CASTE CENSUS
1. Context
Andhra Pradesh Government will begin the Caste Census on December 9 in a Statement by the Welfare Minister Srinivasa Venu Gopal Krishna
2. Caste Census
- The socio-economic and caste census (SECC) was conducted in 2011 for the first time since 1931.
- SECC is meant to canvass every Indian Family, both in rural and urban India, and ask about their economic status to allow central and state authorities to come up with a range of indicators of deprivation, permutations, and combinations that could be used by each authority to define a poor or deprived person.
- It is also meant to ask every person their specific caste name to allow the government to re-evaluate which caste groups were economically worse off and which were better off.
- SECC has the potential to allow for a mapping of inequalities at a broader level.
3. Takeaways from Bihar Survey
According to data released by Development Commissioner Vivek Singh, Bihar’s total population now stands at a little over 13.07 crore, up from 10-odd crore in the 2011 Census. The EBCs make up 36.01% of this, and OBCs an additional 27.13%. The survey also found that Yadavs, the main vote base of the RJD, are the largest group, accounting for 14.27% of the total population.
The Dalits, or Scheduled Castes, account for 19.65%, higher than expected, while STs comprise 1.68%.
The Dalits, or Scheduled Castes, account for 19.65%, higher than expected, while STs comprise 1.68%.
4. History of Caste Census
The caste census is the demand to include the caste-wise tabulation of India's population in the upcoming exercise.
4.1 Caste census in Colonial Era:
- The First Census conducted in 1871 included questions about caste. This data was then used to divide and conquer India.
- It first privileged Brahmins are interpreters of Indian culture and then targeted them as the root of caste-based oppression and inequality.
- This classification was also a source of anti-Brahmin movements of the 20th century.
- Every census until 1931 had data on caste.
- The practice was stopped by the British with the 1941 Census, citing financial constraints. The Indian government did not pick up the dropped parameter.
4.2 Caste data published in the Census post-independence:
- Since the first exercise in independent India in 1951, India has published separate data on Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
- The Census does not include data on other castes.
- The Government of India had decided on the policy of official discouragement of Caste.
- It was decided that in general, no race/caste/tribe inquiries should be made and such enquires should be restricted to the Scheduled Castes and Tribes notified by the President of India in pursuance of Articles 341 and 342 of the Constitution.
5. Importance of Caste Census
5.1 Promote Rational Decision Making
- A caste census, which will generate exhaustive data will allow policymakers to develop better policies, and implementation strategies, and will also enable a more rational debate on sensitive issues.
5.2 Promotes Democratic Policymaking
- Advocates of its inclusion believe that the activity will be a pro-poor exercise that will help plan better and more targeted welfare schemes in the country.
- A caste census would bring forward a large number of issues that any democratic country needs to pay attention to.
- For instance, this census will reveal information regarding caste-based marginalization, deprivation, the kind of jobs pursued by a caste, etc.
- So, the caste census is nothing but the collection of data that is necessary for any democratic policymaking.
5.3 The rationale for the Reservation Policy
- Some proponents also suggest that a Caste Census will also help reservation policymakers have a more accurate idea of the affirmative action needed.
- While this data is currently available for SC and ST populations, the OBC population is estimated widely as per the number noted by the Mandal Commission at 52%.
- The Justice Rohini Committee was appointed in 2017 to look into the sub-categorization of the OBC communities; however, in the absence of data, there can be no data bank or any proper sub-categorization.
- All commissions have had to rely on data from the last caste census (1931). There have been substantive demographic changes since then and therefore, the data has to be updated.
5.4 Constitutional Mandate
- Indian Constitution also favors conducting a caste census.
- Article 340 mandates for appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of socially and educationally backward classes and make recommendations as to the steps that should be taken by the governments.
6. Last Cast Census and redundancy
- A separate Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) was conducted by the Ministry of Rural Development in rural areas and the Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation in urban areas in 2011.
- It was the largest exercise of the listing of castes and has the potential of finding inequalities at a broader level.
- SECC was a tool to identify beneficiaries of state support and it is open for use by Government departments to grant and/ or restrict benefits to households.
- However, the SECC data excluded caste data and was published by the two ministries in 2016.
- The raw caste data was handed over to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- The ministry formed an Expert Group under the Former NITI Aayog Vice-Chairperson Arvind Pangaria for the classification and categorization of data.
- The Pubic data eventually released gave numbers of different castes in India but not the population-wise data as was the demand.
- Only the details of the economic conditions of the people in rural and urban households were released. The caste data has not been released till now.
- The Centre says that an analysis of the data showed "that the caste enumeration...was fraught with mistakes and inaccuracies" and "is not reliable".
7. Way Forward
- A Caste census without data integrity would be much worse. Instead of going behind the caste bases census, the government can subclassify the Backward classes like in Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, etc. This will provide the benefit to intended beneficiaries.
- Since the government has already appointed Justice G Rohini's panel on the sub-categorization of OBCs. The panel has to fast-pace the sub-classification process.
- The Government can use technologies like Artificial Intelligence and machine learning to assess the SECC data and condense them into meaningful categories and some important caste-based information. This will provide the necessary time to analyze the need for a caste census.
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For Prelims: Socio-economic and caste census (SECC), Mandal Commission, Justice G Rohini's Commission, NITI Aayog, Article 341 and Article 342.
For Mains: 1. General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
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Source: The Hindu
INDO PACIFIC ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK
1.Context
With the scheduled seven rounds of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) negotiations coming to a close this month, New Delhi remains sceptical of joining the trade pillar, citing a lack of “tangible benefits.”
Source: The India Express
2. Background
- The U.S.-led economic grouping of a dozen countries representing 40 per cent of the global GDP proposes to advance resilience, economic growth, competitiveness and fairness in member countries.
- However, some analysts view it as a move to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
- The stated objectives of the IPEF are to promote trade, clean energy, and infrastructure and to strengthen supply chains.
- For reasons relating to substantial economic dependence on China, three smaller economies among ASEAN member countries — namely, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar — have stayed out of the IPEF.
3. Significance of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
- Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) aims to strengthen economic partnership among participating countries to enhance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The IPEF was launched with a dozen initial partners who together represent 40% of the world GDP.
- It is a declaration of a collective desire to make the Indo-Pacific region an engine of global economic growth.
- The Indo-Pacific covers half the population of the world and more than 60% of the global GDP and the nations who will join this framework in the future, are signing up to work toward an economic vision that will deliver for all people.
4. Domains of cooperation in Indo Pacific Economic Framework
- The economic framework broadly rests on four pillars: trade, supply chain resilience, clean energy and decarbonisation, and taxes and anti-corruption measures.
- Trade: We seek to build high-standard, inclusive, free, and fair trade commitments and develop new and creative approaches in trade and technology policy that advance a broad set of objectives that fuel economic activity and investment, and promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and benefits workers and consumers. Our efforts include, but are not limited to, cooperation in the digital economy.
- Supply Chains: We are committed to improving transparency, diversity, security, and sustainability in our supply chains to make them more resilient and well-integrated. We seek to coordinate crisis response measures; expand cooperation to better prepare for and mitigate the effects of disruptions to better ensure business continuity; improve logistical efficiency and support; and ensure access to key raw and processed materials, semiconductors, critical minerals, and clean energy technology.
- Clean Energy, Decarbonization, and Infrastructure: In line with our Paris Agreement goals and efforts to support the livelihood of our peoples and workers, we plan to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technologies to decarbonize our economies and build resilience to climate impacts. This involves deepening cooperation on technologies, mobilizing finance, including concessional finance, and seeking ways to improve competitiveness and enhance connectivity by supporting the development of sustainable and durable infrastructure and by providing technical assistance.
- Tax and Anti-Corruption: We are committed to promoting fair competition by enacting and enforcing the effective and robust tax, anti-money laundering, and anti-bribery regimes in line with existing multilateral obligations, standards, and agreements to curb tax evasion and corruption in the Indo-Pacific region. This involves sharing expertise and seeking ways to support capacity building necessary to advance accountable and transparent systems.
5. Significance and Prominence of the Framework
- It's a salient attempt to allow countries to decouple from Chinese over-dependence. The framework will strengthen the existing free and open rules-based global order, which China has been targeting to upend.
- It will help the U.S regain its dominant position in geopolitics that it has been losing to China and Russia. The aim is to reclaim economic leadership in East Asia and the ASEAN region without giving away concessions that would anger domestic lobbies.
- It will help in setting the rules of the road for the digital economy, ensuring secure and resilient supply chains. It will also play a pivotal role in raising standards for transparency, fair taxation, and anti-corruption.
- It complements the “Quad Plus” process. It brings together seven critical countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), all Quad states, and dialogue partners. This grouping solidifies a case for the “plus” characterisation of the Quad process.
- It will counter the other regional groupings; the TTP, the CPTPP and the RCEP. None of them had India or the U.S as participants.
- It will also improve mitigation and adaptation efforts towards climate change by helping in inducing major investments necessary in clean energy infrastructure and the clean energy transition.
6. India's interest in Indo-Pacific
- India’s trade in this region is growing rapidly, with overseas investments being directed towards the East.
- For Instance, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, and the Free Trade Agreements with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and Thailand.
- Nearly 50% of India’s trade is centred in the Indo-Pacific Region and the Indian Ocean carries 90% of India’s trade and its energy sources.
- India wants to assure freedom of navigation, secure choke points, resolve conflicts peacefully and address non-traditional security threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- India has been active in championing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. The US, Australia, and the members of the ASEAN have all expressed a common view that India plays a greater role in the region.
- Strong naval capabilities, multilateral diplomacy, and economic integration in the region are the need of the hour
- The countries in the region should have equal access as a right under international law to the use of common spaces on sea and in the air that would require freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes by international law.
7. Associated Challenges
- Though it's stated to be beneficial for the countries in the region it would require huge investments and active participation in the implementation phase.
- More unilateral and not consensus-based: Unlike traditional trade blocks where the agreements are the results of arduous negotiations by the members, the IPEF is driven primarily by the USA.
- Binding trade rules: It might fail to bring all countries in the region on board as it comes with binding trade rules but no guarantees on market access.
- India’s main concern is on the issue of data localisation, on which it has locked horns with the US over the last two or three years.
- In 2019, the government has introduced a bill in Lok Sabha that envisages a framework for localizing Indian data and the establishment of a Data Protection Authority
8. Current Developments
- With the creation of the IPEF, the US intention appears to be to dilute China’s economic heft in the Indo-Pacific region.
- China’s influence in Asia and Oceania has grown hugely over time due to its sub- stantial-to-overwhelming trade and investment ties with ASEAN nations as well as Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
9. Need of the Hour
- Establishing Common Standards: Such standards will cover labour rights, environmental standards, and the protection of intellectual property rights.
- Addressing Tech-related Issues: Clear framework on Data flow
- Balancing Self-Reliance and Globalization: India has always expressed its desire to attract foreign investment and become part of global supply chains, it is time to utilize the opportunities provided under IPEF with carefully framed policies.
- It is important to establish connectivity in the region based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, consultation, good governance, transparency, viability and sustainability.
- Appropriate diplomatic manoeuvring and economic and military assertion are vital for the implementation of India’s interests in the region along with leveraging the space as a building block for multipolar world order.
- Shortcomings on the ground have often afflicted India and that needs to change.
Source: Indianexpress
ELECTORAL BONDS
1. Context
While reserving its judgment on a batch of petitions challenging the Electoral Bond Scheme, 2018, the Supreme Court on November 2 ordered the Election Commission to submit data of the electoral bonds received by political parties till September 30. The Commission was given till November 19 to collect and submit the data in a “sealed packet” to the registrar
2. Key points
- As much as Rs 660.25 crores of EBs 97.63 per cent of the bonds sold were encashed by political parties at the New Delhi Main branch of State Bank of India.
- SBI is the only bank authorised to issue EBs to political parties.
- SBI said EBs worth Rs 309.45 crores were sold by the Mumbai Main branch and Rs 222.40 crores by the New Delhi Branch.
- With this, the total amount collected by parties through EBs has gone up to Rs 11, 467 crores from various anonymous donors in 23 phases since 2018 when the Electoral Bond Scheme was introduced.
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Anonymous donors had given Rs 545 crores in the 22nd sale of EBs conducted between October 1 and 10, according to data available from SBI.
Parties got 1,221 crores in the last two months and Rs 389.50 crores in the previous sale in July this year.
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3. Electoral bonds
- Simply, electoral bonds are a debt instrument through which anyone can donate money to political parties.
- Such bonds are a debt instrument through which anyone can donate money to political parties.
- Such bonds are sold in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10, 000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 crore and can be bought from authorised branches of the State Bank of India.
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A donor is required to pay the amount say Rs 10 lakh via a cheque or a digital mechanism (cash is not allowed) to the authorised SBI branch.
The donor can then give this bond (just one, if the denomination chosen is Rs 10 lakh or 10, if the denomination is Rs 1 lakh) to the party or parties of their choice.
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- The political parties can choose to encash such bonds within 15 days of receiving them and fund their electoral expenses.
- On the face of it, the process ensures that the name of the donor remains anonymous.
4. Reasons for introducing electoral bonds
The central idea behind the electoral bonds scheme was to bring about transparency in electoral funding in India.
- The country has not been able to evolve a transparent method of funding political parties which is vital to the system of free and fair elections.
- Political parties continue to receive most of their funds through anonymous donations which are shown in cash.
- An effort, therefore, requires to be made to cleanse the system of political funding in India.
5. Introducing electoral bonds
Formally these bonds were introduced in 2018 with two main changes.
- The reduction of the amount of money that a political party could accept in cash from anonymous sources from Rs 20, 000 to Rs 2, 000.
- The introduction of electoral bonds is a way to make such funding more transparent.
6. Criticism
- The central criticism of the electoral bonds scheme is that it does the exact opposite of what it was meant to do: Bring transparency to election funding.
- The anonymity of electoral bonds is only for the broader public and opposition parties.
- The fact that such bonds are sold via a government-owned bank (SBI) leaves the door open for the government to know exactly who is funding its opponents.
- This, in turn, allows the possibility for the government of the day to either extort money, especially from the big companies or victimise them for not funding the ruling party either way providing an unfair advantage to the party in power.
- Further, one of the arguments for introducing electoral bonds was to allow common people to easily fund political parties of their choice but more than 90 per cent of the bonds have been of the highest denomination (Rs 1 crore).
7. Learning outcomes
- Moreover, before the electoral bonds scheme was announced, there was a cap on how much a company could donate to a political party: 7.5 per cent of the average net profits of a company in the preceding three years.
- However, the government amended the Companies Act to remove this limit, opening the doors to unlimited funding by corporate India.
8. Election commission's stand
- The Election Commission, in its submission to the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice in May 2017, had objected to the amendments in the Representation of the People (RP) Act, which exempt political parties from disclosing donations received through electoral bonds. It described the move as a "retrograde step".
- In a letter written to the Law Minister the same month, the Commission had even asked the government to 'reconsider' and "modify" the above amendment.
| Asking the government to withdraw the new proviso, the EC had written, "In a situation where the contribution received through electoral bonds are not reported, on perusal of the contribution report of political parties, it cannot be ascertained whether the political party has taken any donation in violation of provision under Section 29(b) of the RP Act which prohibits the political parties from taking donations from government companies and foreign sources". |
For Prelims & Mains
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For Prelims: Election Commission of India, Electoral bonds, Representation of the People act, State Bank of India,
For Mains:
1. What are electoral bonds and Discuss why the electoral bonds scheme is opposed by transparency activists (250 Words) |
Source: The India Express
NON FUNGIBLE TOKENS (NFT)
1. Context
The sales of NFTs surged $25 billion in 2021 as the crypto asset exploded in popularity, fuelled by the rising interest of celebrities and tech evangelists, according to market data tracker DappRadar data analytics. However, some experts believe NFTs are a bubble which might pop
2. What are Non Fungible Tokens (NFT)?
- NFTs encompass a wide array of digital content, ranging from artwork, photos, videos, music, to tweets, all tradable online using cryptocurrency.
- Their distinction lies in being backed by Blockchain technology, an immutable ledger where transactions are transparent and unchangeable, unlike traditional banking records.
- The surge in NFT popularity stems from their role as a burgeoning platform for showcasing and selling digital art.
- Their inception traces back to 2015 with Terra Nulius being the pioneering NFT on the Ethereum Blockchain, primarily allowing customization of short messages stored on the blockchain.
- Subsequently, projects like Curio Cards, CryptoPunks, and CryptoCats emerged in 2017, gradually gaining traction before reaching mainstream adoption in early 2021. This meteoric rise has seen billions spent on NFTs, marking a significant shift in digital asset ownership
3. How does NFT Works?
- NFTs function within the blockchain, granting users absolute ownership over a digital asset. Consider a scenario: as a sketch artist, converting your digital creation into an NFT provides irrefutable proof of ownership, thanks to the power of Blockchain.
- Put simply, by listing your NFT on a marketplace, you incur a gas fee (transaction fee) for utilizing the Blockchain.
- Consequently, your digital artwork gets logged onto the Blockchain, explicitly stating your ownership (associated with your address). This ownership remains inviolable and unalterable by anyone, even the marketplace proprietor.
- Creating an NFT, often referred to by crypto enthusiasts as "minting," establishes exclusive ownership rights. Singular ownership is a defining feature of NFTs.
- Beyond sole ownership, NFT holders can digitally sign their artwork and embed specific details into their NFTs' metadata. This information remains accessible solely to the purchaser of the NFT, further enhancing its exclusivity and personalization
4. How is NFT different from Cryptocurrency?
- NFTs and cryptocurrencies may share the foundation of Blockchain technology, but their fundamental nature diverges significantly.
- Cryptocurrencies operate as fungible currencies, interchangeable in value. Holding one unit of a cryptocurrency, like Ethereum, equates in value to another unit of the same cryptocurrency. On the other hand, NFTs are non-fungible, signifying that each holds unique value distinct from one another.
- The individuality of every artwork or item encapsulated within an NFT makes it non-interchangeable and distinct in value, setting it apart from the uniformity seen in cryptocurrencies
5. Who can buy NFTs?
Anyone possessing a cryptocurrency wallet has the ability to acquire an NFT, serving as the sole requirement for purchase. No KYC documents are necessary for procuring art; all that's needed is a cryptocurrency wallet facilitated by Metamask and access to an NFT marketplace.
Among the prominent NFT marketplaces are:
- OpenSea.io: Recognized as the largest NFT marketplace, OpenSea offers a diverse array of digital art, collectibles, such as game items, domain names, and even digital renditions of physical assets. Functioning akin to an eBay for NFTs, it houses millions of digital assets organized into numerous categories.
- Rarible: Sharing similarities with OpenSea, Rarible stands as another major NFT marketplace empowering artists and creators to mint and sell NFTs.
- Foundation: This unique NFT marketplace requires artists to garner "upvotes" from fellow creators to showcase their art. Artists list NFTs for auction with a reserve price, initiating a 24-hour countdown upon the first bid. If a bid is placed within the final 15 minutes, the auction extends for an additional 15 minutes
6. Risks associated with NFT
- Purchasing Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) comes with several risks:
- The value of an NFT can be highly volatile, influenced by market trends, demand fluctuations, and the overall sentiment around NFTs. Prices can spike or plummet unexpectedly, affecting the investment's value
- The NFT market is relatively new and lacks comprehensive regulation. This absence of oversight can lead to scams, fraudulent activities, or misleading information about the NFT's authenticity or ownership
- Blockchain technology, the foundation of NFTs, isn't immune to technical issues. Smart contract vulnerabilities, hacking, or platform malfunctions can compromise the ownership, security, or existence of an NFT
- Despite owning an NFT, the underlying intellectual property rights might not always transfer with it. Legal disputes over ownership or copyright infringement could arise, impacting the value and legitimacy of the NFT
- The energy-intensive nature of some blockchain networks used for minting and trading NFTs, notably Proof of Work (PoW) systems like Ethereum, raises concerns about their environmental impact due to high energy consumption
- Selling an NFT might not always be straightforward due to market conditions, limited demand, or a lack of suitable platforms. Thus, liquidity issues can arise, impacting one's ability to convert an NFT back to fiat currency or another desired asset
- The value of an NFT can be highly subjective and tied closely to trends, cultural relevance, or the reputation of the artist or creator. This can make determining its long-term value challenging.
7. Way forward
Given these risks, it's crucial for individuals interested in buying NFTs to conduct thorough research, understand the market, assess the authenticity and provenance of the NFT, and be cautious about the amount they're willing to invest. Diversification and careful consideration of risk tolerance are essential in navigating the NFT market
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Previous Year Questions
1.With reference to Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2022)
1. They enable the digital representation of physical assets.
2. They are unique cryptographic tokens that exist on a blockchain.
3. They can be traded or exchanged at equivalency and therefore can be used as a medium of commercial transactions.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A.1 and 2 only
B.2 and 3 only
C.1 and 3 only
D.1, 2 and 3
Answer (A)
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Source: Indianexpress
SICKLE CELL DISEASE
1. Context
Recently, The UK drug regulator approved a gene therapy for the cure of sickle cell disease and thalassaemia, seen as a landmark breakthrough by many. This is the first licensed therapy in the world based on the gene editing technology CrisprCas9 earned its innovators a Nobel Prize in 2020.
2. What are Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassaemia?
Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited blood disorders that affect the shape and function of red blood cells. Red blood cells are normally round and flexible, but in people with sickle cell disease, they become sickle-shaped or C-shaped. These sickle-shaped cells can get stuck in blood vessels, blocking blood flow and causing pain, fatigue, and other serious health problems.
Symptoms of sickle cell disease can include:
- Painful episodes, called crises, that can last for days or even weeks
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Swelling of the hands and feet
- Anemia (a lack of red blood cells)
- Frequent infections
Types of Sickle Cell Disease
There are several different types of sickle cell disease, depending on the specific mutations in the haemoglobin gene. The most common type is sickle cell anaemia (HbSS), which occurs when a person inherits two copies of the gene mutation from each parent. Other types of sickle cell disease include sickle cell-beta thalassemia (HbSB), which occurs when a person inherits one copy of the sickle cell gene mutation and one copy of a beta-thalassemia gene mutation, and sickle cell-C disease (HbSC), which occurs when a person inherits one copy of the sickle cell gene mutation and one copy of a haemoglobin C gene mutation.
Causes of Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell disease is caused by a mutation in the haemoglobin gene. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The mutation causes the haemoglobin to be misshapen, which makes the red blood cells sickle-shaped.
2.1. Thalassaemia
Thalassaemia is a group of inherited blood disorders that affect the production of haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. People with thalassaemia have less haemoglobin than normal, which can lead to anaemia and other health problems.
Types of Thalassaemia
There are two main types of thalassaemia:
- Alpha thalassaemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the alpha globin chain of haemoglobin.
- Beta thalassaemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the beta globin chain of haemoglobin.
Symptoms of Thalassaemia
The severity of thalassaemia symptoms depends on the type of thalassaemia and the severity of the mutation. Symptoms of thalassaemia can include:
- Fatigue
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Slow growth
- Enlarged spleen
Causes of Thalassaemia
Thalassaemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is made up of two globin chains, alpha and beta. Alpha thalassaemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the alpha-globin chain, while beta thalassaemia is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the beta-globin chain.
3. How Does the Therapy Work?
- Both sickle cell disease and thalassaemia are caused by errors in the gene for haemoglobin, a protein in the red blood cells that carry oxygen to organs and tissues.
- The therapy uses the patient’s own blood stem cells, which are precisely edited using Crispr-Cas9.
- A gene called BCL11A, which is crucial for switching from foetal to adult haemoglobin, is targeted by the therapy.
- Foetal haemoglobin, which is naturally present in everyone at birth, does not carry the same abnormalities as adult haemoglobin.
- The therapy uses the body’s own mechanisms to start producing more of this foetal haemoglobin, alleviating the symptoms of the two conditions.
3.1. Trial Results
- Sickle cell disease: 45 people received Casgevy. Only 29 of these patients had been in the trial long enough for the interim analysis on which the approval is based.
- All but one of these 29 trial participants had no severe pain crises for at least 12 months after treatment.
- Thalassaemia: The therapy has been administered to 54 persons with thalassaemia for the trial. Of them, 42 were in the trial long enough for the interim analysis. 3
- 9 of the 42 patients did not need a transfusion for at least 12 months after the treatment. The need for transfusion dropped by 70% in the other three.
4. Treatment Preparation and challenges
- Casgevy is a one-time treatment for which the doctor has to first collect blood stem cells from the bone marrow using a process called apheresis used to filter out the blood for different components.
- The cells are then sent to the manufacturing site where it takes about six months for them to be edited and tested.
- Before a transplant with the edited cells, the doctor gives a conditioning medicine for a few days to clear the bone marrow of other cells that will be replaced by the modified cells.
- The patient has to stay in the hospital for at least a month so that the edited cells take up residence in the bone marrow and start making red blood cells with normal haemoglobin.
- Side effects from the treatment are similar to those associated with autologous stem cell transplants, including nausea, fatigue, fever and increased risk of infection.
- While the therapy shows tremendous potential, the cost remains a significant challenge, with estimates suggesting it could be as high as $2 million per patient.
- This poses accessibility issues, especially for individuals in poorer countries.
- However, experts believe that with more research and development, prices may decrease, and local manufacturing facilities can enhance affordability.
| An estimated 30,000-40,000 children in India are born with sickle cell disease every year. India also has the largest number of children with thalassaemia major in the world about 1-1.5 lakh. Dr Chakraborty’s team is also working on gene therapy for sickle cell disease with the government’s big push. The team is currently working on the pre-clinical studies and are likely to enter clinical trial in the next few years. |
5. Conclusion
Casgevy's approval marks a significant milestone in Crispr-based therapy. While challenges exist, including pricing and accessibility, ongoing research and potential reductions in costs indicate a promising future for gene therapies. The working gene therapy for sickle cell disease with upcoming clinical trials in the pipeline.
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For Prelims: Sickle Cell Disease, thalassaemia, CrisprCas9, Noble Prize, red blood cells,
For Mains:
1. Critically analyze the challenges associated with gene therapy, including cost and accessibility, and discuss potential solutions. (250 Words)
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Previous Year Questions
1. In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2022)
Which of the statements given above are correct? A. 1 and 2 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 1 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
2. Sick cell anemia (Sickle cell anemia) is caused by? (UPSSSC Chakbandi Lekhpal 2019)
A. Deficiency of folic acid
B. Abnormal levels of hemoglobin
C. Deficiency of iron
D. Decreased production of red blood cells (RBCs)
3. What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news? (UPSC 2019)
A. A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing
B. A biosensor used in the accurate detection of pathogens in patients
C. A gene that makes plants pest-resistant
D. A herbicidal substance synthesized in genetically modified crops
4. Consider the following pairs: (UPSC 2018)
Terms Sometimes seen in news Context/Topic
1. Bell II experiment Artificial
2. Blockchain Digital/Cryptocurrency
3. CRISPR - Cas9 Particle Physics
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
A. 1 and 3 only B. 2 only C. 2 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
5. Einstein got the Nobel Prize for (BPSC 64TH CCE 2018)
A. relativity
B. Bose-Einstein condensation
C. mass-energy equivalence
D. photoelectric effect
E. None of the above/More than one of the above
6. Who among the following scientists shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with his son? (UPSC CSE 2008) (a) Max Planck (b) Albert Einstein (c) William Henry Bragg (d) Enrico Fermi
7. Nobel Prize winning scientist James D. Watson is known for his work in which area? (UPSC CSE 2008) (a) Metallurgy (b) Meteorology (c) Environmental protection (d) Genetics
8. Nobel Prize for Economics was instituted in the year _______ (Punjab Patwari 2016) A. 1984 B. 1962 C. 1948 D. 1968 9. Red blood cells (RBCs) have (NDA 2017)
A. no nucleus, no mitochondria, and no endoplasmic reticulum
B. nucleus, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum
C. nucleus, mitochondria but no endoplasmic reticulum
D. no mitochondria but endoplasmic reticulum is present
10. Which one of the following statements about blood elements is correct? (UPSC CAPF 2018)
A. Red blood cells number is same as that of white blood cells and platelets.
B. The number of white blood cells is more than red blood cells.
C. The number of red blood cells is the highest.
D. The number of red blood cells is lower than platelets.
Answers: 1-B, 2-B, 3-A, 4-B, 5-D, 6-C, 7-D, 8-D, 9-A, 10-C
Mains
1. What are the research and developmental achievements in applied biotechnology? How will these achievements help to uplift the poorer sections of society? (UPSC 2021)
2. The Nobel Prize in Physics of 2014 was jointly awarded to Akasaki, Amano and Nakamura for the invention of Blue LEDs in the 1990s. How has this invention impacted the everyday life of human beings? (UPSC 2021)
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Source: indianexpress
