Current Affairs – December 19, 2024

{GS2 – Polity – Inter-State Disputes} The Shanan Hydel Project Dispute

• Context (IE): The Shanan Hydel Project has become a legal and political tussle among Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.

• Located in Jogindernagar, Mandi, district of Himachal Pradesh on river Uhl, a tributary of Beas River.
• In 1925, it was leased to Punjab for 99 years under an agreement between Raja Joginder Bahadur, the ruler of Mandi at that time, and Col BC Batty, a British representative and the Chief Engineer of Punjab.
• It was originally designed to supply electricity to undivided Punjab, Lahore, and Delhi. However, the project discontinued its supply to Lahore post-partition, focusing on Amritsar and Delhi.
• Over the years, the project capacity was upgraded from 48 MW to 110 MW to meet growing electricity demands. As part of the lease agreement, Himachal Pradesh receives 500 kW of free electricity, leveraging water from the Uhl River within the state.
• After Punjab’s reorganisation in 1966, the Shanan Hydel Project was allocated to Punjab because Himachal Pradesh was a Union Territory at the time.
• The Ministry of Irrigation and Power, notified under the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966, granted Punjab legal control over the project.

Current Legal Dispute

Punjab’s Stand

• Following the expiry of the project’s lease in March 2024, Himachal Pradesh asserted that Punjab could no longer claim ownership of the project, citing Punjab’s poor maintenance.
• Punjab, in turn, filed a petition in the SC seeking a permanent injunction against Himachal Pradesh from interfering with the project’s operations. Punjab maintains Punjab State Power Corporation Limited manages the project and was legally allocated under the 1967 notification.

Himachal Pradesh’s Counter

• It has countered Punjab’s claims, arguing that the SC lacks jurisdiction over the matter based on Article 131 of the Constitution, as the dispute is rooted in a pre-Constitution agreement.
• It has also highlighted that the 1925 agreement was between the British government and the Raja of Mandi, and the Mandi State was never part of Punjab.

Haryana’s Entry into the Dispute

• Haryana filed a petition in the SC, requesting to be made a party to the case. Haryana argues that the Shanan project, which feeds into the Bhakra Dam, impacts its interests, given its stake in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
• Haryana cites the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966 to assert its historical connection as part of the undivided Punjab.

Central Government’s Interim Measures

• The Ministry of Power issued an interim order to maintain the status quo regarding the Shanan Project to avoid disruptions and ensure continued operations.
• The ministry emphasised that this order does not confer any claims or interests and urged the parties to resolve the dispute through appropriate legal channels.

{GS2 – Polity – Laws} Karnataka’s New Law to Prevent Borewell Deaths

• Context (IE | TH | IE): Karnataka passed the Karnataka Groundwater (Regulation & Control of Development and Management) (Amendment) Bill.

Need for Such a Law

• To mitigate fatal risks from open, unsealed & abandoned borewells. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) (2009–2019) data shows over 40 children fell into borewells, with 70% of rescue attempts failing.
• Rescue operations are costly, ranging from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
• The highest incidents are reported in Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka.

Provisions of the New Law

• Sealing of Borewells: An improperly sealed borewell invites penalties, including a fine of Rs 25,000 and up to one year in jail.
• Safety Measures: Drilling agencies must place a signboard with full details and erect barriers (e.g., barbed wire) around borewells.
• Sealing after Drilling: Borewells must be capped immediately after drilling with a steel or threaded cap.
• Timely Closure: Borewells must be sealed within 24 hours of abandonment, and local authorities must inspect and certify the closure.
• Filling and Closing Abandoned Borewells: Abandoned or failed borewells must be filled with stones and slurry, and mounds should be constructed with proper fencing.
• Penalties for Non-Compliance: The bill penalises drilling agencies financially and legally for accidents caused by improper borewell sealing.

Potential Impact

• Aims to prevent accidents while addressing the decline in groundwater levels due to rampant drilling.
• It calls for sustainable management of groundwater resources alongside accident prevention.

Challenges

• Monitoring and enforcing proper sealing across millions of borewells remains a significant challenge.
• Determining accountability of borewell accidents & ensuring penalties are consistently applied.
• Raising awareness about borewell sealing risks and legal requirements among communities.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Monitoring: Increase govt oversight to ensure compliance with borewell sealing protocols.
• Awareness Campaigns: The dangers of open borewells and the legal measures in place.
• Penalties Review: Stronger penalties if the law’s implementation does not effectively reduce accidents.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health – Issues} Quality of Generic Medicines in India **

• Context (TH): India’s decentralised drug regulation system and quality control issues challenge the reliability of generic medicines despite their affordability and bioequivalence to branded drugs.

Need for Generic Medicines

• Affordable Healthcare Solution: Generics provide cost-effective alternatives to branded drugs, addressing healthcare affordability in a population with income disparities.
• Global Supplier: India’s low production costs and economies of scale enable it to supply affordable medicines both domestically and globally.
• Reduced Financial Burden: Generic medicines help reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, which accounted for 39.4% of total health expenditure in 2021-22.
• Government Initiatives: Under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, generics worth ₹5,600 crore sold in a decade saved consumers approximately ₹30,000 crore by August 2024.

Issues with Generic Medicines

• Bioequivalence Variability: Generics often differ in excipients and manufacturing processes, impacting therapeutic efficacy and safety.
• Therapeutic Inefficacy: A PGIMER study showed innovator drugs had better therapeutic outcomes than generics, e.g., itraconazole’s efficacy was 73% for innovator drugs versus 29% for generics.
• Manufacturing Process Gaps: Variations in excipients, compression forces, and tablet properties lead to inconsistent drug absorption and bioavailability.
• Bioequivalence Thresholds: Regulatory limits (80%-125% for pharmacokinetics) may not be suitable for drugs with narrow therapeutic indexes, risking subtherapeutic or adverse effects.
• Stability Concerns: Inadequate enforcement of stability testing, especially under diverse climatic conditions, reduces drug reliability.
• Impurity Levels: India’s pharmacopoeia permits higher impurity levels than U.S. and EU standards, compromising safety.

Challenges in Drug Regulation

• State Drug Regulatory Authorities have significant control, leading to inconsistent quality standards and regulatory gaps.
• Insufficient personnel and infrastructure at the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)  reduce its capacity to enforce quality standards.
• Inconsistent application of regulations, such as stability testing protocols, perpetuates the presence of substandard drugs.
• CDSCO, lacking enforcement power, can only recommend actions, hindering comprehensive control.

Also, read about NMC guidelines on Generic Medicines.

Way Forward

• Centralised Regulation: Reallocate regulatory control from states to CDSCO for consistent quality.
• Enhance CDSCO: Strengthen CDSCO by increasing resources, personnel and enforcement capacity for rigorous inspections.
• Uniform Stability Testing: Mandate uniform stability testing protocols and periodic reassessments across climatic zones.
• Stricter Impurity Standards: Align India’s pharmacopoeia with international standards (ICH guidelines).
• Comprehensive CDSCO Reforms: Implement robust inspections and enforcement mechanisms and act on historical committee recommendations (Bhatia 1954, Hathi 1975, Mashelkar 2003).

Advantages of Improved Regulation

• Enhanced Trust in Generics: Strengthening quality control boosts public confidence in generics.
• Healthcare Equity: Promotes accessible & effective treatment for all socio-economic groups.
• Global Competitiveness: Improved regulatory standards enhance India’s position as a leading pharmaceutical exporter.

Also, refer to National Biopharma Mission.

{GS3 – Envi – Hazardous Waste} Rising E-Waste in India

• Context (BS): India witnessed a 72% rise in e-waste generation over five years, from 10.14 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to 17.51 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, according to government data.

• Primary source: Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE), including smartphones, laptops, televisions, washing machines, and air conditioners.

Issues with Rising E-Waste

• Health Hazards: Toxic components like lead and mercury pose risks to human health.
• Environmental Impact: Unmanaged e-waste contaminates soil, water and air.
• Limited Recycling: Low efficiency in e-waste collection and recycling.
• Lack of Awareness: Public ignorance about proper e-waste disposal methods.

Government Initiatives

• E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016: Notified 21 EEE items for e-waste tracking; Promoted Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for collection and recycling.
• E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022: To protect health & environment by managing e-waste impacts.
• CPCB Guidelines: Established lifespan norms for different electronic items to improve e-waste forecasting and management.

Measures to Address E-Waste

• Strengthen Compliance: Enforcement of e-waste management rules & compliance mechanisms.
• Enhanced Recycling Infrastructure: Build efficient e-waste collection and recycling systems.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Promote responsible disposal practices among consumers.
• Producer Accountability: Strengthen EPR compliance for manufacturers and importers.
• Research and Innovation: Develop eco-friendly technologies for waste processing.
• Collaboration: Engage local governments, private players and NGOs for comprehensive management.

{GS3 – S&T – AI} AIIMS Devises New Breast Cancer Detection Tool

• Context (IE): AIIMS New Delhi has unveiled an AI-based tool for early detection of Breast Cancer.

• The project is under the government’s flagship scheme to establish three Centres of Excellence (CoE) in AI, focusing on healthcare, agriculture, and sustainable cities.

How Will the AI Model Work?

• The AI model will first scan a five-year database of women tested for breast cancer from various medical institutions. ASHA workers will collect this data to identify Indian risk factors for breast cancer.
• After Analysing the data, the AI tool will extract common risk factors and then recommend mammograms (specialised X-rays to check for signs of breast cancer) for women it thinks are cancer-prone. It will also help codify what constitutes a no-risk category.
• AI-trained systems can learn to recognise complex mammogram features that indicate cancer, so no radiologist will be required on-site.

About Breast Cancer

• In Breast Cancer, abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours. If left unchecked, the tumours can spread throughout the body and become fatal.
• Origin of Cancer Cells: Breast cancer cells typically start inside the milk ducts and/or milk-producing lobules. The earliest stage (in situ) is not life-threatening and can be detected early.
• Tumour Formation: Cancer cells can spread into the nearby breast tissue, causing tumours that result in lumps or thickening.
• Family History: While a family history of breast cancer increases the risk, most women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a known family history.
• Treatment: Treatment depends on the individual, type of cancer, and its spread, often involving a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and medications.
• Prevalence: Approximately 99% of breast cancers occur in women, with 0.5-1% occurring in men.

Source: sprintmedical, everydayhealth

{GS3 – S&T – AI} Jetson Orin Nano Super *

• Context (IE): Leading graphics company Nvidia introduced its new compact generative AI supercomputer, “Jetson Orin Nano Super,” with upgrades.

• Performance: Delivers up to 67 TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second) of AI, which is a 1.7 times improvement compared to its predecessor.
• AI Capabilities: Supports popular generative AI models like vision transformers and large language models, enabling tasks like real-time object detection and voice synthesis.
• Storage: It lacks built-in storage. Users need to download the operating system onto a microSD card to use it, similar to a Raspberry Pi (a low-cost, single-board computer about the size of a credit card).

Applications

• Robotics: It accelerates AI-driven robotics in industries such as manufacturing, retail, agriculture, logistics, healthcare, and more.
• Research: It is suitable for developers, students, and hobbyists to build and prototype AI applications.
• Smart Surveillance: It enhances security systems with AI-driven analysis and monitoring.
• Autonomous Vehicles: It provides the computational capability for self-driving cars and drones.
• Content Creation: It assists in generating and enhancing multimedia content using AI.
• Smart Home Devices: It upgrades AI-enabled smart home devices and wearables.

{Prelims – In News} Indore City’s Beggar-Free Initiative

• Context (MC): The Indore district administration announced that starting January 2025, individuals found giving alms to beggars in the city will face legal action, including registering an FIR.

• It is part of a SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme, an initiative by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The scheme aims to eliminate begging in ten cities, including Indore. State governments, local authorities, and voluntary organisations implement it.

{Prelims – In News} US Bitcoin Strategic Reserve

• Context (IE): Bitcoin’s price increased by over $107,000 after the newly elected US President announced plans for a national Bitcoin Strategic Reserve.

About Strategic Reserve

• A strategic reserve is a stock of a critical resource that can be released during crises or supply disruptions.
• The best-known example is the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world’s largest supply of emergency crude oil, created in 1975 after a 1973-74 Arab oil embargo throttled the US economy.
• Canada has the world’s only strategic reserve of maple syrup, while China has strategic reserves of metals, grains and even pork products.

About Bitcoin

• Bitcoin is a form of digital currency created & held electronically.
• It is ‘mined’ using computing power in a distributed network.
• It was proposed by Satoshi Nakamoto as an electronic payment system based on mathematical proof.
• It is the first example of a growing category of money known as cryptocurrency.

Benefits of Bitcoin Reserve

• Market Dominance: Establishing a Bitcoin reserve could position the US as a leader in the global Bitcoin market, countering competition from countries like China.
• Economic Gain: Holding Bitcoin, which may increase in value over time, could help reduce the US budget deficit without raising taxes.
• Strengthened Dollar: A Bitcoin reserve could bolster the US dollar, enhancing economic leverage against foreign adversaries like China and Russia.

Risks of Bitcoin Reserve

• Intrinsic Value Concerns: Critics highlight that, unlike traditional commodities, Bitcoin lacks intrinsic value and is not essential to the US economy.
• Price Volatility: Bitcoin’s extreme price fluctuations could lead to instability in US reserves, potentially affecting the broader economy.
• Cybersecurity Threats: Crypto wallets are prime targets for cybercriminals, necessitating robust security measures to protect US Bitcoin holdings from cyberattacks.

Read More > India’s Stance on Cryptocurrency.

{Prelims – S&T – Space} IRIS² *

• Context (IE): The EU has signed the contract for the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²), a multi-orbital constellation of satellites for a period of 12 years.

• Developed by: SpaceRISE, an alliance of leading European satellite operators and space companies.
• Aim: To provide secure, high-speed internet connectivity in areas with low or no network access.
• IRIS² will consist of 290 satellites, with 272 satellites in Low Earth Orbit & 18 in Medium Earth Orbit.

Applications of IRIS²

• Governmental Use: It will support border and maritime surveillance, crisis management, and key infrastructure security.
• Civilian Use: It will provide mobile and fixed broadband satellite access and cloud-based services, supporting railway, aviation, automotive, and smart energy grid management.