According to the report, two-thirds of the 1.04 million deaths in children under 5 years in India are due to malnutrition.
The overall under-five death rate due to malnutrition has decreased substantially from 1990 to 2017.
However, malnutrition is still the underlying risk factor for 68% of the deaths in under-five children in India.
The Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) rate attributable to malnutrition in children varies 7-fold among the states.
The deaths rate range as high as 72.7% in Bihar and a low of 50.8% in Kerala.
Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh are states with a high such proportion.
Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and Goa have the lowest proportions of such deaths.
Among the malnutrition indicators, ‘low birth weight’ is the largest contributor to child deaths in India.
It is followed by child growth failure which includes stunting, underweight, and wasting.
For substantial improvements across malnutrition indicators, states need to implement an integrated nutrition policy.
Hydrogen-powered vehicles over Electric vehicles
China, Japan and South Korea have set ambitious targets to put millions of hydrogen-powered vehicles on their roads.
But, Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have been upstaged by electric vehicles (EVs).
It becomes a mainstream option due to the success of Tesla Inc’s luxury cars as well as sales and production quotas set by China.
Critics argue FCVs may never amount to more than a niche technology.
But proponents counter hydrogen is the cleanest energy source for autos available and with time, it will gain acceptance.
China, far and away the world’s biggest auto market is aiming for more than 1 million FCVs in service by 2030.
Japan, a market of more than 5 million vehicles annually, wants to have 800,000 FCVs sold by that time.
Resource-poor Japan sees hydrogen as a way to greater energy security.
Driving ranges and refuelling times for FCVs are comparable to gasoline cars, whereas EVs require hours to recharge and provide only a few hundred kilometres of range.
In general, hydrogen is seen as the more efficient choice for heavier vehicles that drive longer distances.
However, lack of refuelling stations which are costly to build, is usually cited as the biggest obstacle to widespread adoption of FCVs.
Consumer worries about the risk of explosions are also a big hurdle.
Residents in Japan and South Korea have protested against the construction of hydrogen stations.
This year, a hydrogen tank explosion in South Korea killed 2 people, followed by a blast at a Norway hydrogen station.
Heavy subsidies are needed to bring prices down to levels of gasoline-powered cars.
Automakers contend that once sales volumes increase, economies of scale will make subsidies unnecessary.
Legal age for Marriage
A couple in Punjab, a 19-year-old male and a 24-year-old female, have been provided security cover on the court’s orders.
They claim they are married and have a certificate from a Gurdwara.
The case rose to prominence after 3 members of the man’s family were murdered allegedly by the girl’s family.
‘Hindu Marriage Act, 1955’ (which also applies to Sikhs) states that a girl must be 18 and a boy 21 at the time of marriage.
But as per the ‘Majority Act, 1875’, every person domiciled in India attain the age of majority on completing the age of 18.
Even the Supreme Court has clearly specified that 2 adults, 18 or above, can live together with their consent as ‘live-in partners’, even if they are not married.
As per the ‘Hindu Marriage Act’, a marriage can either be declared void (completely illegal) or voidable by the court.
It can be declared ‘voidable’ if an objection is filed saying that consent of boy or girl wasn’t taken.
In an order dated May 7, 2018, the Supreme Court in one such case where girl was 19 but boy was not 21, said,
It is sufficient to note that both of them are major.
Even if they were not competent to enter into wedlock, they have right to live together even outside wedlock.
The freedom of choice would be of the girl as to with whom she wants to live.
The live-in relationship is now also recognised under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act.
A debate has been ongoing on making 18 as uniform age for marriage for both men and women in India.
‘Anand Marriage Act’ which was notified in Punjab, only applies for separate registration of Sikh marriages but not in case of disputes.
Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Policy
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) approved the ‘Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Policy.
It plans to develop high-density, mixed-use areas around 5 Metro stations in Delhi in the first phase under this policy.
The primary goals of the policy are to,
Promote the use of public transport and discourage dependence on private vehicles and
To provide walking-distance access to public transport to the maximum possible numbers of people
DDA also wants to promote mixed housing and markets close to Metro stations.
The relevance of TOD lies in the fact that despite a 373-km Delhi Metro rail network and other public transport options,
Delhi has been unable to deliver efficient, comfortable, affordable, and subsidised parking options.
This has led to commuters relying on automobiles, especially private vehicles, much more than on public transport.
At the heart of TOD, also lie the principles of healthy, more environment-friendly lifestyles.
