27 Jan 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. India-Central Asia Virtual Summit
2. Air India strategic disinvestment
3. ODF plus village
4. Conditional Market Authorization for COVID 19 Vaccines
5. International Customs Day, 2022

1. India-Central Asia Virtual Summit

Syllabus: GS II, International Relations, regional groupings involving India and affecting India’s interests

Prelims: Chabahar port

Mains: Significance of Central Asia in India’s foreign policy

Context: The first India-Central Asia summit was hosted by the Prime Minister of India in virtual format. The summit coincided with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and the Central Asian countries. 

Highlights of the Summit:

• The Summit was attended by Presidents of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan. 
• Central Asia is a crucial region for the promotion of India’s interests especially in terms of trade and connectivity. Besides, the revival of the Taliban in Afghanistan makes it essential that India strengthen its ties with the countries of Central Asia. 
• The leaders conveyed their strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan with a representative and inclusive government. This comes in favour of India’s interest concerning its national security. 
• India agreed to extend humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. 
• In a historic decision, the leaders agreed to institutionalize the Summit mechanism by holding it every 2 years. 
• A secretariat will be set up soon in New Delhi for India-Central Asia taking the relationship further. 
• The joint working groups at the senior official level discussed the issue of Afghanistan and the use of Chabahar Port. 
• Areas like trade, connectivity, development, defense and security were discussed. 
• Efforts have been made from both sides to embolden the cultural ties and enhance people to people contact. 
• A comprehensive joint declaration was adopted by the leaders that determines their common vision for a sustainable India-Central Asia partnership.

2. Air India strategic disinvestment

Syllabus: GS III, Indian Economy

Prelims: Strategic Disinvestment

Mains: Implications of strategic disinvestment

Context: The Air India strategic disinvestment transaction has been completed between the government and the strategic partner (Talace Pvt Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata sons Pvt Ltd).

About the transaction:

• Under the strategic disinvestment process, the shares of Air India have been transferred to the strategic partner in exchange for a certain amount received by the government. 
• The Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) was signed in October 2021 satisfying the criteria of approvals from antitrust bodies, regulators, lenders, third parties and other stakeholders. 
• Share Purchase Agreement is a legal contract between two parties involving the buyer and seller. This acts as a document of proof that the terms and conditions of sale have been mutually agreed upon. 

Read more about Strategic Disinvestment in the linked article.

3. ODF plus village

Syllabus: GS II, Government Policies and interventions for development in various sectors

Prelims: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Mains: Developmental projects and policy interventions for rural development

Context: South Maubuang, a village in Mizoram, has been declared as the first ODF (Open Defecation Free) plus village in the state having fulfilled all the criteria as per Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBM-G) Phase II guidelines. 

ODF Plus Village: Village with sustained ODF behaviours along with access to solid and liquid waste management is recognised as an ODF plus village.

Key indicators assessed:

• ODF sustainability
• Biodegradable Waste Management
• Liquid Waste Management
• Plastic Waste Management
• Faecal Sludge Management

Read more about Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the linked article.

4. Conditional Market Authorization for COVID 19 Vaccines

Syllabus: GS III, Science and Technology – development and their applications and effect in everyday life

Prelims: COVID-19 vaccines, Conditional Market Authorisation

Mains: India’s proactive COVID 19 management

Context: The National Regulator, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), has given approval of market authorization of two COVID-19 vaccines, Covaxin and Covishield.

About the conditional market authorization:

• The upgradation of the vaccines from restricted use to conditional market authorisation has been based on the recommendation of the Subject Expert Committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization. 
• It is a new category of market authorisation that has emerged during the pandemic. 
• The approval pathways through this route are fast-tracked with certain conditions to increase access to certain pharmaceuticals for meeting the growing demand for drugs and vaccines. 
• In the global scenario, the US Food and Drug Administration has given conditional market authorisation approval for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. AstraZeneca vaccine is also approved under this category by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of the UK. 

Conditions framed by DCGI for conditional market authorisation:

• The firm shall submit overseas data of ongoing clinical trials of the product with due analysis on a half-yearly basis or as and when available, whichever is earlier.
• The vaccine shall be supplied for programmatic setting and all vaccinations done within the country must be recorded on the CoWIN platform. 
• These vaccines are to be monitored continuously to check the Adverse Event Following Immunization. 

Read about Mission COVID Suraksha in the linked article.

5. International Customs Day, 2022

Syllabus: GS III, Indian Economy

Prelims: CBIC, WCO

Mains: Digital transformation in customs

Context: The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) observed the International Customs Day on the 26th day of January 2022. 

Theme for this year : The theme for International Customs Day 2022, given by World Customs Organization (WCO), was Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem. 

About International Customs day:

• The International Customs day is celebrated all across the world with the United Nations as the host. 
• It is an annual event that acknowledges the efforts of custom officials and agencies towards the smooth movement of goods across the borders globally. 
• The Customs Cooperation Council announced the observance of International Customs Day on 26th of January 1953 for the first time. It was attended by 17 European countries and the inaugural ceremony was held in Brussels, Belgium.

Role of Customs:

• Responsible for collecting tariffs
• Managing the flow of goods (animals, hazardous materials, personal items)

 Significance of this Day:

• This day is celebrated with the objective to offer impetus to leadership, guidance and support to customs administrations. 
• According to WCO, the borders divide the countries whereas ‘customs’ develop connections between the countries. 
• The customs delivered their remarkable service and enabled the supply of essential goods amidst the hour of pandemic. 

Read about CBIC in the linked article

Read previous PIB here.

January 27th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here