Context: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has formed a committee headed by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director-General Anish Dayal Singh to probe the parliament security breach on 13th December 2023.

Home Ministry sets up committee to investigate Parliament security breach

• The committee consists of members from many other security agencies and experts. 
• The committee will investigate the security lapses in the New Parliament and provide recommendations on improving the security in the new building at the earliest.  

About the Recent Attack on Parliament

• On the 22nd Anniversary of the 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, two men jumped from the visitors gallery into the Lok Sabha Chamber. They were carrying tear gas canisters hidden into their shoes. 
• They had entered the Parliament on visitor’s passes endorsed by an MP. They jumped when the Zero Hour was going on. 
• No MPs or security staff were injured in the Incident. 
• Security agencies have identified 6 people involved in the incident. They have not found any terror angle to the incident, calling it political protests.
• The accused have been detained under Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.

UAPA Act

• Objective: It aims to prevent unlawful activities and associations in India that might affect the sovereignty and integrity of India. 
• Punishment: The act has the death penalty and life imprisonment as the maximum punishment. 
• Applicability: Under UAPA, both people of Indian and foreign nationality can be charged. Even crimes committed from outside India can be handled under UAPA.
• Chargesheet: A timeline of 180 days is available for the investigating agency to file the chargesheet. 
• Bail: Stringent conditions for bail are laid in UAPA, providing the state more power to detail and investigate the offender. 
  • SC has held that courts must only be satisfied that a prima facie case can be made against the accused to deny bail application. 

Parliament Security System

• The security of the complex is managed by Delhi Police, paramilitary forces, and a specialized department called Parliament Security Service (PSS).
  • Police control access to the area surrounding the complex
  • Paramilitary jawans guard the outer perimeter of the complex
  • Parliamentary Security Service controls the inside of the complex 
• There are three levels of security check for any visitor, with visitors allowed only a valid ID proof with themselves in the premises. 
• They are escorted to the gallery by security staff, and their security supervision continues even inside the public galleries.

Steps to Apply for the Pass

• Interested people can reach out to the Constituency MP, whose office sends the information to the Centralised Pass Issue Cell (CPIC), which further vets the application for security clearance. 
• After the clearance, the pass is sent to the MP’s office, which provides the pass to the visitor. 
• Only 2 visitors per day are allowed per MP. 

Source: The Hindu

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Context: Recently, “Krutrim AI”, an indigenous AI model, was  launched in Bengaluru.

Krutrim, ‘India’s own AI’ developed by Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal

• Launched by: Krutrim Si Designs, the artificial intelligence (AI) venture is led by Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal.
• It will be available in beta version from January 2024 as an application programming interface (API) for enterprises and developers.

What is KRUTRIM AI?

• Krutrim is a sanskrit word meaning ‘artificial’.
• Krutrim is India’s first complete AI computing stack.
• Krutrim will have two classifications:
  • Krutrim AI base model: It will be available as an application programming interface (API) for enterprises and developers)
  • Krutrim AI Pro: It will have advanced capabilities for problem-solving and task execution)
• Base Algorithm: Large Language Model
• Krutrim’s conversational AI assistant  (contemporary of Chatgpt), will  understand and speak multiple Indian languages fluently.
  • For Example: Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Odia, and Telugu are among the languages that can generate content.

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

What makes Krutrim AI different?

• Linguistic inclusivity in AI: It can understand 20 Indian languages and generate content in 10 Indian languages (including Marathi, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Odia.)
• Indian Data Dominance: It has  processed over 2 trillion tokens (subwords used in conversations) and has trained on 20 times more Indic tokens 
• Voice-Activated: It can also respond to voice inputs and can seamlessly switch between written and spoken communication which will enhance user interaction and accessibility.
• Demonstrating real-time coding: It will make it a potential game-changer for developers and businesses.

News source: Business Standard

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Context: Two  Siberian Tigers (Lara and Akamas) arrived at Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park from Cyprus.

Siberian tigers from Cyprus Zoo reach Darjeeling

• Exchange program: As a Part of the exchange program, India has sent two Red Pandas to Pafos Zoo Cyprus.
• Last Siberian Tiger: The last Siberian Tiger in the country ‘Kunal’ died at 18 in November 2011 at the Nainital Zoo.

About Siberian Tigers

• Scientific Name: Panthera tigris altaica
• Siberian tigers, also known as Amur tigers.
• Geospatial Variation: They inhibit the cold-climate forests of the Primorye and Khabarovsk territories of far-eastern Russia as well as northeastern China.
• Vulnerability status:
  • IUCN:  Endangered 

Red Panda

• Scientific name: Ailurus fulgens
• Vulnerability:
• • IUCN red list: Endangered 
  • Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I 
  • CITES: Appendix 1
• Distribution: Almost 50% of the red panda’s habitat is in the Eastern Himalayas.
  • In India, it is found in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Darjeeling, and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal. 
• It is the state animal of Sikkim.

Also Read: Tiger Reserves In India 2023

News source: Hindustan Times

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Context: An Indian Delegation in Fiji, led by a joint secretary of the Ministry for External Affairs, met the Deputy PM of Fiji to discuss the proposed 100-bed super specialty hospital. 

India’s Initiative in Fiji

• PM Modi had declared that India would construct a 100-bed super specialty hospital in Fiji during his visit to Pacific Island in February 2023.
• Target Audience: It will target the people of the Pacific islanders as well as patients from Australia and New Zealand.
• Indian Support: The hospital will be built, staffed, and operated by India. India will also provide the equipment in the hospital. 
• Other Collaboration: India is extending partnerships through the health sector, student exchange programs, and capacity building.

About India-Pacific Islands Relations

• Lack of Depth: India and Pacific Island relations have remained cold in the past due to the physical distance and lack of any compelling geopolitical or economic objective. 
• Historical Ties: Pacific Island countries, notably Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands, have a shared history with India as both were members of the British Empire and have the presence of a large Indian Diaspora.

• Countries in the Pacific: The Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu are among the 14 countries that make up the Pacific Islands, often known as Pacific Island Countries (PICs).

• Renewed Cooperation: It is since 2014 after the launching of FIPIC (Forum for India–Pacific Islands Cooperation) that the relations have been renewed. 
  • FIPIC is a multinational grouping developed for cooperation between India and 14 Pacific Islands. 
  • During the first FIPIC meeting, twelve of the fourteen PICs pledged their support for India’s permanent membership in the UN Security Council (the two others, the Cook Islands and Niue, don’t have a vote in the UN).
• India as a leader of the Global South: PICs have also been supportive of India’s campaign to be the leading voice of the Global South.
• 3rd FIPIC Summit: In May 2023, India unveiled a 12-point action plan during the third Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation Summit focusing on Healthcare Infrastructure development, Cyber Security Training hubs, addressing Climate Change, and establishing Solar Projects. 

India-Pacific Islands Relations: Challenges

• Opposition emerged between India and Pacific Island Countries in the COP28 when Vanuatu called out countries blocking progress on phasing out fossil fuels. 
  • India has taken a stand to replace ‘phase out’ with ‘phase down’ of coal use in COP 28. 
• Power Play in the Pacific: India and China are competing for the partnership with these nations, making it challenging for India. 
• Cultural distinctness: Diversity in culture and language makes it challenging to bridge the information gap and build meaningful relations. 
• Weak Institutions: The island countries’ weak governance and developing institutions are a significant bottleneck in executing benefits from the aid. 
• Economic Challenges: India is aspiring to become a manufacturing hub, while these islands are only small markets, thus hindering a large-scale partnership.

Must Read: UN Climate Summit 2023 or COP28: Outcomes, Agreements and Challenges

Source: The Economic Times

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Context: Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare inaugurated the Manthan Shivir 2023 to finalize the implementation plan of Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN Yojana)

• The theme of the Manthan Shivir was ‘Whole of Government Approach – Reaching the Unreached Last Mile’.

About PM JANMAN Yojana

• Launch: The PM Janman Yojana was launched on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (15th November 2023) in Jharkhand to commemorate the  birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.  

• Objective: To focus on the development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) who have been left out by the schemes of various Ministries/Departments.
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Tribal Affairs 
• Financial outlay: Around Rs. 24,000 crores.
• Critical interventions: The PM JANMAN Yojana (comprising Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes) focuses on 11 critical interventions through 9 Ministries which are as follows:
  • Provision of pucca houses
  • Connecting roads
  • Piped water supply/Community water supply
  • Mobile Medical Units with medicine cost
  • Construction of hostels
  • Construction of Anganwadi Centers
  • Construction of Multipurpose Centers (MPC)Energization of habitations/households (Last mile connectivity) through a) grid and b) solar Power off-grid
  • Setting up of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras
  • Installation of mobile towers

News source: PIB

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Context: Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development for 2023 has been jointly awarded to Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad 

Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development 2023

• It was awarded to the duo for their efforts in bringing together the youth and people of Israel and the Arab World.
• It was awarded by the International Jury of the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development, chaired by former Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur. 
• TS Thakur mentioned that their contributions have led to peaceful public cooperation via music, dialogue, and people’s participation.

About Ali Abu Awwad

• Profession: He is an eminent Palestinian peace activist working with the people of Palestine and Israel for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the Middle East.
• Ideology: Abu Awwad used Gandhian principles of non-violent action, which could help Palestinian goals of freedom and dignity.

About Daniel Barenboim

• Origin:  He is a  pianist and conductor also known for his use of music to foster harmony in West Asia.
• Ideology: He has a vision of a peaceful resolution of the West Asian Conflict. 

About Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development

• It has been conferred every year since 1986 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. It consists of a monetary award of 25 lakh along with a citation.
• Objective: The award is given to individuals or organisations that work towards ensuring international peace, disarmament, and development.
• Selection Process: Recipients are selected by an International jury appointed by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. The Jury comprises eminent personalities and experts in Diplomacy, International Relations, and Peace-building. 
• Previous Recipients of the award: 
  • 2022: Jointly awarded to the Indian Medical Association and the Trained Nurses Association of India as representatives of the COVID-19 warriors
  • 2021: Pratham NGO

Learn more about Indira Gandhi Peace Prize Awarded To COVID-19 Warriors, here.

Source: The Hindu

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Context: India has been chosen to help Saint Lucia as a partner country in strengthening its tax administration under the Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) program.

India to help Saint Lucia’s tax administration under Tax Inspectors without Borders Program

• Duration of the program: It is expected to be operational for 12-18 months.
• Partner countries: India, along with nations of Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean will collaborate with the TIWB Secretariat and will be  supported by  UNDP’s Country Office. 
• India and TIWB: Saint Lucia will mark the seventh time that India has supported the TIWB program by providing Tax Experts. 
  • India previously helped countries like Bhutan and Seychelles.

India’s Role as a Partner Country of St.Lucia:

• Sharing of  Best Practices: India will transfer technical knowledge and skills to Saint Lucia’s tax administration and share best practices to strengthen the country’s tax administration.
• Focus Areas: It will focus on the effective use of automatic exchange of information under the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) framework.

About Tax Inspectors Without Borders Program

• Launched by:  the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) &  United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2016.
• It is a capacity-building program where partner administrations help the country by sharing the technical, skills, know-how, and best audit practices with its tax auditors.

Must Read: Data Point: India’s Widening Tax Base

News Source: Economic Times

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Context: Recently, massive oil spillage occurred due to flood water from cyclone Michaung from the state-run Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (CPCL) refinery in Chennai. 

• Cyclone Michaung is a tropical cyclone of the year over the Bay of Bengal.

Know more about Cyclone Michaung: Threat, Intensity, and Live Updates!

About Ennore Oil Spill

• Oil spillage from the premises of CPCL entered Buckingham Canal from guard ponds and storm-water drains reaching Ennore Creek.
  • Ennore Creek is a coastal backwater of the Kosasthalaiyar River, which is home to numerous fishing communities.

Location: Ennore Creek 

• Tar balls and thick layers of oil have been deposited along the coastline. A trail of oil deposits can also be seen on the shores and the fishing boats.
• Tarball is a dark-coloured piece of oil.
• Suo Moto Case by NGT: The National Green Tribunal(NGT)  took up the case suo moto demanded comprehensive reports from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) regarding oil spillage. 
• It directed the state to compensate for the loss of livelihood.

Impacts of Oil Spillage

• Health Impact: Residents in affected localities face unbearable odour, leading to respiratory issues among vulnerable groups like women, children, and the elderly, along with physical symptoms such as eye irritation, dizziness, and skin itching. 
• Impact on Livelihoods: It damaged fishing boats and equipment, severely impacting the livelihoods of the fishing community.
• Impact on Aquatic Life: Oil spill obstructs the passage of sunlight into the sea, thereby destroying the photosynthesizing phytoplankton and, as a result, other organisms such as fishes, water-dependent mangroves, and sea birds. 
  • The fish can become tainted as the oil will get absorbed by their skin.
• Rich Diversity of Birds: Many birds, including migratory and near-threatened birds such as the Spot-billed Pelican, Whiskered Tern, and Painted Stork, are present here.
  • Feathers from birds are waterproof because of the cuticle layer covering them. Oil and other hydrophobic chemicals dissolve that cuticle layer. As a result, a cormorant (a medium- to large-sized bird)  that comes into touch with oil drowns when it goes into water again.

Remedial Measures to Clean Up Oil Spills

• Bioremediation: It uses bacteria to clean up oil spills in the ocean through bioremediation.
• Spill Containment methods:  It includes oil boomers, skimmers and gully suckers, etc to remove the floating oil, which will be safely disposed of at the designated location for storing hazardous wastes.
• Oil Spill Dispersants (OSD):  They are sprayed over the affected area.

News Source: The Hindu

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Context: ISRO has decided to indigenously develop the environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) for the upcoming human space flight Mission Gaganyaan.

ISRO to develop Environmental Control and Life Support System for Gaganyaan mission 

• According to the chairman, ISRO has no prior experience in developing an environmental control life support system till now. 
  • Their focus has largely been on designing rockets and satellites.
• Dependency on Counterparts: ISRO depended on other nations for this knowledge. 
  • However, despite extensive efforts, it could not be procured due to the unwillingness of other nations.

About Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS)

• ECLSS is a critical subsystem in spacecraft and space stations, designed to sustain human life in the harsh environment of space.
• Key Aspects of ECLSS:
  • Air Management: The Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) is responsible for maintaining air quality by removing carbon dioxide, controlling oxygen levels, and filters out contaminants and particulate matter.
  • Water Recovery and Management: The ECLSS recycles water from various sources, including urine, sweat, and condensation to make it safe for drinking and other uses.
  • Oxygen Generation System: It produces oxygen for the crew to breathe. The system consists of the oxygen generation assembly and the carbon dioxide reduction assembly.
    • The oxygen is delivered to the cabin atmosphere while the hydrogen is either vented into space or fed to the carbon dioxide reduction assembly.

Significance of ECLSS

• ECLSS is not just crucial for space exploration but also contributes to the development of sustainable technologies on Earth, as its principles are applicable in areas like water purification and air filtration.

News Source: Economic Times

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Context: Recently, Barracuda, also known as SaurShakti was launched at the yard of Navalt Solar and Electric Boats, located in Alappuzha (Kerala). It is said to be India’s fastest solar-electric boat. 

About SaurShakti (Barracuda Boat)

• Naming: Named after the swift long fish, Barracuda.
• Developed by: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Navalt. 
• Speed and Range: It is designed for high-speed operations with a maximum speed of around 12 knots and a range of 50 km. 
• Propulsion System: It is powered by a state-of-the-art solar-electric propulsion system.
• Significance of Barracuda Boat: 
  • Advanced Technology: It seamlessly integrates advanced technologies making it a pioneer in modern naval and passenger transportation.
  • Environmentally Friendly Maritime Practices: Barracuda exemplifies a conscious shift towards a cleaner and quieter ocean by significantly reducing emissions
  • Improve Affordability: Such solar powered electric boats would provide affordable substitutes for conventional fossil-fuelled boats.

News Source: TH

Also Read: Recently, three Anti-submarine Warfare Ships for Indian Navy Launched

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Context: This article is based on the news “Escalating tiger-human conflict haunts Karnataka’s Mysuru, Chamarajanagar districts. Is big cat population spike to blame?” which was published in the Down to Earth. The Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts in Karnataka reported five deaths in the last three months due to an increase in the number of tigers.  

Latest Data On Increasing Human Wildlife Conflict 

• Increasing Human Wildlife Conflict: According to forest officials, the death is on account of fighting among tigers.
• The recent increase in tiger and leopard populations, as well as the shrinking of forest area, has caused conflict in the region.
  • The escalating animal-human conflict in the Mysuru region worries wildlife lovers and environmentalists. 
  • As per the tiger census data of 2022 conducted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Madhya Pradesh has the maximum number (785) of tigers in the country, with a 50 per cent increase in the last four years, followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).
• Toll on lives: The growing conflict between tigers and humans has led to a series of fatalities. 
  • A tiger killed a 54-year-old tribal man in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve who entered the forest to collect fodder for his goats.
  • This conflict is not limited to humans, as big cats prey on numerous livestock and dogs every month.
• Creation of Malai Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) Tiger Reserve: It is proposed to be created in the district. 
• As per the environmentalists, it will cause problems for devotees of the Male Mahadeshwara Swamy temple and other forest residents.

Must Read: INDIAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EFFORT

What is Human Wildlife Conflict?

• Definition: As per the report, titled, ‘A future for all – the need for human-wildlife coexistence’, human wildlife conflict is when encounters between humans and wildlife lead to negative results, such as loss of property, livelihoods, and even life resulting in suffering for both people and wildlife.
• Greater Impact on India: As per the report, India will be most affected by human wildlife conflict because it has the world’s second-largest human population as well as large populations of tigers, Asian elephants, one-horned rhinos, Asiatic lions and other species.

Human Wildlife Conflict: Causes

• Human Population Growth: The needs of an ever-growing population lead to encroachment in wildlife habitats and direct competition with local communities.
  • High demand for land and natural resources intensifies the interactions between people and wildlife because they often share living space without clear boundaries. 
• Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation: Species habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation are interconnected with population growth and land use. 
  • Linear intrusions like roads and powerlines, quarrying, sand mining, and diversion of forest land for non-forest uses have created new forest edges.
•  Changes in Land Use: Sub-urbanisation and the expansion of livestock grazing drive species to shift their territorial and movement behaviour. Thus, wild species come into more frequent contact with people.

• Loss of crops and impact on livelihoods: Marginalised people face the brunt of elephants’ increasing reliance on crops. As many as 500 people are killed by elephants, and thousands of families face crop and property loss to elephants annually.
• Ecotourism and Increasing Access to Natural Reserves:  The rise in recreational activities and growing public interest in wildlife species has increased human presence in protected areas. 
  • This has raised concerns about the ability to effectively manage and regulate public access and extensive use of protected areas.
• Climatic factors: It leads to changes in the flowering patterns of flowers, fruits, and foraging and forest usage patterns of animals.
  • As animals change their movements, they tend to alter the ecosystem considerably. For instance, elephants are moving into Himachal Pradesh, and other colder areas of the country, where no sightings of elephants had been reported earlier. 
• Alien Species Invasion: This is mainly caused by irresponsible imports and exports. Some invasions lead to the extinction of the native species as well as impact on the native environment.
  • When elephants move in no native environments, they alter the existing forests, influencing the survival of a range of established species.
  • Invasive species is a plant or animal species which is not native to an area and spreads rapidly in that habitat and has a negative influence on the native species and environment.

What are the impacts of Human Wildlife Conflict?

• Impact on Local Communities: The conflict with wildlife results in injuries and the loss of lives and of livestock, crops, or other property.
  • Such negative impacts of Human Wildlife Conflict are exacerbated in vulnerable, poor, and marginalised communities that may lack alternative income sources.
  • Ex- In the area around Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), crops are constantly exposed to elephant depredations. 
    • On an average, farmers in the region lose approximately an average of 10 quintals of ragi from an overall output of 15 quintals per acre of land. 
  • Impact on Wildlife: It is leading to engendering man-animal conflicts, revenge killing of carnivore animals, and poaching.
    • For the prevention of public life, they are then captured and sentenced to a life inside enclosures. 
    • As per government data, in 2019-20 two tigers were imprisoned, which increased to five in 2020-21 and 2021-22, while in 2022, a total of seven tigers were imprisoned.
  • According to the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) report, the number of people dying or getting injured due to animal attacks increased by 19 per cent in 2022 compared to 2021.
  • Rise of zoonotic diseases: Zoonotic diseases transmitted from wildlife to humans and vice versa is a direct consequence of Human Wildlife Conflict.
    • With increased contact between animals and humans, the likelihood of animal microbes transferring to people rises. 
    • The majority (70%) of emerging diseases (e.g. Ebola, Zika, Nipah encephalitis) and pandemics (e.g. avian influenza, HIV/AIDS, COVID-19) are zoonoses that are a direct consequence of Human Wildlife Conflict.
  • Impact on Social Dynamics: The Human Wildlife Conflict has severe psychological impacts on people facing crop losses, damages to property, and loss of lives.

Government Interventions to Address Human Wildlife Conflict

• Wild Life (Protection) Act of India(WPA), 1972: The WPA, 1972 provides the legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals and plants.
• It empowers the Chief Wildlife Wardens of the States to enable measures for the peaceful coexistence of humans and wildlife inside and outside national parks and sanctuaries.
• National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-2035 (NWAP): It has a dedicated chapter focused on managing Human Wildlife Conflict. 
  • It calls for developing national and regional conflict management plans, streamlining the process of providing post-conflict relief, and gathering relevant ecological information for the formation of local action plans. 
• Advisory for management of Human Wildlife Conflict (Human-Animal Conflict): The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) approved the advisory for the management of Human Wildlife Conflict in India.
• It provided important recommendations for the States/ Union Territories for dealing with Human Wildlife conflict situations and sought expedited inter-departmental coordinated and effective actions.
• Crop Insurance Coverage: The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana provides for crop compensation against crop damage due to Human Wildlife Conflict and augmenting fodder and water sources within the forest areas.

International Initiatives to Address Human Wildlife Conflict

• WWF Tigers Alive initiative: It developed an integrated Human Wildlife Conflict management approach in 2016 to address the dual challenge of recovering tiger numbers and addressing a potential increase in human-tiger conflict. 
• IUCN SSC Human-Animal Conflict Task Force: It is a global advisory group and think tank that aims to support professionals working on Human Wildlife Conflict by providing interdisciplinary guidance, resources, and capacity building. 
• Sonitpur Model by WWF India: WWF-India has worked to bring communities and the government together to address human-elephant conflict in parts of Assam. 
• Low-Cost Electric Fencing: WWF India also developed a low-cost, single-strand, non-lethal electric fence to ease the guarding of crops from elephants.
  • The project had brought dividends. For instance, in the Gohpur area of Biswanath district, crop losses dropped to zero for four years running. 
  • Human and elephant deaths also reduced significantly.

Way Forward to Address Human Wildlife Conflict

• Wildlife Compensation Funds: Compensation for losses resulting from conflicts is a crucial mitigation strategy.
• Many states allocate funds for wildlife compensation. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that individuals facing losses due to Human Wildlife Conflict access these funds.
•  Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) through its award-winning Wild Seve programme, acts as a bridge, making sure that the claims are not rejected and that the applicants receive funding. 
• Conflict Management Committee: As suggested by the Parliamentary standing committee, it should be formed to devise a mechanism to deal with conflict cases.
  • It also suggested the inclusion of non-official members in the standing committee of the state wildlife boards.
• Making Human Wildlife Conflict goal of CBD: Make the coexistence of humans and wildlife a clear goal of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) process, which aims to realise the 2050 vision of “living in harmony with nature.”
  •  United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) is a United Nations treaty that is responsible for the conservation of Biological Diversity around the world.
• Human Wildlife Conflict Inclusion under SDG: Include coexistence between humans and animals in the SDG framework’s implementation for long-term sustainable development and wildlife conservation.
• Well-planned stakeholder involvement: In Assam, India, many communities experience losses caused by wildlife which are located in remote areas, and have no one to help them.
  • Linking these communities with government departments that have the mandate and ability to respond to human-elephant conflicts should be done.
• Holistic approach in addressing Human Wildlife Conflicts: It includes-
  • Addressing the drivers of Human Wildlife Conflict Mitigation
  • Strengthening the measures for effective prevention of Human Wildlife Conflict incidents
  • Reduction of damage to people and wildlife, via crop alteration and compensation options, damage assessment methodologies, insurance options, value chain analysis etc. 
• International Collaboration: Inter-State/ International dialogue to understand the issues better and seek cooperation for mitigation of Human Wildlife Conflict.

Conclusion:

The rising human wildlife conflict in Karnataka’s Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts underscores the urgent need for comprehensive government interventions addressing the root causes, mitigating impacts, and fostering sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife nationwide.

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Context: This article is based on the news “The flipside of medical tourism — organ transplant rackets” which was published in the Indian Express. There is frequent news in the media on organ transplantation, ranging from uplifting stories of donors saving lives or disheartening stories, like scandals where organs are bought from vulnerable individuals.

Statistics on Organ Transplantation & Medical Tourism In India

• India’s Position in Organ Transplants: According to the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation (GODT), India ranks 3rd in the world and is only behind the USA and China. 
  • In India, the organ donation rate has increased to about 4 times as compared to 2012-13. However, only 0.65 organ donations per million population occur in the country.
• Organ Transplants in the World: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1,00,800 solid organ transplants are done yearly, most of which are liver and kidney transplants. 
• Increase in Organ Transplants in India: Transplantation has grown exponentially in India, largely in the private sector. According to the Union Health Secretary, there has been a fast resurgence in organ transplant activities post-COVID. 
  • For the first time, India has achieved more than 15,000 transplants a year (2022) and an annual increase of 27% in the transplant numbers.
  • Gender Inequality: For every woman who received an organ, four men got transplants in the country. Data from 1995 to 2021 shows 36,640 transplantations were carried out, of which over 29,000 were for men and 6,945 were for women.

About Organ Transplantation

• Organ transplantation: It is the act of surgical removal of an organ from one person and placing it into another person. It is a life-saving therapy for end-stage organ failure. 
• 1st successful Organ Transplant: The world’s first successful organ transplant was kidney transplantation, which was undertaken in Boston, USA in 1954.
  • The first kidney transplant in India was performed in 1971 at Vellore, Tamil Nadu.
• Organ Donation: It means giving part of the body (organ) to a person with end-stage organ disease requiring a transplant. 
  • Organ: An organ is a body part that performs a specific function. For example, heart, lungs, kidney, liver, etc.

Must Read: Organ Donation Policy

Reasons for Increasing Medical Tourism In India:

• Best-in-Class Healthcare Facilities: Transplants need well-trained personnel, technology, advanced intensive care, and institutional drive for good outcomes, and these conditions were met by an expanding private sector. 
  • Many countries in Asia and Africa have not been able to develop transplant facilities hence, patients from other countries utilize India’s healthcare expertise.
• Internationally Recognized Educational Credentials: In India, not just the doctors but also caregivers and nurses are highly trained and experienced. The standard of their education and training is at par with international standards.
• Thriving Pharmaceutical Industry: Apart from hospitals and doctors, India emphasizes manufacturing drugs that are a necessary part of the surgery and recovery phase. 
  • For example, to prevent rejection of the organ by the recipient’s body, anti-rejection drugs are administered.
• Affordable Procedures: The cost of living in India is cheaper than in most Western countries. India offers affordable options for accommodation, making it the preferred transplant tourism destination.
  • Organ transplants require a patient to stay in the hospital for a long duration. Even after the transplant, patients are required to visit the hospital frequently. Hence, living near the hospital is an advantage and promotes quick recovery. 

Challenges Associated with Organ Transplants in India

• Unethical Organ Trading: The trade of human organs is a long-standing and widespread occurrence. Most countries around the world, including India, have declared it illegal. However, organ trade persists due to the high demand and a society where body commodification has become normal.
  • For example, a Kolkata hospital was in the news recently as street children from Nepal were lured as kidney donors for wealthy Indian and foreign patients.
• Affordability Dichotomy: Organ Transplantation in India is relatively cheap for foreigners compared to the rest of the world, though it continues to be costly for ordinary Indians.
• High Discard Rate: According to the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation, hundreds of organs such as heart, lungs, and liver donated by the deceased in India are being discarded even after families of the deceased volunteered to donate them.
• Organ Shortage: The gap between demand and supply of organs continues to widen worldwide, encouraging transplant commercialism. The organ shortage problem continues, even in nations whose healthcare systems are far better equipped than that of India.
  • India conducts the 3rd highest number of transplants in the world every year. Yet barely 4% of the patients who require a liver, heart, or kidney transplant manage to get one. 
• High Gender Disparity Among Donors: A paper published in the Experimental and Clinical Transplantation Journal in 2021 found that 80% of the living organ donors are women, mainly the wife or the mother, while 80% of the recipients are men. 
• Vulnerable Trust-Based Donation System: The project of deceased donation after death is dependent on high levels of trust in the transplant system. However, healthcare trust is rapidly under threat as news of a large number of foreigners getting transplants over locals,
• Grim Picture of Medical Tourism for Transplantation: Patients are very sick and travel to a foreign country with an alien language and culture with the biggest challenge of accessing voluntary donations.
• Post-Operation Care: Care of transplant patients doesn’t end with the operation. Both donor and recipient need close follow-up.

Also Read: Unveiling India’s Kidney Transplant Crisis: Challenges and Solutions 

Way Forward

• Communication: India has a growing geriatric population and to ensure quality of life for them, it is critically important to update the communication and awareness strategy, so that potential organ donors come forward. 
  • Indian Organ Donation Day is being celebrated on August 3 to commemorate the first successful deceased heart transplant in India on 3rd August 1994 to spread awareness among people and to recognize the selfless efforts made towards mankind and re-establish belief in humanity.
• Capacity Building:  Despite having more than 640 medical hospitals and colleges, transplants remain a specialized service limited to some hospitals. There is a need to expand the number of institutions where surgeries and transplants are undertaken.

• • Further, the creation of centres of excellence at the State and regional levels where these specialized services can be provided to the needy.
• Increasing the Pool of Organs: The opt-out system which assumes all citizens to be donors unless they “opt-out” may be apt for a country such as India, complemented with awareness of organ donation. 
• Transplant Tourism: There is a need for healthcare providers, health organizations, and governments to establish clear policies to avert unethical practices associated with transplant tourism.
• Reducing the demand for Organ Transplantation: The main program to reduce the demand includes the National Program for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke. 
  • Further steps are needed for prevention and control of the diseases that cause organ failure e.g. Diabetes, Hypertension, Alcoholic and non-alcoholic Chronic liver diseases, etc. 
• Streamline Nationwide Implementation of Green Corridor: A ‘green corridor’ is a special route that is managed in a way that all the traffic signals that come in the route of the hospital where an organ is harvested and the hospital where it is to be transplanted, are green and controlled manually.
  • In India, Chennai was the first city to incorporate this concept. This concept can be used at the pan-India level to ensure a timely supply of vital organs.

Conclusion:

Medical tourism in India, particularly in organ transplantation, has become a significant revenue source for private hospitals in India. According to the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation (GODT), India is the third-highest country in the world for organ transplantation, following only the USA and China.

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