CNA 12 Aug 2022:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related GOVERNANCE 1. Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 SOCIAL JUSTICE 1. Drug Shortages C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials SOCIAL JUSTICE 1. Survey data on poverty and broad policy pointers F. Prelims Facts 1. Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill 2021 G. Tidbits H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
1. Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022
Syllabus: Government policies and interventions
Mains: Reforms in Criminal Procedure laws
Context: According to the Union Home Affairs Ministry’s notification, the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 came into effect on August 4, 2022.
Introduction:
- The Act gives legal sanction to law enforcement agencies for “taking measurements of convicts and other persons for the purposes of identification and investigation of criminal matters”.
- It also repeals the existing Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920.
Read more on the Provisions of Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022.
Need for identification details in criminal trials:
- To determine the identity of the culprit against the person being arrested.
- To easily detect suspected repetition of similar offenses by the same person.
- To establish a previous conviction.
Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920
- The Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920 was enacted when the recording of novel forms of evidence such as fingerprints, footprints and other measurements started becoming more reliable and accurate.
- It was to overcome increasing instances of prisoners refusing to allow their fingerprints or photographs to be recorded.
What was the need to replace the original act?
- The Supreme Court highlighted the need for an amendment to this law in the State of UP vs Ram Babu Misra case, 1980.
- Following this, the 87th Law Commission report in 1980 undertook a review of this law and recommended several amendments to extend the scope of the law.
- The Law Commission Report also notes that the need for an amendment is reflected by the numerous amendments made to the Act by several States.
- Advancements in forensics facilitated various types of “measurements” which are not in the parent Act that can be used by law enforcement agencies for investigation.
Comparison between both Acts:
Image Source: The Hindu
Conclusion: Even though the police have powers of arrest, the mere arrest does not give them the right to search a person. The police require legal sanctions to search the person and collect evidence. These legal sanctions are designed so as to maintain a balance between the rights of an individual and the interests of society in the prosecution and prevention of offenses.
Nut Graf: The recently notified Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022 that seeks to address various issues of the outdated parent law is facing opposition because of the concerns of privacy and ambiguity. These need to be addressed by the associated Rules balancing the rights of individuals and the interests of society.
Syllabus: Health-related issues
Mains: HIV treatment protocol
Context: People have been protesting outside the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) office for over 15 days against drug shortages for HIV-positive people.
What is the Issue?
- Protestors allege arbitrary change in the drug regimen, rationing of medicines, and even complete deprivation of life-saving pediatric drugs leading to interruption in treatment resulting in drug resistance and deaths from AIDS.
- In December 2021, various states across the country started witnessing a shortage of certain drugs such as Dolutegravir 50 mg, Lopinavir/Ritonavir (adult and child doses), and Abacavir at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres.
- The NACO is a nodal agency responsible for overlooking and coordinating activities of the National AIDS Control Programme. It functions under the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
- As per data provided by NACO, 95% of the recipients had not faced any shortage. This means 5% of 14.5 lakh that is 72,500 people, are being affected by the current shortage and stock-out.
- There are several complaints of NACO not considering the treatment protocol.
Treatment Protocol: Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
- ART is the medication used to stop HIV from reproducing.
- If the individual takes ART as prescribed, their viral load can become undetectable and CD4 cells will be protected to a certain extent.
- If the HIV stays undetectable, the infected individuals can live long, healthy lives and have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to others.
- The standard treatment consists of a combination of a minimum of 3 drugs that suppress HIV replication. Three drugs are used in order to reduce the likelihood of the virus developing resistance.
Components of ART therapy
- A combination of 3 or more antiretroviral medicines is more effective by WHO standards
- Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors – abacavir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir.
- Protease inhibitors (PIs) – atazanavir, darunavir, and ritonavir.
- Non Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) – efavirenz, etravirine, and nevirapine.
- Integrase inhibitors – dolutegravir and raltegravir.
- Entry inhibitors – enfuvirtide and maraviroc.
Response by the administration:
- NACO has requested all State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) to change existing treatment regimens as an interim measure to deal with the countrywide stock-out. This request did not take into consideration existing treatment protocols.
- If there is an anticipated shortage at ART centres, various proactive steps were undertaken to ensure uninterrupted supply, through immediate relocation from nearby ART centres or from other States in consultation with the concerned SACS.
- District and State AIDS Control Societies have the authority to do emergency local procurement from their budgeted grant-in-aid provided by the Union government under the National AIDS Control Programme.
- Certain SACS have procured small quantities of the drugs locally as an interim measure. But a quality test revealed that some drugs did not meet the quality standards prescribed by the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules, raising concern about substandard drugs entering the supply chain.
Read more on AIDS in India.
Nut Graf: The HIV-positive community seeks streamlining of central procurement of HIV medicines and an uninterrupted supply of crucial medicines to safeguard the right to life of millions in the country who are at risk due to recent drug shortages across the country.
C. GS 3 Related
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D. GS 4 Related
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E. Editorials
1. Survey data on poverty and broad policy pointers
Syllabus: Issues relating to poverty
Prelims: About National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)
Mains: Significance of Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), issues with the quality of NFHS data and the way forward
Context
This article talks about the quality of the survey data used to assess poverty in India.
Details
- Recently based on the multidimensional poverty measurement, it was found that the Poverty Ratio in Tamil Nadu reduced to 1.57% in 2020-21 from 4.89% in 2015-16.
- The above data is obtained based on the fourth and fifth rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS).
- Experts have raised questions about the authenticity and quality of such NFHS data.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS)
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Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) based on NFHS data
- NITI Aayog, which was provided with a large amount of sample survey data of NFHS 4, estimated the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and published the baseline report in 2021.
- MPI was estimated based on the theory that poverty is a result of continuous deprivations in various aspects like attainments in health, education, and standard of living.
- The NITI Aayog recognised 12 factors in the above three aspects and estimated the weighted average of deprivations in each of these 12 factors for all individuals surveyed in NFHS 4.
- Individuals are regarded as “multidimensionally poor” if the total weighted deprivation score is found to be over 0.33.
- The share of the population with a deprivation score of over 0.33 to the total population is said to be the Poverty Ratio or Head Count Ratio.
- The Intensity of Poverty is another key metric that can be estimated based on the NFHS data.
- The Intensity of Poverty is the weighted-average deprivation score of the multidimensionally poor.
- Example: If the Intensity of Poverty in Tamil Nadu has reduced from 39.97% to 38.78%, it suggests that the amount of multiple deprivations of the poor has only reduced slightly in these five years and has to be the focus area for policymakers.
- The MPI is a product of the Head Count Ratio and Intensity of Poverty.
- The MPI for Tamil Nadu declined from 0.020 to 0.006. This rapid reduction in MPI is mainly because of a greater decline in Head Count Ratio as compared to Intensity of Poverty.
- Experts say that any further reduction in MPI in Tamil Nadu must take place only after addressing all the dimensions of poverty and reducing its intensity.
Read more about – Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)
Significance of MPI
- MPI is the most efficient method to identify the total share of the population who are regarded as deprived in most of the indicators.
- MPI methods help address deprivations in all the factors of health, education, and standard of living.
- MPI also indicates that the total share of the population who are identified as deprived individually in a few of the factors (the non-poor may also be deprived in a few of these indicators, but not as much to be classified as multidimensionally poor) is higher than the population identified as multidimensionally poor.
- This provides a new aspect to the public policy interventions, which says that poverty control measures should not only be multidimensional but also universal.
- Further, with the help of NFHS data, Head Count Ratio and Intensity of Poverty can be estimated for each district and classified based on gender, rural and urban, and other dimensions.
Quality of NFHS data
- Experts raise various concerns regarding the quality of survey data.
- Economists and statisticians have raised questions about National Sample Survey Organisation’s (NSSO) sample surveys both with respect to sampling and non-sample errors.
- NSSO has made efforts in recent years to improve its sampling design and reduce non-sampling errors.
- Similarly, NFHS data has also been criticised for its arbitrariness in reporting the age of the dead, differences in data quality between educated and uneducated respondents, etc. which are crucial indicators for the health and welfare of citizens.
- Experts have pointed out discrepancies in the metrics of pregnancy, the intensity of poverty and deprivation in terms of nutrition, maternal health and schooling.
- Further, the deprivation indicators with respect to drinking water and sanitation are also said to be skewed.
Way forward
- It is important to adopt a universal approach rather than a targeted approach to address poverty to reduce the Intensity of Poverty along with the Poverty Ratio or Head Count Ratio.
- Important interventions must also take into account the ground-level realities as the survey data provides only broad-level policy pointers.
- Efforts must be undertaken to improve the sample design, response quality and reduce sampling and non-sample errors in various key surveys of the country.
Nut graf: Multidimensional poverty measurements and their components are extremely significant in understanding poverty as a whole and other key information that are important for interventions. However, the authenticity of such measurements depends on the quality of NFHS data, therefore efforts must be made to improve the quality of such surveys.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill 2021
Syllabus: Biodiversity and Environment- Conservation
Prelims: Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
Context: Recently, the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2021 was passed in Lok Sabha.
What is the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Bill 2021?
- The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change introduced the bill in the 2021 winter session.
- The bill seeks to amend the Wild Life Protection Act,1972 (WLPA) to increase the species protected under the law and implement the CITES.
- The Bill inserts a new schedule to WLPA for specimens listed in the Appendices under CITES (scheduled specimens).
- The Bill empowers the Union government to regulate or prohibit the import, possession or trade of invasive alien species.
- The Bill empowers the Union government to notify a conservation reserve for protecting flora and fauna, and their habitat. Earlier, under the Act, only state governments could declare areas adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries as conservation reserves.
- As per the provisions of the Bill, the Union government can designate a management authority to grant export or import permits for the trade of specimens and the Scientific Authority to advise on aspects related to the impact on the survival of the specimens being traded.
- The Bill increases the fines for violating the provisions of the Act.
G. Tidbits
Nothing here for today!!!
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to Vice-President of India: (Level- Easy)
- To be eligible for election as Vice-President, he/she should be qualified for election as a member of the lower house.
- The oath of office to the Vice-President is administered by the Chief Justice of India and in his absence, the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court available.
- If the office falls vacant by resignation, removal, death or otherwise, then an election to fill the vacancy should be held within six months from the date of the occurrence of such a vacancy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is incorrect, An Indian citizen who has completed 35 years of age is qualified to become the Vice-President of India given he is also qualified to be a Rajya Sabha/Upper House member.
- Statement 2 is incorrect, The President of India administers the oath to the vice president.
- Statement 3 is incorrect, there is no provision of a ‘six-month’ time frame to fill the vacancy to the post of Vice president as in the case for the President of India in the Indian Constitution.
Read more on the Vice President of India.
Q2. With respect to Elephants, which of the following statements is/are correct? (Level-Medium)
- Asian Elephant is listed as Endangered on the IUCN red list.
- Only some male Asian elephants have tusks, while both male and female African elephants grow tusks.
- There are two species of African elephants—the savanna (or bush) elephant and the forest elephant. Forest elephants are larger than Savanna elephants, and their tusks curve outwards.
Options:
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, The Asian elephant has been listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List since 1986 as the elephant population has declined over the last 60-55 years.
- Statement 2 is correct, Only some male Asian elephants have tusks, while both male and female African elephants grow tusks.
- Statement 3 is incorrect, The African elephant was recently split into two different species, the African forest elephant and the African savanna elephant, by IUCN.
- Critically Endangered African savanna elephants are larger and their tusks curve outward. The tusks of the Endangered African forest elephant are straighter, pointing downward, and they have more rounded ears.
Image Credit: Elephant Aid International
Q3. The United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 39 (1948) is concerned with (Level-Medium)
- Admission of new Members to the UN
- Israel-Palestine political solution
- Resolution of the Kashmir conflict
- The situation concerning Iraq
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: United Nations Security Council Resolution 39, adopted on January 20, 1948, offered to assist in the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir Conflict by setting up a commission of three members.
Q4. Consider the following Pairs: (Level-Difficult)
Waterfalls State
- Kunchikal Falls Karnataka
- Barehipani Falls Odisha
- Nohkalikai Falls Meghalaya
- Vajrai Falls Maharashtra
- Wei Sawdong Falls Mizoram
Which of the above is/are correctly matched?
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 3, 4 and 5 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Pair one is correctly matched, Kunchikal Falls is formed by Varahi River in Shimoga district of Karnataka. It is India’s highest waterfall with a height of 1493 feet.
- Pair two is correctly matched, Barehipani Falls is a two-tiered waterfall located in Simlipal National Park, Odisha. The waterfall is situated on the Budhabalanga river flowing over the Meghasani mountain of the Eastern Ghats.
- Pair three is correctly matched, Nohkalikai Falls is the tallest plunge waterfall in India with a height of 340 meters. It is located in Meghalaya. Nohkalikai Falls is located on the edge of the Cherrapunji Plateau and is always fed by the rain.
- Pair four is correctly matched, The Vajrai Waterfall is located on the Urmodi river in Maharashtra. It is the second highest plunge waterfall in India with a drop of 335 meters.
- Pair five is incorrectly matched, Wei Sawdong Falls is a three-tiered waterfall located in Meghalaya.
Read more on the highest waterfalls in India.
Q5. With reference to Convertible Bonds, consider the following statements: (Level-Medium) (CSE-Prelims-2022)
- As there is an option to exchange the bond for equity, Convertible Bonds pay a lower rate of interest.
- The option to convert to equity affords the bondholder a degree of indexation to rising consumer prices.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, Convertible bonds offer a lower coupon rate in exchange for the value of the option to convert the bond into common stock.
- Statement 2 is correct, The option to convert to equity affords the bondholder a degree of indexation to rising consumer prices as equity prices can differ widely from the given interest and the difference in that can be used as a hedge for the inflation.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Discuss the various initiatives taken by the Indian government to counter the problem of HIV in India. Evaluate the performance of such initiatives. (250 words; 15 marks)(GS II-Health)
- Discuss the merits and demerits of offering medical education in vernacular languages in India. (250 words; 15 marks)(GS II-Governance)
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 12 Aug 2022:- Download PDF Here
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