Lecture Notes: Discussion on Important Topics for May 2024 Exams

Introduction

• Speakers: Presenting about 7-8 important topics
• Duration: 40-45 minutes coverage
• Main focus: 8 critical topics

Misleading Advertisements in India

• High-profile case: Patanjali's misleading advertisements
  • Issues with claims about curing COVID-19 with Coronil
  • Criticism of allopathic medicine
• Supreme Court of India: Issued guidelines due to 170 violations in the last 6 months
• FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India): Monitoring body
  • Established: 5th September 2008
• Acts involved:
  • Drugs and Magical Remedies Act, 1954
  • Consumer Protection Act, 2019
• Definitions: Misleading Advertisements
  • Based on false descriptions, misleading consumers, unfair trade practices
  • Consumer Protection Act 2019, Section 2, Subclause 28
• New Regulations:
  • Self-declaration by advertisers
  • Broadcast on Broadcast Seva Portal before airing on TV
  • Guidelines for endorsements by celebrities and online influencers
• Surrogate Advertisements: Advertisements promoting related non-core products

Indian Poultry Sector

• Recent news: H5N1 outbreak in certain areas
• One Health Approach: Integrated health of humans, animals, and the environment
• History: First human H5N1 infection in 1997, Hong Kong
• Poultry in India:
  • Total: 851.8 million poultry birds
  • 30% are backyard poultry
• Poultry Categories:
  • Small farmers: up to 5,000 birds
  • Medium farmers: 5,000 to 25,000 birds
  • Large farmers: more than 100,000 birds
• Legislation:
  • Water Act, 1974: For pollution control
  • Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): Under Water Act, 1974
  • Silver Revolution: Related to egg production

India's Sugarcane Subsidy under WTO Scrutiny

• WTO establishment: January 1, 1995
• Main objective: Promote free trade globally
• Agreement on Agriculture (AoA): Three types of subsidies
  • Green Box: Non-trade distorting
  • Blue Box: Production-limiting
  • Amber Box: Price-support measures (e.g., MSP, FRP)
• Current Issue: India exceeding limits set by WTO

WHO Report on Global Immunization

• Impact: 154 million lives saved in last 50 years
• Coverage:
  • 83% first dose, 74% second dose for measles
  • 84% infants protected with DPT vaccine
• Polio:
  • Type 2 and 3 eradicated, Type 1 still present
  • India declared polio-free in 2014
• Mission Indradhanush (2014): To immunize 89 lakh children
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022): Focus on urban areas, routine immunization

Xenotransplantation

• Concept: Transplantation of animal organs into humans
• Example: Pig kidney transplant in humans
• Genetic modification: Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology
• Success: First human recipient's death unrelated to transplant
• Why pigs: Anatomical similarities, cost-effectiveness, size matching

India to Host 46th ATCM & 26th CEP Meeting

• Event: Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) & Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP)
• Host: India, Ministry of Earth Sciences, NCPOR
• Antarctic Treaty: Established 1959 for peaceful purposes and scientific cooperation
• India's Role: Consultative Party since 1983, Antarctic Act 2022
  • Research stations: Dakshin Gangotri, Maitri, Bharati

Article 31C Existence and Redistributive Justice

• Background: Addresses redistribution of wealth under Articles 39(b) and (c)
• Related Cases: RC Cooper vs Union of India (Bank Nationalization)
• Protection: Article 31C shields directive principles from Articles 14 and 19

Water for Shared Prosperity (World Bank Report)

• Event: 10th World Water Forum, Bali, Indonesia
• Report Highlights:
  • 2.2 billion without safe drinking water
  • 3.5 billion without safe sanitation
  • 8 out of 10 rural residents lack safe water and sanitation
• Forum: Held every three years since 1997
• World Water Council (WWC): Established 1996, based in Marseille