CNA 09 May 2023:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related HEALTH 1. The lack of a drug recall law in India C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. India’s China strategy needs to be debated F. Prelims Facts 1. Enforcement Directorate (ED) G. Tidbits 1. The crisis in Manipur is a humanitarian problem: SC 2. Haryana govt. announces reservation for Backward Classes in urban local bodies 3. Chinese boats cross Indian and ASEAN ships during military exercise H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
1. The lack of a drug recall law in India
Syllabus: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health
Prelims: About Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
Mains: The issues associated with the lack of a drug recall law and authority in India and the way forward
Context
Abbot, a multinational pharmaceutical company, recently issued a public notice to caution people about a mislabelled batch of medicine that it had inadvertently shipped to the market. This incident has brought back the focus on the lack of drug recall law in the country.
Is there a drug recall law in India?
- Drug recalls can be seen often in countries like the U.S. but domestic or foreign pharmaceutical companies have never recalled their substandard or mislabelled drugs in India.
- This is because there exists a law in the U.S. that mandates pharmaceutical firms to recall such drugs from the market that fail to meet quality parameters.
- However, in India, despite the efforts to formulate legislation ever since 1976, there is still no law passed that requires mandatory recall of such drugs.
- In 1976, the Drugs Consultative Committee discussed the issue of drug recalls.
- The Drugs Consultative Committee consists of all the state drug controllers, senior bureaucrats from the Ministry of Health and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
- In the meeting, the committee resolved to improve cooperation between various state drug controllers to facilitate better coordination. However, this decision did not translate into passing an amendment to the law to put in place a legally binding structure to enforce drug recalls.
- Furthermore, the issue was taken up for discussion repeatedly in regulatory meetings that were held after 1976 but none of them led to the enactment of amendments to the Drugs and Cosmetics Act to create a mandatory recall mechanism.
- The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), in 2012, notified certain recall guidelines but even these guidelines lack backing and the force of law.
Possible reasons for the lack of drug recall law in India
- The Drug Regulation Section of the Union Health Ministry does not have the necessary expertise to take up the task of tackling complex drug regulatory issues.
- There has been a greater interest in establishing an environment for the growth of the pharmaceutical industry than in protecting public health.
- The regulatory structure in India is highly fragmented, with each State having its own drug regulator.
- Despite this level of fragmentation, drugs manufactured in one State can seamlessly cross borders across the country.
- Another possible reason for a lack of drug recall law in India is that drug regulators are worried that the creation of a drug recall system would bring the public attention to the sorry state of affairs in India’s pharmaceutical industry.
- Experts believe that if the drugs are recalled in a transparent manner, with the people being informed of the failures, then such instances would take place almost every day which in turn would increase the pressure on drug regulators.
Path ahead
- Substandard drugs if not removed swiftly from the market can create health events and could severely impact vulnerable classes, especially, children.
- In order to develop an effective recall mechanism, the responsibility of recalling drugs has to be centralised, with one specialised authority being empowered to hold firms liable for failures to recall drugs from across the country.
- Since India is a single market for drugs and the incompetence of a regulator in one State can lead to adverse effects for patients in other States, there should be only one regulator.
- However, both the pharmaceutical industry as well as the state drug regulators have expressed displeasure over greater centralisation of regulatory powers.
Nut graf: Despite there being resistance from the pharmaceutical firms and the state drug regulators, the establishment of a centralised drug recall authority must be considered as the circulation of substandard drugs in the market has dangerous consequences for the consumers.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. India’s China strategy needs to be debated
Syllabus: GS-2, India and its neighbourhood.
Mains: India-China relations.
Context: China’s move to rename eleven places in Arunachal Pradesh.
Introduction:
- China has renamed eleven places in India’s Arunachal Pradesh, which they consider to be “Zangnam” or “South Tibet” (in English).
- It is claimed that the move to “standardize” names in Zangnam “completely falls within China’s sovereignty”.
For details, read here: China Renames 11 Places in Arunachal Pradesh
Details:
- India responded by outrightly rejecting the nomenclature.
- Notably, this is the third batch of “renaming” with reference to Arunachal Pradesh.
For more information, read here: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis. Apr 18th, 2023
Status of India-China Relations:
- It is argued that there has been no serious attempt by China to resolve the Galwan issue. Moreover, further provocation has occurred from the Chinese side. For instance, there was a border skirmish in Tawang (December 2022).
- According to a research analysis by a senior police officer, India has lost access to 26 out of 65 Patrolling Points (PP) in eastern Ladakh.
- It is argued that India’s approach of “playing safe” has resulted in the loss of pasture lands at Gogra hills, the North Bank of Pangong Tso, and the Kakjung areas.
- The author argues that India is not open to publicly denouncing China’s move due to:
- The growing power differential between India and China.
- Uncertainty about the actions of major countries like the U.S.
- Difference between the military capability of the two countries (India is not prepared for a major war with China).
- Lack of consensus among various ministries in India.
- Pressure from India’s business groups who are willing to safeguard trade between the two neighbours.
- Lack of political will.
Associated Concerns:
- It is highlighted by the author that India’s approach is similar to its pre-1962 engagement with China and has the potential to hamper its national security.
- India is focusing on reinforcing its border defences and building roads and other infrastructure. This would only resist People’s Liberation Army (PLA) but is not enough to deter it completely.
- There is an absence of a tough rhetorical response to Chinese actions in the public eye, which is considered a Chinese gain.
Way Ahead:
- The very first step is to acknowledge the problem.
- China has a constant fear of being isolated in global affairs due to its assertiveness. India should capitalize on this fear and exploit it for its own advantage.
- New Delhi should loudly and proudly raise matters of its vital importance and fracture China’s image publicly.
- India should learn from its mistakes in the past and hold an urgent debate in the Parliament on India’s China strategy.
- Moreover, the government should take Indian citizens in confidence.
Conclusion
It is important to remember Mark Twain’s observation that history does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes. Though the period since Galwan (2020-2023) is not the same as 1949 to 1962, the pattern of appeasement and self-denial is quite similar.
Also read: India – China Relations
Nut Graf: China has renamed eleven places in India’s Arunachal Pradesh. India has only rejected these claims and has not taken any concrete steps to publicly challenge China. It is suggested that the Indian government should review its China strategy and not repeat the mistakes made in the pre-1962 period (India-China War).
F. Prelims Facts
1. Enforcement Directorate (ED)
Syllabus: GS-2, Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Prelims: About Enforcement Directorate (ED)
Context
- The Union government informed the Supreme Court that Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra’s tenure will not continue in office beyond November 2023.
- In 2021, the apex court had directed the government to not give any further extension to Sanjay Kumar Mishra.
- However, the government made amendments to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act through an ordinance in November 2021 which paved the way for the government to stretch the tenure of the current ED chief by a year till November 2022.
- Further, the government once again gave a third extension in November 2022
Enforcement Directorate (ED)
- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is a multi-disciplinary organization that is entrusted with the task of investigating economic crimes and violations of foreign exchange laws.
- An “Enforcement Unit” was set up under the Department of Economic Affairs for handling Exchange Control Laws violations under Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1947 in May 1956.
- This unit was renamed “Enforcement Directorate” in 1957.
- Later in 1960, the administrative control of the ED was transferred from the Department of Economic Affairs to the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
- The statutory functions of the ED include enforcement of Acts such as the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, 1973 (FERA), the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA), the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA).
- The ED is headed by the Director of Enforcement, who is an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer.
- According to the CVC Act, 2003, ED chiefs shall hold office for “not less than two years”.
- The government in 2021 brought in an ordinance that facilitate the extension of the tenure of ED and CBI directors by up to three years after the mandated term of two years.
Know more about the Enforcement Directorate in the linked article.
G. Tidbits
1. The crisis in Manipur is a humanitarian problem: SC
- The Supreme Court has regarded the Manipur crisis as a “humanitarian problem” and has noted that it is the President who has the power to designate a community as Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe and not the High Court.
- The Chief Justice of India (CJI) held that it is a humanitarian problem, expressed concerns about the loss of life and property and urged the Centre and the Manipur government to undertake efforts to protect the people.
- The Manipur High Court’s direction to the State government to pursue a 10-year-old recommendation to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the non-tribal Meitei community has led to large-scale protests and unrest in the state.
- This is because various tribal groups believe that the Meiteis have a demographic and political advantage apart from being more advanced than the tribal groups academically and in other aspects.
- 34 Scheduled Tribes in Manipur that account for 41% of the State’s population have opposed the High Court’s directions.
- The Union Home Minister said that the order passed by the Manipur High Court will be studied and discussed with all stakeholders and appropriate decisions will be taken after consultation.
2. Haryana govt. announces reservation for Backward Classes in urban local bodies
- The Haryana government has accepted the Haryana Backward Classes Commission’s report on the proportion of reservations for Backward Classes in municipalities across the State and has announced reservations for the Backward Classes (Block-A) category in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
- The Haryana Backward Classes Commission headed by Justice Darshan Singh had revealed that the Block-A castes are not adequately represented currently in Haryana and require reservation in local bodies and municipalities.
- Haryana government has recognised two categories of Backward Classes namely Block-A (about 72 castes) and Block-B (around six castes).
- Since the Block-B category castes were relatively better off, the reservation has been granted only to the Block-A category castes.
- As per the latest announcement, every local body/municipality must have at least one councillor belonging to Block-A Classes if its population is not less than 2% of the total urban population of the local body area.
- Furthermore, 8% of the number of offices of Mayors/Presidents shall be reserved for Block-A of Backward Classes in the Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Municipal Committees.
3. Chinese boats cross Indian and ASEAN ships during military exercise
- Boats belonging to China recently approached an area where the Indian Navy and the Navies of ASEAN countries were taking part in drills in the South China Sea.
- Experts opine that China is looking to use its militia to intimidate and disrupt the naval exercise.
- The Naval ships and aircraft of India, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei were taking part in the two-day sea phase of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME 2023).
- The Naval ships of India and ASEAN countries were in the Vietnamese Exclusive Economic Zone when the Chinese boats moved towards them.
- However, the militia boats and naval vessels crossed each other without any face-off.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Wushu, a martial art form, originated in which country? (Level – Easy)
- Japan
- China
- Vietnam
- Korea
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- Wushu is a collection of Chinese martial arts.
- Wushu in Chinese literally means “martial technique”.
- It has a history dating back thousands of years to the Qin Dynasty. The International Wushu Federation was formed in 1990 to govern the distinct types of martial arts under the “wushu” banner.
- India recently won 10 gold medals at Moscow Star Wushu Championship 2023.
Q2. Which of the following statements are true regarding the I2U2 grouping? (Level – Moderate)
- It was started in the year 2021.
- Apart from India, the other members include the USA, UK, and Israel.
- It is also known as the West Asian Quad.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 and 3
- 3 only
- 1 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, The I2U2 grouping was formed in October 2021.
- Statement 2 is not correct, I2U2 is an alliance created by four countries namely – India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States (US)
- Statement 3 is correct, The four-nation coalition is also known as the ‘International Forum for Economic Cooperation’ or the ‘West Asian Quad’.
Q3. Identify the correct statements: (Level – Easy)
- Both Nagara and Dravidian temples have an element called Shikhara.
- Gopurams are a prominent feature of the Dravidian Temples.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, Shikharas is a common element in the many styles of Hindu temple architecture, of which the three most common are Nagara, Vesara, and Dravidian.
- Nagara Style usually has multiple Shikharas whereas the Dravidian style typically has only one Shikhara.
- Statement 2 is correct, In the Dravidian Style of temple architecture, the most prominent element is the Gopuram.
Q4. How many of the following countries are a member of the Arab League? (Level – Difficult)
- Syria
- Egypt
- Oman
- Israel
- Tunisia
Options:
- Only 2 countries
- Only 3 countries
- Only 4 countries
- All 5 countries
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Israel is not a member of the Arab League.
Image Source: National Geographic
Q5. On which of the following can you find the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Star Label? (Level – Moderate) [PYQ 2016]
- Ceiling fans
- Electric geysers
- Tubular fluorescent lamps
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- 1 and 2 only
- 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- The Standards & Labelling Programme is one of the major thrust areas of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
- A key objective of the Star Labelling Programme is to provide the consumer with an informed choice about energy saving and thereby the cost-saving potential of the relevant marketed product.
- The appliances that require mandatory energy labelling include:
- Room Air Conditioners
- Frost Free Refrigerators
- Tubular Fluorescent Lamp
- Distribution Transformer
- Direct Cool Refrigerator
- Colour TV
- Electric Geysers
- LED Lamps
- Ceiling Fans
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 09 May 2023:- Download PDF Here
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