Top News Highlights- 3 September 2024

Judiciary as the Guardian of Democracy

• Constitutional Provisions & Judicial Review: The Indian Constitution empowers the Judiciary to act as the guardian of Democracy, especially through Articles 13, 32, and 226, emphasizing the role of judicial review and enforcement of Fundamental Rights.
• Landmark Cases: Cases like Kesavananda Bharati (1973) and Indira Gandhi vs. Raj Narain (1975) have been pivotal in shaping constitutional contours and ensuring democratic integrity.
• Current Challenges: The judiciary faces issues such as a low judge-population ratio, pendency of cases, and corruption, which hinder its efficiency and effectiveness.

Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) Implementation

• Purpose and Funding: DBN aims to enhance telecom services in underserved areas, replacing the Universal Service Obligation Fund, and is funded by a license fee on telecom licensees.
• Notified Rules: The 2024 rules focus on funding schemes and projects for rural and remote areas, promoting next-gen technologies, and supporting R&D through co-funding.
• Network Sharing: Guidelines stipulate that networks established under DBN must be shared non-discriminatorially to maximize utility and reach.

Challenges in Regulating AYUSH Drugs

• Regulatory Concerns: The Supreme Court criticized the AYUSH Ministry for inadequate regulations on advertising Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani medicines.
• Regulation and Safety: Most AYUSH drugs bypass extensive safety trials unless they contain specific high-risk ingredients, highlighting the need for stricter oversight and safety protocols.

Mission Poshan 2.0 Enhancements

• Objective: Aimed at eradicating malnutrition, focusing on children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers through integrated schemes like POSHAN Abhiyaan.
• Achievements and Focus: Notable improvements in child nutrition metrics from NFHS-4 to NFHS-5, with ongoing efforts to further reduce malnutrition levels across India.

India’s Special China Problem

• Diplomatic and Economic Challenges: External Affairs Minister highlighted the unique challenges India faces with China, including border disputes and a significant trade deficit.
• Strategic Concerns: Issues like ‘Salami Slicing’, the presence of Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean, and the strategic implications of China’s Belt and Road Initiative are of particular concern.

Advances in Parkinson’s Disease Research

• Research Focus: Recent studies have identified potential treatments by targeting mitochondrial dynamics and inhibiting specific proteins like Drp1 to improve mitochondrial function.
• Treatment Implications: Understanding and manipulating mitochondrial function could lead to significant breakthroughs in treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s.

Key Concepts and Policies

• Judicial Review: The power of courts to assess the constitutionality of legislative acts.
• Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN): A fund to promote telecommunication services across underserved Indian regions.
• AYUSH: Traditional forms of medicine including Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.
• Mission Poshan 2.0: An Indian government initiative to combat malnutrition through integrated child development services.