Prelim Bits 14-03-2024 | UPSC Daily Current Affairs

National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAP-SE)

India recently launched the ‘National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAP-SE)’ along with a booklet on Snakebite and a Poster on “Dos” and “Don’ts”.

• It is a broad framework for management, prevention and control of Snake bite envenoming in India.
• Launched by – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Aim – To halve the number of deaths and disability due to snakebite envenoming by 2030 through ‘One Health’ approach

• Mission – To progressively reduce the morbidity, mortality and its associated complications in humans due to Snake bite.
• Components – Human, wildlife, tribal and animal health component.
• Human-health Component – Surveillance of snake bite case, emergency care services, anti-snake venom at all health facilities, and institutionalization of Regional Venom Centre.
• Wildlife-health component – Public awareness, research & monitoring, snake venom collection, antivenom distribution and snake relocation.
• Animal & agriculture component – Prevention of snake bites in livestock, community engagement etc.

Human health component are already being implemented under snakebite prevention and control through the State and District Nodal Officer (SNO & DNO) under National Health Mission.

• Joint monitoring – Component wise monitoring and independent external evaluation of the state action plan.
• Key stakeholders – As a nodal agency, they directly involve in providing technical and logistic support to the State/District and below level and also help in formalizing the State Action Plan.
• A guidance document – For the states / UTs and stakeholders to develop their own action plan, specific to their needs.
• The states will identify and nominate State and District Nodal Officer (SNO & DNO).
• A helpline number ‘15400’ – For immediate assistance & guidance to individuals and communities affected by snakebites.
• It will be piloted in 5 states and Union Territories (UTs) - Puducherry, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi.

Reference

PIB| Launch of NAPSE

Project SOORYA

ISRO has formalised a project team, internally named ‘SOORYA’, to start building the New Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).

• Aim – To develop NGLV and thereby to build the country's own space station and send Indians to the Moon.

NGLV will be India’s biggest rocket and is to be ready by 2034-35.

• Requirement – 3^rd launch pad at Sriharikota will be necessary as NGLV’s configuration will differ from the current class of rockets.
• Features – A 3-stage launch vehicle.
• Fuel – Green fuel combinations like methane-liquid oxygen or kerosene-liquid oxygen.
• Payload capacity – Up to 10 tonnes to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) that is more than twice the capability India's current heaviest rocket, the LVM-3, has.
• Reusability – Its parts are recoverable and can be reflown.
• Cost-competitive rocket – Reusability reduces the launch costs, of around $1,900 per kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), compared to $3,000/kg for an expendable configuration.
• In line with India’s Space Vision 2047 – It helps in achieving the goals of building a space station by 2035 and eventually sending Indians to Moon.
• Private sector participation – While ISRO will provide technical support, the private industry is expected to eventually handle building, operations and launches.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), a space agency of India, created in 1969 by superseding Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR). Its headquarters is in Bengaluru, Karnataka and works under the control of Department of Space (DOS), Government of India.

Reference

Times of India| Project Team ready for NGLV

Committee on Digital Competition Law (CDCL)

The Committee on Digital Competition Law (CDCL) has submitted its report with the Draft Bill on Digital Competition Law.

• Constituted by – Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)
• Aim – To examine the need for a separate law on competition in digital markets and to prepare a draft Digital Competition Act and submitting a report.
• Composition – 16-member inter-ministerial committee.
• Committee headed by – Manoj Govil
• Activity – It reviewed whether the existing provisions of the Competition Act 2002 are sufficient to deal with the challenges emerging from the digital economy.
• Recommendation – They are largely modelled on the EU’s Digital Markets Act, with some India specific variations.
• Ex-ante (before the event) measures be introduced to complement the current ex-post framework.
• Legislate to regulate the market power of Big Tech firms like Google and Meta to better equip the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to rule on competition matters for tech firms.
• Identifying large digital enterprises with a ’significant presence’ in India in selected ‘core digital services’ and terming them as “Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises,” or SSDEs.
  • They shall be identified by using 2 test basis, companies’ significant financial strength and significant spread.
  • These companies need to do a self-assessment and report it to the CCI if they fall within the same.
  • Any non-compliance with the requirement, may lead to significant fines which can be up to 10% of global turnover.
• Implement a mechanism for inter-regulatory consultations.
• Challenges – Ex-ante regulation could potentially stifle innovation which could lead to unintended consequences, such as reduced consumer choice and higher prices.

References

1. The Hindu Business Line| Draft bill on Digital Competition Law
2. The Hindu| Recommendation of Manoj Govil Committee

Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024

Government issues marketing code for pharmaceutical firms under the tag ‘Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024’.

• Issued by – Department of Pharmaceuticals

The Department of Pharmaceuticals, created in 2008 under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers with the objective to give greater focus and thrust on the development of pharmaceutical sector in the country.

• Code for pharmaceutical associations – Constitute an Ethics Committee for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices
• Set up a dedicated UCPMP portal on their website and with the detailed procedure for lodging of complaints.
• Code for pharmaceutical companies – It disallows the companies in sponsored gifts, monetary grants or foreign trips for healthcare professionals or their families.
• Additionally, no pecuniary advantage or benefit may be offered to any person qualified to prescribe or supply drugs.
• Code for drug regulation – A drug must not be promoted prior to the receipt of its marketing approval for its sale or distribution.
• Claims for the usefulness of a drug must be based on up-to-date evaluation of all available evidence.
• The word ‘safe’ must not be used without qualification, and it must not be stated categorically that a medicine has no side effects, toxic hazards, or risk of addiction.
• The word ‘new’ must not be used to describe any drug which has been generally available or any therapeutic intervention which has been generally promoted in India for more than a year.
• CME – Continuing Medical Education involving the pharmaceutical industry & healthcare professionals should only be allowed through a transparent and verifiable set of guidelines.
• Conduct of such events in foreign locations is prohibited.

Reference

The Hindu| Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices Code 2024

Global Methane Tracker 2024

The recent ‘Global Methane Tracker 2024’ reports that methane emissions from fossil fuels remain high despite progress.

• It is annual report.
• Released by – International Energy Agency (IEA)
• Aim – To bring down methane emissions from across the energy sector and implement the new Global Methane Pledge.

Methane is far more powerful than CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere but relatively short-lived. It is responsible for around 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the preindustrial era.

• 2024 tracker – For the 1^st time, a complete set of country-level estimates for methane emissions from the energy sector is given.
• Key findings – Some 40% of methane is released from natural sources, mainly wetlands while 60% from human activities.
• Among human activities, agriculture is the main source of methane emission followed by energy sector (oil, natural gas, coal and bioenergy) which contributes third of human origin emission.
• Methane emissions from fuel use in 2023 were close to being the highest ever at 120 million tonnes (Mt).

• Close to 70% of methane emissions from fossil fuels come from the top 10 emitting countries.

The United States, being the largest emitter of methane from oil and gas operations, topped the list, followed by Russia.

• Around 40% of methane emissions from fossil fuels recorded in 2023 could be avoided at no net cost.
• Cutting methane emissions from fossil fuels by 75% by 2030 is vital to limit warming to 1.5 °C
• Full implementation of COP28 and other pledges would cut fossil fuel methane emissions by 50%.

More than 150 countries have promised a 30% reduction by 2030. Oil and gas firms have meanwhile pledged to slash methane emissions by 2050.

• Delivering the 75% cut in methane emissions requires USD 170 billion in spending to 2030

References

1. Down To Earth| Higher Methane Emission from Fossil Fuels usage
2. IEA| Global Methane Tracker 2024