14 Feb 2025 Current Affairs

Towards a Cancer-Free India

Introduction

Cancer remains a significant public health challenge in India, with projections indicating a rise in cases.
In 2023, estimates suggest over 1.4 million cancer cases were reported. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and its National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) play a crucial role in tracking cancer trends and informing policy decisions.
The government is committed to strengthening cancer care through various policies, interventions, and financial assistance schemes.

Union Budget 2025-26: A Focus on Cancer Care

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare receives a substantial allocation of Rs. 99,858.56 crore in the Union Budget 2025-26, demonstrating the government’s commitment to healthcare.

Specific initiatives targeting cancer care include:

Day Care Cancer Centers: Expansion of accessible treatment options through the establishment of Day Care Cancer Centers in district hospitals, aiming for 200 centers in 2025-26.
Customs Duty Exemptions: Reducing the financial burden of treatment by exempting 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines for cancer and other diseases from Basic Customs Duty (BCD), offering concessional customs duty of 5% for six lifesaving medicines, and providing full BCD exemptions for specified drugs and medicines under Patient Assistance Programmes.

Holistic Cancer Control: Key Government Programs

The Indian government employs a multi-pronged approach to combat cancer, centered around the following programs:
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS): This program focuses on the prevention, early detection, and management of non-communicable diseases, including oral, breast, and cervical cancers.

Key components include:

Cancer Screening: Implementing screening programs for oral, breast, and cervical cancers at the community level.
Early Detection & Awareness: Raising public awareness through health workers and digital platforms.
Infrastructure Strengthening: Establishing Tertiary Cancer Centers (TCCs) and State Cancer Institutes (SCIs).

The NPCDCS has led to the establishment of numerous facilities nationwide, improving access to cancer screenings and care.

770 District NCD Clinics
233 Cardiac Care Units
372 District Day Care Centres
6,410 Community Health Centre NCD Clinics

Strengthening of Tertiary Care for Cancer Scheme:

This scheme enhances specialized cancer care facilities to improve access to treatment across states. It has led to the establishment of 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCCs).

Additionally, institutions like the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Jhajjar, Haryana, and the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) in Kolkata are providing cutting-edge treatment and research opportunities.

Ayushman Bharat Yojana: This initiative provides universal health coverage, particularly for vulnerable populations. It ensures timely treatment for cancer patients and covers chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical oncology. As of 2024, over 90% of registered cancer patients have commenced treatment under this scheme.

The Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF): This fund provides financial assistance up to ₹5 lakh (potentially ₹15 Lakh) for cancer treatment to patients below the poverty line at 27 Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs).

National Cancer Grid (NCG): This network ensures standardized, high-quality cancer care across India. With 287 member organizations, the NCG treats over 750,000 new cancer patients annually, representing over 60% of India’s cancer burden. It collaborates with Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY to streamline treatment costs and has contributed to the development of electronic health records.

Advancing Cancer Research and Treatment

India is making strides in cancer research and treatment, exemplified by the following:

India’s First Indigenous CAR-T Cell Therapy: NexCAR19: This ground-breaking therapy, developed through a collaboration between IIT Bombay, Tata Memorial Centre, and ImmunoACT, offers an affordable and effective treatment for blood cancers.
Quad Cancer Moon-shot Initiative: A partnership between India, the US, Australia, and Japan to eliminate cervical cancer across the Indo-Pacific region. The initiative focuses on scaling up screening and vaccination programs, advancing research, and strengthening global collaboration.
Expansion of ACTREC: The Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research, and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) is undergoing a major expansion to revolutionize cancer research, treatment, and patient care.

Awareness Generation

The Indian government is actively working to raise awareness about cancer prevention and treatment through:

Community Awareness: Strengthening preventive measures through Ayushman Aarogya Mandir by promoting wellness activities and targeted communication.
Media Campaigns: Utilizing print, electronic, and social media to increase public awareness.
Government Support: Providing funds to states for awareness programs under the National Health Mission (NHM).
Healthy Eating Promotion: Encouraging nutritious food choices through the Eat Right India campaign.
Fitness Initiatives: Promoting physical activity through the Fit India Movement and yoga programs by the Ministry of AYUSH.

Conclusion

India is making significant progress in its fight against cancer through comprehensive policies, expanded healthcare infrastructure, financial assistance schemes, and advancements in research and treatment.

The Union Budget 2025-26 highlights the government’s commitment to strengthening cancer care, improving access to treatment, and reducing financial burdens on patients.

While challenges remain in ensuring equitable access and early detection, continued investment in awareness, lifestyle interventions, and technology-driven solutions will be crucial for building a comprehensive and inclusive cancer care system in India.

Q: What is the goal of the Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF)?

To reduce the financial burden of treatment.
To provide financial assistance up to ₹5 lakh (potentially ₹15 Lakh) for cancer treatment to patients below the poverty line at 27 Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs).
To operate Day Care Cancer Centres in district hospitals.

Correct Answer: To provide financial assistance up to ₹5 lakh (potentially ₹15 Lakh) for cancer treatment to patients below the poverty line at 27 Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs).

Sagar Island

Climate change, particularly rising sea levels and erosion, on Sagar Island in West Bengal’s Sundarbans, specifically focusing on the annual Gangasagar Mela and the threats to the Kapil Muni temple.
It also touches upon the political dimensions of the event, the local community’s struggles, and the Centre-State dynamics regarding financial assistance.

Key Points:

Gangasagar Mela:

Annual religious fair held on Sagar Island during Makar Sankranti.
Attracts lakhs of pilgrims to take a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the sea.
West Bengal government promotes the event and provides arrangements.
State government claims high pilgrim footfall (over a crore), but this is questioned.
Demands for the fair to be given national mela status by the central government.

Erosion and Climate Change:

Rising sea levels are causing severe erosion on Sagar Island.
The sea is approaching the Kapil Muni temple, threatening its existence.
Erosion is impacting local communities, disrupting fishing, and increasing displacement due to cyclones.
Climate change experts believe large-scale construction for the mela worsens erosion, violating Coastal Regulation Zone provisions.
Kapil Muni Temple:
A sacred site on Sagar Island, central to the Gangasagar Mela.
Threatened by erosion, with the sea rapidly approaching.
Priests are concerned about the temple’s future.

Government Initiatives and Accusations:

Proposed ₹4,100-crore project between the World Bank and the West Bengal government to strengthen embankments in the Sundarbans.
West Bengal government accuses the Union government of non-cooperation on funding for the Gangasagar Mela, unlike the Kumbh Mela.
Chief Minister appeals to the Kapil Muni temple trust to allocate funds for constructing concrete embankments.

Local Community Impact:

People in villages like Bamkimnagar are bearing the brunt of rising sea levels and cyclones.
Loss of livelihood due to salinity increase and fishing restrictions during the mela.
Frequent displacement to cyclone relief shelters.
Mangrove deforestation for construction worsens the impact of tidal surges.
Youth migration due to decreasing employment opportunities.

Political Dimensions:

The Trinamool Congress government’s promotion of the Gangasagar Mela is seen as a “soft Hindutva push” to counter the BJP.
Shankaracharya expresses concerns about erosion and tree cutting for infrastructure but also criticizes the State government’s plan to build a Lord Jagannath temple.

Environmental Concerns:

Large-scale construction on the island’s ecologically fragile beaches worsens erosion.
Destruction of mangrove forests for infrastructure increases vulnerability to tidal surges.

Contradictions and Concerns:

Claims of high pilgrim numbers are questioned by RTI activists.
The Shankaracharya questions the cost of development amidst concerns about climate change.

Q) What does the West Bengal government accuse the Union government of regarding the Gangasagar Mela?

Interfering with the arrangements for the fair.
Not providing adequate financial support compared to the Kumbh Mela.
Promoting religious tourism in other states at the expense of West Bengal.
Imposing restrictions on the number of pilgrims allowed to visit the island.

Correct Answer: b) Not providing adequate financial support compared to the Kumbh Mela.

New Income Tax Bill 2025 Highlights

Key Highlights of the New Income Tax Bill 2025:

Introduction: The New Income Tax Bill 2025 was introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha on February 13, 2025.

Purpose: It aims to replace the 60-year-old Income Tax Act of 1961.

Expected Implementation: The bill is expected to take effect in April 2026.

Standing Committee Referral: After being tabled, the FM requested the Speaker to send the bill to the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance for further discussions.

Simplification:

The bill is intended to be “crisper and simplified.”
It aims to simplify language and reduce the number of sections by 25-30%.
It replaces terms like ‘previous year’ with ‘tax year’ and does away with ‘assessment year.’
Streamlined to 566 pages (proposed) from over 800 pages (existing).

Modernization: The bill aims to modernize India’s tax system.

Key Goals (Finance Ministry):

Enhance readability by eliminating intricate language.
Improve navigation by removing redundant provisions.
Facilitate ease of reference by reorganizing sections logically.

Tax Slabs (New Regime):

0 – ₹4 lakh: 0%

₹4-8 lakh: 5%

₹8-12 lakh: 10%

₹12-16 lakh: 15%

₹16-20 lakh: 20%

₹20-24 lakh: 25%

Above ₹24 lakh: 30%

Relief for Middle Class: The exemption limit has been raised, and slabs have been rejigged. For salaried employees, the nil tax limit will be ₹12.75 lakh per annum, after taking into account a standard deduction of ₹75,000.

Access to Data: Tax authorities will have access to email servers, online investment accounts, trading and bank accounts, social media accounts, and digital application servers during searches.

Bill Stats:

The number of chapters has been halved from 47 to 23.
There are 57 tables (vs. 18 in the existing Act).
It removes 1,200 provisions and 900 explanations.
The word count is 2.6 lakh (vs. 5.12 lakh in the existing Act).

Tax Certainty: The bill aims to minimize litigation and fresh interpretation.

Support for Key Sectors: The bill includes new provisions to support startups, digital businesses, and renewable energy investments (Clauses 11-154).

Dispute Resolution: The bill specifies that the Dispute Resolution Panel will need to pass speaking orders with reasons to decide on objections taken by taxpayers.

Detailed Framework for Non-profits: The bill establishes a more detailed framework for non-profit organizations (Clauses 332-355).

Cryptocurrency Provisions: The bill introduces provisions for virtual digital assets and updates tax rates (Clauses 67-91).

Updated Return Timeline: The time frame for filing updated returns is extended from two to four years.

Reduced Sections: The bill aims to reduce the number of sections by 25-30%.

Largely Unchanged Concepts: Concepts like indirect transfers, GAAR, capital gains, SEP, taxation of royalty/FTS, tax rates, and residential status remain largely unchanged.

Modernization: Restructuring transforms 298 sections (effectively 819 sections) into 536 clauses.

Backlogs: A time limit has been set for disposing of appeals at the first appellate authority level.

Simpler Language: The bill attempts to simplify the language of the legislation.

Tax Year: The bill will replace terms such as “assessment year” and “previous year” with “tax year.”

Taxpayer-Centered Reforms: FM Sitharaman listed the new bill among the center’s taxpayer-centered reforms.

Suggestions: The income tax portal is still inviting suggestions from people with regards to the new tax bill under the section ‘new.’

Q: The New Income Tax Bill extends the timeframe for filing updated returns from:

1 year to 3 years
2 years to 4 years
3 years to 5 years
There is no change in the timeframe.

Answer: b) 2 years to 4 years

Dorka Metal Craft

Gift: Prime Minister of India gifted a Dokra artwork to French President Emmanuel Macron at the AI Summit in Paris.

Definition: Non-ferrous metal casting technique using the lost-wax casting method.

Characteristics:

Primitive simplicity
Unique folk motifs
Handcrafted designs (no joints)

Materials: Mainly brass and copper-based alloys.

Designs: Figures of:

Elephants
Horses
Religious deities
Lamps
Jewellery
Tribal motifs

Regions Found:

Jharkhand
Chhattisgarh
Odisha
West Bengal
Telangana
Madhya Pradesh
Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu

GI Tag:

Adilabad Dokra (Telangana) received a Geographical Indicator (GI) tag in 2018.

Casting Methods:

Solid Casting (South India): Single wax piece for the mould.
Hollow Casting (Central & Eastern India): Clay core with wax overlay.

Uniqueness:

Each piece is unique because the mould is destroyed during the process.

History:

Origins: Indus Valley Civilization (e.g., Mohenjo-daro’s “Dancing Girl”).

Practitioners: Dhokra Damar tribes (originated from Odisha and West Bengal).

Q: Which state’s Dokra craft received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2018?

Odisha
West Bengal
Telangana
Chhattisgarh

Correct Answer: c) Telangana

Kashi Tamil Sangamam

Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0 (KTS 3.0) is scheduled to take place from 15th to 24th February 2025.The event is organized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in collaboration with other ministries and the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

IIT Madras and BHU are the implementing agencies for the program.

Objective of KTS 3.0:

To rediscover and reaffirm the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.
To celebrate the deep-rooted bonds between the two regions.
To provide an opportunity for scholars, students, philosophers, traders, artisans, artists, and people from other walks of life to come together, share their knowledge, and learn from each other’s experiences.

Key Features of KTS 3.0:

1000 delegates from Tamil Nadu will participate in the event, categorized into five groups: Students, Teachers, and Writers; Farmers and Artisans; Professionals and Small Entrepreneurs; Women; and Start-up, Innovation, Edu-Tech, Research.
An additional 200 students of Tamil origin studying in various CUs will also be a part of the event.
The event will feature an exhibition on Sage Agasthyar and his contributions, seminars, workshops, book release, and more.
Participation of youth in all categories has been encouraged this year.

Previous Celebrations of KTS:

KTS was celebrated for one month in 2022.
KTS 2.0 was celebrated for a fortnight in 2023.
In both editions, there were overwhelming responses from people of Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

Registration and Implementation:

The registration portal for KTS 3.0 was launched on 15th January 2025 and was open till 1st February 2025.
IIT Madras will be the sender institution, and BHU will be the receiving institution, as in the earlier editions.

Q: What is the main objective of KTS 3.0?

(a) To promote tourism between Tamil Nadu and Kashi

(b) To rediscover and reaffirm the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi

(d) To conduct business and trade between the two regions

Answer: B) To rediscover and reaffirm the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi

Paris AI Action Summit

Prime Minister Modi co-chaired the third edition of the AI Action Summit held in Paris.

Paris AI Action Summit

The summit focused on promoting sustainable AI growth and enhancing energy efficiency, in line with global climate goals. Its key objectives included:

Ensuring access to independent, safe, and reliable AI for a diverse range of users.
Developing environmentally friendly AI solutions that require less energy.
Establishing effective and inclusive global governance frameworks for AI.

The event concentrated on five main themes:

AI in Public Service
The Future of Work
Innovation and Culture
Trust in AI
Global AI Governance
India’s Perspective and Initiatives

AI for Global Good: India highlighted the transformative potential of AI across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and agriculture, and its alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Five Pillars for Responsible AI Development:

PM Modi introduced a five-point agenda aimed at fostering ethical and transparent AI growth:

Pooling global resources and talent for AI innovation.
Developing open-source AI systems.
Creating high-quality, unbiased datasets.
Democratizing AI for people-focused applications.
Addressing cybersecurity issues, misinformation, and deepfakes.

Addressing Job Loss Concerns:

India recognized the worries surrounding AI-related job displacement, emphasizing the historical trend whereby technological advancements transform jobs rather than eliminate them. The country stressed the importance of skilling and reskilling initiatives.

Significance for India

Global AI Landscape: The summit occurred amidst intense competition in the AI sector, particularly between Western countries and China. It provided India and France an opportunity to showcase their soft power in this vital area.

Strategic Partnerships: The summit reinforced the strategic partnership between India and France within a critical technology domain.

Way Ahead

India is in the process of developing its own Large Language Model (LLM) that caters to its linguistic and cultural diversity. A public-private partnership model aims to ensure affordable computing resources for startups and researchers. The IndiaAI Mission promotes AI research and development through various initiatives, including:

Subsidized access to Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) clusters for AI training.
Funding for AI-driven projects in key sectors.

Concluding Remarks

The Paris AI Action Summit underscores India’s commitment to ethical, sustainable, and inclusive AI development. As AI continues to transform industries, India’s proactive investments in AI education, governance, and innovation will shape its future role in the global AI landscape.

Q: What opportunity did the Paris AI Action Summit provide for India and France?