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- The inauguration of the Biopharmaceutical Alliance took place amidst the Bio International Convention 2024 in San Diego, marking a significant milestone in global biopharmaceutical collaboration.
- Introducing the Biopharmaceutical Alliance:
- Comprising India, South Korea, Japan, the USA, and the European Union, this alliance aims to fortify the biopharmaceutical supply chain through concerted efforts.
- Recognizing the vital need for a robust and sustainable supply chain, the participating nations pledged to harmonize biopolicies, regulations, and R&D support initiatives.
- Acknowledging the concentration of essential raw materials and ingredients production, they committed to jointly mapping out the pharmaceutical supply chain in detail.
- The alliance's inception was spurred by the shortages in drug supplies witnessed during the Covid-19 crisis.
- Its formal launch occurred amidst the prestigious Bio International Convention 2024, renowned as the foremost gathering in the biotechnology realm, convening over 20,000 global leaders.
- This convention serves as a nexus for the entire biotech spectrum, bridging public pharmaceutical giants, burgeoning startups, academia, non-profits, and governmental bodies.
- The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has initiated a seamless process of electronically transferring duty drawback amounts directly into exporters’ bank accounts.
- Insight into the Duty Drawback Scheme:
- CBIC oversees this longstanding and reliable scheme aimed at bolstering exports.
- The scheme entails reimbursing Customs and Central Excise duties incurred on imported and excisable materials, respectively, when utilized in the production of goods earmarked for export.
- These provisions are delineated under the Customs Act, 1962.
- Aligned with WTO standards, this scheme ensures that exported goods are exempt from specified taxes, fostering competitiveness in global markets.
- It plays a pivotal role in assisting exporters in defraying certain expenses associated with the export cycle, particularly within the supply or value chain.
- Eligible goods for duty drawback include those imported into India, goods imported and subsequently used, and those manufactured from imported or indigenous materials.
- Claiming duty drawback necessitates meeting certain criteria, such as legal ownership of exported goods and prior payment of customs duty on imported items.
- The UN High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, stands as a groundbreaking international accord adopted by the United Nations in June 2023.
- Insight into the UN High Seas Treaty:
- This landmark treaty endeavors to safeguard and responsibly utilize marine biodiversity situated in areas beyond national jurisdiction, encompassing a substantial portion of the world's oceans.
- The term "high seas" denotes those expanses of the ocean that lie outside the purview of national governance.
- Despite harboring rich biodiversity, these areas are inadequately protected by legal frameworks, with less than two percent benefiting from formal conservation measures.
- As of now, only seven nations—Belize, Chile, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Palau, and the Seychelles—have ratified the treaty.
- For the treaty to attain international legal status, it necessitates signatures and ratifications from a minimum of 60 countries. Notably, India is yet to either sign or ratify the agreement.
- A recent study published in Scientific Reports delves into the potential correlation between migraine and the onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Insight into Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD):
- IBD encompasses a spectrum of chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the tissues lining the digestive tract.
- While IBD manifests differently among individuals, ranging from mild discomfort to severe debilitation, it poses significant health risks, potentially leading to life-threatening complications.
- The two primary forms of IBD are:
- Ulcerative Colitis: Characterized by inflammation and ulceration along the inner lining of the colon and rectum.
- Crohn's Disease: This variant involves inflammation that extends through the entire thickness of the digestive tract lining, commonly affecting the small intestine but potentially impacting any part of the digestive system.
- Additionally, there exists a subtype known as indeterminate colitis IBD, which presents with features overlapping both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
- The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has recently disseminated guidelines for Residential Private Schools keen on enrolling in the SHRESHTA Scheme.
- Insight into the Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA):
- The SHRESHTA Scheme is designed to facilitate access to premier private residential schools for academically accomplished students hailing from Scheduled Caste (SC) communities.
- It envisages offering scholarships to meritorious SC students to pursue education in private and NGO-operated residential schools, spanning Classes 9 through 12.
- Anticipated to extend admissions to approximately 3,000 students annually across Classes 9 and 11, the scheme embodies the government's commitment to broadening the reach of developmental initiatives and bridging educational gaps in underserved SC-dominated regions.
- Operated under the aegis of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, the scheme aims to foster an environment conducive to the socio-economic advancement and holistic growth of SC communities in collaboration with voluntary organizations.