Current Affairs 06 March 2024

CONTENTS

1. India’s 3-Stage Nuclear Program
2. Rare Disease Day
3. Rajya Sabha Elections
4. World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan
5. Carbon Capture and Storage
6. Women, Business and Law Index
7. Human Papillomavirus

India’s 3-Stage Nuclear Program

Context:

Recently, the Indian PM witnessed the start of the process of core-loading the indigenous prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) at the Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. This is a historic milestone, marking entry into the vital second stage of India’s three stage nuclear program.

Relevance:

GS III: Science and Technology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Program: A Strategic Overview
2. Functioning of PFBR (Stage II) – A Breeder Reactor
3. Reasons for PFBR (Stage II) Delay
4. Challenges for Stage II in India’s Nuclear Program:

India’s Three-Stage Nuclear Program: A Strategic Overview

• Conceptualized by physicist Homi Bhabha in the 1950s, India’s nuclear program aims at ensuring long-term energy security, independence, and sustainable development.
• The program focuses on utilizing uranium and abundant thorium reserves.

The Three Stages:

Natural Uranium-PHWRs:

• Initial phase involves Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) using natural uranium fuel.
• Heavy water (deuterium) slows neutron reactions, producing plutonium-239 (Pu-239) and energy.
• Addresses India’s limited global uranium reserves (~1-2%).

Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs):

• Second stage employs Fast Breeder Reactors using Pu-239 and U-238 to generate energy, U-233, and additional Pu-239.
• Special-purpose vehicle BHAVINI, established in 2003, oversees stage II implementation.

Thorium Utilization:

• Third phase integrates Pu-239 with thorium-232 (Th-232) to produce energy and U-233.
• Thorium crucial for India with substantial global reserves (~25%).

Thorium Challenges:

• Thorium utilization is complex, requiring breeding, and faces economic challenges due to low global uranium prices.

Department of Atomic Energy (DAE):

• Conducts indigenous R&D aligned with the three-stage nuclear power program.

Outcome:

• Aims for complete self-sufficiency in nuclear energy, leveraging India’s thorium resources.

Functioning of PFBR (Stage II) – A Breeder Reactor:

Breeder Reactor Concept:

• A breeder reactor generates more fissile material than it consumes.
• In a ‘fast’ breeder reactor, neutrons remain fast, enabling specific fission reactions.

PHWRs and Pu-239 Production:

• PHWRs utilize natural or low-enriched U-238 as fissile material.
• Pu-239 is produced as a byproduct.

Mixed Oxide Formation:

• Pu-239 is combined with additional U-238, forming a mixed oxide.
• Loaded into the new reactor’s core along with a blanket.

Fission Reaction in the Core:

• Core’s fission products react with the mixed oxide, producing more Pu-239.

Coolant System with Liquid Sodium:

• PFBR employs liquid sodium as a highly reactive coolant in two circuits.
• First circuit absorbs heat and radioactivity from the reactor.
• Heat-exchangers transfer only the heat to the coolant in the secondary circuit.
• The latter transfers heat to generators, generating electricity.

Thorium-232 Utilization:

• Thorium-232, a non-fissile material, acts as a blanket in this stage.
• Through transmutation, Thorium produces fissile Uranium-233 for use in the third stage.

Role as a Stepping Stone:

• FBR serves as a crucial intermediary stage, paving the way for full utilization of India’s abundant thorium reserves.

Capacity and Expansion Plans:

• PFBR operates with a 500 MWe capacity.
• DAE proposed constructing four more FBRs with 600 MWe capacity each in 2019.
• Two FBRs planned in Kalpakkam from 2021, and two from 2025, with sites yet to be determined.

Reasons for PFBR (Stage II) Delay:

FBTR Construction and Sanctions:

• FBTR at Kalpakkam served as a PFBR technology testing ground.
• Built by 1977, sanctions post-India’s ‘Smiling Buddha’ nuclear test led to using mixed carbide fuel instead of enriched uranium from France, affecting power output and operating conditions.

Ageing Workforce and Audit Findings:

• Commencing PFBR in 2003, many FBTR personnel nearing retirement.
• 2014 CAG audit revealed BHAVINI’s improper handling of PFBR component purchases, heavy reliance on NPCIL, and technical challenges in reactor coolant.

Cost Escalation:

• PFBR costs surged to Rs 6,800 crore (2019) from the initial Rs 3,492 crore, with multiple deadline extensions.

Challenges for Stage II in India’s Nuclear Program:

FBR Handling Challenges:

• FBRs pose handling difficulties compared to other reactor designs.
• Thorium fuel cycle produces radioactive materials complicating handling and storage.

Regulatory Framework and Public Perception:

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) urged India for an independent statutory atomic regulator.
• Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority (NSRA) bill aimed to replace Atomic Energy Regulatory Body (AERB) but faced criticism for central government control.
• Public concerns heightened globally post-2011 Fukushima Daiichi disaster, affecting nuclear power projects.

Economic Viability:

• Solar electricity costs less than nuclear electricity (Rs 2.5/kWh vs. Rs 4/kWh).

Global and Domestic Shifts:

• Fukushima disaster impacted public opinion against nuclear power.
• Despite challenges, India’s push for decarbonization and reduced fossil fuel imports is revitalizing the nuclear power sector.
• NPCIL aims to commission a nuclear power reactor annually from 2024 to support India’s energy goals.

-Source: The Hindu

Rare Disease Day

Context:

Recently, Rare Disease Day was observed on the last day of February. This international awareness day is dedicated to raising awareness of rare diseases and their significant impact on patients and their families.

Relevance:

GS II: Health

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Rare Disease Day
2. Understanding Rare Diseases
3. Rare Disease Landscape in India
4. Provisions of the National Rare Disease Policy 2021

Rare Disease Day:

Global Advocacy Movement:

• Objective: Advocate for equity in social opportunities, healthcare, and access to diagnosis and therapies for individuals with rare diseases.
• Coordination: Established in 2008, coordinated globally by the European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) and involves over 65 national alliance patient organization partners.

Annual Observance:

• Date: Annually observed on 28th February (or 29th in leap years).
• Theme (2024): “Share Your Colours” – Emphasizes collaboration, support, and inclusivity.

Focal Point for Advocacy:

• Engagement: Serves as a focal point for advocacy work at local, national, and international levels.
• Participants: Engages individuals, families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, and the general public.

Collaborative Approach:

• Theme Emphasis: Encourages collaboration and sharing of experiences and perspectives.
• Symbolism: “Share Your Colours” signifies unity and collective efforts in addressing challenges related to rare diseases.

Promoting Awareness:

• Purpose: Raise awareness about rare diseases, their impact, and the need for collective action.
• Impact: Promotes understanding, empathy, and support for individuals and families affected by rare diseases.

Advancing Global Efforts:

• International Reach: Brings together a diverse range of stakeholders worldwide to contribute to global initiatives in the field of rare diseases.
• Comprehensive Approach: Addresses challenges in healthcare, social opportunities, and research for rare diseases.

Understanding Rare Diseases:

Definition and Prevalence:

• Loose Definition: Infrequently occurring conditions in the population, with varying prevalence between nations.
• WHO Definition: Often debilitating lifelong conditions with a prevalence of 1 or less per 1000 population.
• Global Variances: Definitions differ globally; e.g., the US considers diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 patients rare.

Indian Perspective:

• ORDI Suggestion: Organisation of Rare Diseases India (ORDI) proposes a disease as rare if it affects 1 in 5,000 people or less.
• Current Status: India lacks a standardized definition for rare diseases.

Global Burden of Rare Diseases:

• Affected Population: 300 million people worldwide are impacted by rare diseases.
• Prevalence: Rare diseases affect approximately 3.5% to 5.9% of the global population.
• Genetic Nature: 72% of rare diseases are genetic, with over 7000 characterized by diverse disorders.

Impact and Characteristics:

• Diversity: Present with diverse disorders and symptoms, varying between diseases and even among patients with the same disease.
• Nature: Chronic, progressive, degenerative, and often life-threatening, significantly affecting patients’ quality of life.
• Cure Challenges: Lack of effective cures intensifies patient and family suffering.

Challenges Faced by Patients:

• Delayed Diagnosis: Lack of scientific knowledge and information leads to delayed diagnoses.
• Inequalities in Care: Disparities in access to treatment and care result in social and financial burdens.
• Misdiagnosis Risks: Common symptoms may mask underlying rare diseases, leading to initial misdiagnosis.

Diagnostic Challenges:

• Diagnostic Duration: On average, rare disease patients take 5 years to get a diagnosis (EURORDIS).
• Physician Awareness: Lack of awareness and training among physicians contributes to diagnostic challenges.
• Waiting Period: 70% of rare disease patients wait over a year for a confirmed diagnosis after seeking medical attention.

Rare Disease Landscape in India:

Prevalence and Impact:

• Global Share: India constitutes one-third of global rare disease cases, with 450 identified diseases.
• Overlooked Status: Despite high prevalence, rare diseases lack adequate attention, awareness, diagnosis, and drug development in India.
• Population Affected: Over 8 to 10 crore Indians, primarily children, estimated to suffer from rare diseases.

Policy Challenges:

• National Policy: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare formulated a national policy for rare diseases (NPRD) in 2017 but withdrew it in 2018 due to implementation challenges.
• Revised Policy (2021): Announced in 2021, faces challenges, including the absence of a clear definition for rare diseases.

Treatment and Accessibility:

• Treatable Cases: Less than 50% of identified rare diseases in India are treatable.
• Approved Treatments: Available for only about 20 diseases.
• Centres of Excellence (CoEs): Limited and unevenly distributed; only 12 exist.
• Financial Assistance: NPRD guidelines provide limited financial aid per patient, insufficient for lifelong management of chronic rare diseases.

Challenges in Fund Utilization:

• Budget Allocation (2023-2024): Rs 93 crore allocated, highlighting low funding.
• Disparities and Inefficiencies: 51.3% of allocated funds remain unutilized, leading to unequal access.
• CoEs Struggles: Discrepancies in fund utilization; Mumbai exhausted funds treating 20 out of 107 patients, Delhi used <20%.
• Patient Burden: Funding responsibility falls on patients and families, with government support falling short.
• Advocacy for Sustainable Funding: Patients and advocacy groups call for sustainable funding from both central and state governments.

Critical Need for Sustainable Funding:

• Patient Struggles: Crucial for patients facing exhausted funds, ensuring continued treatment.
• Advocacy Emphasis: Calls for sustainable funding from both central and state governments to support rare disease treatment.

Provisions of the National Rare Disease Policy 2021

• Patients of rare diseases will be eligible for a one-tIme treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
• Financial support up to Rs20 lakh under the Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogaya Nidhi shall be provided by the central government for treatment of those rare diseases that require a one-time treatment (diseases listed under Group 1) for their treatment in Government tertiary hospitals only. – (NOT be limited to below poverty line (BPL) families, but extended to about 40% of the population as eligible under the norms of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY))
• The policy has categorised rare diseases in three groups:
  • Disorders amenable to one-time curative treatment;
  • Those requiring long term or lifelong treatment; and
  • Diseases for which definitive treatment is available but challenges are to make optimal patient selection for benefit.
• The government has said that it will also assist in voluntary crowd-funding for treatment as it will be difficult to fully finance treatment of high-cost rare diseases.

-Source: The Hindu

Rajya Sabha Elections

Context:

The Rajya Sabha elections in the States of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka witnessed cross-voting by MLAs (Mmeber of Legislative Assembly) belonging to different parties. This has once again raised concerns about the sanctity of the election process.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Rajya Sabha Elections
2. Cross Voting in Indian Elections: Implications and Considerations
3. Exclusion of Anti-Defection Law in Rajya Sabha Elections

Rajya Sabha Elections:

Constitutional Framework: The election of representatives to the Rajya Sabha, in accordance with Article 80 of the Constitution, operates through an indirect electoral process. Elected members of each State’s Legislative Assembly hold the responsibility of selecting these representatives.

Contesting Elections: Rajya Sabha polls become necessary only when the number of candidates surpasses the available vacancies. Historically, these elections often lacked competition, with candidates from the majority party in the state assembly winning unopposed.

Cross-Voting Challenge: The landscape changed in June 1998 when Maharashtra witnessed cross-voting, leading to the unexpected loss of a Congress party candidate. Responding to this, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 underwent an amendment in 2003.

Open Ballot System: The amendment mandated an open ballot system for Rajya Sabha elections. Political party MLAs were required to display their ballot papers to the authorized party agent. Failure to do so would invalidate the vote. Independent MLAs, however, were barred from showing their ballots.

Election Process Overview:

• Seat Allocation: Rajya Sabha comprises 250 members, including those nominated by the President. States and Union Territories, based on their population, receive allocated seats.
  • Out of the total, 12 are directly nominated by the President from the fields of art, literature, sports, science, etc.
  • Rajya Sabha seats are distributed among states based on their population. For example, Uttar Pradesh has a quota of 31 Rajya Sabha seats while Goa has just one.
• Indirect Election System: Through an indirect election system, state legislative assembly members utilize the Single Transferable Vote (STV) for proportional representation. The voting power aligns with the population of their respective constituencies.

Quotas: To be elected, a candidate must secure a specific number of votes known as quotas. The quota is determined by dividing the total valid votes by the number of seats available plus one.

• In states with multiple seats, the initial quota is calculated by multiplying the number of MLAs by 100, as each MLA’s vote is valued at 100.

Preferences and Surplus: When filling out the ballot paper with names of candidates from various parties, MLAs rank their preferences against each candidate — with 1 indicating the top preference (the first preferential vote), 2 for the next, and so forth.

• If a candidate receives enough first preferential votes to meet or exceed the quota, they are elected.
• If a winning candidate has surplus votes, those votes are transferred to their second choice (marked as number
• If multiple candidates have surpluses, the largest surplus is transferred first.

Elimination of Fewer Votes: To prevent wasted votes, if the required number of candidates are not elected after surplus transfers, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their unexhausted ballot papers are redistributed among the remaining candidates.

• An “exhausted paper” refers to a ballot paper with no further preferences recorded for continuing candidates.
• This process of surplus vote transfers and eliminations continues until enough candidates reach the quota to fill all available seats.

Cross Voting in Indian Elections: Implications and Considerations

About Cross Voting:

Example in Bihar (1967):

• An illustrative instance of cross-voting occurred in Bihar in 1967 when Rajendra Prasad Jain secured a seat through Congress MLAs engaging in cross-voting, allegedly driven by bribes.
• Subsequently, the Supreme Court declared Jain’s election void.

Definition:

• Cross voting pertains to a scenario wherein a legislator, be it a Member of Parliament or a Member of a Legislative Assembly, affiliated with a particular political party, casts a vote for a candidate or party different from their own during an election or voting process.

Rajya Sabha Elections Context:

• Specifically in the context of Rajya Sabha elections in India, cross voting manifests when members of a political party deviate from voting for their party’s nominated candidates, opting instead for candidates from other political entities.
• Various factors can contribute to cross voting, encompassing disagreement with the party’s candidate selection, external pressures, inducements, personal relationships, or ideological disparities.

Implications of Cross Voting:

Negative Implications:

• Cross voting can potentially undermine the fidelity of representation, as legislators are anticipated to align their votes with their party’s interests or their constituents’ preferences.
• Instances of cross voting, often linked to bribery or corrupt practices, can compromise the integrity of the electoral process, eroding public trust in democratic mechanisms.
• Reflecting internal party divisions, cross voting weakens party cohesion and stability, impeding coherent policy pursuits.
• Contravening democratic principles of accountability, cross voting prioritizes personal gain or party politics over the broader public good.

Potential Positive Implications:

• In contrast, cross voting may denote a level of independence among elected representatives, enabling them to vote in accordance with their conscience or their constituents’ interests, transcending strict party allegiances.
• Genuine instances of cross voting, motivated by differences in opinion or ideology, can act as a check on the dominance of a single party or faction, fostering a more balanced representation of diverse viewpoints.
• Cross voting, when driven by dissatisfaction with party leadership or policies, could prompt parties to introspect, addressing internal concerns and enhancing accountability.

Exclusion of Anti-Defection Law in Rajya Sabha Elections

Tenth Schedule and “Anti-Defection” Law:

• The Tenth Schedule, incorporated through the 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1985, houses the provisions commonly known as the “anti-defection” law.
• It explicitly states that a member of Parliament or a state legislature who voluntarily relinquishes their party membership or votes against party instructions is subject to disqualification.
• The instructions are typically issued by the party whip.

Applicability of Tenth Schedule:

• Despite its comprehensive reach, the Election Commission clarified a significant distinction in July 2017 regarding the Tenth Schedule’s application.
• In a specific exclusion, the provisions of the Tenth Schedule, including the anti-defection law, do not extend to Rajya Sabha elections.
• Consequently, parties lack the authority to issue whips, and members participating in Rajya Sabha elections are not obligated to adhere to party directives.

-Source: The Hindu

World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan

Context:

Recently, the Indian Prime Minister inaugurated the pilot project of World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan, which is currently launched in 11 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) across 11 states.

Relevance:

GS III: Agriculture

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Grain Storage Plan: Enhancing Agricultural Infrastructure
2. About Primary agricultural credit societies

Grain Storage Plan: Enhancing Agricultural Infrastructure

Objective:

• The Grain Storage Plan aims to establish a storage capacity of 700 lakh tonnes within the next 5 years, involving a substantial investment of ₹1.25 lakh crore.
• The plan focuses on creating robust agricultural infrastructure at the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) level, encompassing decentralized godowns, custom hiring centers, processing units, Fair Price Shops, etc.
• Integration of existing Government of India schemes is integral to the plan’s implementation.

Expected Outcomes:

• Facilitating Farmer Storage:
  • Farmers will be empowered to store their produce in PACS godowns, providing them with the option to secure bridge finance for the subsequent crop cycle or sell their produce at Minimum Support Price (MSP), mitigating distress sales.
• Reduction of Post-Harvest Losses:
  • A significant outcome of the Grain Storage Plan is the anticipated reduction in post-harvest losses.
  • This reduction contributes to enhanced farmer earnings, ensuring improved economic conditions for farmers and fostering food security at the grassroots level.
• Benefiting Consumers:
  • The plan’s ripple effect extends to consumers by stabilizing food prices and ensuring a more reliable and sustainable supply of grains.
  • Enhanced storage capacity translates to better availability of food, thereby positively impacting the overall well-being of consumers.

About Primary agricultural credit societies:

• PACS is the smallest cooperative credit institution in India and a basic unit.
• The initial Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) was founded in 1904.
• It has a grassroots effect (gram panchayat and village level).
• PACS serves as the last point of contact between the primary borrowers, or rural residents, and the higher agencies, such as the Central Cooperative Bank, State Cooperative Bank, and Reserve Bank of India.
• PACS are governed by the RBI and registered under the Co-operative Societies Act.
• The “Banking Regulation Act-1949” and the “Banking Laws (Co-operative societies) Act 1965” are in charge of them.

Objectives of PACS

• To raise capital for the purpose of making loans and supporting members’ essential activities.
• To collect deposits from members with the goal of improving their savings habit.
• To supply agricultural inputs and services to members at reasonable prices,
• To arrange for the supply and development of improved breeds of livestock for members.
• To make all necessary arrangements for improving irrigation on land owned by members.
• To encourage various income-generating activities through supply of necessary inputs and services.

Functions of PACS

• PACS typically offer the following services to their members:
  • Input facilities in the form of a monetary or in-kind component
  • Agriculture implements for hire
  • Storage space

Carbon Capture and Storage

Context:

Germany recently announced that it would allow carbon capture and off-shore storage for certain industrial sectors.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Mitigating CO2 Emissions

• CCS encompasses diverse technologies designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from major sources like power plants and refineries, storing them underground.
• It differs from carbon dioxide removal (CDR), which involves extracting CO2 from the atmosphere.
• The three-step CCS process involves capturing CO2 from industrial activities, transporting it, and securely storing it underground.
• Three techniques for capturing carbon in CCS are post-combustion, pre-combustion, and oxyfuel combustion.
  • In post-combustion, CO2 is separated from exhaust gases after burning fossil fuels.
  • Pre-combustion involves removing CO2 before burning fossil fuels, generating hydrogen as a byproduct.
  • Oxyfuel combustion burns fossil fuels with pure oxygen, producing CO2 and water vapor.
• Oxyfuel combustion is the most efficient method, although it requires substantial energy for the oxygen-burning process.
• After capture, CO2 is compressed into a liquid and transported to suitable storage sites like saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs.
• Despite decades of promotion, there are few operational CCS projects globally.
• As of 2023, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported 40 operational CCS projects, capturing over 45 metric tonnes (Mt) of CO2 annually.

-Source: Indian Express

Women, Business and Law Index

Context:

India’s ranking improved to 113 out of 190 countries in the World Bank’s Women, Business and Law index.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

Women, Business, and Law Index: Advancing Gender Equality in Economies

• The Women, Business, and Law Index is a World Bank initiative assessing the regulatory environment for women’s economic opportunities in 190 economies.
• The index rates the impact of laws and regulations on women’s economic prospects on a 0 to 100 scale, where 100 signifies equal legal rights for both genders.
• Evaluation areas include mobility, workplace regulations, pay, marriage laws, parenthood considerations, entrepreneurship support, asset rights, and pension entitlements.
• Providing objective benchmarks, the index measures global progress toward legal gender equality.
• The 10th edition of the report highlights the achievements and remaining challenges for achieving economic empowerment for women worldwide.
• Key findings from the 2024 Index include:
  • No country received a perfect score, indicating the absence of complete legal gender equality globally.
  • India’s ranking improved to 113 out of 190 countries.
  • Indian women were found to have 60% of the legal rights granted to men, below the global average of 64.2%.

-Source: Economic Times

Human Papillomavirus

Context:

March 4 is observed as International HPV Awareness Day every year.

Relevance:

GS II: Health

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

• HPV is a family of over 200 viruses, with 40 transmitted through direct sexual contact.
• Two types cause genital warts, while about a dozen can lead to various cancers, with over 95% of cervical cancers attributed to HPV.
• It is the most common sexually transmitted infection globally and spreads through skin-to-skin contact.
• Most infections are asymptomatic, and the body often clears the virus, but persistent infections can lead to cancer.
• HPV vaccination is crucial for cancer prevention in both men and women.
• HPV Vaccine Overview:
  • Administered through a series of shots, the vaccine guards against HPV infections causing cancer or genital warts.
  • Most effective when given between ages 9-26; its efficacy decreases after HPV exposure.
  • Ineffective during pregnancy; the vaccine isn’t administered at that time.
  • Key focus on preventing HPV before exposure, as the vaccine may not be as effective post-infection.

-Source: The Hindu