03 May 2018: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

4th Regional Conference on Futuristic, Resilient and Digital Infrastructure

• The 2-day Conference is a lead-up to the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to be hosted by the Government of India on 25th and 26th June 2018 in Mumbai.
• The Ministry of Finance, Government of India in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII),and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) organized the 4thRegional Conference on Futuristic, Resilient and Digital Infrastructure in Bengaluru.
• Experts give thrust to Optimal Balance between Agronomization and Urbanization to Maximize Productivity.

Asian Infrastructure Investment bank (AIIB)

• The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is an international financial institution which targets infrastructural development in the Asia Pacific.
• Promoted by the government of China, the bank is backed by 37 regional and 20 non-regional Prospective Founding Members who have unanimously signed the Article of Agreement upon which the bank would function.

WHO Framework Convention on tobacco control

• The Union Cabinet Chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval to accede to the Protocol under World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on tobacco control to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products.
• It will be applicable to both smoking and chewing or smokeless tobacco (SLT) forms as negotiated and adopted under Article 15 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). 
• India is a party to WHO FCTC.
• The protocol lays down obligations of the parties. It spells out supply chain control measures that must be adopted by the parties.
• Elimination of illicit trade in tobacco products through strengthened regulation will help in strengthening comprehensive tobacco control, leading to reduction in tobacco use which in turn, will result in reduction in disease burden and mortality associated with tobacco use.

Background:

• The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO.
• The objective of FCTC is to provide a framework for supply and demand reduction measures for tobacco control at the national, regional and global levels.
• One of the key tobacco supply reduction strategies contained in Article 15 of WHO FCTC envisages elimination of all forms of illicit trade and tobacco products, including smuggling, illicit manufacturing and counterfeiting. 

Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) 

• The Union Cabinet has given its approval for continuation of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) beyond 12th Five Year Plan for a period 2017-18 to 2019-20 with a financial outlay of Rs. 14,832 crores.
• The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) was announced in 2003 with objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/ reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.
• PMSSY has two components i.e. setting up new AIIMS and up gradation of government medical colleges.

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