UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 1st July 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS1/History & Culture

Nouka Baich: Boat Race festival of Bengal

Source: The Hindu

Why in news?

With the southwest monsoon gradually setting in, Nouka Baich boat races will soon commence in West Bengal and Bangladesh.

About Nouka Baich

• Nouka Baich is the traditional boat race of Bengal.
• Predominantly held in the rural pockets of West Bengal, including Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas.
• In recent years, there has been increasing participation by women.

Timing and Duration

• The races commence with the onset of the south-west monsoon, usually starting in the middle of the rainy season.
• The events continue until September, with some races extending into October and November, depending on the region.

Types of Boats Used

• Diverse Fleet: Unlike Kerala's boat races, which typically feature a single type of boat, Bengal's races use various traditional boats.
• Common Boat Types: Chhip, Kaile Bachhari, Chande Bachhari, Chitoi, Sorpi, Sorengi are commonly used in the races.
• Unique Features: Each boat type has unique design features and historical significance, with some boats like the Sorengi being over 90 feet long and designed to mimic natural forms.

GS1/History & Culture

Santhal Hul of 1855

Why in news?

The Santhal Revolt of 1855 was a revolt against imperialism led by four brothers, Sidho, Kanho, Chand, and Bhairav Murmu, along with sisters Phulo and Jhano. June 30 marks the 169th anniversary of the beginning of the revolt.

About Santhal Hul

• The Santhal people revolted against the British East India Company and the Zamindari system, also known as the Santhal Rebellion or Santhal Hul.
• The rebellion began on June 30, 1855.
• Martial Law was imposed on November 10, 1855, by the East India Company, lasting until January 3, 1856, when the rebellion was suppressed.

Who are the Santhals?

• Santhals were agricultural people living in the Rajmahal Hills of Bihar.
• Ol Chiki (Ol Chemet) is the writing script of Santhals.
• The British asked them to clear forests for agriculture to increase revenue.
• Damin-i-Koh (1832) was created as a designated area for Santhals, now known as Santhal Pargana.

Background to the Santhal Revolt (1855-56)

• The Santhals faced oppression by moneylenders, landlords, and British colonial authorities.
• The revolt began under the leadership of brothers Sidhu and Kanhu, who rallied the Santhal community.

Objectives

The Santhals sought to:

• Regain their land rights.
• Abolish oppressive systems.
• Establish a self-governing society.

What makes the revolt so unique?

• Marginalized Indigenous Community: Led by the Santhal tribe, a marginalized indigenous community in mid-19th century India.
• Agrarian Uprising: Primarily a fight against exploitative land laws, high taxes, and forced labor rather than political or religious issues.
• Tribal Unity and Guerrilla Tactics: Characterized by a strong sense of tribal unity and guerrilla warfare tactics, making it unique and significant.

Causes of Santhal Revolt

• Permanent Settlement System (1793): Introduced by the British East India Company, giving Zamindars long-lasting property rights.
• Oppression by Zamindars: Zamindars misused their power to oppress and enslave peasants, leading to resentment.
• Exploitation and Debt: Santhals faced exploitation through high-interest loans and lost their land and freedom.
• Violent Suppressions: British police supported Zamindars and moneylenders in evicting Santhals violently.
• Disruption of Traditional Structures: Traditional social and political structures of the Santhals were disrupted, pushing them into debt and poverty.
• Economic Hardship: Led to the Santhals revolting against the British and Zamindars to escape their predicament.

About the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act (1876) and Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (1908)

• Enacted by the British as a result of the Hul.
• Land Inheritance: Prohibits the transfer of Adivasi lands to non-Adivasis and allows land to be inherited only as per the Act.
• Self-Governance: Retains the rights of Santhals to self-govern their land.
• Land Transfer Restrictions: Allows land transfers within the same caste and geographical areas with District Collector's approval.
• Protection of Adivasi and Dalit Land: Restricts the sale of Adivasi and Dalit land but allows transfers within the same community.

GS2/International Relations

IMF | Overlords of the developing world

Source: The Hindu

Why in news?

Once again, mass protests in Kenya, where at least 30 people were fatally shot by police, highlight opposition to an IMF-supported finance Bill proposing essential goods tax hikes.

Bretton Woods Conference of 1944

• The Bretton Woods Conference was held in 1944 in New Hampshire, USA. It established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
• The IMF was designed to aid economic development and promote monetary cooperation and stability globally.

Criticism:

• It has been criticized for reflecting and perpetuating power dynamics favouring Western financial interests, with voting rights disproportionately allocated based on financial contributions rather than equal representation.

Functions:

• The IMF aims to provide financial assistance and policy advice to member countries facing balance of payments problems.

Challenges:

• Austerity Measures: IMF loans often come with conditions such as austerity measures (like tax hikes and spending cuts) that can be unpopular and detrimental to social services and economic stability.
• Dependency: Many developing countries face criticism for being overly dependent on IMF loans, which come with stringent conditions that may not always align with local priorities.
• Public Backlash: There is often a public and political backlash against IMF policies perceived as imposing Western economic ideologies without adequate consideration for local contexts.

SAP (Structural Adjustment Programs) and Its Impacts

Definition:
SAPs are economic policies imposed by the IMF and World Bank on developing countries in exchange for loans.

Impacts:

• Economic Restructuring: SAPs typically involve privatization, deregulation, and liberalization policies aimed at restructuring national economies towards export-led growth.
• Social Consequences: They often lead to job losses, reduced public spending on health and education, and increased poverty and inequality.

Criticism of SAPs:
SAPs have been criticized for exacerbating social inequalities and benefiting Western financial interests over local populations.

Way forward:

• Policy Transparency: The IMF could enhance transparency in its loan conditions and negotiations, ensuring that the terms and impacts of loans are clearly communicated to the public and local stakeholders.
• Local Consultation: Before implementing major policy changes or austerity measures, the IMF could mandate extensive consultation with local governments, civil society organizations, and affected communities to ensure that proposed measures align with local economic priorities and social needs.

Mains PYQ:

The World Bank and the IMF, collectively known as the Bretton Woods Institutions, are the two inter-governmental pillars supporting the structure of the world's economic and financial order. Superficially, the World Bank and the IMF exhibit many common characteristics, yet their role, functions and mandates are distinctly different. Elucidate. (UPSC IAS/2013)

GS3/Economy

On Tamil Nadu’s financial distress

Source: The Hindu

Why in news?

At a June 22 meeting for Union Budget 2024-25, Tamil Nadu’s Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu requested ₹63,246 crore for Chennai Metro Rail Phase-2, ₹3,000 crore for disaster restoration, and increased unit costs for centrally sponsored schemes.

How are the funds for phase two of the Chennai Metro Rail distributed?

• Funding Agencies and International Support: Chennai Metro Rail Phase-2 is financed by multiple international agencies, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and New Development Bank (NDB).
• State Government Contributions: Up to March 31, 2024, the Tamil Nadu government sanctioned ₹5,400 crore as share capital for the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) and ₹12,013.89 crore as subordinate debt, bearing the entire expenditure due to delays in approval from the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

Is the Centre stalling the funds for the metro project?

• Public Investment Board: The Chennai Metro Rail Project’s Phase-2 was approved by the Public Investment Board (PIB) as a Central sector project under the equity sharing model in August 2021.
• Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs: The project has been awaiting approval from the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) since then.

State Government Actions:

• Foundation Stone: Despite the pending approval, the foundation stone for the phase was laid by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in November 2020 when the AIADMK was in power.
• Ongoing Expenditure: The Tamil Nadu government continues to fund the project independently, stressing its finances and urging the Centre to sanction the project under the 50:50 equity sharing model as was done for Phase 1.

What about funds released by the Centre for restoration work after natural disasters in the State?

• Initial Request by Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu submitted detailed memoranda to the Union government, seeking approximately ₹37,906 crore for restoration works following two natural disaster spells in 2023.
• Initial Central Release: The Union government initially released a sum of ₹276 crore for immediate restoration efforts.
• Additional Approvals: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) later approved additional assistance of ₹285.54 crore and ₹397.13 crore for the two disaster spells.
• Disbursed Amounts: From these approvals, a total of ₹115.49 crore and ₹160.61 crore were disbursed under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
• State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF): The Union government’s order also mentioned ₹406.57 crore as the 50% available in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) account of Tamil Nadu as of April 1, 2023.

Way forward:

• Metro Rail Project: The Union government should prioritize and expedite the approval process for significant infrastructure projects like the Chennai Metro Rail Phase-2. This can be achieved by setting stricter timelines for the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) to finalize decisions.
• Natural Disaster Restoration: The Centre should reassess the current disaster relief funding mechanism to ensure timely and adequate financial support for states hit by natural disasters.

Mains PYQ:

Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (UPSC IAS/2020)

GS2/Polity

Should education be brought back to the State list?

Source: The Hindu

Why in news?

The NEET-UG exam faced controversies with issues like grace marks, allegations of paper leaks, and other irregularities. The UGC-NET exam was cancelled after being conducted, and the CSIR-NET and NEET-PG exams have been postponed. Against this backdrop, there has been ongoing debate about transferring education back to the state list.

Status of Education– Historical Background

• The Government of India Act, 1935 during the British rule created a federal structure for the first time in our polity.
• The legislative subjects were distributed between the federal legislature (present-day Union) and provinces (present-day States).
• Education, as an important public good, was kept under the provincial list.

After Independence

• After independence, the trend set by the GoI Act 1935 was continued and education was part of the ‘State list’ under the distribution of powers.

Recommendation of Swaran Singh Committee

• During the Emergency, the Congress party constituted the Swaran Singh Committee to provide recommendations for amendments to the Constitution.
• One of the recommendations of this committee was to place ‘education’ in the concurrent list in order to evolve all-India policies on the subject.

42nd constitutional amendment and status of education

• The 42nd constitutional amendment (1976) shifted ‘education’ from the State list to the concurrent list.
• No detailed rationale was provided for this change.

Attempt to bring back education in State list

• The Janata Party government led by Morarji Desai passed the 44th constitutional amendment (1978) to reverse many of the controversial changes made through the 42nd amendment.
• One of these amendments that was passed in the Lok Sabha but not in the Rajya Sabha was to bring back ‘education’ to the State list.

Prevailing international practices

• In the United States, educational standards and standardized tests are set by state and local governments, while federal oversight focuses on financial aid and key educational policies.
• Canada delegates education entirely to its provinces.
• In Germany, educational legislative authority resides with its states (Länder).
• South Africa has national departments for school and higher education, with provinces implementing national policies and addressing local educational needs.

Arguments for 'Education' in Concurrent List

• Uniform Education Policy - Advocates argue for a unified approach to education across the country to improve standards and ensure consistency.
• Synergy Between Centre and States - Central coordination is seen as beneficial for aligning national goals with state-level implementation.
• Corruption and Lack of Professionalism - Critics cite concerns about inefficiencies and ethical issues within state-level management of education.

Arguments for Restoring 'Education' to State List

• Recent Issues with Centralization - Events like NEET controversies highlight that centralized control does not eliminate problems, challenging assumptions about governance efficacy.
• Autonomy and Tailored Policies - States argue for autonomy to tailor educational policies to local needs, especially concerning syllabus, testing, and admissions for professional courses.
• One size fits all approach cannot work - Considering the vast diversity of the country, a ‘one size fits all’ approach is neither feasible nor desirable.
• Financial Distribution - A significant amount of education expenditure is borne by the states, suggesting a need for productive discussion towards moving ‘education’ back to the State list. According to the Ministry of Education's 2022 report on education spending, out of the total ₹6.25 lakh crore spent by education departments in 2020-21, the Centre contributed 15%, and the States contributed 85%. When including all other departments' spending on education and training, the breakdown shifts to 24% by the Centre and 76% by the States.

Hybrid Model

• Experts suggest maintaining central oversight for regulatory frameworks like medical and technical education while devolving policymaking autonomy to states.

Collaborative Governance

• Emphasis must be given on productive dialogue between central and state authorities to achieve balanced educational reforms and efficient resource allocation.

GS-III/Science and Technology

India lacks diagnostic tests for emerging infectious diseases

Source: The Hindu

Why in news?

The detection of a Zika virus infection in Pune has once again raised concerns regarding India's readiness to diagnose emerging infectious diseases.

Recent Outbreaks in Various Regions of India

• Zika Virus: Recent cases of Zika virus in Pune and previous outbreaks in Kerala and Uttar Pradesh highlight sporadic but concerning outbreaks across India.
• Avian Influenza: Ongoing outbreaks affecting poultry, with occasional human cases reported, indicating challenges in surveillance and testing.
• Nipah Virus: Multiple outbreaks in Kerala and sporadic cases in West Bengal underscore the recurrent nature of Nipah virus outbreaks in India.

Limited Diagnostic Capabilities

• India faces challenges with the absence of approved diagnostic tests for the Zika virus, relying on clinical symptoms and selective testing, which may lead to underreporting.

Surveillance Gaps

• There is a notable gap in systematic surveillance systems specifically tailored for Zika and other emerging infectious diseases, hampering early detection and containment efforts.

Infrastructure Deficiencies

• The country's diagnostic infrastructure outside major institutes is inadequate, affecting the timely identification and response to outbreaks of diseases like Zika, Nipah, and avian influenza.

Dependency on Apex Institutes

• Diagnostic facilities are largely concentrated in apex national institutes, limiting accessibility and delaying the implementation of crucial public health measures during outbreaks.

Impacts of Unavailability of Infrastructure

• Delayed Response: Lack of accessible diagnostics delays the identification and isolation of cases, contact tracing, and implementation of containment measures during outbreaks.
• Loss of Time: Delays in releasing genomic sequences and validating diagnostic tests impede the rapid development and deployment of effective diagnostics.

Way Forward (Role of ICMR)

• Enhanced Surveillance: ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) should lead efforts to decentralize testing facilities, ensuring availability at district and sub-district levels.
• Capacity Building: Develop accessible and affordable diagnostic tests for Zika, Nipah, and avian influenza, leveraging lessons from COVID-19 testing infrastructure expansion.
• Genomic Surveillance: Establish a system for the rapid release of whole genome sequences into public repositories like GISAID to enhance understanding and response capabilities.
• Collaboration: Foster collaboration with industry and research institutions to streamline diagnostic test approvals and improve preparedness for future outbreaks.

Mains PYQ

• COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However, technological advancements are being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give an account of how technology was sought to aid the management of the pandemic.

GS3/Environment

Next phase of conservation plan for Great Indian Bustard

Source: Indian Express

Why in news?

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has approved Rs 56 crore for the next phase of the conservation of Great Indian Bustard (GIB) and Lesser Florican.

About

• GIBs are the largest among the four-bustard species found in India.
• The other three being MacQueen's bustard, lesser florican, and the Bengal florican.
• Being terrestrial birds, they spend most of their time on the ground with occasional flights to go from one part of their habitat to the other.
• They feed on insects, lizards, grass seeds etc. GIBs are considered the flagship bird species of grassland and hence barometers of the health of grassland ecosystems.

Habitat and Status

• This bird, found mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat, has been categorized as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• As per the 2021 report of the IUCN, they are on the verge of extinction with hardly 50 to 249 of them alive.
• GIBs' historic range included much of the Indian sub-continent but it has now shrunken to just 10 per cent of it.
• Among the heaviest birds with flight, GIBs prefer grasslands as their habitats.

Threats

• Scientists of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have been pointing out overhead power transmission lines as the biggest threat to the GIBs.
• WII research has concluded that in Rajasthan, 18 GIBs die every year after colliding with overhead powerlines.
• These birds, due to their poor frontal vision, can't detect powerlines in time and their weight make in-flight quick manoeuvres difficult.
• Kutch and Thar desert are the places which have witnessed creation of huge renewable energy infrastructure over the past two decades.

Conservation measures

• In 2015, the Central government launched the GIB species recovery programme.
• Under the programme, the WII and Rajasthan Forest department have jointly set up conservation breeding centres where GIB eggs harvested from the wild are incubated artificially and hatchlings raised in controlled environment.
• The plan is to create a population which can act as insurance against the threat of extinction and release the third generation of these captive-bred birds into the wild.
• Bird diverters have also been installed on power lines to protect the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) from collisions.

Overview

• Funding Approval: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has allocated Rs 56 crore for the next phase of the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) and Lesser Florican.
• Conservation Goals: The plan includes habitat development, in-situ conservation, completion of conservation breeding centers, and releasing captive-bred birds.
• Proposal Recommendation: The National CAMPA executive committee recommended the Wildlife Institute of India's (WII) proposal for scaling up the project for 2024-2033.

Project Components

• First Component
  • Conservation Breeding Centers: Completion of the CBC in Jaisalmer's Ramdevra and development of the Sorsan Lesser Florican facility.
  • Captive-bred Birds: Preparatory work for releasing captive-bred birds and post-release monitoring.
  • Artificial Insemination: Development and implementation as a backup for captive breeding.
• Second Component
  • In-situ Conservation: Efforts in other range states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

Timeline and Activities

• Population Estimation: Between 2024-2026, WII will estimate GIB populations in Jaisalmer and range states, and conduct rangewide population estimation of the Lesser Florican.
• Egg Collection: Annually collect two to four GIB eggs and six to ten Lesser Florican eggs.
• Rewilding: Set to begin in 2027, identifying and developing release sites, and creating soft release enclosures.

Background

• The conservation programme has been running since 2016 for long-term recovery of critically endangered GIB and Lesser Florican.
• As of now, around 140 GIBs and fewer than 1,000 Lesser Floricans are surviving in the wild.
• Severe decline due to hunting, habitat loss, depredation of eggs, and overhead power lines.

Current Conservation Facilities

• GIB Breeding Centers: Located in Rajasthan's Sam and Ramdevra with 40 GIBs.
• Lesser Florican Center: Located in Sorsan with seven individuals.

Legal Oversight

• Supreme Court Involvement: The SC is also monitoring the GIB and Lesser Florican conservation programme.
• Power Line Issue: SC initially ordered burying power lines in GIB habitats but recalled the order in 2024 due to practicality concerns.

GS3/Science and Technology

Activated Carbon Production from Coconut Husks for Supercapacitors

Source: The Hindu

Why in News?

Researchers at Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, have found a method to create activated carbon from coconut husks, a common byproduct of farming in Kerala. This activated carbon is particularly suitable for manufacturing supercapacitors.

Back2Basics: Supercapacitors

Supercapacitors, also known as ultra-capacitors or electrochemical capacitors, represent energy storage devices that bridge the gap between traditional capacitors and batteries. They store energy through electrostatic charge separation rather than chemical reactions, enabling rapid charging and discharging compared to batteries.

Key Characteristics:

• High Power Density: Supercapacitors can rapidly deliver and accept charge.
• Long Cycle Life: They can withstand millions of charge-discharge cycles without significant degradation.
• Wide Operating Temperature Range: Supercapacitors perform well across various temperatures, making them versatile for different applications.

Structure and Components:

• Electrodes: Comprised of materials like activated carbon, carbon aerogels, or graphene with high surface areas.
• Electrolyte: Facilitates ionic conductivity between electrodes, usually a liquid or gel.
• Separator: A porous membrane that prevents electrical contact between electrodes while enabling ionic movement.

What is Activated Carbon?

Activated Carbon, also termed activated charcoal, is a highly porous form of carbon processed to possess small, low-volume pores, increasing its surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions. It finds wide usage in purification, decontamination, and filtration due to its properties.

Characteristics:

• High Surface Area: Activated carbon boasts an extensive network of pores, offering a surface area typically ranging from 500 to 1500 m²/g.
• Porosity: Its structure includes micropores, mesopores, and macropores, enabling adsorption of various molecules.

Production Process:

• Carbonization: The raw material undergoes high temperatures in an inert atmosphere to eliminate volatile components.
• Activation/Oxidation: The carbonized material is treated with oxidizing agents at high temperatures to develop a porous structure.

Types of Activated Carbon:

• Powdered Activated Carbon: Used mainly in liquid phase applications.
• Granular Activated Carbon: Utilized in both liquid and gas phase applications.
• Extruded Activated Carbon: Cylindrical pellets suitable for gas phase applications.
• Impregnated Activated Carbon: Treated with chemicals to enhance adsorption capacity for specific contaminants.

Applications:

• Water Treatment: Removes contaminants from drinking water.
• Air Purification: Adsorbs volatile organic compounds, odors, and airborne pollutants.
• Medical Uses: Absorbs toxins in poisoning cases.
• Industrial Processes: Used in solvent recovery, gas purification, and gold purification.

About Coconut Husk-Derived Activated Carbon

Activated carbon derived from coconut husks provides a sustainable and efficient solution for high-performance supercapacitors. This material is readily available, cost-effective, and eco-friendly, produced through a Microwave-Assisted Method at the Centralised Common Instrumentation Facility.

Importance of Supercapacitors:

• Energy Storage: Supercapacitors offer higher capacitance and energy storage capacity compared to traditional capacitors.
• Search for Ideal Material: Finding the perfect supercapacitor electrode material is crucial for sustainable energy storage solutions.

Research Findings:

• Efficiency: Prototype supercapacitors using coconut husk-derived activated carbon are four times more efficient than current options.
• Cost-Effective and Efficient: The activated carbon produced through this method is affordable and exhibits exceptional supercapacitor capabilities.

GS3/Economy

NCERT’s New Report Card to Track Post School Plans, Life Skills

Source: New Indian Express

Why in News?

PARAKH, a standard-setting body under the NCERT, recently released a ‘Holistic Progress Card’ for secondary school students (Classes 9 to 12).

About PARAKH:

• National Assessment Centre- PARAKH (Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development) was established in NCERT as an independent body in 2023. Its primary goal is to set norms, standards, guidelines, and implement activities related to student assessment as mandated by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• PARAKH focuses on four major areas:
  • Capacity Development in Competency-Based Assessment: Project Vidyasagar aims to bridge gaps in implementing competency-based learning and teaching by organizing workshops across India in partnership with the PhD Chamber of Commerce.
  • Large-Scale Achievement Survey: PARAKH conducted the State Educational Achievement Survey in November 2023, assessing students in Grades 3, 6, and 9 across 30 States/UTs to monitor and assess educational competencies in foundational literacy, numeracy, language, and mathematics.
  • Equivalence of School Boards: PARAKH is standardizing examination reforms across all Indian school boards by collecting data on administration, curriculum, assessments, and infrastructure to allocate credit points to academic, vocational, and experiential learning.
• Holistic Progress Cards
  • The Holistic Progress Card (HPC) evaluates a student’s academic performance through a 360-degree evaluation rather than marks or grades. It assesses students based on their active participation in class activities, application of diverse skills, and demonstration of concept grasp.
  • Teachers assess students' strengths such as collaboration, following instructions, creativity, empathy, and weaknesses like lack of attention, peer pressure, lack of preparation to identify areas needing improvement. The HPC fosters student self-evaluation and incorporates parents’ input to support holistic growth.
• Benefits of HPC:
  • The HPC focuses on descriptive and analytical evaluations, promoting competency-based evaluation and holistic growth, providing teachers and parents with insights to support each student in learning.
• NCERT’s New Report Card to Track Post School Plans, Life Skills:
  • PARAKH has released a ‘Holistic Progress Card’ for secondary school students (Classes 9 to 12) to track post-school plans and life skills, aiming to be implemented from the 2024-25 academic session onwards in several Indian states.
  • States like Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh are preparing to implement HPCs for students up to class 8 from the 2024-25 academic session.

GS-III/Science and Technology

What was the tussle over Covaxin IPR?

Source: The Hindu

Why in News?

Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL), maker of the indigenous coronavirus vaccine Covaxin, admitted to an "inadvertent error" in patent filings. The error involved failing to include scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as co-inventors in the patent filings.

COVAXIN Story

• BBIL patented the process of making a batch of vaccines from virus strains provided by ICMR-NIV (National Institute of Virology).
• ICMR-NIV's role involved extracting viruses, identifying characteristics, conducting tests, and qualifying strains for vaccine development.
• ICMR funded these clinical trials with ₹35 crore and incurred costs in developing Covaxin.
• In return, ICMR was to receive 5% of the royalties BBIL earned from the sale of Covaxin.

Vaccine Patents in India

• In India, patents, including those for vaccines, are governed by the Patents Act, 1970, and its subsequent amendments.
• This act aligns with the TRIPS Agreement (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) under the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Key Provisions of the Patents Act, 1970:

• An invention must be novel, involve an inventive step, and be capable of industrial application.
• Section 3 of the Patents Act outlines what are not considered inventions, which includes methods of treatment, and processes for medicinal, surgical, curative, prophylactic, diagnostic, therapeutic, or other treatments of human beings.

India grants both process and product patents:

• Product Patents: Grant a monopoly over a specific drug.
• Process Patents: Prevent competitors from using the same sequence of steps to create a similar product.

Compulsory Licensing

• Under Section 84, compulsory licenses can be issued if the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price, or if the reasonable requirements of the public are not being met.

Bolar Provision

• Section 107A allows the use of patented inventions, including vaccines, for the purpose of research and development to obtain regulatory approval before the patent expires.

Why was the ICMR not included?

• Bharat Biotech initially excluded ICMR from patent applications because they viewed the ICMR's role primarily as providing virus strains and conducting clinical trials, rather than being directly involved in the technical processes of vaccine development.
• There might have been a miscommunication or oversight regarding the understanding of intellectual property rights and inventorship between BBIL and ICMR initially.

PYQ:

• [2013] Bringing out the circumstances in 2005 which forced amendment to the section 3(d) in Indian Patent Law, 1970, discuss how it has been utilized by the Supreme Court in its judgement in rejecting Novartis' patent application for 'Glivec'. Discuss briefly the pros and cons of the decision. (200 words)
• [2014] In a globalized world, Intellectual Property Rights assume significance and are a source of litigation. Broadly distinguish between the terms—Copyrights, Patents and Trade Secrets.