Indian Polity and Governance - 3 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Nagaland civic body polls to have 33% quota for women

Context

• The State Election Commission of Nagaland has announced it will hold polls for 39 Urban Local Bodies (ULB) after almost two decades on May 16, with 33 per cent reservation of seats for women.
• Elections for ULB were not conducted since 2004 over the issue of the “unresolved” Naga peace talks, and reservation for women, which several tribal bodies opposed, asserting that it infringes on the special rights for Nagaland guaranteed under Article 371(A) of the Constitution.
• An attempt to hold the ULB elections with 33% reservation for women in 2017 triggered a backlash with protesters setting government buildings ablaze. And it also resulted in the resignation of R. Zeliang as the Chief Minister.
• On March 9, 2022, representatives from across the Naga society unanimously agreed to ULB elections with 33 per cent reservation for women.
• The decision was taken during a consultative meeting of all stakeholders including civil society organisations, churches, tribal bodies, political parties and NGOs convened by the state government in the presence of legislators.
• Organisations such as the Naga Mothers’ Association (NMA) have hailed the notification for the ULB polls.

Women Reservation in ULB’s

• The 74th Constitutional Amendment of 1992 not only mandated gender reservation but also provided constitutional safeguards to the long due demand for ensuring female representation in the polity at the sub-national level.

The relevant features given in the Article 243T(3) are:

• It provided for the women reservation of not less than 33 percent of the total number of seats in the urban local bodies (ULBs) mandatory.
• Also, not less than 33 percent of seats are further reserved for the women belonging to SC/ST communities.
• At least 33 percent of the offices of chairpersons in urban local bodies are reserved for women.
• To ensure that the effect of the reservation is evenly spread across all the geographical areas of the city, the reserve seats are allotted to different territorial constituencies on a rotational basis.

Special Provisions related to Nagaland

• Article 371A deals with the special provisions with respect to the State of Nagaland.
• Article 371A (1) (b) – the Governor of Nagaland has special responsibility with respect to law and order in the state so long as internal disturbances caused by the hostile Nagas continue.
• For instance, under Article 371A (1) (b) of the Constitution, important functions like “transfer and posting of officials” entrusted with the maintenance of law and order of and above the district level will be with the approval of the Governor.

Sangathan se Samriddhi

Context

Ministry of Rural Development’s Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) launched “Sangathan Se Samridhhi– Leaving no Rural Woman Behind”.

About the Campaign

• It is a national campaign under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Samaveshi Vikaas
• Aim: To mobilize 10 crore women from vulnerable and marginalized rural households under the Self-Help Group (SHG) fold.
• Currently, 9 crore women already part of the SHG movement
• Benefits: sharing by SHG champions, mobilizing eligible women, training new SHG members, reviving defunct SHGs, and opening SHG bank accounts

What are SHGs?

They are small informal groups of 10-20 individuals, mostly women from similar social and economic backgrounds, who come together to form a group for mutual support and help.

• SHGs encourage members to save regularly, and these savings are then pooled to provide loans to members for various purposes such as starting a small business, paying for their children’s education or medical expenses, etc.

Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023

Context

The government has announced new Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules 2023, which require strays to be caught, vaccinated, neutered, and released back into the community.

• The ABC 2023 rules will supersede the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001
• Previously, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying opened a draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Amendment) Bill, 2022, for public comment.

Need for such rules

India has more than 1.5 crores of the stray dog population. Over the last five years, more than 300 people — mostly children from poor and rural families — have been attacked and killed by dogs. Over 20,000 deaths were due to Rabies.

Significance of the Rules

The new rules will help in reducing the stray dog and cat population and resolving the Human-Dog conflict.

Issues with the new rules

• Homelessness: The ABC Rules do not provide for the rehabilitation of stray dogs, and instead, they are left on the streets after sterilization and vaccination.
• Responsibility: The ABC Rules place the responsibility of caring for stray dogs on the local residents’ welfare associations, which may not have the resources or capacity to provide proper care.
• Funding and implementation: There are concerns that the lack of adequate funding and implementation may lead to the rules being ineffective in addressing the stray dog problem.

Ethical Concerns with the Rules

• Consent: Animals cannot give their consent to the procedure
• Pain and suffering: The procedure can cause pain and suffering to animals
• Effectiveness: Sterilization may not always be an effective method of controlling the population of animals
• Alternatives: Adopt non-invasive alternatives e.g., Awareness campaigns like “Be a Human, Save a Life” by the Delhi government to encourage people to adopt stray dogs

4th Positive Indigenisation List

Context

In a significant move towards promoting self-reliance in the defence sector and reducing imports, India's Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) have received approval for the fourth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL).

• The list comprises 928 strategically-important Line Replacement Units (LRUs), sub-systems, spares, and components, with an import substitution value of approximately Rs 715 crore.

What is a Positive Indigenisation List?

• About:
  • The concept of the positive indigenization list entails that the Indian Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force, will exclusively source the listed items from domestic manufacturers.
    • These manufacturers may include entities from the private sector or Defense Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs).
  • The fourth Positive Indigenisation List follows three previous PILs that were published in December 2021, March 2022, and August 2022, respectively.
    • So far, 310 items have been successfully indigenised, with the breakdown as follows: 262 items from the first PIL, 11 items from the second PIL, and 37 items from the third PIL.
    • This initiative is in line with India's vision of 'Atma Nirbharta' (self-reliance) and aims to boost the domestic defence industry, enhance investment, and reduce dependency on imports.
• Indigenisation and In-house Development:
  • To achieve indigenization, the DPSUs will utilize different routes under the 'Make' category, focusing on in-house development through the capabilities of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the private Indian industry.
  • This approach will provide a boost to the economy, encourage investment in the defense sector. Additionally, this initiative will foster the growth of design capabilities within the domestic defense industry by actively involving academia and research institutions.
• Procurement and Industry Participation:
  • The DPSUs are set to initiate procurement action for the items listed in the fourth PIL. To facilitate the process, Srijan Portal Dashboard has been specifically designed for this purpose.

What is the Status of Indigenisation of the Defence Sector in India?

• Need for Indigenization:
  • India's arms imports fell 11% between 2013-17 and 2018-22, the country is still the world’s top importer of military hardware in 2022 highlighted by a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
• Current Estimates and Targets:
  • Current estimates place India's defensive capital expenditure at USD 130 billion over the next five years.
  • The defense ministry has set a USD 25 billion (Rs 1.75 lakh crore) turnover goal in defense manufacturing in the next five years, including an export target of USD 5 billion worth of military hardware.
• Government Initiatives:
  • Priority Procurement: The Defense Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020 gives priority to the procurement of capital items from domestic sources under the Buy Indian (IDDM) category.
  • Liberalised Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Policy: The FDI policy allows for 74% FDI under the automatic route in the defense industry, and up to 100% through Government route wherever it is likely to result in access to modern technology.
  • Mission DefSpace: The Mission DefSpace has been launched to promote defense-related innovations and developments in the space sector.
  • Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX) Scheme: The iDEX scheme involves startups and MSMEs in defense innovation projects, fostering their participation and contribution.
  • Defense Industrial Corridors: Two Defense Industrial Corridors have been established in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, focusing on developing defense manufacturing ecosystems and attracting investments.
• Examples of Indigenous Defense Arsenal in India:
  • Tejas Aircraft: The Tejas is a lightweight, multi-role supersonic aircraft designed and developed indigenously in India.
  • Arjun Tank: Developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the Arjun Tank is a 3rd generation main battle tank that showcases India's expertise in armored vehicle technology.
  • NETRA: The NETRA is an airborne early warning and control system developed domestically, providing crucial surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
  • ASTRA: India has successfully developed the ASTRA, an all-weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, enhancing the country's air defense capabilities.
  • LCH ‘Prachand’: It is the first indigenous Multi-Role Combat Helicopter which has potent ground attack and aerial combat capability.
  • ICG ALH Squadrons: In a major boost to further strengthen the capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard, ALH Mk-III squadrons were commissioned in Porbandar and Chennai in June and December 2022.
• Challenges:
  • Technological Gap: Developing cutting-edge defence technologies and acquiring advanced capabilities is a significant challenge for India.
    • The country has traditionally relied on foreign suppliers for critical defence technologies, and bridging the technological gap requires substantial investments in research and development (R&D), as well as collaboration with industry and academia.
  • Infrastructure and Manufacturing Base: Building a robust defence industrial base and infrastructure to support indigenous production is a major challenge.
    • The defense manufacturing ecosystem in India needs to be modernized, with improvements in infrastructure, technology transfer, skilled workforce development, and streamlined procurement processes.
  • Testing and Certification: Ensuring the quality, reliability, and safety of indigenously developed defense systems through rigorous testing and certification processes is crucial.
    • Developing robust testing facilities and establishing effective quality control mechanisms are essential for gaining the confidence of users and export markets.

Way Forward

• Create a Defense Innovation Ecosystem: There is a need to establish a dedicated defense innovation ecosystem that brings together defense organizations, research institutions, startups, and technology companies.
  • This ecosystem should promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and technology transfer to drive indigenous defense capabilities.
• Defense Technology Accelerators: Establish defense technology accelerators that provide mentorship, funding, and resources to startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working on cutting-edge defense technologies.
  • These accelerators should facilitate connections with defense organizations, offer access to test facilities, and help navigate regulatory processes.
• Defence Skilling and Training Programs: There is a need to develop skilling and training programs to bridge the gap between academia and industry in defense-related disciplines.
  • Collaborating with universities and technical institutes to design specialized courses and certifications that align with defense technology requirements will be a significant step in this direction.

World Telecom Day

Context

The Union Minister of State for Communications launched the World Telecom Day Conference on May 17, 2023, to commemorate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.

Details

• World Telecom Day, also known as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, is an annual event that celebrates the achievements and potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for social and economic development.
• The theme for World Telecom Day 2023 is "Empowering the least developed countries through information and communication technologies".
• The event aims to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities that ICTs pose for the least developed countries (LDCs), which are home to more than one billion people.
• ICTs have transformed our lives in many ways, from connecting us with our loved ones across distances to enabling us to access information and services at our fingertips, to empowering us to create and share our content and opinions.

Challenges and opportunities

• Not everyone enjoys the benefits of ICTs equally.
• According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN agency responsible for ICT matters, there are still 47 least-developed countries (LDCs) in the world that face significant challenges in terms of connectivity, affordability, digital skills and innovation.
  • These countries account for 13% of the world's population, but only 1% of the world's fixed broadband subscriptions and 2% of the world's mobile broadband subscriptions.
• By empowering LDCs through ICTs, they can overcome their vulnerabilities and achieve their full potential. ICTs can enable LDCs to improve their health, education, agriculture, trade, governance and social inclusion.
• ICTs can also foster innovation and entrepreneurship in LDCs, creating new opportunities and jobs for their young and dynamic populations.

Indian Pharmaceutical Industry and Drug Safety

Context

• Reports of drugs manufactured in India causing severe harm and dozens of patient deaths from across the world continue to trickle in.

Controversial reports on drugs manufactured in India

• Anaesthetic drugs:
  • Latest of the reports is the deaths of two patients in Sri Lanka who were administered Indian-made anaesthetic drugs. 
• Eye drops:
  • Just last month, eye drops manufactured in India had caused eye infection in about 30 patients and blindness in 10 in Sri Lanka. 
  • While anaesthetic drugs made in India causing deaths are a first in the recent past, eye drops causing infections, blindness and even deaths were reported a few months ago in the United States, with the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finding a highly drug-resistant bacteria in them.
• Cough syrups:
  • The series of adverse reports against drugs produced in India began last year when the World Health Organization (WHO) linked the deaths of at least 70 children in Gambia from acute kidney injury to cough syrups. 
    • The culprit ingredient in the syrups was diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol — deadly chemicals used as a cheaper substitute for propylene glycol — that should never have been found in any medicine. 
  • Soon after the deaths in Gambia, cough syrups made in India and containing the two deadly chemicals killed 18 children in Uzbekistan in December 2022. 
  • Indian-made cough syrup was again in the news when WHO flagged the contaminated drugs found in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia; the contamination was identified by the Australian regulator.

Indian Pharmaceutical industry

• The Pharmacy of the World:
  • The Indian Pharmaceutical industry is the third largest in the world by volume. 
    • The Indian Pharmaceutical Industry has been using its powers very responsibly. 
    • It has made a name for itself and India is being called “The Pharmacy of the World” in some circles.
• Export:
  • India exported pharmaceuticals worth Rs 175,040 crore in the financial year 2021-22, including Bulk Drugs/Drug Intermediates. Also, India is one of the major producers of Active Pharma Ingredients (API) or bulk drugs in the world. 
  • India exported Bulk Drugs/Drug Intermediates worth Rs 33,320 crore in the financial year 2021-22.
• Imports:
  • However, the country also imports various Bulk Drugs/ APIs for producing medicines from various countries. 
    • Most of the imports of the Bulk Drug/APIs being done in the country are because of economic considerations.
• What is driving the growth?
  • Talent pool:
    • India has a huge talent pool with trained pharmaceutical professionals having degrees in B Pharmacy, D Pharmacy, M Pharmacy. 
  • Generic drugs:
    • The ability of the pharmaceutical industry to develop generic drugs at a much-reduced price is mainly due to trained professionals in the industry. 
  • Manufacturing:
    • India has a huge manufacturing base of pharmaceutical products giving it way more flexibility in producing generic drugs. 
    • India is home to 3000 drug companies and more than 10,000 manufacturing units.
• Potential of the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry:
  • According to the Indian Economic Survey 2021, the pharmaceutical industry in India is expected to reach USD 120-130 Billion by 2030. 
  • Industries related to the pharmaceutical sector:
    • The other industries related to the pharmaceutical sector like biopharmaceuticals, bio-services, bio-agriculture, bio-industry, and bioinformatics are likely to reach USD 150 Billion in 2025 as compared to USD 70 Billion in 2020.
  • According to EY and FICCI, Innovation and R&D, Healthcare Delivery, Manufacturing & Supply Chain, and Market Access are the opportunities that will drive growth in the years to come. 

Challenges

• Safety of drugs:
  • Except for some customary inspections, the Indian drug regulator has so far failed to institute measures to make sure drugs produced in India for export and domestic use are safe. 
• Failing the quality tests:
  • According to a Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) survey in 2014-2016, about five per cent of Indian drugs, several of them manufactured by large pharma companies, failed the quality test. 
  • Independent studies suggest that this figure could be much higher. 
  • The country’s pharma industry has largely been in denial over quality-related concerns expressed by national and international observers. 
• Costs of production:
  • The cost of production in India is 50 percent less than in developed nations, but it is still around 18 percent higher than China. 
  • This is attributable to raw materials being 25-30 percent costlier, electricity being 20 percent more expensive, and other costs such as financing, logistics, transportation, etc., being 30 percent more expensive.

Regulation of Drugs in India

• Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940: 
  • The Act regulates the import, manufacture, and distribution of drugs in India.
  • The primary objective of the act is to ensure that the drugs and cosmetics sold in India are safe, effective and conform to state quality standards.
  • The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 was amended by the Drugs & Cosmetics (Amendment) Act, 2008 to provide for more stringent penalties for manufacture and trade of spurious and adulterated drugs.
• New Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2022: 
  • To accommodate changing requirements and encourage the adoption of new technology, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released a draft bill in July 2022 to replace the existing Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940. 
  • This act governs drug importation, production, and distribution across the country.
• Central Drugs Standard Control Organization: 
  • It is the apex department of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) of the Government of India.
  • CDSCO is a regulatory body for Indian pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
  • It comes under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Drugs Controller General of India: 
  • Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is the head of department of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization of the Government of India 
  • It is responsible for approval of licences of specified categories of drugs such as blood and blood products, IV fluids, vaccines, and sera in India. 
  • DCGI also sets standards for manufacturing, sales, import, and distribution of drugs in India.

Way ahead

• India needs to make sure that inspection records and reviews of drug applications are made public, and put all generics manufacturers through the same tests as companies making new drugs.
• Doubts about Indian drugs will have dangerous ripple effects. 
• India can continue to be the pharmacy of the global south only if the regulator begins to behave like a watchdog to ensure drug safety, and not as a facilitator for the pharma industry.