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THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. EXPLAINED: BHANG, GANJA, AND CRIMINALITY IN THE NDPS ACT

THE CONTEXT: Recently, Karnataka High Court observed that nowhere in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act is bhang referred to as a prohibited drink or prohibited drug. Since the ganja recovered was below commercial quantity, the accused was given bail on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh.
THE EXPLANATION:
• The single judge Bench relied on two earlier judgments, Madhukar vs the State of Maharashtra, 2002 and Arjun Singh vs State of Haryana, 2004, where the courts had ruled that bhang is not ganja, and is therefore not covered under the NDPS Act.
What is bhang?
• Bhang is the edible preparation made from the leaves of the cannabis plant, often incorporated into drinks such as thandai and lassi, along with various foods. Bhang has been consumed in the Indian subcontinent for centuries, and is frequently consumed during the festivals of Holi and Mahashivratri.
• Its widespread use caught the attention of Europeans, with Garcia da Orta, a Portuguese physician who arrived in Goa in the 16th century, noting that, “[Bhang] is so generally used and by such a number of people that there is no mystery about it”.

Bhang and the law
• Enacted in 1985, the NDPS Act is the main legislation that deals with drugs and their trafficking. Various provisions of the Act punish production, manufacture, sale, possession, consumption, purchase, transport, and use of banned drugs, except for medical and scientific purposes.

The NDPS Act defines cannabis (hemp) as a narcotic drug based on the parts of the plant that come under its purview. The Act lists these parts as:
• Charas: “The separated resin, in whatever form, whether crude or purified, obtained from the cannabis plant and also includes concentrated preparation and resin known as hashish oil or liquid hashish.”
• Ganja: “The flowering or fruiting tops of the cannabis plant (excluding the seeds and leaves when not accompanied by the tops), by whatever name they be known or designated.”
• “Any mixture, with or without any neutral material, of any of the above forms of cannabis or any drink prepared therefrom.”
• The Act, in its definition, excludes seeds and leaves “when not accompanied by the tops”. Bhang, which is made with the leaves of the plant, is not mentioned in the NDPS Act.
• As a “special provision”, the Act states that the government “may allow cultivation of any cannabis plant for industrial purposes only of obtaining fibre or seed or for horticultural purposes”.
Cannabis and criminal liability
Section 20 of the NDPS Act lays out the punishment for the production, manufacture, sale, purchase, import and inter-state export of cannabis, as defined in the Act. The prescribed punishment is based on the amount of drugs seized.
• Contravention that involves a small quantity (100 g of charas/hashish or 1 kg of ganja), will result in rigorous imprisonment for a term that may extend to one year and/or a fine which may extend to Rs 10,000.

• For a commercial quantity (1 kg charas/ hashish or 20 kg ganja), rigorous imprisonment of not less than 10 years, which may extend to 20 years, including a fine that is not less than Rs 1,00,000 but may extend to Rs 2,00,000.
• Where the contravention involves quantity less than commercial, but greater than small quantity, rigorous imprisonment up to 10 years is prescribed, along with a fine which may extend to Rs 1,00,000.

2. HARIDWAR: BEST ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICT

THE CONTEXT: NITI Aayog has declared Haridwar city of Uttarakhand as the best aspirational district on the basis of five parameters. Haridwar has secured first position in Basic Infrastructure theme. Now an additional allocation of Rs 3 crore will be made to this city.
THE EXPLANATION:
• The programme was launched in January 2018 aims to quickly and effectively transform some of most underdeveloped districts of the country.
• This scheme has been implemented along with the central and state schemes. In its successful implementation, there is important cooperation of the ‘in-charge’ officers of the central, state level and district collectors.
• The competition between these districts is maintained through equated monthly delta rankings, so that they are eager to make it a success.
• The ranking of aspirational districts combines innovative use of data with practical governance, placing the district at the center of inclusive growth.
• As per the norms for planning of aspirational districts, each district should prepare an action plan in consultation with the State and Central officers in charge, after which it should be sent to NITI Aayog for final approval of the Empowered Committee of Secretaries constituted for the programme.

Parameters for Best Aspirational District
It envisages rapid development of selected districts on basis of composite index based on five parameters

• health and nutrition,
• education,
• financial inclusion and skill development,
• agriculture and water resources
• basic infrastructure

3. PHARMA SAHI DAAM 2.0 APP

THE CONTEXT: The Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, launched the Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 App and Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System 2.0 during the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
THE EXPLANATION:
Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 App
• Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 app will have updated features like speech recognition, Share button and bookmarking medicines. It also has a facility for launching complaints by consumers through the consumer complaint handling module. The app will be available in Hindi and English language in both iOS and Android versions.

IPDMS 2.0
• Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System 2.0 is an integrated responsive cloud based application developed by NPPA with technical support from Advanced Computing Center (C-DAC).
• It would provide a single window for submissions of various forms as mandated under Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), 2013.
• It will also enable paperless functioning of NPPAs and facilitate stakeholders to connect with the National Pharma Pricing Regulator from across the country.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
• NPPA is independent body under Department of Pharmaceuticals under Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. It was set up in 1997. Its mandate is to fix/revise controlled bulk drugs prices and formulations, enforce prices and availability of medicines under DPCO, 2013.
• NPPA fixes ceiling price of essential medicines of Schedule I under DPCO 2013. The calculation for essential drugs is based on simple average of all medicines in particular therapeutic segment with sales of more than 1%. In respect of medicines that are not under price control, manufacturers are allowed to increase the maximum retail price by 10% annually.

THE HEALTH ISSUES

4. ICMR STUDY ON SNAKEBITES

THE CONTEXT: To collect data on mortality, morbidity and socio-economic burden, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is conducting a first of its kind study on snakebite incidence in 14 states representing all geographical regions of the country. This study is based on a previous Sri Lankan study, which covered the entire island, surveying <1% of the total population
THE EXPLANATION:
• Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura have been included in this study.
• The main objective of this study is to generate realistic data on the incidence, mortality, morbidity and socio-economic burden of snakebites in the country to help decision makers in policy making to prevent and control snakebites in India.
• All snakebite cases occurring during the period of 18 months (April 2022 to October 2023) in the study district will be recorded. A total of 336 blocks in 31 districts with a total population of about 83.9 million will be covered in the study.
• This surveys are also important because geographically the greatest impact of snake bites occurs in tropical and sub-tropical regions, which are highest in India. Global estimates of snakebites range from 4.5 million to 5.4 million annually, of which an estimated 2 million are in India.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
• ICMR is the apex body to formulate, coordinate and promote biomedical research. It is one of the oldest and largest medical research bodies across the world. It is funded through the Department of Health Research of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

5. EXPLAINED: WHAT ARE ANTI-RADIATION PILLS, HOW WILL THEY HELP IN CASE OF A NUCLEAR EMERGENCY IN UKRAINE?

THE CONTEXT: Amid fears of a nuclear disaster at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia power plant growing, the European Union has decided to pre-emptively supply 5.5 million anti-radiation pills to be distributed among residents in the vicinity.
THE EXPLANATION:
What is a radiation emergency?
• These are unplanned or accidental events that create radio-nuclear hazard to humans and the environment. Such situations involve radiation exposure from a radioactive source and require prompt intervention to mitigate the threat. Dealing with such an emergency also involves the use of anti-radiation tablets.
What are anti-radiation pills?
• Potassium iodide (KI) tablets, or anti-radiation pills, are known to provide some protection in cases of radiation exposure. They contain non-radioactive iodine and can help block absorption, and subsequent concentration, of radioactive iodine in the thyroid gland.
How do these pills work?
• After a radiation leak, radioactive iodine floats through the air and then contaminates food, water and soil.
• While radioactive iodine deposited during external exposure can be removed using warm water and soap, according to the World Health Organisation, the bigger risk is inhaling it.
• “According to WHO “Internal exposure, or irradiation, occurs when radioactive iodine enters the body and accumulates in the thyroid gland”.
• The thyroid gland, which uses iodine to produce hormones to regulate the body’s metabolism, has no way of telling radioactive from non-radioactive iodine.
• Potassium iodide (KI) tablets rely on this to achieve ‘thyroid blocking’. KI pills taken a few hours before or soon after radiation exposure ensure that non-radioactive iodine in the medicine is absorbed quickly to make the thyroid “full”.
• “Because KI contains so much non-radioactive iodine, the thyroid becomes full and cannot absorb any more iodine – either stable or radioactive – for the next 24 hours,” says the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
• But KI pills are preventive only and cannot reverse any damage done by radiation to the thyroid gland. Once thyroid gland absorbs radioactive iodine, those exposed are at a high risk of developing thyroid cancer.
Is the method fool-proof?
• Anti-radiation pills do not provide 100% protection. “The effectiveness of KI also depends on how much radioactive iodine gets into the body and how quickly it is absorbed in the body”.
• Also, the pills are not meant for everybody. Experts recommended for people under 40 years of age. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also advised to take them. While it can protect the thyroid against radioactive iodine, it cannot protect other organs against radiation contamination.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

6. VEDIC PLANETARIUM : WORLD’S LARGEST RELIGIOUS MONUMENT

THE CONTEXT: The Vedic Planetarium Temple in Mayapur, West Bengal will soon become the world’s largest religious monument. Currently, the largest religious monument in the world is Angkor Wat, a huge Buddhist temple complex located in northern Cambodia.
THE EXPLANATION:
• The purpose behind the construction of this temple is to make people aware about the Vedic culture. The temple is based on the vision of Acharya Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, which would help in the spread of Vedic knowledge in the world.
• The temple is inspired by the design of the US Capitol building. Its construction is estimated to cost about $100 million. On each of its floors, the temple can seat 10,000 devotees and can pray, sing and dance together.
• There are many features of this temple, which make it unique. Its construction began over a decade ago and more than 20 million kilograms of cement has been used in the construction of the structure. In this, each floor will be one lakh square feet, which makes it even more beautiful and also the largest dome has been built in the temple.
• Special Blue Bolivian Marble has been used in the 380 feet high temple, which shows the influence of Western architecture in the temple.
Mayapur
• Mayapur is also known as the Land of the Golden Avatar, this site is about 140 km from Calcutta. An incarnation of Lord Krishna (incarnation of Lord Vishnu), Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born in this city in the year 1486. The main attraction of the city is Chandrodaya Mandir, the first temple established in the region by ISKCON. The Samadhi of Sri Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, is also located here.

THE DATA POINT