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  • Medical Ethics of Charaka

    The National Medical Commission (NMC), the regulator for medical education and practices that replaced the Medical Council of India in 2020, has suggested to medical colleges that the traditional Hippocratic Oath should be replaced by a “Charak Shapath”.

    Who was Hippocrates?

    • The Hippocratic Oath is attributed to Hippocrates of the island of Kos, a Greek physician of the classical period (4th-5th centuries BC, until the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC).
    • It broadly corresponds to the period from the death of the Buddha (486 BC) to the rise of the Mauryas (321 BC) in India.
    • Among the great contemporaries of Hippocrates were the Athenian philosopher Plato and his teacher Socrates, and Plato’s student and Alexander’s tutor, the polymath Aristotle.
    • He is regarded as the “father of modern medicine”.

    What is the Hippocratic Oath?

    • Basically, the Hippocratic Oath is a charter of ethical principles that physicians over the ages have sworn to uphold in the practice of their profession.
    • The earliest available fragments of what is understood to be the original oath date back to the late 3rd century AD, and a millennium-old version is now in the library of the Holy See.

    What are general outlines of a Medical Oath?

    • Always exercise his/her independent professional judgment and maintain the highest standards of professional conduct
    • Respect a competent patient’s right to accept or refuse treatment
    • Not allow his/her judgment to be influenced by personal profit or unfair discrimination
    • Be dedicated to providing competent medical service in full professional and moral independence, with compassion and respect for human dignity
    • Deal honestly with patients and colleagues, and report to the appropriate authorities those physicians who practice unethically or incompetently or who engage in fraud or deception
    • Certify only that which he/she has personally verified
    • Respect the local and national codes of ethics

    About Charaka and Charak Samhita

    • The Charak Samhita is a medical pharmacopeia and collection of commentaries and discussions on medical practices that is dated to the 1st-2nd centuries AD.
    • Along with the compendium of Susruta (c. 4th century AD), which is about surgery, the Charak Samhita is considered the foundational text of ancient Indian medicine,.
    • It is an evolved system of understanding and treating disease that resembled that of Hippocrates and Galen (2nd century AD), and was in some ways ahead of the Greeks.
    • In theory and praxis, ayurvedic medicine today remains broadly unchanged from these ancient Indian principles.

    The medical ethics of Charaka

    • The physician was an important and respected member of ancient Indian society, and medical practice followed rules of professional conduct and ethical principles. It goes on to say that-
    1. You must strive with all your soul for the health of the sick.
    2. You must not betray your patients, even at the cost of your own life.
    3. You must not get drunk, or commit evil, or have evil companions.
    4. You must be pleasant of speech…and thoughtful, always striving to improve your knowledge.
    5. When you go to the home of a patient you should direct your words, mind, intellect, and senses nowhere but to your patient and his treatment.
    6. Nothing that happens in the house of the sick man must be told outside, nor must the patient’s condition be told to anyone who might do harm by that knowledge to the patient or to another.
    • This ethical code is universal, and remains just as relevant and applicable today.

    Arguments in favour of Charaka Oath

    • There is no universally accepted version of the physician’s oath.
    • Many medical schools around the world hold a ceremony in which graduating doctors swear to a broad charter of ethics that are sometimes customised by individual institutions.
    • A version of the ‘physician’s code of ethics’ is commonly displayed in hospitals or clinics in most places, including India.

    Issues with this oath

    • The opposition has criticised the proposal as an attempt to saffronise medical education.
    • Introducing Indian elements into Indian education is necessary, but not at the expense of universal values and standards.
    • Like several other sages mentioned in the literature of ancient India, the historicity of Charaka is still uncertain.

     

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  • Places in news: Erra Matti Dibbalu

    Citizens join hands to preserve the geological marvel of Erra Matti Dibbalu in Visakhapatnam.

    What is Erra Matti Dibbalu?

    • Located between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam, the Erra Matti Dibbalu are rare red sand dunes that are a reminder of the million years of geological processes.
    • Its towering red sand dunes with patches of greenery is like a meandering maze.
    • The width of the dunes, which runs for five kilometres along the coast, varies from 200 metres to two kilometres.
    • It is listed among the 34 notified National Geological Heritage Monument Sites of India by the Geological Survey of India.

    (Don’t they resemble to Ravines of Chambal?)

    Its formation

    • Studies indicate that the area was tectonically active between 2.5 million years and 11,000 years ago.
    • The sediments are mainly derived from the Khondalite rocks from the hinterland of the Eastern Ghats.
    • Geologically these red sand dune sediments particularly hold significance.
    • They are the result of the combined effect of numerous factors including global climatic changes, sea-level variations, monsoonal variability and as a result serves as valuable paleo-environment indicators.

     

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  • Who was Tilka Manjhi?

    The Nation is remembering revolutionary freedom fighter and tribal leader Tilka Manjhi on his 272nd birth anniversary.

    Tilka Manjhi (1750-1785)

    • He organized Adivasis into an army and led the famous Santhal Hool in 1784 against the exploitative British.
    • In 1770, there was a severe famine in the Santhal region and people were dying of hunger.
    • Tilka Manjhi looted the treasury of the East India Company and distributed it among the poor and needy.
    • Inspired by this noble act of Tilka, many other tribals also joined the rebellion.
    • With this began his Santhal Hool, the revolt of the Santhals.
    • He continued to attack the British and their sycophantic allies.
    • From 1771 to 1784, Tilka Manjhi never surrendered.

    Offensive with the colonists

    • Tilka Majhi attacked Augustus Cleveland, an East India Company administrator and fatally wounded him.
    • The British surrounded the Tilapore forest from which he operated but he and his men held them at bay for several weeks.
    • When he was finally caught in 1784, he was tied to the tail of a horse and dragged all the way to the Collector’s residence at Bhagalpur, Bihar, India.
    • There, his deeply wounded body was hung from a Banyan tree.

    Try this question from CSP 2018:

    Q.After the Santhal uprising subsided, what was/ were the measure/measures taken by the colonial government?

    1. The territories called ‘Santhal Paraganas’ were created.
    2. It became illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to a non Santhal.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”21kicbmy07″ question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

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  • Local job laws that raise constitutional questions

    Context

    Last week, the Punjab and Haryana High Court admitted a petition challenging the constitutionality of the Act, and stayed the implementation until it heard the case.

    Laws raises constitutional questions

    • There are at least three important constitutional questions that arise from this Act.

    [1] Violation of Article 19(1)(g)

    • Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution guarantees freedom to carry out any occupation, trade or business.
    • There may be reasonable restrictions “in the interests of the general public”, and in particular related to specifying any professional or technical qualifications, or to reserve a sector for government monopoly.
    • This Act, by requiring private businesses to reserve 75% of lower end jobs for locals, encroaches upon their right to carry out any occupation.
    • In 2005, in the P.A. Inamdar case, Supreme Court said that reservation cannot be mandated on educational institutions that do not receive financial aid from the state, as that would affect the freedom of occupation.

    [2] Violation of Article 16

    • The provision of reservation by virtue of domicile or residence may be unconstitutional.
    • Article 16 of the Constitution specifically provides for equality of opportunity for all citizens in public employment.
    • It prohibits discrimination on several grounds including place of birth and residence.
    • However, it permits Parliament to make law that requires residence within a State for appointment to a public office.
    • This enabling provision is for public employment and not for private sector jobs.
    • And the law needs to be made by Parliament, and not by a State legislature.

    [3] Breaching of 50% limit

    • In the Indra Sawhney case in 1992, the Supreme Court capped reservations in public services at 50%.
    • It however said that there may be extraordinary situations which may need a relaxation in this rule.
    • It also specified that “in doing so, extreme caution is to be exercised and a special case made out”.
    • That is, the onus is on the State to make a special case of exceptional circumstances, for the 50% upper limit on reservations to be relaxed.
    • It stated that the 50% limit is “to fulfil the objective of equality”, and that to breach the limit “is to have a society which is not founded on equality but on caste rule”.
    • The Haryana Act does not further “caste rule” as it is for all residents of the State irrespective of caste but it breaches the notion of equality of all citizens of India.

    [4] Against the conception of India as a one nation

    •  The Constitution conceptualises India as one nation with all citizens having equal rights to live, travel and work anywhere in the country.
    • These State laws go against this vision by restricting the right of out-of-State citizens to find employment in the State.
    • This restriction may also indirectly affect the right to reside across India as finding employment becomes difficult.
    • If more States follow similar policies, it would be difficult for citizens to migrate from their State to other States to find work.

    [5] Economic implications

    • The move may potentially increase the costs for companies.
    • There may also be an increase in income inequality across States as citizens of poorer States with fewer job opportunities are trapped within their States.

    Conclusion

    The courts, while looking at the narrow questions of whether these laws violate fundamental rights, should also examine whether they breach the basic structure of the Constitution that views India as one nation which is a union of States, and not as a conglomeration of independent States.

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  • Import Ban on Drones

    The Government has banned the import of drones barring for R&D, defense, and security purposes.

    Why in news?

    • To promote Make-in-India drones.
    • Before this order, the import of drones was “restricted” and needed prior clearance of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and an import license from DGFT.

    India’s sources of Imports

    • For its defense needs, India imports from Israel and the US.
    • Consumer drones such as those used for wedding photography come from China and drones for light shows also come from China apart from Russia.

    Why need drones?

    • Indian drone manufacturers and service providers arrange drones for a variety of use cases such as survey and mapping, security and surveillance, inspection, construction progress monitoring, and drone delivery.

    What does the order say?

    • The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued an order prohibiting with immediate effect the import of drones in Completely-Built-Up (CBU), Semi-knocked-down (SKD), or Completely-Knocked-down (CKD) forms.
    • Import of drones by government entities, educational institutions recognized by the Central or State governments, government-recognized R&D entities, and drone manufacturers for R&D purposes as well as for defense and security purposes will be allowed.
    • For this, there has to be an import authorization obtained from the DGFT.
    • The import of drone components is “free”, implying that no permission is needed from the DGFT allowing local manufacturers to import parts like diodes, chips, motors, lithium-ion batteries, etc.

    Steps taken to promote indigenous drone manufacturing

    • In August last year, the Government brought out liberalized Drone Rules, 2021 which reduced the number of forms to be filled to seek authorization from 25 to five.
    • They also dispensed with the need for security clearance before any registration or issuance of the license.
    • R&D entities too have been provided blanket exemption from all kinds of permissions, and restrictions on foreign-owned companies registered in India have also been removed.
    • The Government has also announced a production-linked incentive scheme for drones and drone components with the aim to make India a “global drone hub by 2030”.
    • Foreign manufacturers will be encouraged to set up assembly lines in India.

    Why such a blanket ban?

    • Most drone manufacturers in India assemble imported components in India, and there is less manufacturing.
    • The import ban will ensure that an Indian manufacturer has control of the IP, design, and software which gives him or her a total understanding and control of the product.
    • Over a period of time, this can enable further indigenization.

    Possible repercussions of the ban

    • The ban is likely to hurt those who use drones for photography and videography for weddings and events.
    • These drones primarily come from China because they are cheaper and easy to use and India still has a lot of catching up to do in manufacturing them.

    Also read

    [Sansad TV] Perspective: Keeping Drones in Check

     

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  • Centre extends Police Modernisation Scheme

    The Union government has approved the continuation of a police modernization scheme for five years up to 2025-26 with a financial outlay of ₹26,275 crores.

    What is the Modernization of Police Forces Scheme?

    • Police’ and ‘law and order’ fall under the category of subjects within the domain of the State as per Entry 2 of List II of the VIIth Schedule in the Constitution of India.
    • Thus, the principal responsibility for managing these subjects lies with the State Governments.
    • However, the States have not been able to fully modernize and equip their police forces up to the desired level due to financial constraints.
    • It is in this context that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been supplementing the efforts and resources of the States, from time to time, by implementing the MPF Scheme since 1969-70.

    Objectives:

    • The focus of the scheme is to strengthen police infrastructure at cutting edge level by constructing secure police stations, training centers, police housing (residential), equipping the police stations with the required mobility, modern weaponry, communication equipment, and forensic set-up, etc.

    Components of the scheme

    • The scheme included security-related expenditure in J&K, northeastern States, and Maoist-affected areas, for raising new battalions, developing high-tech forensic laboratories and other investigation tools.
    • Provisions have been made under the scheme for internal security, law and order, and the adoption of modern technology by the police.
    • Assistance will be given to the States for narcotics control and strengthening the criminal justice system by developing a robust forensic setup in the country.

    Funding pattern

    • Under the Scheme, the States are grouped into two categories, namely Category ‘A’ and Category ‘B’ for the purpose of funding both under ‘Non-Plan’ and Plan.
    • Category ‘A’ States, namely, J&K and 8 North Eastern States including Sikkim will be eligible to receive financial assistance on a 90:10 Centre: State sharing basis.
    • The remaining States will be in Category ‘B’ and will be eligible for financial assistance on a 60:40 Centre: State sharing basis.

     

     

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  • Capital Gains Tax

    The capital gains tax structure in India is complicated, and it is time for a relook since the union budget has provisions for 30% tax on cryptocurrency.

    What is Capital Gains Tax?

    • Capital gains tax is levied on the profits made on investments.
    • It covers real estate, gold, stocks, mutual funds, and various other financial and non-financial assets.

    Types

    • It is divided into long-term capital gains tax (LTCG) and short-term capital gains tax (STCG) depending on how long you have held the investment in question.
    • Unlike income tax, the percentage of tax does not change on the basis of your overall tax slab.
    • The LTCG tax, excluding surcharge, on equity is the same for gains of ₹10 lakh or ₹10 crore.
    • There is also a separate set of deductions that apply to LTCG, which do not apply to ordinary income.

    Why is it so complicated?

    Capital gains tax is complicated for a few primary reasons.

    • First, the rate changes from asset to asset. LTCG tax on stocks and equity mutual funds is 10% but on debt mutual funds is 20% with indexation.
    • Second, holding period changes from asset to asset. The holding period for LTCG tax is two years in real estate, one year for stocks, and three years for debt mutual funds and gold.
    • Third, exemptions available against it come with their own complex conditions. For instance, buying a house after selling one can get you an exemption, but the new house must be bought in two years or built in three years of the sale.

    Is cryptocurrency taxed as capital gains?

    • The 2022 budget has proposed a 30% tax on cryptocurrency, which is higher than capital gains tax in many cases.
    • Besides, under capital gains tax, investors can adjust profits and losses on different investments against each other or against profits/losses in the future.
    • However, this cannot be done with cryptocurrency.

    What distortions does it create?

    • As capital gains tax is the same regardless of your overall income it can compound inequality.
    • For instance, a person with a salary of ₹40 lakh will pay 30% tax on it but just 10% LTCG tax on gains from stock trading.
    • A person with a salary of ₹5 lakh will pay a 5% tax on it but the same 10% LTCG tax on stock trading.
    • Second, the smaller one-year qualifying period for LTCG in stocks compared to three years in debt mutual funds may encourage short-term trading in equity.

    What can be done to fix these anomalies?

    • The government can bring about uniformity in rates and holding periods for various assets to ensure that the tax for one asset is not more attractive than another.
    • A uniform and long holding period to qualify for LTCG can also discourage short-term trading and speculative  behavior  in assets  such as  stocks.
    • The exemptions for LTCG such as reinvestment in another house property or capital gains bonds can also be made simpler, with fewer conditions.
    • Small investors can also be given relief by reducing rates of capital gains.

     

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  • What are Earth Observation Satellites (EOS)?

    After a disappointing 2021 which saw just one successful launch, ISRO is getting back to business with the EOS-04, an earth observation satellite.

    What are EOS?

    • An EOS or Earth remote sensing satellite is a satellite used or designed for Earth observation (EO) from orbit.
    • It includes spy satellites and similar ones intended for non-military uses such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, cartography, and others.
    • The most common type is Earth-imaging satellites that take satellite images, analogous to aerial photographs.
    • Some EOS may perform remote sensing without forming pictures, such as in GNSS radio occultation.

    What is EOS-04 all about?

    • The EOS-04 is fourth in a series of earth observation satellites that are being launched under a new generic name.
    • It is designed to provide high-quality images for applications such as agriculture, forestry, and plantations, flood mapping, soil moisture, and hydrology.
    • It will complement the data from Resourcesat, Cartosat and RISAT-2B series of satellites that are already in orbit.

    Why such different nomenclature?

    • Two years ago, ISRO had moved to a new naming system for its earth observation satellites which till then had been named thematically, according to the purpose they were meant for.
    • The Cartosat series of satellites were meant to provide data for land topography and mapping, while the Oceansat satellites were meant for observations overseas.
    • Some INSAT-series, Resourcesat series, GISAT, Scatsat, and a few other earth observation satellites were named differently for the specific jobs they were assigned to do, or the different instruments that they.
    • All these would now become part of the new EOS series of satellites.

    What other satellites are being launched?

    • Besides EOS-04, two other small satellites —INSPIREsat-1 and INS-2TD — will ride on the heaviest version of the PSLV rocket in the early hours from the Sriharikota launch range.
    • The other co-passenger, INS-2TD, is a technology demonstrator for the first India-Bhutan joint satellite that is scheduled to be launched next month.
    • The two countries had signed a space agreement last year, and its first outcome would be the launch of Bhutan-Sat, or INS-2B, on a PSLV rocket.

    How many satellites does India have in space?

    • India currently has 53 operational satellites, of which 21 are earth observation ones and another 21 are communication-based.
    • EOS-4 launch would be the 54th flight of the PSLV rocket, and the 23rd of its most powerful XL-version that has six strap-on boosters.

     

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  • World Food Programme (WFP)

    India signed an agreement with the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) for the distribution of 50,000 tonnes of wheat that it has committed to sending Afghanistan as part of humanitarian assistance.

    What is WFP?

    • The WFP is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations (UN).
    • It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization focused on hunger and food security, and the largest provider of school meals.
    • Founded in 1961, it is headquartered in Rome and has offices in 80 countries.
    • In addition to emergency food relief, WFP offers technical assistance and development aid, such as building capacity for emergency preparedness and response, managing supply chains and logistics, etc.
    • The agency is also a major provider of direct cash assistance and medical supplies and provides passenger services for humanitarian workers.

    Feats achieved

    • As of 2020, it served 115.5 million people in 80-plus countries, the largest since 2012.
    • The WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 for its efforts to provide food assistance in areas of conflict and to prevent the use of food as a weapon of war and conflict.

    WFP in Afghanistan

    • The wheat will be taken through Pakistan to the Afghan border crossing and handed over to WFP officials in Kandahar.
    • The WFP runs its own logistics network inside Afghanistan, partnering with civil society groups.

     

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  • Places in news: Chandernagore

    The Registry Building, a two-storey structure at Chandernagore built in 1875 and a symbol of French settlement of the colonial town, has been awaiting restoration for a long time.

    French in India

    • France was the last of the major European maritime powers of the 17th century to enter the East India trade.
    • The French settlement in India began in 1673 with the purchase of land at Chandernagore from the Mughal Governor of Bengal.
    • The next year they acquired Pondicherry from the Sultan of Bijapur. Both became the centers of maritime commercial activities of the French in India.
    • Joseph Francois Dupleix who was initially appointed as Intendent of Chandernagore in 1731, sowed the seeds of colonization.
    • The village, which hitherto was engaged in maritime commerce along with Pondicherry, got fortified by him.

    Significance of Chandernagore

    • Chandernagore, though a part of French colonies in India, was unique in many ways.
    • It was very active in spearheading the freedom movement against the British. Due to its close proximity to Calcutta, it became a safe haven for freedom fighters of all hues.
    • Even Aurobindo Ghosh who was one of the accused in the Alipore Bomb case of 1909, was acquitted unconditionally and after a short stay at Chandernagore moved to Pondicherry.
    • Since the partition of Bengal in 1905, Chandernagore was in the thick of activities of freedom fighters against the British and produced several martyrs including Kanailal Dutt.

    Merger into India

    • As the British decided to hand over powers to the people of India by August 15, 1947, the people living under French rule in Pondicherry, Chandernagore, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam were eager to join their homeland.
    • But the French were yet to learn their lessons. They tried all the tricks in the book to avert this.
    • Facing the onslaught from the people under their rule and the British and Indian rulers, the French declared Chandernagore as free city in 1947.
    • In June 1948, they conducted a referendum in which an overwhelming majority of 97 per cent people opted for a merger with India.
    • After so many legal hurdles, it became a part of India on October 2, 1955.

    Back2Basics: European Colonies in India

     

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