Current Affairs 31 October 2024

CONTENTS

1. Record Rs 1,00,000 Crore Spent in Lok Sabha 2024 Elections
2. Study Explores Long-Term Evolution of Stem Cells Post-Transplant
3. Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre
4. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
5. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine

 Record Rs 1,00,000 Crore Spent in Lok Sabha 2024 Elections

Context:

A report from the Centre for Media Studies (CMS) has revealed that political parties spent a combined total of approximately Rs 1,00,000 crores in the general elections for Lok Sabha 2024. CMS, a not-for-profit organization focused on promoting responsive governance and equitable development, highlights the unprecedented financial scale of this electoral exercise.

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Overview of Election Expenditure in India
2. Governance of Election Expenditure in India
3. Challenges Associated with Election Expenditure in India
4. Necessary Reforms in Election Expenditure in India

Overview of Election Expenditure in India

Candidate Expenditure Limits:

• Current Limits:
  • For Lok Sabha elections, the expenditure limit is set at Rs 95 lakh in larger states and Rs 75 lakh in smaller states.
  • For Assembly elections, the limit is Rs 40 lakh in larger states and Rs 28 lakh in smaller states.

Political Party Spending:

• Unrestricted Party Expenditure:
  • Unlike individual candidates, political parties face no expenditure caps during elections, allowing for potentially unlimited spending.
• Total Election Costs:
  • The cost per vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is estimated at Rs 1,400, with total expenditures reaching approximately Rs 1 lakh crores.

Government Spending on Advertisements:

• Trend Analysis:
  • The Central government’s expenditure on advertisements has shown significant variance, with Rs 3,020 crore spent from 2018-19 to 2022-23.
  • Notably, Rs 1,179 crore was spent in 2018-19, a major election year, compared to Rs 408 crore in 2022-23.

Historical Context of Election Spending:

• Historical Growth:
  • Election spending by candidates has surged from Rs 25,000 in the first general elections (1951-52) to Rs 75-95 lakh in recent times, marking a 300-fold increase.
• Exponential Rise in Total Expenditure:
  • Overall, election expenditure in India has escalated from Rs 9,000 crore in 1998 to around Rs 1,00,000 crores in 2024.

Compliance and Transparency:

• Regulatory Requirements:
  • Political parties must report any contributions over Rs 20,000 to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
  • They are also required to submit Annual Audited Accounts and detailed election expenditure reports within 75 days following an election.
• Source of Political Funding:
  • A significant portion of political funding is sourced from corporate entities, highlighting the close ties between business interests and political finance.

Governance of Election Expenditure in India

Legal Framework for Election Expenditure

• Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951:
  • Section 77: Candidates must maintain detailed accounts of all campaign-related expenses from the nomination date to the election day.
  • Section 78: Requires candidates to submit their campaign expense accounts to the District Election Officer within 30 days after election results are declared.
• Companies Act, 2013:
  • Allows non-government companies operational for at least three years to contribute up to 7.5% of their average three-year net profits to political parties registered under the RPA.
• Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010:
  • Prohibits political parties, candidates, and election-related entities from receiving foreign contributions, including funds, gifts, or any financial support from abroad.

Challenges Associated with Election Expenditure in India

Unlimited Party Expenditures

• No Caps on Party Spending:
  • Unlike countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Brazil, India does not impose limits on political party expenditures during elections, potentially creating an imbalanced competitive environment.

Impact on the Electoral Field

• Media vs Grassroots Spending:
  • Major national and state-level parties often prioritize spending on media advertisements over grassroots activities, like rallies, which could disadvantage candidates with fewer resources.

Digital Spending Disparities

• Influence of Digital Platforms:
  • The rise of platforms like Google and Meta has widened the spending disparities, with national parties spending significantly more on digital advertising compared to smaller or regional parties.

Regulatory Gaps

• Third-Party Campaigners:
  • The lack of regulation concerning third-party campaigners can lead to untracked funds entering the electoral process, heightening risks of corruption and undue influence.

Financial Influence on Politics

• Risk of Quid Pro Quo:
  • The absence of stringent regulations allows for potential quid pro quo arrangements, where financial contributions could unduly influence political decisions, undermining accountability and transparency in the political finance system.

Necessary Reforms in Election Expenditure in India

Implementation of Expenditure Ceilings for Political Parties

• Equitable Competition: Introducing expenditure limits for political parties, as suggested by the ECI’s ‘Proposed Electoral Reforms’ report in 2016, would promote fair competition based on policies rather than financial power.

Registration and Disclosure for Third-Party Campaigners

• Enhanced Transparency: Adopting registration and mandatory disclosure requirements for third-party campaigners, similar to Australia’s system, would enhance transparency in election spending.

State Funding of Elections

• Government Support: Recommendations by the Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998) and the Law Commission (1999) suggest state funding to partially cover election expenses of candidates from recognized political parties to reduce dependency on private donations.

Restrictions on Government Advertisements

• Fair Media Access: Implementing a ban on government advertisements for six months before elections could mitigate the incumbent advantage, fostering fairer competition.

Revision of Financial Assistance Rules

• Closing Loopholes: Amending laws to ensure that financial assistance by political parties to their candidates is counted within the candidates’ official expenditure limits would prevent circumvention of spending rules.

Establishment of an Independent Electoral Oversight Body

• Increased Accountability: Creating an independent body to oversee campaign financing could strengthen enforcement and accountability, ensuring all parties adhere to financial regulations during elections.

-Source: The Hindu

Study Explores Long-Term Evolution of Stem Cells Post-Transplant

Context:

A recent study featured in Science Translational Medicine delves into the long-term outcomes for patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT). The research focuses on the evolution and mutation of transplanted stem cells over time, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of cellular changes post-transplant.

Relevance:

GS III: Science and Technology

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Summary of Research Findings on Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants
2. Overview of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC)

Summary of Research Findings on Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants

• The study examined 16 pairs of donors and recipients, noting low mutation rates of approximately 2% in donors and 2.6% in recipients each year.
• Stable Clonal Expansion: Results indicate a consistent clonal expansion of stem cells spanning several decades.
• Clonal Hematopoiesis: Although all donors showed signs of clonal hematopoiesis, the limited clonal expansion suggests a strong regenerative ability in the bone marrow.
• Clinical Implications:
  • Essential for enhancing outcomes after long-term transplants.
  • Indicates a potential risk for recipients to develop blood cancers or other chronic conditions due to clonal hematopoiesis.

Overview of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC)

• Stem cells serve as the foundational cells that generate all other cells with specialized functions.
• Characteristics of HSCs: These immature cells are capable of evolving into all types of blood cells, including white cells, red cells, and platelets. They were first used in medical treatments in the 1950s.
• HSCs are found in both peripheral blood and bone marrow, commonly referred to as blood stem cells.
• Transplantation Process:
  • Transplantation involves transferring healthy HSCs to patients whose bone marrow is impaired or depleted.
  • This procedure is critical for saving lives, especially in patients suffering from blood cancers.
  • Post-transplant, these stem cells aid in rebuilding the recipient’s blood cell production capabilities.

-Source: The Hindu

Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre

Context:

Recently, China has expressed its opposition to the Taiwanese government establishing the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC) in Mumbai. It is Taiwan’s third office in India, following the openings in New Delhi (1995) and Chennai (2012). 

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC) in India

• In 1993, India and Taiwan mutually established representative offices, with India opening the India-Taipei Association in Taipei and Taiwan setting up the TECC in New Delhi.
• Function of TECC: Similar to centers maintained by countries like the US, Australia, and Russia, TECC supports visa services and facilitates cultural and economic exchanges between India and Taiwan.

China’s Position on TECC and Taiwan

• One China Policy: China maintains that there is only one China, incorporating Taiwan as an integral part, and recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate government.
• India’s Recognition: India acknowledged the PRC in 1950, one of the first countries to do so, and consequently, does not officially recognize Taiwan.

Development of India-Taiwan Relations

• Initial Non-Recognition: Post-independence, India did not officially recognize Taiwan or establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of China.
• Establishment of Unofficial Relations: By 1995, India and Taiwan initiated unofficial relations by opening representative offices.
• Evolving Relations: Over the years, India’s relationship with Taiwan has significantly progressed, particularly as India’s economic and international stature grew in the 2000s, facilitating deeper engagement with Taiwan.
• Economic Growth and Policy Initiatives: According to a 2023 press release from Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry, trade between India and Taiwan grew from USD 2 billion in 2006 to USD 8.9 billion in 2021. As a leading tech hub and top semiconductor producer, Taiwan aligns with India in seeking stronger bilateral ties. Taiwan’s 2016 “New Southbound Policy” specifically aims to diversify its economic dependencies, notably reducing reliance on China.

-Source: The Hindu

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization

Context:

The recent rumours of a nuclear test by Iran were promptly refuted by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO).

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

• The CTBTO is an international organization headquartered in Vienna, Austria, tasked with implementing the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
• The CTBT is a multilateral treaty that was opened for signature in 1996. It commits signatory states to ban all nuclear explosions, for both military and civilian purposes, across all environments.
• The treaty provides for various monitoring mechanisms, including remote sensing and data collection, to ensure compliance.
• The treaty has been signed by 183 states and ratified by 164. However, it has yet to come into effect because eight key nations, known as Annex-2 states (including the US, China, Iran, Egypt, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea), have not ratified it.
• To verify adherence to its stipulations, the CTBT establishes a comprehensive global network of monitoring stations and permits on-site inspections to investigate any suspicious activities.

-Source: The Hindu

National Commission for Indian System of Medicine

Context:

Recently, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) conducted a workshop for drafting the Ayurveda Process Handbook at the NCISM office.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

Overview of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM)

• Establishment and Legal Basis: The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine operates as a statutory body, established under the NCISM Act of 2020. This Act aims to enhance the medical education system to improve access to quality and affordable education, ensuring the distribution of highly skilled medical professionals of Indian System of Medicine throughout the country.
• Composition: The NCISM is composed of 29 members, appointed by the central government. A Search Committee is responsible for recommending candidates for the roles of Chairperson, part-time members, and presidents of the four autonomous boards created under the NCISM.
• Key Functions:
  • Policy Formation: Developing policies for the regulation of medical institutions and professionals practicing Indian System of Medicine.
  • Resource and Infrastructure Assessment: Evaluating the needs for healthcare-related human resources and infrastructure.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring that State Medical Councils for Indian System of Medicine comply with the regulations enacted under the Act.
  • Coordination: Facilitating coordination among the autonomous boards within the commission.

-Source: The Hindu, PIB