Top News Highlights- 16 October 2024

Strengthening of Right to Health in India

• Delhi High Court reinforced the Right to Health as an integral part of the Right to Life under Article 21 with a strong emphasis on the need to treat rare diseases.
• The court issued an order to set up a National Rare Diseases Fund that would make drugs to treat rare diseases more accessible and affordable.
• Showing an aggressive judicial action in healthcare, the summons for speedy regulatory clearance for drugs intended for rare diseases.

India-Canada Diplomatic Strains

• The present diplomatic furore is characterized by India’s decision to revoke its High Commissioner and expel Canadian diplomats.
• Disputes arise from Canadian pro-Khalistani activities, which adversely affect bilateral relations and agreements.
• It unveils the intricacies of international diplomacy when home politics dictates foreign policy.

PM GatiShakti National Master Plan

• Completes three years, focusing on augmenting multi-modal connectivities and infrastructures across India
• It has brought many government agencies and state initiatives to streamline the implementation of projects.
• Positions good social sector achievements and improvements in the transport-logistics efficiency.

Advancements in Rare Disease Policy

• WHO defines rare diseases as those that affect fewer than 1 in 1,000 people, and India looks forward to better policy frameworks.
• This commitment of governments comes in the form of the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 and Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi for financial aid.
• Challenges and initiatives concerning healthcare policies concerning reducing the prevalence of rare diseases.

Nobel in Economics 2024

• Awarded for work on the role of institutions in economic prosperity-could look into how important societal structures are.
• Investigates the roots of historical colonial institutions and their legacy for today’s economic inequality.
• Mandatory reading for students of economics theory and policy, discussed at UPSC economics and governance papers.

National Electricity Plan (Transmission) Developments

• Seeks to expand the transmission network of India, as per renewable energy
• Has ambitious plans to increase inter-regional transmission capacity and connect advanced energy storage systems
• A case study in which commitment to sustainable development by political forces is presented against the technical conundrum in the energy industry.

Key Concepts and Policies:

• Right to Health: This focuses on health as a fundamental right under Article 21.
• The National Rare Diseases Fund (NRDF): A fund that would aid in the treatment of such diseases.
• The PM GatiShakti Plan: Government initiative to make national infrastructure more connected
• Economic Prosperity and Institutions: Witness how various kinds of colonial institutions can have long-lasting economic implications.
• National Electricity Plan: Plans to expand and upgrade India’s electricity transmission capacity in the medium term, thus aiding the establishment of renewable energy.