The Competition Commission of India (CCI) invites proposals for conducting a Market Study on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on competition.
About Competition Commission of India (CCI)
The CCI is a statutory body established under the Competition Act, 2002 by the Vajpayee government.
It aims to promote and sustain competition, protect consumer interests, and ensure freedom of trade.
The commission operates as a quasi-judicial body, providing opinions to statutory authorities and adjudicating cases.
Evolution of CCI:
Established in response to the need for promoting competition and private enterprise, especially after India’s economic liberalization in 1991.
Replaced the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 (MRTP Act) based on recommendations from the Raghavan Committee.
Key Features of the Competition Act:
Passed in 2002 and subsequently amended to align with modern competition laws.
Prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position, and regulates combinations causing adverse effects on competition.
Established the Competition Commission of India and the Competition Appellate Tribunal.
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) replaced the Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) in 2017.
Composition of CCI:
CCI comprises a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.
Members must possess significant expertise in various domains such as law, economics, finance, and management or qualified to be a judge of a High Court.
Key Functions of CCI:
Regulating Mergers and Acquisitions:
Ensuring mergers and acquisitions do not harm competition in the market.
Preventing monopolistic practices and promoting fair competition.
Investigating Anti-Competitive Practices:
Probing into cartels, collusive behavior, and abuse of dominant market positions.
Taking action against entities engaging in anti-competitive practices.
Market Studies and Research:
Conducting studies to assess market dynamics and competition levels.
Identifying trends and issues affecting competition in various sectors.
Handling Complaints:
Addressing complaints filed by individuals or businesses regarding anti-competitive behavior.
Initiating investigations based on credible complaints received.
Adjudication and Penalty Imposition:
Adjudicating cases related to competition law violations.
Imposing penalties on entities found guilty of breaching competition regulations.
PYQ:
[2015] The Government of India has established NITI Aayog to replace the:
Understanding and managing Glycemic Index (GI) in diets is crucial for promoting long-term health and mitigating the risk of chronic diseases.
What is Glycemic Index (GI)?
Prof. David Jenkins of the University of Toronto introduced Glycemic Index (GI) in 1981.
GI measures how quickly a food raises blood glucose levels compared to a reference food, typically glucose or white bread, which is assigned a value of 100.
GI Classification and Glycemic Load (GL):
Multiplying GI by the amount of carbohydrate consumed gives the Glycemic Load (GL).
Accordingly, foods are classified as:
Low GI (below 55): Brown rice, steel-cut oats, legumes (such as lentils and chickpeas), most fruits (like apples, berries, and oranges), vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
Medium GI (56-69): Whole wheat products, such as whole wheat bread and pasta, some types of rice (like basmati rice), and certain fruits like pineapple and mango.
High GI (70 or above): Refined carbohydrates and sugary foods such as white rice, white bread, refined flour products, potatoes, sweetened drinks (like soda), candies, cookies, and sugary snacks.
Debate and Perspectives:
The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study, spanning 20 countries including India, revealed the link between high GI diets and cardiovascular events and mortality.
Evidence supports the association between high GI diets and increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality.
Relevance to India
In South Asia, where diets are rich in high GI foods like white rice, efforts to reduce GI and GL are crucial.
Lowering GI and GL can help prevent not only diabetes but also premature cardiovascular disease, which is prevalent in India.
PYQ:
[2011] Regular intake of fresh fruits and vegetables is recommended in the diet since they are a good source of antioxidants. How do antioxidants help a person maintain health and promote longevity?
(a) They activate the enzymes necessary for vitamin synthesis in the body and help prevent vitamin deficiency
(b) They prevent excessive oxidation of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the body and help avoid unnecessary wastage of energy
(c) They neutralize the free radicals produced in the body during metabolism
(d) They activate certain genes in the cells of the body and help delay the ageing process
Mains PYQ Relevance: Q) Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its judicious use under depleting scenarios. (UPSC IAS/2020) Q) What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India? (UPSC 2019)
Prelims
Q) If National Water Mission is properly and completely implemented, how will it impact the country? (UPSC 2012) 1. Part of the water needs of urban areas will be met through recycling of waste water.The water requirement of coastal cities with inadequate alternative sources of water will be met by adopting appropriate technologies that allow for use of ocean water. 2. All the rivers of Himalayan origin will be linked to the rivers of peninsular India. 3. The expenses incurred by farmers for digging bore wells and for installing motors and pump sets to draw groundwater will be completely reimbursed by the Government. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Note4Students:
Prelims: World Earth Day;
Mains: Environmental Governance;
Mentor comments:Prolonged water stress can have devastating effects on public health and economic development. More than two billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water; and nearly double that number more than half the world’s population—are without adequate sanitation services. Without better water management, population growth, economic development and climate change are poised to worsen water stress.
Let’s learn
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Why in the News?
On account of Earth Day (April 22), India needs to be prepared for water stressed challenges. Recently, IMD has also predicted a hotter summer and longer heat waves from April to June.
Present Scenario:
India houses 18% of the world’s population (2.4% of the earth’s surface area), having just 4% of global freshwater resources.
Nearly half of its rivers are polluted, and 150 of its primary reservoirs are at just 38% of their total live storage capacity.
India is the largest user of groundwater in the world.
The Present challenge before the Indian Govt. to combat Climate Change:
Heavy Investment: India has invested heavily in disaster preparedness, but the nature of climatic shocks will continue to change. There will be sudden shocks (heavy rainfall, rapid declines in water availability) as well as slow onset but periodic stresses (reduced water retention in soils, changes in trend lines for rainfall).
Lack of Preparedness: India is programmed to consider acute stresses (heat, water, or extreme weather) as temporary, to be handled often as disaster relief. Seasonal disaster preparedness and responses are no longer sufficient to tackle climate risks.
High Interdependence: The climate is directly related to the economy, and the economic production frontier will expand or shrink depending on the intersections between land, food, energy, and water. Climate action cannot be left to a few particular sectors.
Relationship between Water and the Economy
A key component of the Economy:
Agriculture: The India Employment Report 2024 shows that Agriculture still employs around 45% of the population and absorbs most of the country’s labor force. Precipitation is the primary source of soil moisture and both blue (rivers and aquifers) water and green (vegetation) water impact the food we grow.
Allied Sectors: The Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) study showed that monsoon rainfall is changing patterns in India, with 55% of ‘tehsils’ or sub-districts seeing a significant increase of more than 10% in southwest monsoon rainfall.
A key component of the Clean Energy Transition:
Green hydrogen: It is seen as a crucial pillar for decarbonizing industry and long-distance transport sectors. The Green hydrogen is produced using water and electricity sourced from renewables. Pumped storage hydropower which acts as a natural battery is an important component of a clean but reliable power system.
If there is a climate crisis, it will impact hydrometeorological disasters. According to the UN World Water Development Report 2020, almost 75% of natural disasters in the last two decades were related to water.
What does the Effective Water Governance need?
Needs to recognize Interactions with Food and Energy Systems: Although India has adopted several policies, most do not recognize this nexus while planning or at the implementation stage.
For example, while the scaling up of green hydrogen is desirable, the link with water availability is not always considered.
Similarly, the impact of scaling up solar irrigation pumps on groundwater levels must be analyzed to deploy the technology where there is an optimal mix of solar resources and higher groundwater levels.
Need to identify the Food-Land-Water nexus: Policies need to be designed differently, based on local evidence and community engagement. India needs to focus on the judicious use of blue and green water through water accounting and efficient reuse.
For Example, the National Water Mission targets increasing water use efficiency by 20% by 2025.
Similarly, the Atal Mission on Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 calls for reducing non-revenue water, which is lost before it reaches the end user, to less than 20% in urban local bodies.
Need for Water Accounting Principles: The present policies and programs are not backed by any baseline set using water accounting principles that will help quantify freshwater use. It is essential for promoting water use efficiency and creating incentives for investments in treated wastewater reuse.
For example, in the absence of water use data for the reference year, it is difficult to quantify the potential water saving in one sector, such as agriculture.
Need to leverage financial tools: Financial commitments for climate change adaptation in the water and agriculture sectors are still relatively small. It is necessary to raise money for climate adaptation in the water sector.
For Example, India’s Green Credit Programme has the potential to partially bridge the adaptation funding gap by encouraging investment in wastewater treatment, desalination plants, and agricultural extension services.
Similarly, investments in India under Corporate Social Responsibility, there is a potential to leverage about ₹12,000 crore worth of investments every year.
Conclusion: A water-secure economy is the first step towards a climate-resilient one. It is possible to make a start by pursuing more coherence in water, energy and climate policies, creating data-driven baselines to increase water savings, and enabling new financial instruments and markets for adaptation investments.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its latest Global Financial Stability Report warning about the risks to the Global Financial System.
What is the IMF’s worry about Inflation?
Premature Investor Enthusiasm: The IMF believes that investors may be overly optimistic about the end of high inflation and the subsequent lowering of interest rates by central banks. This enthusiasm could be premature.
Stalled Inflation: The IMF highlights that inflation may have stalled in some major advanced and emerging economies. Core inflation in the most recent three months has been higher than in the previous three months, indicating a potential slowdown in the decline of inflation.
Geopolitical Risks: The IMF warns that geopolitical risks, such as ongoing conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, could disrupt aggregate supply and lead to higher prices. This could counteract efforts to lower inflation and deter central banks from lowering interest rates.
Potential Impact on Central Bank Action: The IMF suggests that if these risks persist, central banks may delay or refrain from lowering interest rates as expected by investors, which could have consequences for asset prices and investor losses.
How it will impact the Indian Market?
Strong Fund Flows: Emerging markets like India have experienced strong inflows of foreign capital, driven by optimism surrounding potential interest rate cuts by central banks.
Vulnerability: If central banks in Western countries signal a prolonged period of high interest rates, investors may withdraw funds from emerging markets like India, putting pressure on their currencies.
Depreciation of the Indian Rupee: The Indian rupee has already been depreciating, reaching a new low against the U.S. dollar. This trend could continue if capital outflows accelerate.
In response to currency depreciation and capital outflows, the RBI may intervene by curbing liquidity and raising interest rates. However, this could slow down the economy.
Potential Effects on Financial System: A severe outflow of capital could have implications for India’s financial system, potentially exacerbating the depreciation of the rupee and causing instability.
Private Credit Market Scenario:
The private credit market globally grew to $2.1 trillion last year, indicating its significant size and importance in the financial landscape.
The IMF is concerned about the unregulated private credit market, where non-bank financial institutions lend to corporate borrowers. Troubles in this market could potentially affect the broader financial system.
India has also witnessed the growth of a small private credit market, particularly with the rise of Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).
Conclusion: The IMF’s concerns over premature investor optimism on inflation and risks from geopolitical tensions highlight potential challenges for India’s financial stability. Vigilance over capital flows and regulation of the private credit market are essential safeguards.
Mains PYQ:
Q The World Bank and the IMF, collectively known as the Bretton Woods Institutions, are the two inter-governmental pillars supporting the structure of the world’s economic and financial order. Superficially, the World Bank and the IMF exhibit many common characteristics, yet their role, functions and mandate are distinctly different. Elucidate.
On April 12, the Environment Ministry issued further guidelines on its Green Credit Programme (GCP)
What is the Green Credit Programme?
The Green Credit Programme is a new market-based instrument in India designed to incentivize individuals, industries, and local bodies for their voluntary environmental actions across different sectors.
It is included under the government’s ‘Lifestyle for Environment’ or ‘LiFE’ movement and is a domestic voluntary market mechanism where green credit serves as a singular unit of credit provided for each specified activity.
Features of the Green Credit Programme:
Open-Platform: Participants, including individuals, organizations, and both public and private companies, can invest in these environmental initiatives and receive ‘green credits’ in return. These credits are earned based on the environmental impact of the invested activities.
Public sector companies such as Indian Oil, Power Grid Corporation of India, National Thermal Power Corporation, Oil India, Coal India, and National Hydropower Corporation have reportedly registered to invest in the GCP.
Set with Priority: The Ministry has prescribed rules for the first initiative under the GCP, focusing on afforestation. Participants can pay for afforestation projects in degraded forest and wasteland areas, with tree planting conducted by State forest departments.
The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), an autonomous body of the Environment Ministry, is responsible for administering the GCP. They define methodologies to calculate green credits and manage a trading platform for credit exchange.
Regional Participation: Thirteen state forest departments have offered 387 land parcels totaling nearly 10,983 hectares of degraded forest land for afforestation projects under the GCP.
Enhanced Decision-Making: Successful participants will receive estimates of the costs involved in their chosen afforestation projects, facilitating informed decision-making and planning.
Why has the GCP stoked controversy?
Commodification of Environmental Conservation: Critics argue that the GCP turns environmental conservation into a commodity, potentially undermining the spirit of India’s forest conservation laws.
Forest Diversion Concerns: The GCP’s provision for companies to “exchange” green credits for complying with compensatory afforestation requirements raises concerns that it could be exploited by industries seeking to ease forest diversion requirements, particularly in sectors like mining and infrastructure.
Ecological Impact: Planting trees as a part of afforestation efforts does not guarantee ecosystem improvement. India’s diverse forest types require specific approaches, and planting the wrong types of trees could lead to the proliferation of invasive species or disrupt sustainable ecosystems.
Monoculture Threat: There’s a risk that the GCP may promote the replacement of natural forests with invasive monocultures, potentially harming biodiversity and ecological balance.
Carbon Trading Controversy: The GCP allows green credits resulting from carbon storage (e.g., tree planting) to be used for carbon trading. However, the methodology for equating these activities is unclear, raising doubts about the effectiveness and legitimacy of such carbon trading schemes.
Conclusion: The Green Credit Programme in India, faces criticism for potentially commodifying conservation, raising forest diversion concerns, posing ecological risks like monoculture, and lacking clarity in carbon trading methodologies. So there is a need for rigorous oversight and adaptation.
Mains PYQ
Q Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA)?
The women from a Self-Help Group in Kanker district (Chhattisgarh), have spared 10 decimals of land for multi-layer farming to mitigate land degradation and under-nutrition, and to secure round-the-year incomes.
How does the relationship between Climate Change and Nutrition result in Food insecurity?
Impact on Food Chain: Climate change affects food value chains, agricultural yields, nutritional quality, food access, and energy-intensive processes, exacerbating existing challenges in food security and nutrition.
Lack of Access: The Rome Declaration on Nutrition highlights the global challenges in providing sufficient, safe, diverse, and nutrient-rich food for everyone, with approximately 800 million people lacking reliable access to food and two billion suffering from iron and zinc deficiencies.
Disparities in Diets: Disparities in production systems and individual dietary choices lead to populations being unable to maintain balanced diets, contributing to malnutrition and the prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
Results into Gender Disparities: Women are disproportionately affected by climate change and poor nutrition, but gender-just food systems, where women have equal rights and access to resources, contribute to resilience against shocks like drought.
Suggestive measures for reducing Emissions
Plant-Based Diet: A diet higher in plant-based foods is more environmentally sustainable than one with more animal foods. Substituting animal products with plant-based meats and dairy alternatives can lower emissions.
Mitigating CO2 Concentration: Higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations can lead to lower concentrations of protein, iron, and zinc in crops, highlighting the need to mitigate climate change impacts on food nutrition.
Value-Chain Approach: Adopting a value-chain approach can optimize dietary choices while lowering emissions, benefiting communities at the household level.
For Example, Initiatives like the Millet Mission in Chhattisgarh aim to promote millet cultivation, showcasing its nutritional value, low water footprint, climate resilience, and potential to address both nutritional and environmental concerns.
Scaling up diversified Food Production: Scaling up and decentralizing diversified food production systems can reduce emissions by promoting underutilized indigenous foods and improving resilience to climate change.
Monitoring Emissions: Continuous and extensive monitoring of emissions linked to food production and distribution is necessary, with accessible assessment tools for local communities to actively participate in emission reduction efforts.
Conclusion: Crops grown in regenerative and sustainable systems tend to have higher levels of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other beneficial phytochemicals compared to conventionally grown counterparts. By prioritizing soil health and biodiversity, regenerative and sustainable agriculture systems government and farmers can collaboratively promote nutrient-dense foods that nourish our bodies and support overall health and well-being.
Mains PYQ:
Q Climate change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (UPSC IAS/2017)
The sharp reduction in Household Net Financial Savings and the rise in Household Debt burden are a cause for concern for growth and economic stability.
BACK2BASICS:
What are household financial savings?
Household financial savings refer to currency, bank deposits, debt securities, mutual funds, pension funds, insurance, and investments in small savings schemes. The total of these savings is referred to as gross household financial savings.
What is Household Debt?
Household debt is all household liabilities (including non-profit institutions serving households) that require payments of interest or principal by households to creditors at a fixed date in the future.
Debt is calculated as the sum of the following liability categories: loans (primarily mortgage loans and consumer credit) and other accounts payable.
What are the present reasons behind the Lower Financial savings?
Increased borrowing or reduced gross financial savings are the primary drivers of lower net financial savings.
Lower net financial savings due to increased borrowing for consumption or investment can stimulate aggregate demand and output.
Higher interest rates can lead to increased interest payments by households, reducing their net financial savings.
Implication of Higher Debt Burden on the Indian Market: The rise in household debt burden has two concerns for the macroeconomy.
Debt Repayment and Financial Fragility: Household debt sustainability depends on the gap between the interest rate and income growth rate.
Suppose households fail to meet their debt repayment commitments. In that case, it reduces the income of the financial sector and deteriorates their balance sheets, which in turn can have a cascading effect on the macroeconomy.
Scheduled Commercial Banks Lending vs. Growth Rate of GNS: The weighted average lending rate registered a sharp rise in the last two years, particularly due to the tight monetary policy stance of the RBI and the sharp rise in the call money rate during this period.
Impact on Consumption Demand: Reducing household wealth can lead to lower consumption expenditure as households may attempt to preserve their wealth by increasing their savings.
Reduced Higher household debt: Higher household debt can also reduce consumption expenditure in at least two ways.
If higher household leverage is perceived as an indicator of higher default risk, then it may induce banks to indulge in credit rationing and reduce credit disbursement. The consequent reduction in credit disbursement can adversely affect consumption.
Higher debt can reduce consumption expenditure by increasing the interest burden, not to mention the effect of higher interest rates on consumption expenditure.
Low household Financial wealth: Recent trends in the Indian economy indicate a decline in household financial wealth relative to GDP, alongside an increase in household leverage (debt to net worth ratio).
The financial wealth/net worth of the household is the difference between the stock of financial assets and liabilities.
Macroeconomic Implication:
Implications of the Procyclical Leverage: Given that both the flow indicator of liabilities to disposable income and the debt to net worth show an increasing trend, where households are vulnerable.
Fall in the Household Savings: The policy mantra of higher interest rates to counter inflation by reducing macroeconomic output and employment can leave households with an increasing level of debt in their balance sheets and potentially push the households into a debt trap.
The implications of high-interest rates on debt burden can hurt the consumption of the households and consequently aggregate demand.
Suggestive measures:
Promote sustainable borrowing: Policymakers need to address the growing vulnerabilities of households by implementing measures to promote sustainable borrowing practices and reduce reliance on debt.
Prioritizes production and employment: Additionally, the policies aimed at fostering a more balanced economy that prioritizes production and employment alongside financial activities may be necessary to ensure long-term economic stability and growth.
Conclusion: The change in the composition of the asset side of the household balance sheet towards financial assets indicates some degree of financialization of the economy which moves from a production-based economy to a monetary or financial exchange-based economy making the 5 trillion dollar economy both jobless and fragile.
Mains PYQ:
Q The public expenditure management is a challenge to the Government of India in the context of budgetmaking during the post-liberalization period. Clarify it.(UPSC IAS/2019)
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) abolished the age limit for purchasing health insurance policies, effective April 1.
Individuals aged above 65were ineligible previously for new health insurance policies.
About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
IRDAI is the apex regulatory body overseeing the insurance sector in India.
It is an autonomous entity responsible for regulating and developing the insurance sector in India.
It was established under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999. It was formed on April 19, 2000.
Headquarters: Located in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Composition:
IRDAI is a 10-member body including the chairman, five full-time and four part-time members appointed by the government of India.
The authority is supported by various departments and divisions responsible for different aspects of insurance regulation, including life insurance, non-life insurance, reinsurance, and actuarial matters.
Regulatory Functions
IRDAI’s primary role is to regulate and promote the insurance industry in India through:
Licensing and registration of insurance companies and intermediaries.
Framing regulations and guidelines for insurance operations.
Protecting the interests of policyholders.
Promoting fair competition and innovation in the insurance sector.
Monitoring the financial performance and solvency of insurance companies.
Resolving disputes between insurers and policyholders.
Promoting insurance awareness and education among the public.
Insurance Sector of India: A Timeline
1818: Establishment of the Oriental Life Insurance Company in Calcutta marked the beginning of the life insurance business in India. The company faced failure in 1834.
1829: Madras Equitable started conducting life insurance operations in the Madras Presidency.
1870: Enactment of the British Insurance Act. Establishment of insurance companies like Bombay Mutual (1871), Oriental (1874), and Empire of India (1897) in the Bombay Presidency during this era, dominated by British firms.
1914: Commencement of publishing insurance company returns by the government of India.
1912: Introduction of the Indian Life Assurance Companies Act, the first legislation regulating life insurance.
1928: Enactment of the Indian Insurance Companies Act to gather statistical information about insurance business.
1938: Consolidation and amendment of insurance legislation with the Insurance Act, 1938, introducing comprehensive provisions to regulate insurers’ activities.
1950: The Insurance Amendment Act abolished principal agencies amid allegations of unfair trade practices. The GoI decided to nationalize the insurance industry in response to high competition levels.
1956: The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) was established under the Life Insurance Corporation Act, of 1956, consolidating the life insurance business in India under a single entity. LIC took over the assets and liabilities of around 245 private life insurers and provident societies.
PYQ:
[2012] Consider the following:
Hotels and restaurants
Motor transport undertakings
Newspaper establishments
Private medical institutions
The employees of which of the above can have the ‘Social Security’ coverage under Employees’ State Insurance Scheme?
A significant health concern in Tamil Nadu is found through ingestion of Rat poison containing Yellow Phosphorus, leading to liver toxicity.
Since December 2017, the team at CMC Vellore introduced Plasma Exchange, (a cost-effective treatment) for acute liver failure caused by rat poison ingestion.
What is Plasma Therapy (Plasmapheresis)?
Plasma exchange, also known as plasmapheresis, is a medical procedure used to treat various conditions by removing and replacing plasma from the blood.
During Plasma Exchange, the patient’s blood is circulated through a machine that separates plasma from other blood components, such as red and white blood cells and platelets.
Working procedure:
The plasma, which may contain harmful substances or antibodies, is discarded.
The remaining blood components are mixed with replacement plasma or a plasma substitute and returned to the patient’s bloodstream.
Usage of Plasmapheresis:
In Autoimmune diseases: Conditions such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and certain forms of vasculitis.
In Neurological disorders: Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and certain types of encephalitis.
In Toxicological emergencies: Poisoning or overdose with substances such as drugs, chemicals, or toxins that can be removed from the bloodstream through plasma exchange.
Benefits observed in TN’s Case
The treatment significantly improved survival rates, with 63.9% of patients treated in 2022-2023 successfully discharged.
Retrospective studies at CMC Vellore demonstrated promising outcomes, with survival rates of 75% among children and 80.2% among adults treated with plasma exchange.
What is Plasma in Human Blood?
Human blood plasma is the liquid component of blood, constituting about 55% of its total volume.
It is a pale yellowish fluid that carries various substances throughout the body, including nutrients, hormones, electrolytes, antibodies, and waste products.
Plasma plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis and transporting essential components to tissues and organs.
Composition:
Water: Approximately 90% of plasma consists of water, making it the primary solvent for carrying dissolved substances.
Proteins: Plasma contains a variety of proteins, including albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen. These proteins perform functions such as maintaining osmotic pressure, transporting lipids and hormones, and aiding in blood clotting.
Electrolytes: Plasma contains ions such as sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and bicarbonate, which help regulate fluid balance, pH, and nerve function.
Nutrients: Glucose, amino acids, lipids, and vitamins are transported in plasma and provide energy and building blocks for cells.
Waste Products: Metabolic waste products, such as urea, creatinine, and bilirubin, are transported in plasma to be eliminated from the body.
Hormones: Hormones produced by endocrine glands are carried in plasma to target tissues, where they regulate various physiological processes.
Gases: Oxygen and carbon dioxide are transported in plasma, primarily bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells.
Functions:
Plasma carries nutrients, gases, hormones, and waste products to and from cells throughout the body.
Plasma helps regulate fluid balance, electrolyte concentrations, pH, and temperature.
Antibodies and immune cells in plasma help defend against pathogens and foreign substances, contributing to the body’s immune response.
Plasma proteins such as fibrinogen play a crucial role in blood clotting, helping to stop bleeding and repair damaged blood vessels.
Plasma buffers changes in pH by absorbing or releasing hydrogen ions, helping maintain the body’s acid-base balance.
PYQ:
[2011] A married couple adopted a male child. A few years later, twin boys were born to them. The blood group of the couple is AB positive and 0 negative. The blood group of the three sons is A positive, B positive, and O positive. The blood group of the adopted son is-
For the first time in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 7 members of the Shompen tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) of Great Nicobar Islands exercised their voting rights for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the union territory.
Other two primitive tribes like Onge and Great Andamanese (both PVTGs) too exercised their voting rights like in 2019 Lok Sabha election but seven Shompen did it for the first time out of 98 Shompen voters.
About Shompen Tribe:
The Shompen tribe primarily inhabits the remote interior regions of Great Nicobar Island, the southernmost island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
Their estimated population was 229 as per the 2011 Census data.
Their cultural practices include traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering forest resources.
Pandanus (a tropical plant found in the islands), whose fruits resemble the woody pineapple, is the staple food of the Shompens.
What makes the Shompens distinct from the four other PVTGs of Andaman and Nicobar Islands — Jarawas, Great Andamanese, Onges and Sentinelese — is that they are the only tribe in the region with Mongoloid features. The other PVTGs have Negroid features.
Society and Culture
The Shompen people have their own distinct culture and language, which belongs to the Austroasiatic language family.
Marriage by capturing women from different groups and sub-groups is one of the customs of the Shompen society (as per the Anthropological Survey of India).
They practice a hunter-gatherer subsistence economy.
Who are the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)?
These groups are among the most vulnerable section of our society as they are few in numbers, have not attained any significant level of social and economic development.
They generally inhabit remote localities having poor infrastructure and administrative support.
75 such groups have been identified and categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Origin of the concept
The Dhebar Commission (1960-1961) stated that within Scheduled Tribes there existed an inequality in the rate of development.
During the fourth Five Year Plan (1969-74) a sub-category was created within Scheduled Tribes to identify groups that considered to be at a lower level of development.
This sub-category was named “Primitive tribal group”.
In 2006 the government of India proposed to renameasPVTGs.
Features of PVTGs
The features of such a group include a:
Pre-agricultural system of existence
Practice of hunting and gathering
Zero or negative population growth
Extremely low level of literacy in comparison with other tribal groups
Groups that satisfied any one of the criterion were considered as PTG.
PYQ:
[2019] Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India:
PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.
A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.
There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.
Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.
