The Hindu Daily Current Affairs – 30 October 2026
Friday, 30 October 2026
The Hindu – Important News Articles & Editorial
Today’s edition covers the Supreme Court’s push for bank liability in “digital arrest” frauds, India’s offer of counter-terrorism expertise to ASEAN, extreme post-cyclone rain in southern Odisha, the cap on cancer-drug trade margins, and whether the purple Kufri Jamunia potato can help fight hidden hunger, along with an editorial analysis on concerns over the collegium system.
SC Proposes Relief for Digital Arrest Victims
The Supreme Court has asked the RBI to require financial institutions to fully indemnify victims of “digital arrest” frauds where the fraud succeeded because of a lack of institutional diligence. CJI Surya Kant expressed frustration that over ₹800 crore was lost in a year to fraudsters impersonating law-enforcement officers, calling it the “biggest financial fraud in the history of this country”. The Court wants to examine the proposed RBI (KYC) Amendment Directions, 2026 and build safeguards into the system.
Key Facts
- Digital arrest: scammers pose as police or agency officials on calls (often misusing WhatsApp), tell the victim they are under “arrest” and extort money.
- The Court’s suggestions:
- Full indemnification of victims by financial institutions where diligence lapsed.
- Systems to temporarily hold transactions that deviate sharply from an account’s history.
- Automated alerts to the police, followed by physical verification of whether the transaction is genuine.
- States must report details of FIRs and the status of investigation and prosecution; the next hearing is before 30 November.
- The Court noted the involvement of bank employees and asked whether the RBI was “soft-pedalling” the issue.
- Attorney-General: the KYC Amendment Directions will be notified by 30 November and operationalised by 31 December. Digital-arrest cases are down 50% this year; over 7 lakh requests for restoring frozen money have been received, with orders passed in over 5.5 lakh. Duties of intermediaries will come through MeitY and DoT instructions.
- Losses: about ₹800 crore this year, against about ₹3,000 crore the previous year.
- WhatsApp says it banned 9,400 suspicious accounts and is building software to detect impersonation accounts; the Court allowed it to intervene.
- Amicus curiae N.S. Nappinai noted that even educated people fall victim, and that psychologists describe victims as being in a hypnosis-like state.
Who Does What Against Digital Arrest Frauds
| Institution / tool | Role |
|---|---|
| RBI | KYC Master Direction; customer-liability rules for unauthorised electronic transactions; proposed KYC Amendment Directions, 2026 |
| Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), MHA | National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and the 1930 helpline; tracking of mule accounts |
| Department of Telecommunications | Sanchar Saathi portal and Chakshu facility for reporting suspicious calls and messages |
| MeitY and CERT-In | IT Rules and intermediary due diligence; cyber incident response |
| State police | Registration of FIRs, investigation and prosecution |
| Platforms (e.g. WhatsApp) | Detection and takedown of impersonation accounts |
Static Dimensions
- Legal basis: IT Act, 2000 (Sections 66C and 66D – identity theft and cheating by personation using a computer resource); Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions on cheating and extortion. There is no such thing as an arrest over a phone or video call – arrest procedures under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (Sections 35 and 47) require physical arrest and informing the person of the grounds.
- Customer liability: the RBI’s 2017 circular limits customers’ liability for unauthorised electronic transactions – zero liability where the bank is at fault, or where a third-party breach is reported within three working days.
- Intermediary rules: IT Rules, 2021 and safe harbour under Section 79 of the IT Act, subject to due diligence.
- Constitutional links: Article 21 (life, privacy and financial security) and Article 32 (the Court acting suo motu).
- Concepts: mule accounts, social engineering, anomaly detection, and friction in payments.
Analysis
- Shifting liability: indemnity where institutions lacked diligence places the burden on those best placed to prevent fraud and creates incentives for better controls.
- Preventive design: transaction holds and real-time police alerts tackle the speed at which money moves through mule accounts.
- Insider and intermediary role: the involvement of bank staff and misuse of messaging platforms show the need for accountability across the chain.
- Balance: the government cautions against hasty rules, since excessive friction and false positives can hurt legitimate payments.
- Awareness gap: despite warnings, victims comply out of fear, so technology alone is not enough.
- Data caution: the claimed 50% fall and restoration figures show progress but coexist with large losses.
Challenges
- Fraud proceeds move fast through mule accounts and across borders – many scams are run from abroad.
- Detecting social-engineering fraud where the victim authorises the transfer.
- Low conviction rates and slow investigations across States.
- Insider collusion in banks and telecom firms.
- Fraudsters’ use of encrypted platforms.
Way Forward
- Notify the KYC amendments on time, with clear liability and indemnity rules.
- Mandate AI-based anomaly detection, cooling-off holds for unusual transfers and mule-account tracking.
- Strengthen police coordination, digital forensics and fast-track prosecution.
- Fix platform duties to detect impersonation and take it down quickly.
- Run sustained public awareness: “no arrest by phone or video call – call 1930”.
- Audit and discipline insiders in banks and telecom firms.
India Implications
- Trust in digital payments: UPI and online banking depend on users believing the system will protect them from organised fraud.
- Cyber security as internal security: cross-border scam compounds and mule-account networks link cyber fraud to organised crime.
- Consumer protection: a clear indemnity rule would shift the focus from victim-blaming to institutional responsibility.
Himachal Pradesh has a large population of retired government employees and ex-servicemen with steady pensions and savings – a frequent target of digital-arrest callers posing as CBI, customs or police officers. The State’s cyber crime police stations and the 1930 helpline depend on quick reporting. Awareness drives through panchayats, ex-servicemen’s bodies and bank branches, along with bank-level holds on unusual transfers, would protect elderly residents in particular.
ConclusionThe Court’s push for institutional accountability makes prevention the responsibility of those who control the system. Effective protection will need timely rules, technology-based safeguards and public awareness.
Prelims Practice
Q. The term “social engineering” in the context of cybercrime refers to:
- (a)Designing digital infrastructure for rural development
- (b)Manipulating individuals psychologically to disclose information or carry out financial transactions
- (c)Developing artificial intelligence for social welfare programmes
- (d)Integrating public services through digital platforms
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (b)
Social engineering exploits fear, urgency or trust rather than technical weaknesses – “digital arrest”, phishing and fake customer-care calls are common examples.
Q. What is meant by “digital arrest”? Examine the methods used by cybercriminals to exploit fear and impersonation to commit financial fraud.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
Ready to Provide Counterterrorism Expertise to ASEAN Countries: India
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Philippines, that India is ready to share its “battle-tested” counter-terrorism expertise with ASEAN partners. He cited Operation Sindoor as proof of India’s proactive doctrine and proposed a defence “Youth Bridge” with ASEAN. The speech links India’s Act East Policy with security and maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Key Facts
- India offered to share operational experience through joint exercises, capacity-building programmes and intelligence sharing.
- Mr. Singh said Operation Sindoor dismantled terrorist infrastructure and set a firm red line against state-sponsored terrorism, stressing that terrorism knows no borders.
- India and Malaysia co-chair the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism for 2024–2027.
- Proposal: a dedicated defence “Youth Bridge” for institutional people-to-people links, digital innovation and capacity building; ASEAN members welcomed it.
- Maritime security: 2026 is the ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation, and the second ASEAN–India Maritime Exercise has been held. India reaffirmed freedom of navigation, international maritime law and the security of sea lanes.
Milestones in India–ASEAN Relations
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1992 | Sectoral Dialogue Partner; Look East Policy |
| 1996 | Full Dialogue Partner |
| 2002 | Summit-level partnership |
| 2009 | ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) signed |
| 2012 | Strategic Partnership |
| 2014 | Look East upgraded to Act East Policy |
| 2022 | Comprehensive Strategic Partnership |
| 2026 | ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation |
ADMM-Plus at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Established | 2010 (first meeting in Hanoi) |
| Members | ASEAN’s 11 members plus 8 dialogue partners: India, the US, China, Japan, Russia, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand |
| Expert Working Groups | Seven – counter-terrorism, maritime security, HADR, peacekeeping operations, military medicine, humanitarian mine action and cyber security |
| India’s role | Co-chair (with Malaysia) of the counter-terrorism working group, 2024–2027 |
Static Dimensions
- ASEAN: founded in 1967 (Bangkok Declaration); 11 members since Timor-Leste joined in October 2025; Secretariat in Jakarta. It works by consensus and non-interference – the “ASEAN Way”.
- ADMM-Plus: established in 2010; ASEAN members plus eight dialogue partners (India, US, China, Japan, Russia, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand), with seven Expert Working Groups.
- India–ASEAN: Sectoral Dialogue Partner (1992), Full Dialogue Partner (1996), Strategic Partnership (2012), Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2022); Look East (1992) became Act East (2014).
- Indo-Pacific: India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and the MAHASAGAR vision.
- Related: UNCLOS (1982), South China Sea disputes, and the ongoing review of AITIGA.
Analysis
- Security-provider role: India positions itself as a provider of security capacity, not just a dialogue partner.
- Doctrine messaging: citing Operation Sindoor takes India’s counter-terror narrative to a multilateral forum and counters Pakistan’s framing.
- Maritime convergence: a shared interest in freedom of navigation and sea-lane security fits ASEAN concerns over South China Sea tensions.
- Youth and soft power: the Youth Bridge builds long-term institutional ties and goodwill.
- Limits: ASEAN’s consensus approach and neutrality between powers restrict deeper alignment, and members’ threat priorities differ (maritime piracy and radicalisation versus cross-border terrorism).
Challenges
- ASEAN’s neutrality and hedging between India and China.
- Differing threat perceptions among members.
- Limited trade and defence-industrial integration.
- Delays in connectivity projects such as the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway.
Way Forward
- Operationalise training, joint exercises and intelligence-sharing through the ADMM-Plus working group.
- Expand maritime domain awareness and HADR cooperation.
- Deepen defence exports and industrial links (BrahMos to the Philippines as a precedent).
- Complete the AITIGA review and pending connectivity projects.
- Implement the Youth Bridge through concrete exchange programmes.
India Implications
- Act East with a security edge: counter-terrorism and maritime cooperation add depth to a relationship long led by trade and culture.
- Defence exports: trust built through training and exercises can open markets for Indian defence equipment.
- Indo-Pacific balance: respecting ASEAN centrality lets India deepen ties without forcing members to choose sides.
Himachal’s strongest people-to-people link with South-East Asia is Buddhism – Dharamshala-McLeodganj and the monasteries of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur, such as Tabo and Key, draw pilgrims and tourists from Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and other ASEAN countries. A defence Youth Bridge and wider Act East exchanges can build on this cultural connection. Himachal also contributes a large number of soldiers, who carry much of the counter-terrorism experience India now offers to share.
ConclusionIndia is using the ADMM-Plus to present itself as a reliable security partner in the Indo-Pacific. Success depends on turning offers into concrete programmes while respecting ASEAN centrality.
Prelims Practice
Q. Which of the following countries are dialogue partners in the ADMM-Plus framework?
- India
- China
- Japan
- Australia
- New Zealand
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- (a)1, 2 and 3 only
- (b)1, 2, 3 and 4 only
- (c)2, 3, 4 and 5 only
- (d)1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (d)
All five are among ADMM-Plus’s eight dialogue partners; the other three are the United States, Russia and South Korea.
Q. Examine the significance of India’s proposal for a defence “Youth Bridge” with ASEAN countries in strengthening institutional and people-to-people relations.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
Post-Cyclone, Heavy Rain Wreaks Havoc in Odisha
Even after Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast, its remnant circulation brought exceptionally heavy rain to southern Odisha. Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal saw washed-away roads, marooned villages, landslides and swollen rivers. The episode shows that a cyclone’s danger does not end at landfall – inland rainfall, flooding and landslides are major secondary hazards.
Key Facts
- Highest 24-hour rainfall (till 8.30 a.m. Thursday, IMD): Patrapur (Ganjam) 546 mm, Sorada (Ganjam) 503 mm, G. Udayagiri (Kandhamal) 462 mm, Mahendragarh (Gajapati) 458 mm, Sanakhemundi 388 mm and Chikiti 309 mm.
- More than 200 villages in 22 blocks across Ganjam and Gajapati were severely affected.
- In Ganjam, 42,500 people were marooned and 11,000 shifted to shelters.
- A stretch of NH-326 (Berhampur–Mohana) was washed away; roads in Gajapati were badly damaged, with landslides in hilly terrain.
- The Rushikulya, Vansadhara and Mahendratanaya rivers were in spate.
- Paddy nearing harvest was damaged in parts of southern Odisha.
- A Coast Guard ALH Mk-III helicopter from Bhubaneswar winched six people to safety from a submerged health centre at Jagmohan.
IMD Rainfall Categories (24 Hours)
| Category | Rainfall | This event |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy | 64.5–115.5 mm | — |
| Very heavy | 115.6–204.4 mm | — |
| Extremely heavy | 204.5 mm or more | All six top stations, led by Patrapur (546 mm) and Sorada (503 mm) |
Hazards Before and After Landfall
| Phase | Main hazards | Typical response |
|---|---|---|
| Before and at landfall | High winds, storm surge, coastal flooding | Evacuation, boat recall, shelters |
| After landfall (inland) | Extreme rain, river floods, flash floods, landslides | Air rescue, road restoration, river and reservoir management |
| Recovery | Crop loss, water-borne disease, damaged roads and power | Damage assessment, insurance, health surveillance |
Static Dimensions
- Cyclones after landfall: they weaken into depressions but still carry moisture; interaction with hills (orographic lift) intensifies rain, and full-moon spring tides slow river discharge to the sea.
- Rivers: the Rushikulya, Vansadhara and Mahendratanaya are east-flowing rivers that drain the Eastern Ghats into the Bay of Bengal.
- Disaster framework: Disaster Management Act, 2005; NDMA, NDRF and SDRF; the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA); and the Coast Guard and armed forces in aid to civil authorities.
- Landslides: triggered by saturated slopes, deforestation and road-cutting in hilly terrain.
Analysis
- Multi-hazard event: wind, extreme rain, river floods and landslides compounded, so preparedness aimed only at coastal wind and surge is not enough.
- Inland vulnerability: hill and tribal districts with poor connectivity are hardest to reach once roads wash out, making air rescue essential.
- Agricultural loss: standing paddy near harvest, after a year of monsoon stress, hits farm incomes.
- Inter-agency response: coordination among the State, Coast Guard, NDRF and Centre reflects a mature response system.
- Climate link: record-level rain in a short window reflects intensifying extremes in a warming climate.
Challenges
- Extreme rainfall beyond the design capacity of roads, culverts and embankments.
- Reaching marooned villages in hilly and tribal areas.
- Crop-loss assessment and timely compensation.
- River flood management and reservoir releases.
- Health risks after floods, especially water-borne disease.
Way Forward
- Extend impact-based, district-level rainfall and flood forecasting beyond landfall.
- Build flood-resilient roads and bridges, with landslide mitigation in hill areas.
- Pre-position boats, helicopters and relief material in remote blocks.
- Assess crop losses quickly and speed up insurance payouts and input support.
- Run post-flood health surveillance and sanitation drives.
- Restore wetlands, floodplains and forest cover as natural buffers.
India Implications
- Beyond coastal preparedness: inland districts in the path of a cyclone’s remnants need the same warning and response systems as the coast.
- Infrastructure standards: roads and bridges built to past rainfall norms are failing under new extremes.
- Tribal regions: remote, forested blocks of the Eastern Ghats need pre-positioned relief and air support.
Southern Odisha’s experience mirrors Himachal’s monsoon disasters of 2023 and 2025, when extreme rain over steep slopes – the same orographic effect – washed away stretches of national highways, triggered landslides, swelled the Beas and Sutlej, and stranded villages and tourists, with Air Force helicopters used to evacuate people from places like Chandratal. Hill-specific road and drainage design, slope stabilisation and pre-positioned rescue resources are the shared lessons.
ConclusionCyclone Arnab shows that a storm’s real impact often lies in the days after landfall. Planning for compound hazards, resilient infrastructure and last-mile rescue is vital for disaster-prone States like Odisha.
Prelims Practice
Q. Which of the following best describes a “flash flood”?
- (a)A gradual rise in groundwater levels over several months
- (b)A sudden and rapid flooding event, generally occurring within a short period
- (c)A seasonal increase in river discharge during the monsoon
- (d)Flooding caused exclusively by coastal storm surges
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (b)
Flash floods usually occur within about six hours of intense rain, a cloudburst or a dam or lake breach, and are common in hilly terrain where water runs off steep slopes quickly.
Q. Explain the major factors responsible for the occurrence of tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal. Why is India’s eastern coast particularly vulnerable to their impacts?
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
Cancer Drug Price Cuts Must Reach Patients, Says Former NHA Chief
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped trade margins on 137 anti-cancer medicines, with revised prices effective from 9 November. Former National Health Authority CEO Indu Bhushan calls it an important step, but says success depends on whether savings reach patients and whether the medicines stay available. Financial protection against cancer, he argues, needs more than price regulation.
Key Facts
- Cap: trade margins capped at 30% (excluding GST) for identified non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
- The cut comes through trade margin rationalisation, not by lowering manufacturers’ prices – it targets mark-ups across distribution and retail.
- Effective date: 9 November 2026.
- A 2023 study of over 12,000 cancer patients found average annual out-of-pocket spending of about ₹3.31 lakh per patient, plus travel, stay and lost income.
- Bhushan’s recommendations:
- Ensure hospitals and pharmacies pass on the benefit and keep medicines available.
- Use generics, biosimilars and domestic manufacturing, without weakening quality and testing standards.
- For expensive patented drugs: negotiated prices, voluntary licensing and assessment of added clinical benefit.
- Strategic purchasing under PM-JAY: packages that reflect clinical complexity and real costs – rates that are too low deter good hospitals, and poor design encourages unnecessary procedures.
- Higher public investment in prevention, early detection, pathology, radiotherapy and specialised cancer centres.
How Medicine Prices Are Regulated in India
| Category | Rule under DPCO, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Scheduled formulations (in the National List of Essential Medicines) | Ceiling price fixed by NPPA using market-based pricing; revised annually in line with the Wholesale Price Index |
| Non-scheduled formulations | Manufacturers may raise the MRP by up to 10% a year; NPPA monitors prices |
| Extraordinary circumstances (Para 19) | Government may fix or cap prices, including trade margins, in the public interest – the route used for anti-cancer drugs |
Static Dimensions
- NPPA: set up in 1997; now an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers). It fixes and revises prices of scheduled drugs under the DPCO, 2013 and monitors non-scheduled drugs.
- DPCO, 2013: price control of scheduled drugs (from the National List of Essential Medicines) on market-based pricing; non-scheduled drug prices may rise by up to 10% a year; Para 19 lets the government cap prices, including trade margins, in the public interest.
- Legal base: the DPCO is issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
- Related schemes: Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY (₹5 lakh cover), Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, AMRIT pharmacies, the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (earlier NPCDCS), and day-care cancer centres announced in recent Budgets.
- Constitutional links: Article 21 (right to health), Article 47 (public health) and Article 39(e).
- Concepts: out-of-pocket and catastrophic health expenditure, trade margin, biosimilars, voluntary licensing, health technology assessment and strategic purchasing.
Analysis
- Targets the supply chain: distribution and retail margins are a visible source of inflated prices, so a cap can cut costs quickly without hurting manufacturers’ incentives.
- Pass-through risk: if hospitals and pharmacies keep the difference or shift supply, patients gain little, so monitoring is essential.
- Limited scope: 137 drugs do not cover all cancer costs (tests, consultations, travel), so catastrophic spending persists.
- Innovation balance: negotiated prices and voluntary licensing aim to protect access without discouraging pharmaceutical innovation.
- Health-system link: price control must be combined with insurance package design, public facilities and early detection.
Challenges
- Ensuring compliance and avoiding shortages when margins fall.
- High out-of-pocket spending and uneven access to cancer centres.
- The cost of new patented therapies.
- Quality assurance for cheaper generics and biosimilars.
- Underfunded early detection and radiotherapy capacity.
Way Forward
- Monitor retail prices and availability closely, with a public grievance mechanism and a price-monitoring database.
- Expand generic, biosimilar and domestic production while enforcing quality standards.
- Use health technology assessment and negotiation for costly drugs.
- Design PM-JAY packages on realistic costs, covering outpatient care and follow-up.
- Raise public investment in prevention, screening and regional cancer centres.
India Implications
- Financial protection: cancer is a leading cause of catastrophic health spending; lower drug prices help, but only alongside insurance and public care.
- Pharma policy: India’s strength in generics and biosimilars can make cancer care cheaper at home and abroad.
- Early detection: screening and diagnosis close to home reduce both deaths and costs.
Cancer patients in Himachal Pradesh are treated mainly at the Regional Cancer Centre at IGMC Shimla, Dr. RPGMC Tanda and AIIMS Bilaspur, but many still travel to PGIMER Chandigarh, adding travel and stay costs to medicine bills. With the State’s HIMCARE scheme and Ayushman Bharat covering hospital care, the real test of the margin cap will be whether chemists and hospital pharmacies across hill districts pass the lower prices on and keep these medicines in stock.
ConclusionThe margin cap is a useful step, but real financial protection requires assured pass-through, wider coverage of costs and a stronger public health system focused on prevention and early detection.
Prelims Practice
Q. With reference to medicine price regulation in India, consider the following statements:
- The Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 is issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
- Ceiling prices are fixed for scheduled formulations drawn from the National List of Essential Medicines.
- Manufacturers of non-scheduled formulations may raise their prices by any amount every year.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)2 and 3 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (a)
Statement 3 is incorrect: under the DPCO, 2013, the maximum retail price of a non-scheduled formulation can be raised by no more than 10% in a year.
Q. Explain the role of the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) in regulating medicine prices in India. How does the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 help ensure the affordability of essential medicines?
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
Can a New Fortified Potato Variety Help with India’s Hidden Hunger Problem?
The Shimla-based ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) has developed Kufri Jamunia, a potato with purple skin and flesh and higher levels of anthocyanins, vitamin C and some micronutrients. The Centre is promoting it as a tool against hidden hunger – where people get enough calories but not enough nutrients. The article argues it is premature to call it a proven solution, given unknowns about cost, uptake and nutrient delivery.
Key Facts
- Development: a cross of MS/8-1148 (high vitamin C) and CP4242 (purple skin and flesh) made in 2015; multi-location trials in 2021–23; approved in mid-2024 and notified in November 2024.
- Matures in about 90 days, with 10–12 medium-to-large tubers per plant. The colour comes from anthocyanins, also found in jamun and blueberries.
- Per 100 g (PIB): vitamin C 42.75 mg (regular potato 23.15 mg), anthocyanins 42.05 mg, zinc 2.28 mg (0.28 mg), iron 3.22 mg (0.57 mg) and carotenoids 161 micrograms – though carotenoid levels varied widely across sites (15.6 to 298.4 micrograms).
- It has slightly less zinc than Kufri Neelkanth and slightly less iron than Kufri Manik, CPRI’s earlier coloured varieties.
- Yield: 49.01 t/ha at Modipuram; multi-location mean 31.96 t/ha (north 36.77, central 33.79, east 25.91) against 36.61 t/ha for Neelkanth. Marketable yield was 29.19 t/ha versus 33.48 for Neelkanth, so farmers may need about a 15% price premium to match revenue.
- Moderately resistant to late blight in the lab but “susceptible” in the field, so fungicide is recommended.
- Seed accounts for 40–50% of the cost of potato production (₹60,000–75,000 per hectare).
- Acceptance: 95% of 64 tasters rated it good to excellent, but the sample is small; the texture is mealy. Ordinary potatoes sell at about ₹17/kg wholesale.
- Gaps: no Kufri Jamunia-specific data on nutrient retention in cooking, bioavailability of iron and zinc, or antioxidant benefit. A 2016 study on purple potatoes found steaming and microwaving preserved more nutrients than stir-frying.
- Potatoes are eaten less consistently than rice or salt, the usual vehicles for fortification.
Kufri Jamunia vs Regular Potato (per 100 g)
| Nutrient | Kufri Jamunia | Regular potato |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C | 42.75 mg | 23.15 mg |
| Iron | 3.22 mg | 0.57 mg |
| Zinc | 2.28 mg | 0.28 mg |
| Anthocyanins | 42.05 mg | — |
| Carotenoids | 161 µg (range 15.6–298.4 µg across sites) | — |
Fortification vs Biofortification
| Feature | Fortification | Biofortification |
|---|---|---|
| How | Nutrients added during processing | Nutrients bred into the crop itself |
| Examples | Fortified rice in PDS, iodised salt, fortified oil and milk | Kufri Jamunia, zinc-rich wheat, iron-rich pearl millet |
| Reach | Through processed and distributed foods | Through farmers’ fields; reaches rural households who eat what they grow |
| Key condition | Regular consumption of the fortified food | Adoption by farmers and consumers, and nutrient retention in cooking |
Static Dimensions
- Hidden hunger: micronutrient deficiency (iron, zinc, vitamin A, iodine) despite adequate calories.
- Biofortification vs fortification: biofortification breeds nutrients into the crop; fortification adds them during processing (rice, salt, oil, milk).
- Institutions: ICAR, ICAR-CPRI (Shimla), FSSAI (fortification standards), and the Central Sub-Committee on Crop Standards, Notification and Release of Varieties.
- Related programmes: POSHAN Abhiyaan, PM POSHAN, fortified rice in the PDS, ICAR’s biofortified varieties (17 dedicated by the Prime Minister on World Food Day 2020), and NFHS data on anaemia.
- Concepts: bioavailability, anthocyanins as antioxidants, late blight (Phytophthora infestans), and the cost–benefit of new varieties.
Analysis
- Delivery problem: a nutrient-rich crop helps only if people eat enough of it regularly, and potato consumption is uneven.
- Farmer economics: lower marketable yield and disease risk mean farmers need a price premium, or adoption will lag.
- Consumer acceptance: colour and texture may limit uptake, though processed uses (flour, parathas) could help.
- Evidence gap: the values are raw-tuber measurements, and effects on human nutrition remain untested.
- Prudence: the article’s caution is sound – promotion should follow evidence.
Challenges
- Late-blight susceptibility and high seed costs.
- Market linkages and the need for a price premium.
- Nutrient loss in cooking and low bioavailability.
- Limited consumer awareness.
- No human efficacy trials.
Way Forward
- Run nutrient-retention and bioavailability studies, followed by human trials.
- Improve disease resistance and yield stability.
- Build value chains and premium markets, and use public procurement (mid-day meals) to create demand.
- Raise awareness and promote processed products.
- Treat biofortification as one tool alongside dietary diversity and fortified staples.
India Implications
- Anaemia and stunting: with high anaemia among women and children (NFHS-5), food-based solutions can complement supplements – if they deliver real nutrition.
- Policy by evidence: biofortified crops should be scaled up only after nutrition and bioavailability trials.
- Farm incomes: premium markets and public procurement can make nutritious varieties worth growing.
Kufri Jamunia was developed at ICAR-CPRI, headquartered in Shimla, whose varieties carry the “Kufri” name after its research station near the town. Himachal’s cool, aphid-free high hills – such as Kufri-Fagu and the Lahaul valley – are among India’s traditional zones for disease-free seed potato. Since seed makes up 40–50% of potato production costs, Himachal growers could benefit from producing quality seed of the new variety, provided its late-blight susceptibility is managed in the State’s wet monsoon conditions.
ConclusionKufri Jamunia is a promising step in biofortification, but its role against hidden hunger depends on proven nutrient delivery, farmer profitability and consumer uptake.
Prelims Practice
Q. With reference to food fortification in India, consider the following statements:
- It involves deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in food.
- It can be used as a public health strategy to address micronutrient deficiencies.
- Its effectiveness depends partly on the regular consumption of fortified food by the target population.
- It can completely replace dietary diversification and access to a balanced diet.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a)1 and 2 only
- (b)1, 2 and 3 only
- (c)2, 3 and 4 only
- (d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Click to reveal answer
Answer: (b)
Statement 4 is incorrect: fortification is a complementary strategy and cannot replace a diverse, balanced diet – which is also why the article cautions against treating Kufri Jamunia as a stand-alone answer to hidden hunger.
Q. What is hidden hunger? Discuss its major causes and consequences for public health and human development in India.
(10 Marks, 150 Words)
Concerns over the Collegium System
Retired Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul has said that former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud may have discussed proposed judicial names with the Union government before the collegium met – which he described as seeking “pre-approval” that erodes judicial autonomy. The claim revives the debate on how the collegium has evolved and how appointments can be made more transparent.
Key Facts
- Allegation: possible discussion of names with the Centre before the collegium deliberated, which would weaken the judiciary’s independence in appointments.
- Constitutional text:
- Article 124: Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President after consultation with the CJI.
- Article 217: High Court judges are appointed by the President after consultation with the CJI, the Governor and the Chief Justice of the High Court.
- Collegium composition: the CJI and four senior-most judges for the Supreme Court; the CJI and two senior-most judges for High Court appointments.
- Memorandum of Procedure (MoP): the collegium recommends; the Centre may return a name with objections, but if the collegium reiterates it, the appointment must be made. A revised MoP, under discussion since 2015, remains unfinalised after 11 years.
- NJAC: the 99th Constitutional Amendment (2014) created a National Judicial Appointments Commission of the CJI, two senior judges, the Law Minister and two eminent persons; it was struck down in 2015 as violating the basic structure.
- International models:
- US: the President nominates and the Senate confirms.
- UK: an independent 15-member Judicial Appointments Commission, with a separate selection commission for the UK Supreme Court.
- South Africa: a 23-member Judicial Service Commission drawn from the judiciary, legislature, executive, legal profession and academia.
- Author’s suggestions: finalise the revised MoP now; in the long term, revive a broader NJAC (with the legislature, Bar Council and academia) that gives the judiciary a veto.
The Judges Cases
| Case | Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| First Judges Case (S.P. Gupta v. Union of India) | 1981 | “Consultation” does not mean concurrence – executive primacy |
| Second Judges Case (SC Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India) | 1993 | “Consultation” read as concurrence; judicial primacy; the collegium is born |
| Third Judges Case (Presidential Reference, Article 143) | 1998 | Collegium expanded to the CJI and four senior-most judges |
| Fourth Judges Case (NJAC case) | 2015 | 99th Amendment and NJAC struck down; collegium restored |
How Other Democracies Appoint Judges
| Country | System | Who is involved |
|---|---|---|
| India | Collegium | Senior judges recommend; executive appoints |
| United States | Nomination and confirmation | President nominates; Senate confirms |
| United Kingdom | Independent commission | 15-member Judicial Appointments Commission, including lay members |
| South Africa | Judicial Service Commission | 23 members from the judiciary, legislature, executive, legal profession and academia |
Static Dimensions
- Principles: independence of the judiciary is part of the basic structure; separation of the judiciary from the executive (Article 50).
- Memorandum of Procedure: drawn up in 1999 after the Third Judges Case to guide appointments; its revision has been pending since the NJAC judgment.
- Related issues: judicial vacancies and pendency, appointments to tribunals, and recent debates on judicial propriety.
- Concepts: judicial primacy, “judges appointing judges”, and transparency through published reasons and RTI.
Analysis
- Autonomy at risk: informal pre-clearance with the executive undermines the very rationale of the collegium, which was created to insulate appointments from political influence.
- Transparency deficit: the process lacks published criteria, reasons for selection and an institutional secretariat, inviting allegations of both executive interference and nepotism.
- Accountability gap: neither the executive nor the judiciary is clearly answerable for delays and choices, and the MoP stalemate shows mutual distrust.
- Comparative lesson: no major democracy has a purely judges-appoint-judges system; others combine judicial, legislative, executive and lay participation.
- Caution: the claim is a retired judge’s account of what “may have” happened, and needs verification and an institutional response.
Challenges
- Opacity of the collegium and allegations of nepotism.
- Executive delays and selective clearance of names.
- An unfinalised MoP and no objective criteria.
- Judicial vacancies and pendency.
- Balancing independence with accountability.
Way Forward
- Finalise the MoP with eligibility criteria, timelines, publication of reasons and a permanent secretariat.
- Require time-bound action by the Centre on recommendations, with reasons for any name returned.
- Consider a reformed, broader commission with safeguards for judicial independence.
- Strengthen disclosure within the limits of confidentiality, and adopt an internal code against consultations outside the process.
India Implications
- Public trust: the legitimacy of the courts depends on appointments being seen as independent and merit-based.
- Pendency: delays in appointments leave vacancies that slow justice in High Courts and lower courts.
- Constitutional balance: any reform must protect judicial independence while adding transparency and accountability.
Appointments to the Himachal Pradesh High Court, set up in 1971 when HP became a full State, follow the same route: recommendations by the High Court collegium, consultation with the State government and the Governor, scrutiny by the Supreme Court collegium and final clearance by the Centre. Delays at any stage leave vacancies that add to case pendency in the State, so a finalised MoP with clear timelines would directly benefit litigants in Himachal.
ConclusionThe collegium protects judicial independence but suffers from opacity. Reform should combine transparency, objective criteria and broader participation without letting the executive dominate appointments.
Q. Trace the evolution of the collegium system in India with reference to the First, Second and Third Judges Cases.
(15 Marks, 250 Words)
