TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Connectivity With The Central Asian Countries
2. ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
3. IHGF DELHI FAIR
4. National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) indigenously developed six new and rare Reference 
Materials (RMs)

1. Connectivity With The Central Asian Countries

Syllabus: GS II, International Relations; India and its neighbourhood- relations.

Mains: Significance of strengthening connectivity with Central Asian Countries

Context

The President of India while addressing a meeting in Turkmenistan said that connectivity with the Central Asian countries remains a key priority for India,

The need for strengthening connectivity with Central Asian countries

• India’s emergence as one of the major economies and the advancement in India’s technological capabilities has provided opportunities for collaboration with the developing nations of Central Asia.
• Revival of historical ties with the Central Asian countries has become one of the focus areas of Indian foreign policy in recent times as they are a part of India’s ‘extended neighbourhood’.
• India and Central Asian countries share common perspectives and similar approaches and also India has strategic relations with many Central Asian countries.
• India and the Central Asian countries face common challenges like terrorism, extremism, radicalization, drug trafficking, etc.

Image Source: WorldAtlas

The Central Asian Countries

Initiatives by India to strengthen connectivity with Central Asian countries

• India is a member of key groupings that include Central Asian countries such as the International North-South Transport Corridor, and the Ashgabat Agreement.
• India has undertaken steps to operationalize the Chabahar port in Iran which can provide secure, viable and unhindered access to the Central Asian countries.
• Enhancing connectivity is one of the major pillars of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy.
• India has reiterated that it is ready to collaborate, invest and build connectivity in the region.

2. ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

Syllabus: GS III, Security; Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

Prelims: Facts about ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

Context

The Indian Army celebrated the 258th Raising Day of the Army Medical Corps.

Army Medical Corps

• The Indian Army Medical Corps is a specialised division of the Indian Army which provides medical services to all Army personnel, veterans, and their family members.
• The Indian Army Medical Corps was established in Apr 1943 by merging the Indian Medical Service, the Indian Medical Department and the Indian Hospital & Nursing Corps of the Royal Army Medical Corps.
• The Indian Army Medical Corps was established as a wartime necessity.
• The Indian Army Medical Corps was renamed as Army Medical Corps with effect from 26 January 1950.
• Their main motto is “Sarve Santu Niramaya” which means “Let all be free from disease and disability”.
• The Corps has played a significant role in providing peacetime and wartime health care services to the armed forces, medical services to UN peacekeeping forces in foreign missions and also served the civil authorities during disasters.

3. IHGF DELHI FAIR

Syllabus: GS II, Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

Prelims: IHGF Delhi Fair and Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

Context

The 53rd edition of the IHGF Delhi Fair

Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair (IHGF)

• IHGF is Asia’s biggest gifts & handicrafts trade fair.
• IHGF Delhi Fair is organized two times every year in the Spring and Autumn seasons.
• IHGF Delhi Fair is organized by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).
• This is a one-stop destination for retailers, importers, wholesalers and design professionals.

Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH)

• EPCH is a non-profit organization, established under the EXIM policy of the Government of India in the year 1986-87.
• EPCH works under the aegis of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
• EPCH is a nodal agency for promoting exports of handicrafts from the Country.
• EPCH has its headquarters in New Delhi, and regional offices in Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Moradabad, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Saharanpur, Agra, Guwahati and Narsapur.
• It plays an important role in projecting India as a reliable supplier of high quality handicrafts goods & services.
• EPCH has a strong supplier network of manufacturers and exporters of Home, Lifestyle, Fashion, Textiles and Furniture goods.

Image Source: www.ihgfdelhifair.in

4. National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) indigenously developed six new and rare Reference Materials (RMs)

Syllabus: GS III, Science and Technology; Indigenization of technology

Prelims: National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL)

Mains: Significance of indigenous development of Reference Materials (RMs) by NDTL

Context

The National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) has indigenously developed six new and rare Reference Materials (RMs) to strengthen anti-doping testing.

Details

• The indigenously developed Reference Materials (RMs) are the purest form of chemicals required for anti-doping analysis in all World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA)-accredited Laboratories across the world.
• The six RMs have been developed in less than a year by NDTL in collaboration with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Guwahati and the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu.
• India had been importing these RMs from Canada and Australia, and with the development of these RMs, NDTL has earned the recognition of being one of the very few labs in the world where such RMs have been created.
• The indigenous development of these rare RMs will help the anti-doping community to further strengthen their testing capabilities and usher in an era of mutual cooperation among countries for promoting fair play in sports.

National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL)

• The dope testing Lab in India was established in 1990 as a Dope Control Centre under the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
• The dope testing lab was set up with an aim to get permanently accredited by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) to undertake testing for the banned drugs in human sports.
• Later, the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) responsible for analytical testing of samples and research in the field of dope analysis was established in 2008.
• NDTL is a premier analytical testing & research organization established as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
• It is the only laboratory in the country which is responsible for human sports dope testing.
• Objectives:
  • To provide accurate & reliable testing services for Dope testing in Human sports.
  • To become an institution with a high level of research facilities in drug abuse analysis in the country and the world.
  • To conduct research in Biochemistry, Forensic science, BioTechnology, Chemistry & Pharmacology to innovate new methods for drug abuse analysis.

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