World Environment Day – 5th June

In News:

  • Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (Divyangjan) is celebrating ‘World Environment Day’ (5th June 2021).
  • The theme for World Environment Day 2021 is ‘Ecosystem Restoration’.
  • This event also includes a virtual interactive national webinar on the theme ‘Sapling of Hope: the New Beginning’ for persons with disabilities and their parents, with a special focus on speech and hearing disabilities.
  • REIMAGINE. RECREATE. RESTORE are the key words for the celebrations this year. Contributing with the same spirit, Films Division is presenting Oasis of Hope, an online festival of films on environment on 5th and 6th June, 2021 to mark the important occasion.
  • Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (Divyangjan) is one of the apex National Institutes working for the rehabilitation of persons with speech and hearing disabilities across India under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India.

Union Ministers Releases A Model Panchayat Citizens Charter

In News: A Model Panchayat Citizens Charter was released by Union Minister of Rural Development, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare & Panchayati Raj Shri Narendra Singh Tomar through virtual program.

Context:

  • The framework for delivery of the services across the 29 sectors, aligning actions with localised Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was prepared by Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) in collaboration with National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) for the Panchayats to adopt & customise.
  • The Citizen Charter would ensure transparent and effective delivery of public services for sustainable development and enhanced citizen service experiences; deepening inclusive and accountable Local Self Governments by incorporating diverse views while designing and delivering services.
  • It is also expected that the Panchayats will utilise this framework to draw up a Citizens Charter and adopt it through a resolution of the Gram Sabha by 15th August, 2021. 
  • Panchayats constitute the third tier of government in the rural areas and represents the first level of Government interaction for over 60 per cent of the Indian populace.
  • Panchayats are responsible for delivery of basic services as enshrined under article 243G of the Constitution of India, specifically in the areas of Health & Sanitation, Education, Nutrition, Drinking Water.

Indian Railways to become “Largest Green Railways” in the world

In News: Indian Railways (IR) is working in mission mode to become the largest Green Railways in the world and is moving towards becoming a “net zero carbon emitter” before 2030.

Context:

  • Railways is guided by a holistic vision of being an environment friendly, efficient, cost effective, punctual and a modern carrier of passengers as well as freight in order to serve the growing needs of New India.
  • IR is looking at helping the environment with steps ranging from massive electrification, water & paper conservation, to saving animals from being injured on Railway tracks.
  • Railway Electrification which is environment friendly and reduces pollution. It has increased nearly ten times since 2014.
  • Capturing the economic benefits of electric traction in an accelerated manner, Railways has planned to electrify balance Broad Gauge (BG) routes by December, 2023 to achieve 100% electrification of BG routes.
  • Head-On-Generation systems, Bio-Toilets and LED lights recreate the train itself into a travel mode that’s kinder to the environment while maintaining comparable passenger comfort.
  • IR’s Dedicated Freight Corridors are being developed as a low carbon green transportation network with a long-term low carbon roadmap, which will enable it to adopt more energy efficient and carbon-friendly technologies, processes and practices.
  • IR is implementing two Dedicated Freight Corridor projects viz. Eastern Corridor (EDFC) from Ludhiana to Dankuni (1,875 km) and Western Corridor (WDFC) from Dadri to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (1,506 km).
  • IR’s network and reach enabled movement of Freight, like Food Grains & Oxygen in pandemic, even while being more environment friendly as compared to Road transport.

Green Certifications and implementation of Environment Management System:

  • A MoU was signed between IR and Confederation of Indian Industry in July 2016 for facilitation of Green initiatives on IR. 39 Workshops, 7 Production Units, 8 Loco Sheds and one Stores depot have been ‘GreenCo’ certified. These include 2 Platinum, 15 Gold and 18 Silver ratings.
  • Green certification mainly covers assessment of parameters having direct bearing on the environment, such as, energy conservation measures, use of renewable energy, Green House Gas emission reduction, water conservation, waste management, material conservation, recycling etc.
  • A total of 718 stations have been identified for ISO: 14001 certification.
  • It helps railways to support government commitments such as the Paris agreement on climate change, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and National Disaster Management Plans.

Trademark for India’s First Indigenous Tumour Antigen SPAG9

In News: In a recent development, the SPAG9 antigen has received the trademark ASPAGNIITM. Currently, ASPAGNIITM is being used in dendritic cell (DC) based immunotherapy in cervical, ovarian cancer and will also be used in breast cancer.

Context:

  • Cancer kills 8.51 lakh people in India every year (International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2020, Globocan). As per World Health Organization (WHO), one in 10 Indians will develop cancer during their lifetime, and one in 15 will die of cancer. Therefore, it is all the more critical to make extraordinary breakthroughs and innovations to cure this deadly disease.
  • India’s first indigenous tumour antigen SPAG9 was discovered by Dr Anil Suri in 1998 who is heading the Cancer Research Program at NII.
  • Immunotherapy:
    1. It is a new approach that exploits the body’s inner capability to put up a fight against cancer.
    2. With this approach, either the immune system is given a boost, or the T cells are “trained’’ to identify recalcitrant cancer cells and kill them.
    3. In this personalised intervention, those patients expressing SPAG9 protein can be treated with DC-based vaccine approach.
  • DC-based vaccine approach: 
    1. In DC-based vaccine, patient’s cells called monocytes from their blood are collected and modified into what are called dendritic cells.
    2. These dendritic cells are primed with ASPAGNIITM and are injected back to the patient to help the ‘fighter’ cells, or T-cells, in the body to kill the cancer cells.
    3. DC-based immunotherapy is safe, affordable and can promote antitumor immune responses and prolonged survival of cancer patients.
  • The ASPAGNIITM is a true example of translational cancer research and the Atmanirbhar Bharat spirit. This will be a real morale boost in affordable, personalized and indigenous products for cancer treatment.

6 conventional submarines under Project 75I

In News: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the issuance of a Request For Proposal (RFP) for the construction of six conventional submarines under Project-75 I.

Context:

  • This is a landmark approval, being the first case processed under the Strategic Partnership (SP) model. This would be one of the largest ‘Make in India’ projects and it will create a tiered industrial ecosystem for submarine construction in India.
  • In January 2021, the DAC shortlisted Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) as the Indian partners for the deal. The Navy will now issue the RFP to them, who would respond to it in partnership with a foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
  • Five foreign OEMs- Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) (South Korea), Naval Group (France), Navantia (Spain), Rosoboronexport (Russia) and TKMS (Germany), have been selected.
  • As per the Navy’s requirements, the submarines, all of which will be built in India, should be equipped with Air Independent propulsion (AIP) modules and be able to fire land attack cruise missiles.

Project 75I:

  • The Project 75I-class submarine is a follow-on of the Project 75 Kalvari-class submarine for the Indian Navy.
  • Under this project, the Indian Navy intends to acquire six diesel-electric submarines, which will also feature advanced air-independent propulsion systems to enable them to stay submerged for longer duration and substantially increase their operational range.
  • All six submarines are expected to be constructed in Indian shipyards.

Serum Institute gets DCGI’s nod to produce Sputnik V

In News:

  • The DCGI has granted permission to the Serum Institute of India (SII) to manufacture the Sputnik COVID-19 vaccine in India for examination, test and analysis with certain conditions.
  • The Pune-based firm has collaborated with Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow in Russia for developing Sputnik V at its licensed Hadapsar facility.
  • This licence, unless suspended or revoked, will be enforced for a period of three years.
  • Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories is currently supplying Sputnik V in India.

RBI adds hospitality sector aid with ₹15,000 cr. credit window

In News: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has opened a separate On-tap Liquidity Window to help mitigate the adverse impact of the second wave of the pandemic on certain contact-intensive sectors.

Context:

  • The move would provide liquidity of ₹15,000 crore till March 31, 2022, with tenors of up to three years.
  • Under the scheme, banks can provide fresh lending support to hotels and restaurants; entities related to tourism — travel agents, tour operators and adventure or heritage facilities; aviation ancillary services — ground handling and supply chain; and others including private bus operators, car repair services, rent-a-car service providers, event/conference organisers, spa clinics, and beauty parlours/salons.
  • Banks will be permitted to park their surplus liquidity up to the size of the loan book created under this scheme with the RBI at a rate which is 40 basis points (bps) higher than the reverse repo rate.