CNA 08 Feb 2023:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related C. GS 3 Related SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. CAR T-cell therapy: the next step towards a holistic treatment of cancer D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials HEALTH 1. Neglecting the health sector has consequences POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. The 30 crore missing voters are mostly young, urban, or migrants INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. A quick reset F. Prelims Facts G. Tidbits 1. LWE-related violence down by 76% in 2022 from cases in 2010 2. Turkey, Syria thank India for rescue teams, aid H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
C. GS 3 Related
Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. CAR T-cell therapy: the next step towards a holistic treatment of cancer
Syllabus: Science and Technology – developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Prelims: About CAR T-cell therapy
Mains: CAR T-cell therapy – working, significance, application, key issues and the way forward.
Context
CAR T-cell therapy is a new development in the available treatment of cancer which is currently attracting the attention of several researchers across the world.
Details
- Traditionally, there have been three major types of treatment for any type of cancer, they are:
- Surgery: Involves removal of the cancer.
- Radiotherapy: Involves delivering ionising radiation to the tumour in order to cure cancer.
- Systemic therapy: In this type of treatment medicines are administered that act on the tumour.
- While surgery and radiotherapy forms of treatments have been refined over the years, systemic therapy methods have experienced significant advances.
- Chemotherapy was the earliest form of systemic therapy. However, it was seen that the chemotherapeutic therapy had lower response rates along with significant potential side effects which affected various other essential cells in the body.
- Immunotherapy was the next stage of advancement in systemic therapy. In this case, the drugs bind themselves to specific immune cancer cells that aid the tumour to grow and spread faster.
- Despite having fewer side effects the treatment through immunotherapy was limited as it is effective only against tumours that express these target cells.
- CAR T-cell therapy is a development that has evolved due to the advances in systemic therapy treatment of cancer.
CAR T-cell therapy
Image Source: National Cancer Institute (USA)
- Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, unlike chemotherapy or immunotherapy methods, use a patient’s own cells to treat cancer.
- This nature of the therapy negates the need for the mass production of injectable or oral medications which are required for administering chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
- In CAR T-cell therapy, a patient’s own cells are modified in a lab to activate their T-cells to attack tumours. Thus this form of therapy is regarded as “living drugs”.
- T cells or T lymphocytes are a type of leukocytes (white blood cells) that are important cells in the human immune system.
- Researchers modify the t-cells so that the cells express specific proteins called chimeric antigen receptors (CAR).
- CAR proteins have an affinity towards proteins existing on the surface of tumour cells. Hence the modification to express CAR proteins helps the CAR T-cells to bind to the tumour more effectively which facilitates the direct attack of tumour cells.
- Further, the modified t-cells are infused back into the patient’s bloodstream after preparing them in such a way that they multiply more effectively.
- These infused t-cells are more specific than targeted agents therefore they directly activate the patient’s immune system against cancer. This makes the treatment more clinically effective as compared to other forms of systemic therapy.
- The final step in the destruction of tumorous cells involves their clearance by the patient’s immune system.
Applications of CAR T-cell therapy
- At present, CAR T-cell therapies have been approved for treating leukaemias (arising from the cells that produce white blood cells) and lymphomas (arising from the lymphatic system).
- These types of cancers are caused due to unregulated reproduction of a single clone of cells i.e. a single type of cell producing millions of identical copies.
- Since identical types of cells are involved, CAR T-cell therapies are very much consistent and reliable in treating such types of cancers.
- Further, CAR T-cell therapy is also used to treat cancers that have reappeared after an initial successful treatment or to treat cancers that have not responded to previous combinations of chemotherapy or immunotherapy treatments.
Key concerns associated with the use of CAR T-cell therapy
- The efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy is about 90% when it is used to treat certain types of cancers such as leukaemias and lymphomas. However, the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy is significantly lower when used to treat other types of cancers.
- CAR T-cells lack the ability to bind on highly heterogeneous cancers which do not have a consistent target cell.
- There have been reports of potential side effects which include cytokine release syndrome which is a result of widespread activation of the immune system. This syndrome can cause significant collateral damage to the other normal cells.
- Furthermore, neurological side effects such as severe confusion, seizures, and speech impairment are also reported.
- Additionally, the complexity of preparing CAR T-cells has also been a key challenge to the use of CAR T-cell therapies.
- The cost associated with the administration of CAR T-cell therapy is also very high.
CAR T-cell therapy in India
- The first indigenously developed therapy in India was successfully performed in 2022.
- There are two main challenges in introducing CAR T-cell therapy on a larger scale. They are cost and value.
- Critics believe that developing new facilities in India to facilitate CAR T-cell therapy may be redundant as CAR T-cell therapy is unaffordable to most Indians.
- However, investments in developing new facilities and such technologies in India have the potential to reduce the cost of treatment.
- Further, trials are being undertaken to develop CAR T-cell therapy indigenously which helps to cut down the cost and the preliminary results have been positive.
Nut graf: With India looking at 3 crore cancer cases by 2025, the advancements and the efficacies of cancer therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy have provided the much-needed hope to fight the dreaded disease. However, there is still a need to promote the development of therapies with fewer side effects and that are affordable to the general public.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
1. Neglecting the health sector has consequences
Syllabus: GS-2, Issues related to health.
Mains: Budget allocations for the health sector and associated concerns.
Context: Allocations for the health sector in Budget 2023-24.
Details:
- Budgets validate the true intent and vision of the government. They help in furthering the equitable access of all citizens to basic public goods. For instance,
- In the U.K., the National Health Service was launched soon after World War II to revive society. The social economist William Beveridge envisioned the welfare state and proposed to address ‘five giant evils’ namely ‘want, disease, ignorance, squalor, and idleness’.
- In the context of India, the investments should be prioritized towards basic services like nutrition, health, employment, education, environment, sanitation, and hygiene.
- However, it is argued that there are stagnant allocations in the Budget 2023-24 for health, nutrition, and education. It is also said the majority of investments are focused on highways, speed trains, and airports.
Also read: Union Budget 2023 Summary
Some provisions of Budget 2023-24:
- The Budget 2023-24 has made the following provisions:
- Providing free foodgrains to almost 80 crore poor people
- Development of 500 backward blocks
- Expanding access to housing, clean water, and toilets
- Facilitating employment through the rural employment guarantee scheme
- Providing skill development opportunities to the youth
- However, such provisions can provide only partial gains and do not address the concern of widening inequality. Ensuring universal access to high-quality education, healthcare, and nutrition (not just food grains but essential elements like protein) is imperative for sustainable and long-term growth.
Associated Concerns:
- According to some studies in the U.S., it was found that after the Reagan era, innovation and scientific capability were hampered when public investment in education was decreased to push privatization.
- In Nicaragua, despite an economic downturn, the country invested in education and health.
- It is argued that the budget is disappointing as:
- It is found that 230 million people slid into poverty due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- According to the ASER report, many Class 5 students are unable to read a Class 2 textbook.
- As per NFHS-5, among the children aged below five years, 35.5% were stunted and 32.1% were underweight.
- The disease burden is increasing due to non-communicable diseases, mental health, and geriatric care.
- The Budget allocation for midday meals was reduced by 9%, despite the fact that enrolment has shifted from private to public schools due to increasing unaffordability at private schools.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore three major fault lines:
- Lack of financial risk protection: Due to inadequate risk protection, citizens incurred huge expenses that are estimated to be above ₹70,000 crore.
- Inadequate primary healthcare system: It resulted in a large number of avoidable deaths, specifically in North India.
- Absence of district hospitals: It was found that there is a huge absence of well-equipped and operational district hospitals.
- Apart from these, the pandemic also highlighted the need to invest in building disease surveillance systems and strengthening resilience.
- It also displayed the chaotic regulatory framework and infirmities and conflict of interest in various existing laws.
Also read: Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS)
Way Ahead:
- The government should firewall its citizens from any such eventuality by improving its healthcare sector.
- A political leadership adequately backed by funds is required to rebuild the public health system, promote scientific research, and expand health security.
- The lessons learned during the pandemic should be imbibed while taking future actions.
Nut Graf: Adequate allocations for the healthcare sector are crucial as neglecting it and denying critical investments in the sector can have serious consequences. It is thus suggested that the government should infuse more resources into basic public services (health and education being the most important).
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. The 30 crore missing voters are mostly young, urban, or migrants
Syllabus: GS-2, Elections.
Mains: Voter turnout in India.
Details:
- There is a four-fold increase in the number of voters in India since 1962. It reached above 94.5 crores on January 2023.
- However, nearly one-third did not exercise their franchise in the 17th Lok Sabha Election (2019). It is recognized by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that people from urban areas, young voters, and migrants formed a major chunk of the 30 crore missing voters in the 17th Lok Sabha election.
- It was found that during the State Assembly elections in Gujarat (2022), major cities in Gujarat not only recorded a decline in voting percentage (in comparison to the 2017 elections) but also voted much less than the State average.
- In order to take the voter turnout to 75%, ECI has adopted a multipronged strategy including awareness campaigns and introducing remote voting systems.
- In December 2022, ECI announced that it has developed a prototype for a Multi-Constituency Remote Electronic Voting Machine that would enable remote voting by migrant voters.
Also read: Lok Sabha
Statistical Details:
- Notably, the voter turnout has increased significantly in the past few years and has crossed the 65% mark in the last two general elections (2014 and 2019).
Figure: Number of electors and voter turnout in the last 15 Lok Sabha Elections
Image Source: The Hindu
- However, still, 35% of voters remain absent from the process. ECI has highlighted urban apathy to be a major reason behind it.
- It is found that constituencies with the lowest voter turnout in the 2019 general elections are either in the capital district or the urban centres of the state. For example, in Karnataka, the constituencies recording the lowest voter turnout were Bangalore South, Bangalore Central, and Bangalore North (all three seats from the capital city of Karnataka).
- The number of voters registered in India is almost four times that of the U.S. (the second among the top 10 countries with registered electors in parliamentary/presidential elections).
Figure: Number of registered voters (in crores) in select countries
Image Source: The Hindu
- India, with a voter turnout of 67.1% in the Seventeenth Lok Sabha elections, was positioned 74th among the 162 countries whose data were compared.
- The vote share in India lagged behind the turnouts recorded in Bangladesh (80%), Brazil (79.2%), and Sri Lanka (75%). However, it was better that the turnouts in Pakistan (50%), Russia (51%), and Nepal (61%).
Also read: Sansad TV Perspective: Remote Voting – for Domestic Migrants
Nut Graf: Despite an increase in the voter turnout in the Lok Sabha elections, one-third of voters still remain absent from the process. Election Commission is taking several steps to increase the share of voters to 75% through awareness campaigns and remote voting for migrants.
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Syllabus: GS-2, Bilateral relations with developed countries.
Mains: India-Canada relations.
Context: Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly visited New Delhi on 6th-7th February 2023.
Details:
- India is ramping up its international outreach during the G20 presidency. And in this direction, improving ties with Canada is on the government’s agenda.
- India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar hosted the Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly for bilateral talks on 6th-7th February 2023. Another visit of the Minister to New Delhi is scheduled on March 2023. And later in the year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend the G-20 summit.
- Another factor for the acceleration in bilateral relations is Canada’s deteriorating ties with China. In November 2023, Canada announced its new Indo-Pacific Strategy that highlighted China as an “increasingly disruptive global power”. Moreover, India was referred to as a “critical partner” of Canada with shared traditions of democracy and pluralism.
- Additionally, Canada’s search for new markets to diversify its economic engagement coincides with India’s ambition for free trade agreements with many countries. The officials from both countries are working on the “Early Progress Trade Agreement”.
- Both countries are also hopeful of securing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
- The relations between India and Canada went through a low in 2018. Canada also criticized the Indian government in 2020-21 for farmers’ agitation (as a result diplomatic activities were cancelled).
- The ties regained traction when the leaders of the two countries met on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Germany (2022).
Existing issues:
- India has expressed concerns about the resurgence of Khalistani separatism and calls for a “referendum” among the Sikh community in Canada. India has also objected to incidents of vandalism and violence targeting the Indian community in Canada.
- Moreover, Canada’s pronouncements on the internal affairs of India like the rights and freedoms are also risky for diplomatic ties.
India-Canada Relations:
- Canada hosts a massive Indian diaspora and Indian students.
- Canada was one of the first countries that were associated with India’s nuclear programme. However, the relationship ruptured after India’s nuclear tests in 1974.
- The relations improved slightly in the 1980s but it was again distorted as Canada provided shelter to separatist Khalistani groups that were accused of the 1985 bombing of an Air India flight.
- The ties were once again restored in 2010, with the visit of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Canada and through an agreement on civil nuclear cooperation.
Also read: India-Canada Bilateral Ties
Nut Graf: The India-Canada relationship has fluctuated a lot in the past. The current efforts to strengthen it are steps in the right direction for both strategic and economic gains. However, both countries should focus on side-stepping the possible political pitfalls along the way.
F. Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today!!!
G. Tidbits
1. LWE-related violence down by 76% in 2022 from cases in 2010
- The Union Home Minister while chairing the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Left-wing Extremism (LWE) has said that violence related to LWE had declined by 76% in 2022 as compared to 2010.
- He further added that the number of deaths of civilians and security forces was under 100 in 2020 for the first time in about 40 years.
- The number of districts affected has also reduced from 90 to 45.
- According to the Home Minister, LWE-related violence has come down mainly due to the success of the Centre’s three-pronged strategy which involves:
- Adoption of a resolute approach to curb extremist violence
- Better coordination with the affected States
- Development through public participation
- Furthermore, the Border Security Force’s (BSF) air wing has been strengthened with the induction of new pilots and engineers which has helped to choke the funding of banned outfits.
Also read – Sansad TV Perspective: Tackling Left Wing Extremism
2. Turkey, Syria thank India for rescue teams, aid
- Against the backdrop of a significant earthquake in and around Turkey and Syria, India has dispatched relief materials which include a 30-bed field hospital and rescue and medical personnel as part of Humanitarian And Disaster Relief efforts to assist the earthquake-hit region.
- Further, dog squads, Search and Rescue Equipment (SAR), and extrication tools such as drilling machines and vehicles were also dispatched.
- The Turkish Ambassador has said that the first 24-48 hours after a disaster are most critical and India’s offer of help at this critical juncture is very timely and very welcome.
- He further added that the crisis management team in India reached out in the first few hours of the quake and India sent help immediately which is a sign of a real friendship.
- The Syrian Ambassador has also said that “Whenever Syria needed something, India responded soon” describing India’s support as a sign of South-South solidarity.
Know more about – India-Turkey Relations
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements: (Level – Moderate)
- The rate at which the central bank extends a short-term loan to the commercial bank is called the repo rate.
- Under the expansionary monetary policy, RBI reduces the repo rate and the bank rate to increase liquidity in the banking sector.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, Repo rate or repurchase rate is referred to as the rate at which the central bank (RBI) lends money to commercial banks for meeting short-term fund requirements in order to maintain liquidity and control inflation.
- Statement 2 is correct, Under the expansionary monetary policy, RBI reduces the repo rate and the bank rate in order to increase liquidity in the banking sector.
Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR): (Level – Moderate)
- It is a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Women & Child Development.
- It has a chairperson and six members, out of which at least two are women.
- The members of the commission are appointed by the Central Government for five years.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
- 3 only
- 2 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is a statutory body established in 2007 under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
- NCPCR functions under the Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India.
- Statement 2 is correct, The commission consists of a chairperson who is a person of eminence and six members, out of which at least two are women.
- Statement 3 is not correct, The Chairperson and every Member of NCPCR hold the office for a term of three years from the date on which they assume the office.
Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA): (Level – Difficult)
- It is a network project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
- Its aim is to study the impact of climate change on agriculture.
- The project studies crops, livestock, horticulture as well as fisheries to develop and promote climate-resilient technologies in agriculture.
How many of these statements is/are correct?
- One statement only
- Two statements only
- All three statements
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, NICRA is a network project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched in February 2011.
- Statement 2 is correct, NICRA aims at strategic research on adaptation and mitigation, demonstration of technologies on farmers’ fields and creating awareness among farmers and other stakeholders to minimize the climatic change impacts on agriculture.
- Statement 3 is correct, The project studies crops, livestock, horticulture, poultry and fisheries to develop and promote climate-resilient technologies in agriculture.
Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to the National Commission for Women: (Level – Moderate)
- It is a constitutional body.
- It was set up to review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women.
- It enjoys the powers of a civil court.
How many of the given statements is/are INCORRECT?
- One statement only
- Two statements only
- All three statements only
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is not correct, The National Commission for Women was set up as a statutory body in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
- Statement 2 is correct, The National Commission for Women was established to review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women.
- Statement 3 is correct, The Commission recommends remedial legislative measures, facilitates redressal of grievances and advises the government on all policy matters affecting women.
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- It enjoys all the powers of a civil court.
Q5. Turkey is located between: (Level – Easy) [PYQ-2014]
- Black Sea and Caspian Sea
- Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea
- Gulf of Suez and Mediterranean Sea
- Gulf of Aqaba and Dead Sea
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
Image Source: World Atlas
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- India and Canada have shared a complicated yet important relationship. Examine. (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-2, IR]
- Budgetary expenditure in India on health and education has remained historically low. Evaluate. (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-3, Economy]
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 08 Feb 2023:- Download PDF Here
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