27-Oct-2023-Daily-Current-Affairs

SUPREME COURT ALLOWS SURROGACY, STRIKES DOWN RULE BANNING USE OF DONOR GAMETES

GS 2 (POLITY AND GOVERNANCE): SOURCE – THE HINDU

Introduction:

• The Supreme Court of India recently intervened to uphold a woman’s right to parenthood by suspending an amended law that threatened her surrogacy plans due to her rare medical condition.
• The woman, identified, suffers from Mayer Rokitansky Kuster Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, a condition that prevents her from producing eggs and having a uterus.
• The court’s decision revolves around the ban on the use of donor gametes imposed by a government notification on March 14, 2023, which contradicted the Surrogacy Act’s provisions.
• This legal development carries significant implications for the right to parenthood in cases of gestational surrogacy.

The Court’s Decision:

• The two-judge Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan found that the amended law, which prohibited the use of donor eggs, contradicted the main provisions of the Surrogacy Act.
• The court reasoned that the amendment jeopardized the intending couple’s ability to achieve parenthood through surrogacy, which was not in line with the law’s intent.

Court’s Ruling:

• The court concurred with assertion that gestational surrogacy was woman-centric, designed to address her inability to become a mother due to medical or congenital conditions.
• The court pointed out that the child, in this context, would be considered genetically related to the husband, addressing the government’s contention that the surrogate child must be “genetically related” to the couple.

Conclusion:

The court’s interpretation of the law emphasizes the woman’s choice in gestational surrogacy and reinforces the legal recognition of medical conditions necessitating such procedures. This ruling sets a significant precedent for ensuring reproductive rights and choices for individuals with rare medical conditions.

THE T.N. EXPERIENCE ON CASTE SURVEY

GS 2 (POLITY AND GOVERNANCE): SOURCE – THE HINDU)

The experience of Tamil Nadu in conducting caste-based surveys and implementing reservation policies is vital in understanding the complexities and challenges associated with such initiatives.

Challenges Associated with Caste-based Surveys:

• Reservation Percentage Debate: Tamil Nadu has a long history of debates over reservation percentages, with differing opinions on whether the reservation quantum should be reduced or maintained.
• Creamy Layer Issue: The idea of implementing a creamy layer within reservations has not gained strong political support, which impacts equitable distribution.

The Formation of the Second BC Commission:

• AIADMK’s Decision: In 1980, the AIADMK government, led by M.G. Ramachandran, increased BC reservations from 31% to 50%, subsequently challenged in the Supreme Court.
• Formation of the Commission: In response to the litigation, the government established the Second BC Commission, led by J.A. Ambasankar, to review BC enumeration and classification.

The Commission’s Work:

• Socio-Educational-cum-Economic Survey: A comprehensive survey was conducted in two stages from 1983-84, including door-to-door enumeration and classification of BCs.
• Quantifying BC Population: The commission estimated the BC population to be 67.15% of the state’s total, leading to the creation of a list of 298 BC communities.
• Reservation for MBCs and DNCs: In 1989, an exclusive 20% quota was established for Most Backward Classes (MBCs) and Denotified Communities (DNCs) within the BC category.

Recommendations and Differences:

• Differences Among Members: While the Chairman, Ambasankar, suggested a reservation quantum of 32% to avoid exceeding the 50% ceiling, dissenting members argued for at least 50% reservation due to the BC population’s substantial size.
• Unified BC List: Disagreements also emerged regarding a unified list of BCs. Ambasankar proposed two separate lists under Article 15(4) and Article 16(4), while members favored a single list.

Supreme Court’s Impact on State Reservations:

• 1992 Mandal Commission Judgment: Following this landmark judgment, Tamil Nadu enacted a law to protect its 69% reservation and place it under the Ninth Schedule.
• Subsequent Reservation Changes: Over the years, the state adjusted BC reservations, including the addition of sub-quotas for Muslims and Arunthathiyars (a constituent of SCs). In 2021, a 10.5% reservation for Vanniyars within MBCs was introduced, but it was later invalidated by the Supreme Court due to non-contemporaneous data from the Ambasankar panel.

Conclusion:

Tamil Nadu’s experience with caste-based surveys and reservation policies reflects the intricate dynamics of balancing representation and equitable distribution within a diverse society. The historical context and the decisions made in the state have left a lasting impact on reservation policies and their implementation. Understanding this experience is crucial for comprehending the complexities surrounding reservation debates in India.

Unmasking India’s osteoporosis care crisis

Osteoporosis remains an under-addressed healthcare crisis in India, where the vast majority of individuals suffering from this bone-weakening condition do not receive proper care.

The Osteoporosis Care Crisis:

• The alarming reality is that only a small percentage of individuals in India receive adequate care for osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones, leading to long-term pain, postural changes, and a heightened risk of fractures and nerve injuries, particularly when the spine is affected.

Challenges in Diagnosis and Knowledge Gap:

• Misdiagnosis is a common problem for osteoporosis patients, and many experience long periods of pain without a correct diagnosis.
• The lack of awareness about osteoporosis among healthcare providers exacerbates this issue. A study showed that doctors, including endocrinologists, have significant knowledge gaps about the condition.

The Importance of Early Intervention:

• Early detection and intervention are critical to prevent needless suffering and long-term complications for osteoporosis patients.
• A significant portion of the Indian population lacks access to essential diagnostic tools, such as the bone mineral density scan (DEXA), which is the gold standard for osteoporosis diagnosis.

Local Solutions and Contextual Knowledge:

• The experience of doctors working in resource-limited settings demonstrates the importance of adapting diagnostic methods, such as the Singh index and pelvic X-rays, to overcome infrastructure limitations.

Conclusion:

Osteoporosis remains a silent epidemic in India, affecting millions who suffer in silence, their pain unacknowledged. Bridging the care gap necessitates raising awareness, fostering early intervention, and equipping healthcare providers with context-specific knowledge to diagnose, treat, and prevent this debilitating condition.

THE MOSCOW-BEIJING ENTENTE CORDIALE

GS 3 (SCIENCE AND TECHN OLOGY): SOURCE – THE HINDU

The close relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, often referred to as an “Entente Cordiale,” has been evolving amid global order shifts and crises. This partnership has significant implications for international geopolitics and economic dynamics.

The Moscow-Beijing Nexus:

• The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) forum, which marked a decade of President Xi’s flagship initiative, hosted President Putin, highlighting the strong support between Russia and China.
• Despite not being an official BRI signatory, Russia’s close alignment with China underscores the deepening connection between the two countries.

                   

‘No Limits Friendship’ and Ongoing Convergence:

• Prior to the Ukraine conflict, Russia and China declared a “no limits friendship,” emphasizing their growing closeness.
• Western criticism following Russia’s actions in Ukraine has driven the two nations even closer together. This convergence extends to their approach to Middle East issues, such as the Israel-Palestine crisis.

Economic and Political Dimensions:

• Economic relations between Russia and China have flourished during the Ukraine crisis, with China becoming a significant export market for Russia. Bilateral trade is on the rise.
• This economic partnership helps Putin project himself as a global player while aiding China in diversifying its markets and managing economic challenges.

Global Coordination and Resistance to Indo-Pacific Concept:

• Russia and China are cooperating more than ever on international matters, intervening in various regions, such as the Middle East and challenging Japan’s imports following the Fukushima incident.
• They stand out for their rejection of the Indo-Pacific concept, working together in the Arctic, and collaborating in multilateral forums.

Impact on India and Future Challenges:

• The evolving Moscow-Beijing axis poses challenges for India’s relations with Russia. New Delhi must navigate these dynamics and ensure its interests are safeguarded.

Conclusion:

The deepening entente between Moscow and Beijing is reshaping global geopolitics, impacting economic relations, and challenging established international concepts. India faces the task of maintaining its strategic balance as the partnership between Russia and China continues to evolve.

RCS- UDAN COMPLETES 6 SUCCESSFUL YEARS

GS 3 (ECONOMY): SOURCE – ECONOMIC TIMES

The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), popularly known as UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), celebrates its successful completion of six years. Initiated by the Indian government, this scheme has played a pivotal role in enhancing air travel accessibility, connectivity, and economic growth across the country.

The Evolution of UDAN:

• Launched as part of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) in 2016, UDAN aimed to improve infrastructure and connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved regions.
• The first UDAN flight took off in 2017, connecting Shimla to Delhi, marking the beginning of the initiative.
• Over the years, UDAN underwent various versions, including UDAN 1.0, UDAN 2.0, UDAN 3.0, and UDAN 4.0, each with distinct objectives and expansions.

UDAN 5.0, 5.1, and 5.2:

• UDAN 5.0 focuses on Category-2 and Category-3 aircraft, eliminating distance restrictions between flight origins and destinations.
• The scheme encourages quicker route operationalization, requires airlines to commence operations within four months of route awards, and withdraws exclusivity if route demand remains high.
• UDAN 5.1 targets helicopter routes, broadening operations, increasing Viable Gap Funding (VGF), and reducing airfare caps.
• UDAN 5.2 aims to further enhance connectivity to remote areas, provide last-mile connectivity, and promote tourism through small aircraft (<20 seats).

A Catalyst for Growth:

• UDAN has given rise to new successful airlines, fostering a favorable environment for airline businesses.
• It has fueled demand for various aircraft, from helicopters to jet planes, and contributed to the growth of the Indian civil aviation industry.
• The scheme has promoted tourism by connecting religious and tourist destinations, stimulating local economic growth.

Extensive Air Connectivity:

• UDAN has connected 30 states/union territories, serving 75 airports, with a special focus on the Northeast region.
• Many airports operationalized under UDAN have become sustainable and serve as hubs for non-RCS commercial flights.

Conclusion:

The completion of six years of UDAN signifies a significant milestone in India’s aviation sector. The scheme has successfully democratized air travel, boosting tourism, trade, and local economies, transforming lives and communities. UDAN’s continuous success underlines its commitment to a more connected, prosperous, and inclusive India.

GREEN CREDIT PROGRAMME

GS 3 (ENVIRONMENT): SOURCE – THE INDIAN EXPRESS

The Centre recently, notified the Green Credit program.

Description

• Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.3234
• Objective: to create a market-based mechanism for undertaking environment-friendly activities such as afforestation programmes, and water conservation by providing additional incentives in the form of green credits.
• Green Credit: it is an incentive that individuals, farmer-producer organizations (FPOs), industries, and rural and urban local bodies, among other stakeholders, will be able to earn for environment-positive actions.

EARTH’S CORE IS LEAKING AN ISOTOPE THAT CAN PRODUCE A YEAR’S ELECTRICITY FROM JUST 100 KG, FINDS A STUDY.

GS 1 (GEOGRAPHY): SOURCE- THE INDIAN EXPRESS

Recent scientific research has uncovered a surprising revelation about Earth’s core, challenging conventional wisdom about its isolation. A study focused on lava flows in the Arctic Archipelago’s Baffin Island, dating back 62 million years, has detected abnormally high levels of helium-3 (³He), a rare isotope closely linked to the Earth’s inner workings. These findings suggest that the Earth’s core may be emitting helium 3, indicating increased activity deep within the planet.

Uncovering Earth’s Hidden Activity:

• Researchers examined olivine rocks in Baffin Island’s lava and identified significantly elevated levels of ³He.
• Earth’s mantle, responsible for transporting lava to the surface and absorbing parts of the crust, is not static. Over time, some ³He naturally escapes.
• A defined limit exists for the amount of ³He present in mantle-derived rocks. Exceeding this limit suggests an alternative source, possibly the Earth’s core.

Challenging Conventional Understanding:

• This discovery challenges the traditional notion that the core and outer Earth layers, including the mantle and crust, have distinct chemical compositions with minimal material exchange.
• The findings imply that materials, including helium, might be leaking from the Earth’s core, potentially reshaping our comprehension of the planet’s internal dynamics.

Helium-3 as a Game Changer:

• Helium-3, a non-radioactive isotope, holds significant potential as a fusion reactor fuel.
• When fused with deuterium, helium-3 does not produce neutrons, making it an ideal candidate for nuclear fusion.
• Scientists estimate that just 100 kg of helium-3 could power a 1000 megawatt electric plant for a year when combined with deuterium, underlining its remarkable energy potential.

Conclusion:

The revelation of elevated helium-3 levels originating from Earth’s core challenges the conventional separation between Earth’s core and outer layers, offering new insights into the planet’s inner workings. Furthermore, helium-3’s exceptional energy-producing potential could have significant implications for the future of power generation and nuclear fusion technology.

MALARIA

GS 3 (SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY): SOURCE – TIMES OF INDIA

Why in the news?

As per recent research, emerging drug resistance in eastern Africa is hindering the fight against malaria.

Description

• Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites.
• The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes, called “malaria vectors”,
• Malaria is most common in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America.