9 PM UPSC Current Affairs Articles 5 April, 2024

Mains Oriented Articles

GS PAPER - 1

Issues with the minimum wage in India: Data on what Indians earn does have plenty to reveal of poverty

Source: The post issues with the minimum wage in India has been created, based on the article “Data on what Indians earn does have plenty to reveal of poverty” published in “Live mints” on 5th April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 1- Society-poverty

News: This article discusses how despite official reports, many Indian workers, especially casual ones, earn less than the minimum wage and poverty line, indicating that a significant number of Indians still live in poverty. It also highlights the issue of declining job quality and low wages in India.

For details information on Poverty Measurement in India read here

What does the new Consumption Expenditure Survey (CES) say?

The new Consumption Expenditure Survey (CES) has a different survey design, sparking debate on setting the right poverty line.

It’s unclear if this new CES accurately reflects poverty levels without a revised poverty line by experts.

The CES indirectly indicates poverty through wages of the poorest workers.

How can poverty levels be estimated?

Poverty levels can be estimated by looking at the wages of the poorest group of wage workers, a method used for initial poverty lines.

The minimum wage for unskilled workers, crucial for this estimation, was ₹424 per day in 2023 and ₹449 in 2024.

The Rangarajan poverty line for 2022-23 is set at ₹1,837 and ₹2,603 monthly per person for rural and urban areas, respectively.

This method considers actual working days from the Periodic Labour Force Survey, suggesting a daily earning need of ₹390/₹552 in rural/urban areas to cross the poverty line.

A family poverty line of ₹9,185 in rural and ₹13,015 in urban areas is assumed for a five-member family.

What are the issues with the minimum wage in India?

The government notified minimum wages are often lower than what is needed to meet the poverty line. For example, the 2024 minimum wage is ₹449 per day, below the ₹483 recommended by the labour ministry.

According to the India Employment Report 2024, over half of casual workers didn’t receive the minimum wages.

Specifically, 76% of agricultural workers and 70% in construction earned below minimum wages.

Additionally, 41% of regular workers earned less than the minimum wage.

This situation points to a widespread issue of wages being insufficient to lift workers above the poverty line.

What does all of this mean for poverty and unemployment in India?

The data suggests that a significant portion of Indians live in poverty, with low wages and poor job quality.

Even though poverty might have reduced since 2011-12, many workers, including those in better positions, still face meager earnings.

This challenges claims of India eliminating extreme poverty, highlighting the reality of poorly paid workers and deteriorating job quality.

Questions for practice:

Discuss the implications of the discrepancy between government-notified minimum wages and the wages needed to meet the poverty line, as outlined in the India Employment Report 2024.

GS PAPER - 2

EVM-Demand for 100% recount of all VVPATs

Source-This post on EVM-Demand for 100% recount of all VVPATs has been created based on the article “EVM-Demand for 100% recount of all VVPATs” published in “The Hindu” on 5 April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-2– Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.

Context-Many oppositions political parties have demanded 100% recount of all VVPATs, instead of the current method of sampling the number of recounts, to have full transparency. The Supreme Court of India has now listed a series of petitions related to this demand.

What is Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail?

1) Introduction-It was first introduced in India in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

2) Description-It is an independent system that has two parts, namely, a VVPAT Printer and VVPAT Status Display Unit (VSDU) attached to the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). This allows the voters to verify that their votes are cast as intended.

What is the existing way to use VVPAT for ensuring transparency?

There is provision of counting VVPAT tallies from five random polling booths in every Assembly constituency that will have to be matched with the EVM vote-count to ensure that there is no tampering or hacking of Electronic Voting machines.

How valid are the concerns expressed by political parties about the functioning of EVMs?

1) EVMs,like every machine, have suffered certain glitches.However,they have been quickly replaced in the event of machine failures.

2) There is no substantial evidence to suggest the fact that they are prone to hacking or manipulation.

For ex-sample counting of VVPATs, across both the general election in 2019 and several other Assembly elections, has shown that the mismatch between the VVPAT recount and the EVM count has been very less. That mismatch too was an outcome of trivial errors like non-deletion of mock polls in the machine before the voting process or errors in manual recording of the final count from the machine.

What should be the way forward?

1) There should be machine audit trail of all the commands or functions that are executed by EVMS along with VVPATs. This could make the system more robust and be considered as an upgrade to the existing machines

2) There can be an increase in recount sample size of VVPATs in the selected number of Assemblies specific to each State/Union Territory based on the size of the province.

3) There can be an increase in the recount sample size in seats where the margin of victory between candidates is narrow.

Thus, it would be counterproductive to demand 100% recount of all VVPATs. Further, this will also reinforce the fears EVM are prone to hacking.

Question for practice

What is the existing way to use VVPAT for ensuring transparency? What steps can be taken to assuage fears of opposition political parties?

Indians seeking surrogacy abroad: FOR LOVE OF A CHILD

Source: The post Indians seeking surrogacy abroad has been created, based on the article “FOR LOVE OF A CHILD” published in “Indian express” on 5th April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- governance-GS 2 – mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of vulnerable sections.

News: The article discusses how strict surrogacy laws in India lead people to seek surrogacy abroad. It explains that only altruistic surrogacy is allowed in India.

For details information on India’s surrogacy laws read Article 1, Article 2, Article 3

Why are Indians seeking surrogacy abroad?

Restrictive Laws in India: India’s laws limit surrogacy to altruistic, non-commercial types, which excludes many people.

Diverse Needs: Individuals like single men and women, and LGBTQIA+ individuals, who are excluded by Indian laws, are seeking surrogacy abroad.

Global Options: Countries like the US, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, and some in East Europe offer commercial surrogacy, with costs ranging from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 6 crore.

What are the impacts of India’s surrogacy laws?

Economic Impact: Previously, commercial surrogacy benefitted women from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Now, the ban on commercial surrogacy limits these economic opportunities.

Stigmatization: The laws accentuate stigma against single women and same-sex couples, as they don’t fit the traditional family model.

Legal Challenges: The Supreme Court is being approached to reconsider these laws, indicating a legal struggle and a need for more inclusive legislation.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies are often inaccessible due to their high cost, restricting access for the economically weak.

Way forward

To move forward, India’s surrogacy laws should be more inclusive, recognizing diverse family structures. The laws need to adapt to modern societal changes, allowing single individuals, LGBTQIA+ couples, and non-traditional families the right to surrogacy, as endorsed by the Supreme Court’s 2022 judgment.

Question for practice:

Examine how India’s restrictive surrogacy laws impact individuals and why they are seeking surrogacy abroad.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

Source-This post on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been created based on the article “Revisit these sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita” published in “The Hindu” on 3 April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus– GS Paper-2-Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure.

Context– The central government has notified July 1 to be the day on which the recently enacted three criminal laws will come into effect. However, Section 106(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 has been put on hold due to opposition by All India Motor Transport Congress.

What are some sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita that require revision?

Apart from Section 106(2), there is a need to reconsider a few more provisions of the BNS. These are-

1) Section 112– This defines petty organized crime.

2) Section 303(2)-This defines theft.

3) Section 143-This is related to human trafficking.

Why is the reconsideration of certain provisions required?

1) Section 106-

A) The increase in sentence from 5 to 10 years of imprisonment for just fleeing the scene without reporting to the police or a magistrate soon after the accident is bit disproportionate

B) This clause violates the fundamental right of prohibition against self-incrimination which is enshrined under Article 20(3) of the constitution.
Further, in Nandini Satpathy vs P.L. Dani, the Supreme Court has widened the scope of Article 20(3) and held that the accused must not be compelled to give testimony because it amounts to procurement of evidence by psychic torture, overbearing and intimidatory methods. Thus, disclosure of culpability by informing the police or a magistrate under Section 106 due to fear of enhanced punishment may not qualify the test of constitutionality

2) Section 112–

Offences like unauthorized selling of tickets and selling of public examination question papers are not properly defined. These offences are not linked with any special Act.
Further, the range of ‘any other similar criminal acts’ is unspecified in this section, and this makes it more indefinite and open-ended. The Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal vs Union of India (2015) struck down 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 because it found the expression “grossly offensive” used in the Section to be open-ended, undefined and vague.

3) Section 303-
Provision-In cases of theft where the value of the stolen property is less than 5000, and a person is convicted for the first time and if the person returns of the value of property or restoration of the stolen property then he will be punished with community service. The First Schedule to the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) categorizes the offence under this category as a non-cognizable offence.

Issue–
A) While the value of ₹5,000 may not impact the pocket of a rich person, but it is a huge sum for a daily wage earner. Since it is a non-cognizable offence, police may refuse to file a first information report.
B) Property offenders could not be put under police surveillance if property offences are not registered.

4) Section 143- Sub-sections (6) and (7) of Section 143 of the BNS which punish trafficking of a child and trafficking of a person by a public servant, or a police officer respectively do not provide any discretion to the judiciary to award punishment.
The Supreme Court in Mithu vs State of Punjab (1983) held that any law which does not give discretion to the judiciary is not just, fair, and reasonable within the meaning of Article 21 of the Constitution and hence unconstitutional.

Question for practice

Why is the reconsideration of certain provisions under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 required?

Post autonomy challenges faced by colleges

Source-This post-on Post autonomy challenges faced by colleges has been created based on the article “Universities must budge on college autonomy nudge” published in “The Hindu” on 4 April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-2– Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.

Context– The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recently launched a new regulation to grant autonomy to colleges. As per The National Education Policy 2020, colleges should be granted autonomy so that they can enhance their capacity for innovation, self-governance, and academic freedom.

What is the significance of granting autonomy to colleges?

1) Flexibility -Autonomous colleges can tailor their curriculum to meet the evolving needs of students and industries. They can experiment with new teaching methodologies and research initiatives. This can drive the frontiers of knowledge and contribute to societal development.

2) Accountability-It cultivates a culture of accountability and responsibility among colleges.They get ownership of their academic and administrative decisions. This empowerment enhances institutional efficiency and fosters a sense of pride and identity within colleges.This,in turn, motivates faculty and staff to strive for excellence.

3) Improved ranking– In the ‘Colleges Category’ of The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) of 2023, there were 55 autonomous colleges in top 100.This speaks volume of the significance of granting autonomy to colleges. Further, in the top 10 colleges of the NIRF Rankings of 2023 from the college category, 5 are autonomous colleges

What are the challenges faced by colleges after getting autonomous status?

UGC encourages the autonomy of colleges. However, there are some universities that do not want to give up their control over colleges and pose various challenges before colleges such as-

1) Restriction on the autonomy to change the syllabus-Some universities impose caps on syllabus changes.They allow only a fraction, that is 25% to 35%, of the syllabus which can be altered. This constraint prevents colleges from exercising their autonomy in curriculum development and academic innovation.

2) Delay in recognizing autonomy– Universities do not recognize autonomy of colleges in a timely manner. Such delays hamper the efficiency of colleges’ operation and undermine the spirit of autonomy.

3) Undermining autonomy of colleges-UGC gives complete autonomy to colleges. However, universities do not want to give complete autonomy to colleges in critical areas such as syllabus design, the introduction of new courses, and the evolution of methods for assessing student performance.

4) Imposition of Arbitrary Fees-University may charge arbitrary fees for affiliation purposes of colleges. This undermines the autonomy of colleges and violates principles of transparency and fairness.

What should be the way forward?

1) The State Councils for Higher Education should ensure effective implementation of UGC regulations on autonomy.

2) Universities should streamline decision-making processes between colleges and universities. This would ensure that autonomy translates into meaningful empowerment for colleges.

3) Universities should collaborate with autonomous colleges and allow them the freedom to innovate and excel so that they can uphold academic standards.

4) Universities should create a conducive environment so that colleges can take full advantage of autonomy granted to them. This will help colleges drive innovation, excellence, and inclusivity in higher education.

Question for practice

Enlist the issues faced by colleges after getting autonomous status. What steps can be taken to address this issue?

GS PAPER - 3

Unusual taxes around the world: The weird tax club has a new entry from Toronto

Source: The post unusual taxes around the world has been created, based on the article “The weird tax club has a new entry from Toronto” published in “Live mints” on 5th April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- economy

News: The article discusses unusual taxes around the world. It mentions Toronto’s proposed ‘stormwater charge’, historical examples like Russia’s beard tax, and modern oddities like Switzerland’s dog tax and Sweden’s baby name tax. These taxes often aim to change behavior or raise funds.

What are the unusual taxes around the world?

Historical Unusual Taxes:

Russia’s Beard Tax: In 18th century Russia, a tax was levied on beards to encourage a more Western, clean-shaven appearance.

Britain’s Window Tax: In the same era, British homes were taxed based on the number of windows, a strategy aimed at the wealthy.

Modern Unusual Taxes:

Toronto’s ‘Stormwater Charge’: This proposed tax in Toronto is based on the ratio of permeable to impermeable surfaces on properties, intending to mitigate flooding.

Switzerland and Germany’s Dog Tax: Depending on the breed and weight of the dog, owners can be taxed differently, with larger breeds like Bull Terriers and Great Danes incurring higher taxes.

Sweden’s Baby Name Tax: A tax is imposed on families choosing names that are deemed confusing, offensive, or hard to pronounce, such as the case of a family who named their daughter Metallica.

What is the purpose of these taxes?

Influence Behavior: Taxes like Toronto’s ‘stormwater charge’ aim to encourage changes in land use to reduce urban flooding.

Raise Funds: The dog tax in Switzerland and Germany generates revenue for public provisions for pets.

Promote Social Norms: Russia’s beard tax was implemented to encourage a clean-shaven appearance, considered more modern at the time.

Target Specific Groups: Britain’s window tax was designed to tax the wealthy based on the number of windows in their homes.

Regulate Choices: Sweden’s tax on baby names like ‘Metallica’ is intended to control the naming of children with unusual or challenging names.

Questions for practice:

Discuss the rationale behind implementing unusual taxes around the world, including historical examples like Russia’s beard tax and modern ones like Toronto’s ‘stormwater charge’ and Sweden’s baby name tax.

Modern Warfare

Source-This post on Modern Warfare has been created based on the article “The transformation of war” published in “The Business Standard” on 5 April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3– Various Security Forces and Agencies and their Mandate.

Context- Indian Army celebrates Infantry Day on October 27 to commemorate the contributions of the foot soldiers, the army’s largest fighting arm. On this day, Indian infantry men from such storied battalions as 1st SIKH and 4th KUMAON were airlifted in old Dakota transport in 1947 to counter Pakistani tribal invaders.

The author highlights the fact that due to poor planning in wars like recapture of Srinagar, Baramulla, in 1947 and Haji Pir Pass in 1965 etc., many Indian infantrymen died in vain.

What learnings can the ongoing battle between Russia and Ukraine offer for future warfare?

1) This war is using both the old and new methods of warfare. They are using artillery duels, minefields, and trench warfare deployed in the first world war. Then drones are being used to spot artillery fire which is a new method of warfare.

2) The current war can throw light on some important questions like what won’t change, what is changing fundamentally, and how to apply those insights for future warfare.

3) The war has highlighted the limitations of sheer mass in warfare because by that logic the Russians would have defeated Ukraine long ago as it has a greater number of troops.

4) Around 90 % of the weapons deployed by both sides are from 20^th centuary. However, as per many scholars of contemporary war, it is the other 10 per cent that will have a transformational impact on the outcome of war. For ex-Drones

How can drones be used for defense purposes?

1) These can be used for surveillance of enemy positions, or to carry grenades or crude explosives to drop on enemy soldiers.

2) This increase in the number of drones can encourage the development of a new type of army. For ex- there is the air force and there are artillery forces, similarly there will be drone forces in future.

How has the USA prepared itself for new types of warfare?

1) Army Futures Command (AFC)-The USA has set up Army Futures Command (AFC) to prepare the Army for the battlefield of 2040 with projects such as the Robotic Platoon.

2) Functions of AFC- It is the job of the AFC and its 20,000 personnel to develop the technologies and concepts that will enable the Army to deal with the developments in areas such as robotics, quantum computing, hypersonic, directed energy, and AI.

3) Robotic Platoon-This would involve integrating crewed and non-crewed vehicles into a single unit, so that the first contact with the enemy is never made with the infantryman.

The US Army has taken a more proactive step in preparing itself for war in the future. The Indian Army should also try to follow this example.

Question for practice

How can other countries like India prepare themselves for future warfare?

Challenges faced by local solar panel manufacturers: Solar manufacturing challenge

Source: The post challenges faced by local solar panel manufacturers has been created, based on the article “Solar manufacturing challenge” published in “Business standard” on 5th April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- economy- infrastructure – Energy

News: This article discusses how subsidies and import restrictions aimed at boosting local solar panel manufacturing may not be effective due to lower costs of imported panels and the commoditized nature of the product.

For details information on Solar Energy in India read Article 1, Article 2

What challenges are faced by local solar panel manufacturers?

Competition from Low-Cost Imports: Local manufacturers struggle to compete with cheaper solar panels imported from Southeast Asia. These imports are often more affordable even with tariffs applied. For instance, best-in-class modules from Southeast Asia are becoming “irresistibly cheap” for US developers.

Standardized Product Issue: The solar industry produces highly standardized products. This makes it challenging for local manufacturers to offer something unique or superior. As Pol Lezcano of Bloomberg NEF notes, the solar industry’s commoditized nature limits the competitive advantage of local production.

Global Manufacturer Dominance: The sheer scale of production by global leaders like China’s JinkoSolar overshadows local manufacturing. JinkoSolar alone shipped over 78 gigawatts in 2023, with plans to increase to 100-110 gigawatts in 2024, surpassing demand in major markets outside China.

Economic Shifts: Companies like Meyer Burger are moving operations from Europe to the US due to deteriorating business climates, demonstrating the challenging environment for local solar panel production in certain regions.

What efforts are being made to boost local solar panel manufacturing?

Subsidies and Incentives: The article highlights that countries like the US and Europe are offering subsidies to encourage local solar panel manufacturing. These include financial incentives to make local production more viable against cheaper imports.

Import Disincentives: Alongside subsidies, there are disincentives for importing solar panels. This approach includes imposing tariffs on imported solar products to make locally manufactured panels more competitive.

Strategic Company Movements: An example is provided with Meyer Burger, a Swiss solar panel maker. Facing a challenging business environment in Europe, the company is refocusing on manufacturing in the US, influenced by the local manufacturing push there.

What is the status of methane control efforts?

Methane emissions, mainly from the energy sector and agriculture, are a significant concern.

Global efforts are underway to monitor and reduce these emissions. For instance, over 50 oil and gas companies have committed to reducing their methane emissions by the end of the decade.

Tools like the MethaneSAT satellite and initiatives like the International Methane Emissions Observatory are helping in tracking and managing methane emissions effectively.

However, whether these efforts will lead to actual reductions in methane emissions remains uncertain.

Questions for practice:

Examine the strategies being employed to support local solar panel manufacturing in the face of competition from low-cost imports.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

New rules for childbirth registration

Source-This post on New rules for childbirth registration is based on the article “Centre to separately record parents’ religion during registration of childbirth” published in “The Hindu” on 5th April 2024.

Why in the News?

The Ministry of Home Affairs has drafted model rules for childbirth registration. These rules must be adopted and notified by state governments before implementation. New rules for childbirth registration

What is proposed in the new rules for childbirth registration?

Specify the religion of both parents separately:
a. When registering a child’s birth, parents will now need to specify the religion of both the father and mother separately.
b. Previously, birth registers only noted the family’s religion.
c. The new “Form No.1-Birth Report” will include separate sections for the child’s religion, as well as the religion of both the father and mother.
d. This update also applies to parents of adopted children.

According to the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act of 2023, information on birth and death registrations will be maintained in the national database.

What is Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023?

This act amended the Registration of Birth and Death (RBD) Act,1969. According to Registration of Birth and Death (RBD) Act,1969 a birth or death must be registered within 21 days. If not registered within this period, it can be registered under the RBD Act with an order from a First-Class Magistrate, verifying the details of the event.

Key features of Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act of 2023

1. National database– According to 2023 act, the birth and death database will be maintained at the national level.

2. Connecting database– It may be used to update various databases including the National Population Register (NPR), electoral rolls, Aadhaar number, ration card, passport, driving license, property registration, and any other databases as notified.

3. Digital records:
a. All births and deaths in the country must be digitally registered through the Centre’s Civil Registration System portal (crsorgi.gov.in).
b. Digital birth certificates issued through this system will serve as a single document to verify the date of birth for various services, including admission to educational institutions.

4. Mandatory data sharing obligation for states– States will be required to register births and deaths on the Centre’s Civil Registration System (CRS) portal and to share the data with the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI), operating under the Union Home Ministry.

UPSC Syllabus- Polity and Nation (Bills and Acts)

Allocation of symbols to political parties

Source-This post on Allocation of symbols to political parties is based on the article “How are symbols allotted to political parties?” published in “The Hindu” on 5th April 2024.

Why in the News?

This article discusses the allocation of symbols to political parties.

What do the rules specify?

1. Responsible authority- The allocation of symbols in elections falls under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

2. Law governed symbol allotment– This process is governed by The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, which aims to define, reserve, and assign symbols for recognized political parties.

3. Symbols Classification– Symbols are classified as either reserved (reserved solely for recognized parties) or ‘free‘ (accessible to unacknowledged registered parties).

4. Gazette publication– The Election Commission publishes lists of parties along with their symbols in the Gazette of India.

5. Recognised Political party symbol allotment– Exclusive symbols are allocated to recognized national and state parties.

6- Unrecognized registered parties symbol allotment– Candidates from unrecognized registered parties can select from free and non-exclusive symbols.

Note- Rule 10B of the Symbols Order states that a ‘registered unrecognized party’ can use a common free symbol for two general elections.

Are political parties allowed to express their preferences?

1. The 1968 order gives the Election Commission power to handle symbol selection and allocation for parliamentary and assembly elections, aiming to recognize political parties.

2. Unregistered parties need to provide ten preferred symbols from the commission’s list. They can also propose three new symbols with designs and names for consideration by the Commission.

3. These new symbols must meet certain criteria, avoiding similarity to existing symbols and steering clear of religious or communal connections or animal depictions.

4. If a recognized political party splits, the Election Commission decides on symbol allocation.

UPSC Syllabus- Polity and Nation 

India-Israel G2G mobility agreement

Source-This post on India-Israel G2G mobility agreement is based on the article “India urges Israel to ensure safety and well-being of Indian workers” published in “The Hindu” on 5th April 2024.

Why in the News?

India has asked Israel to guarantee the safety of Indian citizens being sent to the conflict-affected country under a government-to-government (G2G) mobility agreement to work as blue-collar workers.

Blue-collar workers Blue-collar workers are people who do manual labor, usually in industries like manufacturing, construction, maintenance, or farming. They often don’t need a lot of formal education and usually have jobs that involve physical work.

What is India- Israel G2G mobility agreement?

Background– Israel sought to recruit a minimum of 100,000 Indian workers to fill the positions left vacant by Palestinian workers who were previously employed across various sectors of the Israeli economy.

1. In November 2023, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship inked a pact with Israel to dispatch caregivers and construction workers for a three-year term spanning from 2023 to 2026.

2. Israel and India had entered into an agreement to transport approximately 42,000 workers from India to different locations in Israel.

3. This led to a recruitment campaign in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, attracting a considerable number of workers who registered to depart for Israel.

4. Recently the first batch of 60 Indian workers flew to Israel.

UPSC Syllabus- International Relations

NexCAR19: India’s first indigenous CAR T-cell therapy

Source– This post on NexCAR19: India’s first indigenous CAR T-cell therapy is based on the article “President of India Launches India’s First Home-Grown Gene Therapy for Cancer” published in “PIB” on 4th April 2024.

Why in the News?

The President of India recently launched India’s first indigenous anti-cancer CAR-T cell therapy, NexCAR19, at IIT Bombay.

What is NexCAR19?

Aspect	Details
About	It is India’s first indigenously-developed CAR-T cell therapy.
Developed by	IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Centre and ImmunoACT
Purpose	Designed to target cancer cells carrying the CD19 protein.
Recommended for	People with B-cell lymphomas who didn’t respond to standard treatments like chemotherapy, leading to relapse or recurrence of the cancer.
Treatment Process	1. Patient donates blood at a transfusion centre. The blood goes to the lab, where the T-cells are genetically modified. 2. In a week to 10 days, these cells return to the clinic for patient reinfusion.
Recovery	1. Recovery typically occurs within two weeks after one cycle of the treatment. 2. In the study conducted, approximately 70% of patients respond to the treatment, with variations between leukemia and lymphoma cases. About 50% of these responsive patients achieve a complete response.
Significance	India is one of the first developing countries to have its indigenous CAR-T and gene therapy platform.

What is ImmunoAct?

1. About– Founded in 2018 as a spin-off from IIT-Bombay, ImmunoACT leads the way in pioneering India’s development of its first indigenous Cell & Gene Therapy.

2. Mission– To ensure affordable access to innovative autologous CAR-T cell therapies.

UPSC Syllabus- Science & Technology

Agni-Prime Missile

Source– This post on Agni-Prime Missile is based on the article “New Generation Ballistic Missile Agni-Prime successfully flight-tested by Strategic Forces Command & DRDO off the Odisha coast” published in “PIB” on 4th April 2024.

Why in the News?

The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the new generation ballistic missile Agni-Prime from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.

What is Agni-Prime Missile?

1. About-It is a medium-range, nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile. It was tested for the first time in June 2021.

2. Developed by– Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

3. Range: The missile has a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km.

4. Features:
a. The missile ​​is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system.
b. It is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of missiles.

Canisterisation of missiles reduces the time required to launch the missile while improving the storage and ease of handling. Redundancies involve the introduction of extra components on the principle that if one functionality suffers a failure, then a backup feature would still enable the objective to be achieved.

What are Agni missiles?

About– Agni missiles are long-range ballistic missiles designed for surface-to-surface attacks and capable of carrying nuclear payloads.

First Variant-The first missile in the series, Agni-I, was developed as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and tested in 1989.

Read more– Agni Missiles

UPSC Syllabus- Science & Technology 

Exchange traded currency derivatives (ETCD) norms

Source-This post on Exchange traded currency derivatives (ETCD) norms is based on the article “RBI defers exchange traded currency derivatives norms” published in “The Indian Express” on 5th April 2024.

Why in the News?

Recently, the RBI postponed its new norms for the exchange-traded currency derivatives (ETCD) market from April 5 to May 3.

Exchange Traded derivative 1. Exchange-Traded Derivatives (ETDs) are financial instruments traded on regulated exchanges, offering transparency, liquidity, and centralized clearing mechanisms. 2. They must follow regulations set by market regulators like the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in India. 3. They get their value from assets like stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, or indices. 4. Examples: a. futures contracts- They involve an agreement to buy or sell an asset, such as wheat or oil, at a set price on a future date. b. options contracts- Options contracts let the holder decide whether to buy or sell an asset at a set price within a specific timeframe, without being obligated to do so.

What do the new norms say?

1. Now, rupee-denominated currency contracts traded on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the BSE require underlying exposure.

2. While traders aren’t obligated to provide evidence of underlying exposure for positions up to $100 million, they must confirm the presence of such exposure.

Note– The “underlying” in derivatives contracts refers to the order bill or receipt for exporters or importers, and supporting documents for remittances. For example, if an Indian exporter is expecting payment in US dollars in three months, this can be considered as the underlying contracted exposure.

3. The RBI stated that participation in rupee-involved ETCDs follows the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, and its regulations. These regulations allow currency derivative contracts involving the rupee, both over-the-counter (OTC) and exchange-traded, solely for hedging exposure to foreign exchange rate risks.

What was the previous practice?

1. Until now, currency traders had the liberty to engage in derivative market trading, whether they disclosed their underlying exposure or not.

2. Currency derivatives serve as a means to hedge forex risk.

UPSC Syllabus- Indian Economy

State vs. Centre: Control Over Industrial Alcohol Excise Duty

Source-This post on State vs. Centre: Control Over Industrial Alcohol Excise Duty is based on the article “Before SC’s 9-judge bench, question of whether states can levy excise duty on industrial alcohol” published in “The Indian Express” on 5th April 2024.

Why in the News?

The Supreme Court Constitution Bench started hearing arguments on whether states or the Centre holds exclusive control over regulating industrial alcohol excise Duty.

Excise Duty Levied on Alcohol

Excise duty on alcohol is a major part of a state’s income. States often raise additional excise duty on alcohol to boost their revenue. For example, in 2023, Karnataka increased the Additional Excise Duty (AED) on Indian Made Liquor (IML) by 20%.

Note– Currently, excise duty applies only on petroleum and liquor.

However when it comes to ‘industrial alcohol,’ do states have the authority to regulate and tax it?

Industrial alcohol 1. It is also known as denatured alcohol or ethanol, is alcohol that is not meant for human consumption. 2. It is typically used for industrial purposes such as solvent extraction, fuel, antifreeze, and as a precursor in the production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

What are the arguments presented before the bench?

1. States– They argue that they possess authority under Entry 8 of the State List in the Constitution, which pertains to “intoxicating liquors,” to regulate all types of alcohol, including industrial varieties.

2. Centre– The Centre asserts exclusive control over it through the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 (IDRA). Entry 52 of the Union List and Entry 33 of the Concurrent List pertain to industries regulated by Parliament in the interest of the public.

Note– Subjects in the Concurrent List can be legislated upon by both states and the Centre. However, if there is a central law, state laws cannot contradict it.

Supreme Court previous judgements

1. In the case of Synthetics & Chemicals Ltd. v. State of Uttar Pradesh (1989), it was established that states do not have the authority to levy taxes on industrial alcohol. However, they retain the power to regulate its usage to prevent misuse for drinking purposes.

2. In the case of Ch Tika Ramji v State of UP (1956), it was affirmed that states possess the authority to regulate industries listed in the Concurrent List (Entry 33), even if the Centre holds some level of control.

UPSC Syllabus- Polity and Nation