Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Maritime issues in international water;
Why in the News?
During coverage of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, many Western media outlets have referred to tanker ships transporting Russian crude oil or oil products to other countries as a “shadow fleet.”
What is shadow fleet?
- The “shadow fleet” refers to tanker ships transporting oil from sanctioned countries, using tactics like flag hopping, complex ownership structures, and cargo transfers at sea to evade detection and sanctions.
What are Flags of Convenience (FoCs)?
- Flags of Convenience (FoCs) refer to the practice of registering a ship in a country other than that of the ship’s owner. Ships then fly the flag of the country where they are registered, known as the “flag state.”
- Initially, FoCs emerged as a way for shipowners to minimize taxes and avoid stringent regulations. They allow shipowners to benefit from favorable regulatory environments, such as lower taxes, less stringent safety requirements, and more lenient labor laws.
- Examples: Common FoCs include Panama, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands. These nations have minimal regulations, making it easier for ships to operate with reduced scrutiny.
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How do corporations with large fleets obscure ownership and origin of cargo? (Challenges to find the origin country of the ship)
- Complex Ownership Structures: Corporations often create complex ownership arrangements to hide the true identity of shipowners. This may involve setting up multiple shell companies, where each company owns only one or two ships. The use of offshore accounts and subsidiaries further adds to the opacity.
- Frequent Changes in Ship Registration and Management: Ships frequently switch their flag state (known as “flag hopping”) to avoid detection and regulatory compliance.
- Renaming Vessels: Ships involved in activities that could trigger sanctions often change their names to avoid being traced back to previous sanctioned activities.
- Using FoCs and Non-Compliant Jurisdictions: Ships may be registered in countries that are not signatories to international regulatory frameworks, such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
- For instance, Eswatini has emerged as a FoC because it does not follow IMO guidelines, allowing for less regulatory oversight.
Why has India been accused of hosting a shadow fleet?
- Increased Russian Oil Shipments: Indian firms and Dubai-based entities with Indian ties have been involved in transporting Russian oil, raising suspicions of sanction evasion.
- Certification by Indian Register of Shipping (IRS): The IRS certified more ships linked to Russian oil post-sanctions, which some viewed as supporting “shadow fleet” operations.
- Use of Flags of Convenience: Ships connected to India often registered under foreign flags, obscuring their ownership and the origin of their cargo to bypass sanctions.
What are the different ways through which ships ensure they don’t lose their insurance?
- Switching Insurance Providers: If a ship loses its Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance cover due to violations of sanctions, the owner may shift the vessel’s management to a different company with valid P&I insurance.
- Changing Ship Management and Ownership: By changing the management entity or even the registered owner (via shell companies), ships can regain insurance cover without having to comply with the initial sanctions.
- Use of Different Flag States: Ships registered under FoCs or jurisdictions not compliant with international regulations face less scrutiny, which can help them maintain insurance coverage despite potentially violating sanctions.
- Renaming Vessels: This practice helps erase the association of the ship with any prior incidents or sanctions violations, allowing the ship to be insured under a different identity.
Way forward:
- Enhance Oversight and Transparency: India should tighten regulations on ship certification and ownership disclosure, ensuring compliance with international norms to prevent any association with sanction-evading activities.
- Strengthen International Coordination: India should collaborate with global maritime bodies to align its policies with international shipping standards, promoting responsible trade practices while safeguarding its economic interests.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Significance of Nature Restoration Law ;
Why in the News?
The urgent global issue of ecosystem degradation affects India significantly, with nearly 30% of its land degraded. India’s need for a comprehensive nature restoration law is critical, drawing inspiration from the EU’s NRL
Why does India need a Nature Restoration Law?
- High Land Degradation: Nearly 30% of India’s land is degraded, with areas like Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan severely affected.
- Rising Desertification: The extent of desertification in India has increased significantly, impacting ecosystems and agricultural productivity.
- Biodiversity Loss: The degradation of natural habitats threatens India’s rich biodiversity and contributes to the global biodiversity crisis.
- Climate Change Mitigation: Degraded ecosystems lose their ability to act as carbon sinks, worsening climate change impacts.
- Economic Implications: Land degradation affects agriculture, water security, and livelihoods, necessitating legal intervention for sustainable management.
What should the Nature Restoration Law in India include?
- Legally Binding Restoration Targets: Similar to the EU’s NRL, set mandates to restore a specific percentage of land and water bodies by 2030 and 2050.
- Multi-Ecosystem Approach: Include provisions for forests, agricultural lands, rivers, wetlands, and urban areas to ensure comprehensive ecosystem restoration.
- Monitoring and Reporting Mechanisms: Establish a framework for monitoring progress, conducting periodic reviews, and reporting on restoration outcomes.
- Funding and Incentive Mechanisms: Provide financial support and incentives for states, communities, and private entities engaging in restoration projects.
- Integration with Existing Programs: Align with ongoing initiatives like the Green India Mission and watershed programs for enhanced effectiveness.
What are the potential benefits of implementing such a law?
- Environmental: Restoring degraded lands can enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and increase carbon sequestration, aiding climate resilience.
- Economic: Could generate economic returns through improved agricultural productivity, job creation, and enhanced water security.
- Social: Restoration projects can create rural employment opportunities and support sustainable livelihoods, especially in degraded areas.
- Alignment with International Commitments: Helps India achieve its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 15, and meet Paris Agreement targets.
Way forward:
- Adopt a Comprehensive Restoration Framework: India should enact a Nature Restoration Law with legally binding targets, integrating multi-ecosystem restoration approaches and aligning with existing environmental programs.
- Strengthen Monitoring and Funding Mechanisms: Establish robust monitoring frameworks for progress evaluation and provide financial incentives for restoration efforts, ensuring effective implementation and long-term sustainability.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: India china relations;
Why in the News?
India and China announced an agreement on patrolling arrangements, resolving the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), as per government officials.
What are the key components of the agreement between India and China?
- Patrolling Arrangements: The agreement includes the resumption of patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in previously disputed areas, where patrolling had been stopped since 2020.
- Disengagement and Buffer Zones: The agreement aims to complete the disengagement process by restoring the situation to pre-2020 levels, including addressing issues at friction points like Demchok and Depsang.
- The existence or adjustment of buffer zones, which were established to prevent clashes, remains undisclosed.
- Diplomatic and Military Dialogue: The resolution is a result of multiple high-level meetings and negotiations, involving Foreign Ministers, the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC), and military commanders from both sides.
- Return to Pre-2020 Status: Indian officials have indicated that the situation at the LAC will revert to what it was before 2020, although further steps like deinduction and demobilization of troops still need to be undertaken.
How does this agreement impact the broader geopolitical landscape in the region?
- Regional Stability: The agreement could contribute to stability along the India-China border and help reduce military tensions in the region, especially at sensitive points like the Galwan Valley, where past clashes occurred.
- Influence on China-India Relations: It marks a potential thaw in India-China relations, creating a conducive atmosphere for high-level diplomatic engagements, possibly including a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit.
- Implications for Multilateral Forums: The agreement preceding the BRICS summit indicates a strategic effort to avoid bilateral friction overshadowing multilateral diplomacy. A peaceful resolution along the border could bolster cooperation within BRICS and other regional platforms.
- Signal to Neighboring Countries: The resolution may influence the perception of China’s border policies among other neighboring countries in Asia, possibly setting a precedent for dispute resolution.
What are the implications for India’s national security strategy?
- Shift Towards Dialogue and Diplomacy: The agreement underscores India’s willingness to resolve border issues through diplomatic means while maintaining a strong defense posture.
- Strategic Focus on LAC Management: Although disengagement is underway, continued monitoring and readiness at the LAC will remain crucial. The agreement may lead to a recalibration of India’s military deployments and infrastructure development along the border.
- Enhanced Security Coordination: With border tensions easing, India can refocus on comprehensive security strategies involving cooperation with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region, addressing broader challenges such as maritime security and countering China’s influence.
- Preparedness for Future Contingencies: The completion of disengagement does not eliminate future risks. India will likely continue to strengthen its border infrastructure and military capabilities as a precaution against any future incursions.
Way forward:
- Strengthen Diplomatic Engagements: India should prioritize continuous diplomatic dialogues with China to solidify the agreements reached and prevent future misunderstandings.
- Enhance Border Infrastructure and Defense Preparedness: India should invest in improving border infrastructure and logistics to support troop mobility and supply lines.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Citizenship of India;
Why in the News?
On October 17, 2024, political parties widely welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision upholding Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, addressing citizenship under the Assam Accord.
What is Section 6A?
- Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, added in 1985, grants citizenship to immigrants in Assam who entered between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, under the Assam Accord provisions.
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What are the implications of upholding Section 6A for citizenship in Assam?
- Legal Recognition of the Assam Accord: The verdict reinforces the Assam Accord’s legal status, acknowledging the cut-off date of March 25, 1971, for granting citizenship to immigrants. This solidifies the Accord’s role as a foundational legal document addressing the state’s citizenship issues.
- Clarifying Citizenship Status: The ruling provides legal clarity on the citizenship status of individuals who entered Assam between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971. They are granted citizenship if they comply with specific conditions, while those arriving post-1971 are deemed illegal immigrants.
- Impact on the NRC Process: The decision may influence the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process in Assam by determining who is eligible for inclusion. The cut-off date could guide the verification of citizenship claims, potentially affecting those at risk of being declared stateless.
How does this ruling interact with existing immigration laws and policies?
- Consistency with the Foreigners Act: The ruling aligns with existing immigration policies under the Foreigners Act, where illegal immigrants are identified and potentially deported.
- Implications for Deportation and Detection: The verdict mandates continued efforts to detect and deport illegal immigrants who arrived post-March 25, 1971.
- This may intensify identification and deportation processes, requiring robust legal and administrative mechanisms.
- Role in NRC and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Debate: The ruling interacts with ongoing discussions about the CAA, which grants citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from neighboring countries who entered before December 31, 2014.
What are the broader constitutional implications of this decision?
- Federalism and Regional Autonomy: The judgment upholds Assam’s unique historical and cultural context, recognizing the state’s special legal provisions under the Assam Accord.
- Right to Equality and Non-discrimination: By validating different cut-off dates for citizenship determination in Assam compared to the rest of India, the ruling raises questions about equal treatment and the uniformity of laws across the country.
- Judicial Endorsement of Accord-based Legislation: The ruling sets a precedent for upholding legislation based on historical accords or regional agreements.
Way forward:
- Full Implementation of the Assam Accord: Ensure the complete execution of all clauses of the Accord, including detecting, deleting, and deporting illegal immigrants, while providing support to those recognized as citizens to integrate smoothly into society.
- Strengthen Legal and Administrative Frameworks: Enhance the infrastructure for the NRC process, deportation mechanisms, and border management to maintain consistency in immigration policies, while addressing humanitarian concerns for affected individuals.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture;
Why in the News?
On October 16, 2024, the FAO said that poor households around the world lose 5% of their income each year due to heat stress and 4.4% due to floods.
About FAO:
- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is indeed a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), established to lead international efforts aimed at combating hunger and improving food security and nutrition globally.
- It founded on October 16, 1945, FAO operates from its headquarters in Rome, Italy, and comprises 195 members, including 194 countries and the European Union.
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Key Objectives of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):
- Eradicate Hunger and Malnutrition: The FAO aims to eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition worldwide by promoting sustainable agricultural practices and increasing food availability.
- Promote Sustainable Agriculture: The organization encourages sustainable management of natural resources and resilient agricultural systems to combat climate change and preserve biodiversity.
- Reduce Rural Poverty: FAO works to improve the livelihoods of rural populations through economic development, social protection measures, and improved access to markets.
- Enhance Food Systems: It focuses on improving food production, distribution, and consumption to ensure the global population has access to nutritious, safe, and affordable food.
- Respond to Crises: The FAO assists countries in addressing food-related emergencies and building resilience against future shocks, such as natural disasters and conflicts.
Key Highlights of the Present Report by FAO:
- Economic Losses from Climate Stress: The report highlighted that poor households globally lose 5% of their income due to heat stress and 4.4% due to floods annually, compared to better-off households.
- Impact on Rural Poor in India: It found that rural poor households in India are affected by climate stress differently, with reduced off-farm employment opportunities during droughts, forcing them to allocate more resources to agriculture.
- Structural Inequalities: The report noted that poor households’ vulnerability to climate stressors is rooted in structural inequalities, calling for policy measures such as expanding social security.
- Recommendations for Livelihood Support: Suggested scaling up anticipatory social protection programs and improving off-farm employment opportunities to reduce reliance on negative coping strategies.
- Gender and Employment Barriers: The report urged addressing gender disparities in non-farm employment through gender-transformative approaches to tackle discriminatory norms.
What is NITI Aayog’s Response?
- Efforts to Combat Climate Change: NITI Aayog highlighted India’s proactive measures, such as the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project, which supports farmers’ adaptation to severe climate conditions.
- Social Safety Nets: Emphasized India’s implementation of a nationwide employment guarantee scheme and extensive food distribution efforts during the pandemic as evidence of social protection measures.
- Women’s Workforce Participation: Cited data from the Periodic Labour Force Surveys showing increased female participation in the workforce, indicating progress in addressing gender issues.
- Open to FAO Suggestions: Acknowledged the value of considering the FAO’s recommendations for further policy improvement while emphasizing India’s existing initiatives.
Way forward:
- Strengthen Social Protection: Expand anticipatory social protection programs and climate-resilient agricultural practices to support vulnerable households, reducing income losses from climate stress.
- Address Structural Inequalities: Enhance off-farm employment opportunities, tackle gender disparities, and implement policies targeting the root causes of vulnerability to climate-related risks.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Key initiatives to achieve SDG;
Why in the News?
On September 9-10, 2023, New Delhi hosted the G-20 Summit, where participants committed to enhancing the implementation of the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.
How effectively is India progressing towards achieving the SDGs by 2030?
- Current Status: India is classified in the “medium human development” category, with an HDI value of 0.644 and a rank of 134 out of 193 countries.
- Improvement Over Time: India saw an increase of 48.4% in HDI value from 1990 (0.434) to 2022 (0.644), indicating positive long-term trends despite recent stagnation and slight declines due to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
- SDG Interconnections: India’s HDI dimensions directly align with several SDGs, including SDG-3 (good health), SDG-4 (quality education), and SDG-5 (gender equality). Progress in these areas is critical for achieving broader SDG targets.
- Rank Improvements: From 2015 to 2022, India improved its HDI ranking by four places, while neighboring countries such as Bangladesh and Bhutan improved their rankings by 12 and 10 places, respectively, highlighting the need for India to enhance its efforts.
What are the key human development challenges that India faces?
- Gender Inequality: India has one of the largest gender gaps in the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), with a stark difference of 47.8 percentage points between women (28.3%) and men (76.1%). The GDI indicates significant disparities in HDI achievements between genders, which undermines development.
- Income Inequality: India experiences high income inequality, with the richest 1% holding 21.7% of total income, significantly higher than many neighboring countries and above global averages. This poses a barrier to sustainable development and equitable growth.
- Education and Health: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected education and health sectors, leading to increased vulnerabilities among poorer and marginalized populations.
- Urban-Rural Divide: There is a notable disparity in female labour force participation between rural (41.5%) and urban areas (25.4%), suggesting that urban policy initiatives may not adequately support women’s employment.
What strategies can be implemented? (Way forward)
- Strengthening Gender Equality: Implement gender-transformative approaches to enhance women’s participation in the labour force and address systemic barriers. This includes policies promoting work-life balance, flexible work arrangements, and targeted skill development programs.
- Enhancing Education and Skill Development: Invest in quality education, vocational training, and lifelong learning opportunities that cater to both genders, particularly in rural areas.
- Promoting Social Protection: Expand social safety nets and anticipatory social protection programs that target vulnerable populations, particularly women and marginalized groups.
- Reducing Income Inequality: Implement progressive taxation and wealth redistribution policies to address the concentration of income.
- Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: Foster collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector to implement sustainable development initiatives.
Mains PYQ:
Q National Education Policy 2020 isin conformity with the Sustainable Development Goal-4 (2030). It intends to restructure and reorient education system in India. Critically examine the statement. (UPSC IAS/2020)
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Issues related to malnutrition in India;
Why in the News?
The 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) indicates that the number of undernourished people in India this year, approximately 200 million, would rank as the seventh largest population in the world, comparable to the size of Brazil’s population.
Why it is a matter of concern?
- High Undernourishment Levels: India’s Global Hunger Index rank is 105 out of 127 countries, classified under the “serious” category with a score of 27.3. An estimated 200 million people, or roughly 14% of India’s population, are undernourished, a figure comparable to the population of Brazil.
- Child Malnutrition: India’s child stunting rate stands at 35.5%, and the child wasting rate is 18.7%, indicating widespread malnutrition. These rates reflect a failure in the healthcare and social safety net systems.
- Infant Mortality Rate: Although India’s infant mortality rate is slightly below the global average (26 per 1,000 live births compared to the global average of 28), it remains a significant issue.
- Impact of Food Inflation: Food inflation more than doubled between FY22 and FY24, increasing from 3.8% to 7.5%. This disproportionately affects low-income households, leading to reduced food accessibility.
What about India’s GDP growth?
- High Economic Growth Rate: India was the world’s fastest-growing economy in FY24, with a growth rate of 6.8% and a GDP nearing $4 trillion, ranking fifth globally.
- Low Per Capita Income: Despite rapid economic growth, India’s per capita income remains low at $2,485 in FY24, which is less than a fourth of the global average of $13,920 in FY22. This disparity suggests significant income inequality and limited improvement in living standards for many.
- Record Food Production vs. Hunger: In FY24, India achieved one of its highest food production levels at 332 million tonnes. However, the abundance in food production did not translate into improved food security due to distribution challenges, economic disparities, and climate-related impacts.
What is the debate about data collection methodology?
- Use of Sample Registration System (SRS) Data: The GHI uses data from India’s Sample Registration System (SRS), which is annually published by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. It provides statistics on births, deaths, infant mortality, and other vital indicators.
- Government’s Criticism of GHI Methodology: There has been ongoing criticism from the Indian government regarding the GHI’s methodology, particularly the reliance on survey data and subjective measurements for assessing hunger and malnutrition.
- The government argues that the GHI may not accurately reflect the improvements in nutrition and food distribution initiatives.
- Challenges in Addressing Undernutrition: Even with abundant food production, systemic issues such as poor nutrition programs, climate impacts on agricultural productivity, and socioeconomic factors continue to affect food security in India.
Way forward:
- Strengthen Nutrition and Social Safety Programs: India should enhance the effectiveness of nutrition programs, such as the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal Scheme, ensuring better coverage, quality, and targeting to reduce child malnutrition and undernourishment.
- Address Economic Inequality and Improve Food Access: Implement policies to reduce income disparities and make essential foods more affordable, such as expanding the Public Distribution System (PDS) to cover vulnerable groups affected by inflation and climate-related agricultural disruptions.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Impact of climate change;
Why in the News?
The rising demand for cooling is leading to increased fossil fuel consumption for electricity generation, which in turn contributes to climate change and gradually elevates atmospheric temperatures.
What are the primary impacts of climate change on human societies?
- Heat-Related Health Risks: Increased temperatures and more frequent heatwaves lead to higher incidences of heat-related illnesses and deaths. For instance, global heatwaves already result in approximately 12,000 fatalities annually.
- Threats to Food Security: Extreme temperatures and unstable weather patterns negatively impact agricultural productivity, affecting food quality and availability, and driving up prices.
- Access to Essential Services: Over 1.1 billion people face immediate risks due to inadequate access to cooling, impacting health services (like vaccine storage), food preservation, and economic productivity.
- Increased Mortality: By 2050, deaths from extreme heat are projected to surge, with the World Health Organization predicting up to 255,000 heat-related fatalities each year.
How Can Societies Effectively Adapt to the Ongoing Changes in Climate?
- Promoting Energy-Efficient Cooling: Improve the efficiency of cooling devices to reduce energy demand and mitigate climate impacts. This includes transitioning away from hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under international agreements like the Kigali amendment.
- Nature-Based Solutions: Implement alternatives to mechanical cooling, such as planting shade trees and using smart building designs to naturally regulate temperatures.
- Policy and Technological Innovations: Governments should enforce strict compliance with energy efficiency standards for cooling equipment and incentivize the development of sustainable cooling technologies.
What Role Does International Cooperation Play in Addressing Climate Change?
- Global Agreements: Initiatives like the Paris Agreement and the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol emphasize the need for unified international action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable development goals.
- Shared Resources and Technology Transfer: International efforts, such as those led by Rwanda and the African Group, advocate for access to energy-efficient technologies, particularly for developing nations.
- Enhancing Compliance and Monitoring: Countries are urged to strictly adhere to global agreements, such as phasing down HFCs, to achieve climate targets and protect vulnerable populations.
Way Forward:
- Accelerate the Transition to Energy-Efficient Cooling: Enhance international efforts to double the average energy efficiency of cooling devices and support the shift to climate-friendly refrigerants.
- Integrate Cooling Solutions into Climate and Development Policies: Recognize cooling as a development issue and address its critical role in poverty alleviation and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Importance of SCO for India;
Why in the News?
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar informally interacted with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during the SCO summit’s concluding lunch in Islamabad.
About SCO:
- The SCO was established in 2001 to promote regional cooperation in security, economic development, and cultural exchange among its member states, which include China, India, Russia, Pakistan, and several Central Asian countries.
- The organization represents around 40% of the global population, making it one of the largest regional groups. Its influence spans economic, political, and security dimensions.
- The SCO focuses on combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism (the “three evils”), enhancing regional security, and fostering economic collaboration among member states.
- The SCO holds annual summits, rotating between member countries, to discuss various topics ranging from economic cooperation to regional security challenges.
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What were the major insights during SCO 2024 summit?
- Diplomatic Engagement: The informal interaction between India’s External Affairs Minister and Pakistan’s leadership marked a notable shift in diplomatic engagement, highlighting a more constructive tone compared to previous meetings.
- Avoidance of Contentious Issues: Both India and Pakistan’s leaders refrained from discussing sensitive topics such as Kashmir, indicating a focus on cooperation rather than conflict during this summit.
- Collective Responsibility: The Indian foreign minister emphasized the need for an “honest conversation” about trust and cooperation in the SCO region, highlighting the importance of addressing concerns over terrorism and separatism in fostering trade and connectivity.
- Positive Outcomes: The summit resulted in the signing of eight documents, including proposals for economic dialogue, cooperation in the creative economy, and strategies for addressing challenges in areas like green development and digital economy.
- Future Cooperation: The joint statement from the summit emphasized optimizing the region’s potential in various sectors such as trade, innovation, and climate change, indicating a commitment to collaborative economic growth.
Challenges for India:
- India-Pakistan Relations: Pakistan’s membership complicates India’s position within the SCO. The rivalry between India and Pakistan can hinder India’s ability to assert its interests effectively, especially since China and Russia are influential players in the organization.
- Balancing Relations: India’s participation in the SCO necessitates a delicate balancing act between its traditional ties with Russia and its growing partnerships with Western nations. This is particularly challenging given the SCO’s often anti-Western posture.
Way forward:
- Strengthen Regional Cooperation: India should prioritize common interests within the SCO, such as counter-terrorism, economic development, and connectivity, while using diplomatic channels to reduce tensions with Pakistan and maintain constructive dialogue.
- Strategic Balancing: India can pursue a balanced approach by aligning its SCO engagements with its broader foreign policy goals, leveraging partnerships with Russia and Central Asia while carefully managing its ties with Western nations.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Inclusive Economy; Inclusive institutions; Nobel Prize;
Why in the News?
- This year’s Nobel Prize in Economics, officially known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, was awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James Robinson (AJR).
- AJR have highlighted the importance of institutions in development, but critics argue that this approach tends to favour Western liberal models over other institutional frameworks.
Why Do Some Nations Succeed While Others Fail?
- Role of Institutions: The economic success or failure of nations can often be traced back to the nature of their institutions.
- Inclusive institutions encourage economic activity by providing secure property rights, legal frameworks, and political systems that incentivize growth.
- In contrast, extractive institutions concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few, leading to economic stagnation and social inequality.
- Historical Path Dependence: Countries that experienced inclusive economic institutions early in their development tend to be more prosperous, while those with a history of extractive institutions face significant barriers to growth. Historical events shape the trajectory of institutional development and influence current outcomes.
What Is the Impact of Historical Institutions on Current Economic Outcomes?
- Colonial Legacy: Institutions established during colonialism, especially extractive ones, have long-lasting impacts. Areas with landlord-based land tenure systems or direct colonial rule have struggled with lower agricultural productivity, fewer social services, and weaker infrastructure.
- Natural Experiment Evidence: AJR’s research used historical data, such as differences in settler mortality, to show that regions colonized by Europeans with high mortality rates ended up with extractive institutions that still negatively affect growth today.
- Long-Term Development Patterns: The effects of historical institutions persist, shaping economic development, social structures, and governance even after countries gain independence or transition to new political systems.
Why do critics argue that this approach tends to favour Western liberal models over other institutional frameworks?
- Historical Bias: Critics argue that AJR’s approach overlooks the diverse paths of development, favoring Western institutions while underestimating non-Western experiences and historical complexities.
- Western Norms as Universal: The framework tends to present Western liberal institutions as ideal models, disregarding how other systems might effectively function in different cultural and socio-political contexts.
Why Are Inclusive Institutions Not More Widely Adopted?
- Conflict of Interests: Powerful groups with control over resources have incentives to maintain extractive institutions to protect their wealth and power, resisting changes that would lead to a fairer distribution of economic benefits.
- Collective Action Challenges: Reforming extractive institutions requires solving collective action problems where diverse groups must agree on new rules that may threaten the established elite’s interests.
- Path Dependency: Historical conditions can create institutional inertia, making it challenging to shift from extractive to inclusive frameworks due to deep-rooted social, political, and economic norms.
Way forward:
- Strengthen Inclusive Institutions: Focus on legal and policy reforms that secure property rights, ensure fair governance, and promote transparent decision-making, encouraging broad-based economic participation and growth.
- Empower Marginalized Groups: Implement policies that reduce power concentration by supporting grassroots movements, enhancing education access, and providing economic opportunities to disadvantaged communities to overcome historical inequalities.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: India-Canada Relations;
Why in the News?
India-Canada relations have reached a historic low after Justin Trudeau’s government accused Indian officials of being involved in “activities that pose a significant threat to public safety,” claims that New Delhi has strongly rejected as “preposterous.”
What specific allegations has Canada made against Indian diplomats?
- Violent Extremism: Canadian authorities claim that agents of the Government of India have been involved in violent extremist activities affecting both countries.
- Involvement in Criminal Activity: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have accused Indian diplomats and consular officials of being linked to homicides, acts of violence, and the use of organized crime to create a sense of insecurity among the South Asian community in Canada.
- Foreign Interference: Investigations suggest Indian officials leveraged their positions to collect information on certain individuals or groups in Canada, either directly or through proxies. This intelligence was allegedly shared with the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in India.
- Threats and Coercion: The allegations include coercion tactics where individuals in Canada were reportedly threatened regarding their immigration status or faced risks to their family members in India.
- Connections with Organized Crime: There are claims that Indian intelligence conveyed information to criminal networks in India, allegedly linked to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is in custody in India. These networks are suspected of intimidating or targeting Canadians of South Asian descent.
- Involvement in Assassinations: The controversy began with the assassination of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, and was further linked to the killing of Sukhdool Singh Gill in Winnipeg. Both incidents allegedly have ties to Indian government directives.
How has India responded to Canada’s accusations?
- Denial of Allegations: India has categorically dismissed the allegations as “absurd” and “preposterous.” Indian authorities have rejected claims of any involvement in criminal activities in Canada or targeting the Sikh community.
- Accusations of Canadian Tolerance for Extremism: New Delhi has countered by accusing Canada of allowing anti-India elements and Khalistani separatist groups to operate freely, impacting India’s sovereignty and security.
- Denial of Diplomatic Cooperation: Reports suggest that while India initially agreed to cooperate with the Canadian investigation, it later denied visas to RCMP officials who intended to share evidence with Indian counterparts.
What actions have both countries taken in retaliation?
- Expulsion of Diplomats: Following Canada’s expulsion of an Indian diplomat, India retaliated by expelling a senior Canadian diplomat, escalating the diplomatic dispute.
- Visa Suspension: In response to the diplomatic tensions, India suspended visa services for Canadian citizens, citing security concerns for Indian diplomatic personnel in Canada.
- Reduced Diplomatic Presence: The crisis has resulted in both nations significantly scaling back their diplomatic staff, affecting consular services and visa issuance.
- Diplomatic Disengagement: India’s foreign minister has hinted at limiting diplomatic interactions with Canada, reflecting the deterioration in bilateral ties.
What are the potential implications of this diplomatic crisis for both sides?
- Bilateral Relations: The row represents a historic low in India-Canada relations. Both nations may experience prolonged diplomatic disengagement, adversely affecting cooperation in trade, education, and defence.
- Economic Impacts: Canada is a significant partner for Indian students and the Punjabi diaspora, which could face disruptions in visa issuance, immigration processes, and consular services.
- Geopolitical Ramifications: The dispute may strain India’s relations with Western allies, including the United States, which has strong ties with both India and Canada.
- Division in Diaspora Communities: The Sikh community in Canada could be further divided, with escalating tensions around pro-Khalistan activities. Allegations against Indian officials may also increase anti-India sentiments among diaspora groups.
Way forward:
- Diplomatic Engagement and De-escalation: Both countries should prioritize diplomatic channels to de-escalate tensions, perhaps through neutral intermediaries or international platforms, ensuring that the crisis does not further damage long-term relations, trade, and people-to-people ties.
- Focused Cooperation on Extremism and Criminal Activity: A joint task force or collaborative investigation involving both nations could be set up to address concerns about violent extremism and criminal activity, fostering transparency and trust, while respecting sovereignty and legal frameworks.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Issues related to agricultural productivity;
Why in the News?
Government must embrace a new approach where the success of agriculture is defined by its capacity to nourish people, support livelihoods, and safeguard our planet for future generations.
What are the limitations of using yield as the sole indicator of agricultural success?
- Nutritional Quality Neglect as per ICAR (Indian Council for Agricultural Research): Focusing on yield has led to a decline in the nutritional profile of crops. High-yielding varieties often have lower micronutrient densities, as seen in reduced zinc and iron levels in rice and wheat.
- Increased Input Costs: Higher yield does not always correlate with increased farmer income. The cost of achieving additional yield may be high, especially as the response to fertilizers has declined significantly since the 1970s.
- Biodiversity Loss: The emphasis on a few high-yielding varieties leads to the loss of diverse, local crop varieties. For example, India has lost around 104,000 rice varieties since the Green Revolution.
- Environmental Impact: Intensive farming to maximize yield can degrade soil health, reduce water availability, and harm the ecosystem, making agriculture less sustainable.
- Reduced Resilience: The prioritization of yield over other factors makes crops less resilient to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves.
How do other indicators complement yield in assessing agricultural sustainability?
- Nutritional Output Per Hectare: This indicator measures not just the quantity but the quality of the food produced, addressing nutritional security.
- Soil Health Metrics: Including soil biological activity and soil organic carbon in evaluations helps ensure long-term soil fertility and productivity.
- Water-Use Efficiency: Metrics like water-use efficiency track the amount of water required to produce crops, promoting conservation.
- Farm Biodiversity: Assessing crop diversity at the farm and regional levels (Landscape Diversity Score) improves resilience to pests, diseases, and climate variability.
- Economic Resilience Metrics: Indicators such as income diversification (through intercropping, livestock rearing, etc.) can help measure farmers’ economic stability.
- Environmental Impact Measures: Tracking parameters like carbon footprint and ecosystem services evaluates the broader impact of agricultural practices.
What practices can farmers adopt to improve sustainability beyond just increasing yield? (Way forward)
- Intercropping: Growing multiple crops together (e.g., sugarcane with vegetables) can provide year-round income and enhance soil health.
- Agroecological Approaches: Practices such as crop rotation, organic farming, and reduced pesticide use help maintain biodiversity and soil fertility.
- Water Management Techniques: Using methods like drip irrigation and AI-powered tools for optimal irrigation ensures better water use.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combining biological, mechanical, and chemical control methods reduces reliance on harmful pesticides.
- Conservation Agriculture: Techniques such as no-till farming and mulching help improve soil structure and retain moisture.
- Adopting Climate-Resilient Varieties: Growing drought-tolerant or flood-resistant crop varieties helps mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Mains PYQ:
Q Discuss the various economic and socio-cultural forces that are driving increasing feminization of agriculture in India. (UPSC IAS/2014)
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Shortcomings of AMRUT;
Why in the News?
U.S. economists Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson won the 2024 Economics Nobel for their research on how the formation of institutions influences a nation’s prosperity and economic success.
What are the key factors that explain why some nations are rich while others are poor?
- Quality of Institutions: According to the 2024 Nobel laureates, the primary determinant of economic success is the quality of a country’s institutions. Inclusive institutions, which ensure secure property rights, political freedoms, and economic opportunities, tend to promote growth.
- Rule of Law and Property Rights: When laws protect private property and are enforced impartially, individuals are incentivized to invest and engage in economic activities. Weak or corrupt legal systems can deter investments and slow growth.
- Political Stability and Governance: Countries with stable, democratic governance structures often provide a conducive environment for economic activities. In contrast, political instability and authoritarianism can hinder development.
- Geography and Natural Resources: Some scholars argue that geographic factors, such as access to trade routes and natural resource endowment, play a role in shaping a nation’s wealth. However, resource-rich nations can still struggle if their institutions are weak (resource curse).
- Human Capital and Education: Nations that invest in education and healthcare build a skilled and productive workforce, which can drive long-term economic growth.
- Technological and Industrial Development: The ability to adopt and innovate technologies is crucial for economic advancement, which historically facilitated the “Great Divergence” during the Industrial Revolution.
How do historical contexts and colonial legacies impact current economic outcomes?
- Colonial Institution Setup: Colonizers often set up institutions based on their motivations and local conditions. In places with harsh climates or high disease rates, extractive institutions were established to exploit resources quickly.
- Impact of Extractive Institutions: In countries where extractive institutions were set up, economic policies often focused on resource extraction and wealth concentration, which led to long-term stagnation. For instance, regions in Africa and South Asia that experienced extractive colonial policies face lasting developmental challenges.
- Path Dependence: Colonial institutions created trajectories that persisted even after independence. Post-colonial governments often inherited the same extractive structures, leading to continued corruption, inequality, and weak rule of law.
- Unequal Development: Colonialism exacerbated regional disparities by favouring some areas (urban centres, resource-rich regions) over others, affecting infrastructure development and economic integration.
What criticisms exist regarding the theories proposed by the Nobel laureates?
- Oversimplification of Institutional Role: Critics argue that attributing economic success primarily to institutions might ignore other important factors, such as culture, geography, and international trade dynamics, which also significantly shape economic outcomes.
- Neglect of Global Power Structures: Some scholars believe that focusing on domestic institutions alone overlooks the influence of global economic structures and the power imbalances that exist between countries, which can perpetuate inequality.
- Limited Consideration of Economic Policies: Critics point out that macroeconomic policies, market dynamics, and state-led development strategies also play a crucial role in determining economic trajectories, beyond institutional quality alone.
- Debate Over Inclusiveness of “Inclusive Institutions”: Some argue that even countries with ostensibly inclusive institutions (e.g., Western democracies) can exhibit extractive practices, such as unequal wealth distribution, labor exploitation, and environmental degradation.
Way forward:
- Strengthen Institutions with Reforms: Focus on reforming political and economic institutions to promote inclusiveness, transparency, and rule of law, ensuring secure property rights and equal opportunities for all citizens.
- Address Global Inequities and Support Development: International efforts should aim to reduce global economic disparities by promoting fair trade, debt relief, and development aid.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Haber-Bosch process
Mains level: Issues related to fertilizer;
Why in the News?
One hundred million tonnes of nitrogen are extracted from the atmosphere and transformed into fertilizer through the Haber-Bosch process, adding 165 million tonnes of reactive nitrogen to the soil.
What is the Nitrogen molecule and how is it availed in Nature?
- The nitrogen molecule (N2) consists of two nitrogen atoms joined by a triple bond, sharing three pairs of electrons. This triple bond makes the molecule extremely stable and nearly inert, requiring a significant amount of energy (946 kJ/mol) to break.
- When the triple bond is broken, nitrogen atoms can form reactive nitrogen compounds like ammonia (NH3), ammonium (NH4+), or nitrates (NO3–).
- These compounds are essential for plant growth as they help synthesize enzymes, proteins, and amino acids.
- Lightning generates enough energy to break the N2 triple bond, producing nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) that can combine with water vapor to form nitric and nitrous acids. These acids add reactive nitrogen to the soil through rainfall.
- Certain bacteria, such as Azotobacter and Rhizobia, fix atmospheric nitrogen through biological processes.
- Rhizobia forms symbiotic relationships with legumes, while Azolla, an aquatic fern, also fixes nitrogen via its symbiotic cyanobacterium.
What is the Haber-Bosch process?
- The Haber-Bosch process synthesizes ammonia by reacting nitrogen (N2) with hydrogen (H2) under high pressure (200 atm) and moderate temperature (200°C), using a catalyst (typically iron oxides).
- The process was developed by Fritz Haber, who found that high pressure and a suitable catalyst were key to converting nitrogen to ammonia efficiently. The setup was scaled up by Carl Bosch, leading to the first ammonia production plant in 1913.
What are the downsides of fertilizers?
- Environmental Impact: While synthetic nitrogen fertilizers have significantly increased food production, they have also led to negative environmental effects:
- Over-fertilization: Excess nitrogen application results in reactive nitrogen being released into the atmosphere, contributing to acid rain and soil degradation.
- Water Pollution: Nitrogen runoff from agricultural fields enters freshwater and coastal ecosystems, leading to eutrophication, which causes oxygen depletion and harms aquatic life.
- Human Health Concerns: High nitrogen levels in drinking water can pose health risks.
- Socio-Economic Challenges: Despite increased food production, issues such as starvation, malnutrition, and unequal food distribution persist, highlighting that technological solutions like fertilisers are insufficient; social and political action is also needed.
Way forward:
- Promote Sustainable Fertilizer Use: Encourage the adoption of precision agriculture techniques, such as soil testing and site-specific nutrient management, to optimize fertilizer application. This approach minimizes over-fertilization, reduces nitrogen runoff, and mitigates environmental damage.
- Strengthen Policy and Regulatory Frameworks: Governments should implement and enforce policies to regulate nitrogen fertilizer use, ensuring that environmental safety standards are met.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Issues related to posthumous assisted reproduction;
Why in the News?
The Delhi High Court recently permitted a couple in their sixties to access their late son’s sperm sample, thus opening the door for posthumous assisted reproduction.
About the Present Case:
- The Delhi HC allowed a couple in their sixties to access their deceased son’s sperm sample for posthumous assisted reproduction, marking a significant legal ruling.
- The son, who passed away from cancer in 2020, had cryopreserved his sperm at a hospital. The hospital refused to release the sample without a court order since there were no guidelines for cases without a surviving spouse.
- The parents sought court intervention to carry on their son’s legacy, with the assurance that they would take full responsibility for any child born through surrogacy using the sperm sample.
What is the ART Act?
- The Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act, 2021 regulates fertility treatments and artificial insemination procedures in India.
- It provides guidelines for posthumous retrieval of sperm but is limited to cases where the deceased is married, allowing the surviving partner to seek sperm retrieval.
- The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that the current legislation does not account for “postmortem grandparenthood” cases, where grandparents seek to use a deceased individual’s sperm.
What are present International practices?
- Uruguay: Allows posthumous reproduction with written consent valid for one year.
- Belgium: Permits posthumous reproduction after a six-month waiting period following death, and the request must be made within two years.
- Victoria, Australia: Requires written or oral consent before witnesses, approval from a “patient review panel,” and counseling for the parent.
- Canada and the UK: Both require written consent for posthumous reproduction.
- Israel: Limits the use of a deceased individual’s sperm to the female partner, with some exceptions allowing parents to use it. The Delhi High Court ruling referenced a similar case in Israel involving a 19-year-old soldier.
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Precedents and Concerns:
- Legal Precedent for Non-Spousal Claims: The Delhi High Court’s ruling sets a precedent where parties other than a spouse, such as parents, can claim the right to access a deceased individual’s cryopreserved reproductive material.
- This expands the legal interpretation beyond the scope typically covered by existing laws, which usually prioritize the spouse’s consent.
- Ethical and Consent Issues: Posthumous reproduction raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding the presumed consent of the deceased individual.
- Determining whether the deceased intended for their reproductive material to be used after death can be complex, especially when explicit written consent is not available.
- Child Welfare Considerations: The ruling highlights concerns about the future child’s welfare, who would grow up without one genetic parent.
Way forward:
- Establish Clear Legal Guidelines: Develop comprehensive legal frameworks for posthumous reproduction, addressing scenarios beyond spousal claims and ensuring explicit consent requirements to guide such cases.
- Prioritize Child Welfare and Ethical Considerations: Implement safeguards like mandatory counseling, ethical review panels, and consideration of the child’s best interests in decisions involving posthumous assisted reproduction.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Crime against venerable section;
Why in the News?
A recent Supreme Court ruling redefines the act of watching and downloading child pornography as a serious crime, rather than merely an adult indulgence.
Effectiveness of Existing Laws:
- Expansion of Legal Scope: The Supreme Court ruling corrected the limited interpretation of the Madras High Court by making downloading and storage of Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) a crime under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. This strengthens the legal framework for child protection.
- Shift in Terminology: The judgment reframed “child porn” as CSEAM, emphasizing that it is a severe crime rather than an “adult indulgence,” thereby acknowledging the harm caused to children.
- Mandating Responsibilities for Intermediaries: The court placed stringent obligations on social media platforms to report CSEAM content to authorities in real-time, ensuring compliance with Indian law.
What new measures will be implemented to enhance Child Safety?
- Cybercrime as an Organized Crime: Explicitly defining cybercrimes involving CSEAM as economic and organized crimes in Indian law, including outlawing emerging offenses like AI-generated child sexual abuse content.
- Forensic Lab Establishment: A domestic forensic lab equipped with advanced technology will be set up to handle CSEAM cases, enabling faster response times to flagged content and coordination with law enforcement agencies.
- National Database on Sexual Offenders: Ensuring that individuals prosecuted for possession or sharing of CSEAM are added to a database and prohibited from employment in child-related sectors.
Collaboration among Stakeholders:
- Real-Time Reporting by Social Media Platforms: The judgment mandates social media companies and intermediaries to report instances of CSEAM to law enforcement immediately, facilitating rapid intervention.
- International Cooperation: Calls for the establishment of an International Database of Sex Offenders to strengthen cross-border coordination in tracking offenders. This includes working with international agencies like Interpol to streamline efforts.
- Role of Financial Institutions: Leveraging financial institutions to trace and disrupt the financial transactions that support networks involved in child exploitation.
Educational Initiatives:
- Awareness Programs on Digital Safety: Launching campaigns to educate parents, children, and communities about the dangers of online child exploitation and methods for protecting themselves.
- Training for Law Enforcement and Judiciary: Providing specialized training to authorities on identifying and prosecuting CSEAM cases, including the use of AI in the creation of exploitative material.
- School-Based Programs: Implementing programs in schools to teach children about safe online behavior and recognise signs of potential exploitation.
Way forward:
- Strengthen Legal and Technological Frameworks: Update laws to explicitly classify CSEAM-related cybercrimes as organized crimes and establish a state-of-the-art forensic lab for swift case handling and coordination with global agencies.
- Enhance Prevention and Awareness Initiatives: Implement nationwide digital safety education for children, parents, and authorities, while bolstering collaboration with international bodies and financial institutions to dismantle exploitation networks.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Significance of biobanks;
Why in the News?
Precision medicine is ushering in a new era of personalized healthcare, with its foundations taking shape during the completion of the Human Genome Project by scientists.
What is the current legal framework governing biobanks in India?
- Lack of Comprehensive Legislation: India lacks specific, comprehensive laws governing biobanks. The current framework consists of guidelines rather than enforceable laws, creating gaps in the regulation of biobanking practices.
- National Ethical Guidelines by ICMR: The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has issued guidelines on ethical practices in biomedical research involving human participants. However, these guidelines are not legally binding and do not address all aspects of biobanking, such as long-term storage and data sharing.
- Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Standards: The DBT has certain practices in place for data storage and analysis, but these also lack enforceability and do not fully cover issues such as informed consent and privacy.
- Absence of a Single Regulatory Authority: India currently does not have a dedicated regulatory authority to oversee biobanks, which leads to inconsistencies and limited oversight in biobanking activities.
How do privacy concerns impact biobank operations and precision medicine?
- Informed Consent Issues: Participants often give consent without detailed information about how their biological samples and associated data will be used, who will have access, and for how long. This lack of transparency raises privacy concerns.
- Genetic Data Privacy Risks: Genetic information can reveal intimate details about an individual’s health and predisposition to diseases, potentially affecting their family members. If data privacy is not robustly protected, it may lead to genetic discrimination in insurance or employment.
- Data Sharing Without Proper Regulation: In the absence of clear legal provisions, data or samples could be shared without proper consent, risking misuse by pharmaceutical companies or research organizations, including foreign entities.
- Impact on Public Trust: Weak data and privacy protections may reduce public willingness to participate in biobank projects, thus limiting the scale and diversity necessary for effective precision medicine research.
What are the ethical implications of biobanking practices in India?
- Ownership and Benefit Sharing: Without legal protections, there is ambiguity regarding the ownership of biological samples. Individuals contributing samples may not receive benefits from commercial applications resulting from their data, raising ethical concerns about fair compensation.
- Consent Transparency: Participants may not fully understand the scope of their consent, especially regarding future uses of their samples and data. This lack of clarity can be considered ethically problematic, as it may involve the exploitation of participants’ contributions.
- Risk of Misuse or Mismanagement: Inconsistent regulations and the absence of penalties for ethical violations create a risk of mishandling samples, unauthorized data access, and exploitation, which may compromise research integrity.
- Discrimination Risks: Genetic information obtained from biobanks could be used to discriminate against individuals based on their health risks or genetic traits, which raises concerns about ethical and legal safeguards.
Way forward:
- Establish Comprehensive Legislation: Develop and implement a comprehensive legal framework specifically governing biobanks, including clear guidelines on informed consent, data protection, ownership rights, and benefit sharing.
- Create a Regulatory Authority: Establish a dedicated regulatory authority to oversee biobank operations, ensuring compliance with ethical standards and legal requirements.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Definition of Rare Diseases
Mains level: Issues related to rare disease;
Why in the News?
The Delhi High Court recently issued directives to enhance the availability of “orphan drugs” to combat rare diseases.
About the Delhi High Court Verdict:
- The Delhi High Court issued directions aimed at improving the availability of “orphan drugs,” which are used to treat rare diseases.
- This intervention seeks to address challenges related to the high cost of these treatments and the barriers to access for patients with rare diseases in India.
Rare Diseases in India and Their Classification:
- Definition: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rare diseases are debilitating, lifelong conditions that affect 1 or fewer individuals in 1,000.
- Conditions Recognized as Rare Diseases in India: Approximately 55 conditions, including Gaucher’s disease, Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs), and certain muscular dystrophies, are classified as rare diseases.
- National Registry: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) manages the National Registry for Rare and Other Inherited Disorders (NRROID), which has documented 14,472 patients with rare diseases.
Classification of Rare Diseases in India:
- Group 1: Diseases that can be treated with a one-time curative procedure (e.g., certain enzyme replacement therapies).
- Group 2: Conditions requiring long-term or lifelong treatment, which are relatively less expensive and have documented benefits. Regular medical check-ups are necessary for patients.
- Group 3: Diseases for which effective treatments are available, but they are highly costly and require ongoing, lifelong therapy. Selecting beneficiaries for these treatments presents a challenge due to the high costs.
Current Funding Policy in India:
- National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD) 2021: Launched to provide financial support for the treatment of rare diseases. Patients receiving treatment at designated Centres of Excellence (CoE) can get financial assistance up to Rs 50 lakh.
- Centres of Excellence: The CoEs include institutions such as AIIMS in Delhi, PGIMER in Chandigarh, and the Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research at Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital.
- Crowdfunding and Voluntary Donations Portal (2022): The Health Ministry launched a digital platform that allows donors to contribute toward the treatment of rare disease patients at CoEs. The portal provides details about patients, their conditions, estimated treatment costs, and bank account information of the CoEs.
Did you know?
- Murine Typhus (a rare disease) is a flea-borne bacterial disease caused by Rickettsia typhi, transmitted through infected flea bites, primarily from rodents and not contagious between humans.
- A 75-year-old man from Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram was recently diagnosed with Murine Typhus after travelling to Vietnam and Cambodia.
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Challenges Associated with Orphan Drugs:
- Limited Treatment Options: Therapies are available for fewer than 5% of rare diseases, resulting in less than 10% of patients receiving disease-specific treatment.
- High Treatment Costs: Many existing therapies for rare diseases are prohibitively expensive, putting a significant financial burden on patients and their families.
- Regulatory Delays: Approval processes, such as those from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), can be slow. For instance, delays in approving US-based Sarepta Therapeutics’ medicines in India have affected the timely availability of treatments.
- Bureaucratic Hurdles: Decision-making delays and administrative red tape further complicate access to necessary drugs, impacting patient care.
- Challenges in Beneficiary Selection: Due to high treatment costs, identifying and prioritizing beneficiaries for financial assistance is difficult, potentially leaving some patients without support.
Way forward:
- Streamline Regulatory Approvals: Expedite the approval process for orphan drugs by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and establishing a fast-track mechanism for essential treatments, ensuring timely access to life-saving medications.
- Increase Financial Support and Expand Coverage: Enhance the funding cap under the National Policy for Rare Diseases and extend financial assistance to more patients, while encouraging public-private partnerships and innovative funding mechanisms like insurance coverage for rare disease treatments.
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Features of the RTI
Mains level: Issues related to RTI;
Why in the News?
Governments are undermining the RTI Act by delaying the appointment of information commissioners, causing commissions to struggle with increasing backlogs, according to a 2023-24 report of Satark Nagrik Sangathan.
About Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS):
- Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS) is not a government-based organization; rather, it is a citizens’ organization focused on promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in India.
- A citizen organization is a non-governmental group formed by individuals who come together to advocate for specific causes, promote social change, or address community issues..
Current Challenges Facing the Implementation of the RTI Act:
- Vacant Posts in Information Commissions: Many information commissions have unfilled vacancies, which severely affects their functioning. For instance, the Central Information Commission has eight out of 11 positions vacant. Some state commissions, like those in Jharkhand, Tripura, and Telangana, have been defunct for years.
- Mounting Backlogs: The lack of sufficient information commissioners has led to over 4 lakh pending appeals and complaints. In some states, such as Chhattisgarh and Bihar, a fresh appeal may not be disposed of until 2029.
- Bias in Appointments: A majority of appointed commissioners are retired government officials or individuals with political affiliations, leading to reluctance to take action against transparency violations.
- Failure to Impose Penalties: Commissions rarely penalize officials for violations, with penalties imposed in only 5% of cases where applicable. This promotes a culture of impunity and discourages proper adherence to the RTI Act.
- Regressive Amendments: Amendments to the RTI Act in 2019 reduced the autonomy of information commissions by giving the central government control over tenure, salaries, and entitlements of commissioners. The 2023 Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act further restricted the disclosure of personal information under the RTI Act.
- Threats and Attacks on RTI Activists: There have been nearly 100 killings and thousands of cases of assault, intimidation, and legal harassment against individuals using the RTI Act.
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How the Erosion of RTI Undermines Democratic Principles:
- Weakening of Accountability and Transparency: The RTI Act empowers citizens to seek information and hold the government accountable. Erosion of this right leads to reduced government transparency, weakening the democratic process of checks and balances.
- Increased Impunity and Abuse of Power: The failure to impose penalties and enforce accountability fosters a culture where officials can evade scrutiny without facing consequences, allowing for corruption and abuse of power to thrive.
- Diminished Public Participation in Governance: The RTI Act plays a crucial role in empowering citizens to participate in governance by providing access to information. Restrictions on this access limit citizens’ ability to make informed decisions and engage with government policies effectively.
- Chilling Effect on Whistleblowers and Activists: Threats and violence against RTI users deter citizens from using the law to expose wrongdoing, leading to a decrease in transparency and whistleblowing.
Measures to Strengthen the RTI Framework in India: (Way forward)
- Fill Vacancies and Increase Capacity: Appoint information commissioners promptly to reduce backlogs and ensure commissions function efficiently. Strengthen the infrastructure and manpower of commissions to handle increasing workloads.
- Restore Autonomy and Accountability: Reverse regressive amendments and ensure that information commissions operate independently. Implement stricter measures for imposing penalties on officials who violate RTI norms.
- Strengthen Legal Protections for RTI Users: Operationalize the Whistleblowers Protection Act, 2014, to protect those who face retaliation for using the RTI Act. Provide security and legal assistance to activists and whistleblowers.
- Promote Digital Solutions: Enhance the use of digital platforms to file RTI applications and appeals, and improve the efficiency of the information disclosure process. This can help reduce delays and improve transparency.
- Public Awareness and Training Programs: Conduct regular public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about their rights under the RTI Act. Provide training to information officers to improve their understanding of the law and ensure timely and accurate responses.
Mains PYQ:
Q Recent amendments to the Right to Information Act will have a profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss. (UPSC IAS/2020)
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Issues related to population control;
Why in the News?
For many years, International NGOs (INGOs) have promoted donor-driven agendas that have frequently caused harm to local communities.
Case Study: Africa and Bolivia
- Tanzania and Kenya (Africa): In these regions, INGO-led conservation efforts, often backed by Western donors, displaced indigenous Maasai communities from their ancestral lands. These interventions were justified as conservation projects but disregarded local rights and livelihoods, leading to social and economic harm for the Maasai.
- Bolivia (Cochabamba): Water privatization, supported by INGOs and international donors, restricted access to basic water resources, sparking widespread public outcry.
- The privatization, part of broader neoliberal reforms, was later reversed due to local resistance, revealing the negative effects of donor-driven agendas on essential public services.
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What are the Historical roots of Gender Imbalance?
- Colonial Policies: British colonial land reforms in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially among land-owning castes, exacerbated female infanticide due to several socio-economic factors linked to inheritance, property rights, and the structure of agrarian society.
- Post-Independence Malthusian Fears: Following independence, fears of overpopulation dominated Western perceptions of India, and INGOs, influenced by these Malthusian concerns, promoted population control measures.
| Note: Malthusian concerns originate from the ideas of Thomas Malthus, an 18th-century British scholar. In his 1798 work, An Essay on the Principle of Population, Malthus argued that population growth would outpace food production, leading to widespread famine, disease, and societal collapse. |
Role of INGOs in Worsening Gender Imbalance in India
- Population Control Focus: INGOs such as the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and Population Council were instrumental in introducing sex-determination technologies, particularly between the 1950s and 1980s, by directing significant funds towards these efforts while sidelining other public health needs.
- Influence in Institutions: INGOs embedded themselves in key Indian institutions such as AIIMS and the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), shaping the direction of research and policy towards population management.
- For example, Sheldon Segal of the Population Council worked closely with the Indian Health Ministry to prioritize family planning over other pressing health concerns like tuberculosis and malaria.
- Promotion of Sex Selection: Doctors, influenced by the donor-driven agendas of INGOs, began promoting sex-determination technologies like amniocentesis under the pretext of reducing “unnecessary fecundity.”
Impact of Sex Determination Technology
- Introduction and Spread: Sex determination technologies, such as amniocentesis and ultrasound, Initially intended for detecting fetal abnormalities, they were quickly co-opted for sex selection, leading to a significant increase in female foeticide.
- Census data reveals a steady decrease from 943 girls per 1,000 boys in 1951 to 927 girls per 1,000 boys by 1991. The sharpest fall occurred between 1971 and 1991, coinciding with the spread of these technologies.
- Regional Variations: States with easier access to sex-determination tests, such as Punjab and Haryana, experienced the steepest declines in their child sex ratios.
- By 2001, Punjab’s ratio had dropped to 876 girls per 1,000 boys, while Haryana’s fell to 861.
- Missing Girls: A 2006 study published in The Lancet estimated that sex-determination technologies contributed to the loss of 10 million female births in India between 1980 and 2010, with approximately 500,000 female foetuses aborted annually during this period.
Way forward:
- Strengthen Legal Enforcement and Awareness: Enforce stricter penalties for illegal sex determination practices and raise public awareness to shift societal norms that value male children over female children, promoting gender equality at all levels.
- Focus on Holistic Public Health and Gender Policies: Redirect INGO and government efforts toward comprehensive health programs, prioritizing women’s health, education, and economic empowerment, rather than solely focusing on population control.
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