9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – April 1st, 2023

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Mains Oriented Articles

GS PAPER - 1

Misogyny in the matrimonial market: Data shows Indian men prefer wives without jobs

Source– The post is based on the article “Misogyny in the matrimonial market: Data shows Indian men prefer wives without jobs” published in “The Indian Express” on 1st April 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- Social empowerment. GS2- Vulnerable sections of the population

Relevance– Issues related to women empowerment

News– A recent study we carried out on a large matrimonial website to understand the marital preferences of men.

What are the main findings of a survey of the matrimonial websites?

Female profiles who were employed received nearly 15% fewer responses from male relative to those who were not working. The preference for non-working female partners holds across all education groups of female profiles.

Moreover, women employed in “masculine” occupations were 3% less likely to receive responses compared to women employed in “feminine” occupations.

A woman in a “masculine” job who stated a preference to continue to work after marriage was less likely to generate male interest, relative to a woman in a “feminine” job who preferred to continue working.

Profiles of working women generated less interest from men even when their caste, education levels and family incomes matched those of the men.

Further, the level of discrimination against working women was higher by malewith lower education levels.

How does the working status of a married woman have an impact on domestic work performed by women?

In urban India, married women spend almost 7.5 times more time on domestic work as compared to married men. As per Time Use Survey 2019; women in north India spend more time on domestic work relative to women in the south.

Women who are not working spend much more time on domestic work. It is more than women in “feminine” occupations and much more than those in “masculine” fields. These findings suggest that male-dominated occupations may be characterised by more inflexible working schedules.

Other evidence suggests that women in male-dominated occupations may even be considered “sexually impure” due to greater interactions with men at work.

What are the socio-economic impacts of marriage preferences?

The marriage preferences are likely to contribute to India’s persistently low female labour force participation and high levels of occupational segregation by gender.

This segregation may also perpetuate the gender gap in earnings, because “feminine” occupations pay 30% lower daily wages on average than  “masculine” occupations.

GS PAPER - 2

Lahore Lesson – If Pak HC can scrap sedition law, surely SC can do it

Source: The post is based on the article “Lahore Lesson – If Pak HC can scrap sedition law, surely SC can do it” published in The Times of India on 1st April 2023.

Syllabus: GS – 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Relevance: About removing sedition in India.

News: Recently, Lahore High Court has scrapped Pakistan’s sedition law, calling it inconsistent with the country’s constitution. The progressive move should inspire removing sedition in India also.

What is Sedition Law?

Must read: Sedition Law in India (Section 124A IPC) – Explained, pointwise

About the history of Section 124-A

Read here: Sedition needs a clear definition for it to be retained in law books

About sedition laws in India and Pakistan

The sedition law is a legacy of the colonial penal code for the subcontinent. For example, in the India Penal Code 1860 Section 124A, the section on sedition, was added as an amendment in 1870.

From the start, Section 124A was used against anti-colonial voices against whom no other charges could be slapped.

Post Independence, ruling parties in India, and Pakistan have used Sedition to intimidate and silence critics including the opposition, journalists, human rights activists, and even student protesters.

What are the key judgments under the Sedition Law after Independence?

Must read: Judgements under the Sedition Law

What should be done?

In 2022, the Indian Supreme Court granted the Centre additional time to review the sedition law, telling the Centre to not register fresh FIRs under Section 124A.

Indian government can also consider removing the sedition law in India. As it is often used to punish wrong people for wrong reasons.

Misogyny in the matrimonial market: Data shows Indian men prefer wives without jobs

Source– The post is based on the article “Misogyny in the matrimonial market: Data shows Indian men prefer wives without jobs” published in “The Indian Express” on 1st April 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- Social empowerment. GS2- Vulnerable sections of the population

Relevance– Issues related to women empowerment

News– A recent study we carried out on a large matrimonial website to understand the marital preferences of men.

What are the main findings of a survey of the matrimonial websites?

Female profiles who were employed received nearly 15% fewer responses from male relative to those who were not working. The preference for non-working female partners holds across all education groups of female profiles.

Moreover, women employed in “masculine” occupations were 3% less likely to receive responses compared to women employed in “feminine” occupations.

A woman in a “masculine” job who stated a preference to continue to work after marriage was less likely to generate male interest, relative to a woman in a “feminine” job who preferred to continue working.

Profiles of working women generated less interest from men even when their caste, education levels and family incomes matched those of the men.

Further, the level of discrimination against working women was higher by malewith lower education levels.

How does the working status of a married woman have an impact on domestic work performed by women?

In urban India, married women spend almost 7.5 times more time on domestic work as compared to married men. As per Time Use Survey 2019; women in north India spend more time on domestic work relative to women in the south.

Women who are not working spend much more time on domestic work. It is more than women in “feminine” occupations and much more than those in “masculine” fields. These findings suggest that male-dominated occupations may be characterised by more inflexible working schedules.

Other evidence suggests that women in male-dominated occupations may even be considered “sexually impure” due to greater interactions with men at work.

What are the socio-economic impacts of marriage preferences?

The marriage preferences are likely to contribute to India’s persistently low female labour force participation and high levels of occupational segregation by gender.

This segregation may also perpetuate the gender gap in earnings, because “feminine” occupations pay 30% lower daily wages on average than  “masculine” occupations.

For judiciary, the red lines are bright and clear

Source– The post is based on the article “For judiciary, the red lines are bright and clear” published in “The Indian Express” on 1st April 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Functioning of judiciary

Relevance– Issues related to judicial review and judicial activism

News–  Over the last few years, issues relating to tradition, culture and society have come before the constitutional courts of the country in the form of public interest litigation.

What are some facts about doctrine of basic structure and judicial review?

One of the most fundamental principles of constitutional morality is that every organ should look at its jurisdiction to discharge a particular role. It is to preserve the sanctity of the doctrine of separation of powers.

The doctrine is part of the basic structure of the Constitution. It is meant to preserve the respective power of the legislature, executive and judiciary.

The judiciary has the power of review over the other two organs. But, such power has limitations which must respect the institutional independence and competence of such organs.

The power of judicial review is not judicial supervision or superintendence over the legislature or executive. This position is especially applicable in matters of policy where domain expertise is required. This is also the case with societal experimentation, where there is a need for a process of consultation between the electorate and the elected.

The doctrine of separation of power facilitates participative democracy in letter and spirit. It facilitates the right of the public to give effect to its will through the legislature.

Even if the decision of the majority is flawed, it cannot be reviewed by the judiciary except on the grounds of constitutionality.

What should be the way forward for the judiciary?

Judicial wisdom should not replace the will of the majority. The Constitution does not envisage replacing democracy with judicial paternalism.

The Constitution recognises that sometimes a good policy decision may be unconstitutional, and a bad policy decision may be constitutional. Only unconstitutionality is the ground for the intervention of the judiciary.

The judiciary should dissuade public interest litigants and civil society groups from seeking its intervention by crossing constitutional limits. In a democracy, those who wish to convince the legislature of their position must engage with societal and legislative stakeholders to put across their point of view.

There do exist areas where both the legislature and executive are not taking decisions because of their vested interests. It forces the affected parties to seek judicial remedy. In such instances, the Supreme Court may invoke its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to address an exigency until the legislature brings in a law on the subject. An example of this is the Vishakha guidelines.

The judiciary cannot go for judicial review merely because the judiciary or some members of the judiciary disagree with the social premise underlying the law. State interest can not be questioned based on judicial disagreement with the legislative or executive position.

Judicial disagreement with legislative policy is not proof of unconstitutionality. Only the constitution is the measure to assess constitutionality.

Judiciary should not express its opinion on matters of policy where it has no jurisdiction, with the intention of shaping public opinion or to put pressure on the other organs. It can have an impact on the public discourse.

The Constitution permits the judiciary to perform an advisory role in very limited circumstances and that too only when sought for. These red lines drawn by the Constitution cannot be breached by any constitutional Court.

India’s semiconductor mission might need a compass

Source– The post is based on the article “India’s semiconductor mission might need a compass” published in “The Hindu” on 1st April 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Indian Economy

Relevance– Electronics manufacturing

News– The United States Department of Commerce and its Indian counterpart have recently concluded a memorandum of understanding in March 2023 to ensure that subsidies by each country does not impact India’s semiconductor mission.

What are issues with existing institutional structure for semiconductor manufacturing in India?

The Semi­ Conductor Laboratory (SCL) was set up in Mohali in 1983 by the then central government, with the vision of creating an electronics ecosystem in India.

However, the opening up of markets for consumer goods in 1991 and a fire that broke out in 1989 at the SCL, dashed these hopes.

The facility has not been successful in creating a domestic semiconductor ecosystem.

What is the way forward for the semiconductor mission of India?

The institutional framework already exists. SCL has been transferred back to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY), as part of the new semiconductor policy announced in December 2021. However, no joint venture partner has been found.

During this period, the focus at MeITY seems aimed at attracting Intel into India to set up a fab. However, Intel primarily operates at <22nm node and 300mm. It requires over $10 billion in upgrade cost to the SCL.

An alternate approach could be to leverage human and capital assets at the SCL to build on existing base in a targeted manner, by taking advantage of recent technological breakthroughs in a class of semiconductors that do not need advanced lithography equipment.

The segment of >180 nm node involves mixed signal analog, wide bandgap (GaN, GaAs, Silicon Carbide) for RF and power markets leveraging existing lithography capability already in place at the SCL.

In this scenario, an investment of $50­-$100 million may result in the development of Indian solutions for automotive electronics, PV­Inverters, 5G infra­power amplifiers, railway electronics.

However, the upgrade has to be backed by subsidies aimed at fabless design houses with proven design willing to fabricate at the SCL in the 180 nm+ node.

The subsidies have to be aimed at global design companies with products aimed at India­ specific markets such as motor drives for BLDC fans or e­bike chargers.

The recent efforts by the India Semiconductor Mission to open up subsidies to global small andmedium sized enterprises in the upstream supply chain are welcome. Existing facilities like the SCL will benefit from this. But this should be coupled with more incentives.

The SCL needs a full time director with field experience rather than a career scientist from the Department of Space.

GS PAPER - 3

The focus of the new policy on reducing points of friction across the system is unmistakable

Source– The post is based on the article “The focus of the new policy on reducing points of friction across the system is unmistakable” published in “The Indian Express” on 1st April 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Indian economy

Relevance– External sector of the economy

News– Recently, the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 was unveiled by the Union government.

What are the aims of the new trade policy?

Shift from an incentive to a tax remission-based regime.

Improve the ease of doing business.

Promote exports through collaborations.

Focus on emerging areas.

The government has articulated the goal of achieving $2 trillion in export of goods and services by 2030.

What are the focus areas of the new policy?

The focus of the new policy is on reducing points of friction across the system. The measures focus on providing automatic approvals for various permissions.

For instance, the processing time for revalidation of various authorisations, which currently ranges from three days to one month, is expected to be brought down to one day.

Facilitation of e-commerce exports, widening the basket covered under RODTEP are also the focus areas.

Other thrust areas of the policy are steps being taken to boost manufacturing, rationalising the thresholds for recognition of exporters, merchanting trade reform, and greater use of the rupee in international trade.

Further, a one-time amnesty scheme has been introduced that aims at faster resolution of trade disputes.

What is the way forward for better implementation of the policy?

India accounts for a minuscule portion of global trade. Its share in global merchandise exports stands at around 1.8%, while that in services is roughly 4%. There is considerable scope for improvement for the country on this count.

The new policy needs to be supplemented with other measures to boost the country’s trade performance. These range from lowering import tariffs and ensuring a competitive exchange rate to signing broader and deeper free trade agreements.

Global warming will cause conditions beyond human tolerance — this will impact homes too

Source: The post is based on the article “Global warming will cause conditions beyond human tolerance — this will impact homes too” published in The Times of India on 1st April 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Climate Change

Relevance: about the impact of clime change on homes

News: The article discusses the impact of climate change on homes.

What are some of the impacts of climate change on homes?

Indoor house temperature is often two to three degrees below the outside temperature, especially in tropical countries.

In the coming future, the indoor temperature is expected to rise to 36 to 38 degrees which is beyond human tolerance levels.

Further, the designs used for building homes are neither climate resilient nor good for health.

When building homes, high density and the number of units are preferred over the health advantages associated with climate adaptive building.

How can houses become climate resilient?

In warmer countries like India, natural ventilation can play a key role because there isn’t a sharp difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures.

Roshan Daans, the traditional windows can also reduce heat slowly and intelligently.

Vertical greening is also beneficial; however, it should not be used in places with high humidity.

People also install exhaust fans on windows, leaving little space for ventilation. Hence, buoyancy driven ventilation will be needed to lower heat.

It is also necessary to understand local climatic conditions before building houses. For example, tropical nations mustn’t mimic the tall glass building model which comes from very different climatic zones.

Further, factors like ease of using the technology, accessibility, awareness of co-benefits, affordable maintenance, etc. are responsible for adopting any climate resilient technology at homes.

However, any such technology would also require social acceptance.

Why is social acceptance necessary for adopting climate resilient technology at homes?

As per a study, it was found that women in India are reluctant to use air conditioners for themselves. In India, women didn’t take many energy decisions independently, rather they are mostly dependent on males of their families.

It was also found that despite temperatures over 30 degrees, women were not using air conditioners for themselves. Women suffer more than males from heat, which has a negative impact on their health and well-being.

Thus, approval across all genders and social classes is required for a climate resilient technology to succeed in the market.

What can be the way ahead?

Sustainability 1.0 gave materials which are low carbon value chain systems. But Sustainability 2.0 means thinking about people-centric metrices like the acceptability indices of technology.

Thus, engineers involved in developing such a kind of technology should also study the interaction between technology and society and understand people’s aspirations and constraints.

It will enable industry to help communities navigate climate change better within their homes.

Human Genome Editing: Scientists Vs Rogues

Source: The post is based on an article “Human Genome Editing: Scientists Vs Rogues” published in The Times of India on 1st April 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Science and Technology

Relevance: concerns over genome editing technology

News: The Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing was held in London last month.

What are the excerpts of the summit?

Scientists found that changing genes in some of the cells of an existing person does not impact their heritable cells. Gene editing method like CRISPR is also being used by scientists to cure sickle cell disease.

However, extremely high costs and infrastructure needs of gene therapy treatments are not manageable for a vast majority of either patients or healthcare systems.

CRISPR has also been used in China to alter the embryos (created through IVF) of twin girls to try to make them resistant to HIV in 2018.

However, concerns remain over funding and monitoring of gene therapy, especially in a country like China.

There was news of efforts going in China to get access to cutting-edge western genomic and biotech ecosystems through academic espionage and early-stage investment.

There were also concerns over carrying gene therapies in China in the absence of scientific public documentation as it may have a catastrophic impact on humanity, as was seen in the case Covid-19.

Must Read: Gene Therapy: Approaches, Benefits and Concerns – Explained

What lies ahead for India in genome editing technology?

Developing Gene therapy technologies in India is not only about cost ownership and access but also the processes of knowledge production and knowledge produced.

Therefore, genome editing research reaching its full therapeutic potential for Indians will need science in India to step up.

Human genome editing: significance and associated challenges – Explained, pointwise

For 7PM Editorial Archives click HERE

Introduction  

Experts from around the world recently gathered in London for the Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing. The summit discussed the latest advancements in technology and emphasized the importance of responsible use. While human genome editing offers potential solutions to many challenges, it also raises ethical, legal, and regulatory concerns. Therefore, it is crucial to understand and address these challenges to ensure ethical and responsible use of the technology.  

What is Human genome editing?  

Genome editing is a method for making specific changes to the DNA of a cell or organism. It can be used to add, remove or alter DNA in the genome. Human genome editing technologies can be used on somatic cells (non-heritable), germline cells (not for reproduction) and germline cells (for reproduction).  

For example, scientists can use CRISPR-Cas9, a type of genome editing tool, to cut and modify specific parts of the DNA in a cell. This could potentially be used to treat genetic diseases by correcting the underlying genetic mutations responsible for the disease.  

How Human genome editing is done?

Human genome editing
Source: WEF
Read more: Gene Therapy: Approaches, Benefits and Concerns – Explained, pointwise

What is the need for Human genome editing? 

Increasing Genetic disorders: India is considered as the “Pandora’s Box of genetic disorders. India has a high prevalence of rare recessive genetic diseases due to its population’s heterogeneity and inbreeding rates. Human genome editing could potentially address this issue by correcting or eliminating disease-causing mutations in affected individuals or preventing the transmission of these mutations to future generations.  

Rising incidence of viral disease: According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 2.1 million people in India were living with HIV in 2019, with a prevalence rate of 0.2. 

Cancer as a growing health concern:  According to The Report of National Cancer Registry Programme, 2020 India’s cancer burden could increase from 1.39 million during this year to 1.57 million in 2025. Human gene editing can address this burden.

Rising issues of side effects of treatment: Genome editing can be used to create personalized medicine based on an individual’s unique genetic makeup. This could lead to more effective and efficient treatments with fewer side effects.  

Increasing food allergies: According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Pediatrics, the prevalence of food allergies in Indian children is estimated to be around 6-8%. Human gene editing can also be used to create allergy-free foods.  

Read more: Humans Decoded 

What are the advantages of Human genome editing?  

Potential cures for genetic diseases: Genome editing could potentially offer a cure for genetic diseases that currently have no effective treatments. For example, using genome editing to correct the genetic mutation responsible for cystic fibrosis could cure the disease.  

Can treat cancer diseases: Human gene editing can improve the accuracy and efficiency of cancer modeling, which is crucial for developing cancer therapies. For instance, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), a cancer genomics program in the US, has already mapped genomic changes in 33 cancer types in order to improve cancer treatment.

Can treat viral diseases: Human genome editing has the potential to cure viral diseases by modifying the patient’s own immune cells to better target and destroy the virus. One approach is to use CRISPR-Cas9 to edit the DNA of T cells, a type of immune cell, to make them resistant to HIV infection. Another approach is to use CRISPR-Cas9 to remove the hepatitis B virus from infected liver cells.

Read more: Scientists tried CRISPR to fight HIV  

Increase understanding of the human genome: Studying the effects of editing specific genes could help researchers better understand the role of those genes in human biology and disease.  

Advancements in scientific research: Genome editing can be used to create animal models of human diseases, allowing scientists to better understand the mechanisms of these diseases and develop new treatments.   

Enhanced biosecurity: Genome editing can be used to develop disease-resistant animals, preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases.  

Improving agricultural productivity: Genome editing could be used to create crops that are more resistant to pests, require less water or are more nutritious, leading to increased agricultural productivity and food security. It’s worth noting that while there are potential advantages to genome editing, there are also significant ethical and safety concerns that must be carefully considered before any widespread use of the technology. 

Read more: What is CRISPR Technology?

What are the challenges associated with Human genome editing?  

Ethical concerns: The use of gene editing raises ethical questions such as whether it is appropriate to genetically engineer embryos, or to modify traits that are not related to the disease. For instance, editing genes to enhance intelligence or physical appearance could lead to unintended consequences and exacerbate social inequalities.  

Concerns over “designer babies”: There are concerns that genome editing could be used to create “designer babies” for social rather than medical reasons. This raises ethical concerns and could lead to the creation of a genetically-engineered elite. For example, editing the genes of an embryo to increase its intelligence could create a societal divide between those who have access to technology and those who do not.  

Off-target effects: Gene editing could unintentionally modify genes other than the targeted one, causing unpredictable consequences. For example, a study published in 2017 reported that CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing resulted in unexpected mutations in mice.  

Safety concerns: Gene editing could lead to unintended consequences, such as off-target effects or immune reactions, that could pose a risk to the health of the individual undergoing the procedure. For example, editing the wrong gene could cause a person to develop cancer.  

Germline editing: Until now, all therapeutic interventions in humans using genome editing have been performed in somatic cells (i.e. only the patient gets affected, no chance of inheriting the altered genes by the patient’s offspring).

But, editing the germline can lead to unpredictable changes that can be passed on to future generations. This raises ethical and safety concerns. For example, editing the genes of a human embryo can result in unintended genetic changes that can be passed down to offspring.  

Note: Germline gene editing involves altering the specific genes of an egg, sperm cell, or early embryo (i.e., up to five days after fertilization) in a laboratory dish. Germline gene editing removes, disrupts, alters, or corrects faulty elements of DNA within a gene in sex cells.  

Lack of long-term data: The long-term effects of gene editing are not yet fully understood, and there are concerns that modifications made to an individual’s DNA could have unintended consequences that only become apparent years or even decades later. For example, there may be unforeseen consequences of using CRISPR to eliminate a particular disease-causing gene that is not fully understood.  

Regulatory challenges: At present, there is no regulating body to keep a check on the practices and applications of Human genome editing technology. It may therefore lead to reduced transparency, low quality and may also increase the unnecessary delay in the treatment of patients.

Further creating a strong regulatory oversight can be difficult to achieve given the rapidly evolving nature of the technology and the varying regulatory approaches taken by different countries.

For example, the US FDA currently regulates gene-edited animals as drugs, while in Europe they are considered to be genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and are subject to different regulations.  

Ecological impacts: Gene drives can be used to propagate a set of genes with negative traits throughout a population, which can lead to severe ecological consequences. For example, introducing gene-edited mosquitoes that are resistant to malaria could lead to the elimination of the mosquito population, which could disrupt the ecosystem.  

Uncontrolled clinical trials: There are currently no standard norms for clinical trials to check the efficacy of genome editing treatment. This can lead to uncontrolled clinical trials, which can result in patients receiving ineffective or potentially harmful treatments.  

Read more: GM Crops in India: Issues and challenges – Explained, pointwise

What should be done before permitting widespread applications of human genome editing?  

Continued research: Further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of human genome editing. This includes long-term studies on the safety and efficacy of different gene editing techniques, as well as research on the ethical, social, and legal implications of the technology.  

Responsible use: It is important that human genome editing is used responsibly and ethically, with appropriate regulation and oversight. This includes ensuring that the technology is used only for medical purposes and that it does not exacerbate existing inequalities.  

Collaboration and transparency: Collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and the public is important to ensure that human genome editing is used responsibly and transparently. This includes open communication about the potential benefits and risks of the technology, as well as consultation with the broader public on key ethical and policy issues.  

Development of ethical guidelines: The development of clear ethical guidelines is important to ensure that human genome editing is used responsibly and ethically. This includes guidelines on issues such as the use of gene editing for non-medical purposes, the editing of germline cells, and the informed consent of individuals undergoing the procedure.  

Investment in infrastructure: Investment in infrastructure is needed to support the development and deployment of gene editing technologies. This includes investment in research facilities, regulatory agencies, and public health systems, as well as the development of international standards and protocols for the use of gene editing.  

Educate the public: The public should be educated about the potential benefits and risks of human genome editing, as well as the ethical and social implications of the technology. This can help to ensure that public opinion and policy decisions are informed by accurate and up-to date information.  

Sources: Times of India, NYTimes, BBC, NCDIR, and WEF

Syllabus: GS 3: Science and Technology – Science and Technology developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

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