22 Oct 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

October 22nd, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Regional Raw Drug Repository (RRDR)
2. NAG Missile
3. IFSCA Committee Interim Report
4. Navy Operationalizes First Batch of Women Pilots
5. “Operation Gulmarg”

1. Regional Raw Drug Repository (RRDR)

Context:

Inauguration of Regional Raw Drug Repository of National Medicinal Plants Board at AIIA, New Delhi.

Details:

• The Minister of State for AYUSH inaugurated the Regional Raw Drug Repository (RRDR) at the All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi.
• This RRDR is the second in the series of repositories proposed by the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH and will be dedicated to the Trans-Ganga Plain Region.

What is Regional Raw Drug Repository (RRDR)?

• The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), in 2016, took up the initiative of developing a National Raw Drug Repository (NRDR) and Regional Raw Drug Repositories (RRDR) in respect of raw drugs being used in the ASU&H systems of medicine.
• RRDRs is a centrally sponsored scheme of the National AYUSH Mission.
• Three RRDRs are already ready.
• The newly inaugurated RRDR for the Trans-Ganga Plain Region covers four states -Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab.
• Objectives of RRDRs:
  • Act as a collection centre of raw drugs available and used in each region.
  • Act as an accredited reference library for the authentication of raw drugs.
  • Establish standard protocols and keys for the authentication of raw drugs used in the herbal industries.
  • Act as an educational centre for disseminating general awareness about the usefulness of raw drugs.
• Activities and tasks of RRDRs:
  • Collection, compilation, cataloguing of raw drugs and documentation (including digitization) on the information of raw drugs that are used in the traditional systems of medicine.
  • Collection of plants and raw drug samples and preserving those specimens.
  • Having a digital database of plants.
  • Providing standard, genuine and authenticated reference samples of raw drugs to the needy.
  • Development of appropriate manuals of identification keys to delineate the features for easy understanding and field identification.
  • Testing of raw drugs for pesticide residues, aflatoxins, heavy metals and microbial load, etc. to international standard or any other as per requirement.

National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB):

• NMPB was formed in 2000 and functions under the Ministry AYUSH.
• The Board has been established by the Government of India to coordinate with all matters relating to medicinal plants and support policies and programs for the growth of trade, export, conservation and cultivation.
• The main objective of NMPB is to encourage the cultivation of medicinal plants and its sustainable management across the country and to reduce pressure on the collection from wild habitat in forests.
• To meet the increasing demand for medicinal plants, NMBP focuses on in-situ & ex-situ conservation and augmenting local medicinal plants and aromatic species of medical significance.
• The NMPB also promotes research & development, capacity building through training, raising awareness through promotional activities like the creation of Home/School herbal gardens.
• NMPB also seeks to support programs for quality assurance and standardization through the development of Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACPs), development of monographs laying down standards of quality, safety and efficacy; development of agro-techniques and credible institution a mechanism for certification of quality of raw drugs, seeds and planting material.

2. NAG Missile

Context:

Final User Trial of NAG Missile.

Details:

• Final user trial of 3rd generation Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) NAG was carried out from the Pokhran range.

About ATGM NAG:

• ATGM NAG has been developed by DRDO to engage highly fortified enemy tanks in day and night conditions.
• The missile has “Fire & Forget”, “Top Attack” capabilities with passive homing guidance to defeat all MBTs equipped with composite and reactive armour.
• The NAG missile carrier NAMICA is a BMP II based system with amphibious capability.
• With this final user trial, NAG will enter into the production phase. The missile will be produced by Defence PSU Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), whereas Ordnance Factory Medak will produce the NAMICA.

For more on Anti Tank Missiles, click on the linked article.

3. IFSCA Committee Interim Report

Context:

The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) Expert Committee on international retail business development in the IFSC has submitted its second interim report to the Chairperson of the IFSCA.

Know more about the IFSCA in PIB dated 19^th Oct 2020.

Details:

• The second interim report covers a number of suggestions aimed at swift and efficient development of international retail businesses in the IFSC, and focuses on recommendations for international insurance activity to flourish in the IFSC.
• This report follows the first interim report, covering banking-related proposals which was submitted in September 2020.

Some of the key recommendations of the expert committee:

• Permit NRIs/PIOs to buy Life Insurance policies for themselves as well as their family members who are based in India and abroad from companies set up in the IFSC and allow them to pay premium in the currency of their choice (including Indian rupees).
• Permit NRIs/PIOs to buy portable life insurance policies that offer them the flexibility to pay premium in INR or in foreign currency, based on their choice, after they return to India.
• Permit residents to buy overseas health insurance for themselves and their dependents (in India and overseas) from insurance companies or intermediaries in the IFSC for medical treatment anywhere in the world.
• Allow insurance companies to offer health insurance products to NRIs/PIOs including covering their family members who are based in India.
• Permit insurance companies in the IFSC to offer personal accident cover, baggage loss, documents loss cover and travel health insurance anywhere in the world for NRIs/ PIOs and to any other non-resident.
• IFSC should emerge as Reinsurance Hub for Asia and Africa with more reinsurers encouraged to set up base in IFSC. IFSC can also emerge as Aviation insurance Hub for the world.
• Insurers be allowed to set up subsidiaries in IFSC to promote business.
• Indian investors be allowed to set up direct and reinsurance companies with lower capital requirements to promote insurance abroad.
• Foreign reinsurance brokers be encouraged to set up base in IFSC to create a vibrant insurance market.

4. Navy Operationalizes First Batch of Women Pilots

Context:

The first batch of women pilots of the Indian Navy has been operationalized on Dornier Aircraft by the Southern Naval Command (SNC) at Kochi.

Details:

• The three women pilots graduated as ‘Fully operational Maritime Reconnaissance (MR) Pilots’.

5. “Operation Gulmarg”

• On 22 October 1947, Pakistan made an attempt to invade Kashmir in the guise of Operation Gulmarg. The attackers infiltrated Poonch, as part of Operation “Gulmarg”, as a springboard to capture the Jammu region.
• Muzaffarabad fell on 22 October and four days later on 26 October, the raiders captured Baramulla.
• For three days the invaders continued the genocide of the people, looting and burning their houses. It is reported that at least 3000 people were slain and half the town was burnt.
• At Shalteng—the outskirts of Srinagar – a decisive battle was fought on the night of 7-8 November 1947 in which the Indian troops inflicted a crushing defeat on the invaders who lost nearly 600 men.
• The defeated troops withdrew and escaped from the valley. Baramulla and Uri were recaptured on the 8^th of November by the advancing Sikh Light Infantry.

Read previous PIB here.

October 22nd, 2020, PIB:- Download PDF Here