Content:

1.    Our drive against manual scavenging will continue: SC

2.    Indian scientists develop novel gene therapy to provide one-time solution for haemophilia.

3.    Amid din, Lok Sabha clears Railways Bill to enhance Independence of Board.

4.    ILO report asks nations to uphold freedom of association at work.

5.    India accounts for half of malaria cases in Southeast Asia in 2023.

Our Drive Against Manual Scavenging Will Continue

Context :

The Supreme Court directed the Union and State governments to take immediate measures to eradicate manual scavenging, emphasizing the importance of human dignity.

Relevance: GS 2 (Polity and Governance, Social Justice).

Supreme Court’s Commitment :

• The Supreme Court has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the complete implementation of its October 2023 judgment.

October 2023 Judgment :

• The judgment mandates the Union and State governments to take concrete and actionable steps to eliminate manual scavenging and hazardous cleaning practices.

Continuing Inhumane Practices :

• Despite existing laws and policies, manual scavenging and hazardous sewer cleaning continue to occur.
• These practices frequently result in severe health hazards and fatalities among workers.

 Violation of constitution :

• Manual scavenging is a violation of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the Right to Life and Dignity.
• Article 14: Right to Equality, as it perpetuates caste-based discrimination.
• Article 17: Abolition of Untouchability, as manual scavenging is deeply rooted in caste hierarchies.
• Laws such as the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, further prohibit the practice.

Indian Scientists Develop Novel Gene Therapy To Provide One-Time Solution For Haemophilia.

Context : Scientists in India have made significant progress in using gene therapy to treat haemophilia A.

Relevance: GS 3 (Science)

Successful Gene Therapy Trial.

• Trial conducted on five patients in Tamil Nadu, with none reporting bleeding episodes over an average follow-up of 14 months.
• Results published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

Current Treatments.

• Involve frequent injections of clotting factors to prevent bleeding.
• Gene therapy offers a one-time solution, enabling the body to produce the missing clotting factor.

Haemophilia A basics.

• Caused by the absence of Factor VIII, a critical blood-clotting protein.
• India has the world’s second-largest haemophilia A patient population (40,000–100,000 individuals).
• Severe cases currently managed with expensive treatments like Factor VIII replacement and monoclonal antibodies.

Cost of Treatment.

• Managing haemophilia in India costs around $300,000 (₹2.54 crore) per patient over 10 years.

 Lok Sabha clears Railways Bill to enhance Independence of Board

Context : The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed in the Lok Sabha, aiming to modernize railway governance by merging provisions of the Indian Railway Board Act, 1905 into the Railways Act, 1989.

Relevance: GS 2 (Polity and Governance)

Statutory Backing:

• Grants legal status to the Railway Board, operational since 1905 without statutory authority.
• Empowers the Union government to determine the Board’s composition, member qualifications, and terms.

Decentralization:

• Provides greater autonomy to railway zones to enhance efficiency, aligning with recommendations from the 2014 Sreedharan Committee.

Independent Regulator:

• Establishes a regulator for tariffs, safety, and private sector participation, as recommended by the 2015 Committee on Restructuring Railways.

Faster Approvals:

• Simplifies processes for infrastructure projects and regional train service expansions, such as extending the Arunachal Express in Bihar.
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ILO Report Asks Nations To Uphold Freedom Of Association At Work

Background: The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has released its Social Dialogue Report, emphasizing the need to uphold fundamental work rights and strengthen social dialogue mechanisms globally.

Relevance: GS 2(Polity & Governance)

ILO Recommendations:

• Ensure freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.
• Provide resources and technical support to labour administrations and social partners to enhance participation in Peak-Level Social Dialogue (PLSD).

Compliance Issues:

• A 7% decline in compliance with fundamental work rights (2015–2022) due to increasing violations.

Significance of Social Dialogue:

• Essential for fostering economic development and social progress.
• Conducted through bipartite (social partners only) or tripartite (including governments) negotiation and consultation processes.

India Accounts For Half of Malaria Cases In Southeast Asia in 2023

Background: WHO released World Malaria Report 2024.

Relevance: GS 2 ( Health).

Malaria Burden:

• India contributed nearly 50% of estimated malaria cases in the region in 2023, followed by Indonesia with nearly one-third.

Reduction in Deaths:

• Malaria deaths fell by 82.9%, from 35,000 in 2000 to 6,000 in 2023.
• India and Indonesia together accounted for 88% of malaria deaths in the region.

Progress Since 2000:

• Estimated malaria cases dropped from 22.8 million in 2000 to 4 million in 2023.
• Between 2022 and 2023, four countries, including India, achieved reductions in malaria cases, while three countries reported increases.