24 Mar 2018: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

World Tuberculosis Day

• World TB Day is celebrated on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic.
• This date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.
• The theme of World TB Day 2018 – “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world”- focuses on building commitment to end TB, not only at the political level with Heads of State and Ministers of Health, but at all levels from Mayors, Governors, parliamentarians and community leaders, to people affected with TB, civil society advocates, health workers, doctors or nurses, NGOs and other partners.
• Government of India is working in mission mode to make India TB-free. While the world has set a target of 2030 for TB elimination, we in India want to become TB-free by 2025.”

National Conference on Drug Law Enforcement

• It is a two-day National Conference on Drug Law Enforcement organized by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Home Affairs.
• In order to deal with drug trafficking problem government has constituted Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) in 2016.
• In pursuance of the mandate of the NCB to have effective coordination amongst the various drug law enforcement agencies as well as different departments/ministries dealing with policy matters, the Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD).
• Government has also revived the scheme of “Financial Assistance to States for Narcotics Control”.
• The purpose of the Scheme is to assist State Government/UTs who are contributing in controlling the inter-State and cross-border drug trafficking.
• India has signed 37 Bilateral Agreements/Memoranda of Understandingfor effective coordination with foreign countries including neighboring countries.
• NCB has developed a new software i.e. Seizure Information Management System (SIMS) which will create a complete online database of drug offences and offenders.

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