The Hindu Editorial Newspaper Analysis Free PDF

Table of Contents

Billed for change

Amendments to the National Medical Council Bill don’t go far enough to address concerns
Union Cabinet this week approved six out of the dozens of changes to the contentious
National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill that were suggested by a Parliamentary
Standing Committee
Regulatory body that will replace the Medical Council of India, will be heavily
controlled by the government
Its members are to be picked by a search committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary,
while the Central government
The amendments cleared by the Cabinet also increase State representation in the
NMC from three part time members to six,
In what seems like a gesture to please the States
Another amendment that doesn’t go far enough is the decision to raise the proportion
of private college seats for which fees will be regulated from 40% to 50%.
The fees for unregulated seats- Pushing poorer medical aspirants out of the system
Despite these deficiencies, if passed by Parliament, legislation will mark a new era for
medical education in India.
The next step will be to design rules and regulations
 Enormous inter – State variations in medical education across India
 Lawmakers will have to tackle this gigantic task in a slow and phased manner.
Another concern is that under the new amendments States now have the freedom
to implement anAYUSH bridge course, even if no longer mandatory.
How will the Centre ensure the quality of such courses to prevent a new set of poorly
trained doctors from emerging?
The coming days may see many more protests against the NMC Bill, perhaps
delaying its passage and prompting further discussion.
For a Bill that marks the first major reform in medical education since 1956,such an extended debate is not a bad thing.

Rivers, floodplains, cities and farmers

Preservation of the river and floodplains must be informed by ‘conserve and use’ standard
Conserve and use plan
Floodplains are formed over millions of years by the flooding of rivers and deposition
of sand on riverbanks
Some floodplains such as those of Himalayan rivers contain up to 20 times more water
If we conserve and use the floodplain, it can be a self – sustaining aquifer
Conserve and use’ principle demands that no more than is recharged by rain and flood
s each year can be withdrawn from this aquifer.
Drawing out any more water than is recharged can contaminate and eventually finish
off this precious resource
Rivers today are facing problems of abysmally low flows due to an indiscriminate extraction
Of water for use in cities, industries and agriculture.
They are also highly polluted because sewage and effluents are being released into them.
Engaging farmers- Preserving the floodplain
Ecologically, a water sanctuary would prevent erosion, heal the river ecosystem,
and restore the ecological balance in floodplains.
This scheme would help curb illegal extraction of water, stop pollution by local
agencies and industries and also encourage cities to be more responsible in their
waste management
Scheme will also help improve the quality of rivers, quality of life for citizens,
and at the same time guarantee farmers a healthy fixed income.

Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis

Page-1- In Haryana, the making of an Indian brain template
At the National Brain Research Centre (NBRC) here,
a group of scientists is preparing a one-of-its-kind database of brain images that,
when compiled together, could result in a so-called Indian BrainTemplate (IBT)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
scans from 150 adult Indians, will likely
include at least one person
from every State and Union Territory,
World have been pointing out that there
are significant variations in
the location of key brain regions
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Page-1- CBSE question paper leak: economics re-test on April 25
Re-exam for 10th Standard math paper only for Delhi, NCR, Haryana region
Robbers loot passengers of Ambala-bound train in Delhi
Incident took place between Nizamuddin station, Tilak Bridge
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Pakistan has asked India to allow its officials to undertake a tour for inspecting
Indian projects in the Indus river basin
Pakistan made the request during the two-day meeting of the Permanent Indus
Commission (PIC) between the two countries here.
Nepal PM to arrive on April 6
This will be his first visit since he was elected Prime Minister in the historic election in
Nepal organised under the newly adopted Constitution
U.S. to pull out of Syria soon: Trump
We spent $7 trillion inWest Asian wars and we did it for nothing,says President