Current Affairs – November 05, 2024

Context (TH): India faces challenges in orphan drug development.

Orphan drugs are pharmaceutical agents specifically developed to treat rare diseases.
These conditions, although impacting a small portion of the population, often lead to severe, life-threatening, or chronically debilitating conditions.
Classification of Orphan Drugs is based on the disease they treat
- Genetic Disorders: Examples include cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
- Rare Cancers: Examples include neuroblastoma and gliomas.
- Metabolic Disorders: Examples include Gaucher’s disease and Fabry’s disease.
- Autoimmune Conditions: Examples include systemic sclerosis.
They are also categorised based on their regulatory status, impacting their availability.

General Criteria for Orphan Drug Designation

The disease must have a low prevalence.
The condition must lack approved treatments, or the drug must provide benefits over current options.
Developers must provide evidence of the drug’s potential effectiveness at any stage of development.

Challenges for Orphan Drug Development in India

High R&D Costs: Financial risks are significant due to small patient populations.
Clinical Trials: A limited number of patients prolongs development timelines.
Pricing and Accessibility: High costs make orphan drugs unaffordable for many patients in low- and middle-income countries like India.
Lack of Formal Definitions and Data: No centralised national registry for rare diseases hampers drug development efforts.
Limited Financial Incentives: Unlike the U.S. and EU, India lacks substantial tax breaks, market exclusivity periods, and other incentives.

{GS2 – Vulnerable Sections – Women} ILO Report on WLFP

Context (IE): The ILO report ‘The Impact of Care Responsibilities on Women’s Labour Participation (WLP)’ highlights barriers to women’s workforce participation in India due to caregiving.

Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is the percentage of persons in the labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.

Key Findings from the ILO Report

High Proportion of Women Outside Labour Force: 53% of Indian women are out of the labour force due to caregiving, compared to just 1.1% of men.
Personal and Family Reasons: 97.8% of women and 91.4% of men in India are outside the labour force due to personal or family reasons.
Unpaid Work: The 2023-24 PLFS shows 36.7% of females and 19.4% of the workforce in India do unpaid household work, a slight drop from 37.5% and 18.3% in 2022-23.
Time Spent on Unpaid Care Activities: The 2019 Time Use Survey by NSO showed that 81% of females aged 6+ spend over five hours daily on unpaid domestic work, rising to 85.1% for ages 15-29 and 92% for ages 15-59. Men, in contrast, spend just over one hour daily on such tasks.
Caregiving Responsibilities: 26.2% of females aged 6+ provide over two hours of unpaid caregiving daily, compared to 12.4% of males, with the highest burden on younger women (38.4% for ages 15-29).

Global Context and Comparisons

708 million women globally are outside the labour force due to unpaid care, up from 606 million in 2018.
Over 50% of women in countries like India and Egypt are out of the workforce due to caregiving.

Barriers to Women Labour Force Participation (WLFP)

Societal Expectations: Traditional gender roles often allocate caregiving responsibilities to women, exacerbating gender inequalities.
Education and Opportunities: Women with lower educational qualifications and those in rural areas face greater obstacles to workforce participation.
Infrastructure and Support Systems: Inadequate support structures for childcare and caregiving hinder women’s ability to enter or remain in the workforce.

Regional insights on WLFP

Northern Africa: Highest percentage of women outside the labour force due to caregiving at 63%.
Arab States: 59% of women report caregiving as the main reason for not joining the labour force.
Asia and the Pacific: 52% of women are similarly affected.
Eastern Europe: Highest women LFP rate globally, with only 11% of women outside the labour force.

WLFP in India

Women labour force participation (WLFP) refers to the percentage of women actively engaged in the labour market, including paid employment and self-employment, reflecting their economic contribution and involvement in workforce activities.
As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey for 2023-24, only 36.7% of women in India are engaged in the labour force, highlighting the significant underutilisation of women’s economic potential.

Recommendations for Increasing WLFP in India

Invest in Early Childhood Care And Education (ECCE) programs, as the ILO recommends, to support working mothers and enhance their labour force participation.
Enhance Maternity Benefits in line with the SC’s directives to ensure job security and support for women during and after pregnancy.
Establish accessible and affordable childcare facilities as suggested by NITI Aayog to alleviate care burdens on women and enable their return to work.
Promote targeted Skill Development Programs for women as outlined by the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to enhance employability and workforce participation.
Ensure Equal Pay for Equal Work: Enforce strict adherence to Article 39(d) of the Indian Constitution to motivate women to join and remain in the workforce.

Impact of Higher WLFP on the society

Economic Growth: Increased WLFP can significantly boost GDP and overall economic productivity, harnessing the untapped potential of half the population.
Poverty Reduction: Access to income-generating opportunities empowers women to lift their families out of poverty and improve living standards.
Human Capital Development: Educated and economically active women enhance their children’s education and health outcomes, fostering intergenerational societal benefits.
Gender Equality and Empowerment: Higher participation challenges traditional gender roles, promoting gender equality and granting women greater autonomy and decision-making power.
Fertility and Population Growth: As WLFP rises, fertility rates often decline, supporting sustainable population growth through improved education and access to healthcare.
Reduced Gender-Based Violence: Economic empowerment increases women’s bargaining power, reducing their vulnerability to gender-based violence and fostering safer communities.

Government Schemes for Women Empowerment

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme: This scheme promotes the education and empowerment of girls, addressing gender bias from a young age.
One Stop Centre Scheme: Integrated support and services for women facing violence and abuse.
Swadhar Greh: Shelter and rehabilitation for women in difficult circumstances, facilitating their reintegration into society.
Nari Shakti Puraskar: Honors women’s achievements and contributions to society, thus inspiring others.
Mahila Police Volunteers: Engages women in policing to enhance safety and support for women.
Mahila Shakti Kendras (MSK): Supports women’s empowerment through skill development and access to resources in rural areas.
Nirbhaya Fund: Aims to enhance the safety and security of women through various initiatives.

{GS3 – Envi – Issues} Animal rights and welfare in India

Context (TH): Critical issues in the pet industry raise concern for animal rights and welfare in India.

Animal Rights and Welfare

Animal Welfare Principles: Emphasizes the Five Freedoms for Animals (Brambell’s five freedoms), freedom from hunger, discomfort, pain, and distress and the freedom to express natural behaviours.
Animal Rights: Advocates for recognising animals’ intrinsic worth and opposes their exploitation for human benefits.

Evolution of the Animal Rights Movement (ARM)

Historical Foundations: The ARM was initiated with the founding of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1861, marking a significant milestone in advocating for animal welfare.
Religious Influence: Principles of non-violence from Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism have profoundly shaped animal welfare values, driving campaigns for stricter protections and humane treatment.
Growing Advocacy: Ongoing campaigns continue to gain momentum, reflecting a societal shift towards greater compassion and responsibility towards animals.

Anthropological Impact on Animal Welfare

Environmental Destruction: Habitat loss, pollution and climate change result in poor wildlife health.
Captive Suffering: Animals in captivity for food, fashion, or research often endure inhumane conditions characterised by fear and pain.
Pet Trade: raises health & behavioural issues in animals and contributes to conservation challenges.

Role of Technology in Promoting Animal Rights and Welfare

AI in Monitoring: AI technologies for tracking animal health enable early disease detection.
Blockchain for Transparency: Blockchain technology can ensure ethical sourcing and compliance with welfare standards in the food industry.

Legal and Policy Framework for Animal Rights and Welfare in India

Legislative framework

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (PCA Act): Aims at preventing unnecessary pain or suffering to animals.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Protects wild species by regulating hunting and trade, ensuring the conservation of wildlife and safeguarding their habitats.
Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021: Specifically prohibits cow slaughter in Assam, addressing regional and cultural concerns regarding cattle welfare.
Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) drafts policies, oversees animal welfare initiatives, and collaborates with government agencies to educate the public and support animal cruelty prosecutions.

Special Programs for Animal Welfare

Animal Birth Control (ABC) Program: Under the ABC Rules 2023, focuses on sterilization and vaccination to manage stray dog population, assigning local authorities with care responsibilities.

Judicial Perspectives on Animal Rights

SC in AWBI vs. Nagaraja case (2014) has upheld animal rights, recognizing them as integral to fundamental rights, prohibiting the relocation of stray dogs and affirming their right to life and security.

Limitations and Criticisms

Penalties and Enforcement: The PCA Act’s penalties are minimal (ranging from Rs 10-50 for first offenses), leading to calls for reform and enhanced punitive measures to discourage cruelty.
Inadequate Definition of Cruelty: the PCA Act 1960 is too vague in defining cruelty and lacks distinctions in severity, which limits the scope for applying proportionate punishments.

Systemic Challenges and Legal Loopholes

Lack of Regulation: India’s pet breeding industry is largely unregulated, allowing illegal operations to flourish unchecked.
Enforcement Gaps: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act lacks strong enforcement mechanisms, leading to ineffective monitoring and oversight.
Inadequate Licensing Standards contribute to uncontrolled breeding practices.
Absence of Regular Inspections: Lack of consistent inspections enables illegal breeders to operate freely without legal consequences.

Reforms Needed

Strengthen Existing Laws: Enact the Draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and increase penalties under PCA Act 1960, to deter cruelty effectively.
Standardize Welfare Policies: Establish consistent welfare standards across the country to uphold animal rights uniformly.
Educational Outreach: Promote public awareness about ethical breeding, adoption practices, and humane treatment of animals.
Improved Enforcement: Conduct regular inspections of breeding facilities and impose penalties on unlicensed operations to ensure compliance.

{GS3 – Envi – Issues} Pet Industry and Animal Abuse

Context (TH): Rescuing 11 Shih Tzu puppies from an illegal breeder in Bengaluru exposes critical issues in the pet industry and calls for action against animal abuse in unregulated breeding practices.

Animal Breeding

Animal Breeding is mating “high quality” animals to enhance productivity in subsequent generations.

Mating Systems

Types of Mating

Natural Mating: Animals mate through natural means.
Artificial Insemination (AI): Semen is collected from males and used to inseminate females, allowing superior males to breed with multiple females.

Breeding Systems

Inbreeding: Mating of related animals (e.g., siblings, parent-offspring).
- It can be “Close breeding” (very closely related, e.g., father-daughter) and “line breeding” (more distantly related, e.g., cousins).
- Leads to reduced reproductive efficiency and health disorders; used for genetic uniformity in labs.
Outbreeding: Mating of unrelated animals.
- Crossbreeding (different breeds for hybrid vigour) and grading up (Indigenous with purebred to improve traits).
- It enhances growth rate, reproduction, and overall production performance.

Genetic Mechanisms of Inbreeding

Transmission of Traits: Desired traits may be inherited alongside harmful recessive genes, increasing the risk of genetic health issues.
Gene Expression: Dominant genes manifest frequently, while recessive genes can remain hidden until paired, potentially causing latent health problems.

Coefficient of Inbreeding (COI)

Definition: Mathematical measure of the probability of inheriting identical alleles from both parents.
Ideal COI: Below 5% is desirable; above 10% poses significant health risks.

Tandem Selection: A traditional method, focuses on improving one trait at a time but is less effective.
Independent Culling Levels: Sets minimum standards for multiple traits, allowing selection based on meeting these predefined thresholds.
Selection Index: Utilizes a comprehensive assessment of all traits, calculating an optimal score to identify the most genetically favorable animals.

Risks and Consequences of Inbreeding

Health Issues: Inbreeding increases the risk of breed-specific problems and congenital disabilities.
Behavioral Problems: Inbred animals may show aggression and unpredictability.
Quality Decline: It leads to reduced lifespan and fertility.
Inbreeding Depression: Results in lower vitality and higher mortality due to limited genetic diversity.
Genetic Disorders: Higher prevalence of harmful recessive genes due to homozygosity.
Shortened Lifespan: Weakened immune systems lead to greater disease susceptibility.

Reasons for Illegal Breeding particularly in dogs

High Demand for Purebreds: Consumer preference for specific, often imported, dog breeds drives illegal breeding due to their desirable traits and temperaments.
Profit Motive: Illegal breeders capitalize on high demand by circumventing regulatory costs, allowing for greater profit margins through unmonitored breeding cycles.
Lack of Awareness: Many potential pet owners are unaware of the ethical issues associated with illegal breeding practices.

Issues with Illegal Breeding

Animal Health Risks: Chronic health problems, such as kidney failure and genetic disorders from inbreeding, are common among illegally bred dogs.
Poor Living Conditions: Animals are often kept in overcrowded and unsanitary environments, leading to infections and other health issues like anaemia and tick fever.
Psychological Impact: Illegal breeding results in behavioural problems, including aggression and stress, exacerbated by neglect and limited space.

Impact of Illegal Breeding on Various Stakeholders

On Animals: They often suffer from poor health, genetic issues, neglect, and abuse.
On Pet Owners: Pets from illegal breeders often come with hidden medical expenses and behavioural issues, raising risks and costs for owners.
On Indigenous Breeds: Illegal breeding promotes exotic breeds over Indian ones, discouraging the adoption of local dogs better suited to the climate.

Measures to Curb Illegal Breeding Practices

Register Dog Breeding: Recognize commercial dog breeding as a formal, registered activity to bring it under regulation.
Limit Breeding for Female Dogs: Set guidelines to control breeding frequency for female dogs, reducing health risks associated with overbreeding.
Conduct Regular Inspections: Ensure routine checks of breeding establishments to enforce compliance with legal standards.
Penalize Unlicensed Breeders: Impose strict penalties on breeders operating without proper licensing to discourage illegal practices.
Ban Inbreeding: Prohibit inbreeding practices to prevent genetic health issues among dogs.
Promote Registered Breeders: Encourage consumers to purchase pets from certified breeders only, supporting ethical breeding practices.
Increase Consumer Awareness: Launch educational campaigns highlighting ethical breeding and benefits of adopting local breeds.
Support Local Breed Adoption: Promote the adoption of Indian dog breeds through government and NGO-led initiatives.
Sterilization and Vaccination Drives: Implement nationwide sterilization and vaccination programs to manage the pet population responsibly.

Ban on Certain Dog Breeds in India

India has banned 23 dog breeds, following global trends where countries like the U.S. have also prohibited breeds such as the Pit Bull.
The following dog breeds are banned in India: Tosa Inu, Fila Brasileiro, American Bulldog, Kangal, Caucasian Shepherd, Tornjak, Sarplaninac, Mastiffs, Terriers, Wolf Dogs, Akbash, Cane Corso, Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Boerboel, Central Asian Shepherd Dog, South Russian Shepherd Dog, Japanese Tosa, Akita, Rottweiler, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Presa Canario, Moscow Guard Dog, and Bandog.
Note: Asking random species is favourite area of UPSC and dogs remain in news, so just glance through the names, no need to mug up each.

Reasons for the Ban

Rising dog-attack incidents, particularly in Maharashtra and TN.
Public Safety Concerns: The ban mitigates the risk of dog attacks on humans.
Curbing Animal Abuse: The ban aims to promote animal welfare by discouraging breeding aggressive and exotic dog breeds unsuitable for local conditions.

{Prelims – Awards} Ballon d’Or Award 2024

Context (IE | BS): The 2024 Ballon d’Or awards were announced.

It is an annual football award presented by France Football magazine since 1956 to honour the best-performing player of the previous season.
Lionel Messi holds the record for the most Ballon d’Or awards, having won it eight times.

{Prelims – PIN World – Asia} Mt. Lewotobi Laki Laki

Context (DTE): The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in Indonesia set off earthquakes, leading to fatalities, extensive property destruction, and mass evacuations in the affected region.

Twin Peaks: Part of the Lewotobi twin volcanic complex, including Lewotobi Laki-Laki (Male) and Lewotobi Perempuan (Female) stratovolcanoes.
Geological Importance: Positioned within the “Ring of Fire,” an area of vigorous tectonic activity.
Historical Names: Historically known as Lobetabi, Lovotivo, and Loby Toby.

{Prelims – S&T – Space} Black Hole Triple System

Context (IE): Scientists have identified a unique black hole triple system in space for the first time. The black hole, named V404 Cygni, was detected while analysing a collection of celestial observations.

Situated in the constellation Cygnus, V404 Cygni has a mass about nine times that of our Sun.
It may have formed through the “direct collapse” process, where the star caves in after expending all its fuel but does not explode.

About the Black Hole Triple System

It comprises a black hole at its centre, currently consuming a small star spiralling very close to it. There is also a second star, which appears to be circling the black hole but is actually far away.
Many black holes discovered until now have been part of binary systems, consisting of a black hole and a secondary object (such as a star or another black hole).
But the black hole triple not only has one star which orbits the black hole about every 6.5 days, but also a more far-off star which orbits it every 70,000 years.

Read More > Black Holes.

{Prelims – S&T – Space} Sputnik 2 Mission

Context (IE): 67 Years Completed for the Sputnik 2 mission. It was launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, just a month after the successful launch of Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite.

Beyond proving that a living organism could survive in space, the mission aimed to study the impact of space travel on living organisms and gather data on the Earth’s radiation belts and solar wind.
Laika, the Space Dog: Dog Laika from Russia became the first living creature to orbit the Earth, highlighting the possibilities of human spaceflight.