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(The Gist of PIB) Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab  [MAY-2020]

(The Gist of PIB) Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab

 [MAY-2020]

Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab

  • The Defence Minister dedicated the first COVID-19 sample collection mobile Lab of the country namely Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab.

About:

  • COVID-19 testing center will utilize this new innovative mobile diagnostic and research facility called “Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab”.
  • It will be the first of its kind facility in the country for Covid-19 and other related testing and research purposes.
  • The design of Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab has been developed by DRDO scientists whereas the specification of the lab has been given by ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Sanathnagar, Hyderabad.
  • The project has been executed and constructed by three industry partners of DRDO.

 

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Courtesy: PIB

(The Gist of PIB) Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots(g-CNQDs)  [MAY-2020]

(The Gist of PIB) Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots(g-CNQDs)

 [MAY-2020]

Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots(g-CNQDs)

  • Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), an autonomous institute under the DST has found a low-cost metal-free nanomaterial for visible light microbial disinfection which can be an alternative to silver and other metal-based materials.

About:

  • Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots (g-CNQDs) is found to be a viable anti-bacterial alternative to metal/non-metal semiconductors and expensive silver, thus making it cost-effective.
  • These nanomaterials possess enhanced biocidal activity attributed to the larger surface area of a-CNQDs having more reactive sites and optical absorption both in the ultraviolet and visible regions. The g-CNQDs have the ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS).
  • The ROS rapidly interact and damage the immediately available biological macromolecules such as lipids present on the cell membrane or envelope and proteins present on the cellular surface, towards inactivation of the microorganism.
  • The dependence on visible light is also advantageous over regular ultraviolet mediated disinfection, which requires cautious handling of the UV light-emitting devices.
  • This technology will also be simultaneously explored for antiviral efficiency considering its relevance to the current scenario.
     

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(The Gist of Science Reporter) Wearable Coils for Medical Testing  [MAY-2020]

(The Gist of Science Reporter) Wearable Coils for Medical Testing

 [MAY-2020]

Wearable Coils for Medical Testing

  • Researchers from Purdue University have created a novel way of doing medical imaging using technology involved in defence and aerospace industries.
  • Medical imaging tests like MRI are often uncomfortable as they use rigid Radio-frequency (RF) coils to detect signals from the body. Purdue’s team has developed RF coils that are formable and stretchable. They have created an adaptable, wearable and stretchable fabric embroidered with conductive threads which provide excellent signal-to-noise ratio which facilitates enhanced MRI scanning. The team’s work is published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

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(GIST OF YOJANA) COVID-19 Disinfection Process  [May-2020]

(GIST OF YOJANA) COVID-19 Disinfection Process

 [May-2020]

COVID-19 Disinfection Process 

Introduction:

  • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in its continuous quest to contribute towards fight against COVID-19, has been developing several solutions from its existing arsenal of technologies and experience. 
  • These consist of innovations and quickly configuring the products for present requirements. DRDO has introduced two products which can enhance the operations at public places during the pandemic.

Automatic Mist-based Sanitiser Dispensing Unit:

  • Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES), Delhi along with HPO 1, using its expertise in mist technology for fire suppression, has developed automatic mist based sanitiser dispensing unit. It is a contactless sanitiser dispenser which sprays alcohol based hand rub sanitiser solution for sanitisation of hands while entering the buildings/office complexes, etc. It is based on water mist aerator technology, which was developed for water conservation.
  • The unit operates without contact and is activated through an ultrasonic sensor. A single fluid nozzle with low flow rate is used to generate aerated mist to dispense the hand rub sanitiser. This sanitises the hands with minimum wastage. Using atomiser, only 5-6 ml sanitiser is released for 12 seconds in one operation and it gives the full cone spray over both palms so that disinfection operation of hands is complete.
  • It is a very compact unit and bulk fill option makes it an economical and long lasting product. It is easy to install a system as wall-mountable or on a platform. As an indication of operation an LED illuminates the spray. The unit can be used for sanitisation of hands at entry and exit to hospitals, malls, office buildings, residential buildings, airports, metro stations, railway stations, bus stations and critical installations. The product is also expected to be very useful for entry/exit of isolation and quarantine centres.

UV Sanitisation Box and Hand-held UV Device:

  • Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS) and Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS), DRDO laboratories in Delhi have designed & developed Ultraviolet C Light based sanitization box and hand held UV-C (ultraviolet light with wavelength 254 nanometres) device. The UV-C consists of a shorter, more energetic wavelength of light. It is particularly good at destroying genetic material in COVID-19. The radiation warps the structure RNA which prevents the viral particles from making more copies of themselves. The UV-C kills microbes quickly. Sanitisation of the items by employing UV-C light avoids the harmful effects of the chemicals used for the disinfection. This is environment friendly and is a contact free effective sanitisation method.
  • The UV-C box is designed for disinfecting personal belongings like mobile phone, tablets, purse, currency, cover of office files, etc. COVID-19 virus will be deactivated by using UVC lamps in one minute spaced equi-distantly in a box with UV dose of 100 mJ/cm2. The UV lamps used in the sanitisation box also emits 185 nm which produces ozone and is able to take care of the unexposed area on the surfaces of the objects placed in the box.
  • The hand held device having eight watt UV-C lamp disinfects office and household objects like chairs, files, postal delivered items and food packets with an exposure of 45 second at a 100 mJ/cm2 irradiance placed at a distance of less than two inches. This measure can reduce the transmission of Coronavirus in the office and public environment which is required to work in all conditions.
     

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(GIST OF YOJANA) Social Media: The Force Multiplier [June-2020]

(GIST OF YOJANA) Social Media: The Force Multiplier

[June-2020]

Social Media: The Force Multiplier

Introduction:

  • Socialmedia has become a game changer in the way federal, regional, and local government agencies are engaging,interacting, and communicating with citizens.
  • The Indian Government has been at the forefront of these emerging trends–it has rapidly adopted the latest digital technologies and embraced newforms of social media communication tools in the discharge of its governance and administrative duties.
  • The Government of India’s ambitious Digital India Programme is aimed at transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. This initiative is anchored by the Ministry of Electronics andInformation Technology (MeitY),but is implemented across the federal framework of the country covering central, state, and local organisations in both the public and private space.
  • Most government departments and agencies now maintain an active presence on the popular social media channels. They have created official accounts, have large numbers of followers, and regularly share news updates, departmental notifications,or public announcements on their channels. Not just departmental accounts even executive officers,bureaucrats, politicians, ministers etc. are active on social media and regularly cross share (or retweet)each others’ updates. 
  • The content they share can be of any form–videos,images, presentations, text, pdfs, GIFsetc, though videos are often the most engaging format and evoke the best viewer response.
  • Here is a compilation of twelveways in which Indian Government Agencies are using social media as a force multiplier in their work:

Crisis / Disaster Management:

  • Whenever there is a big,unexpected crisis, citizens tend to panic and look for directions and advisories from their elected representatives. The government machinery springs into action and they need to emphatically communicate to citizens the SOP (standard operating procedures) to be adopted. What Adds to the heat of the moment is the possibility of (panic induced)rumours that may lead citizens astray.
  • Social media is now increasingly being used by governments to reachout to citizens during such crises. Two Recent examples bear out this trend–the first one is a cyclone alert from the National Disaster ManagementAgency (NDMA) on India’s easterncoasts (in the state of Odisha), while the other one is an advisory fromPIB (Indian Government’s PressInformation Bureau) to citizens for the lockdown imposed due to COVID-19.

Citizen Engagement:

  • One of the best roles social media can play is to act as a medium for continuous engagement between governments and its citizens. Citizens Should fear their governments are participatory and welcoming, and be able to contribute their ideas,comments and suggestions in policy formulation and program implementation. 
  • The IndianGovernment’s MyGov platform has proven to be popular with citizens in this regard. Apart from MyGov,other social media channels used by the Indian Government (Twitter,Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram)also promote citizen engagement,participation, and transparency in this important relationship.

Citizen Grievances & Support:

  • Social media has emerged as avery impactful, real-time channel for citizen grievances and support. 
  • Most Citizen services (especially the public facing ones) maintain active accounts on social media and encourage citizens to directly reach out with their grievances. Given all this is happening in full public view, there is pressure on the service providers to resolve the issue (if possible, in real-time, else with some delay), while appearing fair, transparent, and responsive for everyone to see. 
  • Sometimes when the query gets resolved quickly,citizens express their gratitude andelation immediately. This expression can act as an authentic validation or testimonial for the service. 

Example:

  • The two examples below are common on social media these days–the first one is about a traffic complaint to MumbaiPolice, while the other one is a realtime grievance filed by a traveller on Indian Railways to the Railways Bangalore Division.

Law & Order:

  • Amongst governmental agencies,police departments are arguably one of the most active users of social media channels. This is because their jobs hover around real-time,public facing situations, which are frequently subject to rumours, false alerts etc. 
  • They are required to display trust in their public dealings and communicate unequivocally. ThePolice frequently needs to make public announcements–something that social media is well-suited for. 

Example:

  • This DelhiPolice advisory on Twitter is a telling example how police use social media to alert citizens about circulating rumours.
  • Hiring & Recruitment:
  • Some government agencies are using social media hiring channels for attracting best-in-class talent for their job vacancies. “LinkedIn”is a popular online recruitmentplatform–here is an example of a vacancy posted by NISG (NationalInstitute of Smart Government) for technical positions in UIDAI (UniqueIdentification Authority of India)which runs the Government of India’sAadhaar program. 

Example:

  • LinkedIn offers two advantages–it is a publishing tool for job postings, and it also has over 500 million registered users across the world (including 62 million Indian Users). They can readily view these vacancies and apply if interested.

Foreign Relations:

  • Social media bridges the distance between nations on the internet. Many Governments agencies are using social media channels effectively to engage with their foreign counterparts.Embassies and foreign consulates are active on Twitter & Facebook,engaging with each other or sharing important updates to their citizens.

Example:

  • Below is an example of the IndianGovernment (through their officialTwitter account) wishing the people ofParaguay on their Independence Day And how the Indian Government’sMinistry of External Affairs (MEA)has published all their official Twitter Handles on the MEA website (https://mea.gov.in/).

Business & Industry Relations:

  • Government agencies partner with businesses, industry bodies and trade organisations on a regular basis for policy, consultations, networking etc. Businesses play a key role in driving social media’s impact by contributing significantly to the internet economy via advertising,paid services etc. Many monetisation models on the internet (wholly or partially) rely on enterprises, B2B(business to business) and large corporations with large advertising and marketing budgets, which contributes to the nation’s economy.

Example:

  • The two examples shared on the left exemplify this–the first is a Facebookpost from Ministry of Commerce& Industry showing the Ministeraddressing an industry gathering,while the second is an invitation onTwitter for an industry summit onEducation by the Indian Consulate inIndonesia.

Live Traffic Updates:

  • Real time traffic updates and advisories get regularly shared in the metropolitan cities via the local TrafficPolice social media accounts. These Updates are helpful to commuters in avoiding traffic jams or taking detours to save time. Often these live updates are picked up by local FM radio channels that do their civic bit, by sharing it on with live audiences that have tuned into the channel while on the roads. 

Example:

  • Here are two examples ofDelhi Traffic Police sharing updates on Twitter for a road blockage, and traffic advisory for traffic rerouting owing to some festivities.

Government Procurement:

  • The government (as an entity)is the largest producer and buyer of goods and services in the country. It's Buying (or procurement) is largely based on open tendering process,which gives everyone a chance to participate in an unbiased, non-discriminatory way. 
  • Hence, tender notices have to be published publicly on the main outreach channels.Traditionally, tender notices were advertised in newspapers; now with the advent of e-tendering, these notices are increasingly getting posted on social media channels as well. 

Example:

  • The Two examples above bear testimony to this trend–the first one is a tender notice from the Ministry of Power inviting bids for electric cars, while the second one is from the Ministry of Information& Broadcasting’s Chandigarh Bureaufor digital printing.

Crowdsourcing Ideas & Innovation:

  • The internet is fundamentally participatory in character–people openly share their knowledge, skills,and experiences in the belief that others can benefit from it. 
  • Sometimesthis is free, or there may be some incentives for it. Crowdsourcing isa popular activity on the internet,where you get to tap into the collective “wisdom of the crowds”.

Example:

  • On the left is an example on how the Indian Government’s community participation platform MyGov is leveraging crowdsourcing, by hostinga “Logo Design Competition '' for an upcoming government heritage complex. Citizens are invited to contribute their logo entries for the contest, which has an accompanying cash prize to generate excitement and motivate participants.

Citizen Service-Delivery Apps:

  • The government has launched various service delivery apps for its citizens. Social media is a key channel to drive awareness about these apps and get people to download them.Because these apps are mass targeted,the intent is to make them “go viral”and spread via “word-of-mouth”from person to person. Social media channels like Twitter, Facebook,WhatsApp are best-suited for this virality. 

Example:

  • The two examples here showcase this–DigiLocker is meantfor digitised documents & certificates,while UMANG is like a gateway (or a directory) to multiple government services. While these apps have their individual social media handles, they are also promoted by the government departments.

Transparency & Accountability:

  • Citizens weren't ready to access government departments and its functioning officers. Given the size and expanse of the official setup, it is often not easy to figure out who is the concerned officer-in-charge (in whose jurisdiction the case falls) and their contact details. Social media can come to the rescue in some cases.

Example:

  • Here is an example of how the police department in Dima Hasao, one of the districts in Assam has publicly shared telephone numbers of their top officers and their rank and file. Such measures reduce bureaucracy, while promoting transparency and accountability in the eyes of the citizens.

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(The Gist of Science Reporter) Chenab Bridge –The Highest Bridge  [JUNE-2020]

(The Gist of Science Reporter) CSIR’s Mission to Combat COVID19

 [JUNE-2020]

CSIR’s Mission to Combat COVID19

Coverall Suit to Combat COVID-19:

  • CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL), Bengaluru, along with MAF Clothing Pvt. Ltd, Bengaluru, has developed and certified polypropylene spun laminated multi-layered non-woven fabric based Coverall to ensure the safety of Doctors, Nurses, Paramedical staff and Health Care workers who are working round the clock to fight COVID-19.
  • The Coveralls have gone through stringent testing at SITRA, Coimbatore, and have been certified for use. CSIRNAL and MAF have plans to augment the production capacity to about 30,000 units per day within four weeks. The major advantage of these Coveralls is their highly competitive price. The import content is also negligible.

HCARD — Robotic Device for Frontline Healthcare Warriors:

  • CSIR-CMERI (Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute), Durgapur, has developed a “Hospital Care Assistive Robotic Device” to safeguard the healthcare workers by reducing their exposure to the infected patients directly. The device helps healthcare workers maintain physical distance from COVID-19 patients.
  • The robotic device possesses various features including navigation, drawer activation for providing medicines and food to patients, sample collection and audio-visual communication. It can be controlled and monitored by a nursing booth with a control station. The robot works with both automatic as well as manual modes of navigation.
  • Trial on Mycobacterium W (Mw):
  • CSIR has been granted approval by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to conduct trials on an approved immunomodulator, Sepsivac®, to test its efficacy against COVID-19. The drug contains heat-killed Mycobacterium W (Mw), to enhance innate immunity of the body to limit the spread of COVID-19 infection.
  • It will also help to fasten the recovery of infected patients. Sepsivac® drug is used to treat patients with gram-negative sepsis and is also effective for leprosy patients. There are similarities between the clinical characteristics of coronavirus patients and gram-negative sepsis because of which it may hold some promise.

CSIR Identifies top 25 Drugs for Repurposing:

  • To make drugs available for corona patients in India, CSIR is working on the repurposing of 25 drugs/drug candidates for COVID-19. Hyderabad based CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) has developed a convenient and cost-effective synthetic process for Favipiravir, an inhibitor of viral RNA polymerase and that has emerged as one of the most encouraging drugs.
  • The technology has been transferred to Cipla which will approach the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for approval of Favipiravir to be launched in India as Ciplenza.

Herbal Decongestant Spray for Mask by CSIR-NBRI:

  • The most common problem of wearing a mask for a long time is suffocation.
  • Masks can cause congestion in the respiratory system. CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, has developed a “Herbal Decongestant Spray” that removes the mucus or cough thus clearing the windpipe and congestion.
  • The spray has been formulated as per the guidelines of the Ministry of AYUSH. The Institute is planning to transfer the technology for commercial production.

CIMAP’s CIM-Paushak and Herbal Cough Syrup:

  • CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow, has developed two herbal products, CIM-Paushak and Herbal Cough Syrup — that can boost immunity and help in easing the dry cough symptom linked with COVID-19.
  • The two effective, cheap and safe products have been formulated as per the guidelines from the Ministry of AYUSH. The products have been formulated using twelve valuable herbs including Puranva, Ashwagandha, Mulethi, Harad, Baheda and Sataver. 

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(The Gist of PIB) Coal India Arm Western Coalfields opens 3 new coal mines  [JUNE-2020]

(The Gist of PIB) Coal India Arm Western Coalfields opens 3 new coal mines

 [JUNE-2020]

 Coal India Arm Western Coalfields opens 3 new coal mines

  • Coal India Subsidiary Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) opened 3 new coal mines in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh having combined annual production capacity of 2.9 million tonnes (MT).

About:

  • The company will infuse total capital expenditure (Capex) of Rs. 849 crores on these projects and generate direct employment for 647 persons.
  • WCL has to produce 75 MT of coal by the financial year of 2023-24 and opening of these mines will certainly add to the efforts of the company reaching this milestone and will help Coal India achieve the target of 1 billion tonnes (BT) coal production by the financial year of 2023-24.
  • The three mines which WCL has opened, are
  • Adasa Mine, an underground to open cast mine, in Nagpur Area of Maharashtra,
  • Sharda underground Mine in Kanhan Area and
  • Dhankasa underground mine in Pench Area of Madhya Pradesh.

WCL EYE surveillance System:

  • The company launched a surveillance System named ‘WCL EYE’ to monitor operations of 15 major mines of the company round the clock. It will also help monitor coal stocks.
  • WCL has launched “Mission 100 Days” a roadmap to achieve targets for the current fiscal. This mission will also help the company accomplish mid and long-term goals. The company’s coal production and offtake target for the current fiscal is 62 MT.

SAMVAAD App:

  • It also launched an App named SAMVAAD to connect with its employees and stakeholders on this occasion.

Background:

  • The company has already opened 20 new and expansion projects in the last 6 years with over Rs. 5300 crores of capital expenditure and 5250 direct employment to land losers.
  • WCL had produced 57.64 MT of Coal in financial year 2019-20, up over 8% in comparison to the last fiscal.

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(The Gist of PIB) Central Administrative Tribunal for the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh  [JUNE-2020]

(The Gist of PIB) Central Administrative Tribunal for the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh

 [JUNE-2020]

 Central Administrative Tribunal for the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh

  • Union Minister of Personnel and Public Grievances inaugurated the 18th Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

About:

  • Setting up of CAT Bench of Jammu to deal exclusively with service matters of government employees would reduce the burden of various Courts.
  • Earlier, in a notification issued under section 5(7) of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, the Central Government has specified Jammu and Srinagar as the places at which the benches of the CAT shall ordinarily sit for the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and UT of Ladakh.

Key highlights:

  • The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had been established under Article 323 – A of the Constitution.
  • To adjudicate disputes and complaints with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union or other authorities under the control of the Government.
  • Under Section 17 of the Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985, the Tribunal has been conferred with the power to exercise the same jurisdiction and authority in respect of contempt of itself as a High Court.
  • The Tribunal is guided by the principles of natural justice in deciding cases and is not bound by the procedure, prescribed by the Civil Procedure Code.
  • Salaries and Allowances and Conditions of Service of the officers and other employees of the Tribunal are specified by the Central Government.

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(The Gist of PIB) CSIR and AIM sign a Letter of Intent to Foster Innovation  [JUNE-2020]

(The Gist of PIB) CSIR and AIM sign a Letter of Intent to Foster Innovation

 [JUNE-2020]

 CSIR and AIM sign a Letter of Intent to Foster Innovation

  • CSIR and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) together to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship have come together to collaborate in areas of mutual interest.

Major areas of mutual interest, among others include:

  • Supporting world class start-ups through CSIR Incubators under Atal Innovation mission initiatives and jointly work on new models of innovation, including setting up of CSIR Innovation Parks. CSIR with its strong patent portfolio and knowledge base and world class researchers and AIM that has been working on policies for fostering innovation in different sectors of the economy together can boost and strengthen innovation ecosystem of the country.
  • Stimulating innovation and research in the MSME industry by CSIR in collaboration with ARISE. In this context, while ARISE initiative of AIM, works to stimulate innovation and research in the MSME industry, CSIR has been working very closely with MSME where in many of its technologies and know-how have supported the MSME industry. Together they have the potential to transform and stimulate the MSME sector in the country.
  • Creating problem solving mind-set across schools in India through close cooperation between Atal Tinkering Labs and Jigyasa. There is natural synergy between Atal Tinkering Laboratories that have been working to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds and CSIRs ´JIGYASA’ a Student-Scientist connect program where in >3 lakhs students across the country have been exposed to science and technology. The coming together of the two will enhance the opportunities for students and stimulate their scientific thinking and temperament.
  • The joint initiatives and collaboration will be implemented through development of Work Plans, which describe specifically the activities to be carried out under this collaboration.

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(The Gist of PIB) India Rankings 2020 for Higher Educational Institutions  [JUNE-2020]

(The Gist of PIB) India Rankings 2020 for Higher Educational Institutions

 [JUNE-2020]

 India Rankings 2020 for Higher Educational Institutions

  • Union HRD Minister released “India Rankings 2020” for Higher Educational Institutions in various categories on the basis of their performance on five broad categories of parameters.

About:

  • Instituted by: This is the fifth consecutive edition of India Rankings of the institutions of higher education by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
  • The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), launched in 2015, outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country.

Parameters:

  • The ranking framework evaluates institutions on five parameters –
  • Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR) – 30% Weightage
  • Research and Professional Practice (RP) – 40%
  • Graduation Outcomes (GO) – 5%
  • Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) – 15%
  • Perception (PR) – 10%
  • Dental institutions have been included for first time in “India Rankings” bringing the total tally to 10 categories / subject domains.

List of institutes which secured top rank in ‘India Rankings 2020’ in various categories:

  • 1. Overall: Indian Institute of Technology Madras
  • 2. University: Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
  • 3. Engineering: Indian Institute of Technology Madras
  • 4. Management: Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
  • 5. Colleges: Miranda House, Delhi
  • 6. Pharmacy: Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
  • 7. Medical: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
  • 8. Architecture: Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
  • 9. Law: National Law School of India University, Bengaluru
  • 10. Dental: Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Delhi

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(The Gist of PIB) Roohdaar  [MAY-2020]

(The Gist of PIB) Roohdaar

 [MAY-2020]

Roohdaar

  • A Team of engineering students led by an IIT Bombay student has developed a low-cost mechanical ventilator named Ruhdaar using locally available materials.

About:

  • The team will now go for medical testing of the prototype. Once it is approved, it will be taken for mass production. The effort is to make it amenable for production by small scale industry.
  • Ventilators are an important component of the medical infrastructure required for treating coronavirus-infected patients, providing critical breathing support to those falling critically ill.

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(The Gist of PIB) National Infrastructure Pipeline  [MAY-2020]

(The Gist of PIB) National Infrastructure Pipeline

 [MAY-2020]

 National Infrastructure Pipeline

  • The Task Force on National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) submitted its Final Report on NIP for FY 2019-25 to the Union Minister for Finance.

Background: 

  • Union Finance Minister in her Budget speech 2019-20 announced that Rs. 100 lakh crore would be invested in infrastructure over the next five years.

About: 

  • The Final Report of NIP Task Force is projecting total infrastructure investment of Rs 111 lakh crore during the period FY 2020-25. Out of Rs. 111 lakh crore,
  • projects worth Rs 44 lakh crore (40% of NIP) are under implementation,
  • projects worth Rs 33 lakh crore (30%) are at the conceptual stage,
  • projects worth Rs 22 lakh crore (20%) are under development.
  • Information regarding the project stage is unavailable for projects worth Rs 11 lakh crore (10%).
  • Sectors such as energy (24%), roads (18%), urban (17%), and railways (12%) amount to around 71% of the projected infrastructure investments in India.
  • The Centre (39%) and States (40%) are expected to have an almost equal share in implementing the NIP in India, followed by the private sector (21%).

The Task Force has recommended that three Committees be setup:

  • a Committee to monitor NIP progress and eliminate delays;
  • a Steering Committee in each Infrastructure ministry level for following up implementation; and
  • a Steering Committee in DEA for raising financial resources for the NIP.
  • The NIP project database would be hosted on India Investment Grid (IIG) shortly to provide visibility to the NIP and help in its financing with prospective investors; domestic and foreign, able to access updated project-level information.
     

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(The Gist of PIB) Ber-D  [MAY-2020]

(The Gist of PIB) Ber-D

 [MAY-2020]

Ber-D

  • Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have modified the structure of Berberine into Ber-D to use as an Alzheimer’s inhibitor.

About: 

  • Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder and accounts for more than 70% of all dementia. The multifactorial nature of the disease attributed to multifaceted toxicity has made it difficult for researchers to develop effective medication.
  • Berberine is poorly soluble and toxic to cells. So they modified berberine to Ber-D, which is a soluble (aqueous), antioxidant. They found it to be a multifunctional inhibitor of multifaceted amyloid toxicity of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • The structural attributes of Ber-D are such that they prevent the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and rescue biomacromolecules from oxidative damage.

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(The Gist of Science Reporter) Rocketbook Notepad Orbit  [MAY-2020]

(The Gist of Science Reporter) Rocketbook Notepad Orbit

 [MAY-2020]

Rocketbook Notepad Orbit

  • Legal pads are often considered unfashionable, unorganised and un-eco-friendly. Rocketbook Orbit is a reusable, stylish, cloud-connected and eco friendly notepad. It is customisable, modular, and also connects with your favourite cloud services. It also uses customised “Page Packs” which can easily be removed from the pad. The novel technology uses a magnetic base and has stainless steel rings attached to every pack of Rocketbook pages that can be lifted off the Orbit, Wpped 360 degrees, and changed out for a brand new mission.

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(The Gist of Kurukshetra) Inclusive development and rural women [MAY-2020]

(The Gist of Kurukshetra) Inclusive development and rural women

[MAY-2020]

Inclusive development and rural women

Introduction:

  • Inclusive development is multifaceted and can be achieved through growth with equity – social, economic and political. There is no automatic mechanism to achieve inclusive growth rather it can only be attained through suitable policy formulation, proactive intervention, effective policy implementation and people’s participation in the governance process.
  • Rural development aims at improving rural people’s livelihoods in an equitable and sustainable manner, both socially and environmentally, through better access to assets (natural, physical, human, technological and social capital) and services, and control over productive capital. 
  • Sustainable rural development refers to improving the quality of life for the rural poor by developing capacities that promote community participation, health and education, food security, environmental protection and sustainable economic growth thereby enabling community members to leave the cycle of poverty and achieve their full potential. Sustainable rural development is vital to the economic, social and environmental viability of nations. 
  • A healthy and dynamic agricultural sector is an important foundation of rural development, generating strong linkages to other economic sectors.

Government Empowerment Programmes for Rural Women:

  • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): 
  • BBBP, the flagship scheme, was launched initially to address the declining Child Sex Ratio but as it graduated, it broadened and took under its ambit other concerns such as strict enforcement of PC-PNDT Act [Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act], provisions to motivate higher education for girls and related issues of disempowerment of women on a lifecycle continuum. Since its inception in 2015, it has been independently growing widely in local domains as well.
  • All India expansion of BBBP to cover all 640 districts was launched by the Prime Minister on March 8, 2018 for deeper positive impact on CSR with an outlay of Rs. 1133 crore during 2017–18 to 2019–20 which will include multi sectoral intervention in 244 districts in addition to existing 161, where physical implementation of the scheme will happen while 235 districts will be covered through Alert District Media, Advocacy and Outreach.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMKVY): 

  • PMKVY is a maternity benefit programme that has been made a pan-India phenomenon since December 31, 2016. The beneficiaries would receive cash incentive of Rs.6000 during pregnancy and after institutional delivery. The scheme implementation guidelines, the software for its roll out i.e. PMMVY – CAS and its user manual were launched on September 1, 2017. Under PMKVY, Rs. 2016.37 crores to all 36 states/UTs had been sanctioned during 2017–18 with a release of Rs. 1991.72 crores.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana:

  • The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is an effective scheme to aid the poor section of Indian society. The programme is anticipated to be implemented over a period of three years till fiscal 2018-19. The intent of this scheme is to make cooking gas(LPG)available to women from families that are financially backward. 
  • It is estimated that the Ujjwala Yojana will assist approximately 1 crore 50 lakh households that presently live below the poverty line. The programme is also expected to cover five crore such households in all.

Main objectives of Ujjwala Yojana scheme:

  • Enhance the status of women and care for their health.
  • Help to decrease air pollution due to use of fossil fuel.
  • Lessening the serious health risks related with cooking based on fossil fuels.
  • Reducing the number of deaths due to unclean cooking fuels, which is almost 5 lakh every year in India. 
  • Preventing young children from acute respiratory illness caused due to indoor air pollution by burning the fossil fuels.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Antyodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM):

  • Aajeevika is a major project of the Ministry of Rural Development. It focuses on rural women and aims to achieve universal social mobilization by involving rural women. At least one woman member from each identified poor rural household, is to be brought under the Self Help Group (SHG) network in a time bound manner. NRLM has devised special strategies to reach out to all these vulnerable communities and help them graduate out of poverty.
  • There are other two important components of Aajeevika that are relevant for improvement of livelihoods of rural women. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) aims to skill rural youth who are poor and provide them with jobs having regular monthly wages or above the minimum wages.
  • It is one of the clusters of initiatives that ensure full social inclusion of the candidates by mandatory coverage of socially disadvantaged groups, where one-third of the persons covered should be women. Mahila KisanSashak tikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) is another component that aims to improve the present status of women in agriculture and enhance the opportunities for empowerment.

Rastriya Mahila Kosh (RMK):

  • Rastriya Mahila Kosh (RMK), of Ministry of Women and Child Development, extends micro-credit to the women in the informal sector through a client-friendly, collateral-free and a hassle-free manner for income generation activities. RMK has taken a number of promotional measures to popularise the concept of micro-financing, enterprise development, thrift and credit, formation and strengthening of women SHGs through intermediary organisations.
  • Education of credit management has been integrated with the provision of credit, along with literary and skill training for individual women and leadership training among groups for self management.

Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK): 

  • In order to support rural women and provide them with convergent support, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India approved a new scheme namely Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) as a sub-scheme under the Umbrella Scheme ‘Mission for Protection and Empowerment for Women’ for implementation during 2017–18 upto 2019–20 to empower rural women through community participation.
  • MSK Scheme is envisaged to provide an interface for rural women to approach the government for availing their entitled benefits and for empowering them through training and capacity building. Convergent support is being proposed for equal access to healthcare, quality education, career and vocational guidance, employment, health and safety, social security and digital literacy at Gram Panchayats level in selected districts/blocks across the country with a view to create an environment in which women realize their full potential. The scheme is committed to play an important role for empowerment of rural women especially in the most backward 115 districts of the country.
  • Community engagement through College Students Volunteers is envisioned in 115 most backward districts as part of the MSK Block level initiatives. Student volunteers will play an instrumental role in awareness generation regarding various important government schemes/programmes as well as social issues and association with NSS/NCC cadre students will also be an option. The scheme at the block level will provide an opportunity to Student Volunteers to participate in the development process by bringing change in their own communities and ensuring that women are not left behind and are equal partners in India’s progress. At the national, state, block level, websites/IT tools will be made available for monitoring and feedback. Web based/online feedback mechanism will be developed for submission of queries and grievance redressal.

National Repository of Information for Women (NARI): 

  • The Ministry of Women and Child Development has also prepared a portal namely National Repository of Information for Women (NARI) that will provide citizens easy access to information on government schemes and initiatives for women. Rural women can access these schemes on their own or with the help of various frontline workers associated with government schemes at the ground level. 
  • The portal summarises over 350 government schemes and other important information for the benefit of women, with more being added every day. The Portal also provides information to women on issues affecting their lives, for example, there are tips on good nutrition, suggestions for health check-ups, information on major diseases, tips for job search and interviews, investment and savings advice, information on crimes against women and reporting procedures, contacts of legal aid cells and much more. 
  • All the information on various schemes/programs relevant for women will be updated on a regular basis. This will be used by MSK staff to improve access and utilisation of government schemes by rural women at the ground level. 

National Nutrition Mission (NNM): 

  • To deal with the problem of malnutrition, government has set-up the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) with a budget of Rs. 9046 crore. 
  • The aim is to achieve an improvement in the nutritional status of children of 0–6 years and pregnant and lactating women in a time bound manner, during the three years beginning from 2017–18, with defined targets.
  • Some of them are to prevent and reduce stunting in children (0–6 years) by 6percent@ 2 percent p.a., prevent and reduce under-nutrition in children (0–6 years) by 6 per cent @ 2 per cent p.a., reduce the prevalence of Anaemia among young children (6–59 months) by 9 per cent @ 3 per cent p.a.; reduce the prevalence of Anaemia among women and adolescent girls in the age group of 15–49 years by 9 per cent @ 3 per cent p.a.; reduce low birth weight by 6 percent @ 2 per cent p.a.

Swadhar Greh scheme:

  • In 2015, Swadhar Greh scheme was launched to cater to primary needs of women in difficult circumstances. 
  • Women are provided with shelter, food, clothing, medical treatment and care are exclusively provided, meanwhile, legal guidance is also given to enable their readjustment in family/society. 
  • Rehabilitation for their emotional and economic state is rendered to enable them to start life afresh. 
  • Presently, 561 Swadhar Graeh are functioning in the country benefiting 17,291 women. In addition, a widow home with the capacity of1000 people has been constructed at Sunrakh Bangar, Vrindavan.

Mahila Police Volunteers:

  • Mahila Police Volunteers (MPVs) will prove to be an effective alternative against the local police for women. MPVs were launched in all States and UTs to serve as a public-police interface and facilitate women in distress. 
  • The MPVs report incidences of domestic violence, child marriage, dowry harassment, and violence faced by women in public spaces, initiated in 2016, the MPVs is operational in 5 states.

Mahila e-Haat:

  • Mahila e-Haat is an initiative to economically empower women through financial inclusion. The government launched a bilingual portal Mahila e-Haat, a direct online digital marketing platform for women entrepreneurs/SHGs/NGOs in March 2016. It received over 1450 lakh visitors.
  • Women entrepreneurs/SHGs/NGOs from 22 states showcased approximately 1800 products/services. It has 23000 registered SHGs with 3 lakh beneficiaries. In 6 months, women entrepreneurs/SHGs/NGOs have transacted business of over Rs. 20 lakh.

Empowering Elected Women Representative (EWRs): 

  • The Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched an extensive training programme with an objective of empowering Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) and help them assume the leadership roles expected of them and guide their villages for a more prosperous future. Past experience at the grassroots level has led to the realisation that capacity building of EWRs is critical to empower women to participate effectively in governance processes. An empowered EWR can ensure that the same can be translated among women in her community.

Conclusion:

  • The role of rural women outside the home has become an important feature of the social and economic life of the country and in the years to come it will become still more significant.
  • From this point of view, greater attention will have to be paid to the problems of training and development of rural women. The education of rural girls, therefore, should be emphasised not only on grounds of social justice, but also because it accelerates social transformation. 
  • In addition, the government programs promoting women education and skill development should be pursued more vigorously. It is a challenging task and it requires multipronged efforts. With a strong determination, commitment and involvement of people and organizations with philanthropic motive and a rational outlook, this problem can be solved and hurdles be overcome for promoting empowerment of rural women.
  • Thus, the road to inclusive development cannot be travelled without the health, education and empowerment of women who form almost 50 per cent of the Indian population. A multi-directional organised approach to their development is sure to take the country way beyond this path. And in India the forces are marching in the right direction to take the nation to new horizons.
     

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(GIST OF YOJANA) Covid India Seva -19  [May-2020]

(GIST OF YOJANA) Covid India Seva -19

 [May-2020]

Covid India Seva -19

  • Covid India Seva is an interactive platform amid the pandemic. This initiative is aimed at enabling transparent e-governance delivery in real-time and establishing a direct channel of communication with millions of Indians answering citizen queries swiftly, at scale, especially in crisis situations like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Through this, people can pose queries @CovidIndiaSeva and get them responded to in almost real time. It works on a dashboard at the backend that helps process large volumes of tweets, converts them into resolvable tickets, and assigns them to the relevant authority for real-time resolution. Trained experts will share public health information swiftly here at scale, helping to build a direct channel for communication with citizens.
  • The dedicated account is accessible to people be it local or national in their scope. Whether it is for latest updates on measures taken by the Government, learning about access to healthcare services or seeking guidance for someone who perhaps has symptoms but is unsure about where to turn to for help, @CovidIndiaSeva empowers the public to reach out to the authorities.
  • As these responses are transparent and public, everyone can benefit from the responses received around common queries. It is important to note that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will respond to broader queries and public health information. This does not require the public to share personal contact details or health record details.
  • Over the last three months, the Ministry has introduced several initiatives in the war against Corona- including as part of a strategic communication strategy. This includes focused travel and health advisories, various Guidelines/Standard Operating Procedures/Protocols for different stakeholders across the public and private sectors for the governments, hospitals, citizens, different healthcare workers, employees and various other knowledge resources. Different channels of communication spanning the print, electronic and social media have been deployed as part of a holistic awareness campaign. It is as a result of these collaborative efforts that today there is a widespread awareness regarding basic measures of social distancing, hand washing and respiratory etiquettes to be followed for avoiding the virus. This effort has also been successful in the participation of different sections of the community in the prevention and containment measures of the Government.

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THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 3 July 2020 The grain mountain (Indian Express)

The grain mountain (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2: Governance 
Prelims level: Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
Mains level: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes

Context: 

  • Rice and wheat stocks in government granaries stood at 73.85 million tonnes (mt) as on April 1, 3.5 times the normative operational-cum-strategic reserve requirement for this date. 
  • Two months later, with the procurement of the new wheat crop, these inventories rose further to an all-time-high of over 97 mt. 
  • Against this background, and on top of the widespread distress unleashed by the COVID-19, there is a strong moral as well as economic case for offloading the excess grain lying with the Food Corporation of India.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana:

  • That’s what is being done through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). 
  • Under the scheme, over 80 crore people were being provided 5 kg of free grain per month during April-June. 
  • It has now been extended for another five months till November. In all, it would amount to some 32 mt being given free of cost. 
  • Considering that this grain is going largely to poor or low-income households — and they are also the worst-affected by the current economic dislocations — the moral argument is self-evident.

Economic Costs:

  • As regards economics, it is true that the FCI incurs an average cost of Rs 37.27 on procuring, bagging, transporting, handling, storing and distributing every kg of rice, and Rs 26.84 for wheat. 
  • To the extent any grain is issued free of cost, there is an obvious economic loss. 
  • But these “economic cost” calculations do not factor in the buffer “carrying cost”, which is basically the interest and storage charges payable on the excess stocks held by the FCI. 
  • This carrying cost is estimated at Rs 5.40 per kg during 2020-21. 
  • On 32 mt, it will work out to Rs 17,280 crore. The more the excess grain that is offloaded, the more will be the savings on this count. 
  • From the FCI’s and the government’s subsidy standpoint, the issue price of grain should ideally be as close as possible to the economic cost. 
  • But that’s impossible, given the sheer quantum of excess stocks. 
  • PMGKAY, if anything, has provided an avenue for liquidation of this surplus rice and wheat.

 Maintaining optimum level:

  • There is no doubt that the FCI’s grain mountain has been the single most important reason for no significant incidence of starvation or food riots during the ongoing COVID pandemic.
  • But that does not still justify the magnitude of procurement — 39 mt of wheat and 50 mt-plus of rice from the 2019-20 crop — being undertaken by government agencies. 
  • The FCI’s problem of plenty will, indeed, remain even if the PMGKAY is extended beyond November. 
  • The existing regime of open-ended minimum support price-based procurement for paddy and wheat is financially and environmentally unsustainable. 
  • The government should maintain sufficient stocks of all essential foodstuffs — including pulses, edible oil, sugar, and milk powder — to deal with contingencies. 
  • But that doesn’t require even 60 mt in FCI godowns.

Conclusion:

Prelims Questions:

Q.1). With reference to the 'Atma Nirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rojgar Yojana', consider the following statements:

1. Atma Nirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rojgar Abhiyan is focused on generating employment for those migrant workers of Uttar Prdesh who recently returned from other states. 
2. Under the campaign, around 1.25 crore people will be provided employment in the state in different schemes of central and state government.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:

Q.1). What is Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana? Describe itssalient features? Also describe its significance and rationale behind extension for availing the scheme. 

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 3 July 2020 Reforming India’s digital policy(The Hindu)

Reforming India’s digital policy(The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:Governance 
Prelims level: Foreign direct investment
Mains level: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors

Context: 

  • Competition for foreign investment is intensifying, spurred on by national campaigns to shift supply chains and the urgent necessity to reverse recessionary trends. 
  • Foreign direct investment (FDI) is falling and the immediate picture for many countries is not looking pretty. 
  • The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development just released its latest World Investment Report and projected that FDI to developing Asian economies could drop by as much as 45%. 

Digital services:

  • One sector that is expected to buckthis trend is digital services. 
  • Now more than ever, it is clear that digital services have become critical to every 21st century economy. 
  • Quite literally, digital services are filling gaps when national or global emergencies interrupt more traditional modes of commerce. 
  • Digital services enable access to and delivery of a wide array of products across multiple sectors, from healthcare to retail distribution to financial services.
  • Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, investments in digital services continue to flow at record levels globally, outpacing investment in nearly every other sector. 
  • India is an ideal destination for increased FDI flows in the digital services sector.
  • India offers undeniable potential for innovative homegrown start-ups not least because of its huge and increasingly digitised population. 
  • However, Indian government policies will be key determinants in how quickly and at what level the Indian economy attracts new investment, fosters Indian innovation, and expands its exporting prowess. 

Three pending measures:

  • Currently, there are three pending reform measures under consideration that are likely to affect India’s growth trajectory in digital services for years to come. 
  • These are- Personal Data Protection Bill (PDPB), the e-commerce policy, and the Information Technology Act Amendments. 
  • Approaches in these regulatory reform efforts seem to emphasise a focus on protecting the domestic market for domestic companies and prioritising government access to data. 
  • It may be difficult to reconcile these approaches with India’s strong interest in promoting data privacy, protecting its democratic institutions, and encouraging FDI and India’s position as a global leader in information technology. 
  • Understandably, there is uncertainty about when these changes will be completed and implemented.
  • Also, the course of the India-U.S. trade relationship is uncertain, as signs of progress are continually interrupted by setbacks in the form of new restrictions. 

Bilateral Relationship:

  • The bilateral relationship is an important factor in realising the potential for greater trade and investment in digital services. 
  • The strategic relationship has been growing, reflecting how their historic ties have evolved over time. 
  • Where the relationship has lagged is with respect to trade. 
  • India and the U.S. are yet to conclude negotiation on a bilateral trade agreement that could address some digital services issues.
  • U.S. just initiated a “Section 301” review of whether digital services taxes in 10 countries constitute “unfair” trade measures, including India’s equalisation levy. 

Pertinent Questions:

  • As India resumes its efforts to put into place a new architecture for digital services and as it pursues opportunities to attract new investment, the government and stakeholders might consider the full range of implications for the long-term. 
  • How might new policies affect India’s ability to attract foreign investment? 
  • How might these policies promote innovation through increased competition and create an environment that is friendly towards homegrown start-ups? 
  • Ultimately, what policies can best advance the objective of becoming a $5 trillion economy?

 Conclusion:

  • India will be host of the G20 nations in 2022, and it appears clear that post-COVID-19 international cooperation and approaches to good governance in the digital sphere will be top-priority initiatives. 
  • The steps India takes now could well establish itself as a true global leader.
     

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1). With reference to the domestication of chicken, consider the following statements:

1. The DNA sequencing of 863 genomes has showed the first domestication of chicken occurred in southwestern China, northern Thailand and Myanmar.
2. The study also demonstrated that all five Red Jungle Fowl sub-species were genetically differentiated from each other approximately 50,000 years ago. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:

Q.1). Describe the key highlights of World Investment Report. How Personal Data Protection Bill (PDPB), the e-commerce policy, and the Information Technology Act Amendments are likely to affect India’s growth trajectory in digital services for years? And why good governance in the digital sphere is vital for India to compete at the global sphere

THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 3 July 2020 Promise and delivery: On India’s first COVID-19 vaccine(The Hindu)

Promise and delivery: On India’s first COVID-19 vaccine(The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:Health 
Prelims level: COVAXIN
Mains level: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context: 

  • India’s first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine (COVAXIN) developed by a Hyderabad-based company in collaboration with the ICMR is all set to be tested on humans. 
  • The permission from the Drugs Controller General of India to carry out phase-1 and phase-2 human clinical trials was based on the safety and efficacy results of studies on mice, rats and rabbits. 
  • The phase-1 trial of the candidate vaccine using inactivated (killed) novel coronavirus will begin this month to test its safety. 
  • The virus used for developing the vaccine was isolated by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology from samples collected in India. 
  • Meanwhile, a Pune-based company is all set to manufacture two-three million doses of the University of Oxford vaccine if the results of its phase-1 clinical trial are encouraging. 
  • Results will be expected in the first week of July.

Manufacturing:

  • Millions of doses more will be manufactured if the results of the combined phase-2/3 trial are reassuring. 
  • In addition, the two companies are collaborating with universities and a biotechnology company to develop three more vaccines. 
  • With the pandemic raging and no antivirals available to treat severe COVID-19 patients, a vaccine that is even partially effective and protects for about a year will be in demand. 
  • Thus, an indigenous vaccine will mean guaranteed availability for Indians, while a significant percentage of the Oxford vaccine manufactured in India will be earmarked for local consumption. 
  • This is one reason why many countries are earnestly attempting to develop a vaccine. 
  • According to WHO, 17 candidate vaccines are in various stages of a human clinical trial, while 132 are in a pre-clinical trial stage.

Bypassing:

  • On June 25, China’s CanSino Biologics COVID-19 vaccine, became the first off the block when it was approved for use by the military for a period of one year. 
  • The phase-1 and phase-2 trials found the vaccine to be safe with a “potential to protect” against the disease. 
  • It is unclear if the vaccination will be optional or mandatory. 
  • This is not the first time that countries have made vaccines under development available to the military even before the completion of the trial.
  • There is growing concern that speeding up vaccine development by bypassing certain crucial stages of the trial process may prove counterproductive. 
  • In a poll in the U.S., one-third have said they would not get immunised against COVID-19 even if a vaccine was widely available and affordable. 
  • While many expect science to find a quick-fix, experts envisage 12-18 months to get a vaccine commercialised, if at all. 
  • But that timeline is already seen as aggressive. 
  • If scientists develop a safe, efficacious vaccine soon, public trust in science could grow substantially but there would be serious consequences if it fails, particularly on the safety aspect. 
  • Regulatory agencies have a responsibility to ensure COVID-19 vaccines deliver what they promise. 

Conclusion:

Prelims Questions:

Q.1). With reference to the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, consider the following statements:

1. The Ordinance amends the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 as applicable to Cooperative Banks. 
2. The amendments also apply to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) or co-operative societies. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A

Mains Questions:

Q.1). What is Vaccine? How the vaccine is developed? How regulators can ensure that vaccine can be safe, efficacious?

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