Current Affairs 2016 | Comprehensive News Analysis

Useful News Articles

A. GS1 Related

Nothing here for today folks!

B. GS2 Related

1. Key drivers for good health

Topic: Governance

Category: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Location: The Hindu Pg 10

Being_2816936g

Key points:

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aim to dramatically improve lives across the world by 2030.
The SDGs are mutually agreed upon goals and targets.
The SDGs will help countries frame their policies and strategies towards achieving them.
SDG 3, which aims to ensure good health for all, is a priority for India.

Need of the Hour

It is necessary to provide cost-effective solutions for diseases that affect India’s population.
The so-called “non-communicable diseases”, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and chronic lung diseases, are increasing rapidly. This is true of rural and tribal populations as well as of urban dwellers.
India needs to follow two paths simultaneously:

scale up the implementation of proven strategies and
enhance research to develop new technologies, drugs and innovative service delivery mechanisms.

We must continue to support and promote an environment conducive to research and innovation in our schools, colleges and academic centres.

Our strengths and recent initiatives

India’s first indigenous rotavirus vaccine, ‘ROTAVAC’, developed as a result of a public-private partnership, will help reduce the mortality due to severe diarrhoeal diseases in children caused by rotavirus.
The government’s Department of Health Research (DHR) and ICMR have piloted several innovations.
Some of these innovations include- shorter, more effective treatment regimens for leprosy and lymphatic filariasis, m-health technology for malaria management, and community-based interventions to reduce the burden of hypertension and diabetes.
Indigenous diagnostic kits have been developed for improved diagnosis of dengue fever, tuberculosis (TB), food-borne pathogens and kala-azar and a portable, efficient and low-cost device to detect cervical cancer.

The Way Forward

Public health research is a long-term investment.
It is important to realise that trial and error is part of the process of improving our understanding of diseases.
We must continue to support and motivate researchers by rewarding curiosity, originality and innovation.
Financial incentives, as tax credits and tax deductions, are also necessary to nurture research and encourage a culture of innovation.
It is most important that we work towards developing the next generation of researchers who work in the field of science to provide solution for public health issues that affect the world.

Tags: Department of Health Research (DHR), ICMR, ROTAVAC

2. India, U.S. to conclude pact on aircraft carrier cooperation

Topic: International Relations

Category: Bilateralagreements involving India

Location: The Hindu Pg 12

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Key points:

India and the U.S. are close to finalising an Information Exchange Agreement (IEA) on aircraft carrier technologies, as well as cooperation on air wing operations for carrier Vikrant under construction at Kochi.
Once the IEA is in place, a case will be put under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme of the U.S. government under which the Electro Magnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) technology will be sold to India, if the Indian Navy decides to buy it.
India and the U.S. agreed to cooperate on aircraft carrier technologies as part of six “path-finder” projects under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative.
The US Navy has also offered courses related to carrier operations to Indian navy personnel at their Defence Acquisition University. The Indian side is currently reviewing the course catalogue and a decision is expected shortly.

Tags: Information Exchange Agreemen4”t (IEA), Defence Technology and Trade Initiative

3. Rudd discounts India’s chances of making it to Security Council

Topic: International Relations

Category: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Location: The Hindu Pg 13

Key points:

Former Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd believes that India’s chances of a U.N. Security Council (UNSC) membership are not looking too bright at present.
He believes that India should pursue the membership of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group instead.
Rudd believes that India’s chances might have been hampered because of India’s decision to pursue the UNSC seat as part of the “G-4” grouping.
This “G-4” grouping includes Japan, Germany and Brazil.
According to Mr. Rudd, the chief opposition to India being accepted in trade groupings was from the U.S., which, he said, demanded more reforms from India and free trade commitments.

Tags: U.N. Security Council,Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

C. GS3 Related

Nothing here for today folks!

D. GS4 Related

Nothing here for today folks!

E. Important Editorials: A Quick Glance

The Hindu

Others:

Indian Express:

1. Pranab Cautions Judges Against Judicial Activism

Topic: Constitutional Organs

Category: Judicial Activism

Location: Indian Express, Page 6

Key points:

President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday cautioned judges against the perils of “judicial activism”. Self-restraint can be observed by the judges.
Constitution is supreme.
Judicial activism should not lead to the dilution of separation of powers, which is a constitutional scheme. The balance of power between the three organs of the state is enshrined in our Constitution.
Independence and integrity of the judiciary is of the highest importance.
Credited Courts for bringing justice closer to common people by diluting Locus Standi principle and by maintaining that material like a newspaper article or postcard written by a citizen is enough to set off judicial action.
Efforts to ensure legal literacy and to instill positive values in our young lawyers required.

Tags: Locus Standi, Judicial activism

2. Made in China: an ‘Artificial Sun’

Topic: Science And Technology

Category: Renewable Energy sources

Location: Indian Express , Page 16

Key points:

In nuclear physics, nuclear fusion is a nuclear reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei come very close and then collide at a very high speed and join to form a new nucleus.
During this process, matter is not conserved because some of the matter of the fusing nuclei is converted to energy.

Hurdles:

Energy barrier needed to overcome for reaction to happen.
Cost
Safety

Process Achieved:

Scientist at the institute produced Hydrogen three times hotter than the core of the sun. They did this inside the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST)- Also known as the artificial Sun.

Tags: Nuclear Fusion, Atomic Nuclei

The Hindu Business Line:

3. TCS certified as top employer in US for 2nd consecutive year

Topic: Economics

Category: Labour Market

Location: The Hindu BusinessLine, page 1

Key points:

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been recognized as a top employer in the United Statesfor a second consecutive year by the Top Employers Institute, an employer certification independent agency.

Nine categories considered—

talent strategy
workforce planning
on-boarding
learning & development
performance management
leadership development
career and succession management
compensation and benefits

Tags: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:

Information Exchange Agreement (IEA),
Defence Technology and Trade Initiative
Department of Health Research (DHR)
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
U.N. Security Council
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

G. Fun with Practice Questions 🙂

Question 1: Consider the following statements regarding the ‘United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’,

The UNSC currently has five permanent members: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The UNSC also has ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) Both 1 and 2

c) 2 only

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question 2:Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation’,

APEC operates as a cooperative, multilateral economic and trade forum.Commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis, and there are no binding commitments or treaty obligations.
India is a member of the ‘Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation’.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a)1 only

b)Both 1 and 2

c)2 only

d)Neither 1 nor 2

Question 3:Consider the following statements regarding ‘ROTAVAC’,?

‘ROTAVAC’ is India’s first indigenous rotavirus vaccine.
It has been developed as a result of a public-private partnership.
The vaccine is aimed at helping reduce mortality due to severe diarrhoeal diseases in children caused by rotavirus.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a)1 and 2 Only

b)All, 1, 2 and 3

c)2 Only

d)2 and 3 Only

Question 4:Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Indian Council of Medical Research’,

The ICMR was originally setup in 1911 as Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) with the specific objective of sponsoring and coordinating medical research in the country.
The ICMR promotes biomedical research in the country through intramural as well as extramural research.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a)1 Only

b)Both 1 and 2

c)2 only

d)Neither 1 nor 2

Question 5:Consider the following statements regarding ‘Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP)’,

RNTCP uses the WHO recommended Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) strategy.
The National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2012 -2017involved extending the reach of RNTCP services to all people diagnosed with TB, including those with drug resistant TB, and those seeking treatment in the private sector.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only

b) Both 1 and 2

c) 2 only

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Check Your Answers

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