Exam-Focused Notes

Constitutional References:

• Gender Equality: The Indian Constitution guarantees equal rights in Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 15 (Prohibition of Discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth).

Judicial Representation:

• The India Justice Report 2025 indicates only 14% of judges in High Courts and 3.1% in the Supreme Court are women, highlighting significant gender disparity in the judiciary.

Crime Data:

• In West Bengal, from 2017-2023, only 20% of crimes against women ended in conviction, suggesting a serious concern regarding women's safety and legal justice.

Government Policies & Schemes:

• Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, emphasized the necessity of private medical colleges ensuring the safety of female students, especially regarding curfews for their movements at night.

Economic Participation:

• Pooja Chauhan, an ironing worker, exemplifies women's agency through economic contributions and financial control within the household, reflecting on the importance of women's empowerment in economic decision-making.

Health Concerns:

• The Zero Mercury Working Group report revealed dangerous mercury-added skin lightening products (SLPs) available on platforms like Amazon, with 7 out of 8 evaluated products in India containing high levels of mercury.

Gender and Societal Issues:

• The struggle for women’s representation and safety is underscored by the societal backdrop where women's voices often go unheard until tragedies occur. The ongoing conversation on issues such as sexual violence and the importance of women’s visibility in public life is pivotal.

Historical & Cultural Context:

• The influence of women’s changing fashion on social norms goes back to the late 1800s during the suffragette movement, emphasizing shifts in gender roles and the evolving image of women in society.

Feminism:

• Personal is Political: A core tenet of second-wave feminism stresses how personal choices reflect broader socio-political issues, as articulated by Simone de Beauvoir and Betty Friedan.

Conclusion:

• Current data indicates a need for enhanced safety protocols for women, increased judicial representation, and better societal recognition of women’s roles to combat gender-based discrimination and violence. Economic sustainability and personal agency for women are critical for addressing systemic issues effectively.

Summary of Key Facts and Developments:

• Incident Overview:

  • At least 25 children in Madhya Pradesh have reportedly died from kidney failure associated with the consumption of an adulterated cough syrup, ‘Coldrif’, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals based in Tamil Nadu.

• Latest Fatality:

  • Ambika Vishwakarma, aged 3, from Chhindwara, succumbed to her condition on October 15, 2025, while undergoing treatment in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
  • She had been hospitalized since September 14, and initial investigations suggest she consumed the cough syrup bought over the counter without medical prescription.

• Health Impact:

  • Renal failure cases linked to ‘Coldrif’ syrup involve children from multiple districts, including Chhindwara, Betul, and Pandhurna. Two more children are under medical treatment in Nagpur.
  • Toxicology tests conducted by drug control authorities confirmed that the syrup contained 46% Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a harmful industrial solvent.

• Regulatory and Legal Actions:

  • Madhya Pradesh's health officials have initiated investigations and preliminary checks on medical records of affected children.
  • Local authorities have arrested a physician, Praveen Soni, who allegedly prescribed ‘Coldrif’ syrup to multiple children and has been suspended.
  • The owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, G. Ranganathan, has also been arrested.
  • The deputy drug controller and two drug inspectors have been suspended for negligence.

• Government Response:

  • Following the incidents, several states in India have enacted bans on the sale of 'Coldrif' syrup and have alerted drug control authorities for further inspection and regulation.
  • Tamil Nadu authorities have revoked the manufacturing license of Sresan Pharmaceuticals and shut down their operations in light of these events.

• Constitutional and Regulatory Framework:

  • The situation raises concerns in the context of public health regulations and compliance with the Drug and Cosmetics Act, which mandates strict controls on the quality and safety of pharmaceuticals.
  • Locally, the reactive measures highlight the responsibilities outlined under the State's police powers to protect public health and safety.

Insight on Broader Implications:

• The tragic outcome emphasizes the critical importance of pharmaceutical regulation and the need for stringent quality control measures in the drug manufacturing sector to prevent future incidents of this nature.
• It reveals systemic issues in drug prescription practices, medical oversight, and the enforcement of safety protocols that govern pharmaceutical distribution within India.

General Notes:

• The rising fatalities underscore a public health emergency that necessitates immediate government intervention and systemic policy reforms in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors to safeguard against such adulteration cases and ensure children's health security.

Summary Notes on Cough Syrup Contamination in Madhya Pradesh

Incident Overview:

• Date of Initial Deaths: Beginning September 2, 2025, with multiple reports of child fatalities attributed to kidney failure linked to a specific cough syrup.
• Affected Areas: Primarily Parasia, Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, with additional cases in Betul and Pandhurna.
• Total Deaths: 24 children so far, with some in critical condition noted.

Health and Regulatory Issues:

• Common Medication: Coldrif cough syrup was prescribed to multiple children by local physicians, allegedly leading to severe reactions that culminated in kidney failure.
• Toxic Substance: Samples of Coldrif revealed contamination with diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic substance not suitable for consumption.
• Legal References: The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 prohibits the sale of adulterated or substandard drugs, though DEG is not explicitly named in these regulations.

Judicial and Government Responses:

• Police Action: Arrests of Sresan Pharmaceutical's owners and medical providers under criminal charges, including Sections 105 and 276 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 27(A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
• Investigations: An investigation initiated by health authorities to trace the source and supply of the contaminated syrup, leading to seizures of 543 bottles thus far.

Health Department Actions:

• Testing and Inspections: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and State Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have undertaken audits and tests of the implicated products, leading to halting production.
• Public Health Campaigns: Deployment of 1,000 ASHA workers and 3,000 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives for community health surveys and to locate remaining contaminated bottles.

Economic and Regulatory Framework:

• Drug Licensing: The licensing process for drugs in India is overseen both centrally (CDSCO) and at State levels, creating a potential gap in safety checks due to decentralized responsibility.
• Manufacturing Oversight: The Tamil Nadu Health Department found significant non-compliance at Sresan Pharma, including 39 critical observations and failure to perform quality checks over the past two years.

Constitutional and Legislative References:

• Health as a State Subject: Health regulation falls under State jurisdiction while CDSCO controls drug approvals for safety and efficacy at the national level.

International Implications:

• Global Health Concerns: The issue of contaminated cough syrups has previously led to fatalities abroad, as seen with cases in Gambia, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan in 2022, highlighting a critical need for global oversight in pharmaceutical safety.

Conclusion: The complications surrounding the contaminated cough syrup case in Madhya Pradesh illustrate systemic failures in drug safety regulation, the need for rigorous quality control mechanisms, and the importance of public health response strategies to prevent further tragedies. The situation warrants enhanced scrutiny of pharmaceutical processes and accountability for public health officials.

Summary of Cough Syrup Contamination Incident in Madhya Pradesh

Background

• Incident: The tragic deaths of at least 24 children in Madhya Pradesh, with a majority being from Chhindwara, have been linked to the consumption of the contaminated cough syrup, Coldrif.
• Key Dates: Deaths occurred predominantly in September 2025, with the first death recorded on September 2.

Health Impact

• Deaths: As of October 2025, 24 children died due to severe kidney failure after being prescribed Coldrif syrup.
• Symptoms: Affected children exhibited symptoms such as vomiting, drowsiness, stomach pain, swelling, and acute kidney damage.

Regulatory Findings

• Contamination: Testing revealed that Coldrif contained diethylene glycol (DEG) at 48.6%, which is toxic and used industrially in antifreeze solutions.
• Historical Context: Previous incidents of DEG contamination have been recorded in India, with significant child fatalities reported internationally linked to Indian-made syrups.

Government and Health Responses

• Actions Taken:
  • The Madhya Pradesh Health Department, along with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has been involved in investigations and confiscation of batches of Coldrif.
  • The Tamil Nadu Health Department suspended drug inspectors and initiated inspections at manufacturing sites.
  • Relevant legislation includes the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, which prohibits adulterated drugs but does not specify DEG.

Legal Framework

• Laws Involved:
  • The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - Sections dealing with culpable homicide and adulteration of drugs were invoked against responsible parties.
  • The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 govern the safe manufacturing and distribution of drugs.

Judicial Measures

• The Supreme Court dismissed a plea related to the cough syrup crisis, indicating the judiciary's position on ongoing investigations and accountability measures.

Administrative Measures

• Over 1,000 ASHA workers and health professionals have been mobilized to conduct surveys and locate remaining bottles of the contaminated syrup in local areas.
• A joint audit of cough syrup manufacturers has been initiated following identification and recall of contaminated products.

Economic Considerations

• The incident highlights weaknesses in India's pharmaceutical regulatory frameworks and emphasizes the need for stringent compliance checks and accountability measures in the manufacturing process.

International Implications

• The CDSCO has informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the situation and confirmed that the contaminated products were not exported.

Current Developments

• Investigations continue to trace how a large batch of contaminated syrup reached Parasia, ensuring preventive measures against future occurrences.

Conclusion

This incident underscores the critical need for improved regulatory oversight, safety checks within India’s pharmaceutical sector, and the necessity of holding responsible parties accountable to prevent similar tragedies in the future.