Syllabus: #GSII - Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Highlights:
1. The article discusses how India faces a significant challenge in tackling drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), which has global implications.

2.India's underreporting of MDR/RR-TB cases, diagnostic challenges (Rapid and accurate diagnosis of DR-TB ), complex treatments, limited access to tools (molecular tests), and persistence of outdated practices hinder effective management and treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

3. India's reported MDR/RR-TB cases in 2022 (64,000) significantly diverge from WHO estimates (119,000).

4. Repurposing COVID-19 molecular platforms for DR-TB diagnosis, adopting shorter, effective regimens, improving drug access, addressing supply chain challenges, and promoting public awareness can enhance drug-resistant tuberculosis management and outcomes.

#Essay_Anecdote

In the fall of 2014, the cityscape of Hong Kong became a canvas for a breathtaking display of resilience, courage, and idealism. As thousands of umbrellas unfurled their vibrant canopies against the backdrop of towering skyscrapers, a sea of youthful protesters donning yellow raincoats took to the streets. Their demands were clear: the preservation of democratic freedoms and the rejection of a restrictive political framework imposed by external forces. The Hong Kong Yellow Umbrella Movement, aptly named for the umbrellas that shielded demonstrators from both rain and the harsh glare of authority, not only highlighted the determination of a younger generation but also underscored the profound role they can play in challenging established political norms and forging a new path for their nation.

This anecdote can be used in multiple essays:
1. Youth and Social Movements
2. Media and Activism
3. Importance of Civil Disobedience
4. Democratisation and Freedom Struggles

Syllabus: #GSII - Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government.

Highlights:
1. The article discusses the significance and importance of reforming India's criminal justice system by replacing outdated colonial-era laws (IPC, CrPC and Indian Evidence Act) with modernised ones ( Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Bill, and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill).

2. It highlights five key reasons for this reform:
👉The bills aim to remove remnants of the British colonial era and update the legal system, particularly the Indian Penal Code (IPC) drafted in 1860 under Lord Macaulay's influence.

👉Reforms reflect a journey toward self-realisation and align the legal system with the needs and aspirations of contemporary India, fostering a stronger social contract (John Locke) between the government and the governed.

👉As societies progress, their laws must mirror current values and needs. Reforms are particularly crucial in the criminal justice system, where overcrowded jails and a high percentage of undertrials underscore the urgency for change.

👉The BNS addresses inconsistencies in the criminal justice system, such as contradictions between the IPC and the Mental Healthcare Act regarding attempt to suicide. The new reforms aim to provide clarity and uniformity.

👉The reforms, including the introduction of electronic information and digital records, modernise the criminal justice system to align with contemporary technological advancements.

Catchline:
“The move to reform these laws is not merely a legal imperative, but a philosophical one. It is a journey toward self-realisation.”

#Key_Words: Colonial legacies, Criminal justice system, Social contract, Ethos of contemporary India.