Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Ensuring women’s right to the city
• Five years of Ayushman Bharat: A shield for the vulnerable
• Climate events and an umbrella for urban health
• Talking peace in Jeddah: India offers a new perspective
• Express View on IIM bill: Mis-management
• Falling short – on Digital Data Protection Bill 2023
• A Hassle Is Born – on Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2023
• The grammar of commerce in a new age of geopolitics

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Ensuring women’s right to the city

News: In this article author discusses the challenges women face in Indian cities due to lack of gender-responsive urban planning, emphasizing the need for more inclusive and equitable cities that prioritize women’s safety, freedom, and the recognition of unpaid care work.

What challenges do women face in Indian cities?

Women in Indian cities face:

Safety Concerns: 52% of women in a 2021 ORF study avoided education or jobs due to safety issues.

Longer Commutes: Women in Delhi travel 27 extra minutes for safer routes.

Public Transport Issues: Only 9% of women in an Ola study felt public transport was safe.

Higher Transport Costs: Women in Mumbai spend 21% more on transport due to safety and multiple tasks.

Low Employment: Only 20% of women are employed compared to 70% of men.

Unequal Care Burden: Women spend 297 minutes daily on housework; men spend 31.

Unpaid Work: Women contribute 3.26 billion hours of unpaid care work daily.

What should be done about it?

Gender-Responsive Urban Planning: Urban planning often ignores women’s economic and social realities, leading to exclusion and fear. Design cities that consider the needs of women, children, and the elderly.

Safety over Technocracy: Go beyond just CCTV and apps; adopt a holistic approach to women’s safety and inclusion.

Safer and affordable transportation: Improve public transport safety and affordability, considering that only 9% of women find it safe and women in Mumbai spend 21% more time on transport than men. Adopt successful measures like women-only transport, free buses, and helplines.

Recognize Care Work: Given women spend 297 minutes daily on housework, support and value their contributions.

Facilitate Care Infrastructure: Design urban spaces that prioritize childcare, healthcare, housing, parks, and leisure areas.

Community Involvement: Include diverse voices in policy-making, that echoes Jane Jacobs’ idea that cities should be created by everyone.

Cities for Well-being: Prioritize areas beyond production and consumption, focusing on overall well-being, like health and education.

Five years of Ayushman Bharat: A shield for the vulnerable

News: The author discusses India’s healthcare scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). This program provides free health coverage to millions, reduces medical costs, and ensures quality care.

What are the important features of AB-PMJAY?

Read – Features of AB-PMJAY

What are the benefits of AB-PMJAY?

Out of pocket expenditure: It supports over 12 crore families, aiming to cover 50% of India’s population. It reduces out-of-pocket expenditure and enhances healthcare accessibility for all. It has saved over Rs 1 lakh crore in treatment costs.

Gender Equality: 48% of treatments under the scheme have been availed by women, promoting equal healthcare access.

Universal Health Coverage: Takes India closer to Sustainable Development Goal 3.8, ensuring quality healthcare regardless of economic status.

Easy Access: Over 27,000 hospitals accept the Ayushman Card for free treatment. Patients can receive care in any state with AB-PMJAY, benefiting migrants.

Fraud Prevention: Uses National Anti-Fraud Unit (NAFU) and state-level units, Aadhaar-based authentication, AI and ML technologies to detect frauds. Over 210 hospitals de-empaneled for violations.

Feedback System: Calls made to patients’ post-treatment to assess service quality.

Climate events and an umbrella for urban health

News: The author discusses the increased vulnerability of urban areas, especially slums, to diseases like malaria and dengue after extreme weather events in India. He is emphasising the need for a resilient urban primary health care system and better coordination for an effective response.

Why is there an increase in health vulnerability in urban areas?

Extreme Weather Events: Cyclones, floods, and heavy rains have caused devastation, leading to conducive conditions for water and vector-borne diseases.

Vector-borne Diseases: Diseases like malaria and dengue diseases are more likely to spread in rain-affected areas.

Poor Living Conditions: Many live in slums or informal urban settlements, which often lack proper sanitation and waste disposal.

Mobility: Movement of people between states can spread diseases.

Economic Vulnerability: Many slum residents work in the informal sector without social security benefits.

Inadequate Healthcare Infrastructure: Urban areas, especially vulnerable ones, receive a tiny fraction of primary health care funding.

What should be done about it?

Rebuild Health Systems: Focus on urban primary health-care resilience, especially in slums and peri-urban areas.

Increase Public Investment: More funds for vulnerable urban regions; a special fund from institutions like the Finance Commission can help.

Coordinate Efforts: States should work together, especially given the movement of people across borders, to manage and mitigate disease spread. Strengthen systems like the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, making them more comprehensive.

Streamline Governance: Overcome fragmentation in urban health governance for better coordination.

Leverage Lessons from COVID-19: Ensure data sharing, standardize treatments, and regulate costs during health emergencies.

Integrate Frontline Workers: Create multi-purpose health cadres that are accountable to both communities and health systems.

Plan for Climate Change: Recognize the increasing frequency of extreme events and plan public health responses accordingly.

Talking peace in Jeddah: India offers a new perspective

News: In this article author discusses a peace summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where countries addressed the Ukrainian crisis. It highlights the growing global influence of non-Western nations, Russia’s isolation, China’s role in a potential solution, and India’s stance on territorial integrity.

What were diplomatic developments at peace summit at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia?

Diplomatic developments at the Jeddah peace summit included:

Hosting by Saudi Arabia: It highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing influence, especially after making peace with Iran through China’s interventions.

US and China Attendance: Both countries, having differing views on the Ukrainian crisis, were present.

Russia’s Isolation: It was depicted in the reduced attendance at the Russia-Africa summit, held last month, compared to previous years.

China’s Position: Despite its previous 12-point charter, China signaled its intention to play a key role in a Russia-Ukraine settlement.

What role did India play at this peace summit?

Balanced Approach: India refrained from criticizing Russia in UN resolutions.

Preference for Dialogue: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval emphasized dialogue as a solution to belligerence.

Territorial Integrity: Doval stressed the importance of respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity by all nations.

Implicit Message to China: Doval’s emphasis on territorial boundaries was likely directed at China, given their border disputes.

Express View on IIM bill: Mis-management

News: Recently, the Lok Sabha has passed the Indian Institute of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Bill increases the government influence over the appointment and removal of directors at Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).

What are the concerns with the Bill?

The IIM Act, 2017, aimed to elevate these elite management schools to “institutions of national importance” and empower boards of governors to appoint directors of an IIM on the basis of the recommendations of a search-cum-selection committee.

However, the new legislation subordinates the boards to the IIMs’ Visitor (the President of India), granting the government substantial veto power in the appointments.

If the Bill is enacted, the Visitor will nominate the board’s chairperson, a responsibility previously held by its members. The government will also define the terms for the board’s suspension or dissolution.

The Visitor’s expanded authority compromises the institution’s autonomy. For instance, the President can institute inquiries and issue directives which will be binding on the IIM management.

Moreover, despite assurance given by the education minister that the government wouldn’t intervene in IIMs’ operations, the move raises concerns about government influence on IIMs.

Must Read: Indian Institute of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023

What can be the way ahead?

There has been criticism regarding the operations of B-schools in the recent year. For example, IIM Calcutta experienced a conflict between its Board and Director, revealing concerns over executive powers and conduct.

This necessitates the importance of checks and balances for IIM functioning. However, excessive government involvement might yield negative consequences.

Falling short – on Digital Data Protection Bill 2023

News– Recently, The Digital Data Protection Bill, 2023, was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

What are the major provisions of the Bill?

An entity or individual, referred to as the data fiduciary, is allowed to process the personal data of an individual for a lawful purpose. It can be done only after obtaining the data principal’s consent. It can be processed for specific legitimate reasons.

These legitimate reasons are instances in which the data can be processed without obtaining the data principal’s consent. This includes situations where government agencies process the data to issue licenses, provide welfare benefits, grants, and services.

The Bill also imposes a responsibility on the data fiduciary to inform both the data principal and the Data Protection Board to assess compliance with the Bill in case of a breach of personal data.

What are the concerns related to the Bill?

The Bill does not contain the provision related to the requirement of informing data principals about third parties with whom their data might be shared, or specifying the duration for which the data will be stored.

Too much leeway is provided to agencies of the state in the form of exemptions.

The Srikrishna Committee’s Draft Bill in 2018 allowed for exemptions to state institutions from acquiring informed consent in matters related only to the “security of the state”.

It also suggested parliamentary oversight and judicial approval of non-consensual access to personal data.

In the 2023 version, the state is empowered to process data through wide-ranging exemptions. The government is allowed to collect information which could be used for mass surveillance.

In providing exemption to the state for obtaining , the Bill also does away with purpose limitation — using the data only for the specified purpose.

For further reading-

https://forumias.com/blog/neither-the-right-to-privacy-nor-the-right-to-information/

https://forumias.com/blog/consumers-can-look-forward-to-an-era-of-data-privacy/

A Hassle Is Born – on Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2023

News– Recently, Parliament passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2023.

What are the major provisions of the Bill?

The Bill provides for the birth certificate to be used as a required document for various purposes such as admission to educational institutions, inclusion in voter lists, and government employment.

The scope of applications is extensive, formidable, and unlimited. Acquiring the birth certificate will necessitate the use of Aadhaar numbers belonging to both the “parents and informant.”

What are issues with the Bill?

For economically disadvantaged sections and individuals with lack access to data resources, this will lead to exclusion.

The objective of establishing a more comprehensive database of recorded births and deaths is commendable. But, the Bill imposes new responsibilities on citizens.

Why does the civil registration system exhibit variations across different states?

This is primarily due to differences in governance mechanisms. Additionally, economic prosperity also contributes to significant disparities within states.

In Bihar, registrations have been reported to be below optimal levels even when births and deaths occur in healthcare facilities. Corruption is also prevalent.

In other regions as well, Civil Registration System (CRS) offices can be insufficiently distributed, inadequately staffed, and uncooperative.

What whould be done?

Government should improve the registration infrastructure significantly.

The doctrine of proportionality should be the guiding force. citizens should not be subjected to unnecessary difficulties and risks.

The grammar of commerce in a new age of geopolitics

News – Since March 2018, 23 advanced and developing countries have agreed for currency swap arrangements with India, extending credits in settling transactions.

How an unexpected shift in the utilization of the Indian rupee for international transactions occurred after the Ukraine-Russia conflict?

Sanctions on Russia directly targeted the assets of Russian financial institutions. This situation posed a significant challenge for both Russia and India.

To address this, an alternative approach was adopted for settling payments between the two nations. It involves the utilization of the Indian rupee in trade-related transactions.

The payments originating from either India or Russia are now directed to Rupee Vostro accounts established in Russian banks by authorized dealer banks in India. These accounts are responsible for facilitating the settlement of payments between the two countries.

How India-Russia alternate payment arrangement is facing challenges?

Russia is continuing with a trade surplus. In 2020-21, it amounted to $3.42 billion, followed by similar surpluses in the following years.

Russia is reluctant to hold more of the Indian rupee as an asset in the Vostro account. The rupee has a low rank in the global currency hierarchy and may be subject to depreciation.

Indian refiners have settled some payments for Russian oil imports using the Chinese yuan. It seems to be acceptable to Russia.

How similar payment arrangements were made in the past?

India established comparable bilateral trade and clearing agreements during the 1950s.

India and the Soviet Union engaged in bilateral trade agreements that involved the establishment of a closed rupee-denominated account. This account was utilized to manage both the exchange of goods and credit-related transactions between the two nations.

This initiative was initiated in the 1950s when the Soviet Union established a steel plant in Bhilai, despite opposition from Western nations.

The Soviet Union experienced a consistent buildup of trade surpluses. The decision to float the dollar in 1971 resulted in turbulence within the currency market and also affected the Soviet rouble.

The situation became more complicated due to the fragmentation of the former Soviet Union, which left Russia as a separate entity.

How is the current situation different from the past?

The geopolitical situation is different from the past. Presently, Russia is not averse to obtaining yuan for the management of its surpluses within the existing rupee account.

However, historical evidence indicates a reluctance within the sphere of BRICS for non-Chinese members to utilize the Chinese currency.

This hesitance became apparent during a proposition to create a clearing system among BRICS as a response to China’s persistent and sizable surpluses. Regrettably, this proposal did not come to fruition.

What are other similar alternate payment settlements systems related to using local currencies?

India and the United Arab Emirates have rupee-dirham arrangements.

This arrangement covers various transactions including trade, remittances, and capital movements.

It allows India to circumvent dollar payments for its imports of crude oil and minerals from the UAE. The agreement outlines provisions for linking their payment and messaging systems, enabling swift and cost-efficient money transfers.

Efforts are also underway to negotiate a similar agreement with Indonesia, utilizing the rupiah for transactions with India.

How a new financial architecture is emerging?

Indian rupee, Russian rouble, Chinese yuan, UAE dirham, and even Indonesia’s rupiah are aligned towards the shared objective of localized currency transactions.

Southern nations are preparing to engage in trade and payment settlements among themselves. They want to move away from the use of dominant currencies.

This trend will circumvent the need to rely on institutions from advanced countries, such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and private capital, at least for the purpose of settling their bilateral transactions.

There are challenges stemming from political disparities and the differing standing of currencies. However, geoeconomics could potentially surpass geopolitical obstacles and help bridge these differences.

It signals the early stages of a novel financial structure. Currencies of Southern nations are going to replace the longstanding hegemonic and exploitative system enjoyed by the currencies of the North.

GS Paper 3

The green tinge of local manufacturing

News: The author discusses global efforts to localize manufacturing to meet decarbonization targets. Countries are investing in local supply chains, especially in clean energy sectors, influenced by national goals to reduce carbon emissions.

How are companies localizing manufacturing?

Schneider Electric has created regional supply chains since 2005, speeding up market entry.

Eel’s 3Sun sets up gigawatt-scale solar plants in Europe.

Tata group plans a $5.2 billion battery plant in the UK for electric vehicles.

ExxonMobil targets 100,000 metric tonnes of lithium extraction yearly.

Despite a drop in Apple’s global production sites, China’s manufacturing share for Apple increased to 38%.

What incentives are countries offering?

The US’s Inflation Reduction Act triggers billions in local manufacturing investments.

Europe, especially the UK, is offering green subsidies, though not as substantial as the US.

India introduced a production-linked incentive scheme, targeting solar and battery sectors to promote high value-added product exports.

How is investment shaping the landscape?

The US leads, raising $3.5 billion in climate-tech venture capital.

India follows, with investments of $1.8 billion, significantly influenced by Avaada Energy’s $1 billion.

What’s the future of clean energy manufacturing?

There’s a global race to localize mature clean energy production, such as solar and wind.

Emerging technologies like green hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, and carbon capture are gaining traction.

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory made significant progress in nuclear fusion, although widespread application remains distant.

Learning from the CHIPS Act of the U.S.

News: The United States’ Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act of 2022 (CHIPS Act) has completed one year. The article compares the US semiconductor policy with India’s.

What are the differences between the US and India’s Semiconductor Policy?

Semiconductor Policy

US: The CHIPS Act promotes intergovernmental collaboration and creates four funds for execution. The Department of Commerce oversees the $50 billion CHIPS for America Fund for semiconductor advancement.

Allocations are also designated for specific purposes, such as $2 billion for defense-unique technologies under the Department of Defense.

India: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) oversees India’s semiconductor policy. Specific segments like manufacturing, assembly, displays, and compound semiconductors are handled by the independent India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) under MeitY.

Chip design policy is managed by C-DAC, an R&D organization under MeitY. However, to ensure that the semiconductor strategy persists beyond government terms, a whole-of-government approach like to the CHIPS Act is required.

Collaboration

US: Firms applying for funding through the CHIPS Act must present workforce development proposals. A nodal agency, known as the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), has been established to partner with businesses and educational establishments.

India: MeitY has initiated the Chips2Startup (C2S) initiative, working with more than 100 universities and colleges. Similar to NSTC, C2S seeks to enhance workforce growth by endorsing established high-quality training schemes.

However, in India, many private training centres prepare chip designers outside the conventional university system.

Hence, it is important for C2S to focus on certifying good programmes of universities or private training institutes rather than running them.

Feasibility Assessment Guidelines

US: The CHIPS Act has created a CHIPS Program Office (CPO) to lay down the guidelines for assessing the financial viability of a project. The CPO is hiring Investment Principals and Financial Structuring Directors to catalyse private sector investments.

India: While India has set up feasibility assessment guidelines, transparency improvements are necessary. Regular monthly progress reports on the semiconductor program, published by the government, will enhance confidence and expectation management.

Packaging Research

US: The CHIPS Act allocates $11 billion for research beyond domestic semiconductor manufacturing, focusing on advanced packaging. The National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP) is introduced to enhance the U.S.’s strategic position in this area.

India: India’s semiconductor approach lacks a strong focus on advanced manufacturing and packaging research. Hence, India should learn a lesson from the CHIPS Act and invest in research on future technologies.

Must Read: Semiconductor manufacturing in India: significance and challenges

What can be the way ahead?

The CHIPS and Science Act offers a valuable blueprint for semiconductor policy. Hence, India’s strategists should thoroughly assess its strengths and weaknesses and implement relevant aspects in their semiconductor approach.

It’s time to double down on our digital expansion

News– The article discusses the rapid growth of India’s internet economy. It highlights the uneven expansion and the need to broaden the internet base to reach everyone.

How has India’s internet economy been growing at a strong pace?

The expansion of internet access, the affordability of connectivity are significant achievements.  There is a rise in monthly Unified Payments Interface transactions. It has exceeded 10 billion with a value surpassing ₹15 trillion.

The Government also supports policies focusing on data security. Privacy regulations are aimed at creating more equitable online markets. Additionally, our export policy aligns with e-commerce.

The number of internet users has surged due to economical data tariffs. It has increased from 462 million in 2018 to 759 million users in 2022. This figure is anticipated to grow to 900 million by 2025.

What are issues related to the internet economy in India?

According to World Bank data from 2021, our internet penetration rate lags behind the world average.

According to this data, India was positioned at the 120th spot in 2021 in terms of internet penetration. The internet penetration rate is standing at 46%. This is below the global average of 63% and lags behind the mean for lower middle-income countries.

In comparison, the UAE led the rankings with 100% penetration, followed by the UK at 97%, and the US at 92%. China, which has a penetration rate of 73%.

The slower data speeds pose a hindrance, especially in case of new technologies like artificial intelligence. India’s median fixed broadband speed of 53.2Mbps is slow in comparison to other places. In Singapore, the UAE, and even Chile, speeds exceed 200Mbps .

Most concerning aspect is the unreliability of internet access, as indicated by our record of internet shutdowns.

In 2022, the country experienced 84 sudden shutdowns. The rest of the world combined had 99, according to Access Now’s count. This accounts for 45% of the total shutdowns globally.

What should be done?

It is essential to establish clear protocols for internet shutdowns based on thorough cost-benefit analyses.

The vision of an internet economy worth $1 trillion by 2030 is promising. India’s strides in this area have indeed been impressive.

However, there is still a need to substantially expand and stabilize our internet infrastructure. Taking prompt action on multiple fronts is imperative.

Clearly, there’s substantial work left to be done: a larger portion of the population needs to be brought online, and fewer individuals should be left dealing with frustrating buffering issues.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Why no disaggregated data on tribal populations, asks House panel

Source: The post is based on the article “Why no disaggregated data on tribal populations, asks House panel”  published in The Hindu on 9th August 2023.

What is the News?

A parliamentary committee on the empowerment of women has submitted a report on Health conditions of the Tribal population.

What did the Parliamentary committee said on the health conditions of Tribal Population?

In tribal areas, there’s a growing occurrence of genetic issues like sickle cell disease and G6PD (Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency) deficiency.

Around 1.5 crore tribal individuals were tested for sickle cell disease in specific districts, revealing that 10.5 lakh people are carriers of the condition, and about 50,000 have been diagnosed with the disease.

Over half of tribal women in their reproductive years suffer from anemia. 

Hypertension is also quite common among tribals along with a higher rate of communicable diseases such as leprosy, tuberculosis, and cholera when compared to other social groups.

What are the concerns raised by the Parliamentary committee?

Parliamentary committee has pulled up the Union government for lacking detailed health data about tribal populations. 

The committee found it puzzling how the Ministries could create effective policies or action plans for the health of tribal mothers and infants without accurate maternal mortality ratio data. 

On this, the Tribal Affairs Ministry informed the committee that they were working on establishing a central database for monitoring tribal health and had partnered with a non-profit organization, Piramal Swasthya to gather data for 117 tribal districts.

What are the recommendations given by the Parliamentary committee on tribal health?

Firstly, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs should work with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to generate tribal health data with separate classifications like girl children, adolescent girls, women of various age groups and women senior citizens to help in evolving custom-made health interventions.’

Secondly, community influencer groups and tribal leaders must also be engaged to instill behavioral changes among the tribal community for better health and nutrition outcomes. 

Thirdly, the government should complete the screening of all tribals for sickle cell disease in a time-bound manner so that the next generation of the tribal people are free from this disease. 

Fourthly, make use of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in coordination with the Ministry of Rural Development for building all-weather roads in tribal areas so that the tribal population, including pregnant women, can access healthcare facilities in time.

More students using smartphones for entertainment than study: survey

Source: The post is based on the article “More students using smartphones for entertainment than study: survey”  published in The Hindu on 9th August 2023.

What is the News?

The Union Education Minister has released the State of Elementary Education in Rural India report.

What is the State of Elementary Education in Rural India Report?

The report is based on a survey conducted by the Development Intelligence Unit(DIU), a collaboration between Transform Rural India and Sambodhi Research and Communications.

The survey was conducted on 6,229 parents of schoolchildren aged six to 16 in rural communities across 21 States.

What are the key findings of the report?

Increased access to smartphones: Around 49.3% of students in rural India have access to smartphones. 

– However, a significant portion, 76.7% of these students primarily use their phones for entertainment purposes, such as playing video games and watching movies. 

– Only 34% of smartphone-accessible students use their devices for study-related downloads, while 18% access online learning through tutorials.

Higher Education: At least 78% of the parents of girls and 82% of the parents of boys wanted to educate their children to the level of graduation or above.

Reasons for dropout and out-of-school children: Among the parents of 56 students who dropped out of school, 36.8 percent mentioned that their daughters’ dropout was due to the need to contribute to the family’s earnings. 

– For boys, the primary reason cited for dropping out was lack of interest in studies.

Learning environment at home: The survey revealed that 40% of parents have age-appropriate reading materials available at home, beyond school books. Additionally, only 40% of parents engage in daily conversations with their children about their school learning, while 32% have such discussions a few days a week.

Parental participation: A positive aspect observed was that 84% of parents regularly attend parent-teacher meetings, demonstrating their active involvement in their children’s education.

What is the Jan Vishwas Bill, 2023 proposed by Centre?

Source: The post is based on the article “What is the Jan Vishwas Bill, 2023 proposed by Centre?”  published in The Hindu on 9th August 2023.

What is the News?

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 has been passed in Parliament.

What is Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023?

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 amends 42 laws, across multiple sectors, including agriculture, environment, and media and publication and health. 

The Bill converts several fines to penalties, meaning that court prosecution is not necessary to administer punishments. It also removes imprisonment as a punishment for many offences.

The changes proposed to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,1940 have caused the most controversy. This act governs the import, production, distribution, and sale of drugs and cosmetics in the country.

Currently, the Act defines four types of offenses — adulterated drugs, spurious drugs, mislabeled drugs, and Not of Standard Quality drugs (NSQs) — each carrying varying degrees of punishment (combining imprisonment and fines) depending on the severity of the offense.

How is the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill detrimental to the public health sector?

The Bill has two main drawbacks for public health:

Firstly, it lets makers of substandard drugs (NSQ drugs) avoid serious penalties, even though these drugs can harm patients. For instance, drugs lacking proper active ingredients or failing to dissolve won’t effectively treat the intended illness, leading to poor patient outcomes.

Secondly, the Bill also lowers penalties for pharmacy owners who breach their licensing terms.

What did the government said about the concerns raised against the bill?

In response to concerns about the Bill being seen as favoring industries, the Health Minister stated that India is the pharmacy of the world. It aims to provide high-quality medicines while also supporting business growth. 

Hence, rationalizing laws, eliminating barriers and bolstering growth of businesses are important.

ISRO transfers satellite bus technology to private firm

Source: The post is based on the article “ISRO transfers satellite bus technology to private firm”  published in Economic Times on 5th August 2023.

What is the News?

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has begun transferring IMS-1 Satellite Bus technology to Alpha Design Technologies, a Bengaluru-based private company. 

The transfer was facilitated by ISRO’s commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) through an agreement.

What is the IMS-1 satellite bus?

The IMS-1 satellite bus was developed by the UR Rao Satellite Centre.

Purpose: It is a small satellite platform designed to enable low-cost access to space. 

– The bus can serve as a dedicated vehicle for many different payloads, facilitating Earth imaging, ocean and atmospheric studies, microwave remote sensing and space science missions.

Features: The bus weighs about 100 kilograms and can carry a 30-kilogram payload. The solar arrays onboard generate 330 watts of power. 

– It comes with four reaction wheels with a 1 Newton thruster that is good for pointing accuracy with an accuracy threshold of 0.1 Degrees. 

Used in: The bus was used in previous ISRO missions like IMS-1, Youthsat and Microsat-2D.

Trial done in India shows nutrition support prevents TB, related deaths

Source: The post is based on the article “Trial done in India shows nutrition support prevents TB, related deaths”  published in The Hindu on 9th August 2023.

What is the News?

A trial conducted in India highlights the importance of nutritional supplementation in significantly reducing the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) among household contacts of TB patients and lowering mortality rates in those diagnosed with active pulmonary TB.

What is the importance of nutrition in tuberculosis (TB)?

Undernutrition accounts for more than 40% of new TB cases annually surpassing other risk factors like diabetes, HIV infection, smoking and alcohol. 

For example, research by the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT) demonstrated that TB patients weighing under 35 kg had four times higher mortality than those weighing over 45 kg.

What is the study conducted by researchers to highlight the importance of nutrition in tuberculosis (TB)?

The study was conducted on two groups: household contacts of TB patients and patients diagnosed with active pulmonary TB.

In a controlled trial with family members of TB patients, providing nutritional support resulted in a 39-48% decrease in TB cases compared to those without support.

The researchers also provided nutritional supplementation to 2,800 individuals undergoing treatment for active pulmonary TB.

– Treatment success rate was nearly 94% among TB patients, with only about 4% deaths during the six-month follow-up.

– Early weight gain in the first two months was linked to a 60% lower risk of TB-related mortality.

Row over Select Committee for Delhi Services Bill: What is this body, did Raghav Chadha flout rules?

Source: The post is based on the article “Row over Select Committee for Delhi Services Bill: What is this body, did Raghav Chadha flout rules?”  published in Indian Express on 9th August 2023.

What is the News?

At least four MPs have complained that their names had been included in a proposed Select Committee for the Delhi Services Bill without their consent. As a result, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman has announced a probe.

What is a Select Committee?

India’s Parliament has several types of committees which discharge different functions.

There are 12 Standing Committees that are permanent in nature, with their members nominated from time to time by the Chairman.

Then there are ad hoc or temporary committees which are set up for a specific purpose, such as examining a particular Bill, and are dissolved once that purpose has been served.A Select Committee belongs to this category. 

Procedure to be followed for a Select committee: A Select Committee is temporary in nature and it follows the procedure laid down in the Rules of Procedure.

– Under Rule 125 of the Rajya Sabha Rules and Procedures, any member may move an amendment that a Bill be referred to a Select Committee.

– This means that the motion to refer a Bill to a Select Committee can either be moved by the member in-charge of the Bill, or by any other MP.

How are Select committee members selected?

The members of the Select Committee on a Bill are appointed by the House when the motion that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee is made.

– No member is appointed to a Select Committee if he is not willing to serve on the Committee.

– The mover has to ascertain whether the member proposed by him is willing to serve on the Committee.

– The rules do say that a proposed member’s consent has to be taken before he can serve on a Select Committee.

– However, they do not specifically mention collecting signatures of those whose names have been proposed.

What is the actual number of members in a Select Committee?

The actual number of membership of the Select Committee is not fixed; it varies from Committee to Committee.

– If it is a Joint Committee, the proportion of members from the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha is 1:2.

– The Chairman of the Committee is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from among the members of the Committee.

– The member or Minister in-charge of the Bill is generally included as a member of the Committee.

How does the Select committee work?

The quorum for each sitting needs to be one-third of the total number of members of the committee.

– In case of equality of votes on any matter, the chairman (or any other person presiding) will have a second or casting vote.

– A select committee may appoint a sub-committee to examine any special points connected with the Bill.

What are the functions of the Select Committee?

The main functions of a Select Committee are:

– Detailed Examination: The Committee carefully reviews the Bill, going through each part.

– Ensuring Clarity: It ensures that the Bill accurately represents the intended purpose and goals.

– Gathering Input: The Committee can request opinions from experts, individuals, and groups, either in writing or through discussions.

– Understanding Policy: It may ask Government officials to explain the Bill’s intentions and provide necessary information.

– Formulating Conclusions: After hearing evidence, the Committee reaches conclusions and might make changes to the Bill’s clauses.

What happens once a Select Committee’s report is submitted?

The report of the committee is of a recommendatory nature. The government can choose to accept or reject its recommendations.

A Select Committee can also include its version of the Bill. If they do so, the minister in charge of that particular Bill can move for the committee’s version of the Bill to be discussed and passed in the House.

National Dental Commission Bill, 2023 Passed by the Parliament to Elevate Dental Education and Healthcare Standards

Source: The post is based on the article “National Dental Commission Bill, 2023 Passed by the Parliament to Elevate Dental Education and Healthcare Standards”  published in PIB on 8th August 2023.

What is the News?

The National Dental Commission Bill, 2023 has been passed by the Parliament. The bill seeks to repeal the Dentists Act, 1948,

What is the National Dental Commission Act, 2023?

The National Dental Commission Act envisions a complete overhaul of the dental education and profession landscape to bring it on par with international benchmarks. 

Key features include:

Constitution of National Dental Commission and State Dental Councils: The  Act establishes the National Dental Commission and mandates the formation of State Dental Councils or Joint Dental Councils. This structure aims to decentralize authority and enhance effective regulation.

Three Autonomous Boards: The Act will  empower three distinct Autonomous Boards: the Under-Graduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board, the Dental Assessment and Rating Board (DARB), and the Ethics and Dental Registration Board (EDRB). These boards will carry out specific functions, contributing to a comprehensive regulatory framework.

Fixed Tenure and Professional Development: The Act will introduce a fixed tenure for the Chairperson, Members, and Secretary of the Commission, with no possibility of reappointment. 

Online National Register and Dental Advisory Council: The Act will  provide for maintaining an online and live National Register of licensed dentists and dental auxiliaries.

– Furthermore, it establishes a Dental Advisory Council with representation from all States/Union Territories to ensure comprehensive insights and guidance.

Collaborative Approaches: The Act will facilitate joint sittings with relevant statutory bodies, including the National Medical Commission, Pharmacy Council of India, Indian Nursing Council, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine among others.

Fee Regulation and Constitutions: The Act will empower the Commission to frame guidelines for fee determination for fifty percent of seats in private dental colleges and deemed Universities. 

Unleashing Limitless Energy: US Scientists Repeat Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough

Source: The post is based on the article “Unleashing Limitless Energy: US Scientists Repeat Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough”  published in News18 on 7th August 2023.

What is the News?

Scientists in the US have successfully conducted a second nuclear fusion reaction experiment that resulted in a net energy gain. 

What is Nuclear Fusion?

Nuclear fusion is the process which gives the Sun its energy.

Scientists from more than 50 countries have been trying to recreate it on Earth since the 1960s.

They hope it could eventually provide huge quantities of clean energy for the world.

In nuclear fusion, pairs of tiny particles called atoms are heated and forced together to make one heavier one.

It is the opposite of nuclear fission, in which heavy atoms are split apart. Nuclear power stations currently use nuclear fission to generate electricity.

Why is nuclear fusion so important?

Nuclear fission produces radioactive waste, which can be dangerous and must be stored safely – potentially for hundreds of years.

The waste produced by nuclear fusion is less radioactive and decays much more quickly.

Nuclear fusion doesn’t need fossil fuels like oil or gas. It also doesn’t generate greenhouse gases, which trap the Sun’s heat and are responsible for climate change.

Most fusion experiments use hydrogen, which can be extracted cheaply from seawater and lithium, meaning fuel supplies could last for millions of years.

It has been described as the “holy grail” of energy production.

How does Nuclear Fusion work?

When two atoms of a light element such as hydrogen are heated and combine to form a single heavier element such as helium, the nuclear reaction produces massive amounts of energy which can be captured.

But getting two identical elements to combine is actually very hard.

Because they have the same positive charge they naturally repel each other.A lot of energy is needed to overcome this resistance.

In the Sun, this happens thanks to extremely high temperatures of around ten million degrees Celsius, and significant pressure – more than 100 billion times that of the Earth’s atmosphere.

On Earth, scientists have used various different techniques to attempt to recreate these conditions. But it has proved very difficult to maintain the high temperature and pressure needed for long enough.

What have the scientists achieved now?

In 2022, scientists in the US first achieved a net energy gain in a fusion experiment using lasers. That experiment briefly achieved what’s known as fusion ignition by generating 3.15 megajoules of energy output after the laser delivered 2.05 megajoules to the target.

In other words, it produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it.

The scientists have successfully conducted this nuclear fusion reaction experiment for a second time that resulted in a net energy gain. 

How a WTO provision became a tool for nations to curb imports

Source: The post is based on the article “How a WTO provision became a tool for nations to curb imports”  published in Business Standard on 9th August 2023.

What is the News?

The Government of India has recently imposed restrictions on the import of laptops, tablets, and personal computers. 

The new regulations mandate Companies to obtain licences from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade to import these items.

India has imposed these restrictions in accordance with the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures under the World Trade Organization(WTO).

Note: In 2020 also, India had imposed restrictions on imports of pneumatic tyres used for cars, buses, lorries, scooters, and motorcycles,

What is Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures?

The WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures says import licensing should be simple, transparent and predictable so as not to become an obstacle to trade.

For example, the agreement requires governments to publish sufficient information for traders to know how and why the licences are granted. 

It also describes how countries should notify the WTO when they introduce new import licensing procedures or change existing procedures.

What does the WTO reports say on Import Licensing?

As per Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, all WTO members are required to notify their laws, rules and procedures on import licensing as well as changes to these regulations

But the WTO trade-monitoring reports have identified import licensing as one of the main trade- restricting measures introduced by governments with 13 WTO members not submitting any notification on this as of end-2022.

In 2022, the WTO members raised several new and recurring specific trade concerns regarding import curbs. 

The European Union(EU) and the United States questioned Angola’s import-licensing requirements, Egypt’s import licensing for certain agricultural products and Indonesia’s commodity-balancing mechanism.

During India’s latest Trade Policy Review in 2020, South Korea complained the import a licensing requirement by India for pneumatic tyres was causing “serious damage” to some firms doing business in India.

Steps taken by Government of India to improve Women’s Health

Source: The post is based on the article “Steps taken by Government of India to improve Women’s Health”  published in PIB on 8th August 2023.

What is the News?

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare has informed Lok Sabha about the steps taken to improve Women’s Health.

What are the steps taken by the Government of India to improve women’s health?

Comprehensive Primary Health Care(CPHC) through Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs): In 2018, the Government of India announced 1,50,000 Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) to be established across the country by December 2022. 

– The existing Sub- Health Centres (SHC), Primary Health Centres (PHC) and Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHC) are transformed into AB-HWCs to deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) that includes preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services which are universal, free, and closer to the community.

National Free Drugs Initiative: States/UTs are supported to provide essential drugs based on the level of public health facilities free of cost to all who access these facilities.

Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN)

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): It is a demand promotion and conditional cash transfer scheme.It was launched in 2005 with the objective of reducing Maternal and Infant Mortality by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.

Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): It aims to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for pregnant women and sick infants by entitling them to free delivery including caesarean section, free transport, diagnostics, medicines, other consumables, diet and blood in public health institutions.

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): It was launched in 2016.It provides pregnant women fixed day, free of cost assured and quality Antenatal Care on the 9th day of every month.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): It came into effect from 2017.It is a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme under which cash benefits are provided to pregnant women in their bank account directly to meet enhanced nutritional needs and partially compensate for wage loss.

Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative (LaQshya): It was launched in 2017.It aims to improve the quality of care in labour room and maternity operation theatres to ensure that pregnant women receive respectful and quality care during delivery and immediate post-partum period.

The following today’s current affairs articles have been covered in 7 PM Explained section of the day:

7 PM Editorial of the day: Delhi Services Bill: Explained, pointwise