New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is on the move to set up its ‘DNA bank’ to store citizens’ genetic information.
The controversial DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019, which was passed by the Lok Sabha in July, has now been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests.
The bill seeks to establish the National DNA Data Bank and its regional databases to store genetic information collected from crime scenes as well as victims’ bodies during criminal and civil investigations.
It also wants to establish a DNA Regulatory Board for regulation and control of DNA data collection and storage.
DNA profiling and its origins
DNA refers to deoxyribonucleic acid, a blueprint of all living forms that encodes information allowing the cells of an organism to grow and function.
Every individual has a unique DNA blueprint, making it a reliable means of identification, and for the establishment of biological relationships between individuals. This can be done by analysing hairs, blood or semen samples.
The DNA profiling method was first developed in 1985, specifically for forensic use. Its first application was made in a rape and murder investigation of two young girls in villages near Leicestershire in the United Kingdom.
Samples from over 4,800 local men were collected for the case. While the exercise itself did not lead to a match, the killer was overheard boasting how he had got his friend to provide a DNA sample in his place — which helped in solving the crime.
DNA profiling can be especially helpful in cold cases or old unsolved crimes. It can also help quickly identify repeat offenders, by comparing samples from the crime site to the DNA database.
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‘At least 69 countries have such central DNA databases’
According to US Interpol’s Global DNA Profiling Survey Results 2016, as many as 69 countries have a national DNA database, including the US, Canada and China. Together, the countries hold genetic information of at least 35,413,155 individuals.
India is among the 84 countries that use DNA profiling in criminal investigations, but do not store the DNA information in a centralised database, according to the report.
However, concerns have been raised around the world over possible misuse of such databases, which hold a person’s most intimate information.
Issues in UK
In 1995, the UK became the first country to establish a forensic National DNA database. Although it was widely supported by the public initially, a legislation was introduced in 2001 allowing DNA profiles to be kept on the database even when a person was acquitted of a crime, said a paper in the Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences.
The law was amended again in April 2003 to allow DNA to be taken as soon as a person is arrested, rather than waiting for them to be charged with an offence, the paper said.
These changes to the law allowed for DNA profiles of over 1 million innocent people to be retained on what was previously a criminal DNA database, it added.
What will India do?
The draft bill states that no legal proceedings can be initiated against the Union government or any member of the board of the DNA National Data Bank for any action which is done in ‘good faith’.
However, what constitutes good faith is unclear yet, thus absolving the board or the government of any responsibility in case of a security breach.
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The government itself is not doing anything for the people and now they are not allowing e-commerce companies to do so. If people are getting benefits from e-commerce companies then whats the problem with the govt. Modi govt is looting public by imposing taxes. Why should smone purchase stuffs at higher cost from retail companies , if it is available at very lower cost in Amazon/flipkart. Shame on govt. Can government tell me why they have introduced dynamic fare in railway jst to looting people.
Ek tarf modi sarkar bol rhi FDI kro kro kro.
Or jab wo company b/s krti h to retailer ko problem ho rhi h agr aaj koi step Lia to koi Bharat mai invest nhi krega.
Abr krega to 2 baar sochega jarur.
Because consumer is king of market.
If consumer not satisfied with retail market.fir depression chalu hoga .
Or ek baat
Ek tarf modi ji digital bolte or ab wo profit kma rhe h to unko ruko esa thodi hota
Agr esa krna tha to digital q kr rhe ho sabko
…
Aaj online mere ghr pr product de rha .wo bhi lowest price mai …
Online better than offline
This is because Modi uncle always wants his benefits….he does not care for our benefit. He is only supporting Ambani for his own benefits . That’s all.He never cares for us
Govt is more worried about taxes, already it has imposed heavy income tax on salaried class, it want to protect traders who do not pay adequate taxes, already people are paying huge taxes for the every thing they use daily, so Govt should encourage online sales to make available goods to consumers at cheaper prices
well what i think is too much of govt intervention can lead to consumers inconvenience whereas if things are not under some regulations can lead to too many ambanis in India… e commerce is a sector which has greatly hampered the brick wall shops and medium to large scale companies. since an e commerce company has so many ways to manipulate price of any product i think having some mandatory limitations is good.
and for all those who think u are buying discounted goods from online platform and so it’s good for u, no company does business in loss and no company provides discount to u out of there own pockets.
p.s food for thought.
Ridiculous news, customer is the king and he will purchase from wherever he gets the things at cheaper price. As a middle class customer I would request govt to focus on something else for the betterment of common people and not to waste its time and effort unnecessarily where customer is getting some benefit and both Amazon and Flipkart are doing a wonderful job and enhacing the trade and therefore contributing to the economy. There are many things which generally a customer will not buy from outside but due to the competitive price being offered by the online platforms people buy it thus bring out the money from customer pocket into economy.
I will buy from Amazon and neither Modi nor anyone can stop discounts offered in E-Commerce. Wherever products are available at cheaper rates I will buy from there.
Pointless to take action or punishing e commerce. We will buy wherever there is discount. If the offline market want us to buy from them, then they should also provide us discount. Bussiness is competition, so they should also compete with them instead of banning online products.
Flipkart is totaly fraud please dont buy anything from flipkart as on big billion sale they sold things on higher rates and post sale over the rates for the product get cheaper. They are just playing with people and there hard earned money. i have ordered one honor phone which was around 15 k on big billion sale and when sale got over the same phone with same specs was available under 10 k. i have mailed to TOP management but no response then again i have pushed to customer care over email and they have logged one complaint. Many follow ups has been taken up but till date no response from Flipkart please find the Incident number againt order id. Order id – OD116660195191406000 [Incident: IN1910091543113969276]. Please chech price before buying anything from flipkart.