← 23 October 2026's Current Affairs · Karnataka KPSC Prelims ★★★☆☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆
Karnataka to set up a committee to boost deceased donor organ transplants
Why in News?
Brain-stem death is legal, selling organs is not: the THOTA 1994 distinction Prelims statements test
Karnataka will form a committee to strengthen deceased donor organ donation.
Why it matters: Karnataka-specific
What you need to know
2 min read
Karnataka's Health Minister has announced a committee that will recommend measures to strengthen the deceased donor organ donation network in the State.
Organ donation in India is governed by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, which recognised brain-stem death and prohibited commercial dealing in human organs.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- Karnataka will form a committee to recommend measures to strengthen the deceased donor organ donation network
- Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994 governs organ donation in India
- THOTA 1994 recognised brain-stem death as a form of death for organ donation
- THOTA 1994 prohibits commercial dealing in human organs
- Deceased donor donation depends on certified brain-stem death and consent of the family or donor pledge
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 recognised brain-stem death for the purpose of organ donation.
- The Act prohibits commercial dealing in human organs and prescribes penalties for it.
- Organ donation after brain-stem death is called deceased donor donation, distinct from living donor donation.
Mains
GS Paper II (Health, governance) and GS Paper IV (ethics of organ donation). The issue is a shortage of organs and a weak deceased donor network; THOTA 1994 legalised brain-stem death and banned organ trade, but donation rates stay low. A State-level committee can improve transplant coordination, hospital certification, awareness and transparency in allocation, while guarding against organ trafficking.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
With reference to the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, consider the following statements:
- It recognised brain-stem death for the purpose of organ donation.
- It permits commercial dealing in human organs under licence.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: A — The correct answer is 1 only. Statement 1 is correct because the Act recognised brain-stem death, while statement 2 is false as the Act bans commercial dealing.
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