12 Mar 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. India Water Pitch Pilot Scale Start-up Challenge
2. Draft National Medical Devices Policy 2022
3. Dandi March
4. 8th International Yoga Day

1. India Water Pitch Pilot Scale Start-up Challenge

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

Prelims: About India Water Pitch Pilot Scale Start-up Challenge, AMRUT 2.0 

Mains: The need to boost startups in the water sector. 

Context: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the Water Pitch Pilot Scale Start-up Challenge under the aegis of its Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0.

About the Water Pitch Pilot Scale Start-up Challenge:

• This programme is in line with the Technology Sub-mission to engage startups as “Technology Partner” that aims to strengthen the start-ups in the water or used-water sector.
• The idea behind this initiative is to evolve through innovation and design that will result in sustainable economic growth along with the generation of employment opportunities. 
• Under the initiative, 100 start-ups will be provided Rs. 20 lakhs as funding support from MoHUA as well as guidance. 
• A networking platform will be offered for startups, young innovators, industry partners and incubators. 

Importance of the Initiative:

• Encouraging the startups in the water sector are imperative for the proper implementation of government programmes promoting the ideas of AMRUT 2.0.
• AMRUT 2.0 is a transformative scheme of the MoHUA that intends to ensure water security in the country. This scheme runs through the focus areas that include reducing transportation cost of water, reducing groundwater contamination and increasing water utilization capacity.
• Therefore, the Start-up Challenge will add on to contribute to the causes of water security and conservation by engaging the various stakeholders involved in water management. 

Read more about the  AMRUT scheme in the linked article.

Image Source: economictimes

2. Draft National Medical Devices Policy 2022

Syllabus: GS II, Regulatory bodies

Prelims: About the Draft National Medical Devices Policy

Mains: Regulations pertaining to medical devices in India and their significance.

Context: The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has released the Draft National Medical Devices Policy 2022 in order to establish a holistic policy to speed up growth in the medical devices sector in India.

The need to promote the medical devices sector – 

• Medical devices sector is considered as the sunrise sector which is also popular as the MedTech sector. 
• It is estimated that in the upcoming days, the medical device sector will witness a huge growth with great market potential offering several employment opportunities in the field of pharmaceuticals.
•  The expected growth is 50 billion USD by 2025. 
• Medical devices sector is an integral part of the Indian healthcare system and plays an important role in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of all medical conditions like diabetes, illness and disabilities. 

Medical devices Sector in India:

• This sector has remained largely unregulated for a long period till the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 were framed by CDSCO for the comprehensive regulation of Medical Device in a phased manner with respect to quality, safety and efficacy under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. 
• There are multiple products that are categorised under Medical Devices and they include:
  • Electronics equipment
  • Implants
  • Consumables and disposables
  • IVD (In vitro diagnostics) reagents
  • Surgical instruments
• The market for medical devices in India has a significant presence of multinational companies with about 80% of the sales by value generated from imported medical devices.
• The importance of this sector gathered momentum during the pandemic and India extended its support to the global battle against COVID-19 through production of medical devices & diagnostic kits, ventilators and so on.
• The government has taken active steps to promote the domestic manufacturing of medical devices by adding the PLI scheme with the medical devices sector and with the promotion of Medical Devices Parks.

The policy highlights:

National Medical Devices Policy 2022 intends to : 

• Create regulatory framework in order to optimise regulatory processes and multiplicity of agencies for enhanced Ease of doing Business in alignment with global standards.
• Ensure quality standards and the safety of the devices.
• Build competitiveness through fiscal and financial support
• Provide infrastructure development for domestic industries of medical devices to flourish. 
• Facilitate research and development along with human resource development. 
• Creations of awareness and brand positioning.

3. Dandi March

Syllabus: GS I, The Freedom Struggle

Prelims: Important facts of Dandi March

Mains: Impact of Dandi March in galvanising the Indian population against British rule.

Context: The Prime Minister paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and to all those who actively participated in the historic non-violent act of Dandi March as a direct action campaign of tax resistance against British rule

Turn the pages of history and read in details about Dandi March in the linked article.

4. 8th International Yoga Day

Syllabus: GS II, Issues relating to health 

Prelims: About  International Yoga Day 

Context: The 8th International Yoga Day will begin with Yoga Mahotsav with the prime objective to promote the multidimensional aspects of yoga .

About 8th International Yoga Day :

• IDY-2022 is the 8th edition of International Day of Yoga that will involve the Yoga Mahotsav organised by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga. 
• This will kindle a mass movement for a healthy life that is inclusive of wellbeing and peaceful state of mind. 

Read more about International Yoga Day in the linked article

Read previous PIB here.

March 12th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here