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Explainer: What is the National Medical Commission Bill & Why are Doctors protesting?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
August 5, 2019
Among other legislations, the Parliament passed the National Medical
Commission bill during the current session. What are the main features of this
bill and why are doctors across the country protesting against this
legislation? Here is an explainer.
On Monday, 29 July 2019, the Lok Sabha passed the National Medical Commission Bill. Even though it was initially tabled in the Lok Sabha in December 2017,it faced stiff opposition and was then sent for scrutiny to the parliamentary standing committee of Health andFamily Welfare.  The standing committeesubmitted its report in March 2018. The Bill finally lapsed with the culminationof the first term of the NDA Government (2014 to 2019). The Bill was againtabled by the Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, in the current LokSabha following the resounding victory of NDA and was later passed. The Bill wasthen approved in the Rajya Sabha on 01 August 2019. The passing of the billsparked widespread protests by the medical fraternity. But why is the medicalfraternity protesting? We try to explore the pros and cons of the bill in thisstory.
This bill annuls the Indian Medical Council Act of 1956 and was introduced with an objective to make quality medical educationmore accessible and affordable. It also aims to attain universal healthcoverage by making healthcare equitable. Further, adoption of latest technologyfor medical research and conducting periodic and transparent assessment ofmedical institutions are also a part of the objectives.
25 Member National Medical Commission will replace the
Medical Council of India
As per the bill, a 25 member National Medical Commission (NMC) will besuperseding the Medical Council of India (MCI) to regulate the medicaleducation in India and the profession. MCI was tainted with scams and there were charges of corruption pressed against its members. The MCI had also been accused of not beingtransparent. It was later dismissed and replaced by a Board of Governorsappointed by the Union Government. The members of NMC will be appointed by theUnion Government on the basis of the criterion listed in the bill. The membersof the NMC should also declare their list of assets and liabilities at the timeof taking charge and at the time of leaving the office. A Medical AdvisoryCouncil will also be set up as a part of this bill which will then function asthe primary platform for representation of States and Union Territories andalso make recommendations to the NMC.
NEET and NEXT are two important examinations proposed
in the Bill
The Bill also proposes two important exams-National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and National Exit Test (NEXT).NEET shall serve as the common entrance test for admission to the undergraduate medical education in India. NEXT on the other hand is a common final year undergraduatemedical examination that will serve as the primary means for granting licenceto practice as medical practitioners and for enrolment in the State Register orthe National Register irrespective of the country from which the student hascleared their graduation. In other words, any person with a foreign medicalqualification also has to qualify NEXT for the purpose of obtaining licence topractice medicine instead of the Foreign Medical
Graduates Examination (FMGE).
NEXT will also be considered as thequalifying exam for postgraduate broad- speciality education while NEET will beconsidered for admission to post graduate super-speciality education. Further,it has also been mentioned in the bill that the NMC will frame guidelines forthe determination of fees for half of the seats in private medical colleges.
Autonomous boards to recognize & monitor Medical Education
In order to monitor medical education and practice, the Bill proposesthe recognition of four autonomous boards:
Taking into consideration the recommendations made by theparliamentary standing committee, amendments were made to the bill that wasintroduced in 2017. One major amendment was the removal ofbridge course between AYUSH and Allopathy. Instead, the bill leaves it to the State Governments to take necessarymeasures for addressing and promoting primary health care in rural areas and toenhance the capacity of the healthcare professionals.
Limited license given to Community Health Providers
In order to make healthcare more accessible and  to increase the number of medicalpractitioners, the bill has introduces ‘Community Health Providers’ (CHPs) whowill be given limited license to practice medicine. Regulations on the criteriafor selection of CHPs will be framed under this act. The number of CHPs shouldnot exceed one third of the total number of licensed medical practitioners inthe country. To tackle the shortfall of qualified doctors, countries like USA & Canada, allow nursepractitioners and healthcare providers to practice primary healthcare fordelivering better and improved access. Individuals have to typically complete aMasters course in these countries to be a nurse practitioner. It remains to beseen if the criteria for recognition of a CHP would also include such arequirement.
Why is the Medical fraternity Protesting?
The medical fraternity seems to be protestingfor multiple reasons. Below are some of the important ones.
Objection 1:  More
power has been given to the Union Government
The bill has been claimed to be ‘poorly drafted’ and ‘draconian’ bydoctors across the country. They also claim that the bill gives more power tothe Union Government. They further claim that the Central Government has thepower to override the decisions made by the NMC. The Indian Medical Association(IMA) has stated that NMC will not onlybe a bureaucratic body but will also function like a department of thegovernment. Unlike in the MCI where doctors (registered medical practitioners)could elect and make up almost 75% of the members, in the NMC, only 20% of themembers can be elected by them. The representation from states and unionterritories is also less than before. States get a chance only every two yearsto be represented in the NMC.
Government’s Response: In defence of thegovernment, former Union Minister & Rajya Sabha member Suresh Prabhu duringthe discussion in the Rajya Sabha stated that  interference of the Union government in healthcare is because there are many villages in the country where that do not havewell-trained medical doctors and that the people haven’t received proper healthcare. He also said that the central government doesn’t wish to ‘wash off itshands’ by not making it a priority and just by stating health is a part of thestate list. He also stated that at the time of emergency, what matters is notwhether the hospital is private or public but the availability of healthcare.
Further, the government stated that the clause giving powers to theCentral Government to give directions on policy matters to NMC and autonomousboards is part of many other acts (even IMC Act).
Objection 2: Community Health Providers not clearly
defined
Another criticism raised by those opposing the bill is the granting oflimited license to CHPs, who are expected to make up for the shortfall ofdoctors in the country .The CHPs have not been defined clearly in the bill. Ithas only been mentioned that he/she should be someone connected with modernscientific medical profession and is permitted to prescribe certain medicinesin primary and preventive healthcare and in other cases, under the supervisionof medical practitioners. This has raised concerns among many since there ispossibility of quacks legally entering medical profession. Congress’s JairamRamesh raised this in the Rajya Sabha and asked the government if this is about‘Institutionalising quackery’.
Government’s Response: The NDA government justifiedthis by stating that under the new institution, unless and until someone’s nameis mentioned in the State or National Registry, he/she is not allowed topractice and this move will in fact help in eliminating quackery. The Ministerwent onto state that there is aprovision for imprisonment if such rules are violated. He added that CHPs arenecessary so that the ideal doctor- population ratio can be reached and to makeprimary healthcare available even in the remotest parts of the country. Hementioned a list of countries where such a system exists and that definition ofa health worker is also given in Lancet etc. He assured the house that the NMCwill decide on the regulations and qualifications for CHP after studyingeverything and that there should be no misgiving about it.
Fees of only 50% seats in private and deemed
universities will be regulated
Privatisation of medical education is another important issue raised bythe opposition, the IMA as well as the protesting medical practitioners, sinceguidelines for fee determination and other charges in private and deemeduniversities has been made only for 50% of the seats. Nothing has beenmentioned with regard to the regulation/criterion for increasing intake inprivate colleges. The unregulated fees might exclude those who cannot afford itand make medical education affordable to only the rich. Another issue raised isabout NEET and NEXT exams which require rigorous coaching in coaching classesthat charge an exorbitant fee.
Government’s Response: Though the governmentdid not specifically address all these issues, it stated that since therequirement of doctors is large, private medical colleges along with governmentcolleges need to be encouraged.
Details of NEXT examination not given
A major concern for medical students in the uncertainty regarding theNEXT exam.  The requirement to qualifythis examination itself contradicts the bill’s objective to make more medicalpractitioners available all over the country to improve healthcare. In case,the candidate does not clear this examination, he/she will not be eligible topractice medicine in India. Five years of efforts and hard work will gounrecognised.
Government’s Response: Regarding NEET andNEXT, the government stated that these exams are student-friendly and will helpstudents appear for one instead of different exams for different universities.NEXT covers final year exam, PG entrance and is a licentiate exam as well.
Although the bill seems to have been introduced with a good intention ofimproving the medical education, there are a few loose ends as explained above whichneed to be looked into carefully while implementing it.
Featured Image: National Medical Commission Bill

created: August 5, 2019


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Explainer: What is the new 100 metres rule in Toll Plazas?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 31, 2021
To reduce congestion at toll plazas, the NHAI has now issued new guidelines to enable free passage of vehicles if the queue at any toll plaza lane exceeds 100 meters. Here is a history of the ‘Electronic Toll Collection’ in India and details of the new rule.
Recently, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) issued new guidelines with respect to the waiting time at toll plazas to help reduce traffic congestion and enable smooth movement of traffic. New rules regarding the development & design of upcoming toll plazas that will efficiently handle projected traffic over the next 10 years have also been included in these guidelines. In this story, we take a look at these rules in detail and the trajectory of electronic toll collection in India.
What is Electronic Toll Collection?
Electronic Toll Collection, often abbreviated as ETC, is a wireless technology that enables the electronic & seamless payment of toll charged to vehicles that use the highways, toll bridges, toll tunnels, etc. ETC systems make use of vehicle-to-toll plaza communication technologies for financial transactions between a vehicle that passes through a toll plaza and a toll collection agency, which circumvents the need for manual toll payment with cash or card. It enables a fast, efficient, and cashless payment option for the collection of toll fares. Vehicles are uniquely identified and classified through On-Board Unit (OBU) (also known as Tag) and the Roadside Unit (say Reader) when they pass through the toll gate.
India set up a committee to suggest the most suitable model
Many ETC technologies such as Vehicle Identification System using number plates, Global Navigational satellite System/Cellular Network) systems, and Radio Frequency Vehicle Identification (RFID) Technology, etc. were being implemented in different parts of the world when India decided to implement ETC. The Ministry of Road Transport & Highway (MoRTH) initiated the implementation of ETC technology for toll collection in India and constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani, representatives of NHAI, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and professional experts from IIT Delhi and IIIT Delhi to examine all technologies available for Electronic Toll Collection and to recommend the most suitable one for implementation throughout India.  This committee was set up during the second term of the UPA and it submitted the report in July 2010.
India adopted RFID technology
Radio Frequency Vehicle Identification (RFID) Technology was adopted for use on all National Highways in India following the models then used (in the early 2010s) in countries like the USA, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and Dubai. Vehicles were to be identified and classified through a unique tag named ‘FASTag’. Thus, FASTag, penetration of which at NHAI Toll Plazas has reached 96% and stands at 99% at many toll plazas, was initiated in 2013.
Pilot project of ETC implementation was launched in 2012
The pilot project was launched in April 2012 on the Delhi – Parwano Section of NH-22 to study the implementation of ETC. The first interoperable ETC system was inaugurated in April 2013 on the Vadodara-Mumbai section of NH-8. Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL) with equity participation from NHAI (25%) Concessionaire (50%) and Financial Institutions (25%) was incorporated in December 2012 for implementation of ETC on National Highways in India. Since then, ETC on National Highways is rolled out phase-wise across the country.
NETC Program now covers 720+ Toll Plazas
From 15 February 2021, FASTag was made mandatory under the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in all lanes across all toll plazas. Any vehicle not fitted with it will be charged double the toll at electronic toll plazas across the country. Currently, the National Electronic Toll Collection Program is live on 720+ toll plazas across the country. Since transactions through NETC take place directly through banks, it is expected to make the system more transparent and efficient, reducing cash handling. It would also help in reducing the waiting time at toll plazas.
Waiting time should not exceed 10 seconds and queue should not be more than 100 metres
As per the latest guidelines of NHAI, it is to be ensured that the waiting time per vehicle should not exceed 10 seconds even during peak hours at the toll plazas on the National Highways. Furthermore, seamless flow of traffic at the toll plazas is to be ensured by preventing vehicles from queuing up for more than 100 metres. If there is a queue of vehicles waiting for more than 100 metres, they should be allowed to pass without paying a toll until the queue comes within 100 meters from the toll booth. For this, a yellow line at a distance of 100 metres from the toll booth should be marked in each toll lane. The provision should be prominently displayed for the users.
According to NHAI, the measures are being introduced to inculcate a further sense of accountability in toll plaza operators. However, the mode of implementation of the new guidelines remains to be seen as there would be an automatic deduction of the toll amount when a vehicle passes through the toll lane.
Earlier, traffic congestion was to be solved through increasing number of toll lanes
Prior to this rule, there was much confusion regarding the free passage of vehicles through toll plazas. In 2015, and again in 2016, the Member (Finance) of NHAI had written to all regional offices of NHAI expressing concern at congestion at various toll plazas. In the letter, it was mentioned that not more than 6 vehicles per lane should be in the queue during peak hours; or the number of toll lanes/booths shall be such as to ensure the service time of not more than 10 seconds per vehicle at peak hour flow. The number of toll lanes was to be increased if the maximum waiting time of the users exceeds 3 minutes. This was part of various concession agreements. However, there was no explicit mention of free passage of vehicles in any of these documents as is being done now.
Amendments related to design & development of toll plazas have also been made
Now that collection of user fees through FASTags has been mandated at the toll plazas of all lanes, the specifications of toll plazas have also been proposed to be modified, keeping in view the ETC penetration in the country. From the middle of February 2021, the NHAI claims to have moved to 100% cashless tolling with FASTag penetration.
The construction of upcoming toll plazas is to be done as per traffic projections for the next 10 years. For this, the NHAI has made amendments to the Indian Road Congress Manual, which lays down standards and specifications for the construction of highways, bridges, locations and layouts for toll plazas and other facilities on roads. The amendments include changes to land acquisition, layout and design of toll plazas, dimensions of traffic islands, and provisions in toll booths for the toll collector and its construction.
Featured Image: Electronic Toll Collection in India

source: news-factly

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Sai Krishna Muthyanolla


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Explainer: What is the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 23, 2019
In 2017, the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana aimed at providing financial assistance to pregnant women. Odisha & Telangana have not implemented this scheme since they have a similar & better state specific scheme.
In his address to the nation on the eve of New Year 2017, i.e. on 31 December 2016, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi had announced a scheme which is aimed at providing financialassistance to pregnant women.
Accordingly,the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) scheme was formally
launched on 01 September 2017, as a centrally sponsored scheme, which would beimplemented across all the districts in India. The scheme was effective from 01January 2017.
What is the purpose
of implementing a Maternity Benefits Programme?
The scheme wasintroduced to address the following challenges;
In view ofthis, a Maternity Benefits Programme called ‘Pradhan
Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)’  was launched.
What is the
PMMVY about?
Under PMMVY, anincentive of Rs. 5,000 would be credited directly into the Bank/Post OfficeAccount of Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW&LM) for first livingchild of the family. This incentive is paid out in three installments.
PMMVY is beingimplemented through the Anganwadi system, which is part of Ministry of Womenand Child Development’s umbrella ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme). Inthose States/UTs where ICDS isn’t there, the scheme is implemented through Health& Family Welfare Department of the state government.
A web based
software application supported by CDFI ( Centre
for Digital Financial Inclusion) is used in the implementationof the scheme. This platform helps in the registration of the beneficiariesalong with verification of the conditions for release of the payment.
The AnganwadiCentre (AWC) along with ASHA/ANM workers are the focal points in collecting theinformation of the beneficiaries for the scheme and getting the information updatedon the web application.
What are the conditions
for availing benefit under the scheme?
The incentiveamount of Rs. 5,000 would be released in 3 installments after the meetingspecific conditions set for each installment.
Thebeneficiaries are required to fill up 3 forms, one before each installment.These forms include Form 1A, Form 1B, and Form 1C for each ofthe installments respectively.
The conditionsto be met for availing the benefits and the supporting
documents required are specified below.
Anganwadi/ASHAworkers are required to collect the forms from the beneficiaries for therespective installment claims along with the required verification documents.The information from these documents needs to be updated in the online systemby them or with the assistance of government appointed data entry operators.This information is verified by the respective sanctioning officers andforwarded to State Nodal Officer who approves the application. The sanctionedamount is then transferred to the beneficiary account.
A sample
timeline is provided by Ministry of Women and Child Development regarding theintervals at which benefit is extended.
More than 49
Lakhs beneficiaries received incentive since inception of the scheme
In a question asked in Lok Sabha in July 2019, a concern was raised whether the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMYY) wasviolating a tenet under National Food Security Act (NFSA). As per the NFSA, every pregnant and lactating mother is entitled to maternity benefits of not less than Rs. 6000. However, the amount being disbursed through PMMVY is only Rs. 5,000.
Answering this question in Lok Sabha on 26 July 2019, Union Minister forWomen and Child Development has stated that eligible beneficiaries also receivebenefits from Janani Suraksha Yojana through Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, apart from PMMVY and thereforethe total benefits average out Rs. 6000 per beneficiary.
The answer also provides details of the total number of beneficiarieswho benefitted from this scheme since 01 January 2017. A total of 49.58 lakhbeneficiaries across India have claimed all the three installments till date. Thehighest number of beneficiaries are from Uttar Pradesh followed by MadhyaPradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
Any furtherdetails about PMMVY are available from the ‘Frequently
Asked Questions’ for PMMVY document by Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Odisha & Telangana have their own schemes, better than PMMVY
From theanswer provided in the Lok Sabha, it is clear that the states of Odisha &Telangana are not implementing the PMMVY because they are implementing a statespecific maternity benefit scheme.
In Odisha, thescheme is called ‘Mamata’ andwas launched in the year 2011. In Telangana, the scheme is called KCR Kit &
Amma Odi and was launched in 2017. Both the schemes are better than the centralscheme PMMVY in terms of coverage & eligibility.
This is another example where certain states have formulated better schemes than those of the centre, both in terms of coverage & financial incentive. Even in the case of Ayushman Bharat, states like Telangana & Andhra Pradesh have not implemented it since the states had a similar scheme for more than 10 years that is better in terms of coverage. The Government of India needs to think of such states before launching any scheme and provide the required flexibility.
Featured Image:Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

created: September 23, 2019


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Explainer: What is the process followed in preparation of the Union Budget?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
January 23, 2021
The budget for 2021-22 would be presented on 01 February 2021. The budget and the economic survey assume great importance this year on account of COVID-19’s impact on the economy. But what is the process followed in the preparation of the Union Budget? Here is an explainer.
The Union Budget 2020-21 would be presented 01 February 2021 during the Parliament’s Budget Session, which would commence from 29 January 2021.
On the back of an economy severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, this budget assumes prominence. The First Advance estimates released by the National Statistical Office, have already indicated a contraction of the economy by 7.7% in 2020-21.
While the Union budget is presented during the budget session of the parliament, the activities for the preparation of this budget start many months earlier. In this explainer, we take a look at the process of preparation and presentation of the budget.
Presentation of an Annual Budget is enshrined in the constitution
Article 112, of the Constitution of India, states that a statement of estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India for a financial year needs to be laid before both the houses of the Parliament. Here the Union Budget is referred to as ‘Annual Financial Statement’.
The budget is required to be passed by the parliament before it comes into effect from 01 April i.e., the beginning of India’s financial year.
As per Article 77(3), a Union Minister is made responsible by the President of India to conduct transactions of the Government. Accordingly, Union Finance Minister is made responsible to prepare the budget/annual financial statement, present it and pilot it through the parliament.
More specifically, it is prepared by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) of the Ministry of Finance. Earlier, there were two budgets presented – the Railway Budget and the General Budget. However, based on the recommendation by NITI Aayog, the Railway budget has been merged into General Budget and a single Annual Budget is being presented since 2017-18.
Extensive consultation and deliberations take place during the budget preparation process
The Union Budget is prepared by the Finance Minister with the assistance of various advisors and bureaucrats. The Finance Ministry seeks the view of industry leaders and economists as well prior to the preparation of the Union Budget.
As part of the preparation of Union Budget 2021-22, Union Finance Minister has begun consultations with different Stakeholder groups from 14 December 2020 via virtual meetings.
The DEA also seeks the suggestions and inputs from the general public.
Generally, the budget-making process starts in the third quarter of the financial year.  There are multiple stages in the Budget making process, with the initial step being “Estimates of Expenditure and Revenues”.
Estimates of Expenditure is prepared based on the inputs received from various ministries and departments
Two key aspects of the budget are to draw up and estimate the expenditure by various government departments for the next financial year and to ascertain the revenues it is estimated to generate to meet this expenditure.
The Preparation of the Budget starts with these two activities concurrently i.e., “Estimates of Expenditure” & “Estimates of Revenue”.
The process of estimating the expenditure for the next financial year begins with the various ministries/departments providing initial estimates of revenue & capital expenditure. The Ministry of Finance issues the notification to respective Ministries & Departments, to prepare the estimates and demand for grants.
The expenditure estimates of the various departments & ministries are developed based on the formats given in the finance ministry notification.   Accordingly, respective Ministries/Departments submit their proposals for Demands-in-Grants.
Ascertaining the revenues and narrowing the deficit
While the government departments prepare estimates for the expenditure, the government also needs to ascertain the expected revenues to meet the budget expenditure.
Budget needs to gain the acceptance of the house
Articles 112-117 of the Indian Constitution, enshrine powers of parliament in the enactment of the Budget. Accordingly, the Union Minister of Finance presents the budget through the Budget Speech, where-in the key highlights of the proposed budget are provided.  The budget goes through various stages in the parliament.
During the budget presentation and the ensuing discussions in the parliament on the budget, various bills are presented in the parliament. These include – Finance Bill, Money Bill & Appropriation Bill.  Further, as part of the budget, the Government submits various documents including – Receipts Budget, Expenditure Budget, etc.
In conjunction with the budget, the Ministry of Finance releases the annual ‘Economic Survey of India’ report, which provides a summary of the annual economic development and activity through the year. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic survey report becomes very crucial to understand the economic situation of the country.
In the next story, we take a detailed look at the various bills & documents presented during the budget.
Featured Image: Preparation of Union Budget

created: January 23, 2021


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Exlainer: Identification, Treatment & Discharge of a COVID-19 patient
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 4, 2020
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) has detailed protocol & guidelines for the identification, treatment & discharge of COVID-19 suspects & patients. Here is a detailed explainer of the process.
With more than 2500 confirmed COVID-19 cases, India is witnessing astark increase in the number of cases being. As the outbreak intensifies, the government is makingnecessary modifications to the procedures to be followed by people, hospitals,and laboratories. In this story, we briefly look at who are tested, and whatactions are taken based on result, that is, treatment, and isolation.
Who are tested for COVID-19?
As per the government’s notification on 31 March 2020, the basket of people who are testedfor COVID-19 are as follows. Symptomatic individuals are those who have fever,shortness of breath or cough. All the suspected cases must be reported to bothdistrict and state surveillance offices.
How can one get themselves tested?
Any person with symptoms or has had contact or travel history must approach the nearest healthfacility. They also have an option to call the helpline numbers released by the government where the call centresenquire demographic details, clinical conditions, symptoms, and whether theywere under home quarantine as per local health administration’s directions.
What is the procedure for testing?
Samples are collected from those suspected cases as mentioned above. Asper the guidelines issued by the ministry, nasal and throat swabs are thepreferred samples to be collected. Nasopharyngeal swab, Bronchoalveolar lavageor endotracheal aspirate are alternative samples that may be collected. Thesamples collected should be mixed in a viral transport medium and transportedon ice to the designated laboratories for testing.
It is mandatory that biosafety and biosecurity precautions are taken atthe time of sample collection, packaging and transport. This include usage of appropriate PersonalProtection Equipment (PPE) by healthcare professionals who collect the samplefrom the suspected patient. Visitors should also be restricted at this time. Evenwaste disposal must be done with utmost care in strict compliance with Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 as the virus is highly contagious.
For each sample being submitted, a requisition form must be filled with details such as personal detailsof the person whose sample has been taken, date and time of collection, exposurehistory of the person- clinical symptoms, underlying medical conditions, etc.Also, at the time of sample collection, a government ID proof of residence andcontact details of the suspected patient must also be collected. ICMRrecommends private laboratories to collect samples from the homes of thepersons so as to minimize human contact while traveling and in collectioncentres. Approval of private labs and details of sample collection and testinghave already been covered in an earlier story by Factly.
What happens until & after the test result?
Till the laboratory results are out, the person is kept in isolation atthe health facility. Treatment will continue for the symptoms they possess.
If the result is negative, the patient is discharged depending on thediagnosis. The doctor can take the call on the required treatment based on thepatient’s condition. However, there will be continuous monitoring for fourteendays from the day they returned to India or from the day they made contactwhichever is the latest. This is because the incubation period for the virus to affect a person varies between one to fourteen days, thoughstudies suggest that symptoms are seen within 5 days for most people.
How are isolation and quarantine different?
Quarantine is the term used for separation of individuals who have beenexposed to an infected person and have a potential to get infected. There willbe temporary home quarantine for those who just returned from other countries.
Isolation is the term used for separation of those persons who are ill and aresuspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. So, those suspected cases whoseresults are awaited and confirmed cases are kept in isolation in hospitals orhealthcare centres until they get tested negative for the virus.
What happens if the test result is positive?
For those tested positive, there is a separate confirmed case protocol that is followed. Under this protocol, the drugs to be used for treatment and various measures to contain the virus in hospitals and clinics have been listed. As per the protocol, there are different therapeutic measures given for patients depending on the severity of the illness-mild, moderate, and severe. Co-morbid condition of the patient is also considered for the treatment. The guidelines recommend pro-active communication with patients and families to provide support and prognostic information. The patient’s values and preferences must also be considered with respect to life-sustaining interventions.
Earlier, the ministry had recommended the use of anti- HIV drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 on a case to case basis. However, this recommendation has been repealed. As per the latest clinical management guidelines, hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin has been recommended for treatment of persons who have severe suffering and those kept under ICU management. Further, Hydroxychloroquine, which is normally used for the treatment of malaria, has been listed as Schedule H1 drug under Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. In simpler terms, the drug cannot be purchased over the counter without a prescription.
When is the person discharged?
The person will be discharged only after chest radiograph is clear andtwo respiratory samples within 24 hours are tested negative for SARS-CoV-2virus. That is, two samples will be collected from the person-
Both of these samples should show negative results. Only then the person is discharged.


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Explainer: What is ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern’?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
March 11, 2020
Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has been declared a ‘public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)’ by the WHO. But what is PHEIC? How & when is it declared? What are the past instances when PHEIC was declared? Here is a detailed explainer.
Since theNovel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has been first reported on 31 December2019 in Wuhan (China),  it has spreadacross the globe, with around
110 countries reporting cases of COVID-19 as on 10 March 2020.
China currentlyaccounts for more than 3/4 of the total confirmed cases, followedby Italy, South Korea and Iran.  Morethan 4 thousand deaths are reported around the world due to COVID-19. On 07March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) released
a statement that the total number of confirmed cases crossed 1lakh (i.e. 100 thousand).
Because ofthe initial rapid spread in China, COVID-19 has been considered as an epidemic.However, with COVID-19 spreading to more than 100 countries, it is now being consideredas a pandemic. On 30 January 2020, WHO has taken cognizance of the spread ofthe disease around the world and the emergency committee convened by the WHODirector-General under International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) has
declared COVID-19 as Public Health Emergency of International
Concern (PHEIC).
This wasthe second meeting of the Emergency Committee. In the first meeting held on22-23 February 2020, the Committee decided to hold off the declaration ofCOVID-19 as a PHEIC.
So, what is a PHEIC? When is it declared and who has the authority to declare something as a PHEIC? In this explainer, we explore these questions.
PHEIC is a
health emergency of International Nature
International Health Regulations (IHR) were adopted by the Health Assembly in 1969, to prevent the international spread of Diseases. In the aftermath of the emergency due to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak during the early 2000s, the Health Assembly established an Intergovernmental Working group in 2003 to recommend revisions to the existing IHR. The 58th World Health Assembly adopted IHR (2005) on 23 May 2005.
IHR (2005) is an agreement between 196 countries to work together for global health security. The WHO plays the role of a coordinator. IHR (2005) provides the definition of PHEIC and the procedures to be followed to recognize a health emergency and the necessary action to be taken thereof.
As perIHR’s definition, PHEIC is:
‘An
extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to
other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially
require a coordinated international response’.
Thisdefinition of PHEIC would imply that the situation is:
PHEIC is declared by DG-WHO based on multiple
consultations
The Director-General of WHO is required to seek the views of an IHR Emergency Committee to determine whether an event can be declared as a PHEIC.
However, prior to the declaration, the Director-General(DG) of WHO needs to have a consultation with the state party in whose boundaries an event is occurring. Like in the case of COVID-19, DG was required to have a consultation with China, since that is where the first instance of the disease was found.
Article 12 of IHR-2005 lays down the process to be followed when an event is initially recognised to be potentially a case of PHEIC. The process is as follows
The Director-General of WHO takes into consideration the following aspects to determine whether an event constitutes a Public Health Emergency :
DG-WHO isaided by the decision instrument as provided in Annexe-2 ofIHR-2005, to evaluate various aspects of the event and to arrive at a decision.
Constitution
& Procedure of Emergency Committee under Articles 48 & 49
Articles 48& 49 of Chapter-II in IHR-2005, lay down the working details ofconstituting an Emergency Committee (EC).
The EC isestablished by DG-WHO to provides its views on:
Thecomposition of the EC is determined by the DG-WHO and involves:
Procedure followed by the Emergency Committee
The recommendations provided are temporary in natureand are required to be reviewed every three months post which necessarymodifications or extensions are recommended.
In due course, based on the prevailing situation, the State parties can provide a proposal to the DG to terminate PHEIC or any specific temporary recommendations. They can present the same to Emergency Committee who would review and provide their views on termination of PHEIC.
So far 6 PHEIC declarations were made by the WHO
After the adoption of International Health Regulations(IHR)- 2005, by the 196 countries (which includes all the WHO member countries)and laying down the procedures to be following in determining a PHEIC, therehave been 6 instances wherein WHO has determined an event to be a PHEIC.
More than 4000
deaths reported as on 10 March 2020
As per the dashboard maintainedby the WHO,  more than 1.1 lakh confirmedcases have been reported across 110 nations as of 10 March 2020. Of these, atotal of 80,924 cases reported in China while more than 30 thousand confirmedcases are reported from across the rest of the world.
In China, morethan 3100 deaths were caused due to COVID-19 of which 3024 deaths were reportedfrom Hubei province, whose capital is Wuhan, the place where the outbreak wasfirst reported.
South Korea, Italy & Iran have reported more than 7 thousand confirmed cases each.  Though South Korea, Italy & Iran reported more than 7 thousand cases each, the death toll has been on the higher side in both Italy & Iran. More than 1000 cases were reported from seven countries including China. Four of these seven countries are from Europe.
Featured Image: Public Health Emergency of International Concern


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What is the role of FCI in food grain procurement & food security?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 30, 2020
An important part of the relief packages announced by the Central & State governments is the provision of free food grains to the needy. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) plays a major role in ensuring availability of adequate stocks.
The marginalized sections of the society like migrant workers, daily wage earners, low income families etc. were among the worst hit due to the lockdown imposed because of COVID-19.
Majority in these sections of population are facing a situation of potential starvation. Hence, a substantial portion of the relief measures announced by the governments is to provide food security in the form of free and subsidized supply of food grains.
But how do governments procure food grains required to supply to these sections of the society? Does government already hold stocks of these food grains to meet the unexpected demand?  This is where the role of Food Corporation of India (FCI) assumes importance.
Maintaining buffer stocks of food grains – the primary objective of FCI
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) was established under Food Corporations Act, 1964.
There are three stated objectives of Food Policy which FCI intends to fulfil:
The guiding objectives of FCI in order to fulfil the above objectives of food policy include:
Procurement of food grains at MSP
One of the important functions of FCI is its involvement in the procurement of the food grains. The objectives of procurement include
FCI procures food grains to ensure that effective market intervention is in place to keep the prices under check and also to ensure country’s food security.
FCI and various state agencies establish purchase centers at various key locations. For the upcoming Rabi Marketing Season 2020-21, there are 21,269 procurement centres, while for the procurement of Paddy for the Kharif Marketing Season, there are around 64,500 centres.
Increase in FCI owned Storage Capacity
FCI is also required to hold huge volumes of procured food grains for a sustained period of time, both for the planned delivery through PDS as well as for any unforeseen situations. Therefore, Storage function of FCI is very important.
To meet the storage obligation, FCI has an extensive network of storage depots and silos in strategic locations across the country. FCI has laid down the guidelines and developed Storage manuals to be followed by the storage units to ensure that any spoilage of the food grains is mitigated.
Apart from its own storage capacity, FCI also hires storage capacities from – Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs), State agencies and also from Private parties (under Private Warehousing Scheme).
The government of India determines the storage charges payable to CWC and SWCs for the godowns hired from them.
FCI also has storage options in the godowns constructed by private entrepreneurs under Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee Scheme (PEG).
As of 01 April 2020, FCI has a total storage capacity of 755.94 lakh metric tons. Out of this, FCI owned units have a storage capacity of 412.03 lakh MT, while the storage capacity of other agencies that FCI has contracted with is 343.91 lakh MT.
The total capacity as on 01 April 2020, is lowest for the five-year period (2016-20). However, this mainly due to the fall in the storage capacity of other agencies. During this period FCI has increased its capacity from 357.9 lakh MT (2016) to 412 MT (2020)
There have been apprehensions about the wastage of food grains stored in FCI godowns, even though the central government has recently claimed that any such wastage is negligible. Data obtained from the FCI substantiates the argument of the government that the wastage has come down substantially in the 10 years or so.
FCI maintains that it follows a scientific approach and has developed guidelines about measures to be taken for storage of food grains.
Movement and Distribution of the stock to deficit regions
Movement and distribution of the food grains is another important function of FCI. This is to ensure that the food grains are distributed to states as per the requirement of various welfare measures announced by the government.
FCI undertakes movement for the following purposes:
The distribution is also done for Coarse grains, apart from Wheat and Rice. FCI undertakes the movement of food grains from these surplus states (after meeting their own requirement) to the deficit states. Nearly 85% of this movement happens through Rail transport while Waterways and Roads are also used.
Achieving the goals of food security is an important mandate of FCI and hence it oversees the distribution of food grains under TPDS (Targeted Public Distribution System), National Food Security Act (NFSA) and other welfare schemes such as – Mid day meals, supply to welfare institutions and hostels, Scheme for adolescent girls etc.
Apart from distribution under PDS/NFSA, FCI also undertakes the supply of food grains for:
FCI also facilitates sale of surplus stock under Open Market Sales Scheme. This is done to supply the markets with food grains, especially during the lean season and to avert a situation of price rise due to lower supply of the food grains. FCI is supposed to transfer food grains to the deficit regions for this purpose.
Export of Food grains under World Food Program and other aid
Apart from the domestic distribution of the food grains, FCI also takes up export and import of food grains as per the instructions and guidelines of Government of India.
FCI plays a key role in fulfilling food security provisions of the COVID-19 relief package
The government of India had initially announced a Rs. 1.7 lakh crore COVID-19 relief package on 26 March 2020. This was followed by a Rs. 20 lakh crore package, announced on 12May 2020.
As mentioned in our earlier story, different states have also announced respective relief packages. Provision of food grains to the marginalized sections of the society is a  key part of the relief package.
We looked at the role which FCI is expected to play in the procurement, storage and distribution of the food grains, especially in wake of an unexpected situation.
In the next story, we take a look at the policies and systems in place for procurement of the various food grains along with analysis of the stocks procured by FCI along with actual stocks of food grains available for distribution to meet the requirements of the relief package along with other PDS requirement.
Featured Image: Food Corporation of India


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Explainer: What is the ‘Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme’?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
January 9, 2020
Gold is an integral part of any
Indian family, for many traditions & occasions. As a substitute to holding
physical gold, the government introduced the ‘Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme’ in
2015. What is this scheme and how can one subscribe? Here is an explainer.
Gold has a cultural significance inIndia and is an integral part of many traditions & occasions. Apart fromits cultural significance, Gold is also considered as a good investment withmany households inclined to invest their savings in the purchase of gold.
However, the storage of gold inphysical form is a matter of concern due to safety reasons. Depositing gold instorage facilities like Bank lockers does attract some fees. In fact, availabilityof lockers is also an issue.  Furthermore, most of the gold purchased is inthe form of jewellery where full value of gold is realized due to the lossduring the making process.
To take advantage of Indian citizenspropensity to invest in gold and create an alternative saving option, SovereignGold Bonds were introduced.
What is a Sovereign Gold Bond?
In his Budget – 2015-16 speech , the then Finance Minister ArunJaitley, proposed ‘Sovereign Gold Bond’ as an alternative financial asset,which would also act as a substitute for physical gold.
Further to this, Central government issued a notification on 30 October 2015, duly notifying the‘Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme – 2015’.
A Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) isissued by Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the government. These are consideredas government securities and are treated as a substitute for holding goldphysically, hence the risks associated with storage are eliminated.
All residents of India (defined under Foreign Exchange Management Act-1999) are eligible to invest in SGB.This includes – individuals, HUFs, trusts, charitable institutions, universitiesetc.
How to buy Sovereign Gold Bonds ?
Sovereign Gold Bonds are offered bythe RBI in tranches during specific window period. The scheme is not acontinuous one and there are specific time periods during which the bonds canbe purchased.  Accordingly, fromtime-time, RBI issues notification announcing the Sovereign Gold BondScheme, with the details of the issue.
Specific dates during which the Tranchesare open for subscription are provided.
The bonds can be subscribed by fillingup of the application form provided by the issuing banks, SHCIL (Stock Holding Corporationof India Limited ) offices, designated post offices, recognised Stock Exchanges i.e.BSE & NSE.  Form A, used for the application purposecan be downloaded from RBI’s website and submitted at one of the specifiedplaces mentioned.  Few banks also providescope for applying online.
An investor can have only oneInvestor ID which is linked to the PAN number. Once the application isreceived, the receiving officer would issue Form B as acknowledgement of the receipt.
Nomination form (Form D) can also be filled for the purposeof payment in case of death of the applicant. The nomination can be cancelledthrough Form E.
Application for subscription doesnot guarantee the issuance of the SGBs. The application is verified and SGBsare allotted. A Holding Certificate i.e. Form -C is issued to the investors. This isissued in the form of Government of India Stock as per Section 3 of Government Securities Act -2006.
These bonds can also be transferredas per the provisions provided under Government Securities Act – 2006 &Government Securities Regulations, 2007. Form F needs to be used for transferringof the bonds.
The last window period forsubscription was during 02 December 2019 – 06 December 2019.
The next issue would be during 13January -17 January 2020, which is the series VIII for 2019-20.  RBI has issued the latest operational guidelines on 30 September 2019.
RBI also has a detailed FAQs section on the Sovereign God Bonds on itswebsite.
Storage feasibility and flexibility are
advantages of SGBs.
Although, SGBs would not substitutethe physical necessity of purchasing or holding gold, they are aimed atmaximising the benefit achieved through investing in gold.  The SGB scheme is formulated to provide greaterbenefit to investors compared to physical gold or Gold ETFs (Exchange TradedFunds).
SGBs, however, also carry few of therisks  associated with physical gold,like drop in the gold rates due to market fluctuations.
2.92 crores units of SGBs issued
since inception
Since the inception ofthe scheme in November 2015, there have been a total of 34 tranches of issuesso far.  A total of over 2.92 crores units have been subscribedand issued so far.
The first tranche i.e.in 2015 had more than 9.13 lakh SGB units purchased at Rs. 2684 per unit.
The highest purchase ofSGBs was in the 6 tranche i.e. Series III of 2016-17, where 35.98lakh units were purchased at Rs. 2,957 per unit.
There has been a steepfall in the number of units bought for Series II of Fiscal 2017-18, with only2.64 lakh units purchased. The price was Rs. 2,956 per unit. The drop in thenumber of SGBs bought continued through the whole of 2017-18 and 2018-19 with coupleof exceptions.
In recent times, seriesIII of 2019-20 i.e. 5-9 August 2019 had the highest numberof SGBs bought with 10.24 lakhs at Rs. 3,499 per unit, with subsequent fall infurther tranches.
Fall in the demand for
SGBs compared to the initial period
Compared to the initialyears between end of 2015 and beginning of 2017, when high number of SGB unitsthat were sold, the previous couple of years has seen a huge fall in thenumbers.
Few industry experts cite the lack lustremovement in the gold prices to be one of the major reasons for the fall indemand. The data provided by RBI, does indicatealmost stagnant gold price during the period where the demand for SGBs was low.
The recent rally seen in few of the tranches could be attributed to the considerable increase in price of gold.
Featured Image: Sovereign Gold Bonds

created: January 9, 2020


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Explainer: What is the status of GM Crops in India?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 23, 2020
There have been reports of farmers in Maharashtra protesting the central government’s de facto ban on GM crops barring Bt. Cotton. However, the issue of GM Crops has been a controversial one in India with vociferous argument both for and against the introduction.
Recently, the media reported that farmers in Maharashtra are protesting the central government’s move which bans the cultivation of genetically modified crops, or GM crops. Reportedly, the agitation is intensifying as days pass, paving the way for debates to resume on whether GM crops should be made legal. The topic on GM crops itself is a convoluted one.
What are GM crops?
Genetically Modified Organisms are defined as organisms including plants, animals, and micro-organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) is altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination. The technology used is referred to as gene technology, genetic engineering, or recombinant DNA technology. GM crops are those crops whose DNA has been modified by introducing alien genes in the seeds to get desired effects such as resistance to pest attacks. Unlike what plant breeders did traditionally in cross breeding by combining genes from same or closely related plant species, GM technology does not restrict trait selection. Genes from any living organism, be it plants, or animals, is used to arrive at the desired traits.
The only approved GM Crop is Bt. Cotton
The only approved GM crop in India till date is Bt. Cotton. For developing resistance to Lepidoptera order of insects such as butterflies and moths, a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki bacteria is introduced,  which produces a protein insecticidal to Lepidoptera larvae, thereby aiding cotton production without excessive use of chemical insecticides. Likewise, there are GM varieties for crops like Maize, Soyabean, Brinjal, etc. around the world. However, different regulations exist in different parts of the globe for cultivation of GM crops. 172 countries, including India, have signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, an international agreement to ensure safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms which are a result of modern biotechnology.
GEAC in India was set up to regulate & monitor GM crop production, and usage in the country
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has been set up in India under the Ministry for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. According to the 1986 rules on genetically engineered organisms, the main function of the statutory body is to regulate the use, manufacture, storage, import, and export of hazardous organisms, genetically engineered organisms and cells in India. Thus, GEAC must approve commercial production of GM crops in the country for any of them to be used. The approval is given on the basis of a regulatory framework under the rules.
Some of the guidelines and protocols issued by the Department of Biotechnology and MoEFCC with respect to GM organisms are listed below.
Cultivation of unapproved GM crops is a punishable offence
So far, GEAC approved the cultivation of only Bt. Cotton in 2002. This implies that the cultivation of GM versions of other crops is banned in the country. In spite of the ban, incidences of suspected open cultivation of Bt. Brinjal was reported in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab which is illegal. The Environment Protection Act, 1989 makes use of the unapproved GM crops a punishable offence attracting a penalty up to Rs. 1 Lakh and imprisonment for a term of five years. States have been asked to strengthen Biotechnology Coordination Committees and District Level Committees to monitor the illegal cultivation as well as take necessary action.
As per those who support the introduction of GM crops, depending on the variety of crop, farmers will benefit using GM seeds. Loss due to pest attacks can be averted. Further, use of chemical pesticides and herbicides can also be reduced. Production costs can therefore be reduced and increase production stability. The technology is also being used now to develop drought tolerant, nutrient and water efficient varieties which will help farmers more.
GM crops can have serious implications on the environment
However, not everything is as rosy as it looks. Proper research must be carried out to study all aspects of GM crops. The reason behind the elaborate approval process is to ensure that the GM crop does not affect the health of human beings, animals, and the environment. Since the species have been artificially created, if it breeds with wild relatives, the natural ecosystem can result in genetic contamination. An example is the pollination and fertilization of Bt. Corn crop with a non Bt. Corn. This will result in problems for the certified organic producers of corn. Another argument from ecologists is that the Bt. crops can harm non-target insects. In the case of Bt. Corn, Monarch butterflies feeding on wild milkweed that grows near cornfields may be harmed. Studies are still ongoing about the environmental effects of GM crops. Sustainability of the technology, consumer choice and labelling for monitoring are some other concerns with respect to GM crops in India.
Area under GM crops is on the rise globally
Globally, area under GM crops has increased manifold from 17 lakh hectares in 1996 to 1917 lakh hectares in 2018. Meanwhile, in India, the area under Bt. Cotton has increased from 0.29 lakh hectares in 2002-03 to 117.47 lakh hectares in 2019-20, according to Directorate of Economics and Statistics. The figure for 2019-20 is almost 94% total area under cotton cultivation in India. In other words, the area under Bt. Cotton cultivation has increased from less than 1% in 2002-03 to almost 94% in 2019-20. During the same period, the yield has also increased from 191 kg per hectare to 436 kg per hectare as per the data provided by the government.
On the other hand, approval for GM Brinjal and Mustard varieties is still under process. Concerns were raised by state governments, NGOs, public, and scientists because of which the environment ministry put a moratorium on the commercialization of Bt. brinjal in 2010.
Crop failure in cotton belt resulted in suicides and protests
Monsanto, an American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology company supplied Bt. cotton seeds in India in early 2000s. Crop failure in the cotton belt area- Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, resulted in farmer suicides and widespread protests by farmers against the high price of seeds and low yield. Many studies by NGOs have also mentioned that the company destroyed farming in India. It has been accused of even monopolizing seeds, and collection of huge amounts in name of royalty.
Tough questions remain
It is true that the production & yield has increased since the introduction of Bt. Cotton. The same may happen in case of other crops as well. Though there is a ban on other GM crops, cases of cultivation of GM Crops not approved by the government indicate that there may be an illegal supply of GM seeds in the country. There are strong arguments for both for and against the introduction of GM crops in the country. Hence the government must take steps carefully keeping in the mind of interests of farmers, national biosafety and biosecurity.
Featured Image: GM Crops in India


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Explainer: What type of Vehicle Crash Tests are mandatory in India?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
November 18, 2020
Crash tests are an important means to assess vehicle safety. There have been news reports that certain Indian cars have been poorly rated in the global NCAP ratings. But what are the mandatory crash tests in India? Are they any different from global norms? Here is an explainer.
In 2019 alone, about 4.37 lakh road accidents were reported in India resulting in more than 1.54 lakh deaths, the majority of them being persons aged 18 to 45 years. The number of deaths in such accidents has been on the rise since 2017. Road traffic injuries are among the leading causes of death, disabilities, and hospitalization. This calls for prioritizing road and vehicle safety in the country. Traditionally, people in the country had preferred cost & fuel efficiency over other safety features while making a choice for a four-wheeler. It is only recently that most of the vehicles, across versions, have started coming up with safety features like ABS, airbags, power windows, dead pedal, and perimeter alarms following the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)’s orders.
Crash tests are conducted to assess Vehicle Safety
Crash tests are conducted to assess vehicle safety. Crash tests involve the collision of vehicles in a controlled environment in order to assess their safety. Impact tests between different forces are carried out to analyse the damage induced by impact forces at different velocities. These tests are usually performed between two vehicles or between a vehicle and an obstacle. The Central Government had enforced crash test norms in the country in 2015. The norms were made mandatory for all new cars from October 2017 and are on par with the UN standards. Safety rating scheme similar to Global NCAP has been introduced by the government known as Bharat New Car Safety Assessment Programme, abbreviated as BNVSAP. The Global NCAP or the New Car Assessment Programme is a UK based charity which rates cars on a scale of five stars based on its safety standards compliance for adults and children.
Different types of crash tests are performed on Vehicles
Different types of crash tests performed on vehicles such as frontal impact, side-impact, run-off road, pedestrian, rear-end, etc. In all these physical tests, dummies made with prescribed material in stipulated dimensions are used. This helps in measuring different forces and possible injuries to the driver, co-passenger- children or adult, or others on the road. The mandatory crash tests to be performed in India are offset frontal collision test and lateral collision test. These tests are performed at testing centres at Indore (NATRAX), Pune (ARAI), Manesar (iCAT), and Chennai (GARC), which have been set up under the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project.
Offset frontal and lateral collision tests are the mandatory tests in India
Offset frontal test is performed by colliding a vehicle moving at a minimum speed of 56 km per hour against a deformable barrier made of Aluminium. The thickness and dimensions of the barrier should be as prescribed by the government. Dummies are placed in the front seat to assess the impact on the front portion of the vehicle. Different criteria based on the intensity of damage inflicted upon different parts of the human body have been drafted. Each criterion should be satisfied for the vehicle to be approved for safety. For example, Head Performance Criterion is considered satisfied only when there is no contact between the dummy’s head and any vehicle component during the test. Similar conditions exist for Neck, Thorax, Femur, and Tibia or the lower leg.
In the case of lateral collision test, the mobile deformable barrier is made to collide with the vehicle at a speed of 50km per hour. The dummy is placed on the front seat on the side where the collision is set to take place. Here, the impact of a collision when the front portion of a vehicle strikes the side of another is determined. Usually, the sides of a vehicle are not rigid enough as compared to the front and hence, the accidents can be more fatal. Similar to the conditions under frontal-offset impact, there are certain criteria and intensity of impact on different body parts which should be fulfilled. Likewise, tests for pedestrian safety and other road-users have been prescribed under BNVSAP.
As per Global NCAP, Indian made cars are lag on safety
Recently, the NCAP released the crash test results for some new Indian made cars. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso, Kia Seltos, and Hyundai Grand i10 Nios were among the poor performers. This brought attention to the safety issues concerning cars in the country. However, it has even been stated in the parliament that the assessment by NCAP is voluntary and that there is no provision under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules for compliance with these protocols. The NCAP test is carried out at a speed of 64 km per hour, higher than what is prescribed in the Indian rules implying that even though cars pass the Indian tests, it may fail in the global NCAP. Global NCAP has even started a campaign with the hashtag #SafercarsforIndia similar to that for Africa, #SafercarsforAfrica.
GNCAP and Indian safety norms are different
Apart from the crash tests, the Government of India has made certain safety features mandatory in a step by step manner. Standards for Seat Belts and their Anchorages, Child Seats, Seats and their Anchorages were mandated since 2010. Furthermore, in 2017, the Ministry mandated that passenger cars (those in M1 category) must have seat belt reminder, manual over-ride, speed alert system, vehicle reverse gear sensor, among others. The latest addition to the list are ABS, airbags, and seatbelt pre-tensioners which were earlier offered as add-ons. As more accessories are made mandatory, the price of vehicles could go up. Nevertheless, the addition of mandatory safety features is expected to make driving safer. Strict implementation of these regulations is the need of the hour.
MoRTH stated that it is working for international standardization of the Automotive Industry
MoRTH stated in a press release that it has plans to make the Indian automotive industry on par with developed nations. The press release stated that the Government has begun implementing programmes to ensure adherence with international standards of emission and safety measures. The shift from BS-IV to BS-VI emission norms, as a result of which India’s emission norms is at par with that in Europe, is cited as an example.  Similar changes, according to the government, has brought India’s Automotive Industry at par with developed nations like the US, Europe, and Japan. The Ministry stated that it will soon be implementing standards for Electronic Stability Control systems and brake assist systems over the next two years. It further stated that priority areas for international standardization in the field have been identified- such as tyre pressure monitoring system.

created: November 18, 2020


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What you need to know about the new COVID-19 Home Testing kit?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 24, 2021
To enable a greater number of COVID-19 tests and reduce the burden on laboratories, the ICMR has recently approved a COVID-19 home testing kit which can be used by all adults at home. The test kit is called ‘CoviSelf’ and is designed to give results within 15 minutes of taking the test. Here is everything you need to know about ‘Home Testing’ kits.
With the rise in COVID-19 cases across the country, there is a need to scale up the testing. India has been conducting more than 20 lakh tests a day since 18 May 2021 and has been setting a new record for the highest number of tests conducted in a day. The increased burden on laboratories has resulted in delayed results, especially in the case of RT-PCR tests which further delays treatment and isolation. Quick testing and isolation are key to controlling the spread of infection, as noted time & again by various agencies. To address this issue, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently approved a self-use rapid antigen test (RAT) kit developed by Pune-based Mylab Discovery Solutions. CoviSelf is India’s first self-use kit for testing for COVID-19 at home that will give results in 15 minutes.
The CoviSelf kit approved by ICMR consists of a pre-filled extraction tube, a sterile nasal swab, a test card, and a biohazard bag. The kit also comes with a user manual. To use the kit, people should first download the CoviSelf application on their phones, which is available in Google Play Store and Apple Store, and fill in their details. The application connects the data with the ICMR portal which will give the government access to the data for monitoring purposes.
How to take the test?
Prior to taking the test, users must sanitize their hands. It should also be ensured that the surface on which the kit is placed for the test is clean. The nasal swab should be held by the tail-end and the other end should be inserted into the nose by 2-4 cm or until it touches the back of the nasal tract and rub it. Now that the specimen has been collected, the swab must be swirled inside the extraction tube filled with the liquid and closed tightly. Once the specimen mixes with the liquid, two drops should be dropped onto the testing card. The testing card displays the result in about 15 minutes and the result can be inferred as follows;
Those with symptoms but test negative through RAT tests should be considered suspect COVID-19 cases and must take the RT-PCR test immediately. However, no test is required if the user tests positive in the RAT test. If positive, in either case, home isolation must be followed, or a doctor must be consulted based on the condition of the person.
Once the test is done, the tube and swab should be sealed inside the biohazard bag and carefully disposed as biomedical waste. ICMR also advises users to click a picture of the test strip after completing the test procedure with the same mobile phone which has been used for downloading the mobile app and user registration.
Who can use the self-test?
According to the advisory released by ICMR, it is advised that home testing be used only by symptomatic individuals and immediate contacts of laboratory-confirmed positive cases. Indiscriminate testing should be avoided. Individuals aged 18 years and older can take this test. For kids between the ages of 2 and 17, an adult member is to collect the sample. The self-test does not require a prescription.
How to store the kit?
The test kit can be at room temperature in a place without direct sunlight and out of reach of children. It should not be frozen. Further, the test kit should not be used after the expiry date. If the Test Card has been outside of the sealed kit for more than 10 minutes, it should be discarded.
Where will the kit be available and what is the cost?
According to CoviSelf’s press release, the kit would cost Rs. 250 and will be available in an affordable pack of one across the country. According to PTI, the company is aiming to stock as many as one crore testing kits before it is rolled out for people to use by 01 June 2021. Mylab’s current production capacity is 70 lakh test kits per week and plans are in place to increase its capacity to 1 Crore test kits per week soon. The company’s target is to reach 90% of the pin codes in India.
How does home testing help during the pandemic?
Home testing is an important tool to test & isolate as laboratories are overburdened with samples, and results are taking much longer than usual. People can avoid the stress of booking appointments and visits to high transmission settings such as hospitals and diagnostic centres. The price of the kit is also relatively low, as compared to RAT tests which can cost at least Rs. 700, and RT-PCR tests which can cost around Rs. 1,200. Overall, these self-test kits help in saving time, money, and reduce the risk of transmission. The quick result will also the user take necessary precautions and treatment without delay.
Is home testing really effective?
The effectiveness of home testing depends on a few factors including the person using the kit. One cannot rule out the possibility of incorrect collection of the sample, or contamination of the swab stick. There is even possibility that one may take the test too early. Another factor that affects the effectiveness of the test is the data being fed in the mobile application. It needs to be ensured that the users feed the correct details. In addition, users may also be careless while disposing the kit leading to dangerous biowaste.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in its report in March 2021 stated that “Shifting the responsibility of reporting test results from health professionals and laboratories to individuals could lead to underreporting and make response measures such as contact tracing and quarantine of contacts even more challenging”. Furthermore, “The reliability of the test result depends on a few factors: the ability of the person taking the sample and performing the test to follow instructions, the viral load at the time of the sampling, and the disease prevalence in the population when the test is taken.”, it stated. ECDC added that samples from self-testing would not be available for sequencing and monitoring variants of concern, which is an additional challenge.
It is already known that the accuracy of RAT tests is lower than RT-PCR tests. RT-PCR tests are molecular tests that detect the genetic material of the virus while Antigen tests detect proteins in the virus. There is a high probability of a person who tested negative in the RAT test is COVID-19 positive.
Have other countries authorized home-testing kits?
Other countries including the US, UK, and Canada have authorized home-testing. US’s FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the first COVID-19 diagnostic test for self-testing at home in November 2020. ‘Lucira COVID-19 All-In-One Test Kit’ was authorized for home use with self-collected nasal swab samples in individuals age 14 and older who are suspected of COVID-19 by their health care provider. The kit could also be used in point-of-care (POC) settings (e.g., doctor’s offices, hospitals, urgent care centers and emergency rooms) for all ages but samples must be collected by a healthcare provider when the test is used at the POC to test individuals younger than 14 years old. The test was initially authorized for prescription use only. However, a month later, FDA gave authorization for ‘Over-the-Counter’ home testing kits.
Featured Image: COVID-19 Home Testing kit


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Explainer: What you should know about the BIS & ISI?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 3, 2021
The Bureau of Indian Standards recently announced that the BIS standards are now available free of cost for everyone and that the process of certification, grant of license, etc. has been made simpler. What should an average consumer know about the BIS & the ISI mark? Here is an explainer.
It was recently announced that the services of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) are now available free of cost for everyone, and the entire process of certification is automated through the Standardization Portal of e-BIS i.e. Manak portal. In this story, we look at the importance of the BIS system and the changes brought about by this reform.
What is BIS?
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India was established under the BIS Act 1986, assuming the functions of the erstwhile Indian Standards Institution (ISI), which was established in 1946. The BIS Act 2016 came into force on 12 October 2017 superseding BIS Act 1986. The BIS functions as a National Standard Body of India for the harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking, and quality certification of goods.
Standardization supports economic growth, enhances competitiveness, and fosters technological developments. It is also a tool to influence public policies such as health and safety, protection of the environment, and consumer protection. By ensuring a level playing field and defining common criteria of acceptance of goods, standards are increasingly being used as tools to support regulatory frameworks and to facilitate trade. The BIS has been providing traceability and tangibility benefits to the national economy in a number of ways – providing safe reliable quality goods; minimizing health hazards to consumers; promoting exports and imports substitute; control over proliferation of varieties, etc. through standardization, certification, and testing.
Keeping in view, the interest of consumers as well as the industry, BIS is involved in various activities as given below:
Why are these reforms important?
Let us take a look at the details of the announced BIS reforms 2021 and how they are important.
Reform 1: For the benefit of industry, particularly the MSME sector, Indian Standards are now available free of cost, and can be downloaded from the Manak portal.
Reform 2: Several steps have been taken to ease the compliance burden on the stakeholders like automation of the entire process of certification, including the grant of a license, renewal of license, and inclusion is automated through the Manak portal.
According to a comprehensive review of BIS, although the awareness of BIS’s functions was categorised as ‘good’, the awareness about the management system certification services of BIS was ‘relatively low’. About 80% of the respondents found the adequacy/effectiveness of consumer awareness & standards promotion programmes to be ‘fair to poor’. These steps can potentially improve the level of awareness about BIS’s certification systems.
Reform 3: Substantial reduction in the Minimum Marking fee i.e., 50 percent for Micro industry, start-ups, and women entrepreneurs. Old license holders will also get an additional 10 percent rebate.
As a result of this step, the coveted ISI mark will soon become less expensive for start-ups, women entrepreneurs, and small units. This will further improve the ‘ease of doing business’ agenda of the government.
Reform 4: More than 80% of products being brought under Simplified Procedure. This means a license for the manufacturing of these products will be granted within a period of one month. System of consultation with applicants is introduced at the stage of Scrutiny of Application to avoid delay in processing.
Reform 5: The Scheme of One Nation One Standard has been launched to harmonize the standard formulation work happening in various organizations.
According to the review, overall a ‘fairly significant’ percentage of the respondents (~23%) were dissatisfied with process/certification cycle time. In the case of Hallmarking, the percentage of dissatisfied respondents increased to around 50 percent. This step can potentially improve the turnaround time for certifications.
Who has to get BIS certification?
BIS carries out various activities like that of standards formulation, product certification, hallmarking, laboratory services, training services, etc. The primary and most recognized objective of BIS is to formulate and prescribe the standards for products for their certification. The following schemes of certification are covered under BIS.
Obtaining the BIS registration is essentially voluntary in nature. However, BIS requires a compulsory certification for products that impact the health and safety of consumers.
The mandatory certification scheme is bifurcated into ISI (Indian Standards Institute) Mark Scheme and Compulsory Certification Scheme (collectively referred to as ‘Standard Mark’). ISI Mark Scheme is applicable for products such as cement, electrical appliances, baby food, etc. and Compulsory Certification is required mostly for IT/ electronic products. For procurement of the BIS certificate, the manufacturer has to ensure that the product is in compliance with the ‘Indian Standard’.
‘Indian Standard’ has been defined under the Act as the standard set and published by the BIS, with regards to any article or process which is indicative of the quality and specification of such article or process and also includes: (i) Any standard recognized by the BIS and (ii) Any standard established and published, or recognized, by the ISI.
How does BIS certification help customers?
In the era of globalization and the growing importance of ensuring conformity with standards in global trade, BIS has huge significance and responsibility. The conformity assessment procedures have become increasingly important in the modern-day and hence, BIS plays a critical role in strengthening Indian trade and exports.
The quality certification of products safeguards people from several health and safety hazards.
The Act empowers BIS to pass orders granting, suspending, or rejecting a license. Any violation of the provisions of the Act and the non-compliance with the standards set by BIS is punishable with either imprisonment for a period of one year or with a fine extending up to Rs. 50,000.
BIS also carries out enforcement activity to curb the use of Standard Mark or its imitation by unscrupulous traders and manufacturers not holding a valid BIS license. The objective behind these enforcement activities is to protect consumers from being misled about the quality of products that are marked with the BIS Standard Mark. Enforcement raids, which include search and seizure operations are carried out against traders and manufacturers on the basis of intelligence collected regarding misuse of the Standard Mark, and where required, prosecution cases are filed in the court of law.
Here is what Consumers should know & do
The streamlining of the entire process ensures that most of the information is available online for consumers. There are multiple things that consumers can do. Firstly, consumers can find out the list of products that are under the compulsory certification and understand the ISI mark process and the license number. In other words, all such products should mandatorily have the ISI registered mark.
Search for Licensed products & brands: Consumers can search for licensed products & brands, the validity of the license and other details online.
File Complaints Online: Consumers can also file complaints online for any violation of the standards, lack of licensing, etc. and also go through the list of FAQs available on the portal.
Check for Consumer Complaints & relevant Court Orders: The list of consumer complaints & the relevant court orders are also available online. There is also a consumer dashboard that provides the status of various complaints & consumer-related programs taken up by the BIS.
Featured Image: Bureau of Indian Standards


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Explainer: Who funds the WHO? What is the size of its budget?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 24, 2020
After POTUS Donald Trump announced that USA is halting its funding to the WHO, there has been a lot of debate around WHO’s finances. So, who funds the WHO? What is the size of its budget? Here is a detailed explainer.
The World HealthOrganization (WHO) has been in the spotlight for the last few months followingthe outbreak of COVID-19. It is also being accused of acting in China’sinterests above all.
Recently, USPresident Donald Trump, during one of his interactions with media, said that hehas instructed his administration to halt the funding to WHO. He alleged that WHO was ‘mismanaging andcovering up the spread of coronavirus’. The decision has been criticized bymany as it has been taken at a time when the entire world is fighting a crisis.
President @realDonaldTrump is halting funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess WHO's role in mismanaging the Coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/jTrEf4WWj0
How much does the US contribute to WHO? Where does WHO get its funds from? What are the implications if the USA suspends its funding? Here are the details.
WHO was
founded in 1948 to monitor public health at global level
WHO is an agency of United Nations that was formed in 1948 to ‘direct and coordinate international health within United Nations system.’ In simpler terms, WHO plays a pivotal role in the governance of health and diseases, at a global level. Besides taking up a leadership role on global health, some major functions of WHO include research, monitoring and assessment of health trends and concerns, and formulation of policies. During public health emergencies, like the current one due to COVID-19, it is the WHO that takes a leadership role and provide guidance to countries on what all needs to be done and precautionary measures to be taken. Presently, there are 194 member states with which WHO works. WHO relies on contributions from these member countries and private organizations for its budget.
Assessed
contributions and voluntary contributions are the sources of funding for WHO
To meet itsbudgetary expenses, WHO receives contributions falling in either of the twocategories – assessed contributions and voluntary contributions.
Dues paid bycountries to be a member of WHO are known as assessed contributions. The amount to be paid by each country is calculated basedon its wealth and population.
Voluntary contributions are funds which are given by member states (in addition to their assessed contribution), private organizations, and even individuals. Just as the name suggests, these contributions are purely voluntary. Core voluntary contributions are those funds which are flexible and can be used to cover general expenses or low funded activities, thereby facilitating the easy implementation of programs. Specified voluntary contributions are those which are earmarked for ‘specified’ projects or activities.
Assessed
contributions account for only 1/4th of program budget while
voluntary contributions make up for remaining 3/4th
Over the years,assessed contributions have dwindled as a proportion of program budget. Itaccounts for only less than a quarter of WHO’s finances. Meanwhile, voluntarycontributions account for the remaining 75% of WHO’s funding.
Advantage ofassessed contributions over voluntary contributions is that it is flexible andhas higher predictability since it is agreed with member states in advance. Thishelps in planning budget accordingly. Furthermore, it reduces dependence ondonors.
Large chunk
of contributions to WHO are specified voluntary contributions
As of the fourthquarter of 2019, WHO received a total contribution of  US$ 5.62billion comprising of assessed contributions of $956 million, specifiedvoluntary contributions amounting to $4.38 billion, core voluntarycontributions of $160 million, and PIP contributions worth $178 million, forthe biennium 2018-19. In other words, the biennial budget of the WHO is around$5.62 billion an annual budget of around $ 2.8 billion. As is evident from thedata,  specified voluntary contributionsmake up for the larger chunk of contributions.
USA’s contributionamounts to $893 million including an assessed contribution of $236.9 millionand specified voluntary contribution of $656 million as in the last quarter of2019.
Similarly, India’scontribution amounts to $18.3 million specified voluntary contribution and $7million assessed contributions, totalling to $25.3 million.
Pandemic
Influenza Preparedness Framework was introduced in 2011
Since 2011, Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution was introduced in addition to the existing type of contributions. This contribution is made by influenza vaccine, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, who use Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS). PIP funds are utilized for pandemic influenza preparedness capacity building, and response activities. WHO determines potential contributors every year taking into account their nature and capabilities.
Almost 16% of
WHO’s funding is through USA’s contribution
Currently, USA’scontribution totals 15.88% of the total funding of WHO, thereby making it thebiggest contributor of WHO. Apart from USA, top contributors contributing morethan $200 million are Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (9.4%), UK (7.7%),GAVI Vaccine Alliance (6.59%), Germany (5.19%), and Japan (3.8%). Internationalbodies – UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (3.41%), RotaryInternational (2.53%), World Bank (2.35%), and European Commission (2.33%) arealso a part of the top ten contributors to WHO. India’s contribution amounts toaround 0.45% while China’s accounts for 1.52%.
WHO allocated
African region and eastern Mediterranean regions more than a billion dollars
each
Of the total fundsreceived, WHO has allocated about $1.64 billion to the African region. Another$1.38 billion has been allocated to Eastern Mediterranean, and $982million tothe WHO Headquarters. South East Asia received $375.3 million while Europereceived $328.1 million. Western Pacific is allotted $282 million and Americasreceived $62.2 million.
More than 19.4% of the funds received, about $998.8 million has been allocated for polio eradication. 8.8% of the funds have been allotted for improving access to essential health and nutritional services, followed by 7% to vaccine-preventable diseases. About 4.6% has been allocated for operations and coordination support and 4.4% for prevention and control of outbreaks.
The distribution of a country’s contribution in terms of what is itspent on is available only for specified voluntary contributions. For instance,in the case of the USA, $553 million of specified contribution is fullydistributed. Out of this, 27.4% is used for Polio eradication, 5.74% forTuberculosis etc.
Trump halted
USA’s contribution to WHO alleging lack of transparency and slow response to
pandemic
During his pressconference on 14 April 2020, Donald Trump announced that he had asked his administration to halt fundingto WHO until a review assessment is conducted. Trump also stated that WHO wasmismanaging and covering up the spread of coronavirus. He also criticized WHOfor its pandemic response and blamed the organization for the delay indeclaring COVID-19 a public health emergency. WHO declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30January 2020.
Trump pointed outWHO’s tweet on 14 January 2020, which stated that preliminary tests conducted byChinese authorities found no clear evidence of human to human transmission ofthe virus.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China🇨🇳. pic.twitter.com/Fnl5P877VG
He alleged thatWHO lacked transparency and that WHO should have sent groups to study theground reality in China when the disease had initially broken out. However,Trump has been spotted blaming China for the outbreak multiple times.
‘WHO regrets
USA’s decision’ – Director general of WHO
WHO’s DirectorGeneral, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said during a press conference that they regrettedthe decision of US President to halt the funding. He added that WHO will beassessing how the programs will be affected by this decision and announce itofficially.
The decision takenby USA has not been welcomed by many as it has come at a time when the world ishit by one of the worst epidemics in the last few decades. Bill Gates, founderof Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation tweeted that USA’s decision during a world health crisis is as ‘dangerous as itsounds’.
Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds. Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them. The world needs @WHO now more than ever.
USA is the worst affected country till date
As on 23 April2020, WHO dashboard reveals that more than 25.5 lakh cases of COVID-19have been confirmed world-wide. The disease has claimed the lives of 1.75 lakhpersons across the globe. Of this, more than 8 lakh confirmed cases are fromUSA, which also accounted for more than 40,000 deaths. USA has reported thegreatest number of cases and deaths reported so far, even more than China andItaly, which are the early epicentres of the outbreak.


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Explainer: Who holds rights over Airspace?
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 17, 2019
Recently, Pakistan once again closed
its Airspace for Indian flights. But who controls Airspace over a country? What
are the rules governing such control? Are there charges to be paid for using
one’s Airspace? Here is a detailed explainer.
Pakistan has recently denied, the President of India, to use their Airspace for a visit to Europe. In an earlier instance in June 2019, Pakistan decided to allow PM Narendra Modi, to fly over its air space for a trip to Kyrgyzstan after a request from Indian Government, which was later declined by India. These instances occurred in the aftermath of Pakistan closing down its airspace for Indian flights following the Indian Airstrikes in Balakot. Eventually Pakistan has opened up its space for commercial flights in July 2019, which was again partially shut post the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir.
But, what are rules and regulations around the airspace ownership of a country? What determines the extent to which a country can claim ‘Airspace’? Are there any losses that countries suffer by shutting down their airspace?  Here is a detailed explainer.
Control over Airspace
determined by territorial extant and mutual agreements
Article 1 of the  Convention on International Civil
Aviation, withregards to sovereignty of  Airspace states that ‘every State has complete and
exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory’. Further, theterritory of any state includes 12 nautical miles of territorial waters off thecoastline. Airspace which is not within any country’s territorial limit isconsidered as ‘International Airspace’.
The United Nations Convention on theLaw of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Convention onInternational Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) define the provisions in regards to Airspace. Countries canmake agreements to have control of a section of the International Airspace. ForExample, USA has authority over a significantportion of the Pacific Ocean, which is beyond the territorial boundary definedabove.
Flight permits required
by flights to fly over or to land in a Country’s Airspace.
A Flight permit is the permission which is required by an aircraft to fly over, land or make a stop in the airspace belonging to a specific country. All the countries have their own regulations regarding the issuance of flight permits. Generally, there are charges to be paid by the companies operating these flights for the use of services which could include:
Each country has its own regulationsto grant these permits and also define their own rate list for extending theseservices.
There are different types of permits which can be sought based on the purpose of using a country’s airspace.
Airlines or their respective agentscan directly apply for these permits from the respective countries. The chargesare billed by the respective national aviation authority to these operators.
In India, the DGCA determines the
charges to be levied on International flights for using Indian Airspace
Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)is the regulatory body for Civil Aviation in India which discharges variousfunctions including – Certifying the Airports, registration of aircrafts,licensing, formulating standards for air safety, investigating incidents,Coordinating with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) etc.
Meanwhile, the Airports Authority ofIndia (AAI) is the statutory body which isresponsible for creating, upgrading , maintaining and managing civil aviationinfrastructure in India. It also takes care of Air Traffic Management (ATM) andCommunication Navigation Surveillance (CNS) of Indian Airspace.
The DGCA fixes the charges to belevied upon the flights using the Airport Infrastructure for landing ornavigation and using Indian Airspace to flyover. As per the amendment to the charges in 2017, the different chargeslevied on International flights are the following.
Route Navigation and Facility
Charges (RNFC) areone of the prominent charges paid by the flights while flying over a country’sairspace.
The Landing charges levied on international flights forlanding in Indian Airspace are displayed in the following image.
Separate charges are levied oninternational flights for using Terminal Navigation and Landing services in International Airports. The following charges are applicable at Delhi,Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Trivandrum, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Goa & Cochinairports.
In airports other than thosementioned above, the following charges would be applicable for internationalflights.
Apart from RNFC and TNLC, chargesare levied on air carriers using services like Housing, Parking and NightParking services.
Loss and additional expenses
incurred by both India and Pakistan because of Airspace shutdown by Pakistan.
Shutting down of the airspace has anegative effect on both sides i.e. the country who has shut down the airspaceand those countries whose flights have to look for longer alternative options.
Similar to the charges levied byDGCA for using Indian airspace for various services, Pakistan Civil AviationAuthority (PCAA) levies charges on the flights usingPakistan’s airspace. Indian flights are one of prominent users of Pakistan’sAirspace and many international flights use its Airspace to reach India.
Pakistan’s Federal Minster for Aviation addressing a Press conference in July 2019 stated that PCAA suffered a loss of ₹ 8.5 billion (USD 50 million) because of Airspace restrictions since February 2019.
Indian flights also had to bear extra costs because of rerouting the flights. Answering a supplementary question in Rajya Sabha on 17 July 2019, the government mentioned that Air India has suffered a loss for  ₹ 430 crores over the four-month period when Pakistan closed its airspace.
Featured Image: Rights over Airspace

created: September 17, 2019