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  • 24 Jun 2025
  • 30 min read
Important Facts For Prelims

Rare Donor Registry Integrated with e-Rakt Kosh

Source: TH

Why in News?

The Union Health Ministry is integrating the Rare Donor Registry of India (RDRI) with e-Rakt Kosh to enable real-time access to rare blood types (such as Bombay, Rh-null, P-Null)  and improve nationwide coordination among blood banks.

What is Rare Donor Registry of India (RDRI)?

  • About: The Rare Donor Registry of India (RDRI) is a national database of rare blood group donors.
    • It was developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Immunohaematology (ICMR-NIIH) in collaboration with leading medical institutes.
  • Purpose and Need: RDRI supports patients who require specially matched transfusions, particularly those suffering from thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and other rare conditions.
  • Scope & Coverage: The registry includes over 4,000 screened donors, tested for more than 300 rare blood markers.
    • It focuses on blood groups that either lack high-frequency antigens or have uncommon antigen combinations.
  • Significance for People with Rare Blood Types: Rare blood groups are difficult to match. Transfusing incompatible blood may cause alloimmunisation, where the patient develops antibodies against transfused blood, complicating future treatments.

What is e-Rakt Kosh?

  • About: e-Rakt Kosh is a centralized digital blood bank management system developed by CDAC under the National Health Mission. 
    • It provides real-time information on blood availability, donation camps, and blood banks across India.
    • The platform connects donors, hospitals, and blood banks, enabling efficient tracking and safe transfusions.

Blood

  • About: Blood is a vital fluid that transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and waste throughout the body.
    • Produced in the bone marrow, blood also aids in immunity, healing, and waste removal via the liver and kidneys. An average adult has about 5 litres of blood.
  • Components: It consists of 45% cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) and 55% plasma, a fluid that carries proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

Components_Of_Blood

  • Blood Types or Groups: There are 4 main blood groups/ types of blood: A, B, AB and O.

Blood _Groups

What is Bombay Blood Group?

Click Here to Read:  Bombay Blood Group

  UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)  

Q. A married couple adopted a male child. A few years later, twin boys were born to them. The blood group of the couple is AB positive and O negative. The blood group of the three sons is A positive, B positive and O positive. The blood group of the adopted son is(2011)

(a) O positive 
(b) A positive 
(c) B positive 
(d) Cannot be determined on the basis of the given data 

Ans: (a)


Place In News

Croatia

Source: PIB

The Prime Minister of India met with the Croatian President as part of his 3-nation tour (Cyprus, Canada & Croatia) following his attendance at the 2025 G7 Summit in Canada.

Croatia (Republic of Croatia)

  • Location: It lies at the junction of Central and Southeast Europe, along the Adriatic Sea.
    • It shares land borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, and a maritime boundary with Italy.
    • Historically, Croatia was part of Yugoslavia until it gained independence in 1991, followed by reconstruction and democratic reforms.
  • Geography & Climate: It features fertile plains, hilly and mountainous terrain (including the Dinaric Alps with Dinara Peak – 1,831 m), and a rugged coastal region.
    • It has a continental climate inland with hot summers and cold winters, and a Mediterranean climate along the coast with mild winters and dry summers.

Croatia

  • Rivers and Lakes: Major rivers include the Danube, Sava, Drava, Krka, Kupa, Una, and Cetina, and major lakes are Plitvice Lakes (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Lake Vrana.
    • Its capital Zagreb, situated on the Sava River, is the administrative and economic centre.
  • It is a member of both the European Union and NATO.

Read More: India-Croatia Relations 


Social Issues

Organ Transplantation in India

For Prelims:

Organ Transplantation Programme, Ayushman Bharat, Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, World Health Organization (WHO), National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO).                       

For Mains:

Status of organ transplant in India and associated challenges, Steps needed for promoting organ transplantation.

Source: TH 

Why in News?

A recent report by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has exposed severe gaps in India’s organ transplantation programme, raising concerns over the country’s ability to meet the growing demand for life-saving procedures. 

  • With only 13,476 kidney transplants performed in 2024—far below the recommended 1 lakh—the findings underscore an urgent need for systemic reforms to improve access to organ transplants for thousands of patients.

What is Organ Transplantation?

  • Definition: Organ transplantation is a life-saving procedure where a failing organ (kidney, liver, heart, lung) is replaced with a healthy organ from a living donor (e.g., kidney, partial liver) or a deceased donor (brain-dead or after cardiac death) to restore function in end-stage organ failure. Common transplants include the kidney, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, and intestines.
  • Status: India is the 3rd country in the world after the USA and China, in terms of the total number of transplants done in a year.
    • Growing Demand and Persistent Shortage: Of 1.8 lakh renal failure cases annually, only 6,000 transplants occur, with a donation rate under 1 per million versus a need for 65 per million.
    • Slow Growth in Donor Numbers: Donor numbers, including living and deceased donors, grew modestly from 6,916 in 2014 to about 16,041 in 2022.
      • The deceased organ donation rate has stayed below one donor per million population for over a decade.
    • Regional Variations: Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Maharashtra lead in deceased donors, while Delhi-NCR, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, and West Bengal report the most living donors.
  • Rules and Regulations: 
    • Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (amended in 2011): It regulates organ and tissue transplantation in India, covering post-death donation, setting rules for healthcare providers, and prescribing penalties for violation.
      • The 2023 revised guidelines removed the 65-year upper age limit for registering to receive deceased donor organs and ended the state domicile requirement for such registrations.
    • National Organ Transplant Program (NOTP): It is being implemented by the Central Government to promote organ donation and transplantation across all States and Union Territories. Under this, several bodies have been established: 
    • National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO): The NOTTO, under the Ministry of Health, was set up as per the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act, 2011.
      • Its National Network division serves as the apex centre for coordination, procurement, distribution, and maintaining the registry of organ and tissue donation and transplantation in India.
      • 5 Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (ROTTOs) and 14 State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations (SOTTOs) were established to strengthen the network at the regional and state levels.
    • NOTTO-ID: The Union Health Ministry has directed states/UTs to allocate a unique NOTTO-ID for all organ transplants. It is mandatory for deceased donor organ allocation and must be generated within 48 hours of a living donor transplant surgery.

What are the Gaps in India’s Organ Transplantation Programme?

  • Infrastructural Deficiencies: Many government hospitals lack dedicated infrastructure for organ retrieval and transplantation, and face a severe shortage of ICU beds crucial for maintaining brain-stem dead (BSD) donors and post-operative care.
    • Operation theatres (OTs) and ICUs are overburdened with general patient loads, while several centres, including some AIIMS branches, lack in-house Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) cross-matching labs, causing delays.
  • Shortage of Skilled Transplant Professionals: Government hospitals face a critical shortage of trained transplant surgeons, nephrologists, urologists, anaesthetists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, and intensivists.
    • Frequent transfers, absence of dedicated teams, and lack of incentives for transplant staff disrupt continuity, lower motivation, and hinder the expansion of organ transplantation.
  • Procedural Bottlenecks: Delays in approval and formation of Brain-Stem Dead (BSD) Committees, essential for deceased organ donation, remain a major hurdle.
    • Cumbersome handling of medico-legal cases, especially involving trauma patients, and the absence of a streamlined process contribute to significant procedural delays and discourage organ donation.
  • Financial Strain: Insufficient funding blocks the initiation or revival of specialised programmes like lung transplantation, while the high cost of immunosuppressant drugs imposes a heavy burden, as most schemes cover only the first year of medication.
    • Liver and heart transplants and their lifelong follow-up costs are excluded from major health schemes like Ayushman Bharat, limiting access for poor patients. 
  • Peri-Transplant Donor Tissue Damage: Aging and diseases reduce donor organ quality, leading to Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (IRI). Many organs are discarded due to inferior quality, impacting transplant success rates.
  • Chronic Rejection in Organ Transplantation: Long-term survival rates for transplanted organs have not significantly improved over the past 20 years. Current anti-rejection therapies remain largely unchanged, with only modest improvements in survival rates.
  • Access and Awareness Gaps: India’s organ transplantation programme is challenged by the dominance of the private sector, limiting affordable access for poor patients; the absence of green corridors hampers swift organ transport; and low awareness, along with misconceptions about organ donation, discourage public participation.
  • Ethical and Legal Challenges: Organ trafficking, commercialisation of organ donation, and a black market for organs persist despite strict laws like the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 (THOT Act, 1994).
    • Consent issues in brain-death certification and criminal activities exploiting organ demand undermine legitimate donation processes.

WHO's_Guiding_Principles_for_Organ_Donation

What Strategies can be Adopted to Enhance the Organ Transplantation Framework in India?

  • Enhancing Infrastructure: Upgrade ICU and transplant facilities in government hospitals with dedicated Transplant ICUs (TICUs) and operation theatres, adopt advanced preservation technology like hypothermic/normothermic machine perfusion, and standardize organ procurement and transport protocols to reduce delays and wastage.
    • Fast-track BSD committee approvals through digital systems and trained personnel, and simplify medico-legal procedures for trauma cases to enable timely organ retrieval.
  • Financial Support and Policy Reforms: Include liver and heart transplants under Ayushman Bharat, covering lifelong immunosuppressant costs, along with increased funding for transplant programs in government hospitals, especially for costly procedures like lung transplants.
    • Provide a subsidy for immunosuppressant drugs and performance-linked incentives for transplant teams to reduce patient burden and boost motivation.
  • Addressing Manpower Shortages: Adopt recruitment and retention policies for transplant specialists (including surgeons, nephrologists, intensivists) and reduce frequent transfers to ensure program continuity.
    • Specialized training programs for organ retrieval, transplantation, and post-op care, with collaborations with AIIMS and medical colleges to expand transplant education.
  • Promoting Research and Ethical Practices: Invest in bioengineered organs, xenotransplantation, and AI-driven organ matching, while developing ethical guidelines for equitable organ allocation and transparent consent processes.
    • Promote public-private partnerships to drive innovation in transplant technology.
  • Emphasising Broader Benefits: A robust organ and tissue transplant ecosystem can boost medical tourism, enhance India’s soft power, promote inter-state coordination through efficient sharing networks, and strengthen the health budget by generating revenue and reducing long-term healthcare costs.
  • Strengthening Public Awareness: Launch nationwide awareness campaigns using social media, TV, and celebrity endorsements, along with school and college education, community engagement with survivor and donor family testimonials, and partnerships with religious leaders to promote organ donation and dispel myths.
    • Introduce public recognition initiatives like certificates, plaques, and memorials to honour donors and encourage greater participation.

Conclusion

India’s organ transplantation crisis demands urgent reforms—boosting infrastructure, funding, and awareness while addressing ethical and procedural gaps. Expanding Ayushman Bharat coverage, incentivizing specialists, and leveraging technology can bridge the demand-supply gap. A multi-stakeholder approach is vital to save lives and build an efficient, ethical transplant ecosystem.

Drishti Mains Question:

Q. “India’s organ transplantation programme faces systemic challenges, from infrastructural deficits to ethical concerns." Critically analyse the issues and suggest reforms to strengthen the ecosystem.

  UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)  

Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements: (2020)

  1. Genetic changes can be introduced in the cells that produce eggs or sperms of a prospective parent.
  2. A person’s genome can be edited before birth at the early embryonic stage.
  3. Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be injected into the embryo of a pig.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b)  2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d) 

Q.With reference to the scientific progress of ancient India, which of the statements given below are correct? (2012)

  1. Different kinds of specialised surgical instruments were in common use by the 1st century AD.
  2. Transplant of internal organs in the human body had begun by the beginning of the 3rd century AD.
  3. The concept of sine of an angle was known in 5th century AD.
  4. The concept of cyclic quadrilaterals was known in 7th century AD.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (c)

Mains

Q. Stem cell therapy is gaining popularity in India to treat a wide variety of medical conditions including Leukaemia, Thalassemia, damaged cornea and several burns. Describe briefly what stem cell therapy is and what advantages it has over other treatments? (2017)


Rapid Fire

NAVYA Initiative

Source: PIB

The Government of India launched NAVYA (Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls) to provide vocational training to adolescent girls aged 16–18 years with at least a Class 10 qualification,  especially in non-traditional job roles.

  • About: It is a joint pilot initiative by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). 
  • Coverage: 27 districts across 19 States, including Aspirational Districts and those in the North-Eastern region.
  • Convergence: Draws on schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and PM Vishwakarma Yojana, formalizing inter-ministerial coordination.
  • Significance: It aligns with the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision and promotes women-led development and reinforces the Government’s commitment to building a skilled, self-reliant, and inclusive workforce, positioning young girls as agents of socio-economic transformation.

Other Initiatives for Adolescent Girls in India

Read More: WHO Study on Adolescent Girls 


Important Facts For Prelims

Insect-Based Livestock Feed

Source: TH

Why in News?

India is promoting insect-based livestock feed as a sustainable and climate-friendly alternative to conventional animal feed, aiming to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and reduce the environmental footprint of animal farming.

  • It has been initiated by ICAR in partnership with research institutes like Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) & Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute.

What is Insect-Based Feed?

  • About: Insect-based livestock feed is a protein-rich alternative derived from insects such as black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens), crickets, small mealworms (Alphitobius) and Jamaican field crickets (Gryllus assimilis).
    • It is used in livestock and aquaculture as a sustainable and circular source of nutrition.
  • Working Principle: Insects such as black soldier fly larvae rapidly convert agro and food waste into high-protein biomass (up to 75% protein) within 12–15 days, enabling quick and cost-effective feed production.
    • The resulting proteins enhance gut health in animals, reducing the need for antibiotics and helping combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
    • The leftover frass serves as an organic fertiliser, supporting closed-loop, sustainable farming.
  • Significance:
    • Nutritional and Economic Value: Insect-based feed is rich in up to 75% protein, along with essential fats, zinc, calcium, iron, and fibre. 
      • It offers better digestibility than soy or fishmeal, while being cost-effective and suitable for large-scale livestock and aquaculture due to lower land, water, and input requirements.
    • Supports Food Security and Fights AMR:  With meat production expected to double by 2050, insect-based feed aligns with FAO’s projection of a 70% rise in global food demand. Its gut-health benefits reduce dependence on antibiotics, helping to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animal farming.
    • Promotes Environmental Sustainability: Insect farming results in lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduces land degradation, and has a smaller environmental footprint compared to conventional feed sources. 
      • It supports climate-smart agriculture and helps conserve natural resources.
    • Drives Circular Economy: Insects are reared on organic waste (e.g., agro and food waste), converting it into high-quality protein and fats. 
      • The leftover frass serves as an organic fertiliser, enabling a closed-loop, zero-waste production model.
    • Global Acceptance and Indian Push: Insect-based feed is already approved in over 40 countries for use in poultry, aquaculture, and livestock. 
      • In India, ICAR and startups like Loopworm and Ultra Nutri India are piloting it for shrimp, seabass, poultry, and cattle, reflecting growing domestic scalability and adoption.

What is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)?

  • About AMR: AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines. 
    • This makes antibiotics and other treatments ineffective, leading to infections that are harder to treat, and increasing the risk of severe illness, disability, and death.
  • Prevalence of AMR: AMR is among the top global health and development threats. In 2019, bacterial AMR caused 1.27 million deaths and contributed to 4.95 million deaths globally.
    • According to the WHO, AMR may result in an additional USD 1 trillion in healthcare costs by 2050, and cause USD 1–3.4 trillion in annual GDP losses by 2030.
  • Common Drug-Resistant Pathogens in India:
    • E. coli (gut infections): Resistance rising; susceptibility to carbapenem dropped from 81.4% (2017) to 62.7% (2023).
    • Klebsiella pneumoniae (pneumonia/UTI): Resistance to two key carbapenems fell from 58.5% to 35.6%, and 48% to 37.6% (2017–2023).
    • Acinetobacter baumannii (hospital infections): Already highly drug-resistant; shows no major change but remains difficult to treat.

antimicrobial_resistance

  UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQ)  

Prelims

Q. What is the importance of using Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines in India? (2020)

  1. These vaccines are effective against pneumonia as well as meningitis and sepsis.
  2. Dependence on antibiotics that are not effective against drug-resistant bacteria can be reduced.
  3. These vaccines have no side effects and cause no allergic reactions.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Q. Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India? (2019)

  1. Genetic predisposition of some people
  2. Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases
  3. Using antibiotics in livestock farming
  4. Multiple chronic diseases in some people

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 
(d) 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (b)

Q. Widespread resistance of malarial parasite to drugs like chloroquine has prompted attempts to develop a malarial vaccine to combat malaria. Why is it difficult to develop an effective malaria vaccine?(2010)

(a) Malaria is caused by several species of Plasmodium
(b) Man does not develop immunity to malaria during natural infection
(c) Vaccines can be developed only against bacteria
(d) Man is only an intermediate host and not the definitive host

Ans: (b)


Important Facts For Prelims

Zonal Councils

Source: PIB

Why in News?

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation chaired the 25th Central Zonal Council meeting in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Government.

What are Zonal Councils?

  • About: Zonal Councils are statutory bodies (not constitutional) established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, as a high-level advisory forum to foster cooperative working among states and to create a healthy inter-State and Centre–State environment.
  • Composition:

Zonal Council

States

Northern Zonal Council

Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chandigarh

Central Zonal Council

Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand

Eastern Zonal Council

Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Sikkim

Western Zonal Council

Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Daman & Diu

Southern Zonal Council

Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry
  • Organizational Structure:
    • Chairman: Union Home Minister (for all 5 Zonal Councils). He is also the ex-officio Chairman of the North Eastern Council (NEC).
    • Vice-Chairman: Chief Minister of one of the member states (by annual rotation).
    • Members: The members include the Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, or Administrators of the member States and Union Territories. 
      • Additionally, from each member state, the Governor nominates two ministers as members of the Council.
    • Advisors: One nominee from NITI Aayog (earlier Planning Commission), Chief Secretaries, and Development Commissioners of the member states.
      • Each Zonal Council has a Permanent Committee comprising the Chief Secretaries of member states. State-proposed issues are first discussed by this committee, and unresolved matters are then placed before the full Zonal Council for further deliberation.
  • Objectives and Functions: Zonal Councils serve as a structured platform for dialogue and coordination on issues involving two or more states or the Centre and states, promoting mutual understanding and cooperation. 

  UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question  

Prelims:

Q. Which of the following bodies does not/do not find mention in the Constitution? (2013)

  1. National Development Council
  2. Planning Commission
  3. Zonal Councils

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d)

Mains:

Q. What changes has the Union Government recently introduced in the domain of Centre-State relations? Suggest measures to be adopted to build the trust between the Centre and the States and for strengthening federalism. (2024)


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