GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

The alarming rise in suicides among young people, particularly related to the stress of competitive examinations, necessitates urgent attention to their mental health and well-being. The prevalent coaching culture and examination-centric approach need reevaluation to prioritize the holistic development of youth.

Challenges Faced by Young People:

• Pressure of Competitive Examinations: The stress of entrance examinations, compounded by societal expectations and family pressures, is leading to a concerning trend of suicides among young individuals.
• Impact of Coaching Institutes: The proliferation of coaching institutes, with their intense and often unhealthy study regimens, is depriving students of a balanced upbringing and essential social skills.
• Deteriorating Quality of Education: The focus on exam scores over holistic development is reflected in the declining quality of students entering higher education, as observed in the case of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and other competitive exams.

Policy Recommendations and Solutions:

• Strengthening School Education: Government schools should be enhanced with better infrastructure and qualified teachers to provide quality education, ensuring a strong foundation for students.
• Importance of Personal Interviews: Entrance examinations should include a personal interview component to assess students' individual talents and abilities beyond academic scores, promoting a more holistic evaluation.
• Reevaluation of Examination Systems: Boards should reconsider the weightage given to standardized tests like CUET, JEE, or NEET, and focus on a more balanced evaluation system that values personal growth and development.

Upsc Mains Questions:

• Discuss the challenges faced by young people in India, particularly concerning the pressure of competitive examinations. Suggest measures to address these challenges.

The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) has extended the deferral of the National Human Rights Commission of India's (NHRC) status for another year, raising concerns about India's adherence to international human rights standards and the NHRC's effectiveness.

Challenges Faced by NHRC:

• Continued Deferral: Despite efforts to lift the deferral, the NHRC's status remains deferred by the GANHRI, indicating persistent doubts about India's compliance with the Paris Principles.
• Allegations of Government Influence: The NHRC's credibility is questioned due to concerns about government influence, highlighted by controversial appointments and ongoing vacancies within the commission.
• Impact of NHRC's Brochure: The NHRC's brochure, 'Human Rights 75', raised eyebrows for its mention of the Manusmriti, a text associated with discrimination, raising questions about the commission's approach to human rights principles.

Concerns Over NHRC’s Approach to Human Rights:

• Reference to Manusmriti: The NHRC’s reference to the Manusmriti in its brochure ‘Human Rights 75’ has raised eyebrows, as the text is seen as a source of discrimination and violence by many historically disadvantaged Indians.
• Need for Clarification: The mention of the Manusmriti calls for clarification from Justice Mishra, as it seems to conflict with the foundational values of the Indian Constitution.
• Adherence to Paris Principles: The GANHRI’s decision is believed to be influenced by doubts about India’s adherence to the Paris Principles, which provide international benchmarks for National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs).

The Need for Introspection and Action:

• Peer-Reviewed Evaluation: The GANHRI’s evaluation process is peer-reviewed, making it difficult for the government to dismiss any criticism of the human rights situation in India.
• Government’s Attitude: Doubts arise about the government’s attitude towards the NHRC due to the nature of appointments to it and the continuing vacancies in the body.
• NHRC’s Responsibility: The NHRC itself has a lot to introspect about, particularly in terms of its approach to human rights and its efforts to lift the deferral of its status.

UPSC Mains Questions:

Discuss the implications of the continuing deferral of the NHRC’s status by the GANHRI. How does it reflect on India’s commitment to human rights?

While pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) remains the most common form, extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) presents unique challenges due to its varied manifestations and diagnostic complexities. Addressing EPTB is crucial for comprehensive TB control and effective treatment.

EPTB Overview:

• Hidden Burden: Approximately 20% of TB infections are extra-pulmonary, affecting organs like lymph nodes, brain, gut, eyes, etc., with potential long-term complications due to organ damage.
• Underestimation: EPTB is often undetected or misdiagnosed due to its atypical presentation, leading to a significant underestimation of its prevalence, especially in countries like India with a high TB burden.
• Diagnostic Challenges: Lack of accurate diagnostic tools and awareness among physicians contribute to delayed diagnosis and inappropriate treatment of EPTB cases.

 Challenges in Tackling EPTB:

• Lack of Awareness: There is a lack of awareness about EPTB, even among physicians, and a lack of accurate diagnostic and treatment criteria.
• Data Practices: Specialist departments for each organ, which are the primary centres for EPTB management, have diverse data practices that do not contribute to aggregate numbers for EPTB prevalence.
• Need for Guidelines: The guidelines and practice points for EPTB management, formulated by a group of experts in 2014, have remained dormant and need to be updated with the latest data and experience.

The Need for Research and Action:

• Research Priority: Key aspects of EPTB, including the mechanisms of infection spread and the TB bacterium’s interactions with our organs, remain under-explored and require active research.
• Updating Guidelines: The INDEX-TB guidelines, formulated over a decade ago, need to be updated with the latest data and experience, and should benefit from inputs from a variety of specialized areas of healthcare.
• Bringing EPTB Out of the Shadows: With nearly one in five TB patients having EPTB, it is time to bring EPTB out of the shadows and ensure that those diagnosed can benefit from care.

Recommendations:

• Improved Diagnosis: Developing diagnostic protocols specific to each organ affected by EPTB and updating existing guidelines like INDEX-TB to incorporate multidisciplinary inputs can enhance diagnosis and treatment.
• Data Sharing and Collaboration: Enhancing collaboration between TB departments and specialist organ-specific departments can improve data sharing and patient management, leading to better outcomes.
• Research and Development: Investing in research to understand the immune mechanisms underlying EPTB infection and its persistence can guide the development of targeted therapies and improve patient care.

UPSC Mains Questions:

Discuss the public health challenge of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in India. What are the factors contributing to its underestimation and what measures can be taken to address this?

While the risk of artificial intelligence (AI) influencing elections may not be immediately apparent, its subtle impacts on democracy raise concerns among experts and policymakers. The complexity of AI-driven disinformation demands a shift in focus from traditional detection methods to more nuanced approaches.

The Disruption of AI in Elections:

• Underestimated Impact: Despite the absence of obvious AI-driven disinformation, the potential influence of AI in elections cannot be dismissed, as its effects may be subtle and difficult to detect.
• Evolving Tactics: Unlike traditional disinformation campaigns, AI-generated content is characterized by variations and nuances, making it challenging to identify and combat effectively.
• Focus on Text-Based Disinformation: While deepfakes and manipulated images garner attention, textual manipulation facilitated by AI tools poses a significant threat, allowing for mass-scale dissemination of misleading information.

The Role of Tech Firms and Policies:

• Need for Proactive Measures: Tech companies like Meta need to adopt proactive measures to counter AI-led disinformation, focusing on detection and prevention rather than relying solely on reactive measures.
• Strengthening Content Policies: Implementing clearer and more stringent content policies, particularly on platforms like WhatsApp, can help mitigate the spread of AI-generated disinformation.
• Regulation and Enforcement: Policymakers should explore regulatory frameworks that hold tech companies accountable for monitoring and regulating AI-driven content, ensuring transparency and accountability in their actions.

Challenges and Future Strategies:

• Detecting AI-Driven Disinformation: Developing advanced AI-based detection systems capable of identifying subtle variations in content is crucial for combating AI-led disinformation effectively.
• Balancing Freedom of Speech and Regulation: Striking a balance between preserving freedom of speech and regulating harmful content is essential to prevent the misuse of AI in influencing democratic processes.
• Collaborative Efforts: International collaboration among governments, tech companies, and civil society organizations is necessary to address the global challenge of AI-driven disinformation and safeguard democratic values.

UPSC Mains Questions:

Discuss the potential impact of artificial intelligence on democratic processes, highlighting the challenges in detecting and combating AI-driven disinformation.