30 July 2023 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related C. GS 3 Related ECONOMY 1. Turbulence hits UDAN scheme, 50% routes grounded SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. Threat of dengue fever escalates globally D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials ECONOMY/ SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. Mapping India’s chip design ecosystem INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Why has Israel plunged into a crisis? SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY/ ETHICS 1. Are human challenge studies effective? F. Prelims Facts 1. India’s tiger population goes up, M.P. has most big cats LS G. Tidbits 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
1. Turbulence hits UDAN scheme, 50% routes grounded
Syllabus: Infrastructure- Airports
Prelims: RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme)
Mains: Concerns and challenges of UDAN scheme
Context:
- Government claims the biggest success in aviation is construction of 74 airports in 7 years but there are certain concerns regarding this claim.
Details:
- Out of 74 airports constructed in past 7 years, only 11 built from scratch (greenfield); 15 already fallen into disuse.
- There has been a collapse of almost half of the Routes launched under the Regional Connectivity Scheme(RCS).
- Airport development has primarily been undertaken under the RCS, which was launched in 2017 to improve air connectivity for smaller cities and to redevelop under-utilised airports
- Involved the revival of old airstrips that were either lying unused or were used sparsely.
- The government launched 479 routes to revive these airports, out of which 225 have since ceased operations
- Of the 74 New airports, 9 are heliports while 2 are waterdromes.
- These two waterdromes, built for seaplanes between Gujarat’s Gandhinagar and the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, closed down soon after the Prime Minister launched them in October 2020, as SpiceJet discontinued its flights after a “change in technical requirements”
About UDAN Scheme
- It was launched as a Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016, to provide affordable, economically viable and profitable air travel on regional routes to the common man even in small towns
- UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik), Launched with the aim of taking flying to the masses by improving air connectivity for Tier-2 and -3 cities
- Done by subsidizing the routes.
- Routes are awarded after a bidding process, and the winning airlines are given certain incentives, along with viability gap funding (or a subsidy) equivalent to 50% of the seating capacity on their aircraft. In return, the airlines sell 50% of their seats at a flat rate of ₹2,500 per hour of flight, in order to make air travel affordable.
- The scheme also set aside a sum of ₹4,500 crore to revive old airports by recarpeting runways and erecting terminal buildings. Of these, 46 airports have been redeveloped by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the remaining by State governments and public sector units (PSUs).
- Phases of RCS
- Phase 1: 2017, to connect unserved and underserved airports
- Phase 2: 2018, expanding air connectivity to more remote and inaccessible parts.
- Phase 3: Nov 2018, Hilly and remote regions.
- Phase 4: Dec 2019, islands and other remote areas.
- Phase 5: April 2023
- Category 2 (20-80 seater) and Category 3 (>80 seats) aircrafts
- No predetermined routes would be offered
- Exclusivity of operation given to an airline will be withdrawn if the average quarterly Passenger Load Factor (PLF) is higher than 75% for four consecutive quarters
Concerns:
- Cost of the subsidy is borne by Indian airlines flying on non-RCS routes, who pay an RCS levy of ₹15,000 per departure (As per April 2023).
- The airlines further pass the levy on their passengers on non-RCS flights (CROSS-SUBSIDIZATION).
- Of the 225 routes that have ceased operations, 128 routes shut down even before completing the mandatory three-year period under the scheme.
- Airlines found 70 of these routes to be commercially unviable despite the subsidy, while the remaining 58 have been cancelled due to “non-compliance” by the airline operator or the airline surrendering routes, or the airline companies shutting down.
- 97 routes shut down after completing the three-year period during which the government provides support.
- The objective of the scheme was that after the three-year period, airlines would be able to sustain operations on their own without government support, but out of the 155 routes that have completed three years, only 58 have survived.
BIGGEST PROBLEMS:
- The airlines are not finding adequate footfall.
- Aviation Sector is already stressed.
- Fast trains like Vande Bharat are a big competition.
Conclusion: Airlines should undertake marketing initiatives so that more and more people can take advantage of the UDAN scheme.
Nut Graf: More infrastructure is required for the successful implementation of the scheme across the country. Stakeholders should work towards making the UDAN scheme sustainable on its own and improve its efficiency.
Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Threat of dengue fever escalates globally
Syllabus: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Prelims: Dengue Virus, vaccines
Context: The recent surge in dengue cases globally, including in new regions has been alarming and poses significant global health challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) forecasts the possibility of record-level cases this year due to global warming favouring disease-transmitting mosquitoes
About dengue:
- Highly prevalent infectious disease (400mn people per year-WHO)
- Virus: Dengue Virus (DENV); RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family with four serotypes (DENV-1 to 4).
- Vector: Aedes Aegypti (also spreads Chikungunya, Zika, Mayaro, Yellow Fever)
Details about the 2023 Outbreaks
- Since the beginning of 2023, several regions in America have witnessed significant dengue outbreaks, reporting over two million cases till July, with Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia having recorded the highest number of cases this year.
- Several countries in the Americas have reported a co-circulation of all four DENV serotypes.
- The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned of an increase in DENV infections across the region. In 2022, Europe saw a significant rise in locally acquired dengue cases.
- Reason: Changing climatic conditions in Europe, such as increased heat waves, floods, and prolonged hot summers, have created favorable environments for dengue-causing mosquito species.
- July 2023: outbreak of dengue fever reported in Egypt’s Qena province after several positive cases.
- Sudan recorded its first-ever dengue case in February, even though it is not considered endemic in the Middle East due to unfavorable climate conditions.
- While the Middle East has experienced some outbreaks, they have been relatively small in scale compared to countries in Asia.
Situation In India
- Dengue cases have soared in India, mostly due to heavy rains and inadequate control measures.
- States like Kerala, Odisha, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Karnataka are reporting large numbers of dengue cases.
Preventive Measures?
- While public health measures are being implemented to control the spread of the disease, individual awareness and responsibility play a crucial role.
- Vaccination.
- Continued research and collaboration, including genomic surveillance of the virus, are essential to understanding the evolution and adaptation of the virus.
Dengue vaccines
- The reason why dengue vaccines are so difficult to manufacture is that they need to be effective on all 4 strains.
- As of now, only 2 dengue vaccines have been approved for usage.
- Dengvaxia: French company Sanofi. Only for those people who have had Dengue previously, or those who live in an area where the majority population has been previously infected. In people who have never had the infection, this vaccine can increase the risk of severe dengue.
- Qdenga: Japanese company Takeds, it can be used by people who have not had an infection history.
- India’s first and only DNA Vaccine candidate for dengue has shown promising results in its preliminary trials. This vaccine is being developed by the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore.
Conclusion: We need to focus on Developing effective strategies to combat dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases and safeguard global health and well-being.
Nut Graf: Continued research and collaboration, including genomic surveillance of the virus, are essential to understanding the evolution and adaptation of the virus.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: ECONOMY/ SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Mapping India’s chip design ecosystem
Syllabus: Manufacturing and Indigenisation of technology
Mains: Importance and Challenges in Indian Chip Designing Sector
Context:
- As part of the second phase of the design-linked incentive (DLI) scheme for the domestic semiconductor industry, the Indian government is considering a proposal to pick an equity stake in domestic chip design-making companies.
- This is to ensure a stable ecosystem alongside building a few “fabless companies”.
Industry Challenge
- Highly capital-intensive sector: involves sizeable costs in setting up fabrication units, upscaling manufacturing capabilities and equipment (such as thermal stimulators, sensors), and pushing research.
- Also, returns are not immediate as setting up design and fabrication units involves long gestation periods.
- We are continuously trying to reduce size of chips: requires extensive research.
- Supply chain disruptions can dampen investor confidence.
- Thus, any policy for the sector needs to be long-term and well thought.
Indian Chip Designing Sector
- Highly-skilled talent pool of semiconductor design engineers, who make up about 20% of the world’s workforce.
- About 2,000 integrated circuits and chips are designed in India every year.
- Global players operating R&D in the country include Intel, Micron and Qualcomm.
- But very low proportion of IP related to their design is owned by India.
How DLI scheme wants to change this?
- Introduced in December 2021 Under Semicon India Program (SemiconIndia futureDESIGN initiative)
- It wants to indigenise innovations.
- It aspires to grow at least 20 companies in India scaling a turnover of more than ₹1,500 crore in the next five years.
- For product design, the scheme will reimburse up to 50% of the eligible expenditure to a ceiling of ₹15 crore per application.
- Already, 30 semiconductor design startups have been established in India following the initiative.
Also read India Semiconductor Mission.
Challenges and Opportunities
- Lack of venture capitalists in the private sector focused on semiconductors in India.
- Higher gestation periods imply design firms are not able to attract potential investors and venture capitalists as software companies have.
- Expert Opinion: government’s attempt to become a venture capital firm for chip design companies is likely to be “ineffective and inefficient” as companies are naturally going to pick foreign buyers because it gives them higher valuation and also connects them to a global ecosystem of customers and investors
- Others say: But the government’s participation would help with regulatory support. Also, added trust.
- Government equity would prevent companies from selling their majority stake to large global players to scale up the business.
- Will be encouraging for local, small, and medium-sized firms who face multiple hurdles to be part of the ecosystem.
Read more on Semiconductor Shortage.
Conclusion:
The ‘Semicon India 2023’ highlights investment opportunities in India’s semiconductor sector. Our PM said the fourth industrial revolution currently underway was being driven by India’s aspirations and the recent proposal will give a boost to this.
Nut Graf: The Indian government’s proposal to pick an equity stake in domestic chip design-making companies is an opportunity for the sector however there are also some concerns regarding this decision.
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Why has Israel plunged into a crisis?
Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s Interests
Mains: Impact of Israel crisis on India
Context
- On July 24th 2023 Israel’s governing coalition passed a critical part of its judicial overhaul plan in the Knesset that would curtail the Supreme Court’s oversight powers of government decisions.
- Israel has seen months of protests against the right-religious government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary.
What is the bill exactly about?
- Abolishes the “reasonable doctrine”, which the top court has often employed to assess key government decisions and ministerial appointments.
- In Israel, which does not have a written Constitution, courts cannot measure government decisions constitutionally, but the reasonability doctrine has worked as a critical judicial check on executive decisions.
- The court could determine whether a government decision or a ministerial appointment is sensible and fair and nullify it if needed.
Read more on Israel Judicial Reform.
Other Proposals?
- Curtailing judicial review over legislation and then empower Parliament to override court decisions with an absolute majority of 61 votes (out of 120).
- The government also seeks to take greater control of judicial appointments. Currently chosen by 9-member panel (three Supreme Court judges (including the court president), two members of the Israeli Bar Association, two members from Parliament, and two from the government (Ministers)).
- Government wants to replace Bar Asso. Members with two “public representatives” picked by the government.
- Another proposal seeks to do away with the legal obligation for Ministers to follow the advice given by their legal advisers (which in turn are guided by the Attorney-General)
Why is this being done?
- Over the years, Israel’s polity (and its Parliament) has shifted rightward, while the judiciary did not.
- The Right has criticised the judiciary for blocking its legislative and governmental pushes aimed at transforming Israeli society and expanding settlements in the Palestinian territories.
- Israel’s Opposition and civil society accuse the government of trying to undermine the country’s democracy from within. Critics fear that if that system is torn down, it would leave Israel’s government, controlled by rightwing and religious parties, very powerful, turning the country into a de facto authoritarian theocracy.
Any similarities with India?
- Basic Structure Doctrine (KBC 1973)
- 42nd CAA: Curtailed Judicial review powers of High Courts; unlimited power of Parliament to amend the constitution.
- 44th CAA: Reversed above
- Minerva Mills Case 1980: Constitution and not the Parliament is Supreme. Judicial Review, Fundamental Rights and DPSP are a part of Judicial Review. The government does not have unlimited right to amend the constitution (limiting amending power itself is a basic feature of constitution).
- Schedule 9: Supreme Court has said that any laws under this schedule will be open to examination if they violate FRs or basic Structure of constitution.
What can happen next?
- Civil society groups have filed petitions in the Supreme Court asking it to strike down the legislation.
- The country’s top court has said that it would review the challenges, and asked the defendants to submit a response at least 10 days before the preliminary hearing. The Supreme Court has the powers to review Knesset laws, but here the contradiction is that the law is in the Supreme Court’s powers.
- So the judges would be reviewing a law passed in Parliament that curtails their own powers.
- This sets the country on the path of a constitutional showdown. While the legal challenges would take time, it’s to be seen what Israel’s government would be doing with its newly acquired powers.
- The far-right wants to give military service exemption to religious Jews and expand settlements in the West Bank. They also want to introduce other parts of the judicial overhaul plan in the Knesset.
Nut Graf: The solution for the Israel crisis depends on the different stakeholders and the government and Supreme court of Israel should make sure that country does not fall into a constitutional showdown.
Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY/ ETHICS
1. Are human challenge studies effective?
Syllabus: Advances in science and technology and Ethics
Mains: Importance of Bio-ethics in Human Challenge Studies
Context
- The Bio-ethics committee of ICMR has posted the consensus statement for the ethical conduct of controlled human infection studies (CHIS), also known as human challenge studies, in India.
Details:
- Bio-ethics committee is an advisory unit of ICMR.
- Undertakes ethical review of the policies, reports, and other documents, and encourages institutes across India to improve communication and build capacity regarding the same.
- Also collaborates with national and international institutes and agencies for promotion of ethics in medicine.
Human Challenge Studies
- Human beings are exposed to diseases to learn more about them.
- Not a new phenomenon globally, but never formally done in India before.
- Conducted to understand the various facets of infectious microbes and the diseases or conditions caused by such pathogens.
Need in India?
- Disease burden and mortality due to infectious diseases is high in India (30%).
- Help in providing better insight into multiple aspects of even well-studied pathogens, infection, transmission, disease pathogenesis, and prevention.
- Will help supplement traditional clinical studies and speed up the process of finding safe and effective interventions in the form of drugs and/or vaccines.
- Many infectious diseases endemic to developing world, and resistance to existing drugs is increasing.
Difference between traditional and challenge studies
- Fundamental difference: Nature of Exposure to pathogens.
- Traditional trials: participants are strongly advised to adopt and adhere to safety measures to avoid getting infected and infection is left to chance
- Challenge study: Participants deliberately exposed to disease-causing pathogens
- Traditional clinical trials are undertaken to study the safety and efficacy of drugs and vaccines, whereas human challenge studies are carried out to understand the various facets of infection and disease pathogenesis besides selecting the best candidate drug or vaccine.
- While the adverse effects of the candidate drugs or vaccines are not known in both the studies (safety is evaluated for the first time in humans during the phase-1 stage of a traditional trial), volunteers in a human challenge trial face an additional risk when deliberately exposed to the pathogen.
- Human challenge studies are often undertaken to study “less deadly diseases” such as influenza, dengue, typhoid, cholera, and malaria, unlike in traditional clinical studies.
Any safeguards followed?
- Except in very rare cases, as in the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, the infectious agents that are tested in human challenge studies are well-known and studied. To reduce harm to the participants, a weaker or less virulent form of the pathogen is used.
- Availability of Rescue Remedy is an important requirement to prevent the disease from progressing to its severe form.
The Challenging Ethics
- Participants are deliberately exposed, so risks are high. Therefore they need to be properly informed of these risks. (CHALLENGE 1)
- ICMR statement allows only healthy individuals in the 18-45 years age bracket.
- Participants with pre-existing medical conditions are to be excluded but very often people are unaware of many medical conditions. This makes it essential to carry out detailed medical examinations of the participants before enrolment. (CHALLENGE 2)
- According to the consensus statement, information on payment for participation should be mentioned in the consent form but the exact amount of payment for participation is to be revealed: “only after the volunteer has consented to participate”. Money cannot be used to entice people. (Was done for covaxine trials in Bhopal) (CHALLENGE 3)
- Important to have a rescue remedy (CHALLENGE 4)
- It remains to be seen how “informed” will be the informed consent, especially when the pathogen is studied in specific age groups such as children or disadvantaged groups, given the riskier nature of human challenge trials and the compulsion to get people enrolled in the new research methodology. (CHALLENGE 5)
Conclusion:
Human Challenge Studies will be successful and helpful to humans only when Participants are fully aware of the risk and have full awareness about it.
Nut Graf: Ethics will play an important role in the success of Human Challenge Studies and would lead to inclusive growth.
F. Prelims Facts
1. India’s tiger population goes up, M.P. has most big cats
- India’s tiger population increased to 3,682 in 2022, up from 2,967 in 2018. (upward revision from 3167 in April 2023).
- Average figure for a population that likely ranges between 3,167 and 3,925.
- Tiger numbers are estimated based on the number of unique tigers captured on camera, plus an estimate of animals that may not have been photographed.
- Highest in MP (785), followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).
- 1/4th of tigers found outside protected areas.
- 53 tiger reserves (2.3% of Indian land): Corbett National park- Tiger reserve with highest tiger population (260), followed by Bandipur (150), and Nagarhole (141).
Source: The hindu
- Central India, the Shivalik Hills, and the Gangetic plains witnessed increases in tiger population, particularly in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra.
- Certain regions, such as the Western Ghats, experienced localised declines, needing targeted monitoring and conservation efforts.
- Decline in Mizoram, Nagaland, Jharkhand, Goa, Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh.
- 35% of the tiger reserves urgently required enhanced protection measures, habitat restoration, ungulate (deer, chital, blackbuck) augmentation, and subsequent tiger reintroduction
- Since 2014, India’s tiger numbers have been increasing at 5% to 6% each year.
Read more on Tiger Census Report 2022-23.
G. Tidbits
Nothing here for today!!!
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. With reference to the RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme), consider the following statements:
- It was launched to enhance regional air connectivity and make flying affordable for the common citizens of India.
- Under this scheme, airline operators are provided financial incentives and concessions to operate flights to underserved and unserved airports.
- The implementing authority for the scheme is the Airport Authority of India.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- None
- Only two
- All three
- Only one
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation: The RCS, or UDAN, aims to enhance regional air connectivity, affordability, and develop underserved airports through financial incentives. Its Implementation authority is AAI.
Q2. With reference to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in India, which statement is correct?
- ICMR regulates medical education in India.
- ICMR promotes and coordinates biomedical research in India.
- ICMR provides primary healthcare services in rural areas.
- The governing council of ICMR is presided over by the Minister of Science and Technology.
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: ICMR is the apex body for formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research in India
Q3. Consider the following statements w.r.t Dengue Fever:
- Dengue is caused by a bacteria.
- It is transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
- Currently, there is no vaccine available for Dengue disease.
How many of the statements given above are incorrect?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation: It is not caused by bacteria, and Dengvaxia vaccine is used to help protect against dengue disease
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the semiconductor industry:
- The industry involves high capital investment for setting up fabrication units and research.
- Setting up design and fabrication units yields immediate returns.
- Reducing chip size requires minimal research.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation: The setting up of design and fabrication units involves long gestation periods, yielding returns not immediately. Reducing chip size requires extensive research.
Q5. With reference to recent estimates by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) about India's tiger population, which statement is incorrect?
- Shivalik Hills and the Gangetic plains witnessed increases in tiger population.
- Approximately 1/4th of tigers are found outside protected areas.
- Corbett National Park has the highest tiger population.
- Karnataka has the highest tiger population among all states.
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation: Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers (785), followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Evaluate the success and failures of the Regional Connectivity Scheme of the Government of India. (10 Marks 150 Words) (GS- 3; Economy)
- Critically analyze the need for government intervention in the Semiconductor design sector of India. (10 Marks 150 words)(GS- 3; Economy)
- You are a researcher at a prominent private-sector pharmaceutical company. The government has recently released the consensus policy for Human Challenge Studies. These Studies would benefit your firm immensely with regard to the development of new drugs and vaccines for diseases. You have been asked by your senior to write a report on the ethical challenges posed by the human challenge studies and solutions for the same. What would you include in such a report? (15 marks 250 words) (GS- 4; Ethics case study )
Read the previous CNA here.
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