1st October, 2024

Article: 1^st October, 2024

Topic: India’s Long-range Rockets

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Defence

Source: The Hindu

Context

• The Indian Army has recently set its sights on long-range rockets and cutting-edge ammunition, building on the lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine and Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
  
  

About the Long-Range Rockets

• The Indian Army is investigating long-range rockets and hopes to increase the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launch System (MRLS) rockets’ 300 km range in the near future.

• Long-range guided Pinaka rocket trials are currently in progress. These rockets can travel up to 75 kilometers and more, with the promise of increased accuracy.
• The purchase of the 400-kilometer-range Pralay tactical ballistic missiles and the 1000-kilometer-range Nirbhay subsonic cruise missiles has been approved by the Indian Army.
• DRDO was working on creating a hypersonic missile for the defence forces of the country.

Artillery Conversion

• A plan has been developed by the Indian Army to standardize all of its artillery guns to the 155mm calibre. It simplifies training, maintenance, and logistics.
• Guided rockets are also used by the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), which is comparable to what the US supplied to Ukraine. The Indian Army is eager to implement comparable technology in order to optimize accuracy and efficiency.

Nirbhay Missile   The Nirbhay Missile is a Long-Range Subsonic Cruise Missile that can precisely target high-value targets by penetrating deep into enemy territory. It is being used for air and sea launch platforms. India is among the select few nations with the capacity to create and develop this particular class of cruise missiles.         Pralay missile   The “Pralay” missile is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a 500–1,000 kg payload capacity that has a short range (350–500 km).The Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) is an all-weather artillery weapon system designed to fire a lot of rounds quickly against targets in sensitive and critical areas. It responds quickly and can point with a fair degree of accuracy.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Pinaka Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher System

1. It is employed to launch attacks on the targets of the opposition before close-quarters combat.
2. The new Pinaka has an extended range of more than 100 kilometers.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: a

Explanation

Pinaka is a multi-launcher for rockets. It is employed to launch attacks on the targets of the opposition before close-quarters combat.
Concerning Pinaka-ER: This is the improved Pinaka that the Indian Army has been using for the past ten years.
The system was designed in collaboration with the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune and the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in Pune, both of which are part of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
Range: The current Pinaka system has a range of 45 km, but the extended range of the new system is over 70 km.

Mains Model Questions Q. What are Hypersonic Weapons? Emphasize their importance and discuss about the difficulties in implementing and utilizing them.

Introduction:

Weapons that can fly at five times the speed of sound, or more, are known as hypersonic weapons (greater than 5000 km per hour).
While hypersonic glide missiles are launched from space on a rocket and glide to a target at an unpredictable trajectory, hypersonic cruise missiles use high-speed, air-breathing scramjet engines to propel them to hypersonic speeds.

Body:

Hypersonic technology’s significance

• Longer-range and faster cruise missiles: A hypersonic cruise missile would reach its target much sooner than a fighter could, as it travels at a speed greater than that of any fighter.
• Undetectability: Because they can travel at a lower altitude than conventional ballistic missiles, these missiles are more likely to elude radar detection.
• Rapid response missile: The Hypersonic Missile is a type of “quick reaction missile” that can be employed to stop approaching missiles in either the inner or outer atmosphere.
• Maneuverability: Due to their high speeds and ability to maneuver halfway through the atmosphere, hypersonic weapons are very difficult to detect and intercept.
• Enhance India’s missile defense capabilities by developing a variety of cruise and ballistic missiles under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, such as the Prithvi and Agni missiles, the anti-tank Nag, and the surface-to-air Akash.
  
  

Challenges to their adoption and application:

• Managing the intense heat generated at such high speeds, precisely aiming and guiding missiles.
• The technologies used in Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGV) and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCM) are exotic.
• Only low altitudes are used for hypersonic weaponry; for example, HGVs and HCMs fly no higher than 100–110 km and 20–30 km, respectively.
• The effectiveness of hypersonic weapons is seriously questioned because there are no established guidelines for when to use them and no consideration given to the consequences of doing so.
  increases the nuclear weapons’ continuous modernization in a cutthroat international setting.

Conclusion: With a hypersonic speed of 7.5 Mach, India has developed the Shaurya surface-to-surface tactical missile. Russia and India are also working together on the development of BrahMos 2.

Article:  1^st October, 2024

Topic: Ayurveda Innovation for Global Health

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Health

Source: News on AIR

Context

• The 9th Ayurveda Day’s theme, “Ayurveda Innovation for Global Health,” was announced by the Union Minister of Ayush, who also underlined the significance of AYUSH.

Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy)

• The primary goal of the Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) Department is to offer health services to the public under the AYUSH stream.

• The Ayurvedic, Yoga and Naturopathic, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathic medical systems are all included in the AYUSH stream.
• Through a number of initiatives aimed at fusing traditional medicine with contemporary healthcare, the government supports these systems.
  
  

Principal Elements of the Ayush System:

• Ayurveda: Emphasizes the use of herbs, diet, and lifestyle modifications for holistic healing. Balance of body, mind, and spirit is emphasized.
• Yoga and Naturopathy: Through postures, breathing techniques, and meditation, yoga enhances both mental and physical health. Naturopathy emphasizes natural treatments and lifestyle changes.
• Unani: Derived from Greek medicine, this system stresses the harmony of the body’s elements and employs herbal remedies.
• Siddha: An ancient South Indian medical system centered on herbal remedies and alchemy.
• Homoeopathy: Using highly diluted substances to treat a variety of ailments, it is based on the idea that “like cures like.”
  
  

The Ayush Sector’s Growth

• The size of India’s Ayush market is 43.4 billion USD (₹ 1667 billion for services, ₹ 1931 billion for manufacturing).
• India exports $1.54 billion (₹114 billion) worth of ayush in total.
• More than 150 countries receive the export of Ayush and herbal products and medicines.
• More than 30 countries now recognize Ayurveda as a system of traditional medicine.
• The AYUSHEXCIL is the Ayush Export Promotion Council. It was started to advertise Ayush goods and services globally by the Ministry of Ayush and supported by the Ministry of Commerce, GOI.
• Ayush Visa: For foreign nationals wishing to receive medical treatment in India, such as therapeutic care, wellness, or yoga, the Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced a new visa category called the “Ayush Visa.”
• Under the Ministry’s IC scheme, over fifty products (both unani and ayurvedic) have been registered so far in eight countries: Kenya, USA, Russia, Latvia, Canada, Oman, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka.
• International Acknowledgment: The World Health Organization and the Ministry of Ayush have founded the first and only Global Traditional Medicine Center (WHO GTMC) in the world, located in Jamnagar, India.

• In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution designating June 21st as the International Day of Yoga each year.
  
  

Government Projects

• Ministry of Ayush: This ministry was founded in 2014 with the goal of encouraging traditional medicine, ensuring quality control, and regulating practices.
• NAM: To promote and develop AYUSH systems, the government uses the State and UT governments to carry out the National AYUSH Mission (NAM), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

• Ayurswasthya Yojana: Beginning in FY 2021–2022, the Ministry of Ayush has been implementing the Ayurswasthya Yojana Central Sector Scheme.
• The two components of the scheme are the Center of Excellence (CoE) and public health, along with AYUSH.
• Free medical camps and the distribution of AYUSH medications are organized under the AYUSH and Public Health Component.

• Within AYUSH, information, education, and communication (IEC): The Ministry organizes AROGYA fairs at the State and National levels, runs multimedia campaigns, creates and distributes publicity materials, including audiovisual materials, etc. as part of the program.
• Promotion of International Cooperation: To promote and spread awareness of AYUSH Systems, the Ministry sends AYUSH experts to other nations to take part in international gatherings, conferences, and training sessions.
• Manufacturers of AYUSH drugs, business owners, AYUSH institutions, etc. are given incentives to participate in international exhibitions to raise public awareness of AYUSH medical systems and to register AYUSH products with foreign regulatory bodies.
• Budget Allocation:

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding AYURSWASTHYA Yojana

1. The program’s goal is to give young children and expectant mothers access to inexpensive healthcare services.
2. The Ministry of Ayush oversees the program.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: b

Explanation

Three goals make up the AYURSWASTHYA Yojana: a) to support the creation of advanced/specialized AYUSH medical health units in reputable AYUSH and Allopathic institutions in the Government and Non-Government sector; b) to support innovative and creative proposals for the establishment and improvement of reputable institutions’ facilities and functions in order to strengthen the competencies of AYUSH professionals; and c) to support innovative and creative proposals for prestigious organizations that have well-established infrastructure and buildings and aspire to work toward elevating AYUSH systems to the level of Center of Excellence.
The Ministry of Ayush oversees the program.

Mains Model Questions Q. What obstacles does the AYUSH System face in integrating with the traditional medical system? Analyze the potential and recommend ways to make the most of it.

Introduction:

One area of alternative medicine that is frequently overlooked is traditional Indian medicine, which includes Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH). Though cultural nationalism made a strong comeback against the imperialist British rule, it is becoming less significant in the modern era.

Body:

Challenges in the way of the AYUSH’s integration into the mainstream medical system:

• Historical: Following the Ministry of Health’s 1948 publication of the Report of the Committee on Indigenous Systems of Medicine, efforts were made to improve the industry; however, these were later abandoned.
• Insufficient funding: The mainstreaming of AYUSH policy is beset by issues related to insufficient medications, a dearth of health facilities, the development of practitioners’ capacity, and public confidence in the program’s efficacy.
• Quantity vs. Quality: When AYUSH is integrated into the healthcare system, there is a debate about whether to build new facilities entirely or to maximize the quality of the ones that already exist.
• Competition from modern medicine:
• The majority of AYUSH practitioners’ dishonesty lends allopathy a more credible appearance.
• Skepticism among people, particularly in the allopathic sector, regarding AYUSH procedures and treatments.
• In contrast to artificial allopathic products, AYUSH products are mindlessly cosmeticized under the guise of natural or organic origin.
• To attract market attention, AYUSH products should be promoted more extensively abroad.
• Conflict of Interest: The AYUSH lobby worries that after such integration, they will lose their identity. The lobby for allopathy claims that after integration, medical standards would deteriorate.
  
  

Actions to be performed in order to capitalize AYUSH:

• Developing a plan to enable equal and meaningful collaboration and cross-learning between the modern and traditional systems.
• Envisioning the full integration of both systems’ practices, research, and education at every level.
• Including changing the curriculum to train AYUSH practitioners in contemporary medicine and vice versa.
  
  

Conclusion: An integrated framework must find a middle ground between the two medical systems, combining them while allowing enough room for their independent development.
Plans for a smooth transition should be created quickly, both medium- and long-term, given the nation’s current intense efforts to achieve universal health care.
India will be able to address AYUSH’s subservient status and promote its lawful integration into mainstream healthcare through this.

Article: 1^st October, 2024

Topic: SC raps Delhi air quality panel

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Pollution

Source: Hindustan Times

Context

• The efficacy of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in mitigating air pollution resulting from stubble burning in North India has been called into question by the Supreme Court.
  
  

About

• Delhi’s air quality recently fell into the “poor” category, indicating the start of North India’s harsh air season.
• The CAQM was chastised by the Supreme Court for failing to follow its mandate, claiming that despite having extensive authority to shut down polluting industries, the commission hasn’t made full use of it.
• Furthermore, no committee had been established specifically to deal with stubble burning, a significant contributor to pollution.
  
  

Causes of wintertime pollution levels being higher

• Seasonal Effects: Weather patterns such as temperature inversion, which occurs when warm air traps cooler air near the surface, stop pollutants from dispersing as the monsoon ends, resulting in hazardous pollution levels.
• Sources of Pollution: Burning biomass for cooking in rural areas is one of the many sources of pollution in Delhi.
  – Burning trash and car emissions in urban areas.
  – pollution from industry.
  – In neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana, stubble burning occurs.
  – fireworks during holidays such as Diwali.

Issues with the current fixes

• Smog Towers: These structures use electricity, which may increase emissions, and only slightly reduce pollution in the surrounding area.
• Water cannons: Their effect on the general quality of the air is minimal.
• Even though odd-even road sharing temporarily lessens traffic, its long-term effects are negligible.
• Cloud seeding: This technique can have negative effects on the environment but creates artificial rain using chemicals like silver iodide.
• Manipulated water vapor that would naturally fall somewhere else may result in droughts in other areas.
• Furthermore, the chemicals used have the potential to damage ecosystems by building up in soil and water.

Way Forward

• Improved Coordination: Organizations in charge of industry, transportation, agriculture, and urban planning must collaborate.
• The problem of stubble burning requires cooperation between farmers, policymakers, and regulators across state borders.
• Building Capacity: It is important for industries, researchers, regulators, and policymakers to work together to assess solutions that genuinely serve the public interest.
• Extensive Air Quality Monitoring: Pollution is a major issue in rural and industrial areas, even though cities like Delhi receive the majority of attention. Every region should have its air quality monitored.
• Solve the underlying issue: Countermeasures like smog towers and cloud seeding are band-aid fixes.
• Rather than just providing short-term respite, real solutions must tackle the underlying causes of pollution.
  
  

Conclusion

• The scope of the issue necessitates long-term fixes, but the response has frequently consisted of cosmetic, short-term fixes.
• India requires a multi-sectoral, multi-decadal effort based on scientific principles and dedicated to long-term cooperation.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements regarding National Air Quality Index:

1. The National AQI provides six color codes so that the average person can assess the quality of the air around them.

2. The very poor category is indicated by the orange color code.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: a

Explanation

The Air Quality Index is a useful tool for clearly and concisely communicating to the public the state of the air quality. It reduces complex data on the quality of the air caused by different pollutants to a single number (the index value), color, and nomenclature.
The AQI is divided into six categories: Very Poor, Severe, Good, Satisfactory, and Moderately Polluted. Health breakpoints, or ambient concentration values of air pollutants, are used to determine the likely health effects of each of these categories. Eight pollutants have evolved AQ sub-indexes and health breakpoints (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term (upto 24-hours) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed.

Mains Model Questions Q. What causes Delhi’s air pollution to be increasing, and how much does it cost? Enumerate the government’s initiatives in this area and their results.

Introduction:

Delhi is the most polluted city in the world, according to data on air quality that the World Health Organization (WHO) has compiled.

Body:

Causes of Delhi’s high levels of pollution

• Vehicle Emission: There are over 9 million registered cars in Delhi. Additionally, there are a lot of cars entering Delhi from nearby states. Car emissions have been identified by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) as a primary cause of Delhi’s rising air pollution.
• Stubble Burning: Farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh burn their crops, which is one of the main causes of the increase in air pollution that occurs between October and November. These states are thought to burn about 35 million tonnes of crop annually. All of the dust and pollution particles are carried by the wind and become trapped in the atmosphere.
• Wintertime pollution: Static winds during the winter cause dust and other pollutants in the air to become stable, leading to smog.
• High Population: An excessive number of people contributes to different forms of pollution, such as massive amounts of solid and liquid waste, construction activities that release particulate matter, etc.
• Open waste burning and construction: There is a lot of construction going on in Delhi-NCR, which is causing air pollution and dust.
• Thermal Power Plants and Industries: The air in Delhi and the surrounding areas is polluted due to industrial pollution and coal-based power plants.

Action made

• In order to combat stubble burning, the government is providing farmers with financial assistance in exchange for purchasing Turbo Happy Seeders (THS) from neighboring states.
• The government has put in place the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes actions like closing the Badarpur Thermal Power Plant, prohibiting construction, and banning the burning of biomass and leaves.
• The Ministry of Environment launched the National Clean Air Programme, a pollution control initiative, with the goal of reducing the concentration of coarse (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less, or PM10) and fine (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, or PM2.5) particles by at least 20% by 2024 in 102 cities, including Delhi. The base year for comparison is 2017.
• The issue of pollution in Delhi remains unresolved even after the government has taken a number of measures to address it. For example, the burning of stubble has not stopped in neighboring states, the ban on firecrackers has failed miserably, and the burning of industrial waste in secret has continued.
• Delhi’s air pollution is a regional issue; according to a study by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), the surrounding states are responsible for roughly 60% of Delhi’s PM2.5 burden. Without taking into consideration regional factors, no policy is likely to be successful.

Conclusion: About 26 million people in the National Capital Region are at serious risk of health from Delhi’s air pollution, so policymakers should give it top priority. It must be addressed using a multifaceted strategy that includes building the necessary infrastructure, such as public transportation and waste management support from neighbouring states etc.

Article: 1^st October, 2024

Topic: Active Euthanasia Illegal

Relevance: GS Paper: 2 – Polity, Health; 4 – Ethics

Source: Livemint

Context

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has published draft guidelines regarding the removal of life support from patients who are terminally ill.
  
  

Euthanasia

• The deliberate taking of a person’s life in order to end their pain or suffering is known as euthanasia.
• The distinction between active and passive euthanasia is made by ethicists.
• The purpose of passive euthanasia is to allow a person to die naturally by choosing to withhold or remove medical interventions, such as life support.
• The deliberate killing of a terminally ill patient on their own volition through a doctor’s direct intervention for the patient’s benefit is known as active euthanasia. In India, it is prohibited.
  
  

Draft Policies

• The Terminal Illness defined: It is described as an uncurable, irreversible illness from which death is certain in the foreseeable future.
• There are four scenarios in which life support can be turned off:
• The Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA) requires that the person be deemed brain stem dead.

• The patient’s condition must be advanced and unlikely to improve with aggressive therapeutic interventions, according to the medical prognosis.
• Following prognostic awareness, the patient or surrogate must record an informed refusal to remain on life support.
• The Supreme Court’s prescribed procedures must be followed.
• Legal Principles: According to the Supreme Court’s outlined legal principles, an adult patient who is competent to make healthcare decisions may refuse LST, even if doing so causes their death.
• Based on their fundamental right to autonomy, privacy, and dignity, people who are no longer capable of making decisions may legitimately have LST legally withheld or withdrawn from them under specific circumstances.
• A legally valid Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is one that satisfies the requirements.
• Mechanism: The Primary Medical Board (PMB), which is composed of at least three doctors, should make proposals by consensus.
• To fully inform the surrogate, the PMB must describe the illness, the medical treatments that are available, any alternative forms of treatment, and the outcomes of not receiving treatment.
• The decision made by the PMB must be confirmed by a Secondary Medical Board (SMB) consisting of three physicians and one appointee from the district’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
• Hospitals form the Clinical Ethics Committee to oversee, audit, and resolve conflicts.
  
  

Legal Position

• In 2018, the Supreme Court made passive euthanasia legal, provided the patient had a “living will.”
• The Supreme Court ruled that Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the right to life, including the “right to die with dignity.”
• A living will be a written document that outlines what should happen in the event that the individual is not able to make decisions about their own medical care in the future.
• The first state to formalize the implementation of directives to some degree is Goa.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements

1. Passive euthanasia is the act of ending life-sustaining therapy or other medical intervention with the patient’s or their family member’s permission.
2. Because it was a matter of “living will,” passive euthanasia is permissible in India.

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: c

Explanation

The Supreme Court of India legalized passive euthanasia in 2018 with a historic ruling, holding that it was a question of “living will.” The ruling states that, in certain circumstances, an adult with a conscious mind may freely choose not to receive medical treatment in order to accept death as a natural part of life.

Mains Model Questions

Q. Despite her seeming physical health, Miss ABC, a Dutch woman in good physical condition, has chosen to end her life legally in May. She has struggled with serious mental health issues all of her life. Miss ABC, who once had aspirations of becoming a psychiatrist, is now set to be put to death, despite the fact that she still has feelings for her boyfriend and two cherished cats.

Miss ABC has had severe and ongoing struggles with borderline personality disorder, autism, and debilitating depression. The burden of her mental health issues has grown intolerable, despite her love for her partner and the company of her feline friends. Miss ABC made a very personal decision to pursue euthanasia, one that is reflective of her own evaluation of her quality of life in the face of relentless mental anguish. The choice made by Miss ABC to seek euthanasia due to her mental health issues has sparked a heated discussion about the moral and ethical implications of end-of-life decisions, especially when people are dealing with severe mental illness.

1. Bring up moral ethical dilemmas in the example above.
2. Is it morally acceptable to end the lives of physically healthy people?
3. Do you believe that people with mental health disorders should have the ability to make decisions about euthanasia?

Introduction:

Euthanasia refers to the deliberate taking of a life with the goal of alleviating pain and suffering, as long as there is a good reason and the death is as painless as possible. Sir Francis Bacon is credited with coining the term “euthanasia”. Another name for it is “mercy killing.” Literally meaning “good death,” the Greek terms “eu” and “thanotos” are the source of the word “euthanasia.”

Body:

Moral ethical dilemmas in the case mentioned above

Paternalism vs. Autonomy:

• Autonomy: It is crucial that Miss ABC be allowed to make choices regarding her own life. Her autonomy is respected in euthanasia.
• Paternalism: Some contend that medical personnel ought to put life preservation first, even in cases of extreme mental distress.

Evaluation of Life Quality:

• Subjectivity: Evaluating one’s own life satisfaction is fundamentally personal. Is it possible to quantify mental pain objectively?
• Equality of Suffering: To what extent does the decision to end life justify suffering? Is it merely a matter of opinion or is there a universal standard?
  
  

Cultural and Social Context:

• Acceptance and Stigma: Euthanasia for mental health issues goes against social norms. Is it considered a taboo or a valid option?
• Change in Attitudes: Concerns concerning normalization are raised by the healthcare professionals’ growing acceptance of euthanasia for psychiatric disorders.
  
  

Exhaustion of Treatment:

• Examining Other Options: Has Miss ABC used every remedy that is available? Is it necessary to conduct an alternative therapy trial?
• Juggling Hope and Reality: When is it morally acceptable to concede that traditional medical interventions won’t make a person feel better?

Frameworks for the Law and Medicine:

• Legal Protection: Ensuring strong legal protections against abuse or compulsion.
• Medical responsibility: striking a balance between the need to protect life and compassion.
  
  

Is it morally acceptable to end the lives of physically healthy people?

For

Argument based on rights

• It is argued that the right to a dignified death and the freedom to make our own decisions are integral parts of our human rights.

Benevolence

• Euthanasia proponents hold that mercy killing should be allowed because it is in line with society’s core moral values of compassion and mercy, which dictate that no patient should be allowed to suffer needlessly.

The distinction between the two types of euthanasia: active and passive

• Euthanasia proponents contend that the withdrawal or withholding of medical care that follows active euthanasia is not ethically worse than passive euthanasia.

Against

The sacredness of life

• Advocates of religion contend that “God alone has the right to grant life and to bring about death.”
  
  

Euthanasia as a form of murder

• With or without the patient’s consent, society considers any action that has the primary intent to kill another person to be intrinsically wrong.

Misuse of human rights and autonomy

• Additionally, it has been suggested that since the majority of terminally ill patients may not be of a sound or rational mind, requests for euthanasia are rarely autonomous.
• According to Kant and Mill, the principle of autonomy prohibits the voluntary termination of the conditions required for autonomy, which would happen through suicide.

The doctor-patient dynamic and the role of the medical professional

• Physician-assisted suicide and active voluntary euthanasia damage the doctor-patient relationship by undermining the mutual trust and confidence that is developed in it.
  
  

Should individuals with mental health disorders be permitted to make such decisions regarding euthanasia?

Arguments for:

• Autonomy: People who struggle with mental illness should have the freedom to live their own lives.
• Suffering: Unbearable suffering without realistic hope of recovery is a symptom of certain mental illnesses.
• Consistency: Why not permit euthanasia for mental suffering if we permit it for physical suffering?
  
  

Arguments against:

• Vulnerability: Mental health issues can cloud judgment, casting doubt on consent.
• Options for Treatment: Using every treatment should be the first step.
• Stigma: Euthanasia may exacerbate the stigma associated with mental illness.

Way Forwrad

• Customized Evaluation: Every situation needs to be assessed on its own, taking capacity, prognosis, and suffering into account.
• Informed Consent: Strict procedures are essential for obtaining informed consent.
• Holistic Care: Give thorough mental health treatment and assistance top priority.
• Public Dialogue: Hold open discussions with the public to help shape policy.

Conclusion: We must exercise caution as we strike this precarious balance between autonomy and protection, making sure to uphold morality, respect, and compassion.

Article: 1^st October, 2024

Topic: Why are Sea levels rising?

Relevance: GS Paper: 3 – Environment

Source: Indian Express

Context

• Antonio Guterres emphasized how Tonga and other Pacific nations face the threat of sea level rise, which will have catastrophic worldwide effects on coastal communities.
  
  

Key points

• The sea level rise rate: Since 1880, sea levels have risen globally at a rate faster than in the previous 3,000 years—by more than 20 cm. The rate of rise has quickened, and the highest sea levels will be recorded in 2023.
• Unequal Rise: The rate of sea level rise is not the same everywhere in the world; since 1993, rates in some parts of the southwestern Pacific have nearly doubled.
• In the event that global warming is restricted to 1.5°C, sea levels may rise by 38 cm by 2100, or as much as 56 cm, depending on how climate action is taken. In extreme circumstances, 2 meters is predicted by 2100.
  
  

Reasons for the Sea level rise:

• global warming brought on by emissions from fossil fuels.
• oceans’ thermal expansion as they warm.
• melting glaciers and ice sheets, especially in Greenland and Antarctica.
• The pumping of groundwater also adds to the rise in sea levels.
  
  

Rising Seas’ Effects

• A sea level rise of 2.5 cm can cause high tides, increased storm surge, and a loss of 2.5 meters of beachfront.
• An additional 6 million people are at risk of coastal flooding for every centimeter.
• Sea levels could rise dramatically if global warming surpasses 1.5°C and causes the West Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets to melt irreversibly.
  
  

Vulnerable Regions:

• Existential threats affect low-lying islands like Fiji, the Maldives, and Tuvalu. Additionally, extremely vulnerable are coastal cities, river deltas, and tropical Asian regions like Bangladesh, India, and China.

• Global Impact: Major cities like Cairo, Mumbai, Lagos, and London are at risk of severe effects, and nearly 40% of the world’s population lives close to coastlines.
  
  

Actions

• cutting emissions to stop the rise from continuing.
• Techniques for adaptation include storm surge barriers, sea walls, and infrastructure that is resistant to flooding.
• solutions rooted in nature, such as protecting coastlines from erosion and restoring mangroves.
• relocating villages in areas with low elevation or constructing floating cities in regions such as Tuvalu and the Maldives.

Also Read Topics & Concepts:

Prelims Practice Questions

Q. Consider the following statements

1. The World Meteorological Organization reports that the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, coupled with ongoing ocean warming (thermal expansion), caused the global mean sea level to reach a record high in 2023—the highest level recorded in satellite data since 1993.
2. The rate of rise in sea level that has decreased globally over the last ten years (2014–2023)

Which of the above statements are incorrect?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: b

Explanation

The World Meteorological Organization reports that the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, coupled with ongoing ocean warming (thermal expansion), caused the global mean sea level to reach a record high in 2023—the highest level recorded in satellite data since 1993.
The rate of rise in sea level that has occurred globally over the last ten years (2014–2023) is more than twice that which occurred during the first ten years of the satellite record (1993–2002).

Mains Model Questions Q. ‘Climate change’ is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change? (UPSC PYQ 2017)

Introduction:

Global issues like climate change impact all nations, including India. The economy, society, and environment have all been severely impacted by the shifting patterns of the climate, and these effects are only predicted to get worse in the future.

Body:

Climate Change’s Effects on India

• India is already experiencing a number of the effects of climate change, such as altered rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and more frequent and severe weather events. Because crop yields and food security are impacted by unpredictable rainfall patterns, the agricultural sector is especially vulnerable.
• Impacts on Himalayan States: Because of their delicate ecosystems and high elevations, the Himalayan states are especially susceptible to the effects of climate change.
• Impacts on Coastal States: Sea-level rise poses a serious threat to coastal infrastructure and communities, making coastal states particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change. The coastal regions are also suffering significant damage from storm surges, saltwater intrusion, and cyclones that are occurring more frequently and intensely.
  
  

The entire world is impacted by the global phenomenon of climate change:

• Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and melting glaciers are just a few of the effects of climate change that the Himalayan states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir are already feeling. Rapid retreat of the Gangotri glacier in Uttarakhand is influencing the Ganges river’s flow, which is vital to the livelihoods of millions of people.
• Coastal states: The possibility of sea level rise puts Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha at risk for flooding and coastal erosion. Cyclones are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity, which has the potential to seriously destroy infrastructure and property.

Conclusion: In India, climate change is an urgent problem that has to be addressed right away. The environment, the economy, and society are all impacted by climate change, with the Himalayan and coastal regions being especially vulnerable. To lessen the severity of the effects, India must take proactive steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adjust to the changing climate.