Current Affairs 20 December 2024

Content:

1. Hizbul ‘Commander’ Among Five Militants Killed in Kulgam
2. Clear Medical Waste Dumped in T.N., NGT Orders Kerala Govt.
3. Delhi Government Imposes Ban on Firecrackers Throughout the Year
4. Eklavya Schools Struggle to Meet 5% PVTG Sub-Quota; Dropouts on the Rise
5. Never Events: Unacceptable Failures in Implementing Patient Safety Protocol
6. Disability and Queer Health in Medical Education — India Under the Lens
7. The Political Crisis in South Korea
8. India Is Highest Tariff Major Economy

Hizbul ‘Commander’ Among Five Militants Killed in Kulgam

• Five Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including ‘commander’ Farooq Ahmad Bhat, were killed in Kulgam, South Kashmir.

Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security )

• Bhat was active since 2015 and played a key role in radicalizing youth and reviving terrorism in the region.

• The operation lasted around six hours and resulted in two security personnel being injured.

• The militants were hiding in the Kader area when security forces received a tip-off about their presence.

• The forces made contact with the militants around 3:30 a.m., leading to a gun battle.

• Five AK-47 rifles, two grenades, 20 magazines, and ammunition were recovered from the site.

• The Army sees Bhat’s killing as a significant success in counter-terrorism efforts.

• Bhat had 37 First Information Reports filed against him for his involvement in militant attacks.

• Brigadier Anirudh Chauhan praised local residents for their cooperation and providing critical information.

Clear Medical Waste Dumped in T.N., NGT Orders Kerala govt.

• Immediate Action: NGT directed Kerala government and KSPCB to remove biomedical and mixed solid waste from Tamil Nadu villages within three days and submit a report by December 23.

Relevance : GS 3( Waste Management )

• Recurring Issue: Illegal dumping of biomedical waste from Kerala in Tamil Nadu has been a recurring problem, with previous incidents in Ana-malai and Nanguneri.

• Financial and Legal Implications: Kerala has not cleared outstanding dues of ₹69,000 for waste removal, complicating the issue; legal action is being pursued with two FIRs filed.

• Cross-Border Coordination: NGT emphasized improved coordination between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, involving police and transport departments to prevent illegal waste transportation.

• Environmental Impact: Some waste was dumped in forest areas, prompting NGT to urge swift action and proper transportation to processing facilities in Kerala or Tamil Nadu.

Delhi Government Imposes Ban On Firecrackers Throughout The Year

• Year-round Ban: Delhi government imposes a permanent ban on all forms of firecrackers throughout the year.

Relevance : GS 3( Pollution )

• Previous Bans: Previously, bans were only imposed during winter months due to increased air pollution.

• Legal Basis: The ban is issued under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

• Scope: The ban covers manufacturing, storage, sale, and bursting of firecrackers, including online sales.

• Air Pollution: Aimed at reducing air pollution, especially during festive seasons when pollution spikes.

• Supreme Court Involvement: The Delhi government informed the Supreme Court about the ban, and the court directed other NCR states (U.P. and Haryana) to follow suit.

• Firecracker Dealers: Dealers expressed concerns over lack of consultation before the ban was imposed.

• Rajasthan’s Action: Rajasthan had already imposed a similar ban in its NCR areas on December 17

Eklavya schools struggle to meet 5% PVTG sub-quota; dropouts on the rise

• Introduction of Sub-Quota: The Centre introduced a 5% sub-quota for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in admissions to EMRS in 2020.

Relevance : GS 2(Education , Governance)

• Current Enrollment: As of October 2024, there are 1,30,101 students enrolled in 407 functional EMRSs.

• PVTG Student Population: Only 4,480 students (3.4%) belong to PVTG communities, falling short of the 5% target.

• States Struggling: Madhya Pradesh (3.8%), Chhattisgarh (2.74%), and Gujarat (0.2%) are among the states struggling to meet the quota.

• Dropout Rates: The number of PVTG students dropping out has increased over the past three years: 10 in 2021-22, 14 in 2022-23, and 18 in 2023-24.

• Reasons for Dropout: Infrastructure gaps, teacher shortages, pressure to work for earning, and quality of education are cited as reasons for the dropouts.

• Centralized Administration: The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) was set up in 2019 to centralize the administration of EMRSs.

• Government Response: The Tribal Affairs Ministry has acknowledged the challenges and is working on addressing them

Never Events: Unacceptable Failures in Implementing Patient Safety Protocol

• Definition: Never events are serious, largely preventable incidents in healthcare that should never occur if proper safety protocols are followed.

Relevance : GS 2(Health )

• Origin: The term was introduced in 2002 by the National Quality Forum (NQF) in the United States and has since been adopted in countries like the U.S., U.K., and Canada.

• Examples: Operating on the wrong limb, insulin overdose, mismatched blood transfusion—these incidents can lead to severe consequences such as disability, death, or significant discomfort for patients.

• Variation in Lists: Different organizations maintain varying lists of never events—NHS (U.K.) lists 16 events, whereas the U.S. recognizes 29. This variation reflects the complexity of healthcare systems.

• Impact: Never events highlight systemic failures and the complexity of healthcare, involving multiple stakeholders and interactions between social, technical, human, organizational, economic, and regulatory components.

• Post-Event Protocol: Steps include offering an apology, formally reporting the incident, conducting a root cause analysis, and waiving any costs incurred due to the incident.

• Prevention Debate: While reducing the frequency of never events is possible, complete prevention remains aspirational due to the inherent complexities of healthcare systems.

• ALARP Principle: Adopting the As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) principle provides a balanced risk management approach to minimize these incidents.

• Challenges: Concentrating accountability on frontline healthcare workers fails to address systemic inefficiencies, infrastructure issues, and communication gaps that contribute to never events.

• Indian Context: In India, similar incidents are categorized under medical negligence rather than never events. Medical negligence involves failures to meet the expected standard of care, leading to harm.

Disability And Queer Health in Medical Education — India under the lens

• NMC Allegation: The National Medical Commission (NMC) in India has been accused of not including disability and queer rights in its medical curriculum.

Relevance : GS 2(Social Justice )

• Global Context: Among 110 Lancet Commissions, only mental health and the Holocaust have dedicated commissions, with no specific commissions for disability or the queer community.

• India’s Curriculum Update: In 2019, disability rights were included as competencies in India’s new medical curriculum, recognized as a significant initiative by UN India.

• Human Rights Impact: The exclusion of these topics hampers human rights, as highlighted by Dr. Satendra Singh from the University of Delhi.

• Lancet Commissions: These are multidisciplinary collaborations aimed at influencing health policies through evidence-based recommendations.

• Statistics: India has a high number of road accident fatalities and is known as the “diabetes capital of the world,” contributing to disabilities through complications like gangrene and limb loss.

• Historical Mistrust: Both the disability and transgender communities have a history of mistrust towards the medical establishment, sharing vulnerabilities that contribute to health inequities.

• Importance of Inclusion: Including voices from these communities in Lancet Commissions is crucial for achieving the Agenda 2030 goal of “leaving no one behind.”

• Medical Education: India has the highest number of medical colleges globally, and many graduates work internationally. Educating future doctors on health inequities is vital to dismantling barriers.

• Discrimination and Marginalisation: Both groups face discrimination in healthcare settings, underscoring the need for doctors to treat patients as individuals, not merely symptoms.

• Inclusive Language: Prioritizing clear, consistent, and respectful language is essential for recognizing diversity and should be a shared responsibility.

• NMC’s Commitment: The NMC emphasizes improving access to quality, affordable medical education, promoting equitable healthcare, and upholding high ethical standards.

• Legal Perspective: The commentary suggests that the NMC’s actions could be seen as a dereliction of duty and potentially illegal under parent legislation.

The Political Crisis in South Korea

Yoon Suk Yeol’s Rise to Power:

• Former Prosecutor General, Yoon became President in 2022 despite limited political experience.
  • Gained popularity for prosecuting former conservative Presidents, but his tenure has been controversial.

Relevance : GS 2 (International Relations )

Political Divide in South Korea:

• Sharp ideological, regional, and generational divides between conservatives and liberals.
  • This polarization has led to protests, political vendettas, and legal challenges against past Presidents.

Controversial Foreign Policies:

• Yoon’s foreign policies, such as reaching out to Japan and supporting Ukraine, have strained relations with Russia, China, and SouthKoreanliberals.
  • His decision to attend NATO summits and his stance on North Korea further alienated sections of the population.

Domestic Challenges and Unpopularity:

• Low approval ratings (20%-30%) due to perceived incompetence and failure to address South Korea’s economic issues.
  • Corruption scandals involving his wife and controversial policies, such as the doubling of medical student seats, worsened his image.

Opposition Strengthens:

• In the April 2024 National Assembly elections, opposition parties won 192 out of 300 seats, challenging Yoon’s governance.
  • Increased opposition assertion against Yoon’s policies and appointments.

Martial Law Declaration:

• In December 2024, in response to growing opposition, Yoondeclaredemergency martial law.
  • The National Assembly rejected it, forcing Yoon to withdraw the declaration by the following day.

Impeachment Process:

• An initial impeachmentmotionfailed due to the ruling PPP’s abstention.
  • A second impeachment motion on December 14, 2024, succeeded with 204 votes in favor.
  • Yoon has refused to resign and plans to challenge the impeachment in the Constitutional Court.

Legal Battle Ahead:

• The Constitutional Court will deliberate on the impeachment, but the outcome remains uncertain.
  • Yoon hopes for a favorable ruling, although the court’s composition includes conservative-leaning judges.

Weak Democratic Institutions:

• The crisis exposes weaknesses in South Korea’s democraticinstitutions, with immature political leadership and unstable governance.
  • The ongoing political turmoil poses a threat to the country’s democratic integrity.

Public Consensus on Democratic Crisis:

• Despite divisions, there is a sharedconcern about the existentialthreat to democracy.
  • If the crisis remains unresolved, it could severely impact South Korea’s international image and democratic future.

‘India is Highest Tariff Major Economy’

Context :

• U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti labeled India as the “highest tariff” major economy globally.
  • This comment highlights the need for both India and the U.S. to work together to lower tariffs for a fair and equal trade environment.

Relevance : GS 2 (International Relations )

Call for Lower Tariffs:

• Garcetti emphasized the importance of reducing tariffs to boost trade between the two nations.
  • He advocated for both countries to focus on creating a more balanced trade relationship.

Bilateral Trade Growth:

• Despite ongoing challenges, the India-U.S. bilateral trade has increased ten-fold since 2001.
  • The U.S. has become India’s number one trading partner, marking significant growth in economic ties.

U.S. President-elect’s Remarks:

• President-elect Donald Trump previously criticized India for imposing high tariffs on U.S. products.
  • Trump has also threatened to impose reciprocal tariffs as retaliation for India’s trade policies.

Need for Honest Conversations:

• Garcetti stressed the importance of having open and honest conversations to address tariff-related issues.
  • He called for deeper negotiations to resolve trade difficulties, while recognizing the growth in trade despite challenges.

Focus on Training and Talent:

• The U.S. Ambassador emphasized the need for both nations to align their talent and training to meet the needs of companies operating across the Indo-Pacific region.

Trump’s “Tariff King” Label:

• President Trump has repeatedly called India a “tariff king,” criticizing the high tariffs on American imports.
  • This rhetoric underscores the ongoing trade tension between the two countries.