- TAMILNADU GOVT TO FILE REVIEW PLEA AGAINST SC VERDICT ON RESIDENCE BASED RESERVATION IN PG MEDICAL COURSES
SUBJECT: STATES
- Supreme Court ruled domicile-based reservations for PG medical courses unconstitutional.
- Tamil Nadu had50% PG medical seats reserved for native students under State quota.
- The ruling removes this reservation, affecting State’s medical admission policies.
- Tamil Nadu Government’s Stand
- 69% reservation policy in Tamil Nadu includes SC, ST, OBC categories.
- 1,200 PG medical students impacted by the ruling.
- State funds medical infrastructure, so it should have rights over PG admissions.
- Impact of the Judgment – 50% of PG medical seats already under All India Quota, allowing students from other States.
- Loss of local seats may affect Tamil Nadu’s healthcare system.
- Service candidates (working doctors) might lose incentive for State service.
- Tamil Nadu will file a review petition.
- Legal consultations ongoing to safeguard the State’s control over medical admissions.
- Push for reconsideration of domicile-based medical seat allocation
2. AN OPPORTUNITY TO SETTLE SRI LANKA’S ETHNIC PROBLEM
SUBJECT: BILATERAL
- India renaming Tamil Cultural Centre in Thiruvalluvar as a diplomatic move.
- 1983 anti-Tamil pogrom led to India’s intervention.
- Indo-Lanka Accord (1987)resulted in13th Amendment (13A), granting limited Tamil autonomy.
- Challenges in Implementing 13A – Incomplete implementation for 36 years.
- Tamil demands for full devolution (land, police powers).
- Sri Lankan government reluctant, fearing separatism.
- India’s Position – India historically supported Tamil autonomy.
- PM Modi called for full 13A implementation but has been silent recently.
- Unclear Indian stance during Sri Lankan opposition leader’s visit (2024).
- Political Dynamics in Sri Lanka
- Local elections delayed, hindering Tamil representation.
- Financial crisis limits Provincial Councils’ functions.
- Tamil parties push for full devolution while Sinhala parties hesitate.
3. MEASURING MIGRANT MOVEMENT
SUBJECT: SOCIAL ISSUES
- Tracking migration is crucial for public policy as over45 crore people migrated internally in India between2000 and 2011(2011 Census).
- Since the next Census is delayed, alternative migration measurement methods are required.
- The Economic Advisory Council to the PM (EAC-PM)proposes using train travel, banking, and telecom data to estimate migration trends
- Methods to Measure Migration
- 1. Unreserved Train Ticket Data • Indian Railways’ unreserved ticketing system helps track low-income labor migration.
- Findings: Gujarat:13.8% of passengers arrived from U.P. and Bihar.
- Bihar:12.4% of passengers arrived from U.P..
- Tamil Nadu:8.4% of passengers arrived from Bihar.
- 2. Banking Data – Banking deposits indicate savings and migrant financial behavior.
- District-wise mapping shows:
- Bihar and U.P. have high migration and low savings.
- Maharashtra and Gujarat have higher savings, indicating inflow of migrants.
- 3. Telecom Data
- Visitor Location Registers (VLRs)track SIM card usage to infer migration patterns.
- DuringCOVID-19 lockdowns,VLR data showed reverse migration from metro cities to rural areas.
- Charts show: Mass exodus during lockdowns from Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.
- Gradual return of workers post-pandemic.
4. WHAT WHO’S RECOMMENDATION FOR LOW SODIUM SALT MEANS FOR INDIA
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT
- Lower-sodium salt substitutes (LSSS) recommended.
- Potassium chloride replaces sodium chloride to reduce hypertension risks.
- Excess salt increases blood pressure, leading to CVDs, strokes.
- India’s high-salt diet raises health risks
- Lowers BP(4 mmHg systolic, 2 mmHg diastolic).
- Reduces stroke risk.
- Prevents heart disease.
- Kidney Disease Risks: Potassium-based salts unsafe for kidney patients.
- Economic & Market Barriers: LSSS is expensive.
- Limited awareness.
- Cultural & Dietary Habits: Indians rely heavily on salt
5. GOVT PLANS TO EMPLOY TARGETED CONTAINMENT TO STOP LEPROSY TRANSMISSION
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- Eliminate leprosy transmission by 2027(ahead of SDG target).
- 124 high-prevalence districts identified.
- Current Status – India accounts for 53.6% of global leprosy cases.
- New strategy includes three-drug therapy for Paucibacillary cases.
- Challenges – Late diagnosis & stigma.
- Drug resistance risks
