Daily News Analysis

01 st May 2024
Topics To be Covered:
✓ Labour Force in India
✓ Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific for CY24:
IMF
✓ Overcharging on Interest rates
✓ Growth in Jobs in FY23
✓ Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) 2023
✓ Eggshell Skull Principle
✓ India’s Project ISHAN
✓ Corporal Punishment
✓ Production of New Methane by Microbes
✓ Make EPI an ‘Essential Programme on Immunization’
 Topics
Labour Force in India
Subject: GS-02: Social Justice
Context:
International Labour Day, also known as May Day or Workers Day, is celebrated as a public holiday around
the world to celebrate the contributions of workers on the International Labour Day.
About Labour Force:
❖ The labour force, or currently active population, comprises all persons who fulfil the requirements for
inclusion among the employed (civilian employment plus the armed forces) or the unemployed.
❖ Labour force in India can be divided into organised and unorganised sectors. In the year 2017-18, the total
employment in both the sectors in the country was around 47 crores.
❖ Out of this, around 9 crores are engaged in the organized sector and 38 crores are in the unorganized
sector.
History:
❖ First Labour Day: It was celebrated on May 1, 1889 as the International Workers Day.
➢ The celebrations were declared by an international federation of trade unions and socialist groups to
commemorate the Haymarket Riot in Chicago.
➢ Protest for Eight-hour Workday: The riots are also known as the Haymarket Affair, which occurred
in 1886.
➢ The riot started as a peaceful march that demanded an eight-hour workday but later turned into a violent
clash between the protesters and the police forces.
Labour Day In India:
❖ First May Day: In India, the first May Day celebrations were organized on May 1st, 1923, in Chennai by the
Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan, led by M Singaravelu Chettiar.
❖ Linkage of Local Struggles to Global Global Labour Laws
Labor Movements: M Singaravelu
❖ Treaty of Versailles: It was the first international treaty
introduced May Day in India to link the
to mention the eight-hour workday, which in the
struggles of Indian workers with the
annexe of its thirteenth part established the International
broader global resistance of labor against
Labour Office, now the International Labour
severe exploitation and dehumanization.
Organization (ILO).
❖ Celebrating Workers' Contributions:
❖ Hours of Work (Industry) Convention in 1919: It limits
The day is celebrated to recognise and
the hours of work in industrial undertakings to eight in the
honour the significant contributions of
day and 48t in the week.
workers.
❖ Declaration of Philadelphia: On May 10 1944, the
Current Trend of Labour in India:
International Labour Conference adopted it.
❖ Dominance of Informal Sector: As per
❖ It represents the first International Declaration of
India Employment Report 2024,
rights with international vocation, fundamental
approximately 82 percent of the workforce
charter of reference for the ILO and for all the systems
works in the informal sector.
of labour law.
❖ Labour Force: Data from the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) show that in India, as of 2021, only
51.3 percent of the working age population (15-64) was part of the labor force.
❖ Workforce Statistics: In 2020, there were around 501 million workers in India, the second largest after China.
➢ Out of which, agriculture industry consist of 41.19%, industry sector consist of 26.18% and service
sector consist 32.33% of total labour force.
Constitutional Provision for Workers in India:
❖ Under the Constitution of India, Labour is a subject in the Concurrent List where both the Central &
State Governments are competent to enact legislation subject to certain matters being reserved for the
Centre.
Judicial Intervention:
❖ The Supreme Court in Randhir Singh vs Union Of India & Ors, 1982 held that Equal pay for equal work'
is not a mere demagogic slogan. It is a constitutional goal capable of attainment through constitutional
remedies by the enforcement of constitutional rights.
❖ Article 39 (d) of the Constitution proclaims, as a Directive Principle, the Constitutional goal of 'equal pay
for equal work for both men and women'.
❖ Articles 14 and 19 guarantee respectively the fundamental rights to equality before the law and equality
of opportunity in the matter of public employment
❖ Art. 32 provides the remedy for the enforcement of the fundamental rights.
Government Interventions:
❖ e-Sharm Portal: It aims to collect data of unorganized workers, including the migrant workers to
implement the Social Security Schemes
❖ PM-Shram Yogi Maan Dhan: It is a government scheme meant for old age protection and social security
of Unorganized Workers (UW).
❖ Atal Pension Yojana (APY): It is an old age income security scheme for a savings account holder in the
age group of 18-40 years who is not an income tax-payee, mainly targeted at the poor, the under-
privileged and workers in the unorganized sector.
❖ Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act: It aimed to ‘protect’
and ‘regulate’ street vending in cities.
Major Issues faced by Labour in India:
❖ Low Wage and Wage Disparities: Majority of workers earn a daily minimum wage of ₹176 or more which
is insufficient to meet their basic needs.
➢ The national wage floor, stagnant since 2017, lacks enforceability across states and leads to wage
payment discrepancies across ❖ Child Labour: According to the ILO, Child Labour
different states. refers to work that deprives children (any person under
➢ The non-statutory floor level minimum 18) of their childhood, their potential and their dignity,
wage remains a meagre ₹178 and that is harmful to their physical and/or mental
remaining constant for the last few development.
years. ❖ Bonded Labour: National Human Rights Commission of
❖ Lack of Job and Social Security: With the India defines bonded labour as a form of slavery known
majority of the workforce working in the as debt bondage, which has persisted for centuries where
informal sector, it is devoid of job security, labourers are compelled to work for extended periods
and legal protections. while receiving minimal compensation.
 ➢ There is a high prevalence of contract employment, which leaves workers vulnerable and uncertain.
➢ Only 1 million out of 63 million Indian enterprises and approximately 7.5% of 550 million labor force
contribute to monthly social security.
❖ Child Labour: As per the National Crime Bureau Report 2022, in 2021, around 982 cases were registered
under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, with the highest number of cases
registered in Telangana, followed by Assam.
➢ The figures saw a significant increase from 476 cases registered under the Act in 2020.
❖ Bonded Labour: The research study titled ‘Assessing Budgetary Priorities for the Rehabilitation of
Bonded Labour,’ underscores that the prevalence of bonded labour is a significant issue within the informal
sector of the Indian economy.
➢ The study highlights that approximately 10 per cent of India’s workforce falls under the classification
of bonded labour.
➢ Individuals trapped in bonded labour encounter challenges like prolonged working hours, coercion,
irregular or absent wages, indebtedness due to loans or social obligations, and limitations on mobility
between employers.
❖ Gender Discrimination: In the labor market, women workers experience harassment at work, unequal
compensation for equal work, and limited access to formal employment opportunities.
➢ A recent World Bank Group report found that women receive only 77 cents for every $1 paid to males,
underscoring the gender pay disparity.
❖ Migrant Worker Rights: Migrant laborers experience discrimination, exploitation, and limited access to
social services.
➢ They face problems like debt bondage, lack of legal protection, and inadequate housing.
❖ Workers’s Safety: Every year, India registers the death of hundreds of workers due to insignificant and
unreliable safety measures in factories and construction sites.
➢ According to government data, three workers die every day in Indian factories due to a lack of basic
safety measures.
❖ Execution Challenges: The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act
does not integrate well with the framework established by the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act for
urban governance.
➢ Schemes like the Smart Cities Mission mostly focus on infrastructure development and ignore the
provisions of the Act for the inclusion of street vendors in city planning.
Labour Reforms in India:
❖ About: The Ministry of Labour and Employment introduced four codes to consolidate 29 central laws
based on recommendations of Second National Commission on Labour (2002). These Codes regulate:
➢ Wages
➢ Industrial Relations
➢ Social Security
➢ Occupational Safety, Health and Working Condition
❖ Key Features of Labour Codes:
➢ The Code of Wages, 2019: It aims to bring uniformity in the implementation of legal policies
governing the payment of wages.
✓ It states that the minimum wage cannot be fixed below the National Wage Floor (NFW).
However, this code, which is binding on all states, is yet to be implemented.
❖ Code on Social Security in 2020: It sought to provide a statutory framework to enable social security for
the urban and rural poor, construction workers, gig and informal sector workers.
➢ It proposed the provision of life insurance, disability insurance, accident insurance, as well as
maternity and health-care benefits along with old-age protection and crèche facilities for gig
workers.
❖ Industrial Relations Code, 2020: It provides a broader framework to protect the rights of workers to make
unions, to reduce the friction between the employers, and workers and to provide regulations for settlement of
industrial disputes.
❖ Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, 2020: It emphasizes the health, safety, and
welfare of workers employed in various sectors.
Issues with the Current Labour Reform:
❖ Lack of Social Security to Informal Sector: The Code on Social Security in 2020 does not cover the contract
workers who shift from one occupation to another in search of their livelihood. Ex - Construction workers.
➢ There is no guaranteed fund allocation from employers in the informal sector. Moreover, it depends
on the size of the enterprise in terms of the number of workers.
❖ Occupational Safety Remains Unaddressed: Industrial safety continues to be a grave concern even after the
enactment of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code.
➢ IndustriAll reported that between May to June, 32 major industrial accidents occurred in India, killing
75 workers.
❖ No protection to Contractual Workers: Workers in the already comparatively small formal sector, jobs in
the formal sector are increasingly being casualised. Ex-Sanitation and waste workers in civic services.
➢ The manufacturing sector too now largely relies on contracted labor. Provision for permanent
employment and regularization, which existed in the subsumed Contract Labour Act of 1970 now do
not exist.
❖ Violation of Principles of ILO: The new codes violate leading principles and standards laid down by the
ILO.
➢ The codes have been passed without a tripartite consultation between workers, employers and
government representatives as recommended, and have attacked the powers of collective bargaining
by rendering all strikes illegal.
❖ Neglect of Sector-Specific Workers: The repeal of the Building and Other Construction Workers
(BOCW) Act 1996 points to the insensitivity to sector-specific problems.
➢ The repeal of sectoral laws has been accompanied by the repeal of 10 cesses that funded welfare schemes
for salt, mining, and beedi workers among others.
❖ Exclusion of Domestic Workers: The Occupational Safety Code excludes private households and thus all
provisions on safety, health, or working conditions would not be applicable to domestic workers.
➢ Domestic workers are also not specifically mentioned in the Code on Social Security.
➢ India has not ratified the ILO Domestic Workers Convention 189 convention aimed at safeguarding
domestic workers.
❖ Overlaps in Definition: Provisions have been made for separate boards for unorganized workers and
gig/platform workers in the Code on Social Security 2020.
➢ This tends to overlap since gig/platform workers are a subset of the broader category of 'unorganized
workers'.
 ➢ Stricter Provisions on Strikes: The Code on Industrial Relations (CIR), has made legal strikes nearly
impractical. Illegal strikes now entail significant penalties.
Way Forward:
❖ Decentralizing Street Vending Interventions: There is a strong need to decentralise interventions, enhance
the capacities of ULBs to plan for street vending in cities.
➢ There is a need to move away from high-handed department-led actions to actual deliberative processes
at the own Vending Committees (TVCs) level.
➢ As mandated by the Street Vendors Act, street vendor representatives must constitute 40% of TVC
members, with a sub-representation of 33% of women street vendors.
❖ Comprehensive National Legislation for Informal Workers: The trade unions demand it to preserve their
right to core labour principles.
➢ These include the right to collective bargaining, grievance redress and dispute settlement, fair
minimum wages and minimum guaranteed income, and minimum employment guarantees including in
urban areas.
➢ Their entitlement to social security including Employees' State Insurance (ESI) coverage and pensions
must be guaranteed through GST, state and Union budgets.
❖ Reinstating Sector-Specific Laws for Worker Protection: The sector specific laws which have been
subsumed must be reversed, so that workers can meet their sector-specific needs.
➢ Instead of attempting to "consolidate" existing labour legislation, efforts must be made to draft specific
legislation to cater to the needs of informal workers in specific sectors, such as home-based workers,
domestic workers, and those who work in the commons.
❖ Registration of Domestic Workers: This would help workers not only as proof of employment in the event
of any violations, but also as eligible beneficiaries for accessing related social security provisions.
➢ It is also important to clearly define the sector.
❖ Amendments in Definitions: Amendments need to be done in the area of definitions in the Code, especially
in terms of properly differentiating employees and workmen as well as recognizing and defining other classes
and sub-classes of labour.
➢ The definitions of unorganized sector needs to be modified such that it is more inclusive and has more
clarity.
❖ Utilizing Data From Labour Bureau: Trade unions could have utilized data on strikes and lockouts
published by the Labour Bureau, revealing that lockouts occur more frequently and result in more workdays
lost than strikes during the post-reform era.
➢ Such evidence could have questioned the necessity of introducing stricter provisions on strikes in the
Code of Industrial Relations.
News Source: Indian Express
Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and Pacific for CY24: IMF
Subject: GS: III: Economy
Context:
Recently, the IMF raised its Asia & Pacific growth forecast for 2024, highlighting India’s growth and China's
stimulus as key drivers.
Key Highlights of Forecast:
❖ The IMF raised Asia's economy to grow 4.5% this year, up 0.3 percentage points from six months earlier.
➢ Its forecast for 2025 remained unchanged at 4.3%.
❖ Inflation heterogeneity:
➢ Core inflation is largely expected to
remain contained
➢ Headline inflation may see further
reductions due to lower energy
prices in several economies in the
Asia and Pacific region,
✓ Food price pressures especially
for rice may slow headline
disinflation in India.
❖ On India: The IMF calls India “the
world’s fastest-growing major
economy,” where “public investment
remains an important driver.”
➢ India is currently the world’s fifth-
largest economy with GDP of $3.7
trillion and is aiming to become the
world’s third-largest by 2027.
➢ The IMF had earlier this month raised
India’s growth forecast for the
financial year 2024-25 to 6.8 percent
from 6.5 per cent earlier.
✓ Retained the growth forecast
for 2025-26 at 6.5 per cent.
➢ India and the Philippines have been
the source of repeated positive
growth surprises, supported by
resilient domestic demand
❖ Global disinflation and the prospect of
lower central bank interest rates have
made a soft landing, Therefore, risks to
the near-term outlook are now broadly
balanced.
❖ On China: Biggest risk for Asia’s
economy is an extended correction in
China’s property sector.
➢ Growth rate for China, the world’s
second-largest economy, is projected
to slow from 5.2 per cent in 2023 to
4.6 per cent this year and 4.1 per
cent in 2025.
Additional Reading: IMF
News Source: Live Mint
Overcharging on Interest rates
Subject: GS-03: Indian Economy
Context:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has identified cases where lenders have unfairly charged borrowers excess
interest. In response, it has instructed banks to refund these overcharges to affected customers.
More on the news:
❖ The RBI has also instructed banks and NBFCs via a circular to review their loan disbursal methods and how
they apply interest and other charges.
❖ This step is taken to rectify any unfair practices and ensure customers are treated fairly.
Reason for RBI’s Instruction to banks to Refund Excess Interest
❖ The RBI advises banks to refund borrowers for overcharging on interest due to unfair practices. These
unfair practices include:
➢ Early Interest Charges: Banks charged interest from loan sanction/agreement date, not the actual
disbursement date.
➢ Cheque Delays: Interest accrued from the cheque issuance date, even if the borrower received it later.
➢ Full Month Interest on Partial Month Loans: Interest was charged for the entire month, regardless of
the actual loan period.
➢ Advance Installment Miscalculation: Interest was based on the full loan amount, even when
installments were collected upfront.
❖ These practices resulted in borrowers being charged extra interest, prompting the RBI to enforce fair and
transparent interest applications.
RBI's Role in Regulating Interest Rates
Function Description
Monetary Policy Formulates policies to achieve stable prices and economic growth. This includes
Formulation setting key interest rates.
Setting Policy Rates Determines rates like the repo rate, which influences borrowing and lending
rates throughout the economy.
Open Market Operations Manages liquidity by buying and selling government securities. This influences
(OMOs) short-term interest rates.
Regulation of Bank Rates Oversees interest rates on deposits and loans offered by banks to ensure fairness
and transparency for borrowers and depositors.
Monitoring Inflation Closely monitors inflation trends and adjusts interest rates as needed to keep
prices stable.
What is RBI's Policy on Interest Rates?
❖ Fair Practices Code Guidelines:
➢ The RBI has been issuing guidelines on Fair Practices Code to banks and NBFCs since 2003.
➢ Objective: These guidelines aim to promote fairness and transparency in interest charging by lenders,
while also giving banks the freedom to set their own loan pricing policies.
❖ Non-Standard Interest Charging Practices:
➢ The RBI is concerned about non-standard practices in interest charging that do not align with fairness and
transparency.
✓ Such practices go against the principles of treating customers fairly.
❖ RBI's Response:
➢ The RBI takes these issues seriously and advises banks through its supervisory teams to refund excess
interest and charges to customers wherever such practices are found.
➢ Banks are also encouraged to use online account transfers instead of issuing cheques for loan disbursals
in some cases.
Communication of Interest Rate Changes to Borrowers by Banks
❖ Borrower Complaints: Many borrowers complain that banks do not adequately inform them about changes
in interest rates.
❖ Communication Requirement:
➢ According to regulations, banks are required to clearly communicate to borrowers at the time of loan
sanction about how changes in benchmark interest rates may affect their loan, leading to changes in EMI
(Equated Monthly Installments) and/or loan duration.
❖ Immediate Notification:
➢ Any increase in EMI or loan duration due to changes in interest rates should be promptly communicated
to the borrower through appropriate channels.
❖ Option for Fixed Rates:
➢ When interest rates reset, regulated entities (REs) should offer borrowers the option to switch to a fixed
interest rate as per the bank's policy approved by its Board.
➢ The policy may also outline how many times borrowers can switch during the loan term.
❖ Lack of Adherence:
➢ However, banking sources suggest that these regulations are not consistently followed by banks.
News Source: Indian Express
Growth in Jobs in FY23
Subject: GS: 03: Indian Economy
Context:
As per estimates being prepared by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the number of people in jobs grew nearly
5% to 580 million in the financial year 2022-23.
More on News:
❖ These growth numbers of jobs will form part of the RBI's KLEMS database, based on an analysis of the
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for the same period.
❖ According to the KLEMS database, (last year released), in the initial findings, the number of employed
people grew by about 30 million from 553 million in 2021-22.
❖ The KLEMS database of this year is expected to be released by the RBI in a couple of months.
About KLEMS & PLFS Data:
❖ Refers: KLEMS gives granular/detailed data on the inputs used in the production process and the output
generated by an economy, while PLFS data provides information on the size and composition of the labour
force, employment trends across different sectors and demographic groups, and unemployment rates.
➢ The PLFS data encompasses all sectors, covering a wide spectrum of employment types such as
organized, unorganized, self-employed, and agricultural workers.
➢ The KLEMS Data provides insights into five key inputs in production—capital (K), labour (L),
energy (E), materials (M) and services (S).
➢ KLEMS data follows the release of the PLFS data, which is usually published in October every year.
❖ Significance: Both sets of data are important for understanding different aspects of the economy and
formulating appropriate policies.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):
❖ Launched by: National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in 2017
❖ Objective: To estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators in:
➢ Short time interval of three months for the urban areas only in the ‘Current Weekly Status’ (CWS).
Both ‘Usual Status’ (ps+ss) and CWS in both rural and urban areas annually.
❖ The key employment and unemployment indicators are defined in periodic labour force survey, as:
➢ Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in the labour
force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.
➢ Worker Population Ratio (WPR): WPR is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the
population.
➢ Unemployment Rate (UR): UR is defined as the percentage of persons unemployed among the
persons in the labor force.
Crucial Insights on Estimates being prepared by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
❖ Better Growth: India has seen a growth of 110 million jobs over
the last 5 years, starting from 470 million in 2017-18.
❖ Sectors of Growth: As per KLEMS data for 2021-22, the highest
237 million jobs were created in agriculture and allied sectors,
followed by 68 million jobs in construction and 63 million in trade.
➢ The lowest 324,000 jobs were in industries involved in
manufacturing refined petroleum products.
➢ The plastics industry generated 1.32 million jobs.
❖ Reopening Post-Covid: The estimated increase of around 27 million
between the two years is a significant number. This increase is
significant because both the organized and unorganized sectors were
severely affected during the covid pandemic.
➢ This increase indicates that many activities have returned to
normal, especially in contact-intensive sectors, which began
reviving in 2022-23.
➢ These are not new job opportunities, but rather the reopening of
job opportunities that were closed during the pandemic.
Therefore, it cannot be considered as momentum. Instead, it
indicates that our economy is recovering from the covid year.
✓ Considering that the previous year was the covid year, during which employment was seriously
affected, leading to an increase in the unemployment rate to 9%, compared to our normal rate of 3%.
❖ Significant Decline: The figures reflecting returning jobs rather than new ones.
❖ According to the PLFS, the unemployment rate among female workers saw a decline from 5.6% in 2017-
18 to 2.9% in 2022-23.
➢ However, among the youth, including women, the unemployment rate has come down from 17.8%
in 2017-18 to 10% in 2022-23.
News Source: Livemint
Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) 2023
GS-03: Science and Technology
Context:
The Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) for 2023 compiled by ISRO System for Safe and
Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM) has been released.
Key Highlights of Report:
❖ Global Scenario:
➢ Trend of Space Object Population: It indicates a steady growth in the space object population, as
reflected by the maximum number of on-orbit payload deployments with the maximum number of
launches in 2023.
✓ This is indicative of better accessibility to space and the increasingly diverse applications of space
technology in day-to-day life.
✓ A total of 3143 objects originating from 212 launches and on-orbit break-up events were added to
the space object population in 2023 compared to 2533 objects from 179 launches in 2022.
➢ Need for Space Traffic Management (STM): Operating in an environment inhabited by a growing
population of active satellites requires STM.
✓ However, unlike air and marine traffic, no universally accepted framework for STM exists at
present, hence the resolution of an on-orbit close approach between two active satellites is carried
out on case-by-case by inter-operator coordination.
❖ Indian Scenario:
➢ Milestones in India's Satellite Launches: Since the beginning of the Indian space era, a total of 127
Indian satellites, including those from private operators/academic institutions, have been launched till
31st December 2023.
➢ Indian Deep Space Missions: In addition, three Indian deep space missions were also active by the
end of 2023, namely, Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter, Aditya-L1, and the Propulsion Module of
Chandrayaan-3.
➢ Re-entry of Indian Satellites: A total of 21 Indian satellites have re-entered the atmosphere till the end
of 2023. Ex- Megha-tropiques-1 underwent controlled re-entry through an immensely challenging
exercise.
➢ Rocket Bodies: A total of 82 rocket bodies from Indian launches were placed in orbit till 2023.
➢ Successful launces of ISRO: In the year 2023, all seven launches of ISRO were successful.
✓ These included SSLV-D2/EOS7, LVM3-M3/ONEWEB_II, PSLV-C55/ TeLEOS-2, GSLV-F12
NVS-01, LVM3-M4/ Chandrayaan-3, PSLV-C56/ DS-SAR, and PSLV-C57/Aditya L-1.
Space Object Proximity Analysis (SOPA) for Satellites:
❖ About: ISRO regularly carries out analyses
through IS4OM/ ISTRAC to predict close
approaches by other space objects to Indian
space assets.
❖ Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres (CAM): In
case of any critical close approach, CAM are
carried out to safeguard the operational
spacecraft.
❖ The number of close approach alerts received and the number of CAMs executed by ISRO was also the
highest to date.
Way Forward:
❖ For sustainable space activities, a holistic approach needs to be taken to catalyse the space sector growth.
❖ It must be recognised by all space actors that, unlike terrestrial activities, any activity in space has potentially
global and far-reaching implications, and near-Earth space is a finite resource that must be utilized
responsibly to harness it for societal benefits.
Additional reading: ISRO
News Source: ISRO
Eggshell Skull Principle
Subject: GS 02 Polity and Governance
Context:
The Supreme Court has rejected the application of the eggshell skull rule and restored compensation of Rs 5
lakhs awarded by the district consumer forum in a medical negligence case.
What is the ‘eggshell skull’ rule?
❖ It is a common law principle applied in civil litigation.
❖ Meaning: It is applied when the offender would be liable for all injuries that might be intensified due to the
pre-existing conditions of the injured person that the offender might be unaware of. The frailty of the person
cannot be used as a defense to escape liability.
➢ The rule is applied for claiming an enhanced compensation, for damage that is more than what could
have been usually anticipated to be caused by the defendant.
❖ Origin: In the case of Vosburg v. Putney (1890), the concept of eggshell skull rule was developed for the first
time
❖ Explained with an example: Imagine a person with an extremely thin skull, as fragile as an eggshell, even
though the person looks completely normal. This person is hit in the head by someone else unaware of the
delicate nature of the person's head. A normal person would have been a little injured , but the person with the
eggshell skull dies.
➢ As per the eggshell skull rule: The person who hit the eggshell skulled person will be responsible for
the extreme consequences the person has suffered and not just the amount of harm a normal person
would have suffered. It is often also called the thin skull rule.
The present Case:
❖ It was a case of medical negligence whereby a 2.5 cm
foreign body (needle) was left behind in the patient's
abdomen when she had her appendix removed in a
hospital in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district in 2005.
❖ The district consumer forum awarded Rs 5 lakhs to the
patient for medical negligence by the hospital.
❖ Appeal: The state consumer forum reduced the
compensation to Rs 1 lakh on an appeal by the hospital,
which was enhanced it to Rs 2 lakh by the National
Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC)
while applying the eggshell skull rule.
❖ The Supreme Court:
➢ It restored the district forum’s decision on compensation stating 2 reasons for enhancing the
compensation i.e. the patient had suffered pain for more than 5 years and the case took more than a decade
to be decided.
➢ Rejected the Eggshell Rule: It would not apply in this case because there is no pre-existing vulnerability
or medical condition, which got exacerbated by the negligence, because of which the victim may have
suffered unusual damage
Medical Negligence:
❖ It is simply the failure to exercise due care and occurs when a doctor fails to perform to the standards
of his or her profession. The three ingredients of negligence are as follows:
➢ The defendant owes a duty of care to the plaintiff.
➢ The defendant has breached this duty of care.
➢ The plaintiff has suffered an injury due to this breach.
❖ Is Medical Negligence covered under Consumer Protection Act: Yes in 1995, the Supreme Court brought
the medical profession under the Consumer Protection Act 1986 and medical treatments were labeled as
services.
❖ Rights available to a patient:
➢ Right to Information: Patients have the right to be told about their illness and have their medical
records explained and also about the treatment/medicines prescribed to them and should be made aware
of any risks and side effects.
➢ Right to privacy: Patients have the right to maintain confidentiality regarding their illness and can
expect the same from the doctors.
➢ Right to second opinion: Patients have the right to a second opinion if they are doubtful about the
medicines or treatment suggested
➢ Informed Consent: If he/she is unconscious or unable to make the decision due to other reasons,
informed consent needs to be taken from their nearest relatives.
Additional Reading: National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission i
News Source: The Indian Express
India’s Project ISHAN
Subject: GS: 03: Indian Economy
Context:
Recently, India has initiated the process of consolidating its four airspace regions (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata,
and Chennai) into a single entity spanning the entire nation.
More on News:
❖ The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has called for expressions of interest to prepare a detailed project
report for the Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management (ISHAN) initiative, centered in Nagpur.
❖ The move comes amidst a significant surge in aviation industry growth, with domestic passenger traffic
expected to double by 2030.
About Indian Single Sky Harmonized Air Traffic Management (ISHAN) Initiative:
❖ Aim: To refine and strengthen air traffic management (ATM).
❖ Significance: It will help to streamline operations, enhance capacity, and alleviate congestion, efficient
routing, and reduced flight times benefiting both airlines and passengers.
 ➢ A single continuum FIR
would yield a lot of benefits in
terms of safety, efficiency,
user satisfaction, reduced
carbon footprint and
optimum manpower
utilisation.
❖ Challenges Ahead: This project
will require uniform technology
implementation, changes in the
existing processes, retraining of
air traffic control officers and
policy formulation — all of which
will require time and investment.
❖ Need to do:
➢ Holistic Restructuring: To
have the most efficient
utilization of airspace in terms
of air traffic capacity, the
airspace route structure and
sector boundaries are required
to be restructured holistically
that will benefit all
stakeholders.
➢ Minimisation of Existing
Gaps: Surveillance and
communication gap areas
have to be minimised to reap
the benefits of the Single Sky Harmonized ATM, such as reduced separations (minimum distance that
aircraft must fly apart) and fuel-efficient flight paths.
➢ A Thorough Study: For the implementation of ISHAN, a thorough study of current and projected air
traffic growth, and the challenges related to the management of increased air traffic, would have to be
carried out.
Present Arrangements:
❖ Flight Information Regions (FIRs): Currently, Indian airspace is divided into four FIRs (Delhi, Mumbai,
Kolkata, and Chennai) and a sub-FIR, each managed separately.
➢ Unifying these FIRs under a single authority in Nagpur is projected to improve efficiency, safety, and
seamlessness in air traffic operations.
About Airports Authority of India (AAI):
❖ A Statutory Body: It is a statutory body under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil
Aviation.
❖ Establishment: It was constituted by an Act of Parliament and came into being on 1st April, 1995, by
merging the erstwhile National Airports Authority and the International Airports Authority of India.
 ❖ Mandate: It has responsibility for creating, upgrading, maintaining, and managing civil aviation
infrastructure both on the ground and air space in the country.
❖ Achievements: AAI's successful implementation of Automatic Dependence Surveillance System
(ADSS), using indigenous technology, at Calcutta and Chennai Air Traffic Control Centres, gave India the
distinction of being the first country to use this advanced technology in the South East Asian region.
News Source: WION
Corporal Punishment
Subject: GS: 04: Ethics
Context:
Recently, the Tamil Nadu School Education Department has issued Guidelines for the Elimination of Corporal
Punishment in Schools (GECP).
More on News:
❖ Emphasizing the need to treat children with care and respect, the Madras High Court has recently
deprecated the practice of imposing corporal punishment on children.
About Guidelines issued by Tamil Nadu:
❖ Safeguarding the mental well-being & Conducting Awareness: The GECP, jointly issued by the Director
of School Education and the Director of Elementary Education includes safeguarding the mental well-being
of students and conducting awareness camps to familiarise stakeholders with guidelines of the National
Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) for effective implementation.
❖ Take Proactive Steps: The Tamil Nadu School Education Department has instructed district-level officers
to ensure that all schools in their jurisdiction take proactive steps to create safe and nurturing
environments for students.
❖ Extending the focus beyond Eliminating Corporal Punishment: To address any form of harassment or
situations impacting students’ mental health and establish monitoring committees at each school
comprising school heads, parents, teachers and senior students to oversee the implementation of guidelines
and address any issues.
❖ Affirmative Actions: The Department also listed several affirmative actions against corporal
punishment, including addressing difficult situations, positive engagement with children, focus on help and
not punishment, rights of the teaching community and children, multidisciplinary intervention, life -skills
education, creating a positive environment and mechanisms for children’s voices.
About Corporal Punishment:
❖ Refers: According to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, corporal punishment includes physical
punishment, mental harassment and discrimination.
➢ There is no statutory definition of ‘corporal punishment’ targeting children in India.
➢ However, the RTE Act, 2009 prohibits ‘physical punishment’ and ‘mental harassment’ under Section
17(1) and makes it a punishable offence under Section 17(2).
❖ Classification: Corporal Punishment can be broadly classified into two types:
➢ Physical punishment: According to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR),
physical punishment is any action that causes pain, hurt/injury and discomfort to a child.
✓ Examples: Standing on bench, standing against the wall in a chair-like position, standing with school
bag on head, holding ears through legs, kneeling, forced ingestion of anything, detention in the
classroom, library, toilet, etc.
 ➢ Mental Harassment: It is any non-physical treatment that is detrimental to the academic and
psychological well-being of a child.
✓ Examples: It includes sarcasm, calling names and scolding using humiliating adjectives,
intimidation, using derogatory remarks for the child, ridiculing or belittling a child, shaming the
child, etc.
Regulations for Protection against Corporal Punishment:
❖ Constitutional Provisions:
➢ Article 21 A: Provision for compulsory education in the age group of 6-14.
➢ Article 24: It prohibits child labor in hazardous work until the age of 14.
➢ Article 39 (e): It is the duty of the state to ensure that children are not abused due to economic disparity.
➢ Article 45: It is the duty of the state to provide for the care of children in the age group of 0-6.
➢ Article 51A(k): It is the fundamental duty of parents to ensure that their child receives education for
the age group of 6 to 14.
❖ The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Guidelines:
➢ The NCPCR provides guidelines for eliminating corporal punishment.
➢ It includes promoting positive engagement with children and establishing Corporal Punishment
Monitoring Cells in every school to ensure compliance with anti-corporal punishment measures.
➢ Drop boxes are to be placed where the aggrieved person may drop his complaint and anonymity is to be
maintained to protect privacy.
❖ Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009:
➢ Section 17: It imposes an absolute bar on corporal punishment.
✓ It prescribes disciplinary action to be taken against the guilty person.
➢ Sections 8 and 9: It places a duty on the appropriate Government and the local authority to ensure that
the child belonging to weaker sections and the disadvantaged group are not discriminated against and
prevented from pursuing and completing elementary education on any grounds.
➢ Organisations to curb Corporal Punishment:
✓ National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and State Commissions for Protection of
Child Rights to ensure that the children are being treated in consonance with the RTE Act, 2009.
❖ Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000:
➢ Section 23: Cruelty to children is also prohibited.
✓ Any person who is in control of a juvenile and who abandons, assaults, exposes or wilfully neglects
the juvenile or procures him to be abandoned, assaulted, exposed or neglected which in turn causes
mental or physical pain to him/her shall be punished with imprisonment up to six months, or fine,
or with both.
➢ Section 75: It prescribes punishment for cruelty to children.
❖ United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child (UNCRC), 1989:
➢ Article 19: It declares that any form of discipline involving violence is unacceptable.
✓ It lays down that children have the right to be protected from being hurt and mistreated,
physically or mentally.
❖ Indian Penal Code:
➢ Section 305: It is pertaining to abetment of suicide committed by a child
➢ Section 323: It is pertaining to voluntarily causing hurt.
➢ Section 325: It is about voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
Concerns of Corporal Punishment:
❖ Violation to Fundamental Right: Corporal Punishment is anti-Constitutional as it violates the right to live
with dignity, an integral part of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
➢ It is also against the Right to Education, which is a fundamental right under Article 21A.
➢ It is against the Article 37 (a) of the UNCRC to which India is a signatory, says that no child should bear
any torture, cruelty, or inhuman punishment.
❖ Physical & Psychological Concerns: Corporal Punishment can cause physical injuries, anxiety, low self-
esteem, and other mental health issues.
❖ Violence: Corporal Punishment may normalize and perpetuate violence in society.
❖ Discrimination: Corporal Punishment may be applied disproportionately or discriminatorily based on factors
such as gender, race, or socioeconomic status.
❖ Impact on Education: Corporal Punishment can lead to higher school dropout rates and poor learning
outcomes due to the atmosphere of fear and intimidation it creates in classrooms.
❖ Scarred for Life: Corporal Punishment can mean long-term trauma for sensitive children and scar them for
life.
❖ Various Negative Outcomes: Such as behavioural problems, occurred irrespective of the child's sex, race, or
ethnicity and regardless of the overall teaching styles of the caregivers.
➢ The magnitude of negative outcomes for children increased with the frequency of physical punishment.
The physical punishment does not improve children's behaviour and instead makes it worse.
S. Jai Singh and Ors. vs State and Anr, 2018:
❖ This case relates to a student who died after he was made to do a "duck -walk" (a form of Corporal
punishment) for arriving late to school.
❖ The judiciary said that despite legislation against such forms of punishment, they are still practiced in
educational institutions across the nation.
❖ The judiciary said even animals are protected against cruelty, and our children surely cannot be worse off
than animals.
❖ The attitude of the Judiciary is also ambivalent towards the deep-rooted problem of Corporal punishment.
Thinkers on Corporal Punishments:
❖ Mahatma Gandhi: He opposed corporal punishment, advocated for nonviolent methods of discipline and
education.
❖ Rabindranath Tagore: He condemned corporal punishment, believed in nurturing individual creativity and
moral development through positive reinforcement.
❖ Maria Montessori: She advocated against corporal punishment, and promoted child-centered education
focused on nurturing independence and self-discipline.
❖ Jean-Jacques Rousseau: He opposed corporal punishment, believed in the natural goodness of children
and the importance of freedom in education.
❖ John Dewey: He criticized corporal punishment, and emphasized experiential learning and democratic
principles in education.
News Source: The Hindu
Production of New Methane by Microbes
Subject: GS: 03: Environment and Ecology
Context:
Recently, an intensive modeling study has found that microbes have been the biggest sources of methane in the
atmosphere, not the burning of fossil fuels.
More on News:
❖ Methane emissions from fossil fuels Need for Local Data:
declined between 1990 and the 2000s and
❖ Data Mismatch: This recent data is mismatched with
have been stable since, whereas microbes
two emissions inventories, called EDGAR and GAINS.
have been producing more methane.
➢ EDGAR: It had reported that methane emissions
❖ At the U.N. climate talks in 2021, member
from oil and natural gas exploration had increased
countries launched the ‘Global Methane
between 1990 and 2020.
Pledge’ to cut the gas’s emissions and slow
➢ GAINS: It had recorded a large “unconventional”
the planet’s warming.
rise in emissions since 2006.
Methane:
❖ Reason of Mismatch: One possible reason could be an
❖ A Greenhouse Gas: Methane is the second
increase in cattle-rearing in Latin America and more
most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse
emissions from waste in South and Southeast Asia,
gas after carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) but it
Latin America, and Africa. Also, the number of
warms the planet more.
wetlands worldwide had increased.
➢ Over a century, methane has a global
❖ Most studies which use satellites cannot measure the
warming potential 28-times greater
actual [changes over time] of methane. Satellite data is
than CO 2 , and even higher over
interpreted using models and thus are prone to
shorter periods like two decades.
uncertainties.
❖ Its Sources: Scientists are increasingly
recognising various sources of methane, most of which fit in two categories: biogenic and thermogenic.
➢ Thermogenic: When fossil fuels such as natural gas or oil are extracted from deep within the earth’s
crust, thermogenic methane is released.
➢ Biogenic: This methane comes from microbial action.
✓ Both biogenic and thermogenic activities produce different isotopes of methane. Tracking the
isotopes by carbon-13 is a way to track which sources are the most active.
▪ If there are fewer carbon-13 atoms than a certain level in a group of 1,000 methane molecules,
the methane is from a biological source.
▪ If the methane is from thermogenic sources, such as trapped fossil fuels or geological activities,
there will be more carbon-13 atoms in 1,000 molecules.
• Carbon-13 atoms of this carbon isotope have 13 nucleons: 6 protons + 7 neutrons
❖ Action Required: To reduce methane, anthropogenic activity should be first controlled.
➢ Anthropogenic activity includes waste and landfills, rice fields, enteric fermentation, oil and gas, and
coal.
About Methane producing Bacterias:
❖ Methanogens: The microbes that produce methane are archaea (single-celled microorganisms) distinct from
bacteria and eukaryotes and are called methanogens.
❖ Surviving Condition: They thrive in oxygen-deficient environments, such as the digestive tracts of animals,
wetlands, rice paddies, landfills, and the sediments of lakes and oceans.
❖ Significance: Methanogens play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle by converting organic matter into
methane.
➢ While methane is a potent greenhouse gas, its production by methanogens is an essential part of natural
ecosystems.
✓ But human activities like agriculture, dairy farming, and fossil fuel production have further increased
methane emissions.
Initiatives to Tackle Methane Emissions:
❖ Global:
➢ Methane Alert and Response System (MARS): To integrate data from a large number of existing and
future satellites that have the ability to detect methane emission events anywhere in the world, send out
notifications to the relevant stakeholders to act on it.
➢ Global Methane Pledge: It has its origin at the Glasgow climate conference (UNFCCC COP 26) in
2021, to cut methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 from the 2020 levels.
✓ India is not a part of the Global Methane Pledge.
➢ Global Methane Initiative (GMI): It is an international public-private partnership focused on
reducing barriers to the recovery and use of methane as a clean energy source.
❖ India:
➢ Harit Dhara (HD): By Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to cut down cattle methane
emissions by 17-20% and can also result in higher milk production.
➢ India Greenhouse Gas Program: It is led by WRI India (non-profit organization), Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is an industry -led voluntary
framework to measure and manage greenhouse gas emissions.
➢ National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): It was launched in 2008 to create awareness
among the representatives of the public, different agencies of the government, scientists, industry and
the communities on the threat posed by climate change and the steps to counter it.
➢ Bharat Stage-VI Norms: India shifted from Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI)
emission norms.
Read More About Methane
News Source: The Hindu
Make EPI an ‘Essential Programme on Immunization’
Subject: GS: 03: Polity and Governance
Context:
The year 2024 commemorates 50 years since the launch of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)
by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1974.
About Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI):
❖ Introduction: The EPI was introduced in 1974 as the eradication of smallpox virus was on the horizon, and
there was a need to leverage the then immunization infrastructure and a trained workforce to expand the benefit
of available vaccines.
➢ India launched the EPI in 1978, which was later renamed as the Universal Immunization
Programme (UIP) in 1985.
 About Immunization:
❖ It is the process whereby a person is made resistant to a disease, typically by the administration of a
vaccine.
Initiatives Related to Immunization:
❖ Global:
➢ Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030): An ambitious, overarching global vision and strategy for
vaccines and immunization for the decade 2021–2030.
➢ World Immunization Week: It is celebrated every year in the last week of April.
❖ India:
➢ Universal Immunization Programme (UIP): To provide free immunization against 12 vaccine-
preventable diseases.
➢ Mission Indradhanush (MI): It was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(MOHFW) in 2014 with an aim to vaccinate all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children under
UIP.
➢ Other Supporting Measures:
✓ Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) rollout.
✓ National Cold Chain Management Information System (NCCMIS).
❖ Significant Progress: Globally, and in India, there has been significant progress in terms of the impact of
immunisation and vaccines.
➢ Over the years, the vaccination coverage in India has increased, both nationally and State-wise.
➢ While in 1974, there were vaccines to prevent six diseases, now there are vaccines against 13 diseases
which are universally recommended and vaccines against 17 additional diseases are recommended for
a context-specific situation.
✓ 13 Universally Recommended vaccines are Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), diphtheria, pertussis,
tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), Hepatitis B (HepB), polio, measles, rubella,
pneumococcal disease (PNC), rotavirus (Rota), human papillomavirus (HPV), and COVID-19 (for
adults).
Significance & Achievement of Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI):
❖ On DPT: The children with three doses of DPT, a tracer indicator of coverage, has been rising over these
years.
➢ In the early 1970s, around 5% of children in low- and middle-income countries had received three doses
of DPT, which increased to 84% in 2022 at the global level.
❖ Eradication of Diseases: Smallpox has been eradicated, polio eliminated from all but two countries and many
vaccine preventable diseases have nearly disappeared.
❖ High Coverage: Since the launch of EPI, studies have shown that vaccines have saved millions of lives and
prevented billions of hospital visits and hospitalisations.
➢ In nearly all low- and middle-income countries, including India, the immunization programme remains
a success among all government initiatives, nearly always with far greater coverage than any other
health programme.
➢ In India, the coverage has increased every passing year and in 2019-21, 76% of children received the
recommended vaccines.
❖ Cost-effective: Economic analyses have estimated that vaccines are highly cost-effective interventions, with
every single dollar (or rupee) of expenditure on vaccination programmes ensuring a seven to 11 -fold return.
❖ Greater Utilisation: In mixed health systems with both the public and private sector delivering services,
immunization often remains the only health intervention with greater utilization from the government
sector.
➢ Example: In India, the share of the private sector in overall health services is nearly two thirds; however,
nearly 85% to 90% of all vaccines are delivered from government facilities.
❖ An Indicator: Experts often argue that the immunization coverage is a tracer indicator of the possible highest
coverage any government intervention can achieve in a given setting.
Evolution & Background of Vaccine Development:
❖ 1798: The first vaccine against smallpox in 1798.
❖ In Late Nineties: The first anti rabies vaccine, cholera, and typhoid vaccines developed between 1880s to mid
1890s were primarily for adults.
❖ 1897: The first vaccine ever developed in any part of the world against plague (in 1897) was from India.
❖ 1951: The BCG vaccine (against tuberculosis) was first introduced in a nationwide campaign in 1951.
❖ 2023: In late 2023, India launched a pilot initiative of adult BCG vaccination as part of efforts to ‘end TB’
from India. The COVID-19 vaccination of the adult population has made the public sensitized to the need
for and the benefits of adult vaccination.
❖ Availability for All-age Groups:
➢ Since 1798, vaccines have been available for individuals of all age groups, including adults.
➢ Vaccine against plague was meant for individuals across all age groups.
➢ BCG vaccine was also administered to the adult population.
➢ Influenza vaccines have always been administered to adults and children alike.
➢ Priority for Children:
✓ Considering that children are most vulnerable from vaccine-preventable diseases, they have rightly
been prioritised for vaccination.
✓ Also, a few decades ago, the supply of vaccines was limited, and the financial resources and trained
workforce that governments had were scarce. Thus, vaccines were aimed to be delivered to the
population groups which would benefit from them the most — children.
Rising Challenges:
❖ UNICEF Report: In early 2023, UNICEF's ‘The State of the World’s Children’ report revealed a
concerning trend- for the first time in more than a decade, the childhood immunisation coverage had
declined in 2021.
❖ Zero Dose: In 2022, globally, an estimated 14.3 million children were zero dose (did not receive any
recommended vaccine) while another 6.2 million children were partially immunised.
❖ Reasons: There are persisting inequities in coverage by geography, socio-economic strata and other
parameters, which demand urgent interventions.
Way Forward:
❖ Policy & Technical Discussions: There are some initial policy and technical discussions regarding expanding
immunisation coverage in additional populations.
❖ Expansion of Coverage: The Indian government needs to consider providing recommended vaccines for a
wider section of adults and elderly population.
➢ The recent announcement on HPV vaccines for teenage girls is a good start.
 ➢ The introduction of new vaccines in national programmes contributes to increased coverage of all existing
vaccines. Therefore, it is likely that expanding coverage of vaccines for adults and the elderly may
result in improved coverage with childhood vaccines and reduced vaccine inequities.
❖ Focus on Affordability: Considering that vaccines are highly cost effective, once recommended by the
National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), vaccines for all age groups should be made
available as free at the government facilities.
❖ Recommendations on the Vaccine Usage: The NTAGI in India, which provides recommendations on the use
of vaccines should start providing recommendations on the use of vaccines in adults and the elderly.
➢ It is crucial that once a vaccine is recommended by the government body, the coverage is likely to be far
greater than if the vaccines are not recommended by the government.
❖ Addressal to Vaccine Hesitancy: The prevailing myths and misconceptions about vaccines must be
proactively addressed to tackle vaccine hesitancy.
➢ The government must consider the help of professional communication agencies to dispel myths (and
in a layperson’s language and with the use of social media).
➢ This also requires citizens to learn and educate themselves about these vaccines from reliable sources.
❖ Increase Awareness: Various professional associations of doctors (community medicine experts, family
physicians and paediatricians) should work to increase awareness about vaccines among adults and the elderly.
➢ Physicians treating patients with any disease should use the opportunity to make them aware of vaccines.
❖ Evidence Generation: Medical colleges and research institutions should generate evidence on the burden of
diseases in the adult population in India.
❖ Focused Policies: It would be imperative that government policies now focus on the vaccination of adults and
the elderly, as is happening in many countries.
Conclusion:
India’s EPI has made major progress and it is arguably a time for another independent national level review of
the UIP in India, engaging key partners and international experts. This is a right opportunity to start a new
journey for another expansion of the programme with focus on zero dose children, addressing inequities in vaccine
coverage and offering vaccines to adults and the elderly in India. It is time to make EPI an ‘Essential Program
on Immunization’.
News Source: The Hindu
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