Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Kavro Doma 360
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
- Kanpur-based MKU Limited recently unveiled the Kavro Doma 360, world-first rifle-rated ballistic helmet at Milipol Paris exhibition.
About Kavro Doma 360
|
Description |
| Indigenous Development |
Developed by MKU Limited in Kanpur, India, through indigenous research and development. |
| Uniform Rifle Protection |
Provides uniform protection across all five head zones: front, back, left, right, and crown.
Offers resilience against threats like AK-47 MSC, M80 NATO BALL, and M193 rifle bullets. |
| Boltless Innovation |
The only boltless rifle protection helmet globally, eliminating bolts and metal components, reducing the risk of penetration upon impact for enhanced safety. |
| Expanded Protection Area |
Features a boltless shell design, providing 40% more protection area against AK-47 assault rifles compared to conventional helmets. |
| 20mm Back Face Signature |
Maintains a Back Face Signature/Trauma of less than 20 mm when impacted by AK-47 bullets.
Back Face Signature measures deformation due to high-energy bullet impact. |
| Advanced Harness System |
Incorporates Dynamic Impact Technology for protection against direct and rotational/angular impacts, reducing concussions and brain injuries.
Offers top-to-chin and side-to-side harness adjustment. |
| Maximum Compatibility (with MACS) |
Ensures seamless integration with advanced head-mounted devices and combat equipment, adapting to the evolving needs of modern warriors. |
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Chikungunya , Ixchiq
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US granted approval for the world’s inaugural vaccine against chikungunya.
Ixchiq: The Chikungunya Vaccine
- Developed by European vaccine manufacturer Valneva, this vaccine will be available under the brand name Ixchiq.
- It has been authorized for use in individuals aged 18 and above who are at elevated risk of chikungunya exposure.
- It is administered as a single dose via injection into the muscle.
- The vaccine contains a live, attenuated (weakened) form of the chikungunya virus. It may induce symptoms similar to those experienced by individuals with the disease.
Understanding Chikungunya
- Symptoms: Chikungunya is characterized by severe joint pain, limited mobility, and accompanying fever. It is a viral infection (CHIKV) primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, earning it the status of an “emerging global health threat.”
- Global Prevalence: Chikungunya is prevalent in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, with sporadic outbreaks reported in other regions. Since 2004, outbreaks have become more frequent and widespread, partly due to viral adaptations facilitating transmission by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.
- Symptoms: Alongside joint pain, chikungunya symptoms include joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash. While severe cases and deaths are rare, they may be underreported due to misdiagnosis, often confused with dengue or zika.
- No Cure: Currently, there is no cure for chikungunya, and treatment is primarily focused on symptomatic relief, including analgesics for pain, antipyretics for fever, rest, and adequate fluid intake.
- Prevention: Prevention efforts primarily revolve around mosquito control through public health initiatives, civic maintenance, and personal measures such as using medicated mosquito nets and eliminating stagnant water sources to hinder mosquito breeding.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: MSCI EM Index
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
- India’s presence on the MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) Index is set to expand with the inclusion of nine new stocks, effective from 30th November.
- This development will elevate India’s weightage on the index to 16.3%, reaching an all-time high representation of 131 Indian stocks.
What is MSCI EM Index?
- MSCI is a globally recognized index listed on the NYSE.
- It is released and maintained by MSCI Inc., a leading provider of global equity indices, investment analytics, and other financial data and services.
- Its stock indices are closely monitored by global asset managers, hedge funds, banks, corporations, and insurance companies.
- They rely on these indices to allocate funds across global stock markets.
- MSCI indices serve as a foundation for passive investments through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), index funds, and certain fund of funds.
India’s Progress on the EM Index
- Increasing Weight: India’s weightage on the MSCI EM Index has steadily grown, poised to double to 16.3% from four years ago with the upcoming rebalancing.
- Second to China: India ranks second, trailing only China (29.89%), on the EM Index, outperforming countries like Taiwan (15.07%), South Korea (11.78%), and Brazil (5.42%).
- Strong Performance: As an independent entity, India has excelled in generating net returns, boasting a 4.75% return in the year through October compared to MSCI EM’s -2.14%. Over the long term, India has achieved an annualized 8.33% return over ten years versus MSCI EM’s 1.19%.
Inclusion Criteria for Stocks
- Market Capitalization-Based Weightage: Stocks’ weights on the EM index are determined by free-float market capitalization, which represents shares available for foreign investors to trade. Higher market capitalization leads to greater weight and allocation by investors.
- Top Indian Stocks: Prominent Indian stocks on MSCI EM include Reliance Industries (weight 1.34%), ICICI Bank (0.91%), and Infosys (0.87%).
Impact of Increased Representation
- Passive Inflows: Passive foreign trackers are expected to inject $1.5 billion into the nine newly included Indian stocks and other Indian counters with increased weights.
- Stock Rebalancing: MSCI’s adjustments involve increasing the weights of stocks like Zomato, Hindustan Aeronautics, and Jio Financial Services, potentially attracting around $160 million in passive inflows. However, heavyweight stocks like Reliance may experience minor weight reductions.
- Overall FPI Investment: The increase primarily benefits passive trackers, and it may not necessarily lead to a surge in overall foreign portfolio investment (FPI) flows. Nonetheless, it boosts investor sentiment, as passive investments tend to offer higher returns over extended periods due to lower expenses and reduced human error.
- Positive Sentiment: MSCI EM’s positive review of India comes shortly after Morgan Stanley upgraded India to the status of the most preferred emerging market, further enhancing India’s appeal to global
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Horizontal Subcategorization
Mains level: NA
Central Idea
- In a recent election rally in Telangana, PM made a commitment to explore the sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes (SCs) to identify and uplift the most marginalized among them.
- This move is seen as an attempt to garner support from the Madiga community, the largest among the SC communities in the state.
SC Sub-Categorization: Legality Check
- State-Level Attempts: Over the past two decades, several states, including Punjab, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu, have attempted to introduce reservation laws to sub-categorize SCs within their territories. These efforts have been held up in courts, awaiting a Supreme Court Constitution Bench’s decision.
- Andhra Pradesh’s Initiative: The issue surfaced when the Andhra Pradesh government formed a commission in 1996, led by Justice Ramachandra Raju, to recommend sub-categorization based on disparities among SC communities. However, the Supreme Court, in 2004, ruled that states did not possess the unilateral authority to sub-categorize communities within the SC and Scheduled Tribes (ST) lists, as these lists are the prerogative of Parliament and the President.
- Contradictory Rulings: A 2020 judgment by a five-judge Bench, led by Justice Arun Mishra, contradicted the 2004 ruling by stating that determining benefits within the SC/ST lists would not amount to “tinkering” and could be done by states. This discrepancy prompted the referral of the 2020 judgment to a larger Bench.
Government Initiatives and Legal Opinions
- Union Government’s Efforts: The 2004 judgment prompted the Union government to explore the possibility of sub-categorization. In 2005, the Attorney-General of India (AGI) opined that sub-categorization was feasible if supported by “unimpeachable evidence” and suggested a constitutional amendment for this purpose.
- National Commission Recommendations: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) opined that a constitutional amendment was unnecessary. They cited Article 16(4) of the Constitution, which allows states to create special laws for under-represented backward classes.
Arguments for Sub-Categorization
- Graded Inequalities: Proponents argue that sub-categorization addresses the graded inequalities within SC communities. It ensures that the more backward communities receive their fair share of benefits, preventing the dominance of relatively advanced communities.
- Representation at All Levels: The goal is to ensure representation at all levels, including higher positions. However, the most backward SCs lag so far behind that even reserved positions at advanced levels may not benefit them due to a lack of suitable candidates.
Data Requirement for Sub-Categorization
- Legal experts emphasize the importance of robust data, including population numbers, socio-economic indicators, and community-specific information.
- This data would form the basis for reasonable categorization, quota allocation, and policy decisions.
Conclusion
- The sub-categorization of Scheduled Castes (SCs) is a complex legal and social issue that remains unresolved, with contradictory Supreme Court rulings and varying opinions among government bodies.
- While sub-categorization aims to address disparities within SC communities, it raises practical challenges, such as data collection and ensuring meaningful representation.
- The quest for a fair and legally sound sub-categorization mechanism continues, with the need for comprehensive data and clear legal guidelines at the forefront of the debate.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: National Family Health Survey 5
Mains level: domestic violence
Central idea
The article talks about how women facing domestic violence in India struggle to get justice due to biases in the legal system. It mentions challenges like police not taking complaints seriously and judges making unfair comments. To make things better, it suggests that judges should be fair, and the media should report responsibly to help women get the justice they deserve.
Key Highlights:
- Systemic Flaws in Legal Process: The study of 4 lakh FIRs in Haryana exposes inherent biases against women, revealing flaws from the filing of complaints to the conviction process.
- NGO’s Testimony on Domestic Violence: Majlis, an NGO in Mumbai, provides a firsthand account of the grave domestic violence faced by women, spanning physical, economic, verbal, emotional, and sexual abuse.
- Alarming Crime Rates: India witnesses rising crimes against women, with 21 daily dowry-related deaths and 4 lakh cases under Section 498A of the IPC in 2019, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic change.
Challenges:
- Reluctance to File FIRs: Police reluctance persists despite legal provisions, steering victims towards counseling instead of criminal complaints, hindering justice for domestic violence victims.
- Patriarchal Mindset Impact: The police’s apathy is rooted in a patriarchal mindset, exacerbated by demeaning comments from the judiciary, contributing to the perception that women misuse legal provisions.
- Impact on Victim Hope: Women turned away by police often lose hope, leading to dire consequences, such as suicide or murder, highlighting the severity of the challenges in obtaining justice.
Analysis:
- Stereotype Reinforcement: Demeaning comments, accusing women of misusing Section 498A, perpetuate stereotypes and contribute to the reluctance of police in handling domestic violence cases.
- Judiciary’s Role in Victim Perception: Judicial comments play a significant role in shaping public perception, impacting the willingness of women to seek justice for domestic violence.
- Need for Judicial Sensitivity: Recognizing the need for sensitivity in judicial language and approach to avoid further victimization of women seeking legal recourse.
Key Data for mains value addition:
- Dowry-Related Deaths: NCRB reports highlight disturbing statistics, indicating 21 daily dowry-related deaths and 4 lakh cases under Section 498A in 2019, underscoring the urgency for intervention.
- Prevalence of Domestic Violence: National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-20) data reveals that 30% of women (over 20 crore) experience physical violence, emphasizing the widespread nature of the issue.
- Need for Data-Driven Interventions: Utilizing crime statistics to inform targeted interventions and policy measures is crucial for addressing the increasing rates of crimes against women.
Way Forward:
- Sensitization Programs: Implementing sensitization programs to eliminate the patriarchal mindset within the police force, fostering a more empathetic and proactive approach.
- Legal Procedure Adherence: Ensuring strict adherence to legal procedures in handling domestic violence cases to prevent police reluctance and promote efficient and unbiased investigations.
- Continuous Training: Continuous training programs for law enforcement officers to enhance their understanding of the complexities surrounding domestic violence cases.
- Unbiased Judgment Enforcement: Establishing mechanisms to hold the judiciary accountable for unbiased judgments, discouraging sweeping generalizations and ensuring fair treatment of domestic violence cases.
- Judicial Education Initiatives: Advocating for ongoing judicial education on domestic violence issues to keep judges informed and sensitive to the unique challenges faced by victims.
Conclusion:
The multifaceted challenges women face in obtaining justice for domestic violence necessitate a holistic approach involving legal reforms, sensitization programs for law enforcement, and responsible media reporting. Addressing systemic biases, legal loopholes, and societal perceptions is essential for meaningful change and ensuring justice for victims of domestic violence.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: The Hathi Committee
Mains level: Nexus between pharmaceutical companies and doctors
What is the news?
Following the Indian Medical Association’s protest, the NMC has withdrawn the order on ‘generic prescribing’ since August 23, 2023
Central idea
The article highlights challenges in India’s healthcare system, emphasizing the struggle between generic and brand prescriptions. It discusses the alleged nexus between pharmaceutical companies and doctors, quality assurance concerns, and the need for comprehensive measures to ensure affordable and reliable access to medicines. The withdrawal of the generic prescribing order reflects ongoing complexities in achieving universal healthcare goals.
Key Highlights:
- Over-the-Counter Medical Sales in India: Patients often seek second opinions from non-qualified individuals in medical shops, with queries ranging from medicine strength to potential side effects.
- Generic vs. Brand Names: The National Medical Council (NMC) directed doctors to prescribe generic names over brand names, emphasizing the cost factor and the affordability of generic names. The Hathi Committee in 1975 supported the gradual phasing out of brand names.
- Alleged Nexus and Ethical Commitment: An alleged nexus between pharmaceutical companies and doctors exists, but medical associations stress their ethical commitment to improving access to affordable medicines.
- Quality Assurance Concerns: Concerns about the quality of medicines persist, with a prevalence rate of 4.5% for spurious and 3.4% for “not standard quality” medicines. The need for 100% quality-tested drugs is crucial for patient safety.
- Government’s Role: The government is urged to ensure quality through Universal Health Coverage and private healthcare networks, with calls for periodic sampling, banning batches that fail quality tests, and taking punitive actions against manufacturers.
Challenges:
- Quality Assurance Implementation: Existing mechanisms for quality assurance are not earnestly implemented, raising concerns about the reliability of the system.
- Enforcement of Generic Prescription: The moral dilemma in enforcing generic prescription without concrete evidence of standard quality poses a challenge in the healthcare system.
- Availability of Essential Medicines: The low availability rate of essential medicines, especially pediatric medicines, hampers the effective treatment of patients.
- Unscientific Combinations: The presence of unscientific combinations of medicines in the retail market adds complexity to the pharmaceutical landscape.
Analysis:
- Role of the Chemist: Concerns revolve around the chemist or less knowledgeable salesperson determining the brand, potentially based on profit motives, impacting the choice of medicines.
- Withdrawal of Generic Prescription Order: The withdrawal of the NMC order on generic prescribing, following the Indian Medical Association’s protest, reflects the ongoing challenges in healthcare policy.
| Case study to improve answer quality
The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation Limited’s practice, where all supplied medicines are kept under quarantine stock till double blinded samples are cleared in quality testing by government and private sector laboratories, is worth replicating. |
Key Data:
- Prevalence of Spurious and NSQ Medicines: National drug surveys in the last 10 years indicate prevalence rates of 4.5% for spurious and 3.4% for “not standard quality” medicines, highlighting the need for stricter quality control.
- Availability of Essential Pediatric Medicines: A study in Chhattisgarh in 2010 found only a 17% availability rate of essential pediatric medicines, indicating a significant gap in accessibility.
Way Forward:
- Government Assurance and Evidence: The government should provide concrete evidence of the standard quality of medicines before enforcing generic prescriptions, ensuring patient safety.
- Comprehensive Measures: Implementing comprehensive measures, such as limiting profit margins for wholesale and retail agents, is crucial for creating a transparent and fair pharmaceutical ecosystem.
- Janaushadhi Kendras Expansion: Expanding the network of Janaushadhi kendras is essential to improve accessibility to affordable medicines and promote their widespread availability.
- Monitoring Implementation: Ensuring proper implementation and monitoring of policies for free medicines and diagnostics under Universal Health Care is vital for the success of healthcare initiatives.
- Addressing Profit Motives: Addressing profit motives influencing the choice of medicines by chemists and salespersons is essential for a patient-centric healthcare system.
Conclusion:
The withdrawal of the generic prescribing order is seen as a step back in achieving universal access to affordable generic medicines. Addressing quality concerns, ensuring availability, and monitoring implementation are crucial for a successful healthcare system.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Electoral Trusts Scheme Electoral Bond Scheme
Mains level: Opacity and anonymity in corporate donations.
Key Highlights:
- Tradition of Secrecy: Indian political parties, historically resistant to public scrutiny, operate in a culture of secrecy regarding their funding sources and applications.
- Corporate Dependency: The exorbitant funds required for political processes and operations often come from Big Business entities, creating a financial reliance on these corporations.
- Quid Pro Quo: Political parties, in return for financial support from corporations, are often expected to reciprocate with political favors, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two.
- Voter Empowerment: Civil society campaigns, notably through Public Interest Litigation (PIL), seek to empower voters by improving access to background information on electoral candidates.
- Challenging Legislative Opacity: PIL serves as a tool to challenge legislative attempts to obscure the identities of corporate donors, promoting transparency in political funding.
- Democratic Right to Information: The campaign is grounded in the citizen’s democratic right to information, an integral aspect of the fundamental right to speech and expression under the Constitution.
- Countering Legislative Maneuvers: PIL acts as a countermeasure against legislative maneuvers designed to undermine transparency in political funding.
Challenges:
- Hiding Corporate Donors: Political establishments employ legislative tactics to conceal the identities of corporate donors, preventing public awareness of the financial backers of political parties.
- Electoral Trusts and Bond Schemes: The introduction of schemes like the Electoral Trusts Scheme (2013) and the Electoral Bond Scheme (EBS) creates barriers that obscure the direct link between political parties and their corporate donors.
- Transparency Concerns: Legislative changes raise concerns about jeopardizing transparency, incentivizing corrupt practices, and limiting the accountability of political parties.
- Nexus Between Politics and Business: The legislative landscape contributes to a growing perception of a nexus between political entities and big business, raising questions about ethical governance.
Key Phrases for value addition:
- Amendments Under Scrutiny: Recent amendments in the legal framework of corporate donations face scrutiny and constitutional challenges.
- ‘Right to Know’ Infringement: Allegations arise that these amendments infringe upon the citizen’s fundamental ‘Right to know’ under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.
- Transparency Need: The importance of transparency in political funding is emphasized as a cornerstone of a healthy and accountable democratic process.
- Autonomy Compromise: Concerns are raised about the compromise of the country’s autonomy, with potential negative impacts on governance and democratic values.
Analysis
- Undermining Transparency: Legislative changes are criticized for undermining transparency, creating a more opaque environment in political funding.
- Electoral Bond Scheme Critique: The Electoral Bond Scheme (EBS) faces critique for introducing opacity in political funding, limiting citizens’ access to vital information concerning electoral financing.
- Opacity in Politics and Business: The intertwining opacity in political and business spheres is identified as a growing trend with potential repercussions for democratic processes.
- Influence of Special Interest Groups: Critics argue that legislative changes enable special interest groups, corporate lobbyists, and foreign entities to exert undue influence on the electoral process.
Key Data for mains value addition:
- Favored Donation Mode: Electoral bonds have become the favored mode of political donation due to their anonymity features.
- ₹13,791 Crore Sales: Until July 2023, electoral bonds amounting to ₹13,791 crore have been sold in 27 tranches.
- 55.9% Donation Share: Electoral bonds contribute significantly, accounting for 55.9% of political donations received by 31 parties.
- BJP’s Leading Redemption: The BJP leads in the redemption of electoral bonds, with 74.5% of the total until 2020-2021.
Key Facts:
- Opacity and Corruption Concerns: Critics express concerns about the opacity introduced by legislative changes, potentially incentivizing corrupt practices in political funding.
- Majority Cash Dealings: Despite the availability of formal options like electoral bonds, the majority of political dealings continue to be in cash.
- Electoral Bond Impact: Receipts from electoral bonds enable political parties to engage in formal economy transactions, covering infrastructure, equipment, and media publicity costs.
- Ongoing Legislative Scrutiny: Legislative changes continue to undergo scrutiny, impacting transparency and accountability in political funding.
Key Terms:
- Electoral Trusts Scheme
- Electoral Bond Scheme
- Right to Know
- Corporate Donations
- Transparency
- Corruption
- Political Funding
- Constitutional Challenges
Way Forward:
- Hopes for a Level Playing Field: Expectations are pinned on judicial intervention to ensure a more level playing field in future elections.
- Upholding Freedom of Speech: The judiciary is anticipated to play a crucial role in upholding the right to freedom of speech and expression, empowering voters with information.
- Addressing Transparency Concerns: Recognizing the critical need for transparency, steps are expected to be taken to address concerns related to opacity and anonymity in corporate donations.
- Judicial Scrutiny Importance: The importance of judicial scrutiny in ensuring the preservation of democratic values and principles is emphasized.
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