Current Affairs 25th July 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)

Context: The CDSCO disapproved of cough syrup from various pharmaceutical companies.

About the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)

• The CDSCO is the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) for India’s medical devices sector as stipulated by the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules.
• It operates under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• Headquarter: New Delhi.
• Responsibilities:
  • Authorising new drugs
  • Overseeing clinical trials
  • Establishing drug standards
  • Monitoring the quality of imported drugs
  • Coordinating with State Drug Control Organizations
  • The CDSCO, in collaboration with state regulators, oversees the licensing of specific critical drug categories such as blood and blood products, IV fluids, vaccines, and sera.

President and Governor’s Immunity

Context: A three-judge Bench has compelled the Union government to decide if a “blanket” immunity granted to the President and Governors undermines fairness and constitutional morality.

Immunity under Article 361

• Article 361(1): States that the President and Governors are not answerable in any court for acts performed in their official capacity.
  • First Proviso: Allows the conduct of the President to be reviewed by any court, tribunal or body designated by either House of Parliament for the investigation of a charge under Article 61 (impeachment for violation of the Constitution).
  • Second Proviso: Asserts that the immunity does not prevent lawsuits against the Centre or State.
• Article 361(2): No criminal proceedings can be initiated or continued against the President or a Governor during their term of office.

Key Legal Arguments and Precedents

• Petitioner’s Argument: Argues that the immunity does not extend to acts outside the lawful duties of a Governor, especially those infringing on fundamental rights such as the right to life under Article 21.
• Supreme Court Precedent (Rameshwar Prasad vs. Union of India): Interpreted that ‘civil immunity’ under Article 361(4) does not prevent citizens from challenging actions of the President or Governors on grounds of malfeasance.
• Madhya Pradesh High Court (Ram Naresh vs State of Madhya Pradesh): Ruled that immunity does not impair police powers to investigate an offence or record statements, even from a Governor.

ICMR TB Detection System

Context: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is advancing the development of an affordable, fast, and easy-to-use tuberculosis (TB) testing technology.

About the Technology

• The technology, a CRISPR Cas-based TB detection system, was developed by the ICMR Regional Medical Research Centre in Dibrugarh and is considered the world’s cheapest TB testing system.
• Technology Features:
  • Capable of detecting the TB bacterium from DNA in saliva.
  • Can process over 1,500 samples within two hours.
  • Detects the bacterium from early symptoms.
  • Simple enough to be used even in primary health centres in villages.

TB Impact in India

• Approximately 480,000 deaths annually due to TB.
• Over 1,400 TB patients die each day.
• More than a million “missing” TB cases each year, either undiagnosed or inadequately diagnosed and treated, mostly in the private sector.

Examples, Case Studies and Data

• Success in Prevention Of Cybercrime (GS 3): Over ₹2,400 crore was saved in more than 7.6 lakh cyber crime cases due to ‘Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System’.

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