Month: July 2023

Shedding additional light on the debt conundrum

Post author By balancedreport
Post date July 28, 2023

The Indian economy is struggling with a ballooning fiscal imbalance and public debt, posing a serious threat to its financial stability. With state and general elections in 2023 and 2024, the electoral budget cycle has the potential to aggravate the debt position, raising concerns about its sustainability.

Central idea

Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, India’s increasing fiscal deficit and national debt were a source of concern. Although there has been some recovery after the pandemic, predictions show that recovering to pre-pandemic debt levels is unlikely in the short term.

What is meant by fiscal deficit?

The difference between a government’s total expenditures and total receipts (excluding borrowings) for a given time, usually a fiscal year, is referred to as a fiscal deficit.
It is an important part of a country’s fiscal strategy since it shows the amount of money that the government must borrow to meet its expenditure commitments when total expenses exceed total revenue.

What exactly is meant by public debt?

The total amount of money owed by a country’s central government to various creditors, whether people, financial organisations, or foreign governments, at a given period in time is referred to as public debt.
It is the sum of previous budgetary deficits and surpluses. The word “public debt” refers to all outstanding government borrowings, including short-term and long-term.

What exactly is financial repression?

Financial repression is an economic phrase that refers to government policies and regulations that influence interest rates, capital flows, and other financial instruments in order to divert revenues away from the government’s debt commitments and other strategic interests.
It usually entails actions intended at lowering the cost of government borrowing and increasing funds for government spending, frequently at the expense of savers and investors.

The budget deficit and governmental debt in India

One of the highest levels of debt: Even before the COVID-19 epidemic, debt levels in the developing world and emerging market nations were among the highest.
Fiscal Deficit: The fiscal deficit climbed to 13.3% of GDP in 2020-21 before declining to 8.9% in the post-pandemic period.
Public Debt: In 2020-21, the aggregate public debt relative to GDP was 89.6%, but it fell to 85.7% once the economy began to recover from the pandemic.
Debt-to-GDP Ratios in Individual States: Specific debt-to-GDP ratios: Punjab (48.9%), West Bengal (37.6%), Rajasthan (35.4%), and Kerala (near to 33%)

Financial repression’s impact

High Debt and Interest Payments:

Financial repression may increase government debt levels since it allows for low-interest borrowing. As a result, interest payments on the accumulated debt can constitute a considerable financial burden on the government.
In India, interest payments account for more than 5% of GDP and 25% of government revenues. This exceeds government spending on crucial sectors such as education and healthcare, stifling investments in critical infrastructure and human development.
Concerns Unique to Each State: High debt-to-GDP ratios have a particularly negative impact on several Indian states, including Punjab, Kerala, Rajasthan, and West Bengal. The debt burden in many states makes managing money and implementing development plans difficult.
Fiscal Policy Constraints: High debt levels caused by financial repression might limit the government’s ability to conduct counter-cyclical fiscal policies during economic downturns. This constraint may limit the government’s ability to properly respond to shocks and economic issues.
Financial Market Distortion: Government actions, such as the SLR requirement, can cause imbalances in the allocation of money, hurting credit availability for productive sectors such as manufacturing.
Impact on Sovereign Ratings and External Borrowing: High deficits and debt levels might result in poorer sovereign ratings from rating organisations. A low sovereign rating can boost the cost of external commercial borrowing, making it more difficult for the government to get cash from foreign markets.
Future Generations’ Burden: Excessive debt accumulation can result in intergenerational equity concerns, with future residents being required to repay the debt and interest collected during the period of financial repression.

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0954349X22000807

Governance Polity

No-Confidence Motion

Post author By balancedreport
Post date July 27, 2023

Opposition parties in the new Alliance INDIA aim to file a no-confidence vote against the government in order to force the Prime Minister to talk about the turmoil in Manipur.
A motion of no-confidence in the Indian legislative system is critical in judging the government’s strength and responsibility.
This resolution allows opposition parties or any member to voice their dissatisfaction with the Council of Ministers, resulting in a major political event.

Procedure for No-Confidence Motion: Rule 198:

The procedure for a no-confidence motion is outlined in Rule 198 of the Lok Sabha’s rules of procedure and conduct.
Absence of Grounds: This does not necessitate mentioning particular grounds in the motion, and even if mentioned, these grounds do not form part of the motion.
Exclusive to the Lok Sabha: It can only be moved in the Lok Sabha and not in the Rajya Sabha.
Written Notice: Any Lok Sabha member may move a no-confidence motion by filing written notice before 10 a.m.
Acceptance and Discussion: The motion must be supported by a minimum of 50 members in order to be accepted. When a motion is accepted, the Speaker announces the date for discussion within 10 days.
Voting methods include voice vote, division vote (using electronic gadgets, slips, or a ballot box), and secret ballot vote.

Implications of a Voting Majority Decision

After the vote, the side with the majority determines the outcome of the motion.
The Speaker’s Role: If there is a tie, the Speaker casts the deciding vote to break the tie.

Outcomes

Government Resignation: If the government fails to demonstrate a majority in the House, it is required to resign.
Political Implications: A successful no-confidence vote can result in significant political changes and cabinet reshuffling.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/everyday-explainers/no-confidence-motion-8860985/

Polity

The Accountability Debate in RTI and Political Parties

Post author By balancedreport
Post date July 27, 2023

The Chief Justice of India noted political parties’ worries about the potential revelation of internal decisions under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The case before the three-judge Bench asks whether national and regional political parties are “public authorities” under the RTI Act.
The court will look into the issue further in order to find a balance between transparency and the secrecy of the parties’ internal duties.

Petitions filed by political parties under the RTI Act Requesting Declaration

A number of petitions have been submitted requesting that political parties be classed as “public authorities” under the RTI Act. Respondents in this case include the Congress, the BJP, and other political groups.
Concerns expressed: The Communist Party favours financial transparency but is opposed to disclosing sensitive information such as candidate selection processes and internal conversations.
Judicial Observation: The CJI noted the concerns, implying that the parties may have a valid reason for not divulging internal candidate selection processes.

Advantages and Governance Role

Petitioners argue that political parties obtain significant government advantages, including bungalows, and play a role in governance through legislator control.
CIC’s Decision: Political parties were previously designated as public authorities by the Central Information Commission (CIC) in 2013 and 2015.
Parties’ Reactions: Political parties have raised concerns that RTI disclosure will intrude on secret meetings, change their posture towards the government, and limit their ability to organise protests against government policies.
The Union Government’s Position: The government opposes the petitions, arguing that the RTI Act should not be used to coerce parties’ internal operations and financial information, as this could be abused by political competitors.

CIC’s Interpretation

Liberal RTI Act reading: The CIC’s reading of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, which classifies political parties as public authorities, has been challenged.
Political Parties Are Not Government Bodies: According to the Centre, political parties are not created under the Constitution or any parliamentary law.
Existing openness Provisions: The Income Tax Act and the Representation of the People Act already demand financial openness for political parties.

@the end

The issue highlights critical questions concerning transparency vs confidentiality in a political party’s internal activities.
In the court’s deliberations, striking a balance between people’ right to information and parties’ right to anonymity will be critical.
The decision may create a precedent for how political parties are held accountable to the public while protecting their internal operations.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-acknowledges-political-parties-fear-of-rti-to-disclose-internal-decision-making/article67119070.ece

Environment & Biodiversity

Himachal Floods: A Natural or Man-Made Disaster?

Post author By balancedreport
Post date July 27, 2023

During the recent monsoon season, Himachal Pradesh faced disastrous flash floods, resulting in significant loss of life and property.
This article investigates the elements that contribute to floods, such as climate change and anthropogenic acts, and raises concerns about the sustainability of the current development paradigm.

Reasons for Extensive Flood Impacts

[A] Climate Change and Floods

The IPCC VI report anticipates that climate change will have the greatest impact on India’s Himalayas and coastal regions. The Himalayas are seeing increased precipitation over shorter time periods, resulting in catastrophic rains and floods.
Rainfall: Normal rainfall is estimated to be between 720mm and 750mm, however surpassing 888mm in 2010 and 926.9mm in 2018 has been seen. The current precipitation is the product of the southwest monsoon and western disturbances interacting.

[B] Impact of Development Model

Dr. Parmar plan: Himachal Pradesh’s development plan, launched in 1971, transformed the state into a model of mountain development. It prioritised land reforms, investments in social welfare, and human resource development.
Developmental Shift: With liberalisation came demands for budgetary reforms, pushing the state to create its own resources. Natural resource exploitation, such as forest, water, tourist, and cement manufacture, became the focus of development initiatives.
Hydroelectric Projects: The predominance of hydroelectric projects has resulted in unrestrained building, changing mountain rivers into streams and creating ecological damage.
Road expansion for tourism promotion led in the bypassing of geological investigations, resulting in landslides and destruction during rainfall.
Cement Plants: The construction of enormous cement plants affected the environment, diminishing the land’s ability to absorb water and leading to flash floods.
Changing Crop Patterns: The shift from conventional grain farming to cash crops boosted demand for hurriedly constructed roadways with inadequate drainage, resulting in fast river swelling following rainfall.

Commission of Inquiry on the Way Forward

Establishing a Commission of Inquiry with important stakeholders helps address policy framework shortcomings and project aspects.
Local Community Empowerment: A new architecture is required to give local communities control over their assets. Insuring assets and enlisting local communities as custodians can help to speed up the reconstruction process.
With climate change being a fact, infrastructure development should adapt to avoid disasters and alleviate the effects of high rains.

@the end

The Himachal Pradesh flash floods highlight the implications of both climate change and human-induced development.
It advocates for a comprehensive approach that takes into account sustainable development practises, empowers local communities, and prioritises environmental conservation in order to protect the region’s lives and assets.

Souhttps://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/explained-himachal-floods-a-man-made-disaster/article67121119.ece

Science & Tech

Electric Dipole Moment (EDM) of an Electron

Post author By balancedreport
Post date July 27, 2023

The University of Colorado conducted an experiment to investigate an electron’s electric dipole moment (EDM).
This EDM measurement could help explain why there is more matter than antimatter in the Universe, which contradicts the Standard Model of particle physics predictions.

Understanding Electron’s Electronic Dance Music

EDM (Electronic Dipole Moment): An electron’s EDM is a measurement of how its positive and negative electrical charges are dispersed. Consider it like a bar magnet: it demonstrates how asymmetric the charge distribution is within the electron, as if the negative charge (electron) within the particle is not perfectly centred with regard to the positive charge (proton).
Primary Particles: Electrons are the most basic and smallest building units of matter. Their EDM is a crucial notion in particle physics because it allows scientists to investigate violations of fundamental symmetries including time-reversal symmetry and charge-parity symmetry.

Asymmetry of Matter and Antimatter

Matter and antimatter are particles that have opposite charges but comparable characteristics. The Standard Model predicts that during the Big Bang, equal amounts of matter and antimatter should have been generated, but this is not what we see in the Universe.
Annihilation occurs when matter and antimatter collide and annihilate one other, producing energy. This begs the question of why there is still matter around us, given that both should have been entirely annihilated after the Big Bang.

Measuring the EDM:

By measuring the EDM of an electron, scientists may detect whether the electron’s charge is precisely centred or slightly off to one side, suggesting charge separation.
Time Symmetry Violation (TSV): If an electron’s EDM is non-zero, it indicates a breach of time symmetry, which means that the behaviour of particles changes when time is reversed. This violation may hold the key to explaining the matter-antimatter asymmetry.

This dichotomy’s thesis: Sakharov’s Conditions

Andrei Sakharov offered three requirements to explain why there is more matter than antimatter in the Universe:
Violation of the Baryon Number: Some operations defy the conservation of baryon number, producing more matter than antimatter. Baryons are particles that are similar to protons and neutrons.
Violation of C-Symmetry and CP-Symmetry: Because to violations of charge conjugation (C-symmetry) and combined charge conjugation with parity (CP-symmetry), certain processes treat matter and antimatter differently.
Out-of-Equilibrium Processes: Certain processes occur outside of thermal equilibrium, preventing full particle annihilation and resulting in an excess of matter.

Complex Experimental Setup:

To control and monitor the EDM of electrons confined inside molecule ions, the researchers used complex techniques including magnetic fields, lasers, microwaves, and radiofrequency fields.
EDM Bound: The experiment established a limit for electron EDM, suggesting that it is approximately 2.4 times greater than previously measured and approximately 1 billion times greater than expected by the Standard Model.

Implications and Prospects for the Future

Looking for New Physics: The measurement of the electron’s EDM opens the door to novel physics beyond the Standard Model.
The role of EDM measurements in explaining asymmetry: The information gathered from EDM measurements could drive future high-energy particle colliders to produce particles that violate temporal symmetry, allowing us to understand why there is more matter than antimatter in the early Universe.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0599-8

International Relations

Re-admission of the United States to UNESCO

Post author By balancedreport
Post date July 27, 2023

The US first lady raised the flag at UNESCO in Paris to mark Washington’s official re-entry.

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
Established	November 16, 1945
Headquarters	Paris, France
Membership	195 member states and 10 associate members
Mandate	International cooperation in education, research, culture, and communication is encouraged.
Objectives	Providing a great education that is inclusive and equal for allCultural heritage protectionScientific research and collaboration are being advanced.Advancing free expressionPromoting intercultural communication
Notable Programs and Activities	World Heritage Programme: identifies and protects places of exceptional universal importance.Education for All Programme: Ensuring comprehensive and equitable access to high-quality education for all.Promoting sustainable water management and cooperation through the International Hydrological ProgrammeMan and the Biosphere Programme: Promoting Sustainable Development and Natural Resource ConservationThe Intangible Cultural Heritage Programme protects and promotes intangible cultural heritage.

A brief recap

Withdrawal of the United States and Israel: The United States and Israel opted to leave UNESCO in December.
Engagement’s historical trajectory: The judgements should be viewed in the perspective of a larger historical background.

Causes of Withdrawal

Anti-Semitic resolutions: The United States and Israel cited a number of resolutions that they saw as biassed towards Israel.
Disdain for multilateralism and the ‘America First’ policy: The United States exhibited a lack of interest in multilateral organisations while prioritising its own interests.
The decision was based on rising arrears, the need for reform, and perceived anti-Israel prejudice.
Lack of interest in repaying UNESCO debts: The Trump administration saw little reason to repay UNESCO debts acquired since the Obama administration suspended contributions.

Consequences of the withdrawal

Impact on UNESCO’s day-to-day operations: The absence of the United States and Israel hampered the organization’s work.
Palestinians face only minor consequences: The Palestinian Authority’s diplomatic win was of little political or economic value to Palestinians living under occupation.

Why is the United States rejoining?

China’s influence must be counterbalanced: The United States seeks to challenge China’s growing influence in defining global policies on artificial intelligence and technological education.
Protect and advance US interests: Reunification enables the United States to protect and advance its interests in cultural heritage preservation, climate change measures, and girls’ education.
Reforms and diplomatic initiatives: The United States’ decision to rejoin was influenced by UNESCO’s management reforms and efforts to address concerns.
The decision to rejoin UNESCO has won bipartisan support in the United States, ensuring long-term commitment regardless of future political changes.
Financial considerations and commitment: The United States intends to complete UNESCO’s financial commitments, including payment of dues and arrears, demonstrating a commitment to supporting critical activities within the organisation.

@the end

The United States’ decision to rejoin UNESCO reflects a deliberate effort to offset China’s influence, safeguard and promote American interests, and participate in worldwide efforts for cultural preservation, climate change mitigation, and education.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/culture-shift-the-hindu-editorial-on-the-uss-unesco-re-entry/article66972146.ece

Geography

Cantonment Civil Area Excision and Merger

Post author By balancedreport
Post date July 26, 2023

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has proposed excising civic zones in 58 cantonments around the country and merging them with State municipalities.
Earlier in May, the administration announced an intention to eliminate the country’s 62 cantonments as “archaic colonial legacies.”

What are Cantonments?

Cantonments are permanent military stations that house a group of military personnel for administrative functions. The Cantonments Act of 2006 governs these territories and provides for municipal administration and oversight.
India currently has 62 cantonments distributed throughout many states, with some regions known for having greater infrastructure and facilities than other parts of the country.
Cantonment Boards: Cantonments are controlled by Cantonment Boards, which are democratic entities made up of members who are elected and nominated. The Station Commander of the Cantonment serves as the Board’s ex-officio President.

Historical Context

The British passed the Cantonments Act in 1924 to govern cantonment municipal government.
Following India’s independence, the Cantonments Act was amended to reflect the country’s democratic structure.
The current Cantonments Act, 2006, superseded the previous version, with the goal of giving Cantonment Boards more authority and accountability.

Cantonment categories from the past

Cantonments are classified according to the size of their populations:
Cantonments with a population of more than 50,000 are classified as Category I.
Cantonments having a population of 10,000 to 50,000 are classified as Category II.
Cantonments with a population of less than 10,000 are classified as Category III.
Industrial or training cantonments, regardless of population size, fall into Category IV.

Broader plan

Conversion to Exclusive Military Stations: According to the proposal, military areas within all cantonments will be classified as “exclusive military stations.” The Army will have “absolute control” over these sectors, which will streamline administration and operations.
The civilian areas of cantonments will be merged with the respective local municipalities. These municipalities will be in charge of maintaining these territories as well as providing vital services and infrastructure.
Abandon the Traditional Cantonment Concept: Following independence, the Indian Army abandoned the traditional cantonment system, owing to disagreements between military and civilian administrations. Certain important cantonments, like as Pune Cantonment and Agra Cantonment, remained operational.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/incoming/mod-proposes-excision-of-58-cantonment-boards-including-scb/article67116172.ece

Science & Tech

Semiconductor Technology: What will India manufacture?

Post author By balancedreport
Post date July 26, 2023

Despite recent failures, such as Foxconn Technology Group’s departure from a joint venture with Vedanta, Ltd., India remains devoted to its semiconductor objectives.

What exactly are Semiconductors?

Semiconductors are materials with a unique property of electrical conductivity that fall between conductors and insulators.
Semiconductors, as opposed to conductors, which enable electricity to flow freely through them, and insulators, which do not conduct electricity at all, have an intermediate amount of electrical conductivity.

Semiconductors have the following key characteristics:

Semiconductors conduct electricity more effectively than insulators but not as effectively as conductors. Their conductivity can be adjusted and controlled.
The energy band gap in semiconductors divides the valence band, where electrons are strongly bound, from the conduction band, where electrons can flow more freely. This band gap is smaller than in insulators but more than in conductors.
Temperature Dependence: The conductivity of semiconductors varies greatly with temperature. Their electrical conductivity increases as the temperature rises.
Doping: Impurities can be artificially doped into semiconductors to change their electrical characteristics. Doping introduces extra charge carriers, either electrons or holes, which can either increase or decrease conductivity.

Transistors and Semiconductors

Composition of a Semiconductor Chip: A semiconductor chip is made up of transistors made of materials such as silicon. Transistors encode data as 0s and 1s and then alter them to generate new data.
A transistor is made up of three parts: the source, the gate, and the drain. Data is stored and manipulated in the semiconductor chip by controlling the gate to open or close.
Transistors are coupled to many metal layers on top, providing a complicated network of electrical connections that allows the chip to perform multiple jobs.

Understanding the Naming Convention for Semiconductor Nodes:

Historically, semiconductor nodes were based on two numbers: gate length and metal pitch. This naming standard evolved as transistors shrank.
Discrepancy and Progress: As miniaturisation progressed, gate length and metal pitch stopped contributing to node names. There is no physical parameter near to 7 nm in today’s cutting-edge 7 nm node.

Legacy Nodes’ Importance

Benefits of Legacy Nodes: While advanced nodes range in size from 10 nm to 5 nm, India’s present focus is on nodes that are 28 nm or larger. Beginning with legacy nodes provides advantages for low-cost applications in robotics, defence, aircraft, industrial automation, autos, IoT, and image sensors.
Revenue Source: Commercial fabs continue to produce older nodes alongside modern nodes to meet a variety of demands. In the semiconductor sector, revenue from legacy nodes is still important.

Sensible Approach to India’s Semiconductor Journey:

India’s decision to begin with legacy nodes is strategic. It prepares the country for long-term success as the need for legacy nodes in applications like as electric vehicles and infotainment systems grows.
Future Potential: India’s semiconductor sector has the potential to grow and become a global centre for semiconductor technology with ongoing progress and development.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/india-semiconductor-nodes-28-nm-fabrication-applications/article67105423.ece

Governance

The Centre has withdrawn the DNA Bill

Post author By balancedreport
Post date July 26, 2023

The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019, was recently withdrawn from the Lok Sabha by the Union government.

Highlights of the 2019 DNA Bill

The Bill, initially proposed in 2003, seeks to provide a regulatory framework for obtaining, keeping, and testing individual DNA samples, primarily for criminal investigations and verifying identity.
The Bill has evolved over time and was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee in 2019.
Concerns were raised by the committee concerning potential misuse based on religion, caste, or political beliefs.

Key Features

The Bill’s goal was to provide a regulated framework for the collection, processing, and storage of DNA samples, primarily for criminal investigations and proving a person’s identification.
Existing Applications of DNA Technology: DNA testing is already used in criminal investigations, establishing parentage, and locating missing people.
Proposed Institutional Structures: The Bill proposed establishing a DNA regulatory board and a DNA data bank at the national level, with the possibility of state-level regional centres.
The DNA Regulatory Board’s role would be to develop norms and procedures for DNA collection, testing, and storage.
DNA Data Bank: The data bank would house all DNA samples gathered in accordance with the rules.
Restricted Testing: Only laboratories authorised by the regulatory body would be permitted to test DNA samples.
Managing of DNA Samples: The Bill outlined the conditions under which persons could be asked to submit DNA samples, the reasons for such requests, and the precise protocols for managing, storing, and accessing these samples.

Controversies and Objections against the Bill:

Reliability of DNA Technology: Critics raised concerns about the foolproof nature of DNA technology and its potential for error.
The key point of contention was the risk of misusing DNA information. Detractors warned that the collecting and storage of intrusive DNA data will lead to misuse and violations of individual privacy.
Concerns about privacy: DNA information discloses not only a person’s identify but also physical and biological characteristics such as eye, hair, or skin colour, illness susceptibility, and possibly medical history. Some critics contended that storing such personal information could jeopardise privacy rights.

Concerns of the Standing Committee

Technical and Sensitive Characteristics: According to the Standing Committee’s report, the Bill was technical, difficult, and sensitive.
Addressing Concerns: The report acknowledged and addressed some members’ concerns regarding the potential misuse of DNA technology based on criteria such as religion, caste, or political views.

International precedents:

The government contended that approximately 60 countries have implemented comparable legislation, demonstrating the need for such legislation in India.
Limited Information Storage: The government claimed that the indices would only save a limited amount of numbers, only 17 out of the billions that DNA samples potentially reveal. This information would serve as a unique identification and would not divulge any personal information.

@the end

The withdrawal of the Bill represents a delay in the government’s efforts to provide a legislative framework for the use of DNA technology.
The conflicts and concerns voiced emphasise the importance of a balanced approach.
While exploiting the potential benefits of DNA technology for criminal investigations and other purposes, the Centre must address concerns about misuse and privacy.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-the-dna-bill-8857810/

Science & Tech

India’s Controlled Human Infection Studies (CHIS)

Post author By balancedreport
Post date July 26, 2023

India has taken the initial step towards implementing Controlled Human Infection Studies (CHIS), a vaccine and therapy development research approach commonly used in other nations.
The Bioethics Unit of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has created a consensus policy statement that is accessible for public discussion, addressing the need, benefits, and ethical challenges related with CHIS.

What exactly is a Controlled Human Infection Study (CHIS)?

CHIS, also known as human challenge trials, are scientific investigations in which healthy human volunteers are purposely exposed to infectious pathogens under controlled conditions.
The major goal of these studies is to get a better understanding of pathogen behaviour, human immune response, and to evaluate novel vaccines, therapies, or infection prevention strategies.

Controlled Human Infection Studies (CHIS) key points include:

Informed Consent: Volunteers in CHIS must provide informed consent after fully understanding the risks and benefits of their participation.
Pathogen Types: CHIS can be used to examine a variety of infectious agents, including viruses (e.g., influenza, dengue, Zika), bacteria (e.g., cholera, typhoid), and parasites (e.g., malaria).
Vaccine Development: CHIS plays an important role in vaccine development by providing controlled conditions in which to evaluate the efficacy of candidate vaccines and their ability to elicit protective immune responses.
Controversy: The use of CHIS has raised ethical debates regarding how to balance potential hazards to participants with potential public health benefits.

Ethical Concerns Surrounding CHIS in India

Delicate Ethical Balance: Because of concerns regarding intentional injury to participants, fair pay, third-party risks, withdrawal from the study, and including vulnerable people, CHIS is deemed ethically sensitive.
ICMR recognises the necessity for a specialised ethics assessment process with enhanced oversight and protections to protect study participants.
Technical, clinical, ethical, and regulatory problems previously hindered India from implementing CHIS, which was impacted in part by the country’s distinct socio-cultural background.

Potential CHIS Benefits in India

High Disease Burden: Infectious diseases cause a large morbidity and death burden in India, accounting for around 30% of the disease burden.
CHIS provides unique insights into illness pathophysiology and enables quicker and cost-effective outcomes with smaller sample sizes than major clinical studies.
CHIS has the potential to improve public health response, healthcare decision-making, policies, economic rewards, pandemic preparedness, and community empowerment.

Collaboration and expertise are encouraged.

The Complex Nature of CHIS: The ICMR emphasises the complexity of CHIS and proposes that cooperation between researchers, institutions, organisations, and countries may be required to ensure adequate knowledge.
Important Contribution to Scientific Understanding: The consensus policy statement of the ICMR Bioethics Unit strives to address ethical concerns about CHIS while also noting its potential significance in enhancing scientific understanding of infectious illnesses and speeding treatment methods.

Public Input and Future Directions

Open for Public Comment: The ICMR’s consensus policy statement on CHIS is open for public comment through August 16 in order to elicit input from stakeholders and experts.
Striving for Ethical Research: The ICMR emphasises its commitment to conducting CHIS in India while upholding ethical norms and protecting human participants.

Source: https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/sites/dailyo//resources/202307/screenshot-2023-07-25-151957250723032643.png