25 September 2019: PIB Summary & Analysis

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September 25th, 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here

Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Varaha’

Context:

The Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh commissioned Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Varaha’ in Chennai on 25^th September 2019. The Minister said that the ship is a fine example of industry collaboration with the Make in India initiative.

About ICGS Varaha:

• The ‘Varaha’ is a state-of-the-art offshore patrol vessel.
• It was built by Larson & Toubro.
• It has features like ultra-advanced navigation, communication sensors and machinery.
• It will operate from the port of New Mangalore on the West Coast covering the Exclusive Economic Zone up to Kanyakumari.
• ICGS ‘Varaha’ is capable of operating the indigenously-developed Advanced Light Helicopter by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• The ship is well equipped with high speed boats, medical facilities and modern surveillance systems.
• It is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment.

About Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ):

• The EEZ is a sea zone prescribed by the UNCLOS in 1982, over which a country has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind.
• It stretches from the baseline out to 200 nautical miles from a country’s coast.
• The term EEZ does not include the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. It also does not include the territorial sea.
• The difference between territorial sea and the EEZ is that the former confers full sovereignty over the waters, whereas the latter is merely a “sovereign right” which refers to the coastal nation’s rights below the surface of the sea.
• The surface waters are international waters.

India-China Financial Dialogue

Context:

The 9^th India-China Financial Dialogue was held in New Delhi on 25^th September.

About the India-China Financial Dialogue:

• This is a mechanism between India and China with an aim to promote cooperation in the financial sector.
• This is generally held between delegations led by the Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance from the Indian side, and by the Vice Minister, Ministry of Finance from the Chinese side.
• The dialogue is held on various financial matters such as the macroeconomic situation and policy, cooperation in multilateral framework, bilateral investment and financial cooperation.
• This year, both sides committed to promoting a favourable environment to enable continuous growth of bilateral trade and investment, strengthen their efforts to promote a more balanced and healthier development of trade and economic cooperation and further enhance the closer development partnership between the two countries.
• The next round of India-China Financial Dialogue is to be held in China.

‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega’ Campaign

Context:

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare launched the ‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega’ Campaign along with the National TB Prevalence Survey on 25^th September. He also released the TB India Report (2019).

About the ‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega’ Campaign:

• The chief objective of the campaign is to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) from India.
• The campaign has 3 pillars
  • Clinical approach
  • Public health component
  • Active community participation
• Supporting aspects of the campaign include patient support, private sector engagement, political and administrative commitment at all levels.
• The government will make sure that TB patients receive free and high quality treatment and care at private and public hospitals.
• The government has set the target year for eradicating TB from the country as 2025. The global target set by the UN is 2030.
• It also aims to improve and expand the reach of TB care services across the country by 2022.
• This includes preventive and promotive approaches, and proposes interventions such as engagement with private sector health care providers, inter-ministerial partnerships, corporate sector engagement, latent TB infection management, and community engagement. The interventions will be accompanied by a comprehensive, mass media and communications campaign to generate awareness about the disease and the free treatment services available under the government programme.
• Last year, the government has launched the Nikshay Poshan Yojana, a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme to provide nutritional support to TB patients. Since then, about 26 lakh patients have received the benefit directly into their bank accounts.

About the National TB Prevalence Survey:

• This survey is crucial for achieving the goal of ending TB in India by 2025.
• The survey will take 6 months and cover the whole country.
• The data thus obtained will be used as a policy tool for further interventions.

About the TB India Report (2019):

• According to this Report, 21.5 lakh cases of TB were reported in 2018.
• In 2017, there were 18 lakh cases and 2018 saw a rise of 17% from the previous year.

About Tuberculosis:

• Tuberculosis is usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis or various other strains of mycobacterium.
• It is an infectious disease and is air borne.
• It mostly affects the lungs but can also cause harm to other parts of the body.
• There is also an increasing concern about multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB).
• Symptoms of Active TB:
  • Coughing that lasts three or more weeks
  • Coughing up blood
  • Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Night sweats
  • Chills
  • Loss of appetite
• There is also latent TB, a condition in which the bacteria remain in the body in an inactive state and cause no symptoms. This should also be treated since it can turn into active TB, and spread.

To read about the National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination, click on the linked article.

Sardar Patel National Unity Award

Context:

The Government of India has instituted the ‘Sardar Patel National Unity Award’ as the highest civilian award for contribution to the unity and integrity of India.

Details:

• The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notice to this effect on 20^th September 2019.
• The award seeks to recognize notable and inspiring contributions to promote the cause of national unity and integrity and to reinforce the value of a strong and united India.
• The award will be announced on the occasion of National Unity Day, i.e. the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel on 31^st
• The award shall be conferred by the President by a Sanad under his hand and seal and presented by him in a presentation ceremony along with the Padma award presentation ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• The award would consist of a medal and a citation.
• No monetary grant or cash award would be attached to this award.
• Not more than three awards would be given in a year. It would not be conferred posthumously except in very rare and highly deserving cases.
• Nominations can be sent by any Indian national, institution, or organisation based in India. Individuals can also nominate themselves. State/UT governments or ministries in the GOI can also send nominations.

CPGRAMS

Context:

Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh launched CPGRAMS reforms in the Department of Posts.

About the CPGRAMS:

• The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) launched the CPGRAMS for receiving, redressing and monitoring of grievances from the public in 2007.
• CPGRAMS stands for Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System.
• The CPGRAMS provides the facility to lodge a grievance online from any geographical location.
• It enables citizens to track online the grievance being followed up with the departments concerned and also enables DARPG to monitor the grievance.
• It has tried to automate the entire process of grievance redressal and monitoring.

Economic Advisory Council

Context:

Government reconstituted the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.

About the Economic Advisory Council:

• The Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (PMEAC) is a non-constitutional, non-permanent and independent body constituted to give economic advice to the Government of India, specifically the Prime Minister.
• The council serves to highlight key economic issues facing the country to the government of India from a neutral viewpoint.
• It advises the Prime Minister on a whole host of economic issues like inflation, microfinance, industrial output, etc.
• There is no fixed definition of the exact number of members and staff of the PMEAC.

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September 25th, 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here

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