Genome India Database

India has established a comprehensive database comprising 10,000 human genomes representing 83 population groups. This equates to about 2% of the country's approximate 4,600 population groups. The database is intended to act as a foundational reference for future studies into disease and drug therapies.

Significance and Availability

The database, known as the Genome India database, is now accessible to global researchers and is housed at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) in Faridabad, Haryana. Currently, it identifies around 27 million low-frequency genetic variants, with 7 million being unique compared to other global references.

Research and Applications

• Many countries maintain genome databases for various purposes, such as: 
  • Estimating disease risks
  • Understanding adverse drug reactions
  • Genealogy studies
  • DNA profiling
• The primary focus of the Indian genome database is for researching diseases.
• The database contributes to the advancement of precision medicine, potentially improving healthcare outcomes.

Access and Privacy

Researchers interested in the data must submit proposals that adhere to data sharing and privacy regulations. The data is encoded numerically, avoiding classification by caste or tribe names.

Future Prospects and Expansion

The project, aims to bolster India's biotechnology sector. There are plans to expand the database to a million genomes, which could significantly enhance understanding of India's genetic diversity, despite costs being a limiting factor.

Z-Morh Tunnel: A Strategic Corridor

The Z-Morh Tunnel is a significant infrastructure project aimed at establishing a strategic corridor between Kashmir and Ladakh, ensuring year-round connectivity.

Strategic Importance

• Located in Ganderbal district, it keeps Sonamarg accessible throughout the year, countering winter closures due to snowfall and avalanches. 

Security and Economic Impact

• Local hoteliers  express optimism for winter tourism expansion due to dependable road access.
• The tunnel, bypassing avalanche-prone areas, features an intelligent traffic management system, boosting adventure tourism.
• Constructed at a cost of ₹2,680 crore, the tunnel is a 6.5-km long, two-lane infrastructure.

Zojila Tunnel Connectivity

• Z-Morh leads to the Zojila Tunnel, Asia's longest tunnel under construction, costing ₹6,800 crore.
• The 13.14-km long tunnel will significantly reduce travel time between Ganderbal and Kargil from three hours to 20 minutes.
• Connectivity is crucial, with the Zojila Pass currently closing during winters, cutting Ladakh off for months.

Concerns Over Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)

Background and Context

Before the enactment of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Supreme Court suspended criminal trials under Section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in 2022, following a promise by the Union Home Minister to repeal sedition as an offense. The Rajasthan High Court recently cautioned against using Section 152 of the BNS to stifle legitimate dissent.

Provisions of Section 152

• Criminalization: Section 152 criminalizes acts exciting secession, armed rebellion, and subversive activities, as well as acts encouraging separatism or threatening the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.
• Vague Definitions: The statute lacks a clear definition of what constitutes endangerment of sovereignty, unity, and integrity, leaving it open to abuse and broad interpretation.
• Lower Threshold: The term ‘knowingly’ reduces the threshold for offenses, making individuals liable even without malicious intent if their actions could potentially provoke prohibited activities or feelings.
• Non-Bailable Offense: Section 152 is both cognizable and non-bailable, increasing the risk of arbitrary arrests.

Potential for Abuse and Free Speech Concerns

• Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that out of 548 arrests under Section 124A between 2015 and 2020, only 12 led to convictions, highlighting the potential for misuse.
• The lack of safeguards in Section 152 may result in a chilling effect on free speech, similar to the issues seen under Section 124A.

Judicial Interpretation and Guidelines

• Previous judgments, such as Balwant Singh v. State of Punjab (1995) and Kedar Nath Singh v. State of Bihar (1962), emphasize the need for a direct causal link between speech and its impact to classify it as an offense.
• It is crucial for the Supreme Court to craft guidelines for enforcement authorities to prevent Section 152 from becoming a proxy for the offense of sedition.

Importance of Free Speech

The concept of a ‘marketplace of ideas’ should be upheld, allowing for diverse thoughts and expressions to be freely criticized and debated within a democratic society.

Supreme Court Verdict on Accessibility Guidelines

The Supreme Court in Rajive Raturi v. Union of India (2024) declared Rule 15 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Rules, 2017, inconsistent with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. 

Rule 15's discretionary nature clashed with the Act's mandatory provisions, such as Sections 40, 44, 45, 46, and 89. Consequently, the accessibility guidelines under Rule 15, including those from various ministries, lost statutory authority.

Key Implications of the Judgment

• The Court mandated the government to establish minimum mandatory accessibility requirements within three months.
• Court highlighted the fragmented creation of accessibility guidelines, stressing the need for principle-based frameworks ensuring universality and intersectionality.

Conceptual Clarifications

The judgment distinguished between accessibility and reasonable accommodation:

• Accessibility: A right embedded throughout the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, providing standardized accessibility standards.
• Reasonable Accommodation: Facilitates substantive equality by offering tailored solutions for specific challenges in particular contexts.

Evolving Understanding of Accessibility

Accessibility is dynamic, evolving with technological advances like AI and IoT, requiring ongoing adaptation of digital accessibility tools. The phased realization of accessibility involves setting immediate minimum standards with progressive enhancements.

Global Best Practices

Canada's roadmap to full accessibility by 2040 serves as a model, emphasizing harmonized standards with five-yearly reviews to meet evolving needs.

Addressing Barriers

The RPwD Act recognizes both tangible and intangible barriers, such as attitudinal barriers, necessitating theoretical and practical evolution of accessibility.

Universal Design

Universal design now encompasses all vulnerable groups, not just persons with disabilities, reflecting the environmental, rather than individual, basis of disability.

Role of Social Audits

Section 48 mandates regular social audits of schemes to ensure they are inclusive. However, lack of standardized guidelines leads to inconsistencies and inefficiencies. Standardization is crucial for effective identification of challenges and service enhancement.

Bureaucratic Complexities and Recommendations

Previous guidelines were complex and inconsistent, leading to increased compliance costs and delayed redressal for persons with disabilities. New guidelines should be clear, practical, and overseen by a nodal authority for effective implementation.

Deadline for New Guidelines

The deadline for releasing new guidelines is February, with potential extensions, urging diverse sectors to deliberate on minimum accessibility standards. This not only complies with legislative mandates but also presents market opportunities for inclusive products and services.

Earthquake Risks in the Garhwal-Kumaon Range

Scientists have highlighted the high risk of a major earthquake in the Garhwal-Kumaon range, primarily due to the region's historical seismic activity patterns.

• The records of the last 300 years indicate that past earthquakes have not fully released the accumulated seismic energy.
• An 8-magnitude earthquake is considered overdue by experts, underscoring the area's vulnerability.
• While predicting the exact day and time of such an earthquake is beyond current scientific capabilities, the focus is on minimizing potential damages.

Infrastructure Development in the Himalayan Region

Infrastructure projects in the Himalayas need careful planning due to the region's seismic risks and fragile environment.

• Projects aim to facilitate the movement of people and goods.
• However, recurrent landslides and glacial lake outbursts have caused significant damage to dams, hydropower projects, and roads.
• Infrastructure must consider the likelihood of a major earthquake and incorporate these risks into planning and costs.

Building Codes and Safety Measures

Strict adherence to existing building codes is crucial, not only in the Himalayas but also in the Indo-Gangetic plains, to limit potential damage from earthquakes.