q2. What do you mean by Digital Trade?

Digital trade refers to commerce enabled by electronic means – by telecommunications and/or ICT services – and covers trade in both goods and services.

Source: IMC: PM Modi pitches for framing do's, dont's for ethical use of technology

What’s in today’s article?

• Background
• Importance of Containers in Global Trade
• India’s Current Container Production Scenario
• Strategic Importance of Increasing Container Production
• Govt. Initiatives & Solutions
• Long-Term Benefits of Boosting Container Production
• Conclusion

Background

• India’s trade is growing rapidly, with a significant focus on containerized transport to facilitate swift movement of goods across the country and internationally.
• However, a major challenge hindering India's trade expansion is the shortage of containers.
• Currently, India's capacity for producing containers falls far short of what is needed to support its ambitious trade targets.

Importance of Containers in Global Trade

• Containers are essential to modern trade. These standardized, box-like structures allow for goods to be efficiently transported via rail, road, and sea.
• Containerization revolutionized global trade by reducing transportation time, minimizing port delays, and enabling the seamless movement of cargo. The key advantages of containers include:
  • Efficiency: Once goods are sealed inside containers, they can be transported over long distances without disturbance.
  • Global Standardization: Containers come in standardized sizes (such as the 20-foot equivalent unit, or TEU), making them compatible with transport systems across the world.
• The availability of containers has become so critical that it is often referred to as the untold story of globalization.
• Without sufficient containers, even the best infrastructure cannot efficiently handle the trade of goods.

India’s Current Container Production Scenario

• Despite being strategically located on the East-West trade route, India's ability to become a global trade hub is limited by its container production capacity.
• Currently, India manufactures 10,000 to 30,000 containers annually, which is a small fraction of what is required to support the projected growth in trade.
• In contrast, China produces 2.5 to 3 million containers per year, dominating the global container manufacturing market.
• India’s production costs are also higher, with container manufacturing costing between $3,500 and $4,800 per unit, compared to $2,500 to $3,500 in China.
• As a result, India has to lease containers, mostly from China, further increasing the cost and limiting India's ability to fully utilize its ports.

Strategic Importance of Increasing Container Production

• India’s ports, such as those at Vadhavan and Galathea Bay, along with initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, are built around the assumption of increased container capacity.
• If India fails to scale up container production, these ventures risk underperforming.
• At present, India's container handling market is expected to grow from 11.4 million TEUs in 2023 to 26.6 million TEUs by 2028.
• Without adequate container supply, India’s ports will struggle to handle the increased demand, and global shipping giants will continue to favour other hubs like Colombo, Dubai, and Hong Kong over Indian ports.
• Global Context & Challenges:
  • India’s container shortage is exacerbated by global factors.
  • The Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in West Asia have disrupted shipping routes, causing longer voyages and delays in container availability.
  • Rising piracy and the closure of key ports due to geopolitical tensions have further increased freight rates.
  • These factors make it even more crucial for India to establish a stable and secure supply of containers to avoid disruptions in its trade.

Govt. Initiatives & Solutions

• To address the container shortage, the Indian government has launched several initiatives under the Make in India program, which aims to boost indigenous container production. Some of the key measures being considered include:
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP):
  • Collaboration between the Container Corporation of India and private sector players to ramp up container manufacturing.
• Subsidies and Incentives:
  • The government is exploring direct subsidies and viability gap funding to support container manufacturers.
• Production Linked Incentives (PLI) are being considered, but they have yet to be implemented.
• Incentives for Raw Materials:
  • GST relaxation for raw materials used in container production would reduce input costs, making domestic production more competitive.
  • Long-term contracts between Indian shippers and container manufacturers could help stabilize the market and build confidence.
• Tracking and Management:
  • The government is working on a Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) and a Logistics Data Bank to track and trace containers more efficiently, thereby reducing the turnaround time for export containers and easing shortages.

Long-Term Benefits of Boosting Container Production

• Increasing container production in India would have several long-term benefits:
  • Lower Freight Costs: With more locally produced containers, the reliance on leased containers from China will decrease, lowering freight costs for Indian shippers.
  • Improved Port Utilization: Indian ports could handle more mother ships (large ocean vessels), which would enhance India’s position as a global trade hub.
  • Job Creation: Expanding the container manufacturing sector would create jobs and stimulate economic growth within India.
  • Resilience in Global Trade: By developing a strong domestic supply of containers, India would be less vulnerable to global disruptions and fluctuations in freight rates.

Conclusion

• India's container shortage presents a significant challenge to its trade ambitions, but the government is taking steps to address this bottleneck through initiatives like Make in India and PPP collaborations.
• By increasing container production, reducing manufacturing costs, and improving logistics, India can strengthen its position in global trade, reduce dependency on foreign suppliers, and ensure the smooth transport of goods through its strategically located ports.
• The success of these initiatives will be crucial in realizing India's goal of becoming a global trade powerhouse.

Q1. What is Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)?

The Global Trade Item Number is an identifier for trade items, developed by the international organization GS1. Such identifiers are used to look up product information in a database which may belong to a retailer, manufacturer, collector, researcher, or other entity. 

Q2. Which state has the highest number of ports in India?

Maharashtra has the highest number of ports in India with 53 ports. Gujarat has the second highest number of ports with 40, and Tamil Nadu has 15 ports. Karnataka has 10 ports.

Source: Why India needs to make a lot more containers to boost trade

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What is Greenwashing?
• Key highlights of advertising guidelines for preventing greenwashing

Why in News?

The Centre has introduced new guidelines to prevent companies from making false or misleading claims about their products' environmental benefits. 

These rules, issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), require companies to provide scientific evidence to support their claims. 

The guidelines are part of a broader effort to crack down on misleading advertisements. These norms would complement the existing Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsement for Misleading Advertisements 2022, which deal with false or exaggerated claims in advertisements in general.

What is Greenwashing?

• About
  • It refers to the growing practice of companies, organizations, and even countries making dubious or unverifiable claims about their environmental or climate-friendly activities. 
  • While the term has been primarily used in the context of advertising, its implications are much broader. 
  • It presents a false picture of the progress being made on the climate change front, thereby pushing the world towards disaster, while at the same time rewarding entities for irresponsible behaviour.
• Famous Examples
  • Major cases of greenwashing include the 2015 Volkswagen scandal, where the company manipulated emissions tests to appear environmentally friendly. 
  • Other corporations like Shell, BP, and Coca-Cola have also been accused of greenwashing. 
  • Governments too, have been implicated, such as exaggerating the carbon absorption potential of their forests or overemphasizing the impact of certain regulations. 
  • Carbon trading and offset practices have similarly come under scrutiny for lacking scientific rigor.
  • Sometimes companies do make genuine mistakes — overestimating the impact of their environment-friendly projects. 
  • However, very often they lie, or mislead, and these constitute the more serious cases of greenwashing.
• Global Efforts to Combat Greenwashing
  • In response to the widespread nature of greenwashing, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a zero-tolerance policy. 
  • A high-level expert group was formed to propose strategies for curbing greenwashing, particularly among non-state actors like corporations and financial institutions. 
  • Key recommendations included: 
    • banning fresh investments in fossil fuels, 
    • setting short-term emission reduction targets, 
    • halting deforestation activities, and 
    • discouraging the use of carbon offset mechanisms at the initial stages of pursuing net-zero commitments.
• Why greenwashing is fairly widespread?
  • The processes and products that can potentially cut emissions are so many that it is practically impossible to monitor and verify all. 
  • There is lack of regulation and standardisation in most of these spaces.
  • The processes, methodologies and institutions to measure, report, create standards, verify claims and grant certifications are still being set up.
  • Also, large number of organisations have sprung up claiming expertise in these areas and offering their services for a fee. 
  • Many of these organisations lack integrity and robustness, but their services are still availed by corporations because it makes them look good.
• Way forward - Six principles for trustworthy environmental claims

Key highlights of advertising guidelines for preventing greenwashing

• Background
  • The government initiated the drafting of these guidelines in November 2023, forming a committee that held three meetings and submitted a draft earlier this year. 
  • After seeking public comments, the final guidelines were released.
• Definition of Greenwashing in Advertising
  • The guidelines define greenwashing as any deceptive or misleading practice where relevant information is concealed, exaggerated, or vague claims are made regarding the environmental benefits of a product or service. 
  • This can involve the use of misleading words, symbols, or imagery that highlight positive environmental aspects while concealing the negative ones.
• Allowance for Hyperbole
  • The guidelines permit the use of "obvious hyperboles" or "puffery," which are common in advertising, as long as they do not amount to deception or misleading the consumer. 
  • For instance, claims about growth being based on "sustainable principles" would not be considered misleading. 
  • However, more specific claims, like stating that all products are manufactured sustainably, would need to be substantiated.
• Use of Generic Environmental Terms
  • Generic terms such as "clean," "green," "eco-friendly," and "sustainable" are only allowed if companies can provide evidence to support such claims. 
  • Advertisements must use accurate qualifiers and disclosures, ensuring that these terms are not vague or misleading.
• Clarification of Technical Terms
  • When using technical terms such as "environment impact assessment" or "greenhouse gas emissions," companies must explain their meaning and implications in a way that is easily understood by consumers. 
  • The guidelines emphasize the importance of making these terms clear and accessible to the public.
• Requirements for Specific Environmental Claims
  • More specific environmental claims—such as "compostable," "non-toxic," or "plastic-free"—must be supported by reliable scientific evidence, certifications, or third-party verification. 
  • This ensures that companies can substantiate their claims with credible sources.
• Applicability of the Guidelines
  • The guidelines apply to all environmental claims made by manufacturers, service providers, or advertisers, and extend to advertising agencies and endorsers involved in promoting such products or services. 
  • The guidelines strictly prohibit engaging in greenwashing and misleading environmental claims.

Q.1. What are the new guidelines introduced by the CCPA regarding greenwashing?

The CCPA's new guidelines require companies to provide scientific evidence for environmental claims, preventing misleading advertisements and ensuring transparency in corporate sustainability efforts.

Q.2. How do the guidelines address the use of generic environmental terms?

The guidelines allow the use of terms like "eco-friendly" only if supported by evidence. Advertisements must include accurate qualifiers to avoid misleading consumers about environmental benefits.

Source: Greenwashing guidelines: How govt is tackling companies making dubious climate-friendly claims about products | Financial Express