18 August 2024

• Governance: controversy continued over the government's plan for lateral entry into the civil services. The UPSC had advertised 45 posts for Joint Secretaries, Directors and Deputy Secretaries, sparking a political debate over reservation and meritocracy.
• Health: the Kolkata doctor murder case of 8-9 August 2024 led to nationwide protests by resident doctors and the Supreme Court taking suo motu cognisance. The Ministry of Health issued an FIR mandate within 6 hours for hospital violence.
• Environment: the Chandipura virus outbreak, caused by the sandfly-borne Chandipura virus, was being tracked across Gujarat and Rajasthan with 245 cases of acute encephalitis syndrome recorded.
• International: India's ties with Ukraine continued to be in focus. PM Modi was preparing for his state visit to Poland and Ukraine.

GS area: Polity, Governance

The Union Public Service Commission advertised 45 posts for direct lateral entry into the civil services: 10 Joint Secretary posts and 35 Director and Deputy Secretary posts across various central ministries:

• What lateral entry is: appointing domain experts from outside the IAS/IPS/IFS cadres directly into senior civil service positions at Joint Secretary and below levels, on fixed-term contracts rather than as career officers.
• Historical recommendations: the Surinder Nath Committee (2003), the Hota Committee (2004) and the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2008) all recommended introducing domain expertise into the generalist civil service. NITI Aayog's Action Agenda 2017-2020 supported lateral entry.
• The reservation controversy: opponents argued that lateral entry posts should carry reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs as civil service posts do. The government's position was that these are contractual appointments, not direct service, and therefore outside reservation norms. The political controversy caused the government to subsequently withdraw the advertisement.
• Articles 16 and 335: Article 16(4) permits reservations for backward classes in appointments. Article 335 requires consideration of SC/ST claims consistent with administrative efficiency.
• Second ARC: the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2005-2008) was chaired by Veerappa Moily. Its reports covered a wide range of administrative reform topics and remain reference documents.

Static linkage: civil services, administrative reform, reservation provisions.

GS area: Governance, Society, Polity

The rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on 8-9 August 2024 triggered a national crisis in healthcare:

• Event: a trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College. Medical professionals across India went on strike demanding protection.
• Supreme Court intervention: the Court took suo motu cognisance and constituted a National Task Force to recommend measures for the safety of healthcare workers.
• Ministry of Health directive: the Directorate General of Health Services issued a directive requiring FIRs to be filed within 6 hours of violence against healthcare workers in central government hospitals.
• Legal gap: healthcare worker protection is a state subject under the Constitution. No central law specifically addresses violence against healthcare workers. Several states have their own Acts (Maharashtra, Kerala) but enforcement is weak.
• CrPC basis: Section 154 CrPC (now BNSS Section 173) mandates registration of FIR for cognisable offences. The 6-hour mandate applies this to hospital violence specifically.
• Context: the NCRB data shows over 40 documented attacks on healthcare workers daily across India.

Static linkage: fundamental rights, health governance, criminal procedure.

GS area: Health, Geography

The Chandipura virus caused an outbreak of acute encephalitis syndrome primarily in Gujarat and Rajasthan in August 2024:

• Chandipura virus: a rhabdovirus first isolated in 1965 from Chandipura village, Nagpur, Maharashtra. Transmitted by sandflies (Phlebotomus species) and possibly mosquitoes.
• Disease course: begins with flu-like symptoms, rapid progression to encephalitis (brain inflammation), high fatality rate in children. Most cases are in children under 15 years.
• 2024 outbreak: 245 acute encephalitis syndrome cases recorded. Classified as the largest Chandipura outbreak in 20 years.
• Affected areas: Gujarat (highest case load) and Rajasthan. Both states have sandfly-habitable terrain.
• Treatment: no specific antiviral or vaccine. Supportive care is the only treatment. Early hospitalisation improves survival odds.
• Vector control: sandfly control using indoor residual spraying with insecticides and minimising outdoor exposure at dusk and dawn when sandflies are most active.

Static linkage: disease surveillance, vector control, public health.

• National Film Awards (70th): the 70th National Film Awards were announced. Marathi cinema won multiple categories including Best Film. The awards have been administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973. Three categories: Feature Films, Non-Feature Films and Best Writing on Cinema. The "Most Film Friendly State" award is presented annually.
• Eri silk Oeko-Tex certification: India's Eri silk from Assam received Oeko-Tex certification from Germany's Oeko-Tex organisation as a vegan silk (the moth exits the cocoon naturally, unlike mulberry silk where the pupa is killed). India produces five commercial silk varieties: Mulberry, Oak Tasar, Tropical Tasar, Muga and Eri. Eri is a GI product of Assam.
• Ukraine flooding from Dumbur dam: the Ministry of External Affairs denied that flooding in Bangladesh was caused by India's Dumbur dam releases. The Gumti River in Tripura originates in the Longtharai and Atharamura ranges and flows 167 km to the Bangladesh border. This became a point of bilateral friction in the new Bangladesh diplomatic context.