What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• What are Electoral trusts?
• Benefits of Electoral Trusts Over Electoral Bonds
• Surge in Donations to Political Parties Through Electoral Trusts

Why in News?

As per the electoral trust contribution reports released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), donations to political parties saw a significant increase through electoral trusts after the Supreme Court’s decision to scrap electoral bonds in February 2024.

What are Electoral trusts?

• About
  • Electoral trusts are non-profit organizations created to facilitate transparent political funding in India. 
  • They act as intermediaries, collecting voluntary contributions from individuals or companies and distributing them to registered political parties.
• Companies which can establish electoral trusts
  • Any company registered under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956, can seek approval to form an electoral trust.
• Creation
  • The concept was introduced under the Income Tax Act, 1961, through Section 13B, which provides tax benefits to donors. 
  • The Election Commission of India (ECI) regulates electoral trusts, and their functioning is governed by the Electoral Trusts Scheme, 2013 introduced by the Ministry of Finance.
• Who Can Donate
  • Indian citizens.
  • Domestic companies registered under the Companies Act, 2013.
  • Donors are required to disclose their identity and the amount contributed.
• Who Cannot Donate
  • Foreign companies or individuals.
  • Government companies.
  • Entities prohibited under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, such as trusts that receive foreign funds.
• Issues
  • Transparency Concerns: While trusts disclose the donors' names, the specific amounts donated to each political party are not publicly available.
  • Corporate Influence: Large corporate donors dominate the trust system, raising concerns about undue political influence.
  • Inequitable Distribution: A significant portion of the funds goes to ruling or major political parties, sidelining smaller ones.
  • Lack of Donor Diversity: Contributions are primarily from a limited number of large corporations, leading to concentration of influence.

Benefits of Electoral Trusts Over Electoral Bonds

• Transparency in Donations
  • Electoral trusts are legally required to disclose the names of donors and the amounts received to the ECI.
  • Electoral bonds, on the other hand, allow anonymous donations, making it difficult to trace the source of funds.
• Accountability of Political Parties
  • Electoral trusts mandate disclosure of the contributions disbursed to political parties. This ensures that the public knows which party received how much funding.
  • Electoral bonds do not require such disclosures, limiting accountability.
• Regulatory Oversight
  • Electoral trusts are governed by the Electoral Trusts Scheme, 2013, and their operations are closely monitored by the ECI, ensuring adherence to legal guidelines.
  • Electoral bonds are managed by banks, with little transparency about regulatory scrutiny.
• Prevention of Foreign Influence
  • Electoral trusts prohibit foreign donations, reducing the risk of foreign interference in Indian politics.
  • Electoral bonds do not explicitly restrict foreign-controlled entities registered in India from purchasing bonds, raising concerns about foreign influence.

Surge in Donations to Political Parties Through Electoral Trusts

• About the news
  • The Supreme Court's February 15, 2024, ruling to scrap the electoral bonds scheme led to a significant shift in corporate political donations, redirecting them to the electoral trust route.
  • Electoral Trust, the largest contributor, witnessed a sharp surge in donations during the subsequent months, highlighting a diversion of funds from bonds to trusts.
• Transparency in Electoral Trusts vs Electoral Bonds
  • Unlike the anonymity of electoral bonds, trusts are required to disclose donor names and amounts distributed to political parties. 
  • However, the exact allocation of individual corporate contributions to specific parties is not revealed.

Q.1. What is Electoral Trust in Income Tax? 

Electoral trusts are non-profit organizations under the Income Tax Act that facilitate transparent political funding by collecting donations and distributing them to political parties.

Q.2. What are the examples of Electoral Trust? 

Examples include the Bharatiya Electoral Trust and the Association for Democratic Reforms, which channel donations to political parties transparently.

Q3. What is Electoral Trust Scheme?

Introduced in 2013, the Electoral Trust Scheme governs the creation and operation of electoral trusts, ensuring transparency in political donations through regulation by the Election Commission of India.

Q4. Why Electoral Bond Was Declared Unconstitutional?

The Supreme Court declared electoral bonds unconstitutional in February 2024 due to concerns over anonymity, lack of transparency, and the potential for corporate influence on political parties.

Q5. What are Electoral Bonds in India?

Electoral bonds are financial instruments introduced in 2018 for anonymous donations to political parties. While legal, they lack transparency, leading to concerns about unaccounted funding.

Source: IE | TOI | DH

What’s in today’s article?

• Background
• About Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
• What is Blockchain Technology (BCT)?
• Difference Between Typical Database and BCT
• How Does BCT Work?
• TRAI’s Role in Combating Spam
• Effectiveness of Measures
• Way Forward

Background

• Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC), commonly known as spam, has become a significant challenge in India, ranging from irritating marketing messages to fraudulent schemes targeting financial information.
• To counter this growing menace, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) have implemented several measures, leveraging advanced technologies like blockchain and expanding public reporting systems.

About Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

• The entry of private service providers brought with it the inevitable need for independent regulation.
• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was, thus, established by an Act of Parliament, called the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
• TRAI's mission is to create and nurture conditions for growth of telecommunications in the country in a manner and at a pace which will enable India to play a leading role in emerging global information society.
• Objectives:
  • To regulate telecom services, including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services which were earlier vested in the Central Government.
  • One of the main objectives of TRAI is to provide a fair and transparent policy environment which promotes a level playing field and facilitates fair competition.
• In pursuance of above objective TRAI has issued from time to time a large number of regulations, orders and directives to deal with issues coming before it.

What is Blockchain Technology (BCT)?

• Blockchain is a type of decentralised database in which transactions are recorded with an immutable cryptographic signature called a hash.
• This decentralised database is managed by multiple participants and it is known as Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT).
• The goal of blockchain is to allow digital information to be recorded and distributed, but not edited.
• In this way, a blockchain is the foundation for immutable ledgers, or records of transactions that cannot be altered, deleted, or destroyed.
• Blockchains are best known for their crucial role in cryptocurrency systems, such as Bitcoin, for maintaining a secure and decentralized record of transactions.

Difference Between Typical Database and BCT

• The key difference between a typical database and a blockchain is how the data is structured.
• A database usually structures its data into tables, whereas a blockchain, like its name implies, structures its data into chunks (blocks) that are strung together.
• This data structure inherently makes an irreversible time line of data when implemented in a decentralized nature.

How Does BCT Work?

Applications of BCT

• Apart from cryptocurrency, there are numerous other real-life applications of blockchain technology, such as:
  • Money transfer, Lending, Insurance, Secure personal information, Voting, Government scheme benefits, Securely share medical information , Artist royalties, etc.

TRAI’s Role in Combating Spam

• TRAI has been instrumental in regulating and minimizing spam through various initiatives:
• Do-Not-Disturb (DND) Registry:
  • Introduced in 2007, the registry allows telecom customers to block spam calls and messages by registering their preferences.
  • Telemarketers violating DND rules face warnings and eventual blacklisting under the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR), 2018.
  • In 2024, DND reporting was mandated across all telecom provider apps for easier user access.
• Blockchain-Based Solutions:
  • TRAI mandated telecom companies to use blockchain for maintaining an updated list of approved SMS senders and formats.
  • Blockchain ensures data immutability, making it difficult for unauthorized entities to bypass regulations.
  • In 2024, these rules were further tightened to enhance traceability, requiring telcos to maintain a complete record of sender credentials before messages are transmitted.
• Monitoring International and Fraudulent Spam:
  • Fraudulent spam calls, often originating from disposable VoIP numbers, remain a challenge due to their ability to appear as legitimate international traffic.
  • TRAI is working to tackle these issues through enhanced real-time monitoring.

Technological Interventions

• Sanchar Saathi Portal:
  • Developed by the DoT, the portal includes Chakshu, which enables citizens to report fraudulent calls and messages.
  • The government has deactivated thousands of unauthorized telemarketers’ numbers through this initiative.
• Telecom Security Operation Centre:
  • Operates in New Delhi, monitoring suspicious internet traffic in real time to detect and curb spam and scam activities.
• AI-Powered Detection:
  • Telecom companies like Airtel have adopted Artificial Intelligence to label suspicious calls as "Suspected Spam" and flag international calls, aiding users in identifying potential risks.

Effectiveness of Measures

• Successes:
  • Reduction in spam communications from legitimate businesses complying with regulations.
  • Enhanced traceability of commercial messages through blockchain and sender ID systems.
• Challenges:
  • The dynamic nature of spam, with scammers constantly evolving tactics.
  • Rise in fraudulent calls and financial scams, especially from disposable numbers.
  • Difficulty in enforcing regulations on international spam traffic.

Way Forward

• To address the evolving nature of spam, TRAI and the government can adopt additional measures:
• Strengthen VoIP Monitoring:
  • Collaborate with global VoIP service providers to regulate and authenticate international traffic.
• Public Awareness Campaigns:
  • Educate users about reporting mechanisms and safe practices to avoid scams.
• Expanded AI Integration:
  • Scale up AI-based spam detection across all telecom providers for real-time monitoring and identification.
• Stronger Penalties:
  • Impose stricter penalties on violators to deter spam operations.
• Public participation through reporting tools like Sanchar Saathi remains essential in ensuring the success of these measures.

Q1. How big is the telecommunication industry in India?

The Telecom industry in India is the second largest in the world with a subscriber base of 1.179 Bn as of August 2023 (wireless + wireline subscribers).

Q2. How do satellite phones work?

A satellite phone has an omnidirectional or directional antenna that is used for both transmitting and receiving signals. In order to receive a signal for service, most satellite phones require a line-of-sight with the sky.

Source :TH

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Key Pillars for a Healthy India
• Data-Driven Decision-Making for a Healthy India
• Digitally Integrated Healthcare for a Healthy India
• Conclusion

Why in News?

• India’s aspiration to become an economically developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047 hinges on the health and productivity of its population.
• To achieve this, robust health systems must emerge by 2025, prioritizing prevention, equitable treatment, and the integration of digital solutions.

Key Pillars for a Healthy India:

• Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through primary healthcare:
  • Financial and service goals: UHC aims to ensure financial protection and extensive service coverage.
  • Resource allocation: Higher public financing is essential, with a focus on central and state budgets.
  • Health workforce: Immediate efforts must address the shortage of highly skilled doctors by training technology-enabled frontline workers and allied health professionals.
• Ayushman Bharat as a template for transformation: Key components -
  • Upgraded primary care architecture.
  • Financial protection for vulnerable groups.
  • Enhanced health infrastructure.
  • Integration through digital health technology.
• Digital Health Mission: Vital for epidemiological intelligence, programme monitoring, and system integration.

Data-Driven Decision-Making for a Healthy India:

• Disaggregated and integrated data systems:
  • Local-level insights: Data must be available at district and block levels for informed, resource-efficient, and equity-driven actions.
  • Epidemiological transition:
    • Rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health disorders requires accurate tracking of trends and risk factors.
    • While the integrated disease surveillance programme (IDSP) provides data on some infectious diseases through sentinel sites, the rapid rise in zoonotic diseases calls for extensive and real-time surveillance data.
• Advanced surveillance systems:
  • Infectious diseases: Real-time surveillance for infectious diseases, including zoonotic threats. Big data analytics will need to be at the heart of infectious disease surveillance.
  • Techniques: Wastewater surveillance and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring must become routine.
  • One Health Approach: Integration of data across human, animal, and environmental health systems to tackle climate-related health threats.

Digitally Integrated Healthcare for a Healthy India:

• Patient-centered data systems:
  • Interoperability: Diagnostic and treatment data must be accessible across healthcare facilities.
  • Challenges: Lack of private sector integration disrupts continuity of care.
• Public-private collaboration:
  • Bridging gaps: Digital systems must connect primary care and publicly funded health insurance programmes that support secondary and tertiary hospital care (like PMJAY and state health insurance programmes).
    • This will integrate public and private health data repositories.
  • AI-driven insights: Application of artificial intelligence to Indian health data can enhance diagnostics and clinical management.
• Community participation: Digital tools can enable crowdsourcing for outbreak surveillance and address programme implementation issues.

Conclusion:

• India’s journey toward a healthy and productive population by 2047 requires immediate and sustained efforts.
• By 2025, a digitally integrated, data-driven, and universally accessible healthcare system must take root, propelling the nation toward its health goals.

Q.1. What is the PMJAY?

Ayushman Bharat PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is the largest health assurance scheme in the world which aims at providing a health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 12 crores poor and vulnerable families.

Q.2. What is the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM)?

The NDHM is a program that aims to create a digital health ecosystem in India. It was launched in 2020 to improve healthcare delivery by making medical information more accessible and transparent.

Source: IE

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Abetment of Suicide in Criminal Law
• Standard for Abetment of Suicide 

Why in News?

The Supreme Court stressed the need to sensitize investigation agencies and courts regarding cases under Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC), which deals with abetment of suicide. 

A Bench comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and K.V. Viswanathan highlighted that misuse of the provision should be avoided and called for adherence to legal principles laid down by the court.

The Bench emphasized that while genuine cases meeting the legal threshold should be prosecuted, the provision should not be misused to appease the grieving families of the deceased. 

The remarks were made while acquitting a bank manager accused of abetting the suicide of a borrower who allegedly took his life due to an inability to repay loans. The court cautioned against baseless prosecutions that could lead to abuse of the legal process.

Abetment of Suicide in Criminal Law

• Definition of Abetment
  • Under Section 107 of the IPC (equivalent to Section 45 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023), abetment involves:
    • Instigating a person to perform an act.
    • Conspiring with others to commit an act.
    • Intentionally aiding an act through action or illegal omission.
  • To prove abetment of suicide, it must be demonstrated that the accused directly instigated or aided the deceased in taking their life.
• Punishment for Abetment of Suicide
  • Abetment of suicide is an offence tried in a Sessions court and is cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable in nature.
  • As per Section 306 of the IPC (equivalent to Section 108 of the BNS):
    • Imprisonment: Up to 10 years.
    • Fine: Additional monetary penalty.
• Conviction Rates for Abetment of Suicide
  • According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2022 data:
    • Conviction rate for Section 306 IPC: 17.5%.
    • Overall conviction rate for all IPC crimes: 69.8%.
    • Conviction rate for cognizable offences (including abetment of suicide): 54.2%.
  • This highlights a relatively low conviction rate for abetment of suicide compared to other crimes.

Standard for Abetment of Suicide

• Supreme Court's October 2024 Judgment
  • The Supreme Court quashed a case of abetment of suicide where a salesperson died by suicide due to alleged workplace harassment related to a voluntary retirement scheme. 
  • The court emphasized avoiding “unnecessary prosecutions” in workplace-related suicide cases.
  • The court highlighted that:
    • A higher bar of proof is required in cases where the relationship between the deceased and the accused is official (e.g., employer-employee).
    • Evidence must show the accused intended to cause the suicide.
    • The prosecution must demonstrate direct and alarming incitement or encouragement by the accused.
• Supreme Court Precedents on Abetment of Suicide
• M Mohan v. The State (2011)
  • Proof requires an active or direct act by the accused that leaves the deceased with no option but suicide.
  • The act must be intended to push the deceased into this position.
• Ude Singh v. State of Haryana (2019)
  • There must be proof of direct or indirect incitement to the act of suicide.
  • However, if continuous acts or conduct by the accused create a situation where the deceased sees no other option, it may fall under Section 306 IPC.

Q.1. What is the law for abetment of suicide in India?

Abetment of suicide is governed by Section 306 IPC (or Section 108 BNS) and involves instigating, aiding, or conspiring in the act of suicide.

Q.2. What is Section 108 abetment to suicide?

Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) is equivalent to Section 306 IPC, outlining punishments for those proven to instigate or aid suicide.

Q3.What is the punishment for suicide in India?

Abetment of suicide is punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine under Section 306 IPC.

Q4. Is abetment of suicide bailable?

No, abetment of suicide is a non-bailable, cognizable, and non-compoundable offence tried in Sessions Court.

Q5. What is an example of abetment of suicide?

An example includes continuous harassment by an employer, as noted in Supreme Court cases, leading the victim to see no option but suicide.

Source: IE | IT | LSI