Research on Ayurveda and Herbal Medicines

• The Ministry of AYUSH has setup Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) for undertaking coordinating formulating, developing and promoting research on scientific lines in Ayurveda.
• The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) is an autonomous body of the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), Government of India. It is an apex body in India for the formulation, coordination, development and promotion of research on scientific lines in Ayurveda and Sowa-Rigpa system of medicine.

What are the activities?

• The research activities of the council include medicinal plant research (Medico-ethno botanical survey, pharmacognosy and tissue culture), Drug Standardization Pharmacological Research, Clinical Research, Literary Research & Documentation, and other outreach activities

Vision

• “To strive for excellence and global leadership in the field of Ayurveda by comprehensive research for quality assured and cost effective products to prevent/ manage/ cure various disease”.

The objectives for which the Central Council is established are:

• The formulation of aims and patterns of research on scientific lines in Ayurvedic Sciences.
• To undertake any research or other programmes in Ayurvedic Sciences.
• The prosecution of and assistance in research, the propagation of knowledge and experimental measures generally in connection with the causation, mode of spread and prevention of diseases.
• To initiate, aid, develop and co-ordinate scientific research in different aspects, fundamental and applied of Ayurvedic Sciences and to promote and assist institutions of research for the study of diseases, their prevention, causation and remedy.

National Programme on use of Space Technology for Agriculture (NPSTA)

• It is envisaging integrated use of Space and Geospatial Tools for Mapping, Monitoring and Management of Agriculture.
• The programme will have four sub-programmes catering to various themes viz.
  • Crop Assessment & Monitoring;
  • Agricultural Resources Management;
  • Disaster Monitoring
  • Mitigation and Satellite Communication and Navigation Applications.
• All the current running programmes, such as FASAL (for crop forecasting), NADAMS (for drought assessment), CHAMAN (for horticultural assessment and development), KISAN (for crop insurance) and Crop Intensification planning, will be subsumed under this proposed programmes.
• In order to increase the availability of certified/quality seeds to the farmers locally, the Government has proposed to set up 500 numbers of seed production and seed processing units at Gram Panchayat Level.

HAMESHA VIJAYEE

• In a significant show of strength, formations of Southern Command are conducting a major exercise called ‘HAMESHA VIJAYEE’ in the deserts of Rajasthan to evaluate the capability of the armed forces to strike deep into enemy territory in an integrated air-land battle.

Details

• Unique in scope and scale, the exercise being conducted in battle like conditions, aims at fine tuning surveillance and destruction mechanisms to support precision strikes and manoeuvres by network enabled forces.
• With emphasis on joint operations, the exercise would test robust sensor to shooter grids by employing a vast array of surveillance and air assets networked with land based strategic and tactical vectors.
• Besides conventional warfare, troops will also be rehearsed to operate in the back drop of chemical and nuclear contingencies.
• The exercise showcasing a high degree of synergy between the Army and Air Force along with new generation aviation assets of the army will be reviewed by a large number of senior officers of both the Services to obtain inputs for further refinement of operational procedures.
• The Southern Command undertakes such exercises at regular intervals to ensure a high degree of battle readiness as well as validation of operational plans using modern weapons and equipment.

Reforms in Agriculture Sector by Niti Aayog

• The Government is aware of the roadmap outlined by NITI Aayog for reforms in agriculture sector and doubling farmers income by 2022.
• The Roadmap presents a quantitative framework for doubling farmers’ income which has identified seven sources of growth.
  • increase in productivity of crops.
  • increase in production of livestock.
  • improvement in efficiency of input use (cost saving).
  • increase in crop intensity.
  • diversification towards high value crops.
  • improved price realization by farmers.
  • shift of cultivators to non-farm jobs.

Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana

• Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely, Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojna (BJRCY), Central assistance is provided to the implementing agencies viz. State Governments/UT Administrations/ Central and State Universities/ Non-Governmental Organisations/Deemed Universities in private sector, for construction of fresh hostels/expansion of existing hostel facilities for Scheduled Castes students.
• Maintenance of the hostels would be the responsibility of the concerned implementing agencies.
• Under the revised scheme, a Monitoring Committee is proposed to be constituted to review its implementation.
• The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is entrusted with the task of educational, economic and social empowerment of Scheduled Castes.

Details

• Under this component, residential schools for SC girls are proposed to be set up for class VI to XII students in the educationally backward districts of States having large SC population.
• The State Governments will provide adequate land free of cost for construction of school complex mandatorily.
• The Central Government will provide capital cost for construction of school complex and eligible recurring cost for the first three years.
• In addition, one-time grant for procurement of essential and non-recurring items like furniture, recreation, garden, etc. is proposed to be provided by the Central Government.

Welfare Schemes for Economically Backward Classes

• The Government is implementing following Schemes for Economically Backward Classes (EBCs):-
• Ambedkar Central Sector Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Economically Backward Classes (EBCs).
  • The objective of the scheme is to award interest subsidy to meritorious OBC and EBC students so as to provide them better opportunities for higher education abroad and enhance their employability.
  • To be eligible under the scheme, a student should come under the income ceiling of Rs. 3.00 lakh per annum for OBCs and for EBCs it is Rs 1.00 lakh per annum.
  • 50 % of the outlay every year is earmarked for Girl students.
  • The students should have secured admission in the approved courses at Masters, M.Phil or Ph.D levels abroad.
• Ambedkar Centrally Sponsored Post-Matric Scholarship for the Economically Backward Classes (EBC) Students.
  • This is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme being implemented through the State Government and Union Territories w.e.f. 2014-15.
  • The objective of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the EBC students studying at post-matriculation or post-secondary stage.
  • The income ceiling of parents/guardians for eligibility is Rs.1.00 lakh per annum (including self-income, if employed).
  • The Scheme is a “Funds-Limited” Scheme. The funds will be released to the States on first-come first-served basis, subject to a maximum amount to be worked out every year based on total budget made available that year, under the scheme.

De-Addiction camps under “Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse”

• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment implements a “Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse”.
• The Scheme has the provision of financial assistance to Non-Governmental Organisations, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies etc. for, inter-alia, running and maintenance of Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCAs) and to provide composite/ integrated services for the rehabilitation of the addicts.
• These IRCAs are responsible for Preventive Education and Awareness Generation programmes in their neighborhood, educational institutions, workplace and slums with the purpose of sensitizing the community about the impact of addiction and the need to take professional help for treatment.

Statistics

• The last National Survey on the extent, pattern and trend of drug abuse was sponsored by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in the year 2000-2001 and its report was published in 2004.
• It was estimated that about 732 lakh persons in India were users of alcohol and drugs.
• Of these 87 lakh used Cannabis, 20 lakh used opiates and 625 lakh were users of Alcohol.
• However, the sample size being small (40,697 males within the age group of 12-16 years both in rural and urban areas) vis-à-vis the country’s population, the estimates can at best be taken as indicative only.

Namami Gange Programme

• It integrates the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga River in a comprehensive manner. Among other things, the programme will focus on pollution abatement interventions namely Interception, diversion & treatment of wastewater flowing through the open drains through bio-remediation / appropriate in-situ treatment / use of innovative technologies.

• The program has a budget outlay of Rs. 20,000 crore for the next 5 years.
• Under this programme, the focus of the Government is to involve people living on the banks of the river to attain sustainable results.
• The programme also focuses on involving the States and grassroots level institutions such as Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions in implementation.
• The program would be implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterpart organizations i.e., State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).
• In order to improve implementation, a three-tier mechanism has been proposed for project monitoring comprising of
  • High level task force chaired by Cabinet Secretary assisted by NMCG at national level
  • State level committee chaired by Chief Secretary assisted by SPMG at state level
  • District level committee chaired by the District Magistrate.
• The program emphasizes on improved coordination mechanisms between various Ministries/Agencies of Central and State governments.

Know India Programme (KIP)

• It is a three-week orientation programme for Diaspora youths (between the age of 18-26 years) of Indian origin conducted in partnership with one State Government with a view to introduce India to them and promote awareness on different facets of Indian life and the progress made by the country in various fields e.g. economic, industrial, education, science & technology, communication & information technology and culture.
• This programme provides a unique forum for students and young professional of Indian origin to visit India, share their views and to bond closely with contemporary India.
• After end of KIP, Indian Diaspora Youths become Youth Ambassadors of art, culture, heritage and positive image of India.

Use of plastic bullets against protesters

• As per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) adopted by Jammu and Kashmir Police including law enforcing agencies for dispersal of unlawful assembly, less-lethal weapons should be used as per the established use-of-force policy.
• The use of force should be guided by objectives of restoring peace, dispersal of violent unlawful assembly with the use of such force as is required to minimize the casualty but without compromising safety for Law Enforcement Elements and peace-loving citizens.
• The hierarchy of usage of forces inter-alia include the use of rubber bullet/ plastic bullets.

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