Current Affairs – August 28, 2024

Table of contents

{GS2 – Governance – Issues} Urgent Reforms Needed in Nursing Homes

Context (IE): Recent audit findings by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) reveal significant compliance issues in Delhi’s nursing homes, highlighting urgent reforms needed to address infrastructure lapses.

Issues raised

Lack of Fire Safety Certification: Over 100 nursing homes lack a fire department No-Objection Certificate (NOC), raising concerns about fire safety compliance.
Expired Licenses: Twenty-two nursing homes are operating with expired licenses.
Unregistered Facilities: Four hospitals are functioning without registration certificates.
Overcapacity Issues: Several nursing homes have increased their bed capacity beyond authorised limits, straining infrastructure and compromising safety.
Delayed Registration Renewals: The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has experienced delays in processing renewal applications, which has confused the validity of registrations.
Unsafe Practices: Many facilities use basements for OPD services, lack proper fire exits, and have locked exits during inspections. Additionally, discrepancies in site plans and unqualified staff were noted.

Way Forward

Enforce Fire Safety Compliance: Ensure all nursing homes obtain and maintain fire safety NOCs. Implement a mandatory annual fire safety audit, similar to practices in Tokyo.
Update Licensing Procedures: Streamline the process for renewing and issuing licenses to prevent delays. E.g. Singapore’s online licensing and renewal system for greater efficiency and transparency.
Enhance Registration Oversight: Implement stricter oversight and quicker processing for registration and renewal applications. Establish a dedicated task force to oversee registration processes.
Improve Infrastructure Regulation: Follow guidelines similar to those used in London’s Care Quality Commission, which includes regular inspections and compliance checks.
Strengthen Inspection Protocols: Introduce a comprehensive inspection checklist and random audits like those used in Canada’s healthcare facilities.
Address Staffing and Qualification Issues: Implement mandatory certification and continuing education requirements for staff, as practised in Germany’s healthcare system.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – Women} Care Ecosystem in India

Context (TH): India needs a comprehensive care ecosystem to boost female labour force participation by addressing the disproportionate care responsibilities women shoulder.

Need for a Care Ecosystem

India’s Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in 2022-23 was up in 2017-18 but still below the global average of 47.8%.
More than 1/3rd of the FLFPR consists of unpaid household work, and women aged 15-64 spend about three times more daily on unpaid domestic work than men.
This disproportionate care burden for children, the elderly, and the sick highlights the need for a robust care ecosystem to boost workforce participation. Due to the rising demand for external caregivers in urban areas, many domestic workers serve as caregivers without formal training or protection.

Challenges

Lack of Standards: No minimum wages or safety measures for care workers result in insecure and low-quality care.
Funding Issues: Limited financial resources and poor implementation reduce the effectiveness.
Sector Undervaluation: The care sector’s undervaluation leads to inadequate pay and recognition.
Policy Gaps: The absence of a unified policy framework hinders addressing diverse care needs and integrating efforts.
Data Shortage: Inadequate data on care needs and worker availability complicates planning and implementation.

Initiatives So Far

Some State governments have enhanced childcare support through the Anganwadi network.
The 2024-25 Budget increased funding for the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme by 3%.
Community-based creches have been established in some States through government and non-government partnerships.

Way Forward

Develop a comprehensive policy defining the care ecosystem from a life course perspective, as in Sweden (which offers extensive parental leave and subsidised childcare).
Address gaps in training, skilling, and certification for care workers to improve professional standards like in Canada (funds certain care worker training).
Form an inter-ministerial committee with key ministries to lead policy development.
Position the care economy as a driver of economic productivity, gender equality, & disability inclusion, akin to Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (funding & support for disability care).
Integrate insights from the World Economic Forum on economic growth, business investment, and human rights.

The World Economic Forum’s ‘Future of Care Economy’ report highlights three perspectives.
- First, the care economy is seen as an engine for increasing economic productivity.
- Second, from a business perspective, organisations can relate to the care economy as investors and employers.
- Third is from a human rights perspective that focuses on gender equality & disability inclusion.

Foster public-private partnerships to build a sustainable and scalable care infrastructure.

Implement monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the policy’s effectiveness and adaptability.
Conduct a needs-based assessment and map care service providers across sectors.
Ensure the care sector receives respect, fair remuneration & dignity, similar to the UK Care Act 2014.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – Women} Psychological Toll of Violence on Women

Context (TH): The Kolkata rape and murder case reignited national concerns about women’s safety.

Society’s focus on visible physical harm overlooks the psychological and behavioural effects of violence against women, underestimating their long-term impact.

Behavioural Consequences

Mental burden of vigilance: Inadequate protection forces women in India to live in constant vigilance.
Dissonance between empowerment advocacy & safety behaviours: Vigilance is passed from mother to daughter, reinforcing that the onus of one’s safety often falls on women.
Constant need to assess threats: It restricts exploration, risk-taking, and social connections. They are forced to prioritise safety over curiosity and vigilance over exploration.
Intensified discrimination: Marginalized women face intensified discrimination, with less access to safe environments and support, making them more vulnerable.

Psychological Consequences

Trauma and depression: Victims may develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) characterised by flashbacks. It can lead to long-term depression and intense emotional distress, including feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem, and withdrawal from activities.
Anxiety: Persistent fear & stress can result in chronic anxiety disorders, including panic attacks.
Decline in stress tolerance: Chronic exposure to violence can lead to diminished psychological resilience and coping skills, making it difficult to handle everyday stress.
Self-blaming tendency: Victims might internalise blame and guilt for the violence, affecting their self-worth and leading to further mental health issues.
The psychological impact can affect family dynamics and be passed down to subsequent generations.

Way Forward

Increase awareness about the psychological impact and constant vigilance on women’s mental health. Women should not have to choose between their safety and their freedom. E.g: The #MeToo movement has highlighted the psychological toll of sexual harassment.
Develop robust support systems to provide women with mental health care and safety resources. E.g: The UK’s Women’s Aid Federation offers extensive support services for domestic abuse survivors.
Promote safe environments for women. For example, Sweden’s gender equality policies include measures to ensure safe public spaces and effective reporting mechanisms.
Empower through education and promote gender equality from a young age. E.g., Australia’s Respectful Relationships program teaches students about gender equality and respectful behaviour.
Address the specific needs of marginalised women to reduce their vulnerability. E.g: The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals include specific targets to address the needs of marginalised women.
Encourage open dialogue about the psychological effects on personal and professional lives. E.g: The #EndTheSilence campaign aims to break the silence around the mental health impact of violence.

{GS3 – IS – Cyber Security} Inadequate Legal Framework for Modern Cybercrimes

Context (IE): Recent discussions in the parliament underscore the inadequacy of India’s Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in addressing the rapid evolution of digital and cybercrimes.

Challenges

Inadequacy in Addressing Cybercrimes: The BNS lacks provisions for modern cybercrimes, such as data theft, cyberbullying, and online fraud.
Absence of terms like “cyber” or “data” in the BNS, which leads to difficulties in addressing crimes like hacking and phishing.
Arbitrariness and Misuse of Powers: The discretion granted to local police officers to invoke terrorism and organized crime provisions without adequate checks can lead to misuse.
Broad and undefined concepts of “economic security” and “economic offences” could be applied to commercial frauds, impacting legitimate businesses.
Insufficient Adaptation to Technological Advances: The use of deepfake technology and AI-generated crimes are not adequately addressed in current legislation.

Way Forward

Bharatiya Abashi (virtual)/Digital Dand Sanhita should be introduced to address cybercrimes, digital identity theft, and data protection.
Clear Definitions and Guidelines of terms like “terrorism,” “economic security,” and “cybercrime” to avoid ambiguity and ensure consistent application across all jurisdictions.
Incorporation of Modern Offences such as AI-generated deepfakes, cyberbullying, and data theft, ensuring that the legal system can effectively combat these emerging threats.
Implementing Safeguards Against Misuse: Establish guidelines and oversight mechanisms to prevent the arbitrary application of terrorism and economic offence provisions.
Adapting to Technological Innovations: Regularly update legislation to keep pace with technological advances and new types of crimes.

Read more > Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

{GS3 – S&T – BioTech} Ban on Fixed-Dose Combination (FDC) drugs

Context (IE): The Health Ministry bans 156 Fixed-Dose Combination (FDC) drugs, including Cheston Cold and Foracet. 499 FDCs have been banned since 2014, with 328 banned in 2018 alone.

About FDC drugs

FDCs are medications that combine two or more active ingredients in a single dosage form, such as a pill or capsule, or shot.
FDCs simplify treatment by reducing the number of pills, thereby improving adherence to medication, particularly for chronic conditions like tuberculosis and diabetes.

Examples of Banned FDCs

Enzyme Combinations: For gastrointestinal issues.
Anti-allergic combinations: Such as levocetirizine with nasal decongestants.
Skin Condition Treatments: Like menthol with aloe vera or silver sulfadiazine with other agents.
Migraine and Nausea: Combinations of migraine medication with anti-nausea drugs.
Menstrual and Anti-Fibrotic: Mefenamic acid with tranexamic acid.
Erectile Dysfunction: Sildenafil combined with other drugs for blood vessel relaxation.

Current Status and Implications

Despite the ban, these FDCs may remain available for some time as companies clear existing stocks.
Consuming these banned FDCs is unlikely to cause immediate harm, but they may not provide the expected therapeutic benefits.

Reasons for the Ban

Irrational Combinations: The banned FDCs were deemed irrational because they contain ingredients that do not work well together or are unnecessary for the patient’s condition.
Therapeutic Ineffectiveness: The government found these FDCs lacked therapeutic benefits.
Antibiotic Resistance: To reduce the misuse of antibiotics, which can lead to increased resistance.
Pricing Evasion: Some FDCs were created to circumvent pricing controls on essential medicines.
Increased Regulation: New clinical trial rules require the central drug regulator to approve FDCs as new drugs, reducing irrational combinations.
Historical Concerns: A 2012 parliamentary panel highlighted issues with FDC approvals, leading to a review and ban of many irrational drugs.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Conservation of Northern Bald Ibis

Context (TH): The Northern Bald Ibis (or Waldrapp), a migratory bird species hunted virtually to extinction, was revived by breeding and rewilding efforts over the last two decades.

The species moved from “critically endangered” to “endangered” in IUCN red list in 2018.
Northern bald ibis is a rare species native to parts of northern Africa and southwest Asia.

Read more> Indian Birds in IUCN Red List

{Prelims – In News} Migrants, Refugees and Societies Report

Context (TH): Recently, the World Bank has published World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees and Societies.

Key Findings

Rise in Income: Indian migrants, including the low-skilled, see significant income increases.
High Remittance: A large portion of earnings is sent to India. Indian migrants in the UAE send about 85% of their income.
Wage Gap is one of the key drivers of economic migration. The potential gains in income are highest when people move from low to high-income countries.
Approximately 40% of migrants eventually return to their home countries. All migrants leave GCC countries, 20% to 50% leave OECD countries within 5-10 years, and fewer than 20% leave the U.S.
Migrants who return voluntarily often gain a wage premium, especially if they are high-skilled.
Those forced to return usually face worse socio-economic conditions.

{Prelims – PIN} Guru Padmasambhava

Context (PIB): The International Buddhist Confederation will organise an International Conference on the Life and Living Legacy of Guru Padmasambhava at Nalanda, Bihar.

Guru Padmasambhava was one of the most revered figures in Buddha Dhamma and is credited with the dissemination of Buddhism across the Himalayan belt.
Also known as Guru Rinpoche (Precious Guru) and the Lotus from Oḍḍiyāna, he was a tantric Buddhist Vajra master from medieval India who taught Vajrayana in Tibet.
He came to Tibet in the 8th century and helped construct Samye Monastery, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet. He was a Tantrist and a member of the Yogachara sect.
In Tibetan Buddhism, Padmasambhava is considered a Buddha that Buddha Shakyamuni foretold.
The contemporary Nyingma school of Buddhism considers Padmasambhava their founding figure.

Yogachara (Vijnanavada)

Yogachara is an influential idealistic school of Mahayana Buddhism.
Yogachara attacked both the complete realism of Theravada Buddhism and the provisional practical realism of the Madhyamika school of Mahayana Buddhism.
The name of the school is derived from the title of an important text, the Yogacharabhumi-shastra.

Tibetan Buddhism

It is a branch of Vajrayana Buddhism that evolved from the 7th century C.E.
It is based mainly on the rigorous intellectual disciplines of Madhyamika and Yogachara philosophy and utilises the Tantric ritual practices that developed in Central Asia particularly in Tibet.
Characteristic of Tibetan Buddhism: System of “reincarnating lamas”, the traditional merger of the spiritual and temporal authority in the office and person of the Dalai Lama, and divine beings considered symbolic representations of the psychic life.

International Buddhist Confederation

It is the biggest religious Buddhist confederation, established in 2010 and headquartered in Delhi, India. It is established under the patronage of the supreme Buddhist religious hierarchy.
The architect of the International Buddhist Confederation is Lama Lobzang.

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} INS Tabar

Context (TH): Indian Navy’s frontline stealth frigate, INS Tabar, arrived at Malaga, Spain.

The ship is part of the IN’s Sword Arm Fleet, based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command.
It can handle air/surface/sub-surface missions or defend itself, operating independently on maritime missions or supporting a larger naval task force.
It can also conduct surveillance, reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare operations.
The frigate’s main armament is a French-built 30 mm autocannon with an automatic loading system.
The new electronic warfare (EW) system built by Bharat Electronics (BEL) has replaced the previous Russian-made ASOR 11356 EW system.

Read More> INS Tabar.