1. INCOIS LAUNCHES ‘SAMUDRA’ MOBILE APP
TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has come out with a new mobile application ‘SAMUDRA’ – Smart Access to Marine Users for Ocean Data Resources and Advisories.
EXPLANATION:
- It offers comprehensive information on all ocean related services, useful for both seafarers and the fishing community.
- It will be especially beneficial to the fishing community as it disseminates potential fishing zone advisories which will guide them to the probable fish aggregation locations. Fishermen can be guided to the most probable fish aggregation locations enabling them to maximise catch rates, and thus, improve livelihoods.
- It empowers users with real-time updates and critical alerts on oceanic disasters such as tsunamis, storm surges, high waves, and swell surge alerts, for the individuals and communities to stay informed and take necessary precautions.
- Till now, INCOIS has been providing fishing zone and Ocean State Forecast (OSF) services through SMS messaging to about seven lakh fishermen across all the coastal states.
- The OSF services are being provided to various public and private firms like the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, shipping industries, maritime boards, ONGC – Oil & Natural Gas Commission and others.
- The five-day advanced OSFs will help mariners, fishermen, and coastal communities to plan their activities in advance, mitigating risks and optimizing operations based on predicted ocean conditions.
- The app also has interactive maps, charts, and animations for enhanced comprehension of complex oceanic phenomena, explained the scientists.
- It is a cutting-edge tool helping users to navigate the marine domain with confidence on their safety, and profitable fishing operations.
- It will catalyse sustainable ocean activities, thus enabling a way forward for the Blue Economy.
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
- INCOIS was established as an autonomous body in 1999 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and is a unit of the Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO).
- It is mandated to provide the best possible ocean information and advisory services to society, industry, government agencies and the scientific community through sustained ocean observations and research.
Activities:
- Provides daily advisories to fisher folk to help them easily locate areas of abundant fish in the ocean while saving on both fuel and time used to search for the same.
- Deploys and maintains a suite of Ocean Observing Systems in the Indian Ocean to collect data on various oceanic parameters to understand the processes in the ocean and to predict their changes.
- Carries out Research and Modeling to optimize the performance of mathematical models used for ocean state forecasts, prediction of tsunami waves, storm surges, etc. along the coast.
The Earth System Science Organization (ESSO):
- It was established in October, 2007 as a virtual organization in New Delhi. It operates as an executive arm of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) for its policies and programmes.
- It provides overall direction for the centers/units and review the implementation of the programs. It aims to address holistically various aspects relating to earth processes for understanding the variability of earth system.
- It brings all meteorological and ocean development activities under one umbrella, recognizing the importance of strong coupling among various components of the earth viz. atmosphere, oceans, cryo-sphere and geo-sphere.
- It has four major branches of earth sciences:
- Ocean Science & Technology
- Atmospheric and Climate Science
- Geosciences and Technology
- Polar Science and Cryosphere
2. GUIDELINES ON GENERIC MEDICINES
TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE.
THE CONTEXT: The National Medical Commission (NMC) is taking steps to better enforce the use of generic medicines by issuing fresh guidelines on it.
EXPLANATION:
- The NMC has directed doctors to prescribe generic drugs instead of branded drugs.
- Branded drugs are much more expensive than generic drugs and they are supported by large-scale commercial promotion by pharma companies.
- Generic drugs have the same composition, effects, side effects and usage as the branded drugs but are often ignored as there is a nexus between doctors, pharma companies and medical shops to promote branded drugs.
- It has also directed that prescriptions should be written clearly and legibly, preferably in capital letters. Carelessly written prescriptions create confusion and have sometimes resulted in patients taking wrong medicines.
- Doctors will now have to prescribe only generic medicines, except for cases where medicines have a narrow therapeutic index drugs where a small difference in dosage may lead to adverse outcomes and in other exceptional cases.
- The guidelines have also sought judicious use of fixed-dose combinations and asked doctors only to prescribe approved, rational combinations.
- Doctors have been told to educate people on generics being equivalent to branded medicines, urge pharmacies to stock them, and to encourage people to buy medicines from Jan Aushadhi Kendras and other generic drug outlets.
- The enforcement of the guidelines will make a big difference to patients with respect to their out-of-pocket expenditure.
National Medical Commission (NMC)
- The National Medical Commission is a regulatory body of 33 members which regulates medical education and medical professionals.
- It replaced the Medical Council of India on 25 September 2020.
- The Commission grants recognition of medical qualifications, gives accreditation to medical schools, grants registration to medical practitioners, and monitors medical practice and assesses the medical infrastructure in India.
The commission consists of four autonomous boards:
- Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB),
- Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB),
- Medical Assessment and Rating Board and
- Ethics and Medical Registration Board
What are generic medicines?
- Generic medicines are pharmaceutical drugs that contains the same chemical substance as a drug that was originally protected by chemical patents.
- Generic medicines are allowed for sale after the patents on the original drugs expire. Because the active chemical substance is the same, the medical profile of generics is equivalent in performance.
- A generic medicine has the same Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) as the original, but it may differ in some characteristics such as the manufacturing process, formulation, excipients, color, taste, and packaging.
SOURCE: https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/editorial/guidelines-on-generic-medicines-welcome-2648867
3. AATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ROJGAR YOJANA (ABRY)
TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE; GS 3: ECONOMY
THE CONTEXT: The government has fallen short of its target for employment generation in the formal sector under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY), launched in 2020 at the time of the pandemic.
EXPLANATION:
- As per latest government data, enrolments under ABRY stood at 6.04 million as on July 22, 2023, which is less than target of the revised target of generating 7.18 million jobs under the scheme but higher than its initial target of 5.85 million.
- The centre has so far spend 9663.82 crore under the scheme, which is only 42.3% of the initial target expenditure of 22810 crore for the entire scheme period.
- Instead, the Centre reimburses provident fund and pension contribution of either both the employee and employer (24% of wages) or only the employee(12% of wages) in case the establishment has over 1000 workers.
- As per government data, the number of beneficiaries under the scheme stood at 1.29 million in 2021-22, about 5,40,000 in 2022-22 and 9082 till July 18 in 2023-24.
- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujrat, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Telangana, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh are the top 10 states in creating formal employment under ABRY.
- These 10 states contribute 79.4% of the total beneficiaries under the scheme and have drawn 76.6% of the centres’s expenditure under it so far.
Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana
- It was launched in December 2020 as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 package and aims to boost employment in formal sector and incentivize creation of new employment opportunities during the Covid recovery phase.
- The scheme, being implemented through EPFO, covers employees hired till March 2022, and those who lost their job between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020, and are drawing less than Rs 15000 a month.
- The scheme is to be operational for the period 2020-2023.
Beneficiaries
- An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who was not working in any EPFO registered establishment and did not have a Universal Account Number (UAN) prior to 01st October, 2020 who joins employment in any establishment on or after 01.10.2020 up to 31.03.2022 and who is allotted Aadhaar validated UAN.
- Any EPF member, already allotted with UAN, who made exit from employment during the period from 01.03.2020 to 30.09.2020 (Covid Pandemic) from any establishment and who joins in any establishment on or after 01.10.2020 and up to 31.03.2022.
- The incentive is payable by the Central Government by upfront credit in the UANs of the new employees.
Eligibility criteria for Establishments
Establishments registered with EPFO if they add new employees compared to reference base of employees as in September, 2020 as under:
- minimum of two new employees if reference base is 50 employees or less.
- minimum of five new employees if reference base is more than 50 employees.
Benefits
Government of India will provide subsidy for two years in respect of new employees engaged on or after 1st October, 2020 and upto 30th June, 2021 at following scale
- Establishments employing up to 1000 employees: Employee’s contributions (12% of Wages) & Employer’s contributions (12% of wages) totalling 24% of wages
- Establishments employing more than 1000 employees: Only Employee’s EPF contributions (12% of EPF wages)
The subsidy support to get credited upfront in Aadhaar seeded EPFO Account (UAN) of eligible new employee.
4. CARBON SEQUESTRATION
TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: Carbon sequestration has become a potent ally in our fight against rising carbon dioxide levels and the resulting environmental consequences.
EXPLANATION:
- The impacts of climate change are an issue for the entire world.
- Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ideas are becoming more and more important for businesses to incorporate into their operations.
- Carbon sequestration stands out among these ideas as a crucial business requirement.
What is carbon sequestration?
- Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
- It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change.
- Carbon sequestration can be done naturally as well as artificially.
- Carbon sequestration has been recognised as essential to the fight against climate change, which threatens Earth’s ecosystems and human well-being.
- India is the 3rd largest emitter of CO2 in the world after China and the US, with estimated annual emissions of about 2.6 gigatonne per annum (gtpa).
Methods of Carbon Sequestration
- There are two primary types of carbon sequestration: natural and artificial.
- Natural Sequestration:
- Natural carbon sequestration occurs through various ecosystems and processes, such as photosynthesis in plants, which captures CO2 and converts it into organic matter.
- Forests, wetlands, and oceans are natural carbon sinks, where CO2 is absorbed and stored over time.
- Artificial Sequestration:
- Artificial carbon sequestration involves human-driven methods to capture and store CO2. E.g.:
- Direct air capture, where CO2 is extracted directly from the air using special technology
- Carbon capture and storage (CCS), where CO2 emissions from industrial processes are captured before they are released into the atmosphere.
How does carbon sequestration help in dealing climate issues?
- Carbon dioxide, the most commonly produced greenhouse gas, is being captured in the process of carbon sequestration.
- About 25% of our carbon emissions have historically been captured by Earth’s forests, farms, and grasslands.
- 30% of the carbon dioxide we emit from burning fossils fuels is absorbed by the upper layer of the ocean.
- 45% of carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere, the rest is sequestered naturally by the environment.
India’s initiative in tackling the issue.
- The Government of India has committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050.
- India aims to reach net zero goal by 2070. (Net Zero means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible)
- India’s Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage programme aims to reduce carbon emission by either storing or reusing it so that captured carbon dioxide does not enter the atmosphere.
- The growth of renewable power capacity has been one of the key success stories of the clean energy transition in India.
- Power sector contributes to about 1/3 rd of the aggregate CO2 emissions, which will continue to abate as renewables increasingly replace fossil fuel-based power generation.
5. UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES
TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: Tamil Nadu is developing the nation’s first Common Testing Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones).
EXPLANATION:
- This centre would be established over an area of about 2.3 acres at the SIPCOT Industrial Park, Vallam Vadagal near Sriperumbudur.
- The initiative is led by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) as part of the TN Defence Industrial Corridor.
- The testing centre would enable the State to be a significant contributor to the self-reliance of the country in the aerospace and defence sectors.
- The lack of a Common Testing Centre has been a barrier for organizations in this sector.
- TIDCO has initiated the setup of such testing centres under the Centre’s Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme.
What is Drone or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle?
- It is powered, aerial vehicle that does not carry a human operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift.
- It is commonly known as a drone.
- UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system, which include additionally a ground-based controller and a system of communications with the UAV.
- Drones have been divided into five categories based on their weight:
- Nano: Less than or equal to 250 grams
- Micro: From 250 grams to 2kg
- Small: From 2 kg to 25kg
- Medium: From 25kg to 150kg
- Large: Greater than 150kg.
Drone flying restrictions in India.
- A micro drone may not fly higher than 60 metres above ground level (AGL) or faster than 25 metres per second.
- A small drone may not fly higher than 120 metres above ground level or faster than 25 metres per second.
- Drones that are medium or large must fly in compliance with the conditions outlined in the DGCA’s Operator Permit.
- Prohibited zones are completely off-limits, whereas restricted areas require prior approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Drones’ regulations in India
Drone regulations are under the ambit of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).
- Drone rules 2021
- A single-window online system with a business-friendly interface will be created for the Digital Sky Platform.
- Green zones and the area between 8 and 12 kilometres from the airport’s boundary do not require a flying permission for flights higher than 400 feet or 200 feet, respectively.
- No pilot licence required for micro drones (for non-commercial use), nano drones and for R&D organisations.
- There are no restrictions on foreign-owned businesses with Indian registration using drones.
- No security clearance is necessary prior to the issue of any registration or licence.
- No requirement of certificate of airworthiness, unique identification number, prior permission and remote pilot licence for R&D entities.
- Coverage of drones under Drone Rules, 2021 increased from 300 kg to 500 kg. This will cover drone taxis also.
- Issuance of Certificate of Airworthiness delegated to Quality Council of India and certification entities authorised by it.
- Manufacturer may generate their drone’s unique identification number on the digital sky platform through the self-certification route.
- Maximum penalty under Drone Rules, 2021 reduced to INR 1 lakh. This shall, however, not apply to penalties in respect of violation of other laws.
- Drone corridors will be developed for cargo deliveries.
- Drone promotion council to be set up to facilitate a business-friendly regulatory regime.
- Drone rules 2022
- The requirement of a drone pilot licence has been abolished.
- There will be no requirement for a remote pilot certificate when using a drone up to two kilogrammes for non-commercial activities.
- The Remote Pilot Certificate issued by a Directorate General of Civil Aviation approved drone school through the single window Digital Sky platform will be sufficient for operating drones in the country.
- An individual owning any unmanned aircraft system manufactured in India or imported into India on or before 30th of November, 2021 must make an application to register and obtain a unique identification number and state the required details in form D-2 and the stipulated fee under Rule 46.
- To promote Made in India drones, the import of foreign drones has been prohibited in the country.
PLI Scheme for Drones and Drone Components
- Central government approved the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drones and drone components for implementation during the year 2022-23 till 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 120 crore.
- The PLI scheme and new drone rules are intended to catalyse supernormal growth in the upcoming drone sector.
- The annual sales turnover of the drone manufacturing industry may grow from INR 60 crore in 2020-21 fold to over INR 900 crore in FY 2023-24.
- The incentive programme may result in investments more than 5,000 crore Indian rupees over the course of the following three years in the manufacturing of drones and drone components.
- India has the potential to establish itself as a major drone hub by 2030 given its historical prowess in innovation, information technology, cost-effective engineering, and local demand.
