ANALOG IAS INSTITUTE

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CURRENT AFFAIRS UPDATE : Part - 5
Index:
1). GM crop-!oon or !ane
"). T#e $%otec#no&o'( Re')&ator( A)t#or%t( o* Ind%a $%&&+ ",1-
-). T#e A'r%c)&t)ra& $%o-ec)r%t( $%&& ",1-
.). T#e Nat%ona& /and Re*or0 Po&%c( Dra*t ",1-
5). Ac%d 1 2%tr%o&a'e Cr%0%na& /a3 4A0end0ent) Act+ ",1-
5). D%r)pt%on %n Par&%a0ent
1). GM crop-!oon or !ane
Recently, a Technical Expert Committee (TEC) appointed by the Supreme Court of India recommended an
indefinite suspension on open field trials of genetically-modified (!) crops till the deficiencies in the
regulatory and safety systems are effecti"ely addressed# In the $a%e of this, let us discuss the pros and
cons of using ! crops#
The term ! foods or !&s (genetically-modified organisms) is the most commonly used to refer to crop
plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techni'ues# These
plants ha"e been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to
herbicides or impro"ed nutritional content#
Ar')0ent %n *a6or o* GM crop(
) *est resistance Crop losses from insect pests can be staggering, resulting in de"astating financial loss
for farmers and star"ation in de"eloping countries# +armers typically use many tons of chemical pesticides
annually# ro$ing ! foods can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides and reduce the cost
of bringing a crop to mar%et#
) ,erbicide tolerance +or some crops, it is not cost-effecti"e to remo"e $eeds by physical means such as
tilling, so farmers $ill often spray large 'uantities of different herbicides ($eed-%iller) to destroy $eeds, a
time-consuming and expensi"e process, that re'uires care so that the herbicide doesn-t harm the crop
plant or the en"ironment# Crop plants genetically-engineered to be resistant to one "ery po$erful
herbicide could help pre"ent en"ironmental damage by reducing the amount of herbicides needed#
) .isease resistance There are many "iruses, fungi and bacteria that cause plant diseases# *lant biologists
are $or%ing to create plants $ith genetically-engineered resistance to these diseases#
) .rought tolerance/salinity tolerance 0s the $orld population gro$s and more land is utili1ed for
housing instead of food production, farmers $ill need to gro$ crops in locations pre"iously unsuited for
plant culti"ation# Creating plants that can $ithstand long periods of drought or high salt content in soil and
ground$ater $ill help people to gro$ crops in formerly inhospitable places#
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CA 5
) 3utrition !alnutrition is common in third $orld countries $here impo"erished peoples rely on a single
crop such as rice for the main staple of their diet# ,o$e"er, rice does not contain ade'uate amounts of all
necessary nutrients to pre"ent malnutrition# If rice could be genetically engineered to contain additional
"itamins and minerals, nutrient deficiencies could be alle"iated# +or example, blindness due to "itamin 0
deficiency is a common problem in third $orld countries# Researchers at the S$iss +ederal Institute of
Technology Institute for *lant Sciences ha"e created a strain of 4golden4 rice containing an unusually high
content of beta-carotene ("itamin 0)#
) *harmaceuticals !edicines and "accines often are costly to produce and sometimes re'uire special
storage conditions not readily a"ailable in third $orld countries# Researchers are $or%ing to de"elop edible
"accines in tomatoes and potatoes# These "accines $ill be much easier to ship, store and administer than
traditional in5ectable "accines#
) *hytoremediation 3ot all ! plants are gro$n as crops# Soil and ground$ater pollution continues to be
a problem in all parts of the $orld# *lants such as poplar trees ha"e been genetically engineered to clean
up hea"y metal pollution from contaminated soil#
Ar')0ent a'a%nt GM crop(
En"ironmental acti"ists, religious organi1ations, public interest groups, professional associations and other
scientists and go"ernment officials ha"e all raised concerns about ! foods, and critici1ed agribusiness for
pursuing profit $ithout concern for potential ha1ards, and the go"ernment for failing to exercise ade'uate
regulatory o"ersight#
6)# En6%ron0enta& #a8ard
) 7nintended harm to other organisms 7nfortunately, 8#t# toxins %ill many species of insect lar"ae
indiscriminately9 it is not possible to design a 8#t# toxin that $ould only %ill crop-damaging pests and
remain harmless to all other insects#
) Reduced effecti"eness of pesticides :ust as some populations of mos'uitoes de"eloped resistance to
the no$-banned pesticide ..T, many people are concerned that insects $ill become resistant to 8#t# or
other crops that ha"e been genetically-modified to produce their o$n pesticides#
) ene transfer to non-target species 0nother concern is that crop plants engineered for herbicide
tolerance and $eeds $ill cross-breed, resulting in the transfer of the herbicide resistance genes from the
crops into the $eeds# These 4super$eeds4 $ould then be herbicide tolerant as $ell# &ther introduced
genes may cross o"er into non-modified crops planted next to ! crops#
;)#9)0an #ea&t# r%:
) 0llergenicity There is a possibility that introducing a gene into a plant may create a ne$ allergen or
cause an allergic reaction in susceptible indi"iduals# Extensi"e testing of ! foods may be re'uired to
a"oid the possibility of harm to consumers $ith food allergies# <abeling of ! foods and food products $ill
ac'uire ne$ importance#
) 7n%no$n effects on human health There is a gro$ing concern that introducing foreign genes into food
plants may ha"e an unexpected and negati"e impact on human health#
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-).Econo0%c concern
8ringing a ! food to mar%et is a lengthy and costly process, and of course agri-biotech companies $ish to
ensure a profitable return on their in"estment# !any ne$ plant genetic engineering technologies and !
plants ha"e been patented, and patent infringement is a big concern of agribusiness# =et consumer
ad"ocates are $orried that patenting these ne$ plant "arieties $ill raise the price of seeds so high that
small farmers and third $orld countries $ill not be able to afford seeds for ! crops, thus $idening the
gap bet$een the $ealthy and the poor# 0nother concern is the introduction of a 4suicide gene4 into !
plants# These plants $ould be "iable for only one gro$ing season and $ould produce sterile seeds that do
not germinate# +armers $ould need to buy a fresh supply of seeds each year# This $ould be financially
disastrous for farmers in third $orld countries $ho cannot afford to buy seed each year and traditionally
set aside a portion of their har"est to plant in the next gro$ing season#
"). T#e $%otec#no&o'( Re')&ator( A)t#or%t( o* Ind%a $%&&+ ",1-
The 8iotechnology Regulatory 0uthority of India 8ill, ;>6? $as introduced in the <o% Sabha recently# The
8ill aims to promote the safe use of modern biotechnology by enhancing the effecti"eness and efficiency
of regulatory procedures# Some of the highlights of the bill are(
8iotechnology Regulatory 0uthority( The 8ill establishes the 8iotechnology Regulatory 0uthority of
India (0uthority)# The 0uthority $ill consist of a chairperson, t$o full time members, and t$o part
time members#
+unctions of the 0uthority( The functions of the 0uthority shall include regulating the research,
transport, import, containment, en"ironmental release, manufacture and use of organisms and
products of modern biotechnology# The 0uthority has the po$er to call for information, conduct
an in'uiry and issue directions for the safety of products or processes of modern biotechnology#
+ield trials for certain organisms or products cannot be conducted unless the 0uthority permits
them as aiding the de"elopment of modern biotechnology such as genetically engineered plants,
animals used in food or any animal clones that can be applied in agriculture, fisheries or food
products# The 8ill $ill not apply to the clinical trials of drugs, under the .rugs and Cosmetics 0ct,
6@A>, and food or food additi"es or any material under the +ood Safety and Standards 0ct, ;>>B#
The 0uthority $ill not disclose confidential commercial information made a"ailable in an
application to the 0uthority# ,o$e"er, the 0uthority may disclose it in public interest or if this
disclosure $ill not harm any person#
.i"isions under the 0uthority( Regulatory di"isions of the 0uthority ha"e been created for the
implementation of safety assessment procedures and processes# The di"isions are( (i) agriculture,
forest and fisheries, (ii) human health and "eterinary products, and (iii) industrial and
en"ironmental applications#
0 Ris% 0ssessment 7nit $ill appraise applications for proposed research, transport or import of an
organism or product, before final appro"al is granted# The *roduct Rulings Committee $ill ma%e
recommendations to the 0uthority for the manufacture or use of organisms or products# The
En"ironmental 0ppraisal *anel $ill ma%e recommendations on en"ironmental safety of organisms
and products#
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&ther bodies( 0n Inter-!inisterial o"ernance 8oard has been established to promote inter-
ministerial or departmental co-operation for the effecti"e discharge of the functions of the
0uthority#
0 8iotechnology 0d"isory Council $ill render strategic ad"ice to the 0uthority regarding
de"elopments in modern biotechnology and their implications in India#
State le"el body( 0 State 8iotechnology Regulatory 0d"isory Committee $ill act as a nodal agency
bet$een the state go"ernment and the 0uthority $ith regard to the regulation of modern
biotechnology#
0ppellate Tribunal( 0 8iotechnology Regulatory 0ppellate Tribunal $ill hear appeals against the
decisions, orders or directions of the 0uthority# The Tribunal $ill consist of a full-time chairperson,
$ho has been a 5udge of the Supreme Court of India or a Chief :ustice of a ,igh Court, and fi"e part
time expert members#
*enalties under the 8ill( The 8ill imposes a penalty for pro"iding false information (imprisonment
for three months and fine extending to Rs fi"e la%h) and conducting an unappro"ed field trial
(imprisonment for six months to one year and a fine extending to Rs t$o la%h)#
-). T#e A'r%c)&t)ra& $%o-ec)r%t( $%&& ",1-:
0 8ill is introduced in the <o% Sabha that pro"ides for setting up an authority for the pre"ention, control,
eradication and management of pests and diseases of plants and animals#
The proposed legislation $ill ensure the agricultural bio-security of the country and safeguard the
agricultural economy, an official statement said#
It $ill also meet IndiaCs international obligations for facilitating import and export of plants, plant products,
animals, animal products, a'uatic organisms and regulation of agriculturally important micro-organisms#
The 0gricultural 8io-Security 8ill, ;>6?, see%s to bring together plant, animal and marine protection and
'uarantine set-ups under a high po$ered body D an 0uthority D $ith ade'uate po$ers# The 0uthorityCs
mandate $ould co"er the four sectors of agricultural bio-security, namely plant health, animal health,
li"ing a'uatic resources (fisheries), and agriculturally important micro-organisms#
The opening up of agriculture has enhanced the ris% of the entry of exotic pests and $eeds in the country
that ha"e a potential to cause serious economic losses# 0n integrated approach through the proposed agri-
biosecurity authority $ould not only increase the capability to protect human health, agricultural
production and li"elihoods, safeguard the en"ironment and protect against uncertain technologies and
products, but also e'uip the country to meet its obligations under international trade, sanitary and phyto-
sanitary agreements in food and agri-products#
The bill proposes(
a# integration of plant and 'uarantine ser"ices9
b# establishment of an 0uthority for pre"ention, control, eradication and management of pests and
diseases of plants and animals and un$anted organisms for ensuring agricultural biosecurity9
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c# to meet international obligations or India for facilitating imports and exports of plants, plant products,
animals, animal products, a'uatic organisms and regulation of agriculturally important micro-organisms9
d# pre"ention and control of pest infestation or infection, including declaration of an area as Econtrolled
areaF for this purpose and measures for control of such infestation or infection9
e# pro"ision for infection, ta%ing samples, entry and search of premises, chec%ing of con"eyances to ensure
compliance of phytosanitary and sanitary measures and also sei1ure, treatment and disposal of plants,
animals and their products to pre"ent spread of pests by designated officers9
f# declaration of biosecurity emergency in case of outbrea% of organisms threatening biosecurity and
actions and procedures to deal $ith it9
g# remo"al of plant, animals, their products and other ob5ects imported in "iolation of the pro"isions of the
proposed legislation#
.). T#e Nat%ona& /and Re*or0 Po&%c( Dra*t ",1-
The 7nion o"ernment of India proposed land reforms for ac%no$ledging the $omen rights and gi"ing the
o$nership to rural poor $omen, according to the 3ational <and Reform *olicy .raft ;>6? formulated by
7nion !inistry of Rural .e"elopment released on 6G :uly ;>6?#
9%'#&%'#t o* t#e Dra*t:
H In all o"ernment land transfers, $omenCs claims should be directly recogni1ed#
H 0ccording to the ne$ policy, all ne$ land distribution among landless poor families $ill be in the
$omenCs name#
H In all land distribution schemes (land related to surplus land, custodial land, or under the land ceiling act),
the land should be distributed to rural landless $omen $or%ers#
H The policy recommends I> percent of land holdings gi"en to forest communities should go to $omen#
H 7nder the policy, elderly $omen and $ido$s too $ould gain title to land#
H The policy ad"ises the states to consider the adoption of a group approach in land culti"ation# Thus,
group titles to $omenCs group should be granted#
H The policy also as%ed the state to assess all unculti"ated arable land $ith the o"ernment, and gi"e
$omenCs groups such land in the long term for group culti"ation#
H Jomen constitute nearly A> percent of the agricultural $or%force in the country# !ore importantly, KI
percent of all female $or%force and GI percent of all rural female $or%force in the country at present, $as
in"ol"ed in agriculture#
H In recent days, rural households are increasingly becoming female headed households, due to
$ido$hood, desertion, or male out-migration#
H The Ele"enth +i"e =ear *lan recognised that agricultural producti"ity $as increasingly getting dependent
on the ability of $omen to function effecti"ely as farmers and strongly, and had also recommended to
ensure effecti"e and independent land rights for $omen#
H The T$elfth +i"e =ear *lan emphasised on enhancing $omenCs land access from all three sources- direct
go"ernment transfers, purchase or lease from the mar%et and inheritance#
H The land rights can ser"e multiple functions in rural $omenCs li"es and $ould empo$er them to
challenge the socio-economic and political ine'ualities pre"alent in the rural-semi feudal society#
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5). Ac%d 1 2%tr%o&a'e Cr%0%na& /a3 4A0end0ent) Act+ ",1-
The 0cids L Mitriolage Criminal <a$ (0mendment) 0ct, ;>6? brought about some changes in dealing $ith
the crimes related to acid-thro$ing #This act follo$s a three pronged approach to discourage acid-
thro$ing(
6# rigorous punishment
;# regulating access to acids
?# compensation scheme for "ictims
Some of the salient features of this act are as follo$s(
H The Indian *enal Code did not ha"e specific pro"isions to criminali1e and punish acid attac%s until earlier
this year#
H If a person is con"icted for thro$ing acid on another, and thereby causing temporary or permanent
damage or deformity, a minimum imprisonment of 6> years and a maximum of life imprisonment is no$
pro"ided#
H E"en if thro$ing acid does not result in in5ury, the perpetrator can recei"e a minimum punishment of fi"e
years, and a maxi- mum of se"en years imprisonment#
H If in5ury occurs, the court can order the perpetrator to pay compensation co"ering the "ic- timCs
reasonable medical expenses# (3o amount is fixed by the Criminal <a$ amendment 0ct, ;>6?# It said the
compensation should be 5ust and reasonable to meet the expenses#)
H &n :uly 6B this year, the Central go"ernment in- formed the Supreme Court that acids $ill be designated
as EpoisonF under the *oisons 0ct, 6@6@# The *oisons 0ct empo$ers state go"ern- ments to regulate the
sale and possession of poisons#
5). D%r)pt%on %n Par&%a0ent
In the recent days, there ha"e been shoc%ing incidents of unruly *arliamentary beha"ior# E"en more shoc%ing is the
fact that the entire opposition as $ell as the media has accepted this in5ustice mee%ly and $ithout protest#
Shorter sessions $ere responsible, among other things, for the chaos $itnessed in *arliament# !embers felt they
did not get enough opportunity to raise issues of public importance# The go"ernment, too, did not get enough time
to conduct its business and pass its bills#
.isruptions in *arliament made the people of India feel disillusioned $ith the functioning of *arliament and indeed,
$ith the $hole system of parliamentary democracy# The po$er to summon *arliament is "ested in the *resident of
India $ho is supposed to act on the ad"ice of the Council of !inisters# The Council of !inisters is responsible to
*arliament# 8ut, as far as sessions are concerned, *arliament is a prisoner of the Executi"e# Thus, it is the tail $hich is
$agging the dog#
*arliament en5oys an inherent right to conduct its affairs $ithout interference from any outside body# It is the sole
5udge of its o$n procedures# In "ie$ of this clearly defined supremacy of *arliament, and in "ie$ of the fact that the
con"ening of *arliament is a matter of procedure, there has to be changes in the rules for summoning *arliament
and the *resident, $ho is part of *arliament, has to go by the rules framed by *arliament rather than the ad"ice of
the Council of !inisters#
The Rules of *rocedure and Conduct of 8usiness in <o% Sabha should be amended thereby ma%ing the <o% Sabha to
meet at least for 6G> days in a year# The first session of <o% Sabha shall commence from the second $ee% of
+ebruary each year# This $ill be the 8udget session#
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The first part of the session $ill go on until the middle of !arch# Thereafter, there could be a recess of three $ee%s
to allo$ the standing committees to examine the budget# The session could resume again from the first $ee% of
0pril and could go on until the end of !ay# The monsoon session could begin from the second $ee% of :uly and
should end after the first $ee% of September# The $inter session of *arliament could begin from the second $ee% of
3o"ember and end on .ecember ;?# Nero hour should begin as soon as the ,ouse assembled and Ouestion hour
could start at noon to sa"e the Ouestion hour, $hich $as often lost in din because members $ere not allo$ed to
raise important issues# I had also suggested that the meetings of the standing committees should be opened to the
media and should not be shrouded in secrecy#
These suggestions $ere gi"en by ;a#3ant S%n#a and are still a$aiting the consideration of the Spea%er and the
Rules committee# *arliament is being increasingly reduced to a farce by the go"ernment# In our "igorous democracy
the tumult outside is bound to be echoed inside *arliament# The best solution is to ha"e longer sessions of
*arliament#
0part from these, the follo$ing remedial measures ha"e to be ta%en in the $a%e of declining *arliamentary beha"ior
in our country(
The illiteracy of the "oters is the main factor behind the composition of our present legislators# So, "oters
should be trained by using audio "isual media, to change the "oting beha"ior#
!inimum educational 'ualification has to be prescribed for peopleCs representati"es#
There has to be parliamentary training for all the peopleCs representati"es before real sessions#
*o$ers of the Spea%er ha"e to be increased so that the Spea%er can ta%e penal action against the erring
!*s#
There has to be strict compliance of time allocation, in order to a"oid Pangaroo closure and uillotine#
(uillotine means in"iting "oting $ithout ha"ing proper discussion and Pangaroo closure shifting from one
discussion to another $ithout completing due to lac% of time#)
So, in the $a%e of rising incidents of unruly *arliamentary beha"ior, the abo"e mentioned measures ha"e
to be ta%en# 8ut, for these reforms to be carried out, the present composition of the *arliament has to be
changed, $hich is in the hands of the "oters# So, ultimately, "oting beha"ior has to be changed for other
reforms to be carried out#
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