Explore the Daily Current Affairs 7 October 2025, relevant for UPSC exam. Also download quick REVISION NOTES.
Health concerns
Context: Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department found diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic substance, above permissible limits in a sample of cough syrup which was linked to the deaths of at least 14 children in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Major Concerns:
1. Regulatory Failure and Lapses
- Inadequate enforcement of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
- Contradictory test results from different authorities reflect lack of coordination and weak central-state regulatory synergy.
GS II Keywords: Regulatory governance, federal coordination, institutional accountability
2. Pharmaceutical Quality Control
- Repeated instances of diethylene glycol (DEG) contamination show that systemic quality assurance mechanisms are not robust.
GS III Keywords: Industrial standards, product safety, pharma industry regulation, toxic substances
3. Public Health and Ethical Governance:
- Loss of innocent lives, especially children, points to grave ethical negligence.
- The delayed reaction and post-facto regulatory action raise ethical questions about governance and value of human life.
GS IV Keywords: Ethics in healthcare, public accountability, moral responsibility, compassion in governance
4. Atmanirbhar Bharat vs. Global Standards
- India’s ambition to be a global pharma hub under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission is undermined by recurring quality issues.
- Global trust in Indian pharmaceuticals is at risk. This could affect exports and soft power.
GS III Keywords: Self-reliance, industrial credibility, global competitiveness, Make in India
| Prelims Fact sheet: * CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation): India’s national drug regulatory authority. * Diethylene Glycol (DEG): A toxic industrial solvent, nephrotoxic, previously involved in multiple drug contamination deaths worldwide. |
Source: The Hindu newspaper (Page no. 6)
T-cell and FOXP3
Core Discovery:
- Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are a subset of CD4+ T-cells that suppress immune responses, preventing the body from attacking itself.
- The transcription factor FOXP3 is a master regulator of Treg development and function.
- Without FOXP3, as seen in scurfy mice and human cases of autoimmune disorders, the immune system spirals out of control.
Medical and Clinical Relevance:
- Autoimmune Diseases: Diseases like Type 1 diabetes, lupus and multiple sclerosis may be treatable by enhancing regulatory T-cell activity. Clinical trials are exploring T-cell based therapies to suppress harmful immune activity without global immunosuppression (which increases infection risk).
- Transplantation: Infusion of engineered regulatory T-cells may prevent graft rejection, reducing the need for life-long immunosuppressants.
- Cancer Therapy: In cancer, tumour-associated Regulatory T-cells suppress anti-tumour immunity. Strategies are being developed to reprogram or deplete these cells selectively.
What are T-Cells?
T cells or T lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that play a central role in the immune system, especially in cell-mediated immunity. They are a part of the adaptive immune system, which provides specific and long-lasting defense against pathogens.
Mains practice Question:
Q1. The discovery of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the FOXP3 gene has redefined the understanding of immune regulation, with wide-ranging implications in autoimmune diseases, transplantation, and cancer therapy. Discuss the scientific and therapeutic significance of this discovery. Also, examine the challenges in translating such advanced immunotherapies into affordable and accessible treatments. (250 words)
Passive Euthanasia
Context: Article talks about developments in the U.K., the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, as a springboard to evaluate India’s position on passive vs. active euthanasia.
Indian Legal Position:
Passive euthanasia is legal in India following Supreme Court judgments (e.g., Common Cause v. Union of India, 2018).
Active euthanasia, where death is actively caused (e.g., through lethal injection), remains illegal and ethically contested.
Constitutional & Ethical Analysis
- Article 21: The right to life includes the right to die with dignity, but not the right to be killed, maintaining a key distinction between omission and commission.
- Ethical Conservatism: The Indian approach is cautious, recognising the complexity of implementing a law that may be abused.
- Autonomy vs. Vulnerability: Legal systems must respect patient autonomy without opening the door to coercion, especially in a society with high levels of dependency and poverty.
Mains practice Question:
Q2. Decisions related to euthanasia involve deep ethical dilemmas, especially in resource-constrained and culturally diverse societies like India. Discuss how ethical principles such as autonomy, compassion, and non-maleficence should guide public policy on end-of-life care.(250 words)