Context

Recently, the Centre has issued few directions to the states with regard to NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation).

Organ Transplant Violations Involving Foreign Nationals

• Recently, two successive organ transplant cases involving foreign nationals came to the fore in which regulations were violated. In Rajasthan, fake NoCs were allegedly issued to Bangladeshi nationals, and in Delhi, poor Myanmar nationals were allegedly paid to donate kidneys.
• Earlier, after the case involving Myanmar nationals came to light, the Union health secretary had urged the foreign secretary to sensitize the embassies as they are required to issue a certificate to their respective citizens, stating that the donor and recipient are related to each other for undergoing transplant in India.
• The NOTTO registry data shows that there has been an increase in the number of transplants in foreign nationals. 

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About Recently Issued Directions by the Centre

• ID-Generation: The directions are given to ensure that a NOTTO ID is generated for the donor and recipient for living-donor as well as deceased-donor transplants. 
• Mandatory Quick Identification: NOTTO-ID being mandatory for considering allocation of organs in case of deceased-donor transplant, this ID in case of a living-donor transplant shall also be generated at the earliest, maximum within 48 hours after the transplant surgery is done.
• Investigation & Inspection: The Union Health ministry has directed state authorities to investigate cases of commercial trading of organs and take appropriate action for violations, if any.
  • State governments to devise a system for regular inspection of all transplant and retrieval centres. 
• Combat Arising Commercial Trading Issue: Organs of the deceased donor are anonymously allocated to people waiting for a transplant, while an organ can be donated by a living person only if donor and recipient are close relatives or share a close bond and want to donate altruistically. 
  • Commercial trading of organs is not allowed under Indian laws.
• In Accordance with Law: To ensure that foreigners come to India to get a transplant by following the laws of the land. 
  • While it is encouraging to see an increasing number of foreign nationals choosing India as their destination for getting a transplant as India offers world class transplantation at a fraction of the cost as compared to several Western countries. It must be held in accordance with the law.

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Context

A Patient Safety Rights Charter was launched by WHO at the Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety.

WHO launches first ever Patient Safety Rights Charter

• It is the first ever charter released to establish patients rights in the context of safety and aims to support various stakeholders in formulating the legislation, policies and guidelines needed to ensure patient safety.
• Improving patient safety through systemic and systematic action is a global priority identified in the World Health Assembly resolution 72.6 – Global action on patient safety and the Global Patient Safety Action plan 2021-2030.
• The Charter covers 10 patient safety rights necessary  to mitigate risks and prevent undue harm.

What is meant by Patient Safety Rights?

• Patient safety speaks to the first, fundamental principle of health care – ‘Do no harm’.
• It refers to the processes, procedures and cultures established in health systems which promote safety and minimise the risk of harm to patients. 
• Patient safety can be seen as an indicator of countries’ broader commitment to respect, protect and fulfil health-related human rights and assuring patient safety is a critical component needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

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Significance of the Patient Safety Rights Charter

• Reform health care systems: The charter will serve as a  key resource in assisting countries to integrate essential concepts such as patient and family engagement, equity, dignity, and access to information into their health care systems.
• To deliver the right to health: 1 in every 10 patients experience harm in healthcare, about 50% of this harm is preventable. The charter will guide the health care system to prevent the avoidable errors.

• To avoid preventable harm: Patient safety can be compromised due to avoidable errors such as unsafe surgical procedures, medication errors, mis- or late diagnosis, poor injection practices, unsafe blood transfusion and the onset of life-threatening infections such as sepsis and other health care-associated infections.
• Patient centered healthcare systems: The Charter will provide healthcare workers, healthcare leaders and governments with the tools to build patient-centred healthcare systems, improving patient safety and reducing the risk of harm.
• A safety language for patients: The charter will provide patients with language to advocate for themselves in healthcare settings, and will facilitate continued collaboration between patients, their families and caregivers, communities and health systems.

Challenges for patient safety in India

• Limited resources: Participants described poor access to supplies, inadequate staffing levels, and poor infrastructure threatening patient safety resulting in cross-infection taking place in general wards.
• There is no system of reporting Hospital Administered Infection at any level and there is no authority in place to collect, analyse and report HAI at country level.
• Health care delivery systems: The health care delivery system is fragmented and their is absence of a quality assurance system for drugs with drug response serving as  the only indicator of quality.
• Professional culture: Their is a punitive approach to adverse events, and a rigid workplace hierarchy with the doctor unduly concerned more about his safety rather than the patient safety. 
• Patient education: Patients expectations and behaviors were safety barriers, and led to overuse of medicines, the use of counterfeit or expired medications, over the counter treatments.
• Inadequate Training of the support staff like nurses and ward boys in clinical practices.
• Poor Sanitation: It results in hospital derived Infection and ineffective disposal of medical waste can result in Anti microbial resistance etc.

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Context

The Union government has approved a policy to promote India as a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles (EVs)

New Electric Vehicle Policy 2024

• Goal: To enable a transition to localized production in a commercially viable manner  as per local market conditions and demand and to achieve an annual EV car sale of 30% by 2030.  
  • The policy broadly clears the path for global EV makers like Tesla and Chinese EV maker BYD to enter the Indian market.

• Reduction of import duty: The new electric vehicle policy 2024 seeks to reduce the import duty on electric vehicles imported as a completely built unit (CBU) with a minimum cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value of $35,000 to 15% from the present 70%-100%.
  • The provision will be extended for five years subject to manufacturers setting up their facilities in India within three years. 
  • A total duty of ₹6,484 crore or an amount proportional to the investment made whichever is lower would be waived on the total number of EVs imported.
• Maximum Quota on Imports: A total of 40,000 EVs can be imported under the scheme with a maximum of 8,000 units a year, provided the minimum investment made is $800 million.
  • Overall, the minimum investment cap for eligibility has been set at $500 million (approximately ₹4,150 crore).  Carryover of unused annual imports limits is permitted.
• Localisation Targets: Manufacturers will have 3 years to set up their manufacturing facilities in India with expected attainment of  25% localisation by the third year of incentivised operation and 50% by the fifth year. 
  • If the localisation targets are not achieved, and if the minimum investment criteria  is not met, the bank guarantees of the manufacturers would be invoked.

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Advantages of the New Electric Vehicle Policy

• A mid way strategy: The new electric vehicle policy 2024 is India’s attempt to find a midway point where affordability for a captive market is prioritised by encouraging foreign competition  while recognising that import substitution is a phased process which requires  a layered approach
• New opportunities for the Indian EV ecosystem: Components like body parts, motors, electric parts can be localised within three years, while other parts like chips, battery cells and magnets, can be indigenised in the medium term including BMS (battery management system).
• Accelerated understanding of the Indian market: The reduction in custom duty on import of completely built units for testing and market trials would help global players accelerate the development process with reduced risk. 
• Building EV Ecosystem: The new electric vehicle policy makes it lucrative for global EV players and their Indian JVs to expand sales and manufacture in India which would lead to technology transfer and upgrade of local supplier ecosystem benefiting  local manufacturers and boosting our overall EV ecosystem.

Concerns in the Electric Vehicles Landscape

• Endangering domestic EV players: Lowering of import duties would hit the domestic industry which is at a nascent growing state and can result in killing the competition.
• India Specific: The policy will only be successful if global players consider local circumstances and Indian customer expectations  like the environment, roads, driving behaviour and usage conditions only.
• Limitations of the Indian EV market: It  is plagued by low-battery capacity and lower range (when compared with EV models in E.U., China and the U.S.), with crucial parts/systems being imported. 
• Lacklustre EV adoption: While penetration in the two-and three-wheeler segment has been significant, passenger vehicles have seen only a 2.2% contribution thus far mainly because of  lack of proper charging infrastructure, range anxiety, and limited number of products in the affordable range due to limited localisation.
• Inadequate charging infrastructure: To scale charging infrastructure  is crucial to scale EV adoption in the country. 
  • The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in a 2023 report had observed that India may require at least 13 lakh charging stations by 2030 to support aggressive EV uptake.

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Context

Recently, World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) has published the report “State of the Climate in Asia 2023”.  

• Asia is experiencing a warming trend that is almost twice as fast as the global average compared to the period from 1961 to 1990.

About State of the Climate in Asia

• Published by: World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
• Objective: To assess and present the current state of climate conditions and trends across Asia.
• Scope: It covers various aspects such as temperature patterns, precipitation levels, extreme weather events, and their impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, and human populations.
• Data Sources: The report relies on data collected from weather stations, satellite observations, climate models, and scientific research conducted by experts in the field.

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Key findings of the WMO Report 

Global Climate 

• Sea Level: In 2023, the global average sea level continued to rise at a sustained rate (3.43 ± 0.3 mm/year over the period from January 1993 to May 2023).
  • However, the rise in sea level is not uniform in all regions. 

• Most disaster-hit region: Asia was the region most affected by weather, climate, and water-related disasters in 2023.
  • Heat wave intensification: The impact of heat waves in Asia worsened in 2023.
• Dominant disasters: Floods and storms were the most common disasters, leading to the highest number of casualties and economic losses.
  • Disaster statistics: 79 hydro-meteorological disasters struck Asia in 2023, with floods and storms making up over 80% of these events. 
    • These disasters resulted in more than 2,000 deaths and affected over 9 million people.
• Climate change impact: The report highlights that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.
  • Sea surface temperature rise: In 2023, area average Sea-surface temperatures in the northwest Pacific Ocean reached record highs, with a marine heat wave even affecting the Arctic Ocean.
    • The upper layer of the ocean (0 m–700 m) is heating up significantly faster in specific areas like the North-Western Arabian Sea, the Philippine Sea, and the seas east of Japan. 
      • In these regions, the warming is over three times faster than the global average.
  • Precipitation: In 2023, many regions experienced below-average rainfall:
    • The Turan Lowland (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan)
    • The Hindu Kush (Afghanistan, Pakistan)
    • The Himalayas
    • Areas around the Ganges and lower course of the Brahmaputra Rivers (India and Bangladesh)
    • The Arakan Mountains (Myanmar)
    • The lower course of the Mekong River
      • Drought in Southwest China: In 2023, southwestern China experienced a drought, with lower-than-usual rainfall throughout the year. 
  • Temperature anomaly: The annual average near-surface temperature across Asia in 2023 was the second-highest ever recorded.
    • It  exceeded the 1991-2020 baseline by 0.91 degrees Celsius and the 1961-1990 baseline by 1.87 degrees Celsius.
  • Severe Heat Waves:
    • Japan’s Record Summer Heat:
      • Japan and Kazakhstan both experienced their hottest years ever in 2023.
      • The temperatures reached incredibly high levels all over the country.
    • China’s High Temperature Events:
      • China witnessed 14 extreme heat events during the summer.
      • Approximately 70% of the country’s meteorological stations recorded temperatures exceeding 40℃.
      • Sixteen stations broke their previous temperature records.

Indian Climate

• Extreme event: In India, floods were the main reason due to which many people died. 
  • In the North Indian Ocean basin, Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Mocha made landfall along the Rakhine Coast in Myanmar.
    • It caused widespread destruction.
  • Severe Heat Waves: Severe heat waves in April and June caused around 110 reported deaths in India due to heatstroke.
    • Widespread Heat in South-East Asia: A big and long-lasting heat wave affected many areas of South-East Asia during April and May.
      • It reached from Bangladesh and Eastern India to southern China, with extremely high temperatures.
        • During this time, record-breaking heat was recorded. 
• Sea- level: In 2023, the sea level rise in the Bay of Bengal was the second-highest in the area, exceeding the global average by 30 percent.
• Precipitation: Rains in the summer-monsoon were below average in India. 

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Context

Recently, C-DOT, the premier Telecom R&D Centre of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India and Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur (IIT-J) signed an agreement for “Automated Service Management in 5G and Beyond Networks Using Artificial Intelligence”. 

• C-DOT and IIT-Jodhpur said that the successful completion of this project shall enable new use-cases in the areas of transportation systems, smart cities, and allow India a better contribution towards future 6G telecom standards.

Automated Service Management in 5G Network

• Objective: To develop AI frameworks for automated network management, fault detection, and diagnostic techniques by utilizing continuous information generated within the network like 5G. 
• Mandate: The agreement is signed under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) of the DoT, which is designed for providing funding support to domestic companies and institutions involved in technology design, development, commercialization of telecommunication products and solutions to enable affordable broadband and mobile services in rural and remote areas.
• Significance: The service will  establish a real time 5G and Beyond testbed for the demonstration of the developed automated network management and slicing techniques in conjunction with specific application use-cases such as smart metering, remotely operated vehicles, etc.
  • It will enhance advanced research and development initiatives aimed at revolutionizing network management and improving Quality of Service (QoS) in 5G and 6G telecom networks. 

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Context

The World Crafts Council International (WCCI), has selected Srinagar, the picturesque city in Kashmir, for mapping its craft clusters. 

Srinagar Seeks World Craft City Nomination

• Objective: To nominate Srinagar as a World Craft City (WCC) from India this year.
• They checked out clusters where artisans were busy crafting local items.
  • These items included Pashmina shawls, carpets, and papier mâché.
• The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage-Kashmir (INTACH-K) is teaming up with the J&K Handicrafts department.
  • They’re working together to map out the craft industry before the official nomination process.
• The city’s official inclusion announcement is expected within the next couple of months.

About World Crafts Council International (WCCI)

• It is  a  non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing and preserving traditional crafts globally.
  • It is based in Kuwait. 
• The WCC was founded in 1964. 
• Objective: The WCCI aims to promote, preserve, and evolve handicrafts globally.

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The World Craft City (WCC)

• Establishment Date: 2014
• Organising Institution: The World Crafts Council International (WCCI) 
• Country of Establishment: Kuwait
• Objective: It aims to recognize the efforts of local governments, artisans, and communities in enhancing culture, economy, and society.
  • WCC wants to create a worldwide network of craft cities.
  • It promotes the ideas of the creative economy and protects traditional crafts.
• Legal Status: WCC is registered in Belgium as an international association without lucrative purposes (AISBL).
  • This registration status signifies its non-profit nature and international scope of operations.
  • It is Affiliated to the UNESCO under Consultative Status
• World Crafts Council (WCC) Regions
  • WCC is divided into five regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
    • These regions help organize and manage WCC activities worldwide.
• Criteria to grant cities WCC Status:
  • Cities are granted the prestigious WCC status based on their commitment to craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and sustainable practices.
    • Parameters: It includes 
      • How well crafts have been preserved 
      • Initiatives for artisans
      • Adherence to age-old practices.

Kashmir Craft

• Kashmir’s rich tradition of handicrafts is significantly influenced by Central Asian countries. 
  • The handicrafts, including shawls and carpets, reflect centuries-old practices.
• Craftsman and Artisan Base: 
  • Srinagar is home to 20,822 registered craftsmen engaged in various crafts such as papier mâché, walnut wood carving, and hand-knotted carpets.
    • These craftsmen contribute approximately 1.76% to the total workforce of the area.
• Contribution to J&K’s Economy
  • Handicrafts contribute about 2.64% to Jammu and Kashmir’s economy by 2016-17.

Benefits of selecting Srinagar for mapping its craft clusters

• Recognition of centuries-old practices of handicrafts:  Srinagar’s centuries-old practices of handicrafts would be highlighted on the global stage.
  • The world would come to know about the flawless craft work done by Srinagar’s artisans.
    • Local artisans from Kashmir would get an opportunity to interact with the best of artisans from across the world.
• Close linkage with other countries: Srinagar being included in the WCC would help in building linkages with those countries that influenced the crafts of Kashmir many centuries ago.
  • It would be helpful in strengthening relations between India and other countries. 

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Context

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has relaxed the restriction on applying for health insurance in India that allowed only individuals aged 65 and lower to purchase health covers. 

No Age Limit To Purchase Health Insurance

• Expansion of Insurance Coverage: The recent development has pushed insurance companies to provide insurance to people irrespective of their age.
  • Previously, individuals could only buy new policies until age 65, but as of April 1, this limitation has been removed, allowing people of any age to obtain coverage.
  • This would promote inclusivity and accessibility in healthcare. 

What is Health Insurance?

• Health insurance is an insurance product which covers medical and surgical expenses of an insured individual in return for payment of a monthly premium.

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Updated Regulations for Health Insurance:

• Inclusive Health Insurance Mandate: IRDAI  has mandated all insurers to offer health insurance products catering to all age groups, including seniors, students, children, and maternity needs. 
  • Insurers must provide coverage to individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, such as cancer or heart failure, without refusal.
• Premium Payment: Insurers are required to offer premium payment in installments for policyholder convenience, and travel policies can only be provided by general and health insurers. 
• Non-Restricted Coverage for AYUSH Treatment: There is no cap on coverage for AYUSH treatments, including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.
• Flexibility in Claim Filing: Policyholders with benefit-based policies are permitted to file multiple claims with different insurers, offering greater flexibility. 
• Specialized Channel for Senior Citizen Complaints and Claims: A specialized channel to address complaints and claims from senior citizens, ensuring a tailored and responsive approach to their needs.

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)

• Established: It is a statutory body formed under an Act of Parliament, i.e., the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.
• Role: It is an autonomous body and regulates and supervises the development of  the Insurance sector in India.
• Functions: To protect the interests of the policyholders in matters concerning the assigning of policy, nomination by policyholders, insurable interest, settlement of insurance claim, surrender value of the policy and other terms and conditions of contracts of insurance

Government Initiatives

• Bima Sugam Portal: It is an online marketplace that will house all companies selling life and non-life insurance on a single platform.
• Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY): It provides a defined benefit cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. 
• Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY): The scheme provides coverage of up to  ₹30,000 per family annually for hospitalisation expenses, including pre and post-hospitalisation expenses.

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Context

Recently, Bombay High Court in its verdict dismissed a suit challenging Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’s position as the 53rd religious leader of Dawoodi Bohra Community.

High Court Ruling About the Leadership of Dawoodi Bohra Community

• Ruling Based on the Petition : In 2014, the 52nd al-Dai al-Mutlaq, Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin, passed away, and his son, Mufaddal Saifuddin, succeeded him as Syedna. This was challenged by the late Syedna’s (Burhanuddin’s) half-brother, Khuzaima Qutbuddin, in the Bombay HC.
  • Judgment pronounced Based on the issue of proof and not faith : High Court Considered the Maintainability of Suit, Can the Objective of Nass be changed with time ?, On the Validity of Nass to Saifudin, Requirement of Nass, is there any  adequate evidence with claimants etc 
  • Therefore By Considering all the Fact HC observed that : Based on the  more evidence with current Dai & nass could be changed with time etc. gave its judgment. 

Dawoodi Bohra Community

• The Dawoodi Bohra are a Shia Muslims, sect of followers of Islam who adhere to the Fatimi Ismaili Tayyibi school of thought. 
  • Their faith is based on the belief in one deity; Allah Taʿala, in the Holy Quran as the word of Allah and in the sacred mission of the Prophets and their successors.
• This sect is known to have originated from Egypt later shifting to Yemen. 
• The Dawoodi Bohra Muslims settled in India in the 11th century. 
  • The seat of the sect was moved to Sidhpur (Patan district of Gujarat), India in the year 1539 from Yemen. 
  • The Bohra Muslim community considers Surat in Gujarat their base, despite their presence in Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh as well.
• Occupation : They have traditionally been a community of traders and entrepreneurs & qualified professionals in numerous fields.
• Presence around the World : More than 5 lakh members in India and more than 10 lakh members over the 40 countries across the world.  

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Al-Dai-Al-Mutlaq (Spiritual Head)

• Throughout the world they are guided by their spiritual leader known as the Al-Dai-Al-Mutlaq.
• The present leader is the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq, ‘Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin’
• Their Principal seat in Mumbai.

How is the successor of the Dawoodi Bohra leader picked? 

Through Nass ( Conferment of Succession)

• As per faith and the Dawoodi Bohra doctrine, a successor to the Dai is appointed through “divine inspiration”. 
• The “nass”, or conferment of succession, can be conferred upon any deserving member of the community. 
  • In practice though, the nass is often conferred upon a member of the family of the current Dai.

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Context

Recently, Global leaders gathered (from 23 April-29 April 2024) in Ottawa, Canada for the 4th Session of Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to discuss progress in drafting a first-ever global plastic treaty.

• At the 4th Session of  INC, around 3,500 people registered to attend including lobbyists, business leaders, lawmakers, scientists and environmental non-profits.

UN Global Plastic Pollution Treaty

• About the treaty: At the U.N. Environmental Assembly in 2022, the world’s nations agreed to develop a legally binding agreement by the end of 2024 to address the world’s plastic pollution crisis. 
  • The Treaty is meant to address plastics through their entire lifecycle from when they are produced, to how they are used and then disposed of.
  • It will be defining what measures to take, how and when to implement them. 
• Working of INC: The INC began its work during the second half of 2022, aiming to complete the negotiations by the end of 2024. 
  • First session of the INC (INC-1): Punta del Este, Uruguay from 28 November to 2 December 2022.
  • Second session (INC-2):  Paris, France from 29 May to 2 June 2023. 
  • Third session (INC-3):  Nairobi, Kenya from 13 to 19 November 2023. 
  • Fourth session (INC-4): Ottawa, Canada from 23rd to 29 April 2024.
  • Fifth session (INC-5):  Scheduled to take place at Busan, Republic of Korea from 25th November to 1st December 2024.

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Plastic Waste Concern

• Plastic waste has become a global menace polluting landscapes and waterways, producing plastics involves releasing greenhouse gas emissions. 
  • The plastic industry now accounts for 5% of global carbon emissions, which could grow to 20% by 2050.
• Plastic production is on track to triple by 2060 – unless the treaty sets production limits, as some have proposed. 
• Most virgin plastic is derived from petroleum.

Potential Challenges & Consensus in the Meeting

With Respect to restrictions and phase-outs, reuse policies, product design requirements, extended producer responsibility, and waste management etc 

• Regarding  Production Limits : Many plastic and petrochemical-producing countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran and China have opposed mentioning production limits. 
• Regarding Phase Outs : A group of 60 nations wants to end plastic pollution by 2040. They are called the “High-Ambition Coalition.” (The group includes European Union countries, island nations, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.)
• Petrochemical Industry on Recycling & Technology Use  : They said that production caps would lead to higher prices for consumers, and that the treaty should address plastics only after they are made.
  • They  want to focus on encouraging the reuse or recycling of plastics, including deploying technology that can turn plastic into fuel.
  • About chemicals used in production :They said companies should be allowed to disclose those chemicals voluntarily.
• Corporate Brands Company : More than 200 consumer-facing companies including Unilever, PepsiCo and Walmart have joined the so-called Business Coalition for a Plastics Treaty. 
  • Like the petrochemical industry, these companies that rely on plastic packaging for their products have been a major presence in the plastics negotiations.
  •  However they support the Negotiating Treaty.

Conclusion

To rein in soaring plastic pollution by the end of the year. It could be the most significant deal relating to climate-warming emissions and environmental protection since the 2015 Paris Agreement, which got 195 parties to agree to keep global temperatures from rising beyond 1.5C.

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Context

The National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) India organized the Statutory Full Commission meeting of all the seven National Commissions for ensuring the protection of Human Rights.

NHRC, India holds Statutory Full Commission meeting

• Attendees at the Meeting: The meeting was attended by:
  • Member Secretary, National Commission for Women; 
  • Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
  • Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities
  • Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Caste
  • Joint Secretary, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.
• Meeting Objective: To discuss the issue of ensuring the protection of the human rights of the vulnerable and marginalized sections and share best practices and annual action plans.
• Collaborative Strategies for Human Rights Protection: It was highlighted during the meeting that the country has various “sound legislations” to ensure the protection of human rights of different sections of the society.
• U.S. State Department’s 2023 Human Rights Report (HRR): Human Rights Report (HRR) 2023, a country-wise compilation of human rights practices, has flagged “credible reports” of more than a dozen different kinds of human rights abuses in India.

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What are Human Rights?

• Universal Nature of Human Rights: Human rights are rights we have simply because we exist as human beings – they are not granted by any state and they belong to each and every one of us equally. 
  • These universal rights are inherent to all, regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or any other status. 
• Governing Human and State Relations: Human rights govern how individual human beings live in society and with each other, as well as their relationship with the State and the obligations that the State have towards them.

Characteristics of Human Rights

• Inalienable: Human rights are inalienable. All people everywhere in the world are entitled to them. No one can voluntarily give them up. Nor can others take them away from him or her. 
• Indivisibility: Human rights are indivisible. Whether civil, political, economic, social or cultural in nature, they are all inherent to the dignity of every human person. 
• Interdependence and Interrelatedness: The realization of one right often depends, wholly or in part, upon the realization of others. 
  • For instance, the realization of the right to health may depend on the realization of the right to education or of the right to information. 
• Equality and non-discrimination:  All individuals are equal as human beings and by virtue of the inherent dignity of each human person. 

International Treaties Related to Human Rights

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR):  Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, it was the first legal document to set out the fundamental human rights to be universally protected.
  • India had signed the UDHR on January 01, 1942.
• International Bill of Rights: The UDHR, together with the 2 covenants – the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR), and the International Covenant for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights(ICESCR) – make up the International Bill of Rights.
  • ICCPR: It elaborates further the civil and political rights and freedoms listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  • ICESCR: All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
• Others: 
  • United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC): It is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system,  responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the world.
  • International humanitarian law (IHL): It is also known as the law of war or the law of armed conflict. 
    • It is a set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. It protects persons who are not or are no longer participating in the hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare. 

Legal Provisions Related to Human Rights in India

• Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993: It set up the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in India.
  • The NHRC is responsible for the protection and promotion of “rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants”.
• Constitutional Provisions:  Constitution acts as a protector of basic human rights with the provision of Fundamental Rights and Directive principles. 
  • Article 14 to 32 in Part III and Article 36 to 51 in Part IV of the Indian Constitution contain almost all of the rights provided in UDHR.

Status of Human Rights in India: Human Rights Report 2023 (HRR):

• Extrajudicial Killings:  The report pointed out that “the country registered 813 cases of extrajudicial killings between 2016-2022, with the most reported in Chhattisgarh, followed by Uttar Pradesh.”Ethnic Conflicts:  

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• Ethnic Conflicts: The Kuki community, predominantly Christian and tribal faced violence perpetrated by the Meitei community, which constitutes the majority. 
  • The conflict resulted in over 200 casualties, with approximately two-thirds being Kukis. 
• Transnational Repression: Indian government was engaged in repression of “journalists, members of diaspora, civil society activists, and human rights defenders”. 
• Governmental Posture Towards International and Non-governmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Human Rights Abuses:  The report highlighted the government’s cancellation of “registration certificates of 1,827 non-profit associations” under FCRA [Foreign Contribution Regulation Act] provisions between 2017 and 2022.
  • There were numerous reports of threats and violence against human rights defenders, particularly those representing women, religious minorities, and marginalised communities.
• Religious freedom Violation:  Thirteen state governments enacted laws prohibiting forced conversions and forced religious conversions for marriage purposes. 
  • However, in practice, these laws were frequently employed to restrict conversions to non-Hindu religions and peaceful religious practices among members of religious minority communities.
• Non-state Actors: Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, northeastern States, and Maoist terrorism-affected areas committed serious abuses, including killings and abductions of armed forces personnel, police, government officials, and civilians.”
• Rights of Persons with Disabilities:  There are problems related to the admissions in schools and assistance to the differently-abled students in exams. 
  • The visually impaired have been facing the problem of captcha codes while accessing online services.

Other Human Rights Challenges in India

• Freedom of Expression: According to the HRW World Report 2021, the government “increasingly harassed, arrested, and prosecuted rights defenders, activists, journalists, students, academics, and others critical of the government or its policies.”

• Equality and Dignity for Marginalized Communities: Despite a provision of the compensation under the SC/ST Act, its payment is delayed. 
  • A lot of time is lost in the registration of complaints and distribution of compensation. 
• Education and Technology Accessibility: The National Commission for Scheduled Castes highlighted the challenge of ensuring that benefits from new education policies and emerging technologies reach marginalized communities.
  • Ban on wearing a hijab in schools and colleges in the state of Karnataka hinders the participation of women and girls in Indian society and impacting their access to education.
• Violence against Discrimination Against Women: As per National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) Data,  30% women between the age of 18 and 49 have experienced physical violence since the age of 15 years, while 6% have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.
• Oppression Against Religious Minorities: According to Hindutva Watch, a USA-based research organization, 255 incidents of advocacy of hatred and violence targeting Muslims were recorded in the first six months of 2023.
• Manual Scavenging: According to the Safai Karamchari Andolan, there are one lakh persons from Dalit communities employed in manual scavenging.
• Children Rights: According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), crimes against children increased sharply by 351per cent between 2011 and 2021.

Way Forward

• State Responsibility in Ensuring Child Rights in Private Schools: It has been highlighted that the states cannot refuse to intervene in the matters of the rights violations of children in private schools merely on the ground that these are owned by private entities.
  • All the institutions operate under the due permission of the State and therefore they also owe a responsibility to ensure their lawful functioning.
• Reviewing Victim Compensation Schemes: The victim compensation schemes in all states need to be studied to know whether these conform with the Statute. Compensation under NALSA needs to be enhanced. 
  • It needs to be assured that a child victim of SC-ST community is eligible for compensation under the SC-ST Act, POCSO Act as well as the NALSA scheme.
• Sensitisation of Manual scavengers: Sanitation workers should be informed about their rights and the laws that protect them from abuse by their employers.
  • The states and local bodies should implement the NAMASTE (National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme for mechanical cleaning of septic tanks.
• Utilisation of HRCnet Portal: Collaborations on preparing advisories and utilizing platforms like the HRCnet portal of the NHRC to enhance synergy and prevent duplication of efforts in resolving cases.
  • All the Commissions must share the links of each other’s websites on their respective websites for easy accessibility to the people. 
  • An exchange of expertise among the National Commissions for a common goal towards ensuring the protection of the rights of the people.
• National Action Plan on Human Rights (NAPHR):  As mandated under the UNHRC’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR),  India should have NAPHR covering issues such as the rights to health, education, food security, and housing, etc.

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