PRS · Parliamentary Affairs ·

Uttarakhand Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 - April 15, 2020)

Distilled Policy Brief

  • On March 15, 2020, the state government notified the Uttarakhand Epidemic Disease COVID-19 Regulations, 2020, which mandated that no person or organisation could use print or electronic media for COVID-19 information without prior permission from the state health department to prevent misinformation.

🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points

State-level regulatory powers under Epidemic Disease Regulations to control information dissemination and restrict public movement.

⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages

Examine the constitutional and administrative challenges of managing public health emergencies through state-level regulations and executive lockdowns.

🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill

Polity & Governance

With reference to the Uttarakhand Epidemic Disease COVID-19 Regulations, 2020 notified by the state government, which of the following was mandated to prevent misinformation during the pandemic?

  • [A] Complete ban on the operation of all print and electronic media outlets within the state.
  • [B] Mandatory prior permission from the state health department for any person or organisation to use print or electronic media for COVID-19 information.
  • [C] Prior clearance of all news broadcasts directly from the central Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • [D] Restriction on the publication of COVID-19 testing numbers by private hospitals without judicial approval.
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
✓ Correct Option: [B] Mandatory prior permission from the state health department for any person or organisation to use print or electronic media for COVID-19 information.

On March 15, 2020, the Uttarakhand government notified the Uttarakhand Epidemic Disease COVID-19 Regulations, 2020, which mandated that no person or organisation could use print or electronic media for COVID-19 information without prior permission from the state health department to prevent the spread of misinformation.

Tark High-Yield Question Bank ⚡ Practice Full Test in Testing Arena ↗

🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)

UPSC Prelims 2021

Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.

Forensic Anchor: Cabinet Allocation of Business Rules & NCAP Framework
Examiner Trap Takeaway: UPSC swapped Central Pollution Control Board role with State Pollution Control Boards for state-level monitoring.

📚 Static Syllabus & Constitutional Linkages

Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897: Discussed under the statutory framework for disaster management and federal distribution of powers, where 'Public Health and Sanitation' falls under the State List (List II).