INSIGHTSIAS

IA SIMPLIFYING IAS EXAM PREPARATION

INSTA EDITORIAL
COMPILATIONS

MARCH 2024

www.insightsactivelearn.com | www.insightsonindia.com
Table of Content:

GS2:

Polity and Governance:

1. Many elections, AI’s dark dimension

International Relations:

1. Looking to the future on St. Patrick’s Day

2. Ties that epitomize India’s neighborhood first policy
3. China, a ‘want-to-be’ superpower
4. Africa At The Centre

Social Justice:
1. Actionable ideas for TB control

GS3:

Economy:

1. Central transfers — arresting the decline in shares of some States

2. India’s R&D funding, breaking down the numbers

Ecology and environment:

1. Mountains of plastic are choking the Himalayan States

2. Green jobs and the problem of gender disparity
3. The need to curb black carbon emissions

Science and technology:

1. A vaccine that prevents six cancers

2. The tale of ‘have money, buy miracle drug’
 3. A bold step towards a cervical cancer-free future

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
Many elections, AI’s dark dimension

Source: The Hindu

■ Prelims: Science and technology, Artificial intelligence(AI), Generative AI, Big
Data, GANs, ChatGPT1 tool, DALL.E2 etc
■ Mains GS Paper III and IV: Significance of technology for India, AI,
indigenisation of technology and development of new technology.
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ Elections are scheduled to be held in as many as 50 countries across the globe
including India, Mexico, the United Kingdom (by law, the last possible date for
a general election is January 28, 2025) and the United States.
■ The rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models suggests that we are
at an inflection point in the history of human progress.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context
Artificial intelligence(AI):
● It is a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent
behavior in computers.
● It describes the action of machines accomplishing tasks that have
historically required human intelligence.
● It includes technologies like machine learning, pattern recognition, big data,
neural networks, self algorithms etc.
● E.g: Facebook’s facial recognition software which identifies faces in the
photos we post, the voice recognition software that translates commands we
give to Alexa, etc are some of the examples of AI already around us.

Generative AI:
● It is a cutting-edge technological advancement that utilizes machine
learning and artificial intelligence to create new forms of media, such as text,
audio, video, and animation.
 ● With the advent of advanced machine learning capabilities: It is possible
to generate new and creative short and long-form content, synthetic media,
and even deep fakes with simple text, also known as prompts.
● Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) will transform into Artificial General
Intelligence (AGI), which can mimic the capabilities of human beings.
● It will dramatically improve the standard of living of millions of human beings.
● Negative impact: AI would undermine human values and that advanced AI
could pose ‘existential risks’.

AI innovations:
● GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks)
● LLMs (Large Language Models)
● GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformers)
● Image Generation to experiment
● Create commercial offerings like DALL-E for image generation
● ChatGPT for text generation.
○ It can write blogs, computer code, and marketing copies and even
generate results for search queries.

Impact of AI on elections:

● Generative AI, provides dynamic simulations and mimics real world

interactions).
● AI models such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot are being employed in many
fields.
○ AI’s newer models could alter electoral behaviors and verdicts as well.
● Generative AI could impact the electoral landscape this time as well.
○ What might not happen in 2024, may well happen in the next round of
elections, both in India and worldwide.
● Pew Survey: It indicates that a majority of Indians support ‘authoritarianism’.
 ○ Employing AI could well have a field day in such a milieu to further
confuse the electorate.
● Deep Fake syndrome appears to alter elections and lends itself to newer and
newer techniques of propaganda
○ Confusing and confounding the electorate.
● AI technology makes it easier to enhance falsehoods and enlarge mistaken
beliefs.
● Disinformation is hardly a new methodology or technology, and has been
employed in successive elections previously.
○ sophisticated AI tools will be able to confuse the electorate to an extent
not previously known or even envisaged.
● The use of AI models to produce reams of wrong information, apart from
disinformation, accompanied by the creation of near realistic images of something
that does not exist, will be a whole new experience.
● AI deployed tactics will tend to make voters more mistrustful
○ It is important to introduce checks and balances that would obviate
efforts at AI ‘determinism’.
● The recent inaccuracies associated with Google is a timely reminder that AI and
AGI cannot be trusted in each and every circumstance.
● The public wrath worldwide over Google AI models, including in India, for
their portrayal of persons and personalities in a malefic manner, mistakenly or
otherwise.
○ These reflect the dangers of ‘runaway’ AI.

Implications:

● Nations increasingly depend on AI solutions for their problems.

 ○ It tends at times to make up things in order to solve new problems.
○ These are often probabilistic in character and cannot be accepted ipso
facto as accurate.

The main types of adversarial capabilities, overshadowing other inbuilt weaknesses

are:

● Poisoning: that typically degrades an AI model’s ability to make relevant

predictions.
● Back dooring: that causes the model to produce inaccurate or harmful results
● Evasion: that entails resulting in a model misclassifying malicious or harmful
inputs thus detracting from an AI model’s ability to perform its appointed role.

Ethical Issues with AI:

Way Forward

■ The dangers associated with AI pose a greater threat than harm arising from bias
in design and development.
■ AI systems tend to develop certain inherent adversarial capabilities.
○ Suitable concepts and ideas have not yet been developed to mitigate them,
as of now.
 ■ Elections apart, India being one of the most advanced countries in the digital
arena, again needs to treat AI as an unproven entity.
■ While AI brings benefits, the nation and its leaders should be fully aware of its
disruptive potential.
■ India’s lead in digital public goods could be both a benefit as well as a bane,
given that while AGI provides many benefits, it can be malefic as well.
■ There are significant challenges to AI policy, but a dearth of democratic voices
and the tendency to surrender the policy process around AI to a handful of tech
companies need to be extended.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. What are the different elements of cyber security ? Keeping in view the
challenges in cyber security, examine the extent to which India has successfully
developed a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy.(UPSC 2022)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
Looking to the future on St. Patrick’s Day

Source: The Hindu

■ Prelims: Current events of international importance(FTA, India-UK relations,

G20, tariff etc)
■ Mains GS Paper II & III: Bilateral, regional and global grouping involving India
and affecting India’s interests etc

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ India and Ireland will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year.
■ St. Patrick’s Day: National Day that is an opportunity to celebrate Ireland
with the more than 70 million people globally who claim Irish ancestry and
the many more who show their fondness for Ireland in any number of ways
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
India-Ireland relations:
● India and Ireland have traditionally had cordial and friendly relations

going back to the time of our freedom movement.

● Economic relations: complementarities between our flagship

programmes, in particular Skill India and Digital India programmes and

Ireland’s proven educational institutions.

● Bilateral trade: Two-way trade in goods, Euro 463 million in 2010 now

stands at Euro 650 million.

● Total trade in goods and services in 2013 was €2.48 billion, up from

€2.2 billion in 2012.

 ● There are about 26,000 Indians or persons of Indian origin in Ireland,

of whom about 17,000 are Indian citizens.

● The bulk of the community is in healthcare (doctors and nurses), IT,

engineering and senior management positions.

● Ireland is becoming a significant destination for Indian students

seeking higher education, particularly post-graduate, doctoral and

postdoctoral students.

● There are over 1,400 Indian students in Irish higher educational

institutions

Ireland’s stand on conflicts:

● Ireland has a clear and principled position on conflicts.

● Ireland demanded accountability, internationally, for Russia’s illegal

invasion

○ Ireland is the strongest supporter of Ukraine’s path to European

Union membership.
 ● Ireland condemned Hamas's terrorist attack in October and have called at

every juncture for all hostages in Gaza to be released unconditionally.

○ upholding of international humanitarian law, a humanitarian

ceasefire and for sustained humanitarian assistance to be provided for

the civilians in Gaza.

The role of young people in the growth:

● Young people are at the heart of Ireland, a great place to invest, trade, visit
and study too.
● Ireland is home for all five of the world’s top software companies and 14
of the top 15 medical technology companies globally.
● Those companies, and very many others, have put down roots in Ireland
because of:

○ economic track record

○ stability
○ ease of doing business
○ access to a European Union market of 450 million people.

● Talent pool, with brilliant globally-connected young people from across

the European Union, who are a key part of our dynamic workforce.
● Ireland is a country where enterprise is valued and young entrepreneurs
are supported to bring their products and ideas to international markets.
● Irish university system attracts thousands of students from around the
world because of the safe, welcoming and culturally rich environment on
offer in Ireland for young people.
● Ireland featured in the top 10 countries in the UN’s Human Development
Index.

Way Forward
 ■ India has a great contribution to Irish society as leaders in IT, health care
and a number of key sectors.
○ They breathe lifeblood into the bilateral relationship of today, as
much as our Irish and Indian freedom fighters provided the soul of our
partnership in the past.
■ Old Irish saying, “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na Daoine (We live in
each other’s shadow”).
○ This will remain true for young people in the world of the years to
come.
■ Protecting and supporting each other, and building enduring
partnerships, has never been more vital.
■ The partnership extends far beyond trade and investment into culture,
sport, education and tourism too.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. The judicial systems in India and the UK seem to be converging as well as
diverging in recent times. Highlight the key points of convergence and divergence
between the two nations in terms of their judicial practices.(UPSC 2020)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
Ties that epitomize India’s neighborhood first policy

Source: The Hindu

■ Prelims: Current events of international importance(India-Bhutan ties,

Petroleum Agreement, Doklam region, Gelephu etc
■ Mains GS Paper II: Bilateral, regional and global grouping involving India,
Significance of Indo-Pacific for India etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ The Prime Minister will visit Bhutan, announced the visiting Bhutanese
Prime Minister after the two leaders met in Delhi.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context
India-Bhutan Relations:
Key Highlights of the India-Bhutan Bilateral Talks:

Petroleum Agreement:

● Signed an agreement on the supply of petroleum products to ensure a reliable

and sustained supply from India to Bhutan, fostering economic cooperation and
growth in the hydrocarbon sector.
 ● Food Safety Collaboration:
○ Bhutan's Food and Drug Authority and India's Food Safety and
Standards Authority (FSSAI)signed an agreement to enhance
cooperation in food safety measures.
■ It will ensure compliance with food safety standards and
reduce compliance costs.
● Energy Efficiency and Conservation:
○ Both countries signed an MoU on energy efficiency and conservation that
demonstrates a commitment to sustainable development.
● India aims to assist Bhutan in enhancing energy efficiency in households,
promoting the use of energy-efficient appliances, and developing standards and
labeling schemes.
● Border Dispute Resolution:
○ The Bhutanese Prime Minister’s visit coincides with ongoing discussions
between China and Bhutan to resolve their border dispute, which has
implications for regional security, particularly in the Doklam region.
○ In August 2023, China and Bhutan agreed on a plan to address their
border disagreement.
○ This was followed by the formal signing of the agreement in October
2021.
■ This agreement came four years after a conflict between India
and China in Doklam, sparked by China’s attempt to construct a
road in the area in 2017.

Bhutan’s Regional Economic Hub in Gelephu:

● Bhutan's plans for a regional economic hub in Gelephu, mark a significant step
towards regional development and connectivity.
 ● The project, initiated by Bhutan's King(2023): aims to establish the Gelephu
Mindfulness City" (GMC) spanning 1,000 square kms.
● Gelephu will prioritize sustainable development, focusing on non-polluting
industries such as IT, education, hospitality, and healthcare.
● It is Positioned at the crossroads of India's "Act East" policy and the emerging
connectivity initiatives spanning Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.
● Gelephu holds strategic significance in fostering economic integration and trade
facilitation.
● Gelephu city is expected to focus on human well-being too with an
emphasis on yoga, rest and recreation, spa therapies and mental relaxation
channels.

Hydropower cooperation:

● Hydropower cooperation is the bedrock of India’s relations with Bhutan.

● Several cooperative hydro projects have been completed and
commissioned by the two governments
○ It provides Bhutan with a stream of revenue due to which it has
graduated out of the Least Developed Country status.
● The delayed Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project is expected to be
completed in 2024
● A new joint venture model was developed for the construction of hydro
projects between India and Bhutan
○ none of the proposed five projects has taken off.
○ There is a need to go back to the drawing board to work out a more
practical and potentially successful new model for hydro projects.

Other areas of cooperation:

● India has also been a major development assistance partner to Bhutan

 ○ India contributed ₹5,000 crore to its 12th Five Year Plan which just
concluded.

Way Forward
■ India must contribute to the success of the Gelephu Mindfulness City and
can perhaps consider the following measures:
○ commence direct flights between Mumbai/Delhi and Gelephu
○ provide technology and knowledge in building hard infrastructure
to Bhutan (the private sector will take the lead)
○ encourage high-end Indian tourists and businesspersons to visit
Gelephu in controlled numbers
○ Encourage Indian businesses to set up shop in the city.
■ Gelephu is next to remote parts of West Bengal and Assam and the
success of the Mindfulness City will have positive socio-economic spillovers
for these geographies as well.
○ It will provide an example of the win-win cooperation between
India and Bhutan.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. Project ‘Mausam’ is considered a unique foreign policy initiative of the Indian
Government to improve relationships with its neighbors. Does the project have a
strategic dimension? Discuss. (UPSC 2015)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
China, a ‘want-to-be’ superpower

Source: The Hindu

■ Prelims: Current events of international importance(BRI, Regional forums,
Saudi-Iran accord, G20, SCO, mapping(Middle East) etc
■ Mains GS Paper II: Bilateral, regional and global grouping involving India or
affecting India’s interests, BRI and issues associated with it etc

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ The first anniversary of the China-brokered détente between Saudi
Arabia and Iran in 2023 passed without much attention.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context
The Saudi-Iran accord:
● The agreement addresses the most serious regional confrontation
● It reduces regional tensions and puts in place the bases for further dialogue
on improving relations and engaging on contentious issues.
● Meetings of Saudi and Iranian officials in Baghdad and Muscat in 2021
and 2022
○ Addressing issues that divide the two countries
■ The wars in Syria and Yemen
■ Saudi concerns relating to Iran’s mobilization of Shia
communities in the region
● Arab states were prepared to pursue their interests without United States
involvement.
● U.S. not as a security-provider: The U.S.’s military failures in Iraq and
Afghanistan contributed to its loss of credibility among its regional allies.

Role of China:
● China is an attractive partner.
● It has substantial energy, trade, investment and technology-related ties
with West Asia
● It is the region’s largest buyer of crude oil
● It is a major trade and investment partner, and rapidly expanding its role
as a technology-provider in most countries.

China’s mediation policy:

 ● Wang Yi (director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the
Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee) Set up a new China-
backed international mediation organization headquartered in Hong
Kong.
● Algeria, Belarus, Cambodia, Djibouti, Indonesia, Laos, Pakistan, Serbia
and Sudan were signatories to the initial statement as a preparatory office
was launched.
● The Chinese establishment links the mediation initiative to its economic
corridor, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
○ The BRI has extensive membership in West Asia as well, with Iran,
Saudi Arabia and the UAE among others.
○ Israel, is not a signatory.

China’s role in the Red Sea crisis:

● China has been absent through the crisis in the Red Sea
● China’s crafty diplomacy is to predominantly protect its own interests and
● China's support for the Palestinian cause without criticizing Hamas
○ This stands against U.S. support for Israel.

Why is ‘mediation diplomacy 'an aspirational design for China?

● It is to position itself as an antithesis to what China sees as decades worth

of western interventionist policies, specifically in a region such as West Asia
○ where conflict has direct correlation with colonial history.
● It is to increase its own geopolitical weight as a responsible international
actor and power.
● Counter long-standing American influence and to take advantage of
crevasses in regional diplomacy,
○ specifically by the likes of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates(UAE)
○ They are looking to chart their own paths of strategic autonomy
○ They are willing to partner with China despite having close security
ties with the USA.
Way Forward
■ China seems content with predominantly displacing American hegemony
without replacing it
○ A perception of being a ‘soft hegemon’ in the region will stand
starkly against Chinese grandstanding against western policies.
■ China utilized the ‘war on terror’-era to build closer ties with the U.S.
○ It benefited its own security concerns regarding radicalisation and
terrorism narratives around its restive Xinjiang region.
■ Scholars Sheena Chestnut Greitens and Isaac Kardon: China, for its
partner states, is more about their internal security rather than external.
○ Prioritizing political security of regimes rather than states.
■ The war in Gaza colors China as still being a ‘want-to-be’ superpower.
■ China remains a utilitarian superpower for others to hedge against rather
than being an upcoming traditional superpower.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. Critically examine the aims and objectives of SCO. what importance does it hold
for India.(UPSC 2021)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
Africa At The Centre

Source: Indian Express

■ Prelims: Current events of international importance, Global South, G20, GDP,

African Union etc
■ Mains GS Paper II: Bilateral, regional and global grouping involving India and
Affecting India’s interests etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ President’s visit to Mauritius: “a close maritime neighbor, a cherished
partner in the Indian Ocean Region, and a key player in our Africa outreach”.
■ She inaugurated 14 community development projects and the laying of the
foundation stone for a forensic science laboratory, all with Indian
assistance.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context
Global South:
● The Global South is a term often used to identify regions within Latin
America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
● It is one of a family of terms, including "Third World" and "Periphery", that
denote regions outside Europe and North America.
● Economies not fully developed: Global South is used to describe countries
whose economies are not yet fully developed and which face challenges such
as low per capita income, excessive unemployment, and a lack of valuable
capital.
● Located in tropics: Although the majority of Global South countries are
indeed located in the tropics or Southern Hemisphere, the term itself is
strictly economic.
● Australia is "down under" but not part of the Global South.

Importance of Africa:
● Africa’s significant growth rate of 3.8 percent.
 ● Its young population, with 60 percent under the age of 25,
○ It is estimated to reach 1.1 billion people by 2040.

Opportunities in Africa :

● The potential for economic partnerships is immense.

○ Indian investments in Africa reached $98 billion in 2023, with trade

totalling $100 billion.

● Forty-two African countries are the second-largest recipients of all credit

extended by India.

○ Around 200 developmental projects have been completed in the

region.

● Indian social enterprises and NGOs are exporting low-cost, scalable

solutions, from eco-friendly houses to rural women solar engineers.

● Africa’s influence in global forums will be important for India’s vision for

global governance.

○ As Africa houses three-fourths of humanity and over 39 percent of

the global GDP

○ There’s a call to reform existing structures towards a more inclusive

system focused on development.

 ○ India’s advocacy for the African Union in the G20 has found

resonance.

● Cooperation in the critical minerals sector.

○ To build solar panels and batteries necessary for a low-carbon

future

○ access to minerals classified as “critical”, “transition” or “green” is

key.

○ Africa has 30 percent of the world’s mineral reserves, and is vital to

power the energy transition.

● Given the geographical concentration of critical minerals, diversifying

sources and fostering strategic partnerships with resource-rich nations are

imperative for India’s growth and national security.

India-Africa:

Way Forward
■ As India prepares for International Energy Agency terms “the dawn of a

new industrial age: convergence of India’s supply chain diversification and

Africa’s desire to capture the value chain introduces avenues for cooperation.

■ India’s longstanding commitment to education and capacity building in

Africa

○ India could revamp existing collaborations or establish new ones

with African technical organizations.

○ This would bolster negotiation skills, training in project

management, and devising industry-specific technical courses.

 ■ Indian research institutes engaging with Africa’s research community

can facilitate the creation of solutions to address Global South challenges.

■ As India’s aspirations for the Global South take shape, leveraging historical

partnerships with African countries remains imperative.

■ A Punjabi farmer who relocated to Ethiopia to invest in agriculture

resonates: “If you ask me why I moved, it’s obvious. Africa is the future.”

■ To truly represent the South: It is essential to grasp the mood and changes

in Africa, especially in its external partnerships.

○ This will determine the contribution India can make to advance the
African agenda.
■ India’s equity in Africa is older and richer than that of China and the U.S.,
but that should not be a source of uncritical satisfaction.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. The long sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalized
nations has disappeared on account of its new found role in the emerging global
order.’ Elaborate(UPSC 2019)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
Actionable ideas for TB control

Source: The Hindu, The Hindu

■ Prelims: Current events of national importance(AMR,TB, National TB

Elimination Programme, Covid-19, Mission COVID Suraksha etc
■ Mains GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development in
various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementations etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ Every day, 3,500 people worldwide lose their lives to tuberculosis (TB), and
around 30,000 people become infected with TB bacilli(WHO) estimates.
■ India accounts for 27% of global TB cases
■ The theme for World TB Day 2024 (March 24):‘Yes! We can end TB!’
■
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Tuberculosis:

● TB is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, belonging

to the Mycobacteriaceae family consisting of about 200 members.
● Some of Mycobacteria cause diseases like TB and Leprosy in humans and
others infect a wide range of animals.
● In humans, TB most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), but it
can also affect other organs (extra-pulmonary TB).
● TB is a treatable and curable disease.
● TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with
lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.
● Common symptoms of active lung TB are cough with sputum and blood at
times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.
What steps need to be taken to control TB?
● Nutritional support: It is an important step towards healthy development of TB
patients.
● The growing focus on patient support, addressing stigma, and gendered aspects
of TB is important.
● Bridge the gap between policy intent and on-the-ground realities.
○ For instance, India needs to prioritize targeted interventions aimed at
improving and expanding access to TB diagnosis and treatment.
● Expand the reach of TB testing facilities, particularly in rural and underserved
areas
● Ensure the availability of free, affordable and quality-assured TB drugs.
● Molecular testing is the gold standard and less than a quarter of symptomatic
patients are getting that as their first test.
● Focus on efforts to make care more humane.
○ Mental health support and gender responsive care become critically
important.
● Efforts are needed to strengthen community-based TB care models,
empowering frontline health-care workers to deliver comprehensive care which
addresses treatment and social, economic and mental health needs
○ It is closer to where patients live.
● By supporting frontline TB workers, strengthening supply chains and
procurement mechanisms, decentralizing TB services and empowering local
communities
○ India can reduce stigma, overcome barriers to access and enhance
treatment outcomes.
● Addressing the socio-economic determinants of TB requires a multi-sectoral
approach.
● Poverty alleviation, improvement in nutritional status, well-ventilated housing
and better air quality will all contribute towards reducing TB.
 ● Recent research: It has shown that nutritional supplementation reduced TB
incidence substantially in household contacts of adults with microbiologically
confirmed pulmonary TB.
● By tackling the underlying root causes of TB, India can make significant strides
towards eliminating the disease and improving the overall health and well-being of
its population.

Variants of TB:

● Drug-resistant (DR-TB)
● Totally drug-resistant (TDR-TB)
● Extensively drug-resistant (XDR-TB)
● Pulmonary TB (P-TB)
● Non-pulmonary TB

10-point agenda towards ‘ending TB’:

● Early detection: Given TB’s etiology, early detection is the key.

○ Compulsory screening for family and contacts of each index case is
essential
○ necessitating availability of laboratory facilities and efficient follow-up
mechanisms within health systems.
● Precise treatment categorisation: With increasing DR-TB, it is imperative to
know the resistance status at the time of diagnosis to assign appropriate treatment
regimens as per their phenotypic susceptibility.
● Treatment adherence and follow-up: TB requires a long period of sustained
treatment.
 ○ This leads to non-compliance, which could be due to observable
improvement in health status, or change of residence, movement across
States and districts.
○ The TB control programme has a built-in follow-up system,
■ But compliance to complete treatment is not 100%.
○ Leveraging technology to monitor compliance needs focus.
● Zero mortality: Mitigating mortality due to TB, be it DR-TB or non-pulmonary
TB, is necessary.
● Controlling drug resistance: Poor regulatory mechanisms for drug control and
non-compliance with treatment regimens are the main reasons for such a high
degree of drug resistance.
● Assessing the extent of drug-resistant TB: There needs to be data on the
proportion of people diagnosed with TB who have rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-
TB) and multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB)
○ This is resistance to both rifampicin and isoniazid, collectively referred
to as MDR/RR-TB.
○ It helps in better
■ plan and design of the control programme
■ resource allocation for diagnosis
■ the treatment regime as well as availability of trained staff mandated
for DR-TB.
● Availability of appropriate medicines: Assured medical supply is mandated
under the TB control programme.
○ The procurement challenges for DR-TB medications such as
bedaquiline and delamanid must be addressed
 ○ Ascertaining treatment facilities for all DR-TB cases which require in-
patient care.
● Integration into larger health systems: Strengthening referral networks within
and between different levels of public health systems and private health systems is
vital to ensure
○ no symptomatic cases are lost
○ no patients miss their dosages and are non-compliant
○ the screening of contacts for all positive cases of pulmonary TB cases (DR
or non-DR).
● Dynamic notification system: A robust notification system will ease the burden
of health system personnel. While Ni-kshay has evolved
○ ‘Ni-Kshay-(Ni=End, Kshay=TB) is the web enabled patient management
system for TB control under the National Tuberculosis Elimination
Programme (NTEP)’
○ It requires improvements to capture real-time TB data between sectors,
practitioners, time, and locations.
● Considering population mobility and migration: Portability of TB treatment
within the country is crucial at the policy level.

Initiatives:
Way Forward.
■ The needs and the interests of patients and communities must be prioritized
within the care paradigm and the health-care system.
○ This principle, echoed by survivors, communities, health experts and
policymakers, underscores the need for a person-centered approach to TB
care and management.
■ Leveraging technology and innovation holds promise in enhancing TB care
efforts in India.

■ The adoption of AI and digital health solutions for TB diagnosis, adherence and
surveillance can revolutionize the way TB care is delivered and accessed in the
country.

■ By investing in developing better vaccines, we can hope to ultimately eliminate

this airborne disease.
 ■ The path to TB elimination in India requires a concerted effort to prioritize
person-centered care, address social determinants of health, and embrace
innovation.

■ By adopting a holistic and person-centered approach, India can overcome the

barriers that stand in the way of TB control and create a healthier future for all its
citizens.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the
COVID-19 Pandemic.(UPSC 2020)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
Central transfers — arresting the decline in shares of some States

Source: The Hindu

■ Prelims: Current events of national importance(Federalism, Finance

Commission, Cess and Surcharges, NITI Ayog, etc)
■ Mains GS Paper II & III: Functions and responsibilities of the union and the
states, issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure etc

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ States have been facing a decline in their share out of the resources transferred
from the Centre to the States, from Finance Commission to Finance
Commission as complained by many states.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context
Finance Commission:
The vertical and horizontal dimensions
● The Fourteenth Finance Commission raised the share of States in the
divisible pool of central taxes to 42% from 32%.
○ This was revised to 41% when the number of States in India was
reduced to 28.
● During 2020-21 to 2023-24 (BE): The effective share of States in the
Centre’s gross tax revenues (GTR) averaged close to 31%
○ It was significantly lower than the corresponding share of nearly
35% during 2015-16 to 2019-20.
○ The increase in the share of cesses and surcharges to
18.5(eighteen point five)% of the Centre’s GTR during 2020-21 to
2023-24 (BE) from 12.8(twelve point eight)% during 2015-16 to
2019-20.
Twelfth Finance Commission to the Fifteenth Finance Commission (final report):
● In the case of the southern States, there has been a steady fall in their share,
from 19.785% to 15.800%.
● In a comparison of these two Commissions, the northern and eastern States have
also lost.
● The ‘gainer States’ were the hilly, central, and western States including
Maharashtra.
The distance criterion

● The shares of individual States in tax devolution depend on the criteria and the
weights used by different Commissions.
● The distance criterion has been accorded the highest weight amongst these
criteria.
● Its weight was reduced from 50% to 47.5% by the Thirteenth Finance
Commission and further reduced to 45% by the Fifteenth Finance Commission.
● The Eleventh Finance Commission had given this criterion a weight of 62.5%.
● The equalization principle has been regarded as a key principle governing
distribution. Economic and social justice demand this.
● On account of the distance criterion, low-income States such as Bihar and Uttar

Pradesh have gained over time

○ They have lost on account of other criteria.
● Bihar and Uttar Pradesh show, in terms of their overall share, a loss of 0.970%
points and 1.325% points.

Reasons for loss and gain:

 ● The main reason for the loss of the southern States is the income distance
criterion
○ Distance criterion means that the farther a State is from the highest income
State, the higher its share.
● The main reason for the gain of the hilly States is area/forest criterion.
● Between these two Finance Commissions, the loss to the southern States due to
the distance criterion amounted to 8.055% points
○ The overall loss was much less at 3.985% points, implying that there was
a gain under other criteria.

Population criterion:
 ● Until the Fourteenth Finance Commission, the data for the population in 1971
was used.
● For the Fifteenth Finance Commission, data for the population in 2011 was
used.
● In order not to penalize States that showed better performance in reducing
fertility rates, the demographic change criterion was introduced.
● The joint impact of these two changes has been marginal for all groups of States.
○ For Tamil Nadu, the joint impact was marginally positive.

Way Forward
■ The Sixteenth Finance Commission can consider reducing its weight while
correspondingly raising the weights attached to other criteria.
■ While accepting the recommendation of the Fourteenth Finance Commission
to raise the share of all States to 42% from 32%, the Centre increased the cesses
and surcharges, thereby reducing the size of the divisible pool.
○ This is not desirable.
○ Limit the share of cesses and surcharges to 10% of the Centre’s gross tax
revenues.
■ Address the issue raised by some of the States regarding their declining shares.
○ The major factor contributing to this situation is the adoption of income
distance criterion and giving it a weight as high as 45%.
○ The Finance Commission can reduce the weight of this criterion by 5%
to 10% points.
■ Cesses and surcharges may be subjected to some upper limit by the Sixteenth
Finance Commission.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. How far do you think cooperation, competition and confrontation have shaped
the nature of federation in India ? Cite some recent examples to validate your
answer.(UPSC 2020)
 (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
India’s R&D funding, breaking down the numbers

Source: The Hindu

■ Prelims: GDP, GERD, Department of Science and Technology (DST), new

scientific methods, CSIR etc
■ Mains GS Paper III: Important aspects of technology, Achievements of Indians
in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new
technology etc

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ Interim Budget(2024-25) announced a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore to bolster the
research and innovation ecosystem within the country.
■ Rebranding of the slogan, ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ (by Lal Bahadur Shastri) to
‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan’ (A.B. Vajpayee) to now ‘Jai Jawan, Jai
Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan’ (by the Prime Minister)
■ India’s research and development (R&D) expenditure-GDP ratio of
0.7(zero point seven)% is very low when compared to major economies and
is much below the world average of 1.8(one point eight)%.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context
Research and Development:
● R&D of new products and solutions to diseases are key drivers of economic
performance and social well-being.
● It is important to inculcate scientific temper among masses in order to fight
superstitions and distorted truth.
● Innovation and technological improvement is essential to combat and
adapt to climate change and promote sustainable development.
● It is imperative for combating national security threats like cyber warfare.
 ● The National Science and Technology Management Information System
(NSTMIS) of the DST is the agency that compiles GERD statistics in India.

Reasons for low expenditure on R&D:

● The main reason is the low investment in R&D by the corporate sector.
○ Corporate sector accounts for about two-thirds of gross domestic
expenditure on R&D (GERD) in leading economies,
○ Share in India-37%.

Significance of research and innovation:

● Fuelling economic growth
● Technological advancement
● Global competitiveness.

India’s R&D:
● A notable increase in Gross Expenditure on Research and Development
(GERD) from ₹6,01,968 million in 2010-11 to ₹12,73,810 million in 2020-21.
● Investment as a percentage of GDP standing at 0.64%
● India falls behind major developed and emerging economies such as China
(2.4%), Germany (3.1%), South Korea (4.8%) and the United States (3.5%).
India’s Research output, innovation:

● India has emerged as a powerhouse in producing academic talent.

● Annually, India generates an impressive 40,813 PhDs and is in third place after
the United States and China.
● India’s research output remains substantial, ranking third globally, with over
3,00,000 publications in 2022
○ It highlights the nation’s robust research ecosystem and its commitment
to advancing knowledge across diverse fields.
● Patent grants: India secured the sixth position globally with 30,490 patents
granted in 2022.
○ It is lower compared to the U.S. and China.

Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD):

● It is primarily driven by the government sector, including the central

government (43.7%), State governments (6.7%), Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs) (8.8%), and the public sector industry (4.4%)
 ○ private sector industry contributing only 36.4% during 2020–21.
● Collaboration between the government, business enterprises and HEIs is
essential to maximize the positive impact of science, technology, and innovation
on economic growth and technological advancement.
● According to the R&D statistics (2022-23) of the Department of Science and
Technology: India’s total investment in R&D reached $17.2 billion in 2020-21.
○ 54% ($9.4 billion) is allocated to the government sector
○ It is predominantly utilized by four key scientific agencies
■ Defence Research and Development Organisation (30.7%)
■ Department of Space (18.4%)
■ Indian Council of Agricultural Research (12.4%)
■ Department of Atomic Energy (11.4%).
● A significant portion of R&D funding originates from the government, with
considerable allocation directed towards autonomous R&D laboratories operated
by the government.
○ Laboratories serve a pivotal role in driving research and technology
development with strategic implications.
● The symbiotic relationship between government funding, R&D execution, and
strategic focus underscores the integral role of the government in steering and
fostering key scientific advancements.
● Contribution of private industries lags behind that of many other economies.
○ Indian businesses represent 37% of the country’s GERD, in contrast to
the global trend, where business enterprises typically contribute over 65%
of R&D.
○ In leading innovative economies such as China, Japan, South Korea,
and the U.S., a significant portion (>70%) of R&D funding is from private
industries
○ It is driven by market forces and profit motives, and the actual R&D
activities are conducted in the HEIs.
● Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): HEIs play a comparatively minor role
in the overall R&D investment, contributing 8.8%.

What steps need to be taken?

● Assess the current research and development (R&D) funding landscape in
India and its resulting output:
 ○ Examining India’s comparatively lower R&D expenditure as a percentage
of GDP
○ Output in terms of patent grants, PhDs awarded, and publication outputs.
○ Analyzing the quality of output is imperative in understanding the true
implications of these initiatives.
● A multi-pronged approach involving diverse stakeholders is necessary to
address the challenges and unlock the potential of R&D for India’s economic
growth and competitiveness.
● Learning from the R&D ecosystem in other developed countries while
maintaining India’s strengths in streamlined decision-making and strategic
alignment could be a powerful force to optimize its R&D landscape.
● India must implement policies that incentivise private companies to invest in
R&D.

Impact of initiatives

● India’s technological and manufacturing aspirations hinge on a transformative

shift in its R&D landscape.
● Closing the existing gap demands a dual strategy: It encourages private sector
involvement and fortifies academia’s research infrastructure.
● Initiatives such as the National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) signal a
strong commitment to technological progress and innovation.
○ This policy holds the potential to incentivise private sector engagement
in India’s R&D ecosystem.
● Despite the substantial time and technical uncertainties involved in Deep
Tech’s creation, allocating resources to safeguard intellectual property and tackle
technical obstacles can unlock untapped markets.

Way Forward

■ India’s R&D ecosystem has its advantages in terms of efficiency, but could
benefit more from strong private enterprises involvement and stronger industry-
academia collaboration, facilitating knowledge transfer and fostering innovation.
 ■ The recent enactment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation
(ANRF) Act, underscores the government’s dedication to catalyzing research and
innovation as the cornerstone of development.
○ This legislative move will bolster scientific research nationwide.
○ The Act aims to bridge India’s persistent R&D investment gap while
nurturing a robust research culture within HEIs.
■ This initiative must surmount challenges such as ensuring equitable fund
distribution, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and upholding global
standards.
■ These efforts are poised to elevate R&D spending in India, providing strategic
guidance for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship while encouraging greater
private sector involvement.
■ The interim Budget, combined with the NDTSP and ANRF Act, sends positive
signals regarding India’s commitment to incentivising private sector-led research
and innovation, particularly in burgeoning industries.
■ Transforming India’s R&D statistics truly reflect the R&D ecosystem calls
for short-term and medium-term measures.
○ In the short term, the NSTMIS should use the patents granted data,
both in India and the U.S., in addition to its current method to identify
R&D performing enterprises.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. Why is there so much activity in the field of biotechnology in our country? How
has this activity benefitted the field of biopharma?(UPSC 2018)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
Mountains of plastic are choking the Himalayan States

Source: The Hindu

■ Prelims: current events of national and interventions importance(Plastics,
Microplastics, Himalaya and Himalayan rivers mapping, biodiversity, National
Green Tribunal, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Solid Waste Management
Rules (SWM) 2016, Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules 2016, Extended
 Producer Responsibility (EPR), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban
Transformation (AMRUT) etc
■ Mains GS Paper III: Conservation of Environment, Biodiversity and
Environment(Environmental Pollution and pollutants and degradation)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
■ The National Green Tribunal issued notices to the Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the
Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, the Deputy Commissioner
Lahaul and Spiti and the Panchayat of Koksar in Himachal Pradesh on waste
dumping in eco-sensitive areas by tourists and commercial establishments

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context
Plastics:

● A group of materials, either synthetic or naturally occurring, that may be shaped

when soft and then hardened to retain the given shape.
● Plastics are polymers. A polymer is a substance made of many repeating units
● Plastics can be divided into two general categories:

○ thermoplastics and thermosets.

○ Thermoplastics are defined as polymers that can be melted and recast
almost indefinitely.
○ Thermosets is a polymer that irreversibly becomes rigid when heated
Microplastics:

● They are formed by the degradation and the fragmentation of large plastic pieces
that are improperly disposed of.
● Microplastic deposition and accumulation has been found in the Himalayan
mountains, rivers, lakes and streams.
● Microplastics can be trapped in glaciers for a long time and released into rivers
during snow melting.
Impact on Himalayan ecosystem:

● Unscientific plastic disposal is causing soil and water pollution in the Indian
Himalayan Region
● It is impacting its biodiversity
● Adverse impact on the fresh water sources that communities downstream depend
on.
● Rapid and unplanned urbanisation and changing production and consumption
patterns are responsible for the plastic waste crisis in the Indian Himalayan Region.
● Quantum jump in tourist footfalls is the reason for exacerbation of the problem.

Reports:

● Social Development for Communities (SDC) Foundation

Dehradun(highlighting the plight of towns in Uttarakhand):

○ Almost all the mountain States are drowned in plastics.

● National Green Tribunal issued notices to the MEFCC, CPCB, the Himachal
Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, the Deputy Commissioner Lahaul and
Spiti and the Panchayat of Koksar in Himachal Pradesh

○ on waste dumping in eco-sensitive areas by tourists and commercial

establishments.

● In Assam, at the Ramsar site of Deepor Beel, Greater adjutant storks have been
feasting on the plastic waste in the landfill instead of fish from the wetland.
● In Manipur, growing pollution in rivers(including the Nambul, has been widely
reported.
● The Himalayan Clean up (2018-21):

○ conducted by the Integrated Mountain Initiative with Zero Waste

Himalayas) and the National Productivity Council of India’s waste and
brand audit
 ○ It show increasing plastic waste, especially non-recyclables, in the Indian
Himalayan Region.

● The Himalayan Clean up (2022) waste audit results showed that 92.7% of trash
was plastic, with 72% of waste being non-recyclable plastic

India’s Plastic waste management:

● Environment Action(Swiss-based organization) It calls it Plastic Overshoot

Day.
● In 2023, India reached its plastic overshoot day on January 6
● India has one of the highest mismanaged waste index (MWI), at 98.55%, in
the world (after Kenya, Nigeria and Mozambique)
○ which is the gap in waste management capacity and plastic consumption.
● Statistical analysis(Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) using CPCB
data): India is merely recycling (through mechanical recycling) 12% of its plastic
waste.
○ Close to 20% of this waste is channelised for end-of-life solutions such as
■ co-incineration
■ plastic-to-fuel and road making
■ Burning 20% of our plastic waste and 68% of plastic waste is
unaccounted for

Legal mandate for waste management:

● Regulatory framework:
○ Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM) 2016
○ Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules 2016
○ Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) 2022
● Special needs of hill areas are recognised by the SWM but are not factored in
while creating a mandate for both local bodies and producers, importers and brand
owners (PIBOs),
● PWM and EPR have not recognised the special needs of the hills.
● Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim have special State laws banning the use of
plastics.
 ● Himachal Pradesh has a buy back policy for non-recyclable and single-use
plastic waste.
○ There is still widespread littering of plastic waste.
● Sikkim banned packaged mineral water use from January 2022 and has a fairly
robust regulatory system.
○ In the absence of proper infrastructure to handle plastic waste, the State
is still grappling with the issue.
● Mizoram has been proactive on the regulatory front — the Aizawl Municipal
Corporation made by-laws under the PWM in 2019.
● Tripura has made policy changes, enacted municipal by-laws and has a State-
level task force to eliminate Single Use Plastic though the results are not visible.

What steps need to be taken?

● The collective mandate of SWM/PWM/EPR requires waste segregation at

source.
○ Segregation of different types of plastics is a prerequisite for any strategy
to dispose of plastic waste in a scientific and sustainable manner.
● Under the SWM, PWM and EPR, the task of waste management from
collection to its scientific disposal is the duty of local bodies.
○ They can take help from PIBOs for the setting up and operationalisation
of the plastic waste management system, as mandated under the EPR.
● Though local bodies are the pivot of the waste management system in the
country, a commensurate devolution of power to them is still work in progress.
○ Few States have enacted model by-laws and very few local bodies
themselves have made by-laws to operationalise the mandate.
● There is a need to include traditional institutions within the definition of local
bodies when it comes to the Indian Himalayan Region (prevalent in many States in
the northeast).
○ Under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and the Fifteenth Finance
Commission, money was allocated to these traditional institutions

Way Forward
■ There is a need for appropriate resource allocation and support that is
considerate of and reflective of the rich biodiversity, ecological sensitivity and
fragility of the Indian Himalayan Region
 ○ Besides taking into account the specific geographical challenges of
mountain waste management.
■ Empowering local bodies and creating the necessary infrastructure for waste
management need immediate attention.
■ Segregation of waste and the participation of the people in this endeavor with
the help of sustained public education campaigns are a sine qua non.
■ Geographical neutrality of targets under the EPR could be countered if the
higher cost of EPR operationalisation in the mountain region is given its due
consideration.
■ The value of the EPR certificate which is earned by a PIBO in the Indian
Himalayan Region could be higher than one earned in the rest of the country for
every ton of plastic waste processed.
■ Data gaps in terms of the quantum and quality of waste being generated in the
Indian Himalayan Region States should be plugged.
■ Convergence in existing schemes such as SBM, the Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Finance Commission’s grants could
be used to create the infrastructure, maintain and run operations.
■ The Swachh Bharat Kosh Trust set up to facilitate the channelisation of
philanthropic contributions and corporate social responsibility funds towards this
cause could also be used to augment resources.
■ The Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
and Smart Cities Scheme under which many cities in the Indian Himalayan
Region are selected
○ They could work in convergence on the issue of scientific waste
management and making cities in the Indian Himalayan Region free of
plastic
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
Q. Discuss several ways in which microorganisms can help in meeting the current
fuel shortage.(UPSC 2022)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
Green jobs and the problem of gender disparity

Source: The Hindu

Prelims: Current events of national importance, Environmental pollution and

degradation(ILO, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII, science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM), COP28 etc
Mains GS Paper III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation,Solar
energy and its use in different sectors particularly agriculture etc.
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ A study in 2023 by the Skill Council for Green Jobs indicated that 85% of
the training for green skills was imparted to men while over 90% of
women believed that social norms limited their participation in training for
green jobs.
■ The transition to low-carbon development has the potential to add about
35 million green jobs in India by 2047.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context
Green jobs:

● They are a class of jobs that directly have a positive impact on the planet, and

contribute to the overall environmental welfare.

● They’re aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of economic

sectors and furthering the process of creating a low-carbon economy.

● Jobs involving renewable energy, conservation of resources, ensuring energy

efficient means are categorized under the same.
 ● The International Labour Organization defines green jobs as “decent jobs
that contribute to preservation or restoration of the environment”.

● They span across sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, renewable

energy, energy efficiency and automobiles, which traditionally saw a lower
representation of women.

Gender parity:

● Globally, men are likely to transition to green jobs faster than women.

● India increased its renewable energy capacity by 250% between 2015 to

2021,

○ women comprising merely 11% of workers in the solar rooftop

sector.

● The Annual Survey of Industries 2019-20 shows that women workers are
mostly concentrated in industries such as apparel, textile, leather, food, and
tobacco.

● Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) 2019 report shows that men

comprise 85% of the workforce in sectors such as infrastructure, transport,
construction, and manufacturing.
● A study in 2023 by the Skill Council for Green Jobs indicated that 85% of
the training for green skills was imparted to men
○ over 90% of women believed that social norms limited their
participation in training for green jobs.
● Restrictive social norms include factors such as the belief that women are
unsuitable for certain technical roles, safety concerns, lower representation in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects, and
familial constraints.

How to address the gaps in data?

● Mapping emerging areas for green growth and collecting sex-disaggregated
data on green jobs could be the starting point to improve women’s
participation.
● Build evidence on the present and future impact of low-carbon transitions
on women workers and entrepreneurs while considering the hidden and
invisible roles played by women across different sectors and geographies.
○ Conducting gender analysis,
○ Collecting gender statistics on green jobs through periodic labor
force surveys
○ Mobilizing additional resources to emphasize
○ Encourage women’s role in the green transition.
● In a critical stride towards justice and inclusivity in transition planning:
COP 28’s high-level dialogue launched ‘Gender-Responsive Just
Transitions and Climate Action Partnership’ with a focus on improved
data, targeted finance, and skill development.
● There is need to ensure that women can access emerging opportunities

from low-carbon transitions.

● There is a strong need to review the status quo, map the current roles of
women
○ address structural barriers that hinder women’s employment
choices
○ create a conducive ecosystem to foster their participation in green
jobs.
● In India: despite 42.7% of the total number of STEM graduates being
women
○ They represent only 30.8% in engineering, manufacturing and
construction programmes which are the key sectors for green
transition.
 ○ Early hands-on learning, mentorship, scholarships, financial
assistance, and awareness generation are crucial to empower women
in green jobs-related fields.
● Supporting women entrepreneurs: Gender-focused financial policies and
products catering to the requirements of women entrepreneurs can spur
their ability to enter the green transition market.
● Collateral-free lending, financial literacy training and building
supportive networks are crucial steps to unlock their potential.
● Suitable tools must be developed to assess creditworthiness, disburse
loans, and reduce operational costs for women-owned businesses.

Way Forward

■ As India embraces a green transition, empowering women and advancing

gender equity in climate actions will be one of the keys to unlock the co-
benefits of a low-carbon and environmentally sustainable economy.
■ Bringing in more women into leadership positions to incorporate gender-
specific needs in low-carbon development strategies can promote women’s
integration in green jobs.
■ A gender-just transition demands a multi-pronged strategy that focuses on
employment, social protection, reduces the burden of care work, and enables
skill development.
■ Partnerships across government, private sector and other stakeholders
are necessary to leverage the benefits of innovation, technology and finance
for women entrepreneurs and workers.
■ Businesses must recognise the centrality of gender justice and ensure
equity throughout the process of green transition
 ○ By mitigating barriers that exist due to stereotyping or gender bias
and fostering equitable job opportunities for a just transition that
benefits everyone.
■ Build the capacity and support women in meeting the demands of the
new world of work and co-design a future pathway that is socially equitable
and inclusive for all

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and
space?(UPSC 2019)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
The need to curb black carbon emissions

Source: The Hindu

■ Prelims: Current events of international importance, carbon tax, black carbon,

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY),COP, etc
■ Mains GS Paper II: Bilateral, regional and global grouping and agreements
involving India or affecting India’s interests, Important international
institutions etc

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ At the COP26 climate in Glasgow(2021). India pledged to achieve net-zero
emissions by 2070.
■ According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India has
installed a renewable energy capacity of over 180 GW by 2023 and is
expected to meet its target of 500 GW by 2030.
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Black carbon:

● It is the dark, sooty material emitted alongside other pollutants when

biomass and fossil fuels are not fully combusted.
● It contributes to global warming and poses severe risks.
● There is a direct link between exposure to black carbon and a higher risk
of heart disease, birth complications, and premature death.
● Most black carbon emissions in India arise from burning biomass, such as
cow dung or straw, in traditional cookstoves.
● According to study(2016):
○ The residential sector contributes 47% of India’s total black carbon
emissions.
○ Industries contribute a further 22%, diesel vehicles 17%
○ open burning 12%, and other sources 2%.

Role of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY):

 ● It provides free liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections to households
below the poverty line.
● Primary objective was to make clean cooking fuel available to rural and poor
households and reduce their dependence on traditional cooking fuels.
● The PMUY has established infrastructure to go with LPG connections,
including free gas stoves, deposits for LPG cylinders, and a distribution
network.
● The programme has played a vital role in reducing black carbon emissions.
○ It offers a cleaner alternative to traditional fuel consumption.
● The programme has provided connections to over 10 crore households as
of January 2024.

Issues:

● According to RTI data(2022-2023): 25% of all PMUY beneficiaries availed

either zero LPG refill or only one LPG refill
○ They still relied entirely on traditional biomass for cooking.
● The average PMUY beneficiary household consumes only 3.5-4 LPG
cylinders per year instead of the six or seven a regular non-PMUY household
uses.
○ Half of all the energy needs of a PMUY beneficiary household are still
met by traditional fuels.
● A shortage of LPG and higher usage of traditional fuels affect women and
children disproportionately.
○ They are more prone to higher levels of indoor air pollution,
causing many health issues and leading to premature deaths.
● In October 2023, the government increased the LPG subsidy to ₹300
from ₹200. But rapid increase in LPG prices over the last five years
 ○ most PMUY beneficiaries find the price too high
○ Cow dung, firewood, etc. are ‘free’ alternatives.
● Lack of last-mile connectivity in the LPG distribution network:
○ It results in remote rural areas depending mostly on biomass.
○ It can be solved by The local production of coal-bed methane
(CBM) gas by composting biomass.
○ CBM is a much cleaner fuel with lower black-carbon emissions and
investment.
○ Panchayats can take the initiative to produce CBM gas locally at the
village level, ensuring every rural household can access clean cooking
fuel.

Way Forward
■ As India navigates its responsibilities on the global stage towards long-
term decarbonisation, there is an urgent need to act.
■ Prioritizing black carbon reduction through initiatives such as the PMUY
scheme can help India become a global leader in addressing regional health
concerns
○ It will help meet its Sustainability Development Goal of providing
affordable clean energy to everyone and contributing to global climate
mitigation.
■ A high carbon tax across China, the U.S., India, Russia, and Japan alone
(more than 60% of global effluents), with complementary actions, could have
a notable effect on global effluents and warming
○ It could also pave the way to seeing decarbonisation as a winning
development formula.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties
(COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
What are the commitments made by the India conference? (UPSC 2021)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
A vaccine that prevents six cancers

Source: The Hindu

■ Prelims: Current events of national importance, cervical cancer, Government
policies, universal immunization programme, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) etc
■ Mains GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development in
various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementations etc

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ January was observed as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
■ March 4 is observed as International HPV Awareness Day.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context
Cervical cancer:

● It is the second-most common cancer among women in India, mostly

affecting the middle-aged.

● With 1,23,907 new cases and 77,348 deaths in the year 2022, India

contributed to one-fifth of the global burden.

● Main cause: Presence of persistent high-risk type of Human Papilloma

Virus (HPV) infection

○ co-factors like low socioeconomic conditions, low immunity status,

other genital infections, smoking etc, that facilitate initiation and

progression to cancer.

● Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if detected early.

● Most cervical cancer and precancer cases can be detected in the

reproductive age group.

● Cervical cancer has a long pre-invasive phase that lasts for 10–15 years.

○ This provides a window of opportunity to detect and treat the

neoplasia in pre-invasive stages

● Cervical cancer is detected and managed at an early stage, it is found to

have over 93 percent cure rate.

● Cervical cancer can be prevented through HPV vaccination of girls.

● It is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide

● cervical cancer claims the lives of more than 3,00,000 women every year,

or one life every two minutes.

 ● Nine out of 10 women dying of cervical cancer live in lower- and middle-

income countries.

India:

● Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer after breast cancer.

○ About 500 million women above the age of 15 are at risk of cervical

cancer.

● With the current population growth rate, the absolute number of new

cases of cervical cancer for all ages in India in 2040 is estimated to be

1,91,347

○ An increase of 54% over the number of new cases reported in 2020.

Reasons for high mortality:

● Lack of awareness

● Fear of cancer

● Early symptoms of disease not being evident

● Women not being screened

Strategies for prevention

 ● Knowledge of HPV epidemiology and its role in causation of cancer has
resulted in the development of two major strategies for prevention and early
detection:
○ HPV vaccination and screening for precancerous lesions.
● WHO’s strategy outlines a 90-70-90 triple pillar intervention to be
implemented by 2030 with an additional focus on high-quality health care
and equitable health care services.
○ Targets are:
■ 90% of girls must be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by
the age of 15
■ 70% of women must be screened using a high-performance
screening test by the age of 35 and again by 45
■ 90% of women detected with cervical pre-cancer and cancer
lesions must receive treatment and care.
● Accelerating global health pathways: to health equity for the G20: It
highlighted the commitment of India’s G20 presidency to promoting equitable
access to vaccines, particularly for lower- and middle-income countries.
● The HPV vaccine was introduced in India in 2008.
○ It is part of the Universal Immunization Programme from 2023.

Challenges:

● Research indicates that the HPV vaccine is not widely accessible to all girls
across India.
○ It is available in the private market at a significant out-of-pocket
cost.
● Many physicians underestimate the incidence and risk of cervical cancer
and the HPV infection.
● Physicians underestimate the safety and effectiveness of HPV vaccines.
● The lack of trust in vaccine safety and effectiveness leads to hesitation in
recommending the HPV vaccine to parents of age-eligible adolescents.
 ● Physicians hesitate to recommend this cancer prevention vaccination
because HPV infections are primarily transmitted through intimate skin-to-
skin contact.
● Feeling that it might be time-consuming to answer parents’ questions
regarding myths and misinformation about the HPV vaccine.

HPV vaccine:(Cervavac)

● It is a quadrivalent vaccines, developed by the Serum Institute of India.

● It prevents the entry of four of the most common types of HPV 16, 18, 6
and 11 thereby preventing infections, genital warts, and eventually cancer.
● It will be used in the government campaign.
● The vaccine has to be administered in adolescent girls before they are
sexually active.

Way Forward.
■ The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India
(FOGSI) and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP): It has joined hands
to remind member obstetricians-gynecologists and pediatricians about
the facts of HPV vaccination
○ share best practices for effectively communicating with parents
about this cancer-preventing vaccine.

■ This safe and effective vaccine can help prevent six HPV cancers.
○ Five of these occur in women: vulvar, anal, vaginal, throat, and
cervical.
■ Recommending the HPV vaccine to all adolescents starting at age 9
years is part of completing the IAP immunization schedule.
 ○ The FOGSI Good Clinical Practice Recommendations: It reinforced
its recommendation for HPV vaccination to the primary age group of 9-
14 years as well as regular screening for every woman above the age of
30 years.
■ The FOGSI and IAP seek to ensure that every girl grows up protected from
cervical cancer through HPV vaccination and every woman is protected
through regular cervical screening.

○ They are creating at least 20,000 HPV physician champions in their

cadres by mid-2024.

○ The member physicians will share the importance of HPV

vaccination among their peers and the community at large.

■ Physicians are the most respected leaders in society and the trusted
source for health-related information. Their leadership is needed to eliminate
cervical cancer in India.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the
COVID-19 Pandemic.(UPSC 2020)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
The tale of ‘have money, buy miracle drug’

Source: The Hindu

■ Prelims: Miracle drug, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, magic injection, Adcetris,
Cancer drugs, standing committee on health, WHO, CDK etc
■ Mains GS Paper II: Science and technology- developments and their
applications and effects in everyday life, biotechnology and issues related to IPR
etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ The press releases by global pharma companies advising patients not to use
magic injections that guarantee weight loss in India do not get any publicity in
the media.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context

Magic injection:

● It contains a drug called Semaglutide.

● It is Originally used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, this drug
also results in weight loss.
● It has not been approved for sale in India but is being administered by
doctors to patients who are mostly affluent.

Trials, sale approval in India:

● Drugs are normally approved for sale in India only after the Indian
subsidiary or licensee of the global brand owner conducts clinical trials.
● Once approved, the regulator mandates monitoring and reporting all
adverse events for two years.
● Global pharma companies sometimes choose to stay out of the Indian
market and not launch drugs in India.
○ In such circumstances, patients can get a license from the drug
regulator based on a doctor’s prescription to import these drugs for
personal use.
○ Hospitals too can apply for import licenses.
● Drug needs to be tested in clinical trials in India and is available for sale
only after approval by the drug regulator.

Issues with miracle drugs:

● Unapproved “miracle drugs”: there have been no clinical trials in India.

 ● It’s not known if Indians will react differently to the drug.
● Doctors in India will be unable to know how patients who may be taking
other drugs for ailments such as diabetes and hypertension in India (that
are not prescribed in most developed countries), will react to these injections.

Case of using drugs without approval:

● Spurious imported drugs such as Adcetris, a drug used to treat a type of

blood cancer.
● The drug regulator only issued an alert regarding spurious drugs after the
WHO issued in September 2023
● This alert was delayed by two years as the arrests made by the Mumbai
police in October 2021
● It raises the question of how sure doctors are that the unapproved
imported drugs they are administering are not dangerous fakes.

Compulsory Licensing:
● It allows governments to license third parties (that is, parties other than
the patent holders) to produce and market a patented product or process
without the consent of patent owners.
● Any time after three years from date of sealing of a patent, application for
compulsory license can be made, provided:
1. Reasonable requirements of the public have not been satisfied.
2. Patented invention is not available to public at a reasonably affordable price
3. Patented inventions are not carried out in India.
● Compulsory Licencing is regulated under the Indian Patent Act, 1970.
● The TRIPS Agreement does not specifically list the reasons that might be
used to justify compulsory licensing.
● Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health confirms that countries are
free to determine the grounds for granting compulsory licenses, and to
determine what constitutes a national emergency.
Evergreening:
● It is the practice of companies filing for an extension of a patent with minor
process or product modifications just before the original patent expires at
the end of 20 years.

Way Forward
■ The doctors should be sure of the provenance of these drugs before
administering them.
■ The Supreme Court has interpreted right to life as the most precious
human right:“ark of all other rights must be interpreted in a broad and
expansive spirit so as to invest it with significance and vitality which may
endure for years to come and enhance the dignity of the individual and the
worth of the human person”.
■ According to the WHO Constitution: “enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being”.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. How is the Government of India protecting traditional knowledge of medicine
from patenting by pharmaceutical companies?(UPSC 2019)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)

EDITORIAL ANALYSIS
A bold step towards a cervical cancer-free future

Source: The Hindu

■ Prelims: Current events of national importance, cervical cancer, Government
policies, universal immunization programme, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) etc
■ Mains GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development in
various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementations etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
■ The government's support in encouraging the vaccination of girls (9-14
years) against cervical cancer stands out as a pivotal move towards
safeguarding women’s well-being.
■ January was observed as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context
Cervical cancer:

● It is the second-most common cancer among women in India, mostly

affecting the middle-aged.

● With 1,23,907 new cases and 77,348 deaths in the year 2022, India

contributed to one-fifth of the global burden.

● Main cause: Presence of persistent high-risk type of Human Papilloma

Virus (HPV) infection

○ co-factors like low socioeconomic conditions, low immunity status,

other genital infections, smoking etc, that facilitate initiation and

progression to cancer.
 ● Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if detected early.

● Most cervical cancer and precancer cases can be detected in the

reproductive age group.

● Cervical cancer has a long pre-invasive phase that lasts for 10–15 years.

○ This provides a window of opportunity to detect and treat the

neoplasia in pre-invasive stages

● Cervical cancer is detected and managed at an early stage, it is found to

have over 93 percent cure rate.

● Cervical cancer can be prevented through HPV vaccination of girls.

● It is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide

● cervical cancer claims the lives of more than 3,00,000 women every year,

or one life every two minutes.

● Nine out of 10 women dying of cervical cancer live in lower- and middle-

income countries.

90-70-90’ targets, global programmes:

● WHO outlined the ‘90-70-90’ targets by 2030

● 90% of girls to be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15
● 70% of women undergo cervical cancer screening tests by the age of 35 and
45
● 90% of women with cervical cancer to be treated.
● These targets represent milestones in the global effort to eradicate cervical
cancer
 ● They highlight the pivotal role of India’s call for HPV vaccination in
achieving this goal.

Global stand:

● Over 100 countries have implemented HPV vaccination programmes.

● Scotland: There has been no reported cases of cervical cancer among
women born between 1988 and 1996 who received full HPV vaccination
between the ages of 12 and 13.
● Australia: initiated HPV vaccination for girls in 2007 and expanded to
include boys in 2013, is poised to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035.
● HPV vaccination campaign in Rwanda, Africa, has significantly reduced the
prevalence of vaccine-targeted HPV types
○ Among women who participated in their catch-up programme in
2011.
● Six out of the 11 South East Asia Region countries have introduced the
HPV vaccine nationwide, i.e., Bhutan, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Sri
Lanka, and Thailand.
● Bhutan was the first low-middle income country (LMIC) to introduce a
nationwide HPV vaccination programme for girls (12 to 18 years) in 2010
○ It achieved an initial coverage of 95% of targeted girls.
○ Bhutan is one of the only LMICs to have begun vaccinating boys as
well (in 2021).

The Sikkim model

● Sikkim’s exemplary approach to HPV vaccination is an example of an

effective public health strategy.
 ● Targeted efforts to educate teachers, parents, girls, health-care workers,
and the media about the benefits of the HPV vaccine
○ Sikkim achieved vaccination coverage of 97% during its campaign
rollout in 2018.

HPV vaccine and India(Indigenous quadrivalent vaccine, Cervavac)

● Developed by the Serum Institute of India in collaboration with the
Department of Biotechnology
● Cervavac is cheaper than available vaccines
● It prevents the entry of four of the most common types of HPV 16, 18, 6
and 11 thereby preventing infections, genital warts, and eventually cancer.
● It will be used in the government campaign.
● The vaccine has to be administered in adolescent girls before they are
sexually active.

Expansion of vaccination programme:

● There is also an opportunity to include adolescent boys, thereby maximizing
the impact of HPV vaccination in preventing HPV transmission and HPV-
related diseases.
● In line with recent evidence, it has been recognised that one dose of HPV
vaccine provides similar protection to that provided by two or three doses.

How to address the challenges associated with vaccine hesitancy?

● Concerted efforts are needed to engage communities, dispel
misinformation, and strengthen health-care infrastructure.
● The interim Budget also announced the rollout of U-WIN throughout the
country.
○ U-WIN, like Co-WIN is a portal that will maintain an electronic registry
of all immunisations across the country and enable vaccination
programmes to be responsive in real time.
● Ensuring access to vaccination services is imperative, particularly in
underserved populations.
● To improve demand among the community, awareness must be improved.
 ● Vaccine hesitancy, fuelled by myths and misinformation, poses a
significant barrier to the acceptance of HPV vaccines across different regions.
● Utilizing diverse channels such as social media and community workshops
can amplify reach.
● Including HPV information in health education in schools can be a step to
generate demand among adolescents.
● Collaborations between government agencies, community partners,
health-care providers, and civil society organizations will be instrumental in
building trust and ensuring the success of HPV vaccination programmes.
● Build upon our experiences of the successful nationwide rollout of
COVID-19 vaccines amidst a landscape of pervasive digital and mass
misinformation.
● Public-private partnerships are instrumental in ensuring equitable access
to vaccination services, thereby advancing the collective goal of safeguarding
women’s health against cervical cancer.

Way Forward.

■ India’s track record in vaccination campaigns, exemplified by the

widespread acceptance and coverage of the COVID-19 vaccine, instill
confidence in the feasibility of scaling up HPV vaccination efforts.

■ India’s ability to reach remote and underserved populations highlights

the inclusivity and accessibility of its vaccination programmes, laying a solid
foundation for the success of the HPV vaccination initiative.
■ The importance of HPV vaccination extends beyond individual health
outcomes.
 ○ It has the potential to alleviate the societal and economic burden of
cervical cancer.
■ Cervical cancer predominantly strikes women during their prime years,
exerting a profound toll on both their families and communities.
■ Premature deaths of young mothers due to cervical cancer negatively
impact health and education outcomes in children.
○ By preventing HPV infections, vaccination diminishes the
occurrence of cervical cancer and its associated health-care expenses,
ultimately fostering the overall welfare and productivity of women.

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Q. Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the
COVID-19 Pandemic.(UPSC 2020)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)