29 November 2019: PIB Summary & Analysis

Read the daily PIB update and stay up-to-date on current affairs for the UPSC exam.

November 29th, 2019 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Index of Eight Core Industries 
2. IBBI amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016
3. Indo-Nepal joint military Exercise SURYA KIRAN – XIV
4. Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme
5. Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)
6. Rabies Vaccination
7. Regulatory Framework for Medical Devices
8. World AIDS Day
9. Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
10. Linking of Locomotives via ISRO Satellites for Tracking Trains
11. International Maritime Organization (IMO) appreciates India's decision of accession to the Hong Kong International Convention, 2009
12. Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme launched by Prime Minister

Index of Eight Core Industries

What’s in News?

• The combined Index of Eight Core Industries stood at 127.0 in October, 2019, which declined by 5.8% as compared to the index of October,2018.
• The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Read more about Index of Industrial Production

IBBI amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations, 2016

What’s in News?

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has notified the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2019.

• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code) envisages corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) for reorganisation and insolvency resolution of corporate debtors.
• Insolvency professional (IP) conducts the CIRP and manages its operations during the CIRP.
• Keeping in view the responsibilities of the IPs and the importance of CIRP, the Code casts an obligation on the IBBI and the Insolvency Professional Agencies (IPA) to monitor performance of IPs, and to collect, maintain and disseminate information and records relating to insolvency process of corporate debtors.
• It also casts an obligation on IPs to forward/submit certain information and records relating to CIRP to the IPA and IBBI.
• In the interest of transparency and accountability in conduct of CIRPs and conduct of the IPs, and to facilitate the IBBI, the IPAs and the IPs to discharge of their statutory obligations, the Amendment Regulations require the IPs to file a set of Forms, covering the life cycle of a CIRP, online on an electronic platform hosted on the website of the IBBI.
• An IP shall be liable to action permissible under the Code, including refusal to issue or renew Authorisation for Assignment, for failure to file a Form or for inaccurate or delayed filing.

Indo-Nepal joint military Exercise SURYA KIRAN – XIV

• The Joint military exercise between India and Nepal, ‘SURYA KIRAN – XIV’ will be conducted in Nepal.
• The exercise is an annual event which is conducted alternatively in Nepal and India.
• Notably, in the series of military training exercises undertaken by India with various countries, exercise   SURYA KIRAN with Nepal is an important exercise in terms of the security challenges faced by both the nations in the realm of changing facets of global terrorism. The aim of this exercise is to conduct a Battalion level combined training between Indian Army and Nepal Army to increase interoperability in jungle warfare and counter terrorist operations in mountainous terrain, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, medical and environmental conservation including aviation aspects.
• The exercise will comprise of 300 soldiers from both Indian and Nepal Army who would be sharing their experience in conduct of various counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations as also various humanitarian assistance missions by both the Armies.

Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme

SGBs are government securities denominated in grams of gold. They are substitutes for holding physical gold. Investors have to pay the issue price in cash and the bonds will be redeemed in cash on maturity. The Bond is issued by Reserve Bank on behalf of Government of India.

Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme has been covered in 18^th March 2019 Comprehensive News Analysis. Click here to read.

Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)

What’s in News?

22 AIIMS have been announced/ sanctioned to be set under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Six AIIMS i.e. Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh are functional.

• With objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the accessibility of reliable/affordable tertiary healthcare services and as well to expand facilities for SUPERIOR medical education in the country, the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) was announced.
• PMSSY has basically two components:
  1. Setting up of AIIMS like Institutions
  2. Upgradation of Government Medical College Institutions.
• PMSSY aims at correcting the unevenness in the accessibility of reasonably priced healthcare facilities in various parts of the country in general.

Rabies Vaccination

Rabies:

• Rabies is an acute viral disease that causes fatal encephalomyelitis in virtually all the warm-blooded animals including human.
• The virus is found in wild and some domestic animals, and is transmitted to other animals and to humans through their saliva (following bites, scratches, licks on broken skin and mucous membrane).
• In India, dogs are responsible for about 97% of human rabies, followed by cats (2%), and others (1%).
• The disease is invariably fatal and perhaps the most painful and dreadful of all communicable diseases in which the sick person is tormented at the same time with thirst and fear of water (hydrophobia).

National Rabies Control Programme (NCRP):

The NRCP has both human and animal health components.

Human Component – which is being implemented in all the states & UTs. National Centre for the Diseases control is the nodal agency for the Human Component of the program. The strategies for the human component are:

• Training of health professionals.
• Implementing use of intra-dermal route of inoculation of cell culture vaccines.
• Strengthening surveillance of human rabies.
• Laboratory strengthening.

Animal Component- which is being pilot tested in the Haryana & Chennai. The Animal Welfare Board of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests is the Nodal agency for the Animal Component of the program. The strategies for the animal component are:

• Population survey of dogs.
• Mass vaccination of dogs.
• Dog population management.

Details:

• Under National Rabies Control programme(NRCP) funds are not provided for procurement of Anti- Rabies vaccine(ARV).
• Funds under NRCP are only provided for training, surveillance, laboratory strengthening and advocacy etc.
• However for rabies vaccination all the states/UTs have been communicated to include Anti- Rabies vaccine (ARV) and Anti Rabies serum ( ARS ) under essential drug list and to undertake the procurement of ARV and ARS under National Free Drug service initiative under National Health Mission.

Regulatory Framework for Medical Devices

• Central Drugs Standard Control Organisaton (CDSCO) regulates the quality, safety and performance of notified medical devices under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Medical Devices Rules, 2017.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has designated five Central Medical Device Testing Laboratories for testing and evaluation of medical devices
• Further, CDSCO has registered four laboratories to carry out test and evaluation of medical devices on behalf of manufacturer.
• Furthermore, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) also undertakes testing of such equipments as per their procedures.

World AIDS Day

What’s in News?

• The Government is organizing an event to commemorate World AIDS Day on 1st December, 2019.
• The theme of the event is “Communities make the difference”.

National AIDS Control Programme (NACP):

• National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) Phase-IV, 2017-20 is under implementation as 100% Central Sector Scheme through 37 State/District AIDS Control Societies for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.
• NACP response to HIV/AIDS epidemic in India comprise a comprehensive three-pronged strategy of prevention, testing and treatment supported through critical enablers of Information Education Communication (IEC), laboratory services and strategic information management. Communities are at the centre of response, and equity, gender and respect for the rights of communities are NACP’s guiding principles.
• Currently, there are around 1,408 targeted interventions for prevention of new HIV infection among high risk groups.
• HIV counselling and testing services are being provided.
• Free lifelong Anti-Retroviral Therapy for HIV is being provided.
• State/UT AIDS Control Societies are instructed to ensure the availability of HIV testing kits and drugs by means of relocation/diversion from facilities or undertake local procurement to prevent shortages.

The Government has developed seven years National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV/AIDS and STI 2017 – 2024 to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal i.e. ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The fast track target by 2020 envisaged the National AIDS Control Programme:

• 75% reduction in new HIV infections,
• Achieving 90-90-90 i.e. 90% of those who are HIV positive in the country know their status, 90% of those who know their status are on treatment and 90% of those who are on treatment experience effective viral load suppression,
• Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and
• Elimination of HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination.

Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)

What’s in News?

Under Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), there are 1393 health benefit packages and their rates have been defined. These packages are common for Public and Private hospitals empanelled under the scheme.  The hospitals are paid on the basis of the rate fixed for a particular package.

Following actions have been taken to prevent abuse under AB-PMJAY –

• All admissions under AB-PMJAY require pre-authorizations from respective State Health Agencies (SHAs).
• A comprehensive set of Anti-Fraud Guidelines have been issued from the time of launch of the Scheme.
• Regular Anti-Fraud Advisory Notes are issued to all States advising them on measures to be adopted to prevent, detect and deter fraud.
• All packages prone to fraud and abuse are reserved for public hospitals or need mandatory pre-authorization and require detailed documentation before claims are paid.
• National Anti-Fraud Unit (NAFU) has been created for overall monitoring and implementation of anti-fraud framework. NAFU is supported by State Anti-Fraud Units (SAFU) at State level.
• Guidelines for Recovery and Actions to be taken post confirmation of fraud have been issued to all States.

This topic has been covered in 22^nd November PIB Summary and Analysis. Click here to read.

Linking of Locomotives via ISRO Satellites for Tracking Trains

• A Real-time Train Information System (RTIS) is being installed on the locomotives for automatic acquisition of train movement data, including that of arrival, departure and run-through timings at the stations en route.
• The control chart of trains hauled by RTIS enabled locomotives gets plotted automatically in the Control Office Application (COA) system already implemented in the control offices.
• RTIS also gives mid-section location updates, including the current speed of the train, with a periodicity of 30 seconds. The Train Controllers can now track the location and speed of RTIS enabled locomotives/trains more closely, without any manual intervention, facilitating the train control functions.
• The RTIS project is being executed by Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS), which is an Information Technology arm of Ministry of Railways, in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

International Maritime Organization (IMO) appreciates India’s decision of accession to the Hong Kong International Convention, 2009

What’s in News?

International Maritime Organization (IMO), has highly appreciated India’s decision of accession to the Hong Kong International Convention, 2009. Hong Kong Convention 2009 is not yet in force, but, with India’s accession, the first of the three conditions for the Convention’s entry into force has now been fulfilled.

• India is committed to the global best practices and aspire to become a role model in ship recycling industry.
• Recently, the cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) approved India’s accession to the Hong Kong Convention on Hong Kong International Convention for Ship Recycling, which will help in providing boost to the ship- recycling industry in India.
• The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships in 2009. This is aimed at ensuring that ships being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives do not pose any unnecessary risks to human health, safety and the environment.

Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme launched by Prime Minister

What’s in News?

Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (N.A.I.P) which was launched by Prime Minister covering 600 chosen districts including aspirational districts as identified by NITI Aayog has picked up pace.

Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme:

• The rate of Artificial Insemination is continuously increasing and has reached an average of 25,000 animals per day so far.
• The NAIP is a campaign mode genetic upgradation program covering all breeds of bovines to enhance the milk production using low cost breeding technology for improving genetic merit of milch animals with high quality seed.
• The aim of the program to inseminate over 1 crore bovines in 6 months & ear-tag them with ‘PashuAadhaar’ which is a unique identification provided to the animals so as to enable the Government to identify and track the animals uniquely with all details such as the breed, age, gender and owner details.
• Every cow and buffalo under AI will be tagged and can be tracked through the Information Network on Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) Database.

November 29th, 2019 PIB:- Download PDF Here

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