POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFTAM)                                                       

2. India faces higher mortality from cardiovascular diseases                                     

ECONOMY

1. Cabinet approves Mechanism revision of ethanol price                                          

2. North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC)                                                                                                                                       

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Lignin from agro-waste helps make useful nanocomposites                                  

SECURITY

1. Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2019                                                                                        

2. Induction of AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopter                                                        

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFTAM)

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context :

• India has announced a contribution of 22 million US Dollars to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFTAM) for the 6th replenishment cycle (2020-22), an increase of 10% over the amount contributed by us in the 5th cycle.

More in the news:

• India stands firm to its long-standing partnership with the Global Fund and its commitment to eliminate AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria”.

• India was the first implementing country to host a replenishment milestone of the Global Fund and now has become first among G20, BRICS and implementer countries to announce the pledge for the 6th Replenishment Conference

• India has inched a step closer in this direction by stepping up the Global Fund efforts to strengthen health systems and save 16 million more lives across the globe.

• India shares a sustained partnership with the Global Fund since its formation, both as a recipient and as a donor.        

                                                                                                                              Source :- PIB

India faces higher mortality from cardiovascular diseases

GS PAPER  - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context :

• According to the  research papers published in the Lancet, the CVD mortality is highest in the Low-Income Countries (LIC) and lowest in the High-Income Countries (HIC).

• In India & the world, Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death. More people die annually from CVDs globally than from any other ailment.

Key findings of the study :

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of death across the world, but there are significant variations between rich and poor nations.

• While in high income countries, death from cancer is twice that of CVD, in low income countries, death from cardiac disease was three times that of cancer.

• Additionally, indoor or household air pollution has been identified as a key cause of CVD.

• The study establishes that though risk factors are lower in low income countries, factors such as

  • access to quality health care and

  • lack of insurance have a play, leading to the mortality.

  • Some of the factors like, hypertension and education have extensive global effects.

  • Household/Indoor air pollution acts as an emerging source of risk for cardiovascular disease in LIC.

  • Other factors include Poor Diet, consumption of dairy-products causing CVD cases, etc.

Way Forward :

• With better insurance and improving hospital standards, it is possible for LIC to head towards better outcomes.

• Researchers have established indoor air pollution as an emerging source of risk for cardiovascular disease in LIC and MIC. Concrete measures must be taken to modify this particular risk factor.

                                                                                                                      Source :- The Hindu

ECONOMY

Cabinet approves Mechanism revision of ethanol price

GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Context :

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for the following, including fixing higher ethanol price derived from different raw materials under the EBP Programme.

Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme (EBP Programme ) :

• Ethanol is an agro-based product, mainly produced from a by-product of the sugar industry, namely molasses. In years of surplus production of sugarcane, when prices are depressed, the sugar industry is unable to make timely payment of cane price to farmers.

• The Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) seeks to achieve a blending of Ethanol with motor spirit with a view to reducing pollution, conserve foreign exchange and increase value addition in the sugar industry enabling them to clear cane price arrears of farmers.

• Government has been implementing Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme wherein OMCs sell petrol blended with ethanol up to 10%.

• This programme has been extended to whole of India except Union Territories of Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands with effect from 01st April, 2019

  • to promote the use of alternative and environment friendly fuels.

• This intervention also seeks to reduce import dependence for energy requirements and give boost to agriculture sector.

• The procedure of procurement of ethanol under the EBP has been simplified to streamline the entire ethanol supply chain and remunerative ex-depot price of ethanol has been fixed.

• To facilitate achieving of new blending targets, a “grid” which networks distilleries to OMC depots and details quantities to be supplied has been worked out. State-wise demand profile has also been projected, keeping in view distances, capacities and other sectoral demands.

• The results have been quite encouraging, with supplies doubling every year.

                                                                                                                                                                  Source :- PIB

North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC)

GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Context :

• The Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (IC) will lay the foundation stone of North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC) Marketing complex in Guwahati, Assam

More in the news:

• The construction of Marketing Complex funded by North Eastern Council under its scheme for ‘Marketing support Agri-horti produce in NE region’.

• This Building will be developed as a ‘Green Building’.

  • The building will have the provisions for an Agri-Horti Retails Hub wherein all the farmers & entrepreneurs of North East will get a common platform to showcase and sell their products and produces.

• The proposed NERAMAC’s Office cum Marketing Complex shall also have the provisions for accommodating Agri – Horti related Government Departments under a single roof for better coordination and to provide single window facilitation centre to the farmers groups / Entrepreneurs to avail Schemes of Government. 

North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC)  :

• The NERAMAC Limited was incorporated in the year 1982 as a Government of India Enterprise and having its registered office at Guwahati and operating under the administrative control of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).

• NERAMAC is a pioneer marketing organization in the field of Agri-Horti sector of the North-eastern region, involved in supporting farmers right from the fields and upto the markets to the end consumers through registered FPO/FPCs.

• NERAMAC, when having its own infrastructure developed with all facilities, will not only attain its sustainability but it also strengthens for the larger operation which will directly or indirectly benefit the farmers of the region.

• NERAMAC is continuously making all efforts for the development of the farmers of the Northeastern region and double their income by the end of 2022.

                                                                                                                                                                Source :- PIB

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Lignin from agro-waste helps make useful nanocomposites

GS PAPER - 03 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Context :

• Researchers have developed a lignin-based nanocomposite from agriculture waste,

Lignin based Nanocomposite :

• The lignin-based nanomaterial could potentially have a commercial value.

• It can act as additive in coating and packaging materials.

Significance :

• The lignin-bimetallic nano complexes were found to exhibit excellent targeting of microbes by the mechanism of reactive oxygen species production and membrane disruption of microbial cells, revealing that nano-complexes were internalised in microbial cells

• converting agro-waste into value-added nanomaterials with antimicrobial properties, thereby not only reducing the pollution but trying to add to farmers’ income.

  • Burning of post-harvest biomass like straw is common practice among our farmers, which leads to severe environmental pollution.           

                                                                                                                 Source :- Down To Earth

SECURITY  

Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2019

GS PAPER - 03 SECURITY - Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Context :

• As part of the ongoing Indo-US defence cooperation, a joint military training, Exercise Yudh Abhyas – 2019 is being conducted at Joint Base Lewis Mc Chord, Washington, USA.

Exercise Yudh Abhyas :

• Exercise Yudh Abhyas is one of the largest joint running military training and defence corporation endeavors between India and USA.

• This will be the 15th edition of the joint exercise hosted alternately between the two countries.

• Exercise Yudh Abhyas will provide an opportunity to the armed forces of both countries to train in an integrated manner at Battalion level with joint planning at Brigade level.

• This would result in a higher degree of joint manship that would further facilitate interoperability between the armed forces of both countries to meet any unforeseen contingency across the globe.

• The exercise is also an ideal platform to learn from each other’s expertise and experiences of planning and execution of operations.

• Both armies will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well-developed operations for neutralization of threats of varied nature.

• ln, the end of a joint exercise will be undertaken by both countries in an operational setting under a UN mandate. Experts from both sides will hold expert academic and military discussions to share each other’s experiences on varied topics for mutual benefit.

                                                                                                                                                                  Source :- PIB

Induction of AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopter

GS PAPER - 03 SECURITY - Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Context :

• The IAF (Indian Air Force) formally inducted the AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopter into its inventory at Air Force Station Pathankot.

AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopter :

• Apaches have been an integral part of numerous historic campaigns worldwide. These aircraft have been modified specifically to suit the exacting standards demanded by IAF.

• IAF has signed a contract with ‘The Boeing Company’ and US Government for 22 Apache Attack Helicopters. The first eight helicopters have been delivered on schedule and the last batch of helicopters is to be delivered by March 2020.

• The helicopter is capable of delivering a variety of weapons which include air to ground Hellfire missiles, 70 mm Hydra rockets and air to air Stinger missiles.

• Apache also carries one 30 mm chain gun with 1200 rounds as part of area weapon subsystem.

• To add to the lethality of the helicopter, it carries fire control radar, which has a 360° coverage and nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems.

Significance of the induction :

• Apache attack helicopters are being purchased to replace the Mi-35 fleet.

• The addition of Apache Attack Helicopter is a significant step towards modernisation of Indian Air Force helicopter fleet.

• This procurement will enhance the capability of IAF in providing integrated combat aviation cover to the army strike corps.

• These tandem seating helicopters are day/night, all-weather capable and have high agility and survivability against battle damage. These are easily maintainable even in field conditions and are capable of prolonged operations in tropical and desert regions.

                                                                                                                    Source :- PIB

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