Ravi Development
authority to be announced.
Pak. P.M Imran
Khan is going to inaugurate the Ravi Development Authority project in Lahore to
overcome the problems of congested traffic, water and environment in Lahore
city.
During the
visit, PM Imran is also expected to chair meetings of National Coordination
Committee on Housing, Construction and Development, and on education reforms in
Punjab.
Most modern city.
According to a
statement, Punjab C.M had given the green signal to establish “River Ravi Front
Authority” for developing a “most modern city” in the north of Lahore.
The provincial
government will promulgate an ordinance for the establishment of this authority
with the chief minister as its chairman.
The authority
would work to develop the new city over an area of more than one 100,000 acres.
It is expected that Rs5 trillion would be invested by the private sector to
develop the city.
A large lake and free barrages will also be built in the new city.
Serum Institute of
India, Novavax in covid vaccine deal, may produce 100 crore doses.
Pune-based Serum
Institute of India and US-based Novavax have announced an agreement for the
development and commercialization of Novavax’ COVID‑19 vaccine candidate in
India and other low- and middle-income countries. The agreement is expected to
support minimum of 1 billion doses of NVX-CoV2373 for India and low- and
middle-income countries, Novavax said.
This agreement
excludes major upper-middle and high-income countries, for which Novavax
continues to retain rights.
world’s largest
vaccine manufacturer in terms of doses delivered, Serum Institute is the ideal
partner to advance NVX‑CoV2373 throughout India and the low- and middle-income
countries. This partnership continues to build on our companies’ collaborative
history."
According to the
agreement, for low- and middle-income countries, Novavax and Serum Institute
are partnering on clinical development, co-formulation, filling and finishing
and commercialization of Novavax's covid vaccine. Serum Institute will be
responsible for regulatory submissions and marketing authorizations. Novavax
will provide to Serum Institute both vaccine antigen and Matrix‑M adjuvant.
The companies
are in discussions to have Serum Institute manufacture vaccine antigen in
India. Novavax and Serum Institute will split the revenue from the sale of
product, net of agreed costs.
Serum Institute
has also partnered with Oxford University-Astra Zeneca for manufacturing covid
vaccine in India. Recently, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has
given approval to Serum
Institute of
India, Pune to conduct Phase II+III clinical trials of Oxford University-Astra
Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine (COVISHIELD) in India.
Delhi government
launches electric vehicle policy, announces incentives of up to ₹1.5 lakh.
The Arvind
Kejriwal government in Delhi on Friday launched the Electric Vehicle Policy for
the national capital under which the AAP government will waive registration
fee, road tax, and provide an incentive of up to ₹1.5 lakh for new cars.
➡This
policy will help govt. to generate employment and will give a boost to Delhi's
economy and reduce pollution levels in Indian capital.
➡Delhi CM termed the new EV policy as "progressive" and said the policy also aims to constitute 25% electric vehicles by 2024, which is currently just 0.29% in the in the national capital.
➡Delhi
Govt will provide financial assistance to those buying electric vehicles under
Electric Vehicle Policy. ➡Financial assistance of Rs 30,000 will
be given on the purchase of 2-wheelers, Rs 1.5 lakh on cars & Rs 30,000 on
auto-rickshaws & e-rickshaws.
➡The
Delhi government is also going to provide low-interest loan on electric
commercial vehicles
➡Establishment
of an 'EV Cell' to implement the Electric Vehicle Policy in the national
capital and it is expected that 5 lakh new electric vehicles will be registered
in next five years.
➡
200 charging stations will be set up in a year to ensure that people driving
these vehicles can get a charging station within the radius of three
kilometers.
➡Youth
will be trained so that they get jobs as electric vehicle sector will need them
at a large scale after the implementation of this policy.
There was
already the Centre's scheme on electric vehicles called 'Fame India Phase-2',
under which the Union government also provides some incentives. And the Delhi
government scheme will be an addition to the Centre's scheme and people can
also avail benefits under both the schemes.
Trump passes executive
order on procuring essential drugs from US firms.
The US
commissioner of food and drugs has been directed to create a list of
medicines,medical countermeasures, and critical inputs that are essential for
public health in America based on which every US agency involved in the
procurement of medicines "will consider using its authority to limit
competition in government procurement of these essential items to American
manufacturers.
In potential
trouble for Indian pharmaceutical companies, US President Donal Trump on
Thursday passed an executive order to ensure that the world’s largest market
procures 'essential medicines' from domestic production and reduces dependence
on imports.
The executive
order, part of Trump’s ‘buy American’ plan, comes on the back of the covid-19
pandemic that originated in China, leading to a severe disruption in supply
chains of pharmaceuticals, among other things. Trump had highlighted this in
his speech at Whirlpool Corporation’s manufacturing plant in Ohio, US, on
Thursday.
To support the
production of advanced pharmaceutical ingredients and essential medicines in
America, the order also directs agencies to prioritize permitting and approvals
for domestic manufacturers.
The move could potentially be disruptive for Indian drugmakers like Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Lupin and Cipla, for whom the US is either the largest or second-largest market.
Australian Citizenship
Out of the over
200,000 people who became Australian citizens in 2019-2020, 38,209 were
Indians, the Highest Number on Record.
Australia:
• Australia
comprises of mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous
smaller islands.
• It is the
largest country in Oceania and the world’s sixth-largest country by total area.
• Canberra is
the capital and Sydney is the largest city. Other major cities are Melbourne,
Brisbane, Perth,
and Adelaide. A megadiverse country, its size gives it a wide variety of landscapes,
with deserts in the centre, tropical rainforests in the north-east, and
mountain ranges in the south-east. Australia is a highly developed country,
with the world’s 14th- largest economy. It has a high-income economy, with the
world’s tenth-highest per capita income. Natural Resources found in Australia
include alumina, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, rare earth
elements, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum. Australia is the world’s largest
net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports
• Australia is a
member of the United Nations, G20, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation
for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Trade
Organization,
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Pacific Islands Forum, and the ASEAN Plus Six
mechanism.
Khadi agarbati
Aatmanirbhar Mission.
Minister for
MSME approves the Khadi Agarbatti Aatmanirbhar Mission.
Khadi Agarbatti Aatmanirbhar
Mission:
• This is an
employment generation programme proposed by the Khadi and Village Industries
Commission (KVIC).
• The idea is to
make India Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) in Agarbatti Production.
bjective of the Mission:
✓
The mission aims at creating employment for unemployed and migrant workers in different
parts of the country while increasing domestic Agarbatti production substantially.
The scheme will operate on a PPP model.
• Under the
scheme, KVIC will provide Automatic Agarbatti making machines and powder mixing
machines to the artisans through successful private Agarbatti manufacturers who
will sign the agreement as business partners.
• KVIC has
decided to procure only locally made machines by Indian manufacturers which also
aims at encouraging local production.
• KVIC will
provide a 25% subsidy on the cost of the machines and will recover the remaining
75% of the cost from the artisans in easy installments every month.
• The business
partner will provide the raw material to the artisans for making Agarbatti and
will pay them wages on a job work basis.
• The cost of
artisans’ training will be shared between KVIC and the private business partner
wherein KVIC will bear 75% of the cost while 25% will be paid by the business
partner.
• Each automatic
Agarbatti making machine makes approximately 80 kg Agarbatti per day which will
provide direct employment to 4 persons. One powder mixing machine, to be given
on a set on 5 Agarbatti making machines, will provide employment to 2 persons.
• The supply of
raw material to the artisans, logistics, quality control and marketing of the final
product will be the sole responsibility of the business partner.
• The programme
aims at handholding artisans and supporting the local Agarbatti industry.
The current
consumption of Agarbatti in the country is approximately 1490 MT per day; however,
India’s per day production of Agarbatti is just 760 MT. There is a huge gap between
the demand and the supply and hence, immense scope for job creation.
Aspirin nanorods to
prevent Cataract.
Context:
• The scientists
from the Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST) have recently developed
nanorods from the Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Aspirin to prevent
cataracts in an economical and less complicated way.
• INST is an
autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Government
of India.
About Cataract:
• It is a major
form of blindness that occurs when the structure of crystallin proteins that make
up the lens in human eyes deteriorates.
• It causes damaged or disorganised proteins to aggregate and form a milky blue or brown layer, which ultimately affects lens transparency.
• As with aging
and under various conditions, the lens protein crystallin aggregates to form opaque
structures in the eye lens, which impairs vision and causes cataract.
• The prevention
of the formation of these aggregates as well as their destruction in the early stage
of disease progression is a major treatment strategy for cataracts.
About Aspirin:
• Aspirin is a
popular medication used to reduce pain, fever, or inflammation and now it has been
found to be an effective non–invasive small molecule-based nanotherapeutics
against cataract. The scientists have used the anti-aggregation ability of
self-build aspirin nanorods as an effective non –invasive small molecule-based
nanotherapeutics against cataract.
• It prevents
the protein aggregation through biomolecular interactions, which convert it into
coils and helices and consequently fail to aggregate.
Significance:
• The Aspirin
nanorods due to their nano-size are expected to enhance bioavailability, improve
drug loading, lower toxicity, etc. The delivery of the aspirin nanorods as eye
drops is going to serve as an effective and viable option to treat cataract
non-invasively.
• It is easy to
use and a low-cost alternative nonsurgical treatment method and will benefit patients
in developing countries who cannot access expensive cataract treatments and surgeries.
Prevention of cataract
• INST scientists
develop simple economical nonsurgical prevention of cataracts.
Cataract:
• A cataract is
a dense, cloudy area that forms in the lens of the eye.
• A cataract
begins when proteins in the eye form clumps that prevent the lens from sending clear
images to the retina. The retina works by converting the light that comes
through the lens into signals.
A cataract is a
form of blindness that occurs when the structure of crystallin proteins that make
up the lens in our eyes deteriorates, causing damaged or disorganised proteins
to aggregate and form a milky blue or brown layer, which ultimately affects
lens transparency.
• Thus,
prevention of the formation of these aggregates as well as their destruction in
the early stage of disease progression is a major treatment strategy for
cataracts.
Study:
• A team of scientists from the Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST), an autonomous institute under the DST, has developed nanorods from the nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drug
(NSAID) Aspirin
and found it to be an effective non-invasive small molecule-based nanotherapeutics
against cataract.
• The team has
used the anti-aggregation ability of self-build aspirin nanorods for this purpose.
• Aspirin
nanorods prevent the aggregation of crystallin protein and various peptides derived
from its fragmentation, which play a crucial role in cataract formation.
• These were
found to prevent cataract formation by inhibiting aggregation of crystallin,
and crystallin derived peptide aggregates.
• The targeted
disaggregation of the accumulated alpha-crystallin protein and crystallin derived
peptide aggregates in aged and cataractous human lenses are considered as a viable
therapeutic strategy for the prevention of cataract formation.
• The aspirin nanorods
are produced using the process of molecular self-assembly, which is a low cost
and high-yield technique to generate the aspirin nanorods as compared to the high
cost and laborious physical methods generally used for the synthesis of
nanoparticles.
Coin in Honour of
Mahatma Gandhi
• Recently,
Britain is considering minting a coin to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi.
Highlights:
• It is seen as
part of efforts to celebrate achievements of people from the Black, Asian and other
Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.
• The British
Finance Minister has written a letter to the Royal Mint Advisory Committee
(RMAC), to
consider recognising the contribution of BAME communities on Britain's coinage.
• The RMAC is an
independent committee made up of experts who recommend themes and designs for
coins. It supports a campaign called ‘We Too Built Britain’, which seeks representation
of non-white icons on British currency.
• The murder of
a Black man, George Floyd, in the United States due to police butuality has led
to Black Lives Matter protests against racism, colonialism and police brutality
across the globe.
• Triggered by
the death of George Floyd, some British institutions began re-examining their past,
which includes their History, Colonialism and Racism.
About Black
Lives Matter Protest:
• It is a global movement advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against African-American people. Its mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.
• The movement
was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s (African-American)
murderer in the USA.
SKOCH Gold Award.
Ministry of
Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has received the SKOCH Gold Award for its Empowerment of
Tribals through IT-enabled Scholarship Schemes project.
• Under the
project, MoTA has integrated all 5 Scholarship Schemes with Direct Benefit Transfer
(DBT) Portal under the DBT Mission.
SKOCH Award:
• Skoch Award
instituted in 2003.
• It is the
highest civilian honour in the country conferred by an independent
organisation.
• The awards
recognise leadership and excellence in accelerating socio -economic changes.
• Conferred to
people, projects and institutions.
• Awardees are
selected based on the nomination, jury evaluation, presentation of shortlisted
nominees, focus group discussions, interactions and peer evaluation.
• The 66th SKOCH
2020 Competition was entitled India Responds to COVID Through Digital
Governance.
Programmes launched
under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana
Recently, the
Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) approved a programme for
the benefit of artisans involved in the manufacturing of Agarbatti and to
develop village industry under ‘Gramodyog Vikas Yojana’.
Highlights:
• As per the
programme, initially, four Pilot Projects will be started, including one in the
North Eastern part of the country.
• Each targeted
cluster of artisans will be supported with about 50 Automatic Agarbatti making
machines and 10 Mixing machines. Accordingly, a total of 200 Automatic
Agarbatti making machines and 40 Mixing machines will be provided to the artisans.
Role of KVIC:
• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), one of the statutory organizations, working under the MSME, will provide training, and assist artisans working in this area, with Agarbatti manufacturing machines.
• KVIC will
tie-up with Khadi institutions / Agarbatti manufacturers in the country, having
a good track record, to provide work and raw material to ‘Agarbatti making
artisans.
Expected Benefits:
• Act as a
catalyst in reviving Agarbatti manufacturing in the villages and small towns.
• Generate a
minimum of about 500 additional jobs.
• Boost domestic
Agarbatti Industry.
• Reduce imports
of Agarbatti.
Gramodyog Vikas
Yojana:
• Along with
Khadi Vikas Yojana, Gramodyog Vikas Yojana are the two umbrella schemes of
formed after merging of 8 different schemes of Khadi & Village Industries.
• Gramodyog
Vikas Yojana aims to promote and develop the village industries through common
Facilities, Technological Modernization, Training etc.
Components of Gramodyog Vikas
Yojana:
• Research &
Development and Product Innovation: R&D support would be given to the
institutions that intend to carry product development, new innovations, design
development, product diversification processes etc.
• Activities of
Existing Dedicated Verticals of Village Industries: This includes Agro-Based
& Food Processing Industry, Mineral-Based Industry, Handmade Paper, Leather
& Plastic Industry among others.
• Capacity
Building: Under the Human Resource Development and Skill Training components,
exclusive capacity building of staff as well as the artisans.
• Marketing
& Publicity: The village institutions will be provided market support by
way of preparation of product catalogue, Industry directory, market research,
new marketing techniques, buyer-seller meet, arranging exhibitions etc.
Agatti Island.
The southern
bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently granted an interim stay
on felling of coconut trees on Agatti Island in Lakshadweep.
Highlights:
• The petition was moved in the NGT over indiscriminate cutting of coconut trees for a Beach Road.
• The
tree-felling was violating the Union Territory’s (UT) Integrated Island
Management Plan (IIMP), which was formulated on the basis of a report submitted
by the Supreme Court-appointed Expert Committee, headed by Justice R.V.
Raveendran, a former judge of the SC.
The IIMP
includes holistic island development plans prepared by the National Centre for
Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) for implementation by coastal States/
UTs.
• It undertakes
scientific approaches, coupled with indigenous knowledge for the better
management of the islands and its resources.
• Due to the
large scale cutting of the coconut trees, local residents are affected by
losing income from the tree produces.
• It also poses
an environmental challenge because the trees on the coastline act as a green
belt to protect the rest of the island during cyclones and other natural
calamities.
About Agatti Island:
• It is at a
distance of 459 km (248 nautical miles) from Kochi (Kerala) and is located to
the west of Kavaratti Island. The Kavaratti is the capital of the UT of
Lakshadweep.
• It has an area
of 3.84 sq km and has a north-east, south-west trend with a long tail on the
south.
• The lagoon
area of this island is 17.50 sq km and there is plenty of coral growth and
multicoloured coral fishes in the lagoons.
• The Fishing is
the most important industry of Agatti which is perhaps the only island besides
Minicoy getting surplus fish. The coir (coconut fibre) and copra (dried meat or
kernel of the coconut) are the Main Industries.
Cut Gratuity Period to
One Year, says Panel.
Parliamentary
Committee on Labour has, in its latest report, recommended that the eligibility
period for gratuity payable to an employee on termination of his employment
should be reduced to one year from the present provision of Five Years.
What is Gratuity?
• Gratuity is
the monetary benefit provided by the employer to his/her employee for the
services rendered by him during the period of employment.
• A minimum of
five years of service with an organisation is mandatory for availing the
benefit of Gratuity.
About the
Payment of Gratuity Act 1972:
• The Payment of Gratuity Act 1972 makes it mandatory for the employers to pay their employees gratuity at the time of quitting, provided certain conditions were met.
• An
organisation comes under the purview of the Payment of Gratuity Act 1972 if it
has 10 or more employees on any single day in the preceding 12 months.
• The Payment of
Gratuity Act follows the rule of ‘Once Covered, Always Covered’ which implies
that that once an organisation comes under the Act, it will always remain
covered even if the number of employees falls below 10.
• The Ministry
of Finance has now enhanced the income tax exemption for gratuity under Section
10 (10) (iii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to Rs 20 lakhs.
What did the Panel Recommended?
• Keeping in
view the nature of India’s Labour Market where most employees are employed for
a short duration period only, making them ineligible for gratuity as per extant
norms, the Committee desires that the time limit of five years as provided for
in the Code for payment of gratuity be reduced to continuous service of One
Year.
• It has further
recommended that this facility be extended to all kinds of employees, including
contract labourers, seasonal workers, piece rate workers and fixed term
employees and daily/monthly wage workers.
The committee
has stressed that there should be a robust redressal mechanism in case an employer
does not pay up the dues.
• The panel has
recommended that the Social Security Code should have provisions to hold the
employer liable for payment of gratuity to the employees within a stipulated
time frame.
• There should
not be any leniency, as strong deterrent provisions would reduce wilful default
and delinquent negligence on the part of employers in timely payment of
gratuity to the needy and Deserving Employees.
What are the other
Recommendations?
• On similar
lines, the Committee also flagged the concern that the threshold limit of 20 or
more employees for EPFO registration can be used by the employers to exclude
themselves from EPFO coverage.
• The Committee
desires that possibilities be explored to make the EPF Act applicable to all
the workers, including self-employed.
• The panel has recommended that the social security code should empower the Central government to reduce the employee’s contribution to EPF in exceptional circumstances like disasters in terms of the Disaster Management Act, including pandemics, because this would enable the Government to provide relief to the affected persons in COVID-19 like pandemics.
Why it is Significant?
• The Committee
made this recommendation in its report on Social Security Code, which has been
evolved subsuming nine Central Labour laws.
• This comes in
the wake of extensive retrenchment in all sectors in COVID-19 pandemic-Induced
Economic Slowdown.
