Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism A bioterrorism attack is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs (agents) used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. These agents are typically found in nature, but it is possible that they could be changed to increase their ability to cause disease, make them resistant to current medicines, or to increase their ability to be spread into the environment. Bioterrorism agents are classified as categories A, B, and C Category A Category B Category C High-priority agents include organisms that pose a risk to national security because they can be easily disseminated or transmitted from person to person, result in high mortality rates, and have the potential for major public health impact. They might cause public panic and social disruption, and require special action for public health preparedness. The second highest priority agents include those that are moderately easy to disseminate, result in moderate morbidity rates and low mortality rates, and require specific enhancements of CDC’s diagnostic capacity and enhanced disease surveillance. The third highest priority agents include emerging pathogens that could be engineered for mass dissemination in the future because of availability, ease of production and dissemination, and potential for high morbidity and mortality rates and major health impact. Agents/diseases include anthrax (Bacillus anthracis), botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin), plague (Yersinia pestis), smallpox (Variola major), tularemia (Francisella tularensis), and viral hemorrhagic fevers [filoviruses (e.g. Ebola, Marburg) and arenaviruses (e.g. Lassa, Machupo)]. Agents/diseases include brucellosis (Brucella species), epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens, food safety threats (e.g., Salmonella species, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Shigella), glanders (Burkholderia mallei), melioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei), psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci), Q fever (Coxiella burnetii), ricin toxin from Ricinus communis (castor beans), Staphylococcal enterotoxin B, typhus fever (Rickettsia prowazekii), viral encephalitis [alphaviruses (e.g. Venezuelan equine encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis)], and water safety threats (e.g. Vibrio cholerae, Cryptosporidium parvum). Agents include emerging infectious diseases such as Nipah virus and Hanta virus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (multidrug-resistant strains). Newer trends are products of microbes that can kill or incapacitate targeted hosts, e.g. hormones, neuropeptides, cytokines called as “designer substances” to target a particular organ or type of enemy. Others are “ethnic bombs” and parasite biological weapons under trial to affect cash crops. Countermeasures For Bioterrorism Deterrence (certainty of being punished for the act perpetrated: To strengthen the area of biodefense, the US senate passed the “Bioterrorism Act of 2002.” According to this law, there is an essential element of national preparedness against bioterrorism and the focus is on safety of drugs, food, and water from biological agents and toxins. However, we in India are still waiting for a law on bioterrorism. Prevention (reducing the opportunity, enhanced intelligence): Currently, there is a lacuna in international legislations and treaties to curb or prevent biological weapons’ attacks. Launched in 2004 under the aegis of a $1 million grant from the US-based Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Interpol held its first “Interpol Global Conference on Preventing Bioterrorism” at its headquarters on 1-2 March 2005. The March conference sought to “examine the risk of bioterror attacks, case studies, prevention of attacks, preparation and training of law enforcement personnel, and the related legal and political framework.” Surveillance and assessment (early detection or awareness) by epidemiological methods: public health authorities must implement surveillance systems so that they can recognize patterns of non-specific syndromes that could indicate the early manifestations of a biological warfare attack. 1.Harnessing information, which are considered to be epidemiologic clues of a possible biological warfare Epidemiologic clues of a biologic warfare or terrorist attack. 2.Verification, immunization, and confirmation 3.Initiation of appropriate prevention and control measures Laboratory investigation for diagnosis and characterization/sensitivity of the biological organism: The main role of the hospital-based clinical microbiology laboratory in support of a biothreat, biocrime, or act of bioterrorism is to “raise suspicion” when a targeted agent is suspected in a human specimen. It should be prepared to recognize and respond to a covert event involving the collection, preservation, transport, and testing of human specimens. Medical management (preventive, promotive, and curative services): Medicines and vaccine to be provided; the category of population to be given chemoprophylaxis/immunoprophylaxis identified; availability of the requisite quantity of drugs or vaccine; and outline of the mechanism of administration with health infrastructure. Dissemination (public safety and law enforcing agencies): Warning network such as hospitals and public health agencies Individual clinical expertise of medical personnel Way forward: To create awareness among the public and doctors; To stock pile drugs and vaccines; allocation of separate funds; Preparedness: this is not a cause for panic–it is a cause for serious, Deliberate long-term concern; International collaboration Microbiologists are the main focal points of action because the biological weapons are the products of their specialty To meet the challenge of bioterrorism, coordinated and concerted efforts of different agencies, viz. the intelligence agency, the army, the BSF, SSB, law enforcement machinery, health departments most importantly (surveillance, laboratory response network, alertness of medical and paramedical faculties), civil administration, etc. are required Read also FATF Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey.Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. 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Mission Olympic Cell
Mission Olympic Cell Mission Olympic Cell is a body set up by the Sports Authority of India to select athletes who are to get assistance under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme. Mission Olympic Cell has approved a one-month training camp in the U.S.A for wrestler Bajrang Punia, one of India’s biggest medal hopes at the Tokyo Olympics. The camp will take place from December 4 to January 3 at Cliff Keen Wrestling Club, Michigan, at an approximate cost of ₹14 lakhs. Bajrang, who has been training at the SAI Sonepat centre after the resumption of training camps post the coronavirus lockdown, will travel to the U.S.A with his coach Emzarios Bentinidis and physio Dhananjay. He will get to train with top international wrestlers under head coach, Sergei Beloglazov, who is a two-time Olympic champion. Bajrang has already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after earning a quota at the 2019 World Championships. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Menace of Manual Scavenging
Manual Scavenging – Menace The practice of manually cleaning excrement from private and public dry toilets and open drains persists in several parts of South Asia. Across much of India, consistent with centuries-old feudal and caste-based custom, women from communities that traditionally worked as “manual scavengers,” still collect human waste on a daily basis, load it into cane baskets or metal troughs, and carry it away on their heads for disposal at the outskirts of the settlement. India’s central government since independence in 1947 has adopted legislative and policy efforts to end manual scavenging. Legal Framework Against Manual Scavenging Indian Parliament passed The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (the 2013 Act), committing itself yet again to ending manual scavenging. Seven months later, on March 27, 2014, the Indian Supreme Court held that India’s constitution requires state intervention to end manual scavenging and “rehabilitate” all people engaged in the practice. This meant not only ending the practice but also ending the abuses faced by communities engaged in manual scavenging. Reasons: Don’t have adequate tools and protective gear to clean the manhole. The practice of scavenging is linked to India’s caste system where so-called lower castes were expected to perform this job. Issue Due to Outsourcing Indifferent Attitude Innitiatives: India’s Supreme Court has ruled that the practice of scavenging violates international human rights law, including protections found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). India is also a party to other international conventions that reinforce obligations to end scavenging. The machine launched by Sulabh injects high pressure water into the tunnels and tanks and then collects the waste with a mechanical bucket operated from ground level. Way Forward: Difficult to eliminate manual scavenging in a system that operates at the intersection of caste, and economic inequality. Empowering Local Administration Social Sentisitation Proper Identification Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Bru Tribals
Bru Tribals Bru tribals from Mizoram, living as refugees in Tripura since 1997, were allowed to permanently settle in Tripura. The agreement, allowing 30,000 Bru tribals to permanently settle in Tripura, took 20 years and nine attempts in the making and was signed between the Centre, the state governments of Tripura and Mizoram. The Brus–spread across Tripura, Mizoram, and parts of southern Assam–are the most populous tribe in Tripura. Also known as Reangs in the state, they are ethnically different from the Mizos, with their own distinct language and dialect, and form one of the 21 scheduled tribes of Tripura. While Mizoram has as many as 40,000 Brus living in the state, in Tripura, their numbers stand at approximately 32,000, spread across six refugee camps in the state. In 1997, roughly half the Bru population fled to Tripura, following violent clashes with the Mizo population, which led to the Brus’ demand for an Autonomous District Council (ADC), under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, in western Mizoram, where they were the more dominant lot, outnumbering the ethnic Mizo population. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey.Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. contact us
Cyclone Nivar
Cyclone Nivar Cyclone Nivar : A cyclone is a general term for a weather system in which winds rotate inwardly to an area of low atmospheric pressure. For large weather systems, the circulation pattern is in a counterclockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. As per the guidelines of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), it is necessary for countries to name cyclones in their regions. This makes it easier for media and government to identify the cyclone and raise awareness regarding it. There were several names suggested for this cyclone like Nisarga was listed by Bangladesh while India’s suggestion was Gati. However, eventually, the name Nivar or Nivara was finally chosen from Iran’s list. Impact of Cyclone Nivar: The main threats after Cyclone Nivar’s landfall are likely to be flooding, swollen rivers, lightning, the collapse of kutcha houses, and fallen trees due to gale winds. A power outage is also possible due to potential damage near the coastal areas. Isolated extremely heavy rains are also very likely over coastal and north interior Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, particularly the districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Myladuthirai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Kallakurchi, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, Puducherry, and Karaikal . Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore and Chittoor districts will also experience isolated extremely heavy falls. Landfall: The storm moving over the land after its intensification in the ocean (heat source). Therefore, a cyclone is said to make landfall when the centre of the storm (eye) moves across the coast. The tropical cyclones are usually formed in warmer seas. As per the US National Hurricane Centre definition, it is ‘the intersection of the surface centre of a tropical cyclone with a coastline’. The strongest winds of the cyclone are not at the centre, but at the immediate surroundings of the eye of the storm—usually stronger on one side of the centre. Therefore, very high wind speed can be experienced over the land area when the cyclone is near the land, even when it does not make landfall. It can be vice versa too, where the cyclone can make landfall but leave the strongest wind over the ocean. The landfall usually brings with it high-speed winds, severe storm surge and torrential downpour, all of which can have a severe impact on the region. IMD: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India. It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has released a list with the names of 169 tropical cyclones that are likely to emerge over the north Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. WMO: WMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with 193 Member States and Territories. It is the UN system’s authoritative voice on the state and behaviour of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate it produces and the resulting distribution of water resources. The WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) at its 27th Session held in 2000 in Muscat, Oman agreed in principle to assign names to the tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. This list contained names proposed by the eight-member countries of WMO/ESCAP PTC, viz., Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand The requirement for a fresh list of tropical cyclones including representation from five new member countries: Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen (total 13 member countries) was tabled during the 45th session of WMO/ESCAP, held in September 2018. The session was hosted by Oman. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey.Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. contact us
India-Gulf Cooperation Council
India-Gulf Cooperation Council The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as a collective entity has tremendous significance for India. The Gulf constitutes the “immediate” neighbourhood of India separated only by the Arabian Sea. India, therefore, has a vital stake in the stability , security and economic well being of the Gulf. As a group, the GCC has been increasingly determining the economy, political and security policies of its member States. The GCC countries are moving ahead rapidly with their economic integration efforts. The GCC has emerged as a major trading partner of India. It has vast potential as India’s investment partner for the future. The GCC’s substantial oil and gas reserves are of utmost importance for India’s energy needs. The GCC countries are collectively host to a large Indian expatriate community. In short, the GCC offers tremendous potential for cooperation in trade, investment, energy, manpower, etc. Objectives: Coordination, integration and inter-connection between Member States in all fields. Strengthening ties between their peoples. Formulating similar regulations in various fields such as economy, finance, trade, customs, tourism, legislation, administration. Fostering scientific and technical progress in industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal resources. Establishing scientific research centres, setting up joint ventures, and encouraging cooperation of the private sector. Challenges: Indian Workers Want to Return to Arab Countries Cooperation Economic and Commercial Relations: India enjoys traditionally cordial relations and cooperation with the GCC. India’s old, historical ties with GCC States, coupled with increasing imports of oil and gas, growing trade and investment, and presence of approximately 6.5 million Indian workers in the region, are of vital interest to India. India’s economic linkage with the GCC have increased steadily, especially due to growth in oil imports. During 2015-16, India’s exports to GCC were US $ 41.71 billion. The bilateral two-way trade during the period was US$ 97.46 billion, registering a decline of about 27% over the previous year. India’s trade with GCC countries: Countries 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 Import Export Total Import Export Total Import Export Total KSA 36,403.65 12,218.96 48,622.61 28,107.56 11,162.55 39,270.11 20,314.81 6,395.76 26,710.57 UAE 29,019.82 30,520.42 59,540.24 26,139.91 33,028.08 59,167.99 19,424.88 30,321.07 49,745.95 Oman 2,951.18 2,812.27 5,763.45 1,752.24 2,379.44 4,131.68 1,673.00 2,191.09 3,864.09 Kuwait 17,153.55 1,061.14 18,214.69 13,381.97 1,198.89 14,580.86 4,967.81 1,246.37 6,214.18 Qatar 15,707.99 969.06 16,677.05 14,604.71 1,054.98 15,659.69 9,018.53 903.18 9,921.71 Bahrain 563.24 639.36 1,202.60 446.25 472.98 919.23 356.90 654.21 1,011.11 Total 101,799.43 48,221.21 150,020.64 84,432.64 49,296.92 133,729.56 55,755.93 41,711.68 97,467.61 Read Also Gaza Strip Strategic relations: India and GCC share the desire for political stability and security in the region. The common political and security concerns of India and GCC translate into efforts for peace, security and stability in the Gulf region and South Asia. The emerging common security perceptions create further opportunities for GCC-India cooperation in the future The GCC States are going through important changes and transformation; the process of understanding and integration is coming of age. Alongwith it the areas for cooperation are also widening beyond investments, trade & commerce and sharing & development of human resources to security. India-GCC Industrial Conference: The first GCC-India Industrial Conference was held in Mumbai in February 2004, the second was held in Muscat in March 2006, the third was held in Mumbai in May 2007 and the fourth was held at King Abdullah Economic City, Jeddah in November 2015. India- GCC FTA : India and GCC signed a Framework Agreement for enhancing and developing economic cooperation between the two sides in in New Delhi in August 2004. Two rounds of talks for finalizing aspects like tariff rules, rules of origin, etc have been held. The India-GCC FTA is under negotiation. Conclusion: Amid the more apprehensive and inward-looking world, trade wars between U.S and China, pandemic hit the pessimistic world, India and GCC have immense potential to create avenues of growth and stability. A strong layered economic partnership between the two parties would be beneficial for everyone. India-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) can provide a boost to the relations. India needs to safeguard its large economic, political and demographic stakes in the region Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Ayushman Bharat PMJAY
Ayushman Bharat PMJAY Ayushman Bharat, a flagship scheme of Government of India, was launched as recommended by the National Health Policy 2017, to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This initiative has been designed to meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its underlining commitment, which is to “leave no one behind.” Ayushman Bharat is an attempt to move from sectoral and segmented approach of health service delivery to a comprehensive need-based health care service. This scheme aims to undertake path-breaking interventions to holistically address the healthcare system (covering prevention, promotion and ambulatory care) at the primary, secondary and tertiary level. Ayushman Bharat adopts a continuum of care approach, comprising of two inter-related components, which are – Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) 1. Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) In February 2018, the Government of India announced the creation of 1,50,000 Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) by transforming the existing Sub Centres and Primary Health Centres. These centres are to deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) bringing healthcare closer to the homes of people. They cover both, maternal and child health services and non-communicable diseases, including free essential drugs and diagnostic services. Health and Wellness Centers are envisaged to deliver an expanded range of services to address the primary health care needs of the entire population in their area, expanding access, universality and equity close to the community. The emphasis of health promotion and prevention is designed to bring focus on keeping people healthy by engaging and empowering individuals and communities to choose healthy behaviours and make changes that reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and morbidities. 2. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) The second component under Ayushman Bharat is the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna or PM-JAY. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the largest health assurance scheme in the world which aims at providing a health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crores poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) that form the bottom 40% of the Indian population. The households included are based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas respectively. PM-JAY was earlier known as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) before being rechristened. It subsumed the then existing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) which had been launched in 2008. The coverage mentioned under PM-JAY, therefore, also includes families that were covered in RSBY but are not present in the SECC 2011 database. PM-JAY is fully funded by the Government and cost of implementation is shared between the Central and State Governments. Read Also SVAMITVA Scheme Key Features of PM-JAY PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance/ assurance scheme fully financed by the government. It provides a cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across public and private empanelled hospitals in India. Over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable entitled families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) are eligible for these benefits. PM-JAY provides cashless access to health care services for the beneficiary at the point of service, that is, the hospital. PM-JAY envisions to help mitigate catastrophic expenditure on medical treatment which pushes nearly 6 crore Indians into poverty each year. It covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days post-hospitalization expenses such as diagnostics and medicines. There is no restriction on the family size, age or gender. All pre–existing conditions are covered from day one. Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country i.e. a beneficiary can visit any empanelled public or private hospital in India to avail cashless treatment. Services include approximately 1,393 procedures covering all the costs related to treatment, including but not limited to drugs, supplies, diagnostic services, physician’s fees, room charges, surgeon charges, OT and ICU charges etc. Public hospitals are reimbursed for the healthcare services at par with the private hospitals. Benefit Cover Under PM-JAY Benefit cover under various Government-funded health insurance schemes in India has always been structured on an upper ceiling limit ranging from an annual cover of INR30,000 to INR3,00,000 per family across various States which created a fragmented system. PM-JAY provides cashless cover of up to INR5,00,000 to each eligible family per annum for listed secondary and tertiary care conditions. The cover under the scheme includes all expenses incurred on the following components of the treatment. Medical examination, treatment and consultation Pre-hospitalization Medicine and medical consumables Non-intensive and intensive care services Diagnostic and laboratory investigations Medical implantation services (where necessary) Accommodation benefits Food services Complications arising during treatment Post-hospitalization follow-up care up to 15 days The benefits of INR 5,00,000 are on a family floater basis which means that it can be used by one or all members of the family. The RSBY had a family cap of five members. However, based on learnings from those schemes, PM-JAY has been designed in such a way that there is no cap on family size or age of members. In addition, pre-existing diseases are covered from the very first day. This means that any eligible person suffering from any medical condition before being covered by PM-JAY will now be able to get treatment for all those medical conditions as well under this scheme right from the day they are enrolled. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey.Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. contact us
G20 Summit
G20 Summit The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation. It gathers the leaders of the largest economies of the world to discuss financial and socioeconomic issues. The Group of Twenty, or the G20, is the premier forum for international economic cooperation. The G20 brings together the leaders of both developed and developing countries from every continent. Collectively, G20 members represent around 80% of the world’s economic output, two-thirds of the global population and three-quarters of international trade. Throughout the year, representatives from G20 countries gather to discuss financial and socioeconomic issues. How does the G20 Work? The presidency of the G20 rotates between member countries every year. The presidency plays a leading role in setting the agenda and organizing the Leaders’ Summit, which is attended by the G20 Heads of State or Government. At the Summit, the leaders issued a declaration, or communiqué, based on policy discussions at meetings held throughout the year. In the run-up to the Summit, the presidency hosts several meetings featuring Ministers, senior government officials as well as civil society representatives. At the government level, the G20 work is organized around the Finance and Sherpa Tracks, while civil society assembles through Engagement Groups. The Finance Track: Meetings of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, as well as their Deputies, focus on fiscal and monetary policy issues such as the global economy, infrastructure, financial regulation, financial inclusion, international financial architecture, and international taxation. The Sherpa Track: Meetings of Ministers and relevant senior officials, which focus on socioeconomic issues such as agriculture, anti-corruption, climate, digital economy, education, employment, energy, environment, health, tourism, trade, and investment. Engagement Groups: Represent civil society and develop recommendations that are submitted to G20 Leaders for their consideration. Engagement Groups include the Business 20, Youth 20, Labour 20, Think 20, Civil 20, Women 20, Science 20, and Urban 20. Read Also Digital Services Tax G20 Participants The G20 members are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union (EU). International Organizations: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United Nations (UN), the World Bank Group (WBG), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). India’s Priorities in G20 Summits Checking tax evasion to fight corruption Choking terror funds Cutting the cost of remittances Market access for key drugs Reforms in the World Trade Organisation to improve its functioning “Full implementation” of the Paris Agreement India and the US discussed various bilateral and global issues including Iran, 5G communications networks, trade and defence ahead of the G-20 Summit. India targeted to become a five-trillion dollar economy in the next five years. Read India Sri Lanka Relations Challenges: Tackling ocean plastic waste To make development sustainable and all-inclusive. Instability and downfall in the global economy. Unilateralism and competitiveness are overshadowing the rule-based multilateral global trade systems. Terrorism is a major challenge. Way Forward Need for a more coordinated effort Need to redefine conversations on globalization. Life-cycle approach o. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey.Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. contact us
One Health Approach
One Health Approach One Health is an approach to designing and implementing programs, policies, legislation, and research in which multiple sectors communicate and work together to achieve better public health outcomes. The areas of work in which a One Health approach is particularly relevant to include food safety, the control of zoonoses (diseases that can spread between animals and humans, such as flu, rabies, and Rift Valley Fever), and combatting antibiotic resistance (when bacteria change after being exposed to antibiotics and become more difficult to treat). Why do we need a One Health approach? Many of the same microbes infect animals and humans, as they share the eco-systems they live in. Efforts by just one sector cannot prevent or eliminate the problem. For instance, rabies in humans is effectively prevented only by targeting the animal source of the virus (for example, by vaccinating dogs). Information on influenza viruses circulating in animals is crucial to the selection of viruses for human vaccines for potential influenza pandemics. Drug-resistant microbes can be transmitted between animals and humans through direct contact between animals and humans or through contaminated food, so to effectively contain it, a well-coordinated approach in humans and in animals is required. Read Also Mission Olympic Cell Challenges: Planetary Environmental health may affect human and animal health through contamination, pollution and changing climate conditions that may lead to emergence of new infectious agents. Worldwide, nearly 75 percent of all emerging human infectious diseases in the past three decades originated in animals. The world population is projected to grow from 7 billion in 2011 to 9 billion by 2050. To provide adequate healthcare, food, and water for the growing global population, the health professions, and their related disciplines and institutions, must work together. Human-animal interactions/bonds can beneficially impact the health of both people and animals. Potential Outcomes from the One Health Approach More interdisciplinary programs in education, training, research, and established policy More information sharing related to disease detection, diagnosis, education and research More prevention of diseases, both infectious and chronic Development of new therapies and approaches to treatments Today’s health problems are frequently complex, transboundary, multifactorial, and across species, and if approached from a purely medical, veterinary, or ecological standpoint, it is unlikely that sustainable mitigation strategies will be produced. One Health approaches for an innovative and effective control of both infectious and multifactorial non-communicable diseases. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2020
Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2020 The Competition Law Review Committee (CLRC) was set up on October 1st, 2018 to review the Competition Act, 2002 (Act) and other incidental rules thereunder. The need for a robust framework due to the growth of newer and disruptive models of business, the CLRC released its report in July 2019. After incorporating certain reforms suggested by the CLRC, the draft Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (Bill) was released in February 2020 for public comments. The Bill contains certain groundbreaking amendments which could completely revamp the competition regime in India. With this background, this article aims to analyze the key changes suggested under the Bill and its impact on the stakeholders at large. The Act mandates that the CCI should comprise of one chairman and six members (all whole-time members). However, in practice, the government had restricted the strength of the CCI to only four members. In light of the same, the Bill proposes that the CCI must comprise of one chairman and six members. The Bill proposes to include an entity regardless of its legal form or status, also including units, divisions and subsidiaries under the purview of an ‘enterprise’. Such an amendment will bring all types of enterprises under CCI thereby making its regulatory mechanism more extensive. The Bill proposes to expand the definition of ‘relevant product market’ to comprise of all products or services wherein the production or supply are regarded as interchangeable or substitutable by a supplier. The Bill has plugged the loopholes which existed under the previous regime in order to establish a robust framework. However, Bill’s stance on the omission of the constitution of a separate NCLAT bench for adjudication of competition cases suggested by the CLRC must be reconsidered since it can reduce the burden of NCLAT. Read Also Justice Verma Committee (JVC) recommendation Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
