National Medical Devices Policy Approved By Union Cabinet
National Medical Devices Policy Approved
By Union Cabinet
Why In News
·
National
Medical Devices Policy: The Indian Government has taken steps for National
Medical Devices Policy to implement the PLI Scheme for medical devices and
establish 4 Medical Devices Parks.
Key Points
·
The
Indian Government has taken steps for National Medical Devices Policy to
implement the PLI Scheme for medical devices and establish 4 Medical Devices
Parks in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. At
present, 26 projects worth Rs 1206 crore have been approved under the scheme,
with an investment of Rs 714 crore realized.
·
14
projects producing 37 products have been commissioned to date and high-end
medical devices like Linear Accelerator, MRI Scan, Mammogram, CT-Scan, C-Arm,
high-end X-ray tubes, MRI Coils, etc., are being manufactured domestically with
the remaining 12 products to follow soon.
·
Recently,
5 projects have been approved under Category B, for domestic manufacturing of
87 products/product components under National Medical Devices Policy.
·
To
further boost growth in the sector and realize its potential, a comprehensive
policy framework is urgently required.
·
Despite
various Government departments taking initiative to encourage the medical
device sector, there is currently a lack of a coordinated approach.
·
Therefore,
the regulations, skilling, and trade promotion of medical device industry must
be integrated in a coherent manner to enable focused and efficient support from
the authorities.
National
Medical Devices Policy: Aim
·
The
National Medical Devices Policy 2023 aims to build on these measures to
facilitate the orderly growth of the medical device sector.
·
The
policy focuses on creating an enabling ecosystem for manufacturing and
innovation, streamlining
·
regulations,
promoting training and capacity building programs, and fostering talent and
skilled resources in line with the industry requirements.
·
Domestic
investments and production of medical devices will also be encouraged to
complement the Government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ programs.
·
The
policy covers six broad areas of policy interventions—regulatory streamlining,
enabling infrastructure, facilitating R&D and innovation, attracting
investments, human resources development, and brand positioning and awareness
creation.
·
The
policy aims to enhance ease of doing research and business, create world-class
common infrastructure facilities, promote R&D and innovation, attract
private investments, develop skilled workforces, and create a dedicated Export
Promotion Council for the sector.
Scientists protest the NCERT’s decision to eliminate Darwin’s theory of evolution
Scientists protest the NCERT’s decision to
eliminate Darwin’s theory of evolution
Why In News
·
Removal
of Darwin's theory of evolution by NCERT: More than 1800 scientists, and
educators in India have criticized NCERT for their decision to eliminate
Darwin's theory of evolution.
Key Points
·
Darwin’s
theory of evolution: More than 1800 scientists, educators, and scientific
enthusiasts in India have criticized the National Council of Educational
Research and Training (NCERT) for their decision to eliminate Darwin’s theory
of evolution from science textbooks for classes 9 and 10.
·
NCERT
claimed the removal was part of their syllabus rationalization effort following
the Covid-19 outbreak, but the scientific community argues that the omission of
Darwin’s theory is a “travesty of education” and will hinder students’ critical
thinking abilities. This is not the first time significant scientific or
historical information has been removed from curriculum, sparking concerns and
objections from concerned parties.
Who
is Charles Darwin?
·
Charles
Darwin’s role in establishing the idea of evolution has earned him the title
“father of evolution.” His theory aided in dispelling all of the prevailing,
antiquated notions that the emergence of distinct species was a result of a
supernatural occurrence or an act of God. The origin of new species was explained
more logically by Darwin’s evolutionary theory of natural selection. Natural
selection holds that different species developed from a single species as a
result of adaptation to the environment’s shifting conditions.
Darwin’s
theory of evolution:
·
Over
two decades, English naturalist Charles Darwin meticulously studied nature,
delving into animal distribution and the correlations between living and
extinct creatures. Through his groundbreaking research, Darwin uncovered that
many present-day animals not only share similarities with each other, but also
with species that existed millions of years ago, many of which are now extinct.
·
His
extensive findings earned him the title of the father of evolution, as his
theory of natural selection presented a more logical and rational explanation
for the formation of new species. Darwin’s scientific breakthroughs helped to
discredit old, supernatural beliefs, proving that the adaptation of species to
their changing environment leads to the creation of new, distinct beings
stemming from one original species.
Interesting
facts about Darwin and his theory of evolution:
·
One
reason why Darwin’s inquiry into the practice of human inbreeding was shunned
was due to its implicit critique of the royal family, given that Queen Victoria
herself had wed her cousin.
·
To
avoid Alfred Wallace from getting all the credit for the natural selection
theory, Darwin had to publicize his own ideas concurrently.
·
There
are those who speculate that Darwin’s frequent bouts of sicknesses may have
been primarily psychological since his symptoms would often exacerbate with
stress.
·
Erasmus
Darwin, Charles Darwin’s grandfather, was a physician who talked about
transmutation – which is essentially evolution – leading to Erasmus’s disgrace
and discredit. This caused a sense of trepidation in Charles about the
possibility of being publicly reprimanded, causing him to be slow in publishing
his works.
Previous
Removals of Chapter by NCERT:
·
Previously,
historians objected to the removal of significant events such as the Mughal
rule and the Gujarat Riots 2002 from history textbooks. NCERT was also
criticized for not informing the removal of these topics.
·
In a
recent open statement, historians stated that deleting chapters or sections
from textbooks is problematic as it deprives learners of valuable content and
undermines pedagogical values required to equip them to face present and future
challenges.
·
In
response, the school education regulator defended the “minor removals” in the
curriculum, stating that these deletions were not included in the official list
of deletions announced last year. The reason for this is to avoid confusion
among teachers and students.
Jaden Pariat Becomes First Indian to Finish on Podium in British F4 Championship
Jaden Pariat Becomes First Indian to
Finish on Podium in British F4 Championship
Why In News
·
Jaden
Pariat, a young Indian racing talent representing Argenti Motorsport, has
demonstrated his exceptional skills by securing a podium position in the
opening round of the ROKiT British F4 Champions
Key Points
·
Jaden
Pariat, a young Indian racing talent representing Argenti Motorsport, has
demonstrated his exceptional skills by securing a podium position in the
opening round of the ROKiT British F4 Championship held at Donington Park.
·
He has
become the second Indian racer to achieve an international podium in a Tatuus
F4 car, following Kush Maini’s feat in 2017.
·
Despite
a difficult start where he qualified in 17th place, he managed to secure a
third-place finish in Race 2. During the race, he had to change his tyres but
lost some laps due to a red flag caused by an incident in front of him.
·
However,
he made an impressive comeback in wet conditions to clinch the podium. In Race
1, he gained six places and finished in 11th position, while in Race 3, he
overtook five cars and finished 12th in wet conditions. Jaden is supported by
Minerva Virtual School, Lyca Radio, and Bobatree.
Pakistan becomes largest recipient of ADB funded programmes in 2022
Pakistan becomes largest recipient of ADB
funded programmes in 2022
Why In News
·
The
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Report 2022 revealed that Pakistan received
loans of $5.58 billion, making it the largest recipient of ADB-funded
programs/projects in the year 2022.
Key Points
About
Asian Development Bank (ADB):
·
Pakistan
Becomes the Largest Recipient of ADB-Funded Programs Amidst Economic Crisis:
·
The
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Report 2022 revealed that Pakistan received
loans of $5.58 billion, making it the largest recipient of ADB-funded
programs/projects in the year 2022. Out of the total lending, Pakistan received
concessional funding of $2.67 billion from the bank, highlighting the dire
economic situation in the country.
·
This
significant lending reflects the severity of the economic crisis in Pakistan,
which has been compounded by political and geopolitical uncertainties.
Natural
Disasters and Food Insecurity Worsen Economic Woes in Pakistan and Afghanistan:
·
The
ADB report cited extreme floods in Pakistan that damaged over one-third of the
Kharif (summer) seasonal cropping area, curtailing food supply and driving up
prices. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, drought and flash floods worsened food
insecurity and contributed to soaring prices of staple items, impacting the
entire population.
·
To
address this crisis, the ADB committed $3.7 billion from the programme in 2022,
including essential food assistance for those in need, especially women and
girls, in Afghanistan (using UN systems), Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Countercyclical
Support Facility to Aid Countries Affected by Food and Energy Crisis:
·
The
ADB also provided a combined $2.2 billion, directed through the bank’s
countercyclical support facility, for the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. All these countries were severely impacted by the
food and energy crisis sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
·
In the
case of Pakistan, devastating floods exacerbated the economic woes, leading to
domestic inflation and curtailing consumption.
ADB’s
Role in Providing Timely Response to Crises in the Asia Pacific Region:
·
The
ADB has played a critical role in providing timely responses to emerging and
ongoing crises in the Asia Pacific region. The bank’s support to the countries
affected by natural disasters and economic challenges has been significant.
·
The
ADB’s funding has helped address food insecurity, enhance energy security, and
support the affected population. The bank’s focus on concessional funding has
provided crucial support to the countries struggling with severe economic
challenges.
About
Asian Development Bank (ADB):
·
The
Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank established in 1966
to promote economic and social progress in Asia and the Pacific.
·
ADB is
headquartered in Manila, Philippines, and has 68 member countries, including 49
from the Asia-Pacific region.
·
ADB
provides loans, grants, and technical assistance to its member countries for
various development projects, including infrastructure development, poverty
reduction, and regional integration.
·
ADB’s
priorities include addressing climate change, promoting gender equality, and
supporting private sector development.
·
ADB
has committed over $330 billion in loans and grants since its inception and
aims to achieve a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and
the Pacific.
·
The
top five shareholders in ADB, in terms of voting power, are Japan (15.6%), the
United States (15.6%), China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).
·
India
is the fourth-largest shareholder in ADB and has been a member since its
inception. In recent years, India has been one of the largest recipients of ADB
funding for various development projects, including infrastructure, education,
health, and poverty reduction.