29 August 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

1. Sharpening India’s anti-tuberculosis fight

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS2 – Social Justice – Health

Context

This article discusses India’s ongoing battle against tuberculosis (TB), which accounts for over a quarter of the global TB burden. It emphasises the need for shorter, more effective treatments for drug-resistant TB, improved diagnostic methods, and innovative approaches to early detection for the goal of TB elimination.

Tuberculosis: A Persistent Challenge

• Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health concern, with India bearing over 25% of the world’s TB cases.
• Despite progress driven by political commitment, eliminating TB requires innovative solutions and improved use of existing technologies.
• In 2023, 25.1 lakh TB cases were diagnosed in India, indicating stronger case-finding efforts.

Current Treatment Regimens and Challenges

• Existing treatments for drug-resistant TB are long and difficult, with patients needing 13-14 tablets daily for shorter regimens (9-11 months) or 4-5 tablets daily for longer regimens (18-24 months).
• These treatments are physically and mentally taxing, with severe side effects, such as hearing loss and psychosis.
• The extended duration of treatment leads to job loss, pushing families into poverty, highlighting the need for more efficient regimens.

New Shorter Regimen: BPaL/M

• The WHO recommended a shorter, safer, and more effective regimen known as BPaL/M for drug-resistant TB in 2022.
• The BPaL/M regimen requires only 3-4 tablets per day, with treatment completion in six months and minimal side effects.
• Success rates for BPaL/M are higher at 89%, compared to 68% in the 2023 India TB Report.
• Many countries have adopted BPaL/M, and studies suggest it can save between 40% to 90% of the cost of current regimens.
• Immediate implementation of BPaL/M could save global health systems approximately ₹6,180 crore annually.

Improving TB Diagnosis

• Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for patients to benefit from advanced treatments like BPaL/M.
• Screening and testing methods need to be modernised for quicker and more efficient detection.
• Utilising health datasets and GIS mapping can help identify vulnerable populations, such as those with comorbidities, former COVID-19 patients, or those in high-risk communities (e.g., slums and prisons).

Importance of Proactive Screening

• Multi-disease-focused screening drives can help detect TB cases early, even in individuals without typical TB symptoms (e.g., cough, fever).
• The National TB Prevalence Survey (2019-21) shows that 42.6% of cases were detected through chest X-rays, which may have otherwise been missed.
• Portable X-ray machines, equipped with AI-driven tools, can help reduce delays in TB diagnosis, especially in remote and under-resourced areas.

Expanding Rapid Diagnostic Methods

• There is a critical need to shift from less sensitive microscopy methods to rapid molecular tests for faster detection and profiling of drug resistance.
• Faster diagnostic methods will improve TB detection rates and lead to better treatment outcomes, as they allow early intervention with the most appropriate treatments.

Conclusion:

• Eliminating TB in India requires prioritising shorter, more effective regimens like BPaL/M, improving diagnostic methods, and using innovative technologies for early detection.
• These actions are crucial investments in building a healthier future and achieving the goal of a TB-free India.

Practice Question:  Discuss the challenges and potential solutions in India’s fight against drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), with a focus on shorter treatment regimens and innovative diagnostic approaches. (250 Words /15 marks)

2. Establishing a carbon market

Topic: GS3 – Indian Economy

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 9)

Context

The article discusses India’s transition from energy efficiency targets under the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme to emission targets for industries like iron, steel, and aluminium. This shift aligns with India’s broader climate change goals and the creation of a carbon market to balance industrial growth and environmental responsibilities. Create a short UPSC mains question on this

Introduction of Emission Targets

• In her Budget speech, the Finance Minister announced a shift for polluting industries like iron, steel, and aluminium to conform to emission targets.
• A roadmap will be formulated to transition these ‘hard to abate’ industries from energy efficiency targets to emission targets.
• Regulations will be introduced to move these industries from the current ‘Perform, Achieve, and Trade’ (PAT) mode to the ‘Indian Carbon Market’ mode.

Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) versus Emissions Trading

PAT (Perform, Achieve, and Trade): Defined by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency as a regulatory tool aimed at reducing specific energy consumption in energy-intensive industries. PAT focuses on energy efficiency standards, where firms are encouraged to use a prescribed amount of energy per output.Firms that exceed energy-saving targets receive credits or certificates, which can be traded. Emissions Trading (Cap and Trade): Emissions trading, or cap-and-trade, is a market-based system aimed at controlling pollution by setting a limit (cap) on total emissions. Companies receive or buy permits to emit pollutants and can trade excess allowances with others. This system incentivizes firms to reduce emissions by making it financially viable to stay under their cap, unlike energy-efficiency systems like PAT, which focus on relative energy usage rather than absolute emissions.

India’s Approach to Climate Change

• The Finance Minister’s announcement reflects India’s broader climate change strategy, emphasising both equity and viable options to reduce fossil fuel dependence.
• Over the past 15 years, India has focused on decarbonizing sectors to align with development goals like poverty alleviation and access to energy.
• India joined the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol, allowing industrialised countries to undertake climate mitigation projects in developing nations and earn certified emission reduction units.

Iron and Steel Sector Challenges

• The iron and steel sector is crucial for India’s industrialization and urban housing demands.
• However, this sector is a major emitter of greenhouse gases.
• According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), current iron and steel projects have a low probability of meeting net zero emissions targets by 2050.

Carbon Market Mode and International Obligations

• In international law, climate change mitigation obligations are often described as due diligence obligations or obligations of conduct.
• Examples include the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
• India’s NDC includes targets to reduce GDP emission intensity by 45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve 50% of electric power capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030.

India’s Carbon Market Strategy

• India may develop its version of a carbon market, potentially differing from the European Union Emissions Trading System (ETS).
• India has not committed to mandatory emission cuts and has not formally adopted the ETS, which could conflict with its development priorities.
• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s 2021 draft blueprint suggests two phases for India’s carbon market:
  • Phase 1: Voluntary market supported by a domestic project-based offset scheme (carbon offset mechanism).
  • Phase 2: Compliance market with mandatory participation for regulated entities (carbon credits trading mechanism).

Conclusion

• India’s efforts to establish a suitable carbon market reflect its need to balance climate change mitigation with socioeconomic priorities.
• The approach emphasises that climate change policies must integrate development goals and equity considerations.

PYQ: Should the pursuit of carbon credit and the clean development mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even though there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth. (200 words/12.5m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2014)

Practice Question:  Discuss the shift from the ‘Perform, Achieve, and Trade’ (PAT) scheme to the ‘Indian Carbon Market’ mode in India’s climate policy. How does this transition reflect India’s approach to balancing industrial growth and environmental sustainability? (250 Words /15 marks)