Current Affairs 14 February 2024

Contents:

1. Farmers protest to bring in MSP Law
2. Appointment of Election Commissioners
3. Rising trend of unscrupulous entities and online platforms
4. Appointment of Additional High Court Judges
5. Commercial dealings in organ/tissue transplantation
6.  X-ray Polarimetry Satellite (XPoSat)

Farmers Protest to Bring in MSP Law

Context:

Over 200 farmer’s union from Punjab march to Delhi demanding a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP).

Relevance:

GS-III Agriculture, Economic Development, Prelims

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Details
2. Why the farmers need law on MSP
3. Background: Agrarian reform is required
4. Agriculture Sector’s Challenges
5. India’s plan to Increase Farmers’ Income
6. Need to refocus on doubling farm income
7. Government efforts to improve agriculture:
8. What are the issues?
9. Way Forward
10. Conclusion

Details:

• More than thousands of protesting farmers from Punjab march to Delhi demanding legal guarantees for the minimum support price (MSP).
• Authorities have intensified security arrangements to stop a farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march.
• Nearly after two years, farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh are marching towards Delhi after inconclusive talks with Union minister.
• Their Key demands placed before the central government which includes the implementation of the Swaminathan report, loan waivers and law for MSP.
• The march is led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha.

Why the farmers need law on MSP:

• Farmers lack the market power to influence the prices of their produce or to even set the MRP (maximum retail price) which the firms in most industries do.
• They sell their produce at a prevailing supply-and-demand-determined rates.
• Why this is a disadvantage:
  • Farmers generally operate in a buyer’s market. 
  • They harvest most of their crops in bulk, which in-turn leads to a sudden increase of supply relative to demand, putting downward pressure on prices.
  • This market conditions favour buyers over sellers. It means that farmers are price takers, not price makers. 
  • Though the farmers sell their crops wholesale, they pay retail prices for everything from seeds, pesticides, diesel, and tractors to cement, medicines, toothpaste, and soap. This further worsens the situation.

Background: Agrarian reform is required:

• Agriculture currently contributes approximately 15% of national output and employs approximately 50% of the population directly or indirectly.
• Farmer dissatisfaction is a real and pressing issue, as evidenced by the protests currently taking place across the country.
• Historically, government policy focused on increasing agricultural output and improving food security rather than recognising the need to increase farmer income.
• Low global prices have harmed exports, while cheaper imports have harmed domestic prices.
• Natural disasters and crop losses cause rural households to become impoverished.
• Increasing demographic pressure, disguised agricultural employment, and conversion of agricultural land for alternative uses have all contributed to a significant decrease in average land holding.

Agriculture Sector’s Challenges

• Institutional Agricultural Credit vs. Non-Institutional Agricultural Credit: Historically, rural agrarian credit needs were met primarily through moneylenders, resulting in large-scale indebtedness.
• Small land holdings: The land is fragmented, and 87% of farmers are subsistence farmers.
• Low productivity: Indian farms are smaller (1-2 hectares on average), making economies of scale more difficult to achieve.
• Low mechanisation: It is low, and Indian farmers do not use many high-yield input varieties used in other agricultural producing countries.
• High logistics costs: India’s logistics costs are currently around 14% of GDP, which is higher than developed-country exporters such as the US (9.5%).
• Limited value addition: India exports more primary commodities than value-added agricultural products; the country ranks 10th in processed meat, 18th in processed fruits and vegetables, and 35th in dairy.
• Low value addition can be attributed to a lack of private sector investment and adequate incentives.
• Procurement: In 14 years, FCI/state agencies did not procure 69 to 73% of the rice and wheat produced.
• The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state government agencies are two of the main platforms available to farmers for the sale of agricultural produce, but they cannot be a complete substitute for an efficient marketing system, according to the fourth volume of the Dalwai Committee Report on doubling farmers’ income.
• Lack of APMC markets: These markets do not exist in five states: Bihar, Kerala, Manipur, Mizoram, and Sikkim.
• Furthermore, no APMC market exists in the UTs of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
• Infrastructure scarcity: Another important factor that is being overlooked is the poor state of infrastructure in these markets. Only 15% of APMC markets have cold storage facilities. Only 49 percent of the markets have weighing facilities.

India’s plan to Increase Farmers’ Income

• National Commission for Farmers was constituted in 2004, chaired by Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, to suggest methods for faster and more inclusive growth for farmers.
• Then, the Government of India in 2016 constituted an expert committee headed by Ashok Dalwai to look into the entire agriculture ecosystem in the country to suggest ways and means to reform it so that farmers’ income can be doubled by 2022.
• The Committee submitted its final report to the Government in September 2018.

Need to refocus on doubling farm income:

• Increase in farm income is significant to have  a sustained high growth of overall GDP.
• Agriculture engages the largest share of work force.
  • It is about 45.5% in 2021-22, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey.
• Also, the manufacturing sector starts facing a demand constraint soon after meeting the demand of well-off urban consumers.
• Hence, focusing on agriculture is essential to ensure long term high growth of the overall economy.
• Apart from this, agriculture provides food and nutritional security to the largest population, stressing the need to focus on this goal.

Government efforts to improve agriculture:

• The goal of doubling farmers’ income can’t be seen in isolation from the need to promote sustainable and diversified agriculture.
• Subsidies to farmers:
  • With reference to the fertilizer subsidy, the government budget crosses Rs 2 trillion.
  • The Indian price of urea remained at around $70/tonne even when the global prices of urea crossed $1,000/tonne. This is perhaps the lowest price of urea in the world.
  • There is also a subsidy for crop insurance, credit, irrigation (drip), etc.
  • States also give power subsidies in abundance and on irrigation water from canals, etc.
  • Few states also subsidise farm machinery for custom hiring centres.
  • The combined value of these subsidies would easily cross Rs 4 trillion per annum.
• The PM-KISAN Scheme
  • The scheme has a total outlay of 60,000 crore.
  • Under the scheme an income support of 6,000/- per year in three equal installments will be provided to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of upto 2 hectares.
• PM’s Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana:
  • The scheme provides free ration of at least 5 kg/person/month to many small and marginal farmers.

What are the issues?

• There is a need to bring a fundamental change in the policy framework and the government should adopt a ‘pro-farmer approach’.
• Certain policies that affect farmers:
  • Ban on exports of wheat,
  • 20% export tax on rice,
  • Suspension of several commodities from the futures markets,
  • Imposition of stocking limits on certain commodities
• The policy of heavy subsidisation of input subsidies, especially fertiliser and power, along with assured and open-ended procurement of paddy and wheat in some states is playing havoc with environment. There is a need to rationalise this.

Way Forward:

• Policy efforts:
  • The future policies must be re-aligned to focus on the possible impact it could have on the environment.
  • Millets, pulses, oilseeds, much of horticulture that consumer less water, and less fertilisers may be given carbon credits to incentivise them.
  • There is a need to bring in and support crop-neutral subsidies as compared to the present policy that offers free/heavily subsidised wheat and rice. if they need to be skewed, they should be in favour of those crops that are benign to the planet’s basic resources.
  • India must focus on policies that also protect the basic resources of this planet, such as soil, water, air, and bio-diversity.
• Audit mechanism:
  • The Comptoller and Auditor General (CAG) should conduct audit of all subsidies given by the Centre and by the states to examine their outcomes in terms of incomes of farmers and environmental consequences.
  • This can streamline these policies to make them farmer- and planet-positive.
• Other measures:
  • Increasing productivity through better seeds, better irrigation, etc. It will have to combined with unhindered access to best markets for their produce.
  • Further, diversifying to high-value crops, and even putting solar panels on farmers’ fields as a third crop could help raise incomes sustainabily.

Conclusion:

• The bottom line is that we need innovations of technologies, products, institutions, and policies, for more diversified, high-value agriculture that is also planet-friendly.
• Hence, only with a concerted and sustained efforts that one can hope to double farmers’ incomes.

-Source: The Indian Express, Livemint

Appointment of Election Commissioners

Context:

The Supreme Court of India recently refused to grant an interim stay on the law that provides for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).

Relevance:

GS-II: Polity and Governance (Constitutional Bodies, Government Interventions for Transparency and Accountability in governance)

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Details
2. About Election Commission of India
3. Structure of the Election Commission
4. Issues with ECI
5. Some Powers of the ECI
6. Present system of Appointment to the Election Commission
7. Recommendations in the past for collegium to appoint EC and CEC
8. Supreme Court Verdict
9. Does the presence of the CJI in the panel secure ECI’s independence?
10. Conclusion

Details:

• Multiple peas have challenged the constitutional validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
  • The act was passed by Parliament during the Winter Session in December last.
• The Supreme Court refused to grant any interim stay on the law and issued a notice to the Centre.
• What are the concerns:
  • As per the latest petition filed by an NGO, section-7 of the act violates Article 14 (equality before law) and the basic features of the Constitution.
    • Section 7: It says that the CEC and ECs shall be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister.

About Election Commission of India

• The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India.
• The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.
• It is the Commission that decides the election schedules for the conduct of elections, whether general elections or by-elections.
• ECI decides on the location of polling stations, assignment of voters to the polling stations, location of counting centers, arrangements to be made in and around polling stations and counting centres and all allied matters.
• In the performance of its functions, the Election Commission is insulated from executive interference.
• Part XV of the Indian constitution deals with elections, and establishes a commission for these matters.
• The Election Commission was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January 1950, hence it is a constitutional body. Article 324 to 329 of the constitution deals with powers, function, tenure, eligibility, etc., of the commission and the member.

Structure of the Election Commission

• Originally the commission had only one election commissioner but after the Election Commissioner Amendment Act 1989, it has been made a multi-member body.
• The commission consists of one Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners.
• The secretariat of the commission is located in New Delhi.
• At the state level election commission is helped by Chief Electoral Officer who is an IAS rank Officer.
• The President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
• They have a fixed tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• They enjoy the same status and receive salary and perks as available to Judges of the Supreme Court of India.
• The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only through a process of removal similar to that of a Supreme Court judge for by Parliament.

Issues with ECI:

• Flaws in the composition: The Constitution doesn’t prescribe qualifications for members of the EC. They are not debarred from future appointments after retiring or resigning.
• No security of tenure: Election commissioners aren’t constitutionally protected with security of tenure.
• Partisan role: The EC has come under the scanner like never before, with increasing incidents of breach of the Model Code of Conduct in the 2019 general elections.
• Political favor: The opposition alleged that the ECI was favoring the ruling party by giving clean chit to the model code of conduct violations made by the PM.
• Non-competence: Increased violence and electoral malpractices under influence of money have resulted in political criminalization, which ECI is unable to arrest.

Some Powers of the ECI:

• The Election Commission of India is considered the guardian of free and reasonable elections.
• It issues the Model Code of Conduct in every election for political parties and candidates so that the decorum of democracy is maintained.
• It regulates political parties and registers them for being eligible to contest elections.
• It publishes the allowed limits of campaign expenditure per candidate to all the political parties, and also monitors the same.
• The political parties must submit their annual reports to the ECI for getting tax benefit on contributions.
• It guarantees that all the political parties regularly submit their audited financial reports.

Present system of Appointment to the Election Commission

• The Constitution of India does NOT prescribe any procedure for appointment of the CEC and EC. However, the Parliament has the power to regulate the terms of conditions of service and tenure of ECs according to Article 324(5) in the Constitution.
• According to this provision in Article 324 – to determine the conditions of service of the CEC and other ECs and to provide for the procedure for transaction of business by the ECI – Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991 was passed.
• The appointment of CEC and EC is dealt with in the Transaction of Business rules 1961 – according to which the President shall appoint the CEC and EC based on the recommendations made by the Prime Minister. (Therefore, it is the executive power of the President to appoint CEC and ECs.)
• There is also the Article 324(2), which states that the President shall, with aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, appoint CEC and ECs, till Parliament enacts a law fixing the criteria for selection, conditions of service and tenure.

Recommendations in the past for collegium to appoint EC and CEC

• According to the plea filed in the SC, recommendations to have a neutral collegium to fill up vacancies in the Election Commission have been given by several expert committees, commissions from 1975.
• The recommendation to have a neutral collegium to appoint EC and CEC was also part of the Law Commission’s 255th report in March 2015.
• In 2009, the Second Administrative Reforms Commission in its fourth report suggested a collegium system for appointment CEC and ECs.
• In 1990, the Dinesh Goswami Committee recommended effective consultation with neutral authorities like the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the Opposition for the appointment in the Election Commission.
• In 1975, the Justice Tarkunde Committee recommended that the members of the Election Commission should be appointed by the President on the advice of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.

Supreme Court Verdict:

• The recent judgement of the Supreme Court took away the power of the executive to appoint members of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
• The power to appoint the members of the Election Commission of India was under the sole domain of the executive.
• The verdict is a major boost to the independence of the election watchdog.
• The Court has ruled that a three member committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, or the leader of the single largest Opposition party, and the Chief Justice of India (CJI), will choose the CEC and ECs until a law in passed.
• The Court held that, the Election Commission of India is a constitutional body vested with plenary powers of superintendence, direction and control over elections.
• Hence, it is a vital component of the republic.
• It is essential to protect its functional freedom and constitutional protection to ensure free and fair elections.
• The Court held that the original intent of the Constitution makers was that the manner of appointment should be laid down in a parliamentary law.
  • Article 324 says the President should appoint the CEC and Commissioners, subject to any law made in that behalf by Parliament.
  • Highlighting the absence of such a law, the court pointed need to fill the ‘Constitutional vacuum’.

Does the presence of the CJI in the panel secure ECI’s independence?

• Responding to the Court’s verdict, the government’s argument that the existing system was working well and there was no vacuum was quite weak.
  • The convention now is that the Prime Minister chooses a name from among a database of high ranking civil servants and advises the President to make the appointment.
• However, a relevant question is whether the presence of the CJI in the selection panel is the only way in which an institution’s independence can be preserved.
  • There is no clear proof that the independence of the CBI director, who is appointed by a panel that includes the CJI, or his nominee, has been preserved or enhanced.
• Further, the CJI’s presence may give pre-emptive legitimacy to all appointments and affect objective judicial scrutiny of any error or infirmity in the process.

Conclusion:

Hence, by correcting an indefensible method of selection of the Election commission, the Court has significantly added to the sanctity of the process.

-Source: The Indian Express, The Hindu

Rising Trend of Unscrupulous Entities and Online Platforms

Context:

Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has observed a rising trend of unscrupulous entities and online platforms that falsely claim to be registered with SEBI as intermediaries.

• These entities showcase fake certificates purportedly issued by SEBI and promising or implying assured, high returns on investments.
• SEBI has cautioned investors against placing their money with any entity based on such claims.
• Investors are urged to conduct due diligence and verify the registration status of any entity claiming to be a SEBI-registered intermediary.

Relevance:

GS III- Indian Economy

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About Securities and Exchange Board of India
2. Functions of SEBI
3. Powers of SEBI

About Securities and Exchange Board of India

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is the regulator of the securities and commodity market in India owned by the Government of India.
• SEBI was established in 1988 and given Statutory Powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992.

The SEBI is managed by its members, which consists of the following:

• The chairman is nominated by the Union Government of India.
• Two members, i.e., Officers from the Union Finance Ministry.
• One member from the Reserve Bank of India.
• The remaining five members are nominated by the Union Government of India, out of them at least three shall be whole-time members.

SEBI has to be responsive to the needs of three groups, which constitute the market:

• issuers of securities
• investors
• market intermediaries

Functions of SEBI

SEBI has three functions rolled into one body: quasi-legislative, quasi-judicial and quasi-executive.

• It drafts regulations in its legislative capacity.
• It conducts investigation and enforcement action in its executive function.
• It passes rulings and orders in its judicial capacity.
• Though this makes it very powerful, there is an appeal process to create accountability.
• There is a Securities Appellate Tribunal which is a three-member tribunal.
• A second appeal lies directly to the Supreme Court.

Powers of SEBI

• To approve by−laws of Securities exchanges.
• To require the Securities exchange to amend their by−laws.
• Inspect the books of accounts and call for periodical returns from recognised Securities exchanges.
• Inspect the books of accounts of financial intermediaries.
• Compel certain companies to list their shares in one or more Securities exchanges.
• Registration of Brokers and sub-brokers

-Source: The Indian Express, AIR

Appointment of Additional High Court Judges

Context:

Recently, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended appointment of 13 additional judges of three high courts as permanent judges.

Relevance:

GS-II: Polity and Governance (Constitutional Provisions, Indian Judiciary)

Dimensions of the Article:

1.  About Appointment of Additional Judges
2. What is the Collegium System?
3. Working of the Collegium System and NJAC
4. Appointment procedure of HC Judges
5. Transfer procedure of HC Judges

About Appointment of Additional Judges:

• The President of India can appoint a additional Judges under clause (1) of Article 224 of the Constitution.
  • Article 224 of the Indian Constitution provides that if by reason of any temporary increase in the business of a High Court or by reason of arrears of work therein, it appears to the President that the number of the Judges of that Court should be for the time being increased, the President may appoint duly qualified persons to be additional Judges of the Court for such period not exceeding two years as he may specify.
• No person appointed as an additional or acting Judge of a High Court shall hold office after attaining the age of sixty-two years.

What is the Collegium System?

• The Collegium System is a system under which appointments/elevation of judges/lawyers to Supreme Court and transfers of judges of High Courts and Apex Court are decided by a forum of the Chief Justice of India and the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court.’ There is no mention of the Collegium either in the original Constitution of India or in successive amendments.
• The recommendations of the Collegium are binding on the Central Government; if the Collegium sends the names of the judges/lawyers to the government for the second time.

Evolution of the Collegium system

• In the First Judges case (1982), the Court held that consultation does not mean concurrence and it only implies an exchange of views.
• In the Second Judges case (1993), the Court reversed its earlier ruling and changed the meaning of the word consultation to concurrence.

Third Judges Case, 1998:

• In the Third Judges case (1998), the Court opined that the consultation process to be adopted by the Chief Justice of India requires “consultation of a plurality of judges”.
• The sole opinion of the CJI does not constitute the consultation process. He should consult a collegium of four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court and even if two judges give an adverse opinion, he should not send the recommendation to the government.
• The court held that the recommendation made by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) without complying with the norms and requirements of the consultation process is not binding on the government.
• The Collegium system was born through the “Third Judges case” and it is in practice since 1998. It is used for appointments and transfers of judges in High courts and Supreme Courts.
• There is no mention of the Collegium either in the original Constitution of India or in successive amendments.

Working of the Collegium System and NJAC

• The collegium recommends the names of lawyers or judges to the Central Government. Similarly, the Central Government also sends some of its proposed names to the Collegium.
• Collegium considers the names or suggestions made by the Central Government and resends the file to the government for final approval.
• If the Collegium resends the same name again then the government has to give its assent to the names. But the time limit is not fixed to reply. This is the reason that appointment of judges takes a long time.
• Through the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014 the National Judicial Commission Act (NJAC) was established to replace the collegium system for the appointment of judges.
• However, the Supreme Court upheld the collegium system and struck down the NJAC as unconstitutional on the grounds that the involvement of Political Executive in judicial appointment was against the “Principles of Basic Structure”. i.e., the “Independence of Judiciary”.

Issues involved in appointment

• Cumbersome Process: There are inordinate delays in the appointment of High Court judges and it leads to the pendency of cases.
• Lack of Transparency: There is no objective criteria for selection and people come to know about judges only after selection. It also promotes nepotism in the judiciary. The consultations of the Collegium are also not discussed in any public platform.
• Instances of Politicisation: In many cases, there is indication that due to the unfavorable judgments of certain judges the political executive hinders their appointments, elevation, or transfer. This reflects poorly on the concept of independence of the judiciary.
• Improper Representation: Certain sections of societies have higher representation whereas many vulnerable sections have nil representation.

Appointment procedure of HC Judges

• Article 217 of the Constitution: It states that the Judge of a High Court shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI), the Governor of the State.
• In the case of appointment of a Judge other than the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of the High Court is consulted.
• Consultation Process: High Court judges are recommended by a Collegium comprising the CJI and two senior-most judges.
• The proposal, however, is initiated by the Chief Justice of the High Court concerned in consultation with two senior-most colleagues.
• The recommendation is sent to the Chief Minister, who advises the Governor to send the proposal to the Union Law Minister.

Transfer procedure of HC Judges

• Article 222 of the Constitution makes provision for the transfer of a Judge (including Chief Justice) from one High Court to any other High Court. The initiation of the proposal for the transfer of a Judge should be made by the Chief Justice of India whose opinion in this regard is determinative.
• Consent of a Judge for his first or subsequent transfer would not be required.
• All transfers are to be made in public interest i.e., for promoting better administration of justice throughout the country.

-Source: The Indian Express, The Hindu

Commercial Dealings in organ/tissue Transplantation

Context:

As a step towards preventing any possible commercial dealings in organ or tissue transplantation of foreigners, the Health Ministry has altered the Ministry of External Affairs of possible violations and asked to take steps to monitor the process.

Relevance:

GS II: Health

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Organ Donation Landscape in India: Key Points and Disparities
2. Challenges in Organ Donation: Key Issues and Concerns
3. Key Highlights of New National Organ Transplantation Guidelines

Organ Donation Landscape in India: Key Points and Disparities

Demand and Supply Gap:

• Over 300,000 patients await organ donations in India, but supply falls short.
• Shortage leads to approximately 20 deaths daily among those awaiting transplants.

Slow Growth in Donors:

• Donor numbers (living and deceased) have increased gradually over years.
• From 6,916 donors in 2014, the count reached around 16,041 in 2022.

Low Deceased Organ Donation Rate:

• India’s deceased organ donation rate remains consistently below one donor per million population.
• Urgent efforts needed to raise this rate, unlike countries like Spain and the U.S. with higher rates.

Dominance of Living Donors:

• Living donors make up 85% of all donors in India.
• Deceased organ donations, especially for kidneys, liver, and heart, remain notably low.

State-Level Disparities:

• Varied organ donation rates across Indian states.
• States like Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Maharashtra have higher deceased organ donors.
• Delhi-NCR, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, and West Bengal prominent for living donors.

Kidney Transplantation Disparity:

• Demand for 200,000 kidney transplants annually greatly exceeds the supply of around 10,000 transplants.
• A substantial gap exists in kidney transplantation in India.

Challenges in Organ Donation: Key Issues and Concerns

Awareness and Education:

• Limited public awareness about organ donation and its significance.
• Insufficient education among medical professionals in identifying potential donors and guiding families.

Family Reluctance:

• Reluctance of families to give consent for organ donation, even if the deceased had expressed willingness.
• Emotional and ethical dilemmas faced by families during organ donation decisions.

Illegal Organ Trafficking:

• Existence of a black market for organs and illegal organ trafficking.
• Criminal activities exploiting organ demand and undermining legitimate donation processes.

Matching Donors and Recipients:

• Challenges in matching suitable donors and recipients based on medical compatibility.
• Limited availability of compatible organs leading to extended waiting times for patients.

Ethical Considerations:

• Debates on offering financial incentives to organ donors and the ethical implications.
• Balancing the need for increased donations while maintaining ethical practices.

Infrastructure and Resources:

• Inadequate infrastructure and resources for organ retrieval, preservation, and transplantation.
• Challenges in timely transportation of organs across regions.

Key Highlights of New National Organ Transplantation Guidelines

Removal of Age Cap:

• Elimination of age limit for organ recipients.
• Improved life expectancy has led to the removal of the previous age restriction.
• NOTTO guidelines no longer prohibit patients above 65 years from registering for organ transplants.

No Domicile Requirement:

• Waiver of domicile requirement for organ recipient registration.
• Implementation of a ‘One Nation, One Policy’ approach.
• Patients can now register for organ transplants in any state, regardless of their place of residence.

No Registration Fees:

• Removal of registration fees for organ recipient registration.
• Several states, including Gujarat, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Kerala, have ceased charging fees for patient registration.

-Source: The Indian Express, The Hindu

X-ray Polarimetry Satellite (XPoSat)

Context:

The X-ray Polarimetry Satellite (XPoSat), that was recently launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed the healthy functioning of its two payloads.

XPoSat is now ready to provide information to study pulsars, black holes, and other bright astronomical sources using X-ray measurements.

Relevance:

GS III: Science and Technology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat)
2. X-rays and their Study of Celestial Objects

X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat):

Objective:

• Designed to study X-ray polarization in the medium X-ray band, providing crucial insights into the radiation mechanisms and geometry of celestial sources.

Significance for Astrophysics:

• Essential for understanding the physics underlying celestial bodies and their radiation processes.

Payloads:

Carries two main payloads:

• POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays):
  • Observes approximately 40 bright astronomical sources.
• XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing):
  • Studies the electromagnetic spectrum produced by different types of matter.

Development:

• Entirely constructed by two Bengaluru-based institutes—ISRO’s UR Rao Satellite Centre and Raman Research Institute.
• Development initiated in 2008, with a formal agreement signed with ISRO in 2015.

Global Context:

• Only the world’s second mission dedicated to X-ray polarization in the medium X-ray band.
• NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), launched in 2021, was the first such mission by a space agency.

National Contribution:

• Marks India’s third space-based observatory, succeeding the recently launched solar mission Aditya-L1 and AstroSat, launched in 2015.
• Represents a significant advancement for Indian astronomy and space research.

X-rays and their Study of Celestial Objects:

Nature of X-rays:

• X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths ranging from 0.01 to 10 nanometres.

Electromagnetic Radiation Characteristics:

• Electromagnetic radiation exhibits characteristics of an electric field and a magnetic field vibrating perpendicular to each other.

Polarization of Electromagnetic Radiation:

• Polarization refers to the orientation of the electric and magnetic fields as electromagnetic radiation moves through space.

Polarization of X-rays:

• X-rays can undergo polarization when scattered.
• Polarized X-rays are also generated when the path of a fast-moving charged particle is altered by a magnetic field.

Measurement and Astronomical Insights:

• Instruments like POLIX are utilized to measure the polarization of X-rays.
• This measurement allows astronomers to comprehend the orientation and strength of magnetic fields in celestial objects.

Significance:

• Insights into the nature and behavior of celestial phenomena emitting X-rays are gained.
• Crucial understanding of pulsars, regions around black holes, and other cosmic entities emitting X-rays is achieved through the study of X-ray polarization.

-Source: The Hindu, PIB, Indian Express