Weekly Current Affairs (15th to 21st August 2023) Part - 2 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Indian Pharmacopoeia Recognition in Suriname

Context: Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) and the Ministry of Health of Suriname, aiming to recognize the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) as a standard for medicines in Suriname.

• The signed MoU exemplifies the mutual commitment of India and Suriname to collaborate closely in the realm of medicine regulation.
• This collaboration is rooted in the recognition of the importance of adhering to respective laws and regulations while ensuring the quality of medicines in both countries.

What is the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC)?

• IPC is an Autonomous Institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• IPC is created to set standards of drugs in India. Its basic function is to regularly update the standards of drugs commonly required for treatment of diseases prevailing in this region.
• It publishes official documents for improving Quality of Medicines by way of adding new and updating existing monographs in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP).
• It further promotes rational use of generic medicines by publishing National Formulary of India.
• IP prescribes standards for identity, purity and strength of drugs essentially required from the health care perspective of human beings and animals.
• IPC also provides IP Reference Substances (IPRS) which act as a fingerprint for identification of an article under test and its purity as prescribed in IP.

What are the Key Highlights of the MoU?

Acceptance of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP):

• The MoU solidifies the acceptance of the IP as a comprehensive book of standards for medicines in Suriname.

Streamlined Quality Control:

• The requirement for duplicate testing of medicines within Suriname is eliminated through the acceptance of the Certificate of Analysis issued by Indian Manufacturers adhering to the IP standards.
• This streamlining reduces redundancy, saving time and resources.

Cost-effective Standards:

• The MoU facilitates access to IP Reference Substances (IPRS) and Impurity standards from the IPC at reasonable costs.
• This provision benefits Suriname by enhancing its quality control analysis procedures.

What is the Significance of the MoU?

Affordable Medicines:

• The recognition of IP opens doors for the development of generic medicines in Suriname. This translates to increased availability of cost-effective medicines for the citizens of Suriname, aligning with the goal of enhancing public health.

Economic Advantages:

• For India, the recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia in Suriname is a step towards an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India). This recognition facilitates the export of Indian medical products, generating foreign exchange earnings and reinforcing India's pharmaceutical industry on the global stage.

Boosting Indian Pharmaceutical Exports:

• The recognition of IP by Suriname removes the need for duplicative testing and checks, giving Indian drug exporters a competitive edge. The reduction in regulatory hurdles leads to more remunerative trade for the Indian pharmaceutical sector.

Wider International Recognition:

1. The Indian Pharmacopoeia's official recognition has already extended to Afghanistan, Ghana, Nepal, Mauritius, and now, Suriname. This expansion reflects India's efforts to enhance its influence and cooperation in the global pharmaceutical landscape.

What are the Key Facts about Suriname?

About:

• Suriname is located on the northeastern coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the west.
• The capital city of Suriname is Paramaribo, which is situated on the banks of the Suriname River.
• Suriname is a democratic republic with a president as the head of state and government. The country has a multi-party political system.

Official Language:

• The official language is Dutch, reflecting the country's colonial history. However, several other languages are spoken, including Sranan Tongo (Surinamese Creole), Hindustani, Javanese, and English.
• Formerly a Dutch colony known as Dutch Guiana, Suriname gained independence from the Netherlands on November 25, 1975.

Economy:

• The economy of Suriname is diverse, with key sectors including mining (gold, bauxite, oil), agriculture (rice, bananas, timber), and services.
• Suriname is rich in natural resources, particularly gold, bauxite, and recently discovered oil reserves.

Conclusion

• The MoU signed underscores the advancement of pharmaceutical cooperation, quality control, and trade between India and Suriname.
• This strategic collaboration not only benefits both countries' pharmaceutical sectors but also aligns with India's aspiration for self-reliance and leadership in the international pharmaceutical market.

Complexities of Bihar's Ongoing Caste Survey

Context: The ongoing caste-based survey in Bihar has garnered significant attention, leading to legal battles and debates surrounding its constitutionality, necessity, and potential implications.

What is the Purpose of the Caste-based Survey?

• The caste-based survey was initiated by the Bihar government on 7th January 2023. The government stated that detailed information on socio-economic conditions would help create better policies and schemes for disadvantaged groups.
• The survey encompasses the recording of economic status alongside caste information, with a target population of 12.70 crore in Bihar's 38 districts.
• Note: In 2011, the Union government undertook a Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC); however, due to data inaccuracies, the raw data collected from almost 1.3 billion Indians was never disclosed.

Why is the Caste-based Survey Facing Legal Challenges?

Critics' Opposition to the Caste-Based Survey:

• The survey was challenged by several petitioners in the Patna High Court on various grounds, such as violating the Constitution, infringing on privacy, being beyond the competence of the state government, being politically motivated, and being based on unreliable methods.
• The petitioners assert that the State government lacks the legal competence to appoint District Magistrates and local authorities for data collection without a notification under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, issued by the Central government.
• Also, assigning a caste identity to all citizens, regardless of whether they intend to use State benefits, goes against the Constitution.
• This is against the right to identity, right to dignity, right to informational privacy, and right of choice guaranteed by Article 21.
• Note: The Constitution's Entry 69 in the Seventh Schedule's Union List gives the sole authority to the central government to conduct a census.

Halt on the Second Phase by High Court:

• The first phase of the survey involved listing houses. The government was in the midst of the second phase when the survey was stopped due to a High Court order on May 4, 2023.

High Court's Validation of the Survey:

• However, with the recent High Court verdict dismissing all petitions opposing the move, the government resumed work on the second phase of the survey.
• In the second phase, data related to castes, sub-castes, and religions of all people is to be collected.
• The Court relied on the ruling in Indra Sawhney Case to rule that there is no fault with the identification of caste in a bid to ameliorate social backwardness as envisioned under Article 16(4) of the Constitution.
• Numerous petitions have also been submitted to the Supreme Court, contesting the verdict of the Patna High Court that upheld the ongoing caste survey.

What are the Positive and Negative Aspects of Caste Based Survey?

Positive:

• Informed Policy Making: Accurate and up-to-date information about caste-based disparities can help policymakers design and implement more effective policies and programs to uplift marginalized communities and reduce social inequalities.
• The last caste-based census that is openly available to the public dates back to 1931.
• Addressing Intersectionality: Caste intersects with other factors such as gender, religion, and region, leading to compounded disadvantages.
• A survey can reveal these intersections, leading to more nuanced policy approaches that target multiple dimensions of marginalization.

Negative:

• Potential Stigmatization: Disclosure of caste identities could lead to individuals being stigmatized or discriminated against based on preconceived notions associated with certain castes.
  • This can deter honest responses and undermine the survey's accuracy.
• Political Manipulation: Caste-based data can be exploited by politicians for short-term gains, leading to identity-based vote bank politics. This can divert attention from genuine policy issues and perpetuate divisive politics.
• Fluidity of Caste Identities: Simplistic interpretations might overlook intra-caste variations and historical changes, leading to policies that fail to address the nuances of contemporary caste dynamics.
  • Also, caste identities are not static; they can change due to factors like inter-caste marriages. A survey might struggle to capture these dynamic changes, leading to inaccurate representations of reality.

Conclusion

A balanced approach to conducting a caste-based survey should involve establishing a clear ethical framework that prioritizes participant privacy and dignity. Ensuring informed consent, maintaining confidentiality. Public awareness campaigns, regular reviews, and capacity-building initiatives can contribute to a long-term vision of reducing inequalities and fostering social integration aligned with the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-10 .

Indian Himalayan Region

Context: The Himalayan region, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and cultural heritage, faces a pressing need to address sanitation issues that have long been overshadowed by concerns over illegal construction and surging tourist influx.

• A recent analysis conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), highlighted the dire state of sanitation systems in Himalayan states.

What are the Major Highlights of the Analysis?

• Water Supply and Wastewater Generation: According to Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin guidelines, each hill town receives approximately 150 liters per capita of water supply.
  • Alarmingly, 65-70% of this water supply is converted into wastewater.
• Grey Water Management Challenges: In Uttarakhand, merely 31.7% of households are connected to sewerage systems, leaving the majority reliant on on-site sanitation facilities.
  • Both households and small hotels frequently resort to using soak pits to manage grey water, generated from bathrooms and kitchens.
  • The presence of unlined open drains in some towns leads to the unregulated flow of grey water, exacerbating its infiltration into the ground.
• Implications for Soil and Landslides: The Himalayan region's soil makeup, including clayey, loamy, and metamorphosed schist, phyllite, and gneiss rocks, is inherently delicate.
  • The excessive seepage of water and wastewater into the ground, as observed in the analysis, can render the soil softer and trigger vulnerability to landslides.

What are the Other Challenges Associated with the Indian Himalayan Region?

About:

• The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is spread across 13 Indian States/Union Territories (namely Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam and West Bengal), stretching across 2500 km.
• Nearly 50 million people reside in this region, which is characterized by a diverse demographic, and versatile economic, environmental, social and political systems.
• With its towering peaks, majestic landscapes, rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, the IHR has long drawn visitors and pilgrims from the Indian sub-continent and across the world.

Challenges:

• Environmental Degradation and Deforestation: The IHR faces extensive deforestation, which disrupts the delicate ecological balance.
  • Rampant construction for infrastructure and urbanization leads to habitat loss, soil erosion, and disrupted water flow.
• Climate Change and Disasters: The IHR is highly sensitive to climate change. Rising temperatures lead to glacier retreat, altering the timing and availability of water resources for downstream communities.
  • Erratic weather patterns, increased intensity of rainfall, and prolonged dry spells further impact ecosystems and local communities.
  • The region is also highly susceptible to natural disasters like earthquakes, landslides, and flash floods.
  • Poorly planned development, lack of disaster-resilient infrastructure, and inadequate early warning systems amplify the impact of such events.
• Cultural and Indigenous Knowledge Erosion: The IHR is home to diverse indigenous communities with unique knowledge and practices that have sustained them for generations.
  • However, modernization can lead to the erosion of these cultural traditions, which often contain valuable insights for sustainable resource management.

Way Forward

• Nature-Based Tourism: Develop sustainable and responsible tourism practices that generate income for local communities while minimizing negative impacts on the environment.
  • This could involve promoting eco-tourism, enforcing carrying capacity limits, and raising awareness among tourists.
• Glacial Water Capture: Develop innovative methods to capture and store meltwater from glaciers during the summer months.
  • This water can then be released gradually during dry periods, supporting both agricultural needs and downstream ecosystems.
• Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation: Develop comprehensive disaster management plans that address the unique risks of the region, including landslides, avalanches, and glacial lake outburst floods. Invest in early warning systems, evacuation plans, and community training.
• Greywater Recycling for Agricultural Enrichment: There is a need to Implement a greywater recycling system in IHR that collects and treats household greywater for agricultural use.
  • The treated greywater could then be directed to local farms for irrigation, providing a sustainable source of water and nutrients to enhance crop growth.
• Bio-Cultural Conservation Zones: Designate specific areas as bio-cultural conservation zones, where both natural biodiversity and indigenous cultural practices are preserved. This can help maintain the intricate relationship between local communities and their environment.

Reforms for Secure Digital Connectivity

Context: In order to promote Safe Telecom Utilisation, the government has introduced two reforms for mobile user protection to promote a cleaner and safer Digital Ecosystem.

• The two reforms, KYC (Know Your Customer) Reforms and Point of Sale (POS) registration Reform. These two reforms are in the direction of earlier reforms introduced with the launch of Sanchar Saathi, a citizen-centric portal that has empowered India's fight against the menace of cybercrimes and financial frauds.

What are the Reforms?

• KYC Reforms: KYC reforms play a pivotal role in safeguarding subscribers of telecom services from potential frauds and bolstering public confidence in the digital ecosystem.
• QR Code Scanning of Aadhaar: To prevent misuse of printed Aadhaar, demographic details are captured by scanning the QR code of printed Aadhaar during the KYC process.
• Mobile Number Disconnection: Disconnected mobile numbers will not be allocated to new customers for 90 days after disconnection, preventing immediate reuse.
• Complete KYC for SIM Replacement: Subscribers must complete KYC when replacing their SIM cards.
• Biometric Authentication: In addition to thumbprints and iris-based authentication, facial-based biometric authentication is permitted in Aadhaar E-KYC.
• Business Connections: Entities such as companies, organizations, trusts, and societies can obtain mobile connections after completing KYC for all end-users. Activation occurs only after successful KYC and physical verification of the entity's premises.
• Point-of-Sale (POS) Registration Reforms: This reform aims to ensure the integrity of the distribution network by mandatorily registering Franchisees, Agents, and Distributors (PoS).
  • The process involves robust verification and written agreements between PoS and Licensees. Any PoS engaged in illegal activities will be terminated and blacklisted for three years.

What is the Sanchar Saathi Portal?

About:

• The Sanchar Saathi portal, developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), is revolutionizing the telecom sector in India.
• It was launched on World Telecommunication Day (17th May 2023).

Objective:

• The primary objective of the Sanchar Saathi portal is to address various fraudulent activities prevalent in the telecom industry, such as identity theft, forged KYC, and banking fraud.
• By leveraging advanced technologies and frameworks, the portal aims to provide users with a secure and trustworthy telecommunication experience.

Reforms Introduced:

CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register):

• Implemented to block stolen or lost mobile phones.
• Users can submit IMEI numbers along with a copy of the police complaint to verify and block stolen devices.
• Integrated with Telecom Service Providers and Law Enforcement Agencies.
• Prevents stolen devices from being used in Indian networks and allows tracing by law enforcement when necessary.

Know Your Mobile Connections:

• Allows users to check mobile connections registered in their name.
• Enables identification of unauthorized or fraudulent connections.
• Users can report fraudulent or unrequired connections, triggering re-verification and termination of reported connections.
• ASTR (Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification):
• Developed to identify subscribers who obtain connections using fraudulent or forged documents.
• Utilizes facial recognition and data analytics techniques.
• Analyzes connections obtained through paper-based KYC documents.

Impact:

• Over 40 lakh fraudulent connections were identified and over 36 lakh were disconnected using the portal.
• Provides a secure and trustworthy telecommunication experience for users.
• Protects against identity theft, forged KYC, mobile device theft, and banking fraud.

Conclusion

• By introducing comprehensive reforms and harnessing technological tools like the 'Sanchar Saathi' portal and ASTR, the department has effectively identified and acted against fraudulent activities.
• This approach aligns with the government's mission to provide a secure and reliable communication environment for all citizens.

Agnibaan SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator (SOrTeD)

Context: Recently, AgniKul Cosmos, a space tech start-up based in Chennai, set to launch their groundbreaking Agnibaan SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator (SOrTeD), the world's first 3D-printed rocket into space.

• AgniKul Cosmos' journey is supported by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).

What are the Key Highlights of AgniKul's SOrTeD?

• The Agnibaan SOrTeD is a customisable launch vehicle that could be launched in one or two stages. It is powered by AgniKul’s patented Agnilet engine.
• Agnilet, is a 3D-printed, 6 kilonewton (kN) semi-cryogenic engine that uses liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellants.
• Unlike traditional sounding rockets that launch from guide rails, Agnibaan SOrTeD will take off vertically and follow a predetermined trajectory, executing precisely orchestrated maneuvers during its flight.
• It is capable of carrying payloads up to 100 kg to an altitude of 700 km in five different configurations.
• Agnibaan SOrTeD will be the first step towards launching the world’s first 3D-printed rocket into space.

What is 3D Printing?

• 3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing which uses materials such as plastics and metals to convert products envisaged on computer-aided design to real three-dimensional items.
• It is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing which is cutting out/hollowing out a piece of metal or plastic with, for instance, a milling machine.
• 3D printing traditionally has been used for prototyping and has a lot of scope in making artificial limbs, stents, dental crowns, parts of automobiles and consumer goods, among others.

AYUSH Sector's Growth

Context: The Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) sector is witnessing a remarkable growth trajectory. This growth is poised to continue, with projections indicating a leap to 24 billion USD by the end of 2023.

• Amidst this promising landscape, the Ayush sector is set to take centre stage at the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Traditional Medicine Summit.

What is the AYUSH Sector?

About:

• The AYUSH sector represents India's traditional healthcare systems.
• Indian systems of medicine are diverse, accessible, and affordable, with broad public acceptance, making them vital healthcare providers. Their economic value is growing, offering crucial services to a significant population.

Diverse Disciplines Under AYUSH:

• Ayurveda: Ancient system emphasizing holistic well-being.
• Yoga: Union of body, mind, and spirit through physical postures and meditation.
• Naturopathy: Natural healing using elements like water, air, and diet.
• Unani: Balance restoration through herbal medicines and humoral theory.
• Siddha: Traditional Tamil medicine with roots in five elements and humors.
• Homeopathy: Highly diluted remedies stimulating self-healing responses.

Growth of AYUSH Sector:

Exponential Financial Surge:

• Production of AYUSH medicines and supplements has seen exponential growth.
• Revenue surged from 3 billion USD (2014) to 18 billion USD (2020).
• Anticipated growth to 24 billion USD in 2023 showcases its financial impact.

Integration in Healthcare:

• AYUSH-based health and wellness centres garner significant response.
• 7,000 operational centers; 8.42 crore patients availed services (2022).
• Increasing integration in modern healthcare systems.

What are the Schemes Related to AYUSH?

• National Ayush Mission.
• New Portals on Ayush Sector.
• AYUSH Entrepreneurship Programme.
• Ayush Wellness Centers.
• ACCR Portal and Ayush Sanjivani App.

What is the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit?

About:

• The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit is a pivotal event that underscores the importance of traditional medicine in global healthcare practices.
• This platform brings together experts, policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to discuss and shape the future of traditional medicine.
• The First WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit will take place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.
• The summit is a collaborative effort between the WHO and the Indian Government, which holds the G20 presidency in 2023.

Global Participation:

• Participation from more than 90 countries.
• Gathering of diverse stakeholders representing various sectors.
• Objectives and Focus Areas:
• Aimed at sharing best practices, evidence, data, and innovations in traditional medicine.
• Platform to discuss the role of traditional medicine in health and sustainable development.