UPSC 2017: Comprehensive News Analysis - July 10

In news

• Concerns regarding a build-up of resistance to antiviral drugs used to treat swine flu are surfacing, after two such drugs — Oseltamivir and Zanamivir — were taken off the restrictive Schedule X of the Drugs and Comestics Rules.
• Now under Schedule H1, the drugs can be stocked by all chemists.
• Central health authorities have also advised doctors to prescribe the drugs based on strong symptoms, without opting for the swab test. Medical experts say these decisions could lead to misuse and eventually, severe drug resistance.

Drugs for H1N1

• Oseltamivir and Zanamivir are antiviral drugs that block the actions of influenza virus types A and B in the body. While Oseltamivir is available as tablets, Zanamivir comes in powder form.

Concern

• We are already witnessing antibiotic resistance and related hazards.
• Resistance built up only because antibiotics were easily available and even sold over the counter.
• Now, it seems to be going the same way with antiviral drugs.

Mixed Reaction

• It is good, because when H1N1 cases are on the rise, the drug will be available to patients easily.
• However, it could backfire because in India, we don’t use caution.
• The doctors will prescribe these drugs so widely that eventually it will stop working.

Restrictions in place

• Drugs under Schedule X require three copies of prescription for the doctor, patient and chemist, and can be sold by a chemist who holds a special Schedule X licence.
• Also, the chemist has to preserve the prescription copy for up to three years.
• In Schedule H1, only one copy of the prescription is required, and drugs in this category can be sold by all chemists.

Way forward 

• Chemists will still need a prescription to sell the drug. The only difference is, the drug will be widely available. It all depends on doctors now. If they prescribe the drug with caution, there won’t be misuse.

• Acknowledging the steps being taken by India for sustainable and inclusive growth as well as support to global economy, the G20 has praised the initiatives in the country for promoting ease of doing business, start-up funding and labour reforms.

Areas where improvement need  for ease of doing business

• The areas where India ranks poorly as per the World Bank ranking include starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

Reforms taken

• The country has implemented a spate of reforms in the recent months in areas like insolvency, taxation and starting a business and expects the rankings to improve substantially.
• In the financial sector, India is popularising a number of derivative instruments in exchanges or electronic trading platforms as part of the measures to enhance resilience of its economy.
• India is facilitating external commercial borrowings (ECBs) by start-ups to encourage innovation and promote ease of doing business, as part of the efforts being taken by the G20 members this year for maintaining momentum on structural reforms and sustainable growth.

Partners to the G20

• Global institutions like the World Bank, IMF, WTO, OECD, ILO, WHO and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) are among the partners to the G20.

G20 Hamburg Action Plan

• The G20 Hamburg Action Plan, which sets out the group’s strategy for achieving strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, also said the closer partnership and action by G20 members will boost confidence and contribute to shared prosperity.
• In the action plan, the G20 members resolved that they would continue to use all policy tools — monetary, fiscal and structural — individually and collectively to achieve the goal of strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, while enhancing economic and financial resilience.

Challenges to global growth 

• Weak productivity growth, income inequality and ageing populations represent challenges to growth in the longer term.

In news

• The declared victory in Mosul marks an epic milestone for the Iraqi security forces, who had crumbled in the face of an IS onslaught across Iraq in 2014.

Background

• IS swept across much of Iraq’s Sunni Arab heartland in a lightning offensive that year, proclaiming a self-styled “caliphate” straddling Iraq and neighbouring Syria.
• But the jihadist group, which is facing twin offensives backed by a U.S.-led coalition in both countries, has since lost large parts of the territory it once controlled.
• The Iraqi forces launched their campaign to recapture Mosul in October, seizing its eastern side in January and launching the battle for its western part the next month.

In news

• Two major Indian conglomerates have bid for supplying key equipment for the strategic Chabahar Port in Iran, while the process is on to expand financial eligibility criteria to attract more bidders.
• India is keen on expediting work on this port, located in the Sistan-Baluchistan province on the energy-rich Persian Gulf nation’s southern coast that can be easily accessed from India’s West coast, bypassing Pakistan.

In news

• The Centre has, through a notification and a circular, eased the paperwork required to export goods without the exporter having paid the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST).
• This is in accordance with government’s commitment of improving ease of doing business.

In news

• Soldiers pitch tents, and a steady line of supplies is being maintained for them.
• The Army is ready for the long haul in holding onto its position in the Dokalam area near the Bhutan tri-junction, notwithstanding China ratcheting up rhetoric against India, demanding pulling back of its troops.

Security implications

• Both the countries had agreed to a mechanism in 2012 to resolve border flare-ups through consultations at various levels.
• The mechanism has not worked so far in the current case as the standoff near the Bhutan trijunction, triggered by China’s attempt to build a road in the strategically important area, has dragged on for over three weeks.
• New Delhi has already conveyed to Beijing that such an action would represent a significant change of status quo with “serious” security implications for India. The road link could give China a major military advantage over India.

Doka La

• Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Dokalam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region.
• China and Bhutan are engaged in talks. India argues that since it is a tri-junction involving the three countries, it also has a say in the issue.

Question 1: Hamburg Action Plan, recently in news, is related to which of the following?

Question 2: Which of the following are considered while calculating ease of doing 
business by World Bank?

Question 3: The drugs, Oseltamivir and Zanamivir, are used for the treatment of which 
disease?

Question 4: Which among the following is/are the partners to the G20?

Question 5: Recently, Mosul city was in news. It is in which country?

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