What are the functions of the kidneys?

• • Remove urea and liquid waste from the blood in the form of urine. Urea is made when foods containing protein, such as meat, poultry, and certain vegetables, are broken down in the body. Urea is carried in the blood to the kidneys.
  • Balance salts, electrolytes, such as potassium and sodium, and other substances in the blood
  • Produce erythropoietin, a hormone that aids the formation of red blood cells

• Regulate blood pressure

• Regulate fluid and acid-base balance in the body to keep it neutral. This is needed for normal function of many processes within the body

Kidney transplantation rules in India

• The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 allows living donations, in most cases, from close relatives such as parents, siblings, children, spouse, grandparents, grandchildren. 
• Altruistic donations from distant relatives, in-laws, or long-time friends are allowed after additional scrutiny to ensure there is no financial exchange.
• Offering to pay for organs or to supply organs for payment, initiating/ negotiating/ advertising for such an arrangement, looking for a person to supply organs, and abetting in preparing false documents is punishable by jail up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore.

Why in news?

Organ donations and transplants in exchange for money are forbidden in India in order to protect poor and vulnerable donors from potential exploitation.