GS Analyst
Daily Current Affairs

The Law Commission of India in its 279^th report on sedition has underlined more stringent sentence for sedition and effective procedural safeguard before any enquiry.

• In August 2018, the Law Commission of India recommended that it is time to re-think or repeal the Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code that deals with sedition.

Highlights of the report:

• The Law Commission has analysed that sedition being a ‘colonial legacy’is not a valid ground for law repeal but in view of the misuse of Section 124A.
• The panel has recommended that the Centre should issue model guidelinesto curb any misuse.
• They also suggested that a provision analogous to Section 196(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973may be incorporated as a proviso to Section 154 of CrPC, which would provide the requisite procedural safeguard before filing of an FIR with respect to an offence under Section 124A of IPC.
• They also mentioned that in absence of a provision like Section 124A of IPC, any expression that incites violence against the governmentwould invariably be tried under the special laws and counter-terror legislation, which contain much more stringent provisions to deal with the accused.

Key Points:

• The Law Commission, in its 279th report has recommended amending Section 124A.
• It stated that, “the allegations of misuse do not warrant a repeal of Indian Penal Code Section 124A which criminalises sedition.”
• Term of sentence:
• They suggested to qualify that the law penalise only those “with a tendency to incite violence or cause public disorder,” and proposed enhancing the jail term up to seven years or life imprisonment.
• Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure:
• The report also recommended adding a procedural safeguard as a proviso to Section 124A to state that no FIR shall be registered for sedition “unless a police officer, not below the rank of Inspector, conducts a preliminary inquiry and on the basis of the report made by the said police officer the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, grants permission for registering a First Information Report.

Type of Offence:

• It is a non-bailable offence. Punishment under Section 124A ranges from imprisonment up to three years to a life term, to which a fine may be added.
• A person charged under this law is barred from a government job.

Way forward:

• Political democracy must be maintained: The dissent and criticism of the government are essential ingredients of robust public debate in a vibrant democracy. They should not be constructed as sedition.
• Involvement of Judiciary: The higher judiciary should use its supervisory powers to sensitize the magistracy and police to the constitutional provisions protecting free speech.
• Changing the nature and scope: The definition of sedition should be narrowed down, to include only the issues pertaining to the territorial integrity of India as well as the sovereignty of the country.
• Spreading awareness: Civil society must take the lead to raise awareness about the arbitrary use of Sedition law.

The Drug controller of India is investigating a Gujarat-based pharmaceutical company after receiving complaints from Sri Lanka that a steroid eye drop manufactured by the firm has been linked to adverse events including loss of eye sight.

• The prednisolone eye drop was administered to patients in Sri Lanka reportedly after undergoing cataract Surgery.
• The eye drop has been linked to eye infection in more than 30 people in Sri Lanka.
• In India too, there were 68 cases of the infection reported from 16 states, leading to at least three deaths, eight cases of vision loss, and four cases of removal of eyeballs.

Investigations involved:

• The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) has issued a notice to the company seeking details of the importer, those who the drug has been supplied to, and manufacturing licence and product permission.
• It was also advised to the company to investigate the reasons for contamination of the alleged product at your end and update with their findings at the earliest to take necessary action.
• Till the submission of the enquiry report by the company, it is not allowed to export drug without a Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) from Pharmexcil.

Drug regulations in India:

• Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO):
  • It is the Central Drug Authority for discharging functions assigned to the Central Government under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940.
  • It works under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) of India.
  • Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, CDSCO is responsible for –
    • Approval of Drugs.
    • Conduct Clinical Trials.
    • Laying down the standards for Drugs.
    • Control over the quality of imported Drugs in the country.
    • Coordination of the activities of State Drug Control Organizations.
  • Further CDSCO along with state regulators, is jointly responsible for the grant of licences to certain specialised categories of critical Drugs such as vaccines and sera, etc.

Role of Drug Controller of India:

• DCGI is the head of the department of the CDSCO of the Government of India responsible for approval of licences of specified categories of drugs such as blood and blood products, IV fluids, vaccines and sera in India.
• DCGI also sets standards for the manufacturing, sales, import, and distribution of drugs in India.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the draft Master Directions on Cyber Resilience and Digital Payment Security Controls for Payment System Operators (PSOs).

• Objective:
  • To ensure that the authorised non-bank Payment System Operators (PSOs) is resilient to traditional and emerging information systems and cyber security risks.
• Key points of the draft:
  • The draft covers governance mechanism for identification, assessment, monitoring and management of Cybersecurity risks including information security risks and vulnerabilities, and specifies baseline security measures for ensuring safe and secure digital payment transactions.
  • The Directions will also cover baseline security measures for ensuring system resiliency as well as safe and secure digital payment transactions.
  • RBI has asked PSOs to effectively identify, monitor, control and manage cyber and technology related risks arising out of linkages of PSOs with unregulated entities who are part of their digital payments ecosystem (like payment gateways, third-party service providers, vendors, merchants, etc.).
  • PSOs shall ensure adherence to these Directions by such unregulated entities as well, subject to mutual agreement.
  • An organizational policy in this respect, approved by the Board, shall be put in place.
• However, there is no change in the existing instructions on security and risk mitigation measures for payments done using cards, Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) and mobile banking continue to be applicable as such.

Who are Payment system operators (PSOs)?

• PSOs in India include Clearing Corporation of India, National Payments Corporation of India, Cards Payment Networks, Cross border Money Transfer, ATM networks, Prepaid Payment Instruments, White Label ATM Operators, Instant Money Transfer, and Trade Receivables Discounting System, Bharat Bill Payment System.
• The PSOs usually focus on:
  • Ensuring good governance and prudent risk management
  • Maintaining robust IT infrastructure with cyber resilience
  • Putting in place responsive grievance redress mechanism.

As per the visit conducted recently, in Dharangwala village in Fazilka district in Punjab where labourers and children who are directly exposed to polluted canal water are facing Cancer cases, mystery illnesses and dental problems.

• The reason behind this situation seems to be Industry effluents and municipal water polluting water sources and air pollution in the region.
• A verbal survey following an application in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) revealed that around 40 children in the village of 450 households have intellectual disabilities.

What is water contamination?

• Pollution is mainly caused due to human activities, whereas contamination can be human induced or occur naturally in the environment.
• The extent of damage is usually higher in pollution compared to contamination because pollutants can disturb the balance of the ecosystem on a broader scale compared to contaminants.
• Pollution usually impacts the larger environment, while contamination may occur on a limited scale or within a particular substance or body and can be easily mitigated.
• There are two categories of water pollution:
  • Point source pollution - occurs when harmful substances enter directly into the water from a source.
  • Non-point source pollution- occurs when pollutants enter indirectly through transport or environment.

Major Effluents contaminating water bodies in India:

Water sources can get polluted because of a range of harmful contaminants. The common contaminants occurring in drinking water can be classified into:

• Inorganic contaminants: includes metals such as fluoride, arsenic, lead, copper, chromium, mercury, antimony, cyanide that can get into drinking water (surface as well as groundwater) from natural sources, industrial processes, as well as from plumbing systems.
• Organic contaminants: includes pesticides, untreated domestic and industrial wastes that can get into rivers, lakes, ponds and even groundwater.
  • Contamination through organic materials can cause serious health problems like cancers, hormonal disruptions, and nervous system disorders.
• Biological contaminants: includes the presence of living organisms, such as algae, bacteria, protozoa or viruses in the water. Each of these can lead to a range of health problems among humans.
• Radiological contaminants: includes radioactive materials that are found naturally in the soil or rocks or generated through industrial wastes that can get mixed with drinking water (surface water as well as groundwater) at the source.

What are the health impacts of contaminated drinking water?

• Inorganic pollutants in water can be extremely harmful and lead to a range of chronic and fatal health problems ranging from poisoning to organ damage and cancers.
• For example, high levels of arsenic, lead, asbestos, cyanide, copper etc. in water can be extremely harmful to health and can lead to problems like dental and skeletal fluorosis in case of excessive levels of fluoride, arsenicosis due to high levels of arsenic and endocrine disruptions and neurological damage due to presence of excessive amounts of mercury.
• Organic and radiological contaminants can also lead to a range of dangerous health impacts on the body such as cancers, liver and kidney damage, reproductive and endocrine disorders, birth defects etc.

The United Nations (UN) has recommended a new treaty for ensuring peace and security as well as preventing an arms race in outer space.

• Currently, there is no agreed international framework on space resource exploration, exploitation & utilisation.
• The treaty has also recommended a combination of ‘binding and non-binding norms’ to address emerging risks to outer space security, safety and sustainability.
• The recommendations come ahead of the UN Summit of the Future, which will be held on September 22-23, 2024, in New York.
• Objective:
• In the view of conflict which could arise if countries do not agree on international principles on activities in the exploration, exploitation and utilisation of space resources.
• It could also lead to environmental degradation and cultural loss.

Key provisions of the treaty:

• The UN recommended an effective framework for coordinating space situational awareness, space object manoeuvres and space objects and events. 
• They also urged member states to develop norms and principles for space debris removal that consider the legal and scientific aspects of space debris removal. 
• As for space resource activities, they propose an effective framework for sustainable exploration, exploitation and utilisation of the Moon and other celestial bodies.

Problems to be addressed:

• Issues of Space debris:
  • More than 24,000 objects which are 10 centimetres or larger, about one million smaller than 10 cm and likely more than 130 million smaller than one cm have been recorded.
• Increase in Number of satellites:
  • The number of satellite launches has shot up exponentially in the past decade after it stayed consistent from 1957-2012.
  • In 2013, there were 210 new launches, which increased to 600 in 2019, and 1,200 in 2020 and 2,470 in 2022.
• Increased involvement of countries:
  • Due to the increased involvement of private sector in counties like the United States, China, India and Japan can develop a situation of conflict in future space.

Existing treaties:

• In 1959, the United Nations established the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to review and enable international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
• In 1963, countries agreed to prohibit testing nuclear weapons in outer space; in 1977, the prohibition of altering the space environment as a weapon was agreed upon.
• More recently, member states have set up a series of guidelines, frameworks and recommendations on issues such as mitigation of space debris, nuclear power source safety, the long-term sustainability of outer space activities and transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space activities.