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Subject: Governance

Important aspects of Society

  • Bengal is tackling fatal Adenovirus Infection

    adenovirus

    Central idea: 19 children below the age of five years have died in State-run institutions due to acute respiratory infection (ARI) caused by Adenovirus.

    What is Adenovirus Infection?

    • Adenoviruses are common viruses that typically cause mild cold or flu-like illness and are usually spread from an infected person to others by close personal contact
    • The virus is transmitted through the air by coughing and sneezing and also by touching an object or surface with adenoviruses on it
    • While the virus can affect people of any age group, children with low and compromised immunity are at a higher risk
    • Symptoms of the viral infection, other than common cold or flu-like symptoms, include acute bronchitis, pneumonia, pink eye (conjunctivitis), and acute gastroenteritis

    Reasons for outbreak in Bengal

    • Doctors claim that it is the recombinant strain which is the reason for the spike in infections and deaths.
    • Most of the children who have been infected by the virus are less than three years old and were born during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Children who are in the age group of six months to preschool are most susceptible to viral infection.

     

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  • Sickle Cell Anaemia screening meets only 1% of target

    anaemia

    Central idea:  The Health Ministry of India set a target to scan one crore people for sickle cell disease in 2022-23. However, with only two weeks left in the fiscal year, the Ministry has completed only 1% of the target.

    What is Sickle Cell Anaemia?

    anaemia

    • Sickle Cell Anaemia is a genetic blood disorder that affects the haemoglobin molecule in red blood cells.
    • People with sickle cell anaemia have abnormal haemoglobin that causes their red blood cells to become sickle-shaped, rigid and sticky.
    • These abnormal cells can clog small blood vessels, leading to excruciating pain, organ damage, and a higher risk of infections.
    • Sickle cell anaemia is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means that a person must inherit two copies of the mutated gene, one from each parent, to develop the disease.
    • There is no cure for sickle cell anaemia, but treatments are available to manage its symptoms and complications.

    How widespread is it in India?

    • Sickle cell anaemia is prevalent in some parts of India, particularly in tribal and rural areas.
    • According to the ICMR, sickle cell trait is present in about 20-22% of the tribal population in central India, and the disease is present in about 3-5% of the same population.
    • It is estimated that there are about 30 million carriers of the sickle cell trait in India, and around 1.5-2 lakh sickle cell disease patients.
    • The disease is most commonly found in the states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Gujarat.

    Recent discussions

    • India aims to eradicate sickle cell anaemia by 2047, Finance Minister announced during her Budget 2023 speech.
    • Under the new scheme, 70 million people up to the age of 40 years in affected tribal areas will be screened for the disease.
    • The Health Ministry has assigned tentative State-wise screening targets to the States for timely completion of the exercise.
    • The Ministry is working to create and maintain a central registry for all screened persons to prevent patients from slipping through the cracks.

    Current status of screening

    • Only 1,05,954 people have been screened so far, out of which 5959 people, or 5.62% of those screened were found to be carrying sickle cell disease traits.
    • Regular and timely screening of the population is important, as in a previous screening exercise of over 1.13 crore people in 2016, up to 9,49,057 (8.75%) tested positive for the sickle cell trait, and up to 47,311 of these ended up with full-blown sickle cell disease.

    Way forward

    • Increased screening: Achieving the goal of eliminating sickle cell anaemia would involve screening at least seven crore people under the age of 40 years in multiple phases by 2025-26.
    • Creating awareness: The Health Ministry is working to create awareness amongst those who carry the sickle cell trait to refrain from marrying another person who also carries the trait.
    • Targeted assessment: Pregnant women are a priority group for immediate screening, and in the long-term, screening of targeted population of unmarried adolescents between 10 to 25 years will be undertaken.
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  • What is Digital India Act, 2023?

    india

    The Union government has formally outlined the Digital India Act, 2023 which is a broad overhaul of the decades-old Information Technology Act, 2000.

    Central idea: Reconsideration of Safe Harbour

    • The government is reconsidering a key aspect of cyberspace — ‘safe harbour’.
    • Safe harbour is the principle that so-called ‘intermediaries’ on the internet are not responsible for what third parties post on their website.
    • This is the principle that allows social media platforms to avoid liability for posts made by users.
    • Safe harbour has been reined in in recent years by regulations like the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which require platforms to take down posts when ordered to do so by the government, or when required by law.

    What is the Digital India Act, 2023?

    • The act is a new legislation that aims to overhaul the decades-old Information Technology Act, 2000.
    • The Act covers a range of topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybercrime, data protection, deepfakes, competition issues among internet platforms, and online safety.
    • The Act also aims to address “new complex forms of user harms” that have emerged in the years since the IT Act’s enactment, such as catfishing, doxxing, trolling, and phishing.

    Why was this act enacted?

    • Data privacy: The Digital India Act will be implemented alongside the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022, which focuses solely on processing personal data in India.
    • Lawful use of data: It seeks to address the processing of digital personal data in a manner that recognizes both the right of the individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process personal data for lawful purposes.
    • Comprehensive regulation: This Act and the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill will work in tandem with each other.

    Key features of the Digital India Act

    • Creating new regulations around newer technology, including 5G, IoT devices, cloud computing, metaverse, blockchain, and cryptocurrency.
    • Reclassifying online intermediaries to separate categories instead of one general intermediary label, each one with its own set of regulations.
    • Removing “safe harbour” immunity for online intermediaries for purposeful misinformation or other content violations from third parties.
    • Creating digital standards and laws regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology.
    • Criminalizing cyberbullying, identity theft, and unauthorized sharing of personal information without consent.

    Significance

    • The Digital India Act provides a legal framework for promoting the growth of the digital economy in India.
    • It aims to create a conducive environment for the development and deployment of digital technologies across different sectors.
    • The Act also addresses various challenges associated with cybersecurity and data privacy, which are critical issues in the digital age.

    Conclusion

    • The Digital India Act is expected to promote digital literacy and increase access to digital services for all citizens.
    • It will help in creating a digital infrastructure that is secure, reliable, and accessible to everyone.
    • The Act will also encourage the adoption of digital technologies in various sectors such as healthcare, education, and agriculture, leading to increased efficiency and productivityhow-to-start-upsc-preparation-from-zero-level

     

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  • One Nation, One Challan Initiative

    challan

    The Gujarat Govt. informed High Court that it’s setting up virtual traffic courts under ‘One Nation One Challan’ initiative while hearing a PIL on the matter.

    What is the One Nation, One Challan initiative?

    • One Nation, One Challan is an initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
    • It aims to bring all related agencies, such as the traffic police and the Regional Transport Office (RTO), on one platform, to enable seamless collection of challans as well as data transfer.
    • The integrated system uses the CCTV network to detect traffic violations and retrieve the registration number of the offending vehicle from applications like VAHAN and SARATHI.
    • An e-Challan is then generated with the relevant penalty amount, and sent to the mobile number linked with the vehicle.

    What did the Gujarat govt inform?

    • In Gujarat, the initiative is operational in three commissionerate areas of Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Surat since January this year and implementation at Vadodara is underway.

    How does the integration help?

    • Prior to the integration, details of vehicle ownership from a different state could not be accessed through the CCTV network for penalization.
    • Integration of all states’ RTO data and traffic police data with the support of NIC servers allows access to vehicle registration and related data for violators from different states.
    • Challans will be sent directly to the mobile number registered with the vehicle.
    • NIC is set to launch its own application for e-Challan delivery.

    How do virtual traffic courts work?

    • Virtual courts are aimed at eliminating the presence of litigants in the court.
    • An accused can search their case on the virtual court’s website. Upon successful payment of the fine, the case will be shown as disposed of.
    • For now, one court is in the process of being designated as a virtual court for the whole of Gujarat.

     

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  • FCRA licence of Centre for Policy Research suspended

    Union Home Ministry suspended the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR).

    About CPR

    • The CPR was established in 1973 as a think tank with the mission to contribute to a more robust public discourse about the issues that impact life in India.
    • Its headquarters is located in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
    • It is a non-profit, non-partisan, independent institution dedicated to conducting research that contributes to high quality scholarship, better policies.
    • Over the years it has cultivated a reputation as one of the country’s premier public policy think tanks.

    Why was its licence suspended?

    • The CPR allegedly received foreign funds in violation of the FCRA.

    What is FCRA?

    • The FCRA regulates foreign donations and ensures that such contributions do not adversely affect internal security.
    • First enacted in 1976, it was amended in 2010 when a slew of new measures was adopted to regulate foreign donations.
    • The FCRA is applicable to all associations, groups and NGOs which intend to receive foreign donations.
    • It is mandatory for all such NGOs to register themselves under the FCRA.
    • The registration is initially valid for five years and it can be renewed subsequently if they comply with all norms.

    Why was FCRA enacted?

    • The FCRA sought to consolidate the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution or foreign hospitality by individuals, associations or companies.
    • It sought to prohibit such contributions from being used for activities detrimental to national interest.

    What was the recent Amendment?

    • The FCRA was amended in September 2020 to introduce some new restrictions.
    • The Government says it did so because it found that many recipients were wanting in compliance with provisions relating to filing of annual returns and maintenance of accounts.
    • Many did not utilise the funds received for the intended objectives.
    • It claimed that the annual inflow as foreign contributions almost doubled between 2010 and 2019.
    • The FCRA registration of 19,000 organisations was cancelled and, in some cases, prosecution was also initiated.

    How has the law changed?

    There are at least three major changes that NGOs find too restrictive.

    • Prohibition of fund transfer: An amendment to Section 7 of the Act completely prohibits the transfer of foreign funds received by an organisation to any other individual or association.
    • Directed and single bank account: Another amendment mandates that every person (or association) granted a certificate or prior permission to receive overseas funds must open an FCRA bank account in a designated branch of the SBI in New Delhi.
    • Utilization of funds: All foreign funds should be received only in this account and none other. However, the recipients are allowed to open another FCRA bank account in any scheduled bank for utilisation.
    • Shared information: The designated bank will inform authorities about any foreign remittance with details about its source and the manner in which it was received.
    • Aadhaar mandate: In addition, the Government is also authorised to take the Aadhaar numbers of all the key functionaries of any organisation that applies for FCRA registration or for prior approval for receiving foreign funds.
    • Cap on administrative expenditure: Another change is that the portion of the receipts allowed as administrative expenditure has been reduced from 50% to 20%.

    What is the criticism against these changes?

    • Arbitrary restrictions: NGOs questioning the law consider the prohibition on transfer arbitrary and too heavy a restriction.
    • Non-sharing of funds: One of its consequences is that recipients cannot fund other organisations. When foreign help is received as material, it becomes impossible to share the aid.
    • Irrationality of designated bank accounts: There is no rational link between designating a particular branch of a bank with the objective of preserving national interest.
    • Un-ease of operation: Due to Delhi based bank account, it is also inconvenient as the NGOS might be operating elsewhere.
    • Illogical narrative: ‘National security’ cannot be cited as a reason without adequate justification as observed by the Supreme Court in Pegasus Case.

    What does the Government say?

    • Zero tolerance against intervention: The amendments were necessary to prevent foreign state and non-state actors from interfering with the country’s polity and internal matters.
    • Diversion of foreign funds: The changes are also needed to prevent malpractices by NGOs and diversion of foreign funds.
    • Fund flow monitoring: The provision of having one designated bank for receiving foreign funds is aimed at making it easier to monitor the flow of funds.
    • Ease of operation: The Government clarified that there was no need for anyone to come to Delhi to open the account as it can be done remotely.

    Supreme Court’s observation

    • The apex court reasoned that an unbridled inflow of foreign funds may destabilise the sovereignty of the nation.
    • The petitioners have argued that the amendments suffered from the “vice of ambiguity, over-breadth or over-governance” and violated their fundamental rights.
    • But the court countered that the amendments only provide a strict regulatory framework to moderate the inflow of foreign funds into the country.
    • The free and uncontrolled inflow of foreign funds has the potential to impact the socio-economic structure and polity of the country.
    • No one can be heard to claim a vested right to accept foreign donations, much less an absolute right, said the verdict.

    Supreme Court’s assessment of Foreign Funds

    • Philosophically, foreign contribution (donation) is akin to gratifying intoxicant replete with medicinal properties and may work like nectar.
    • However, it serves as medicine so long as it is consumed (utilised) moderately and discreetly, for serving the larger cause of humanity.
    • Otherwise, this artifice has the capability of inflicting pain, suffering and turmoil as being caused by the toxic substance (potent tool) — across the nation.

    Way forward

    • The court said charity could be found at home. NGOs could look within the country for donors.
    • Fundamental rights have to give way in the larger public interest to the need to insulate the democratic polity from the “adverse influence of foreign contributions”.
    • The third-world countries may welcome foreign donations, but it is open to a nation, which is committed and enduring to be self-reliant.
    • An unregulated inflow of foreign donations would only indicate that the government was incapable of looking after its own affairs and needs of its citizens.

     

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  • Academic Freedom in India declined strongly since 2013: Report

    freedom

    India’s academic freedom index is in the bottom 30 percent among 179 countries, according to a new report.

    Academic Freedom Index Update, 2023

    • The report was a collaborative effort of 2,917 country experts worldwide.
    • It was co-ordinated by Swedish think tank V-Dem Institute and the Institute of Political Science at the Friedrich Alexander University in Germany.
    • It identified 22 countries – including India, China, the United States and Mexico – where it said universities and scholars experience significantly less academic freedom today than they did ten years ago.
    • The index score measures five indicators-
    1. Freedom to research and teach
    2. Freedom of academic exchange and dissemination,
    3. Institutional autonomy of universities
    4. Freedom of academic and cultural expression and campus integrity
    5. Absence of security infringements and surveillance on campus.

    What one means by academic freedom?

    • Academic freedom refers to the independence and autonomy that scholars and researchers have in pursuing their academic work, without fear of censorship, retaliation, or repression from the government or other entities.
    • It includes the freedom to conduct research, publish findings, and express opinions and ideas, without interference or pressure from external forces.
    • It is considered a cornerstone of higher education and is essential for the advancement of knowledge and the free exchange of ideas.

    India’s performance

    • India is ranked among the bottom 30% with an index score of less than 0.4 among the 179 countries assessed by the researchers.
    • On a scale of 0 (low) to 1 (high), India scored 0.38, lower than Pakistan’s 0.43 and the United States’ 0.79, says the report. LOL!
    • The report has ranked the United States among the top 50% of countries with an index score just below 0.8. China has been ranked among the bottom 10% with a score of less than 0.1.
    • The report said that academic freedom in India began to decline in 2009 with a drop in university autonomy, followed by “a sharp downturn in all indicators” from 2013.

    Reasons for such poor ratings

    • A lack of a legal framework to protect academic freedom has enabled attacks on academic freedom.
    • The report sees there is notable pressure on the institutional dimensions of academic freedom — institutional autonomy and campus integrity.

    Again anti-India narrative

    • The report sees regime change in India since as a declining trend in the country’s academic freedom.
    • All such reports are being increasingly publicized ahead of India’s general elections in 2024.

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  • VAIBHAV fellowship for Indian Diaspora

    The centre has launched VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme for the Indian Diaspora abroad on National Science Day.

    VAIBHAV fellowship

    • The Vaibhav Fellowship is a program that invites overseas Indian scientists and researchers to work with Indian institutions and universities for a period of 2-3 weeks.
    • The program is open to individuals of Indian origin who are working in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
    • The fellowship will provide opportunities for the diaspora to collaborate with Indian scientists and researchers, participate in conferences, and contribute to the development of the country’s science and technology sector.

    Objectives of the Fellowship

    • To create a platform for Indian diaspora scientists and researchers to connect with their counterparts in India and contribute to the country’s growth in the field of science and technology.
    • To foster collaboration between Indian and overseas scientists and researchers, promote knowledge exchange, and build a network of professionals who can contribute to the development of the country.

    Key facts

    • Duration: The fellowship offers researchers an opportunity to work for a minimum of one month to a maximum of two months a year with a research institution or an academic institution in India.
    • Corpus: Three years with the government offering the researchers an amount of up to Rs 37 lakh for the entire period.
    • Eligibility: Researchers from institutions featuring in the top 500 QS World University Rankings will be eligible for the fellowship.
    • Who can apply: The applicant should be a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Person of Indian Origin (PIO) or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and she or he must have obtained Ph.D/M.D/M.S degree from a recognized University.

    Significance of the fellowship

    • The fellowship provides a platform for Indian scientists and researchers to collaborate with their counterparts abroad, which can help in the exchange of ideas and knowledge.
    • It also provides an opportunity for the Indian diaspora to contribute to the development of their home country.
    • By engaging with the Indian institutions and universities, the diaspora can bring in new ideas, technologies, and expertise that can help in the country’s development.

     

     

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  • Two Australian public universities to set up campuses in GIFT City

    Central idea:

    GIFT City, Gandhinagar

    • GIFT city is India’s first operational smart city and international financial services centre (much like a modern IT park).
    • The idea for GIFT was conceived during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit 2007 and the initial planning was done by East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI).
    • Approximately 225 units/companies are operational with more than 12000 professionals employed in the City.
    • The entire city is based on the concept of FTTX (Fibre to the home / office).The fiber optic is laid in fault tolerant ring architecture so as to ensure maximum uptime of services.
    • Every building in GIFT City is an intelligent building. There is piped supply of cooking gas. India’s first city-level DCS (district cooling system) is also operational at GIFT City.

     

    Procedure for Universities coming to India

    • The process for getting approval for setting up a campus in India will be strictly online in the beginning. Interested institutions have to apply at the UGC portal with a non-refundable fee, and then submit some documents.
    • After the applications are received, a committee formed by the Commission will examine these applications on these factors:
    1. Credibility of the institution
    2. Programmes to be offered by the institution
    3. Their potential to strengthen academic opportunities in India
    4. Proposed infrastructure

    UGC (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations 2023: Key questions answered

    • UGC approval compulsory: All foreign universities that wish to set up their campus in India will be allowed to do so only after getting approval from the UGC.
    • Reputed institutions: To set up a campus in Indian foreign universities will either have to be in the top 500 to apply or will have to be “highly reputed” in their respective countries (if the varsity does not participate in global rankings). If their ranking is between 500 and 100, but the subject-wise ranking is higher than overall, then in such cases, the institutions will be permitted to set up their campuses only for those ranked subjects.
    • Quality assurance: Additionally, the UGC will reserve the right to inspect these Indian campuses of foreign HEIs at any time, and they will not be outside the purview of anti-ragging and other criminal laws.
    • Offline classes only: All the foreign universities that open their branches in India will be allowed to conduct offline classes only, i.e. foreign universities can offer only full-time programmes in physical mode.
    • Freedom to choose admission process, fee, and faculty: All foreign varsities will have the freedom to come up with their own admission process. However, the universities will have to ensure “quality of education imparted at their Indian campuses is on par with their main campus.”
    • Admissions to all: Foreign higher educational institutes will have the freedom to enroll Indian as well as international students on their Indian campuses.
    • International funds transfer: To ensure that there is no chaos in funds transfer, all matters related to funding will be as per the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999.
    • Safeguarding of students’ interest: FHEI shall not discontinue any course or programme or close the campus without the commission’s prior approval. In the case of a course or programme disruption or discontinuation, the parent entity shall be responsible for providing an alternative to the affected students.
    • Equivalence with degrees awarded by Indian HEIs: The qualifications awarded to the students in the Indian campus shall be recognised and treated as equivalent to the corresponding qualifications awarded by the FEHI in the main campus located in the country of origin.
    • Securing India’s national interest: FEHIs shall not offer any such programme or course which jeopardises the national interest of India or the standards of higher education in India. The operation of FEHIs shall not be contrary to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency, or morality.

    Why such move?

    • Increase in domestic enrolment: India has more than 1000 universities and 42,000 colleges. Despite having one of the largest higher education systems in the world, India’s Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education is just 27.1%, among the worlds’ lowest.
    • Education quality improvement: The lack of quality in Indian education is reflected in the QS World University Rankings 2022. IIT Bombay was the top-ranking Indian institute in the list with a ranking of 177. Only eight Indian universities made it to the top 400.
    • Paving the way: London Business School, King’s College in London, the University of Cambridge, and New York University have started preliminary discussion with the GIFT City authorities and the regulator to establish facilities at the GIFT International Financial Services Centre.

    Benefits of the move

    • Human capital generation: This move would complement efforts to provide high quality human capital to India’s financial services industry.
    • Decreased overseas spending: Indian students’ overseas spending is set to grow from current annual $28 billion to $80 billion annually by 2024.
    • Reduce FOREX spending: Apart from fostering a competition in quality, International branch campuses can also help in reducing the foreign exchange outflow.
    • Prevents brain-drain: Education attracts opportunities. Atmanirbhar Bharat push will retain the domestic talent. More than eight lakh Indians gave up their citizenship in the last seven years.
    • Increase India’s soft power: Opening the door for foreign universities can improve India’s soft power as it will provide further impetus to the government’s Study in India programme that seeks to attract foreign students.

    Challenges

    • Regulatory challenges: The following factors may deter foreign higher educational institutions from investing in India-
    1. Multi-layer regulatory framework governing different aspects of higher education
    2. Lack of a single regulatory body overlooking the collaborations/ investments and
    3. Multiple approvals are required to operate in India
    • Implementation issues: While NEP has taken the right steps to boost the education sector and pave the way for a globally-compatible education system, its implementation has been slow and requires clarity.
    • Higher possibility of Brain Drain: A policy challenge that stands before the GoI is to facilitate such tie-ups in a way that the Indian talent chooses to and is incentivised to remain in India and the Indian educational infrastructure is developed to match global standards.

    Conclusion

    • The intent of the GoI, with respect to international universities setting up campuses in India, is clear from the provisions in the NEP.
    • However, much clarity is awaited for the proper implementation.

     

     

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  • In news: Anmol Jeevan Abhiyan

    A recent initiative called the ‘Anmol Jeevan Abhiyan’ (Precious Life Campaign) in Barmer, Rajasthan has motivated village panchayats and homeowners to add hand pumps and locked covers to tankas for improved structure.

    What are Tankas?

    anmol

    • The tankas with a huge water storage capacity are traditionally built adjacent to the residential units in western Rajasthan.
    • It is used for collecting rainwater and using it throughout the year for drinking and other household needs.
    • They were constructed in households under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

     

    Anmol Jeevan Abhiyan

    • The ‘Anmol Jeevan Abhiyan’ (Precious Life Campaign) has encouraged village panchayats and owners of houses to make the structural addition of hand pumps and locked covers on tankas.
    • The light-weight hand pumps made of fibre serve the dual purpose of preventing the accidents and suicides as well as drawing of water from the tank.
    • The campaign has been started jointly by the district administration, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Action Aid.
    • Among the 171 suicide cases reported last year, as many as 64 were those of women and a majority was those who had jumped into the water tanks.

    Benefits offered

    • Though the campaign has made an impact during the last three to four months, it cannot be measured in quantitative terms at present because of its continuity, even as the reports of suicides have gradually reduced.
    • The permanent closure of tankas with the metal cover having lock also ensured that no cattleheads or other animals fall into them tank.

     

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  • Tobacco consumption: Higher Prices Could Be The Effective way

    Tobacco

    Central Idea

    • The share of smokers is declining in India, but smokeless tobacco consumption continues unabated. Smokeless tobacco use is widespread and is a significant public health challenge. The use of smokeless tobacco in India is deeply ingrained in cultural and traditional practices, making it difficult to address through public health interventions.

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    DATA: Tobacco consumption in India

    • High Consumption in north eastern states: In the north-eastern States of India, consumption of tobacco among men in both smokable and chewable forms was higher than the rest of India in 2019-21.
    • Consumption in southern states is relatively low: In the southern States, the share was relatively low with regard to both forms of tobacco consumption. However, among those who smoked, the share of those who consumed more than five sticks a day was much higher in many southern States. So, while smokers were fewer in the south, those who smoked did so heavily.
    • Smokable forms: If only the smokable forms were considered, the share was higher in the northern States of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, J&K U.T. and the eastern State of West Bengal.
    • Chewable forms: If only the chewable forms were considered, the share was higher in the east Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha and in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
    • Share of cigarette/bidi smokers is coming down: Overall, in India, the share of cigarette/bidi smokers is coming down. Compared to 2005-06, the share of smokers came down by over 10% points in 2019-21.

    Why is this trend?

    • Increase in prices of smokable forms: According to health economists the reduction in cigarette smoking may be attributed to the increase in the prices of the commodity over time.
    • Price of chewable form have not increased: On the other hand, the prices of bidis and other chewable forms have not increased much, and so consumption too has not reduced much.

    tobacco

    Why price and taxation of tobacco matters?

    • Effective way to reduce consumption: Research from many countries around the world including India shows that a price increase induces people to quit or reduce tobacco use as well as discourages non-users from getting into the habit of tobacco use.
    • For example: a study conducted in India found that a 10% increase in the price of tobacco products led to a 6.4% reduction in tobacco consumption among adults.
    • Higher prices can also discourage young people from taking up smoking: According to the World Health Organization, increasing tobacco prices by 10% can reduce tobacco use among young people by about 4%. This is particularly important as most tobacco users start smoking during adolescence.

    Tobacco consumption: Negative health effects

    • Cancer: Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable cancer. It can cause cancer of the lungs, mouth, throat, larynx, pancreas, bladder, kidney, and cervix.
    • Respiratory diseases: It may cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It can also worsen asthma symptoms.
    • Cardiovascular diseases: Consumption increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. It damages blood vessels and increases the risk of blood clots.
    • Reproductive health: Tobacco use can lead to infertility, premature birth, and low birth weight in babies.

    Tobacco consumption: Social-Economic Impact

    1. On an individual level:
    • Tobacco consumption can lead to decreased productivity and increased healthcare costs.
    • Smoking-related illnesses can result in absenteeism from work, decreased work performance, and increased medical expenses.
    • In addition, tobacco consumption can lead to decreased life expectancy, which reduces the overall productive years of an individual.
    1. On a societal level:
    • Tobacco consumption can lead to decreased economic development due to the increased burden of healthcare costs and decreased productivity.
    • According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco-related illnesses cost India about $22.4 billion in healthcare costs and lost productivity annually

    tobacco

    Conclusion

    • Tobacco consumption in India has significant socioeconomic and health impacts, particularly on the poor and marginalized sections of the population. Worryingly, after GST implementation, cigarette prices have not increased much. Increasing the price of tobacco products through taxation is a key strategy for reducing tobacco consumption and its associated health and economic costs.

    Mains Question

    Q. Tobacco consumption in India has significant socioeconomic and health impacts? Discuss. Do you think increase in price of tobacco commodities reduces its consumption?

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