CSIR plans genome sequencing to map population diversity                                 

Profit Attribution to Permanent Establishment(PE) in India                                    

Suspension of LoC Trade between J&K and PoJK                                                  

Plea in SC on voting rights of undertrials and convicts                                           

Travelling abroad a basic right, says SC                                                                   

HIV used to fix ‘bubble boy’ disease                                                                          

Zinc deficiency rising in Indians                                                                               

CSIR plans genome sequencing to map population diversity

GS PAPER - 03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology.

Context :

• In an indigenous genetic mapping effort, nearly 1,000 rural youth from the length and breadth of India will have their genomes sequenced by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

• The project aims at educating a generation of students on the “usefulness” of genomics.

Genome Sequencing   project In india :

• Globally, many countries have undertaken genome sequencing of a sample of their citizens to determine unique genetic traits, susceptibility (and resilience) to disease.

• This is the first time that such a large sample of Indians will be recruited for a detailed study.

• The project is an adjunct to a much larger government-led programme, still in the works, to sequence at least 10,000 Indian genomes.

• Typically, those recruited as part of genome-sample collections are representative of the country’s population diversity. In this case, the bulk of them will be college students, both men and women, and pursuing degrees in the life sciences or biology.

• The project aims to reach out to a lot of collegians, educating them about genomics and putting a system in place that allows them to access information revealed by their genome.

Methodology :

• Genomes will be sequenced based on a blood sample and the scientists plan to hold at least 30 camps covering most States.

• Every person whose genomes are sequenced will be given a report.

•  The participants would be told if they carry gene variants that make them less responsive to certain classes of medicines. For instance, having a certain gene makes some people less responsive to clopidogrel, a key drug that prevents strokes and heart attack.

• The project would involve the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and cost ₹18 crore, with the sequencing to be done at the IGIB and the CCMB.

Need of Genome Sequencing :

• Ever since the human genome was first sequenced in 2003, it opened a fresh perspective on the link between disease and the unique genetic make-up of each individual.

• Nearly 10,000 diseases — including cystic fibrosis, thalassemia — are known to be the result of a single gene malfunctioning.

• While genes may render some insensitive to certain drugs, genome sequencing has shown that cancer too can be understood from the viewpoint of genetics, rather than being seen as a disease of certain organs.

                                                                                                                                                               Source :- The Hindu

Profit Attribution to Permanent Establishment(PE) in India

GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Context :

• BDT invites stakeholder comments on report pertaining to Profit Attribution to Permanent Establishment(PE) in India.

Background :

• Recognizing the significance of issues relating to attribution of profits to a permanent establishment as well as the need to bring greater clarity and predictability in the applicable tax regime, a Committee was formed to examine the existing scheme of profit attribution to PE under Article 7 of DTAAs and recommend changes in Rule 10 of the Income-tax Rules, 1962.

• The Committee has submitted its report and it has been decided to seek suggestions/comments of the stakeholders and the general public.

Permanent Establishment :

• A Permanent Establishment in India is a fixed place of business, wholly or partly carried out by a foreign enterprise operating in India.

• Such fixed place of business can be a branch office, a place of management, a factory, a warehouse, a workshop etc. However the definition of permanent establishment differs in each tax treaty.

• Permanent Establishment has acquired tremendous importance in recent times as it determines taxability of a foreign company in India.

• Usually, foreign companies get tax concession under Double Taxation Avoidance Treaties and they pay taxes in their home countries. But if they have Permanent Establishments in India, they should pay taxes for the income they have created in India. Thus PE makes a foreign companies’ Indian income taxable in India.

                                                                                                                                                                   Source :- PIB

Suspension of LoC Trade between J&K and PoJK

GS PAPER - 02 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - India and its neighborhood- relations.

Context :

• India suspended Line of Control (LoC) trade between Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir with effect from 19-04-2019 after receiving reports that the cross-LOC trade routes were being misused by Pakistan-based elements for funnelling illegal weapons, narcotics, fake currency etc..

Trade across LOC:

• LoC trade is meant to facilitate exchange of goods of common use between local populations across the LoC in Jammu & Kashmir.

• The trade is allowed through two Trade Facilitation Centres located at Salamabad, Uri, District Baramulla and Chakkan-da-Bagh, District Poonch.

• The trade takes place four days a week.

• The Trade is based on Barter system and zero duty basis.

Why LOC being suspended?

• Reports have been received that the LoC trade is being misused on very large scale.

• It has been revealed that the trade has changed its character to mostly third party trade and products from other regions, including foreign countries, are finding their way through this route.

• Unscrupulous and anti national elements are using the route as a conduit for Hawala money, drugs and weapons, under the garb of this trade.

• During the ongoing investigations of certain cases by NIA, it has been brought out that a significant number of trading concerns engaged in LoC trade are being operated by persons closely associated with banned terrorist organizations involved in fuelling terrorism/separatism.

• Investigations have further revealed that some individuals, who have crossed over to Pakistan, and joined militant organizations have opened trading firms in Pakistan. These trading firms are under the control of militant organizations and are engaged in LoC trade.

                                                                                                                                       Source :- PIB

Plea in SC on voting rights of undertrials and convicts

GS PAPER - 02 POLITY - Salient features of the Representation of People's Act.

Context :

• The Supreme Court is hearing a plea filed by a law student questioning an electoral law which denies undertrials and convicts their right to vote.

Provision under Representation of People Act:

• Section 62(5) of the Representation of People Act of 1951 mandates that “no person shall vote at any election if he is confined in a prison, whether under a sentence of imprisonment or transportation or otherwise, or is in the lawful custody of the police.

• The provisions however exempt a person held under preventive detention from this rigour.

SC verdict:

• In Anukul Chandra Pradhan vs Union of India, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the provisions of section 62(5) of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 on two grounds;

  • firstly that Article 14 does not affect it, and

  • secondly the Court observed that the right to vote is subject to the limitations imposed by the statute which can be exercised only in the manner provided by the statute prescribing the nature of the rights to elect cannot be made with reference to fundamental rights in the Constitution.

• The denial of voting rights to prisoners is meant to prevent breach of law but persons in jail after conviction or during investigation and trial subsequent to the commission of crimes should be put on different footing, such distinction not being sufficient by itself. A person, who is under trial, may be found innocent.

• The concept of restriction on voting right evolved as it could have violated the fundamental rights of others but there is no reasonable explanation one can give for such restriction being imposed on the under trials.

Petitioner Contention :

• The petition, represented by advocate Zoheb Hossain, highlights how the Section sees both an undertrial and a convicted person equally.

• The former’s guilt is yet to be proved in a court. A person is innocent until proven guilty by law.

• Despite this, it denies an undertrial the right to vote but allows a detainee the same.

• However, a person out on bail is allowed to cast his vote.

• The petitioner points out that the wording of the section uses “confinement” as the yardstick thereby creating several anomalies.

• In addition to convicts who have been sentenced to a particular period of imprisonment, even under-trials, whose innocence or guilt has not been conclusively determined, are deprived of their right to vote, as they too are confined in prison, although they have not been sentenced to imprisonment.

• A convict who has been imprisoned as part of her sentence can still cast her vote if she is released on bail. This is because such a person is not per se confined in prison

• The plea argued that the provision violates the rights to equality, vote (Article 326) and is arbitrary. It is not a reasonable restriction.

• The petitioner has also raised violation of Article 326 of the Constitution submitting that right to vote is a Constitutional right under Article 326 of the Constitution, as was held by the Supreme Court in People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) v Union of India and Rajbala v State of Haryana

• The provision operates in the nature of a blanket ban, as it lacks any kind of reasonable classification based on the nature of the crime committed or the duration of the sentence imposed. This lack of classification is anathema to the fundamental right to equality under Article 14, the petition contends.

• It is the petitioner’s submission that any curtailment of such a right must be based upon permissible restrictions found within the Constitution itself, and in the absence of any such restrictions, the curtailment in question is ultra vires the Constitution.

                                                                                                                          Source :- The Hindu

Travelling abroad a basic right, says SC

GS PAPER - 02 POLITY - Indian Constitution- historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.

Context :

• Recently, the Supreme Court has ruled that the right to travel abroad is an important basic human right while permitting an IPS Officer who was denied permission to go abroad as he is facing departmental proceedings.

SC Verdict :

• SC observed that the pendency of departmental proceedings cannot be a ground to prevent the officer from traveling abroad.

• SC was hearing an appeal against the Government of India’s denial of permission due to lack of vigilance clearance.

• The decision of the government of India was upheld by Central Administrative Tribunal and High court.

• The bench, while disposing of the appeal, referred to the judgment in Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, and observed that:

  • The right to travel abroad is an important basic human right for it nourishes independent and self-determining creative character of the individual, not only by extending his freedoms of action but also by extending the scope of his experience.

  • Supreme Court also referred to a judgment of US Supreme court in Kent v. Dulles which said that “Freedom to go abroad has much social value and represents the basic human right of great significance.”

                                                                                                                                    Source :- The Hindu

HIV used to fix ‘bubble boy’ disease

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context :

• US scientists say they used HIV to make a gene therapy that cured eight infants of severe combined immunodeficiency, or “bubble boy” disease.

• Eight babies with “bubble boy disease” have had it fixed by a gene therapy made from one of the immune system’s worst enemies HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

• A study published by the New England Journal of Medicine details how scientists turned this enemy virus into a saviour, altering it so it couldn’t cause disease and then using it to deliver a gene the boys lacked.

Bubble Boy Disease :

• Severe combined immunodeficiency, SCID, is also known as alymphocytosis, Glanzmann–Riniker syndrome, severe mixed immunodeficiency syndrome, and thymic alymphoplasia.

• It is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the disturbed development of functional T cells and B cells caused by numerous genetic mutations that result in differing clinical presentations.

• SCID is caused by a genetic flaw that keeps the bone marrow from making effective versions of blood cells that comprise the immune system. It affects 1 in 2,00,000 newborns, almost exclusively males.

• It is also known as the bubble boy disease and bubble baby disease because its victims are extremely vulnerable to infectious diseases. The name comes from a famous case in the 1970s a Texas boy who lived for 12 years in a protective plastic bubble to isolate him from germs.

• SCID patients are usually affected by severe bacterial, viral, or fungal infections early in life and often present with interstitial lung disease, chronic diarrhoea, and failure to thrive.

• These babies, if untreated, usually die within one year due to severe, recurrent infections.

                                                                                                                              Source :- The Hindu

World Heritage Day 2019

GS PAPER - 01 ART AND CULTURE - Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Context :

• The International Day for Monuments and Sites also known as World Heritage Day is an international observance held on 18 April each year around the world with different types of activities, including visits to monuments and heritage sites, conferences, round tables and newspaper articles.

World Heritage Day :

• World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18 April to preserve the human heritage and to recognise all the efforts of relevant organizations.

• The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982 had decided to celebrate April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites or World Heritage Day.

• The objective of World Heritage Day is to raise awareness about monuments and other sites which form a part of our history and culture.

Theme :

• “Rural Landscapes” which is related to the theme of the 2019 ICOMOS Scientific Symposium on Rural heritage that will take place in Marrakesh, Morocco in October.

• ICOMOS defines rural landscape as terrestrial and aquatic areas co-produced by human-nature interaction used for the production of food and other renewable natural resources.

• Rural landscape has been a site of both tangible and intangible heritage and has also helped in maintaining a balance between the environment and human activities.

                                                                                                                                                         Source :- Indian Express

Zinc deficiency rising in Indians

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context :

• A recent research has found out that rising carbon dioxide levels can accelerate zinc deficiency in crops which can lead to deficiency in human consumption.

Key Highlights :

• The study states that inadequate zinc intake has been rising in India for decades which has led to millions of people becoming newly deficient in Zinc.

• The highest rate of inadequate zinc intake was concentrated mainly in the southern and north-eastern States with rice-dominated diets like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya.

• Zinc is found in a range of foodstuffs including liver, eggs, nuts, cereals and seafood.

• The absence of zinc is associated with a number of conditions including, short stature, anemia, impaired healing of wounds, poor gonadal function and impaired cognitive and motor function.

• The most important effect of zinc deficiency is its impact on young children, who are more susceptible to contracting malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and pneumonia when suffering from zinc deficiency.

• The presence of zinc plays a critical role in human immune systems.

                                                                                                                                                       Source :- The Hindu

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------