State PCS - Madhya Pradesh (MP PCS)

• 08 Oct 2025

Madhya Pradesh Bans Coldrif Cough Syrup

Why in News? 

The Madhya Pradesh government has announced a complete ban on the sale of Coldrif Syrup across the state following several children's deaths due to kidney failure. 

• The Tamil Nadu government conducted a probe and found that samples of Coldrif Syrup contained 48.6% Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical known to cause severe kidney damage. 

Key Points 

• About: The finding of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) led to state-level bans and triggered nationwide regulatory action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. 
• Diethylene Glycol (DEG): It is a colourless, sweet-tasting industrial chemical commonly used in brake fluids and antifreeze. 
  • It is misused as a cheap substitute solvent in drug production owing to its close physical similarity to safe pharmaceutical compounds. 
  • Consumption of DEG can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, kidney failure, and nervous system damage, and may be fatal at high doses. 
• Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940: It regulates the import, manufacture, sale, and distribution of drugs and cosmetics in India through licences and permits.  
  • Its main aim is to ensure that marketed drugs and cosmetics are safe, effective, and meet national standards.  
  • The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, complement the Act by classifying medications into schedules and providing guidelines for their storage, sale, presentation, and prescription. 

World Cotton Day 2025

Why in News? 

Union Ministers Shri Giriraj Singh and Shri Pabitra Margherita attended the World Cotton Day 2025 celebration in New Delhi on 7th October.  

• The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Textiles and the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), with the theme "Cotton 2040: Technology, Climate & Competitiveness."

Key Points 

• About: World Cotton Day was established in 2019 when four cotton-producing countries in sub-Saharan Africa—Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali, collectively known as the Cotton Four—proposed to the World Trade Organisation the idea of celebrating World Cotton Day on 7th October.  
• Objective: It aims to create awareness of the need for market access for cotton and cotton-related products from least developed countries, foster sustainable trade policies and enable developing countries to benefit more from every step of the cotton value chain. 
• Interesting Facts About Cotton: 
  • The top five cotton-producing countries are China, India, Brazil, the United States of America, and Pakistan, which together account for more than three-quarters of global production. 
    • India is the largest producer of cotton globally, accounting for 23% of total global cotton production. 
  • Cotton sustains about 24 million growers and benefits over 100 million families globally.  
  • Cotton is the second-most used fibre globally after polyester, making up approximately 20% of total fibre demand. 
  • Approximately 80% of cotton is used in apparel, with the remainder used in home textiles and industrial products. 
• Governance in India: The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), established in July 1970 under the Ministry of Textiles, stabilises cotton prices through price support measures and supports the domestic textile industry with commercial purchasing operations, especially during the lean season.