26 October 2024 : Daily Current Affairs

1. Guidelines for Dignified End-of-Life Care: Health Ministry Drafts Framework for Withdrawing Life Support in Terminally Ill Patients       

(Source: Indian Express; Section: Explained; Page: 19)

Topic: GS2 – Social Justice GS4 – Ethics

Context:

In response to the Supreme Court’s 2018 and 2023 rulings, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare introduced draft guidelines for the withdrawal of life support in terminally ill patients. These guidelines aim to standardize the process across states and healthcare institutions, ensuring a dignified death for patients in line with their rights.

Analysis of News:   

What is Passive Euthanasia?

• Euthanasia is the practice of ending the life of a patient to limit the patient’s suffering.
• Types of Euthanasia:
• Active Euthanasia: 
• Active euthanasia occurs when the medical professionals, or another person, deliberately do something that causes the patient to die, such as administering a lethal injection.
• Passive Euthanasia: 
• Passive euthanasia is the act of withholding or withdrawing medical treatment, such as withholding or withdrawing life support, with the intention of allowing a person to die.

Framework for Withholding or Withdrawing Life-Sustaining Treatment

• The guidelines call for the establishment of Primary and Secondary Medical Boards at hospitals.
• The Primary Board, led by the treating doctor, evaluates if continued treatment would benefit the patient.
• The Secondary Board, appointed by district health officials, reviews this decision, ensuring a thorough assessment before treatment is withdrawn.

Definition and Legality of Withholding/Withdrawing Life-Sustaining Treatment

• Withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment involves stopping interventions that artificially sustain life (like ventilators), allowing a terminal illness to progress naturally.
• This approach, supported by the Supreme Court under Article 21 (Right to Life), aligns with a patient’s right to refuse treatment.

Advance Medical Directives and Living Wills

• An Advance Medical Directive (or living will) enables patients to specify treatment preferences in advance.
• Simplified by the Supreme Court in 2023, it requires an executor, two witnesses, and at least two surrogate decision-makers who can act on the patient’s behalf if they lose decision-making capacity.

Medical and Ethical Processes

• Hospitals constitute a Primary Medical Board (including the treating doctor and two experts) and a Secondary Medical Board (including a practitioner nominated by the district Chief Medical Officer) to confirm or veto withdrawal requests.
• Consent from surrogate decision-makers and notifications to a local magistrate are essential parts of this procedure.

Euthanasia vs. Withdrawal of Life Support

• Euthanasia involves actively ending a life, which differs fundamentally from the passive approach of life support withdrawal, aiming instead to reduce suffering without extending the dying process unnecessarily.
• The term “passive euthanasia” has often led to misconceptions, which the guidelines address.

Role of Doctors and Shared Decision-Making

• Doctors are not tasked with “playing God” but rather with guiding ethically informed decisions, collaborating with families to honor patients’ rights.
• This “shared decision-making” model respects patient autonomy, safeguards medical professionals, and ensures transparency and legal protection in sensitive cases.

Euthanasia in India

The Supreme Court of India in a landmark judgement in Common Cause vs Union of India (2018) recognised a person’s right to die with dignity, saying that a terminally ill person can opt for passive euthanasia and execute a living will to refuse medical treatment. It also laid down guidelines for ‘living will’ made by terminally ill patients who beforehand know about their chances of slipping into a permanent vegetative state. Previously in 2011, the SC recognised passive euthanasia in the Aruna Shanbaug case  for the first time. The court specifically stated that “Dignity in the process of dying is as much a part of the right to life under Article 21.  To deprive an individual of dignity towards the end of life is to deprive the individual of a meaningful existence.”

Practice Question:  Examine the ethical, legal, and social implications of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s guidelines on withdrawing life support for terminally ill patients in India. How do these guidelines align with the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution? (250 words/15 m)

 2. Semaglutide Linked to Reduced Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in Diabetic Patients       

(Source: Indian Express; Section: Explained; Page: 19)

Topic: GS3 – Science & Technology

Context:

A recent study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia reveals that semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist used in diabetes management, may reduce Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk by up to 70% in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This finding positions semaglutide as potentially beneficial beyond its known effects on blood sugar control and weight loss.

Analysis of News:   

About Alzheimer’s Disease:

• It is a brain condition that causes a progressive decline in memory, thinking, learning, and organizing skills.
• It is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all dementia cases.
• It involves parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language.
• It can seriously affect a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
• The condition usually affects people aged 65 years and over, with only 10% of cases occurring in people younger than this.
• Cause: The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not fully understood, but it is believed to be influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
• Symptoms:
• The early signs of the disease include forgetting recent events or conversations.
• Over time, it progresses to serious memory problems and loss of the ability to perform everyday tasks.
• Treatment: There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, but certain medications and therapies can help manage symptoms temporarily.

Key Findings of the Study

• Researchers analyzed over a million patient records in the US to observe the impact of semaglutide on AD risk compared to seven other diabetes medications, including insulin and metformin.
• Notably, semaglutide reduced AD incidence significantly, showing the strongest effect against insulin.
• The study hints that more potent GLP-1 drugs could offer even greater AD protection.

Mechanisms Behind Semaglutide’s Benefits

Semaglutide may benefit brain function through various mechanisms:

• Neuroprotection: Lowers neuro-inflammation, potentially slowing neurodegeneration.
• Improved Glucose Utilization: Enhances cellular energy, stabilizing neurons.
• Plaque Reduction: Limits amyloid plaque buildup, a key Alzheimer’s marker.
• These effects may protect against oxidative stress and improve brain health by enhancing glucose metabolism and reducing inflammatory markers commonly linked to Alzheimer’s.

Implications for Alzheimer’s Treatment

• The research introduces a novel pathway for Alzheimer’s prevention, distinct from existing FDA-approved treatments that target amyloid plaques but carry risks of brain swelling and bleeding. This could make GLP-1 receptor agonists a safer, multi-purpose option for diabetes and AD management, with fewer side effects.

Significance for India

• India, with one of the world’s highest rates of type 2 diabetes and a rising elderly population, stands to benefit significantly from these findings. Type 2 diabetes often leads to inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain, contributing to cognitive decline.
• The use of GLP-1 drugs could offer a preventive strategy for dementia in diabetic patients, highlighting the potential of semaglutide to impact India’s health landscape profoundly.

Practice Question:  Discuss the implications of recent research on semaglutide for Alzheimer’s disease management in patients with type 2 diabetes. How might this influence treatment strategies in countries with high diabetes prevalence, such as India? (250 words/15 m)

3. Severe budget crisis sparks concerns over future of UN-led climate dialogue

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 13)

Topic: GS2 – International Relations, GS3 – Environment

Context

The UNFCCC, the UN’s leading climate change body, faces a severe budget deficit of over 57 million euros in 2024, impacting its ability to support global climate negotiations .Delayed payments from key countries, including the U.S. and China, worsen the situation, hindering essential climate actions and initiatives. This budget gap has already forced cancellations and cutbacks in UNFCCC operations.

Severe Budget Shortfall for UNFCCC

• The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) faces a budget shortfall of over 57 million euros for 2024.
• This shortfall represents almost half of the funding needed for annual climate negotiations and implementing global climate agreements.
• The UNFCCC’s total budget for 2024-25 stands at 240 million euros, with half expected for 2024 operations.

Budget Composition and Funding Sources

• The UNFCCC budget comprises three main funds: a core fund with obligatory contributions, a supplementary voluntary fund, and an additional fund supporting delegates from poorer nations.
• Countries like Japan and Germany have met their funding commitments, while others, notably the U.S. and China, have yet to fulfil their obligations for 2024.
• As of October 2024, the U.S. owes 7.3 million euros to the core budget, while China owes 5.6 million euros.

Impact on UNFCCC Operations

• Budget constraints have led to reduced operating hours at the UNFCCC’s headquarters in Bonn, Germany, and cancelled regional “climate week” events, previously held in countries like Kenya and Malaysia.
• Diplomatic sources report additional impacts on staffing, with contract extensions limited to months at a time and reduced travel support for representatives from poorer countries to attend climate talks.

Record Delays in Contributions

• The 2024 budget has seen record delays in member contributions, often exacerbated by national elections or bureaucratic processes.
• As of now, the UNFCCC has received only 63 million euros for 2024, the slowest payment rate in its history.

Concerns Over Global Climate Action

• UNFCCC warns that financial shortfalls could hinder international climate discussions and reduce pressure on leaders to advance climate action.
• Some argue that UNFCCC’s reliance on voluntary contributions limits its financial stability, while others suggest it could improve efficiency and transparency in operations.

More About UNFCCC

Establishment: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty signed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Objective: Its primary goal is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent dangerous human-induced interference with the climate system. Framework: The UNFCCC provides a platform for nearly 198 member countries to negotiate and develop legally binding climate agreements, like the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and the Paris Agreement (2015). Annual Meetings: It organises annual COP (Conference of Parties) meetings, where nations assess progress and set future climate goals. Secretariat: Headquartered in Bonn, Germany, the UNFCCC secretariat oversees day-to-day operations, manages climate funding, and supports developing nations.

Practice Question:  Examine the impact of financial constraints on global climate governance with reference to the recent budget shortfall faced by the UNFCCC. (150 Words /10 marks)

4. LAUNCH OF ‘ABHAY’, SEVENTH SHIP OF ASW SWC (GRSE) PROJECT

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2068207&reg=3&lang=1 )

Topic: GS3 – Security

Context

Abhay’, the seventh Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), was launched on October 25, 2024, at L&T, Kattupalli, with the ceremony led by the Vice Admiral of Eastern Command.

What Is ABHAY?

• Type: Abhay is an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) designed for naval operations.
• Purpose: It focuses on anti-submarine warfare, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and Mine Laying Operations in coastal waters.
• Development: Abhay is part of the Arnala class, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy.
• Specifications: Each vessel is approximately 77 metres long, capable of reaching a maximum speed of 25 knots, with an operational endurance of 1800 nautical miles.
• Indigenous Content: Over 80% of the components are sourced from Indian manufacturers, supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence production.
• Replacement: Abhay will replace the existing Abhay class ASW Corvettes, enhancing the navy’s operational capabilities.

5. ‘IndiaAI’ and Meta announces the establishment of the Center for Generative AI, Shrijan (सृजन) at IIT Jodhpur

(Source – https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2068251&reg=3&lang=1 )

Topic: GS3 – Science and Technology

Context

Meta and IndiaAI have established the Center for Generative AI, Srijan, at IIT Jodhpur to empower young developers in India through open-source AI initiatives. This collaboration aims to drive innovation in critical sectors like healthcare, education, and mobility.

Establishment of the Center for Generative AI, Srijan

• Objectives: Aims to empower students and developers in India to utilise open-source AI models for real-world problem-solving.
• Research Focus: The centre will concentrate on education, mobility, and healthcare, leveraging advancements in Generative AI.
• Training Initiatives: Srijan plans to train 100,000 youth and developers over the next three years through workshops and courses.
• Support for Startups: The initiative includes an AI Innovation Accelerator to nurture student-led startups using open-source AI.
• Funding: Meta has committed ₹750 lakhs over three years to support Srijan’s activities.
• Long-Term Vision: The centre will foster a sustainable ecosystem for AI research and innovation in India, contributing to national economic goals.

PRELIMS FACTS

1. Protected Areas Failing to Halt Biodiversity Loss, New Study Reveals

(Source: Indian Express; Section: Explained; Page: 19)

Context:

A new study highlights that biodiversity is declining faster within protected areas than outside, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current conservation strategies.

Analysis of News:            

What are Protected Areas?

• Protected Areas, also known as Conservation Areas, refer to the areas that are designated and managed with the specific goal of protecting ecosystems, conserving biodiversity, and providing long-term benefits to both wildlife and human communities.
• These areas play a crucial role in conserving natural habitats, maintaining ecological balance, and safeguarding threatened or endangered species.
• A group of Protected Areas, collectively, is referred to as the Protected Area Network (PAN).

Key Findings of the Study

• The study by the Natural History Museum (NHM) reveals that biodiversity is declining faster within protected areas than outside them.
• By analyzing the Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII), researchers found a global decline of 1.88 percentage points from 2000 to 2020, with protected critical biodiversity areas (CBAs) showing a slightly greater decline (2.1 percentage points) than unprotected CBAs (1.9 percentage points).
• These results challenge the assumption that protected status alone is sufficient for biodiversity conservation.

Causes of Decline in Protected Areas

The decline in biodiversity within protected areas is attributed to several factors:

• Inadequate Ecosystem Coverage: Many protected areas focus on preserving specific species rather than entire ecosystems, leaving broader biodiversity unchecked.
• Pre-Existing Degradation: Many regions were already under ecological stress before being designated as protected, making it harder to reverse degradation.
• Resource Exploitation: Protected areas face pressures from industrial activities, such as oil, gas, and mining concessions. For example, over 65% of the Conkouati-Douli National Park in the Republic of Congo is occupied by oil and gas concessions.
• Climate Change Impacts: Climate crises, such as wildfires and droughts, severely impact biodiversity within protected areas, as seen in Australia’s national parks in 2019.

Implications for Conservation Policies

This approach requires enhanced management and enforcement practices to ensure long-term biodiversity preservation.

The findings emphasize the need for policymakers to go beyond mere designation of protected areas. Conservation efforts should focus on ecosystem-level protections and address the unique challenges facing each region.

Experts stress the importance of stringent protections, encouraging countries to uphold and reinforce the “30×30” commitment established at Biodiversity COP15.

2. India’s coking coal imports surged to a six-year high in the first half of 2024-25

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 11)

Context

India’s coking coal imports surged to a six-year high due to rising steel production, with significant increases from Russia. Indian mills have shifted focus from Australia, taking advantage of more cost-effective Russian shipments.

Analysis of the news:

• India’s coking coal imports for April–September FY25 reached a six-year high of 29.6 million tonnes (mt), up 3% from 28.8 mt year-on-year.
• Russia’s coking coal shipments to India surged over 200%, with a 40% increase in H1 FY25 to 4 mt, compared to 2.9 mt in the previous year.
• Indian mills benefited from Russia’s discounted coal, reducing reliance on Australian imports.
• Higher imports are linked to India’s increased steel production.
• Presently India is the world’s second-largest crude steel producer and the largest coking coal importer.

3. ISRO-DBT sign agreement to conduct biotechnology experiments in space station

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 5)

Context

ISRO and the DBT are collaborating to conduct experiments for India’s upcoming Bharatiya Antariksh Station, focusing on health impacts and bio-manufacturing innovations. This partnership aligns with the BIOE3 policy aimed at enhancing India’s bio-economy, projected to reach $300 billion by 2030.

ISRO-DBT Collaboration for Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS)

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) signed an agreement to design and conduct experiments for integration into the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), an indigenous space station planned for 2028–2035.

Proposed Experiments

• Potential studies include examining muscle loss due to weightlessness, algae suitability for nutrition and food preservation, algae-based jet fuel, and radiation’s health impacts on crew members.

Gaganyaan Mission Preparations

• Gaganyaan, India’s first crewed space mission slated for 2025–2026, will be preceded by three uncrewed test missions.
• Selected biological experiments may be conducted on these test flights to gather preliminary data.

BIOE3 Policy and Bio-Manufacturing

• The ISRO-DBT partnership supports the DBT’s BIOE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) policy to boost India’s bio-manufacturing sector, anticipated to reach a $300 billion value by 2030.
• Focus areas include innovations in human health, novel pharmaceuticals, regenerative medicine, waste management, and bio-based technology, also encouraging start-ups in the bio-economy sector.