UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 25-03-2020
iasparliament
March 25, 2020
Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters
Union Cabinet has approved financial assistance to the Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC2.0) Scheme for development of world class infrastructure along with common facilities and amenities through Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs).
The Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme would support setting up of both Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs) and Common Facility Centers (CFCs).
The Scheme will create a robust infrastructure base for electronic industry to attract flow of investment in ESDM sector and lead to greater employment opportunities.
Following are the expected outputs/outcomes for the Scheme:
Availability of ready infrastructure and Plug & Play facility for attracting investment in electronics sector:
New investment in electronics sector
Jobs created by the manufacturing units;
Revenue in the form of taxes paid by the manufacturing units.
India’s share in global electronics manufacturing grew from 1.3% (2012) to 3.0% (2018), It accounts for 2.3% of India’s GDP at present.
2020 CD3
Recently astronomers discovered a mini-moon named 2020 CD3 orbiting the Earth, making it official for our planet to have two moons.
However, it turned out to be a brief affair of events as the mini-moon left the planet’s orbit.
2020 CD3 was first discovered using the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey observatory in Arizona.
According to the astronomers, the object may have entered Earth’s orbit three years ago.
It is not confirmed whether 2020 CD3 was a small asteroid or a little chunk from our own moon, broken off in an impact with another space rock.
2020 CD3’s departure did not come as a surprise to the astronomers as it was following an unstable orbit around Earth, meaning it was travelling farther and farther away from the planet until it was able to break free from our planet’s pull.
Currently, it is on its way to follow its original trajectory around the Sun.
Earlier in 2006, astronomers discovered a near-Earth asteroid — named 2006 RH120 about 9 meters-wide flying around our planet.
Made in India COVID19 Test Kit
India-based Mylab has discovered (Covid-19) diagnostic test kits, called reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.
It is First 'Made in India' COVID19 Test Kit to diagnose COVID-19 gets the commercial approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
The testing kit has been commercially approved by the Indian FDA / Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
The approval is expected to help increase testing in the country.
RT-PCR kits can study 1000 samples from large labs and 200 from smaller labs.
According to the developers, it would cost nearly one-fourth of the current procurement cost and is faster as it screens and detects the infection within 2.5 hours as compared with over 7 hours by others.
CDSO
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is the national regulatory body for Indian pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Within the CDSCO, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) regulates pharmaceutical and medical devices, under the gamut of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The DCGI is advised by the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and the Drug Consultative Committee (DCC).
It is divided into zonal offices which do pre-licensing and post-licensing inspections, post-market surveillance, and recalls when needed.
Manufacturers who deal with the authority are required to name an Authorized Indian Representative (AIR) to represent them in all dealings with the CDSCO in India.
Committee of for prevention & control of COVID-19
Union government has constituted a high level technical committee of Public Health Experts for COVID-19 to guide the prevention and control activities in the country.
The 21 member committee will be headed by NITI Aayog member Dr V K Paul.
Union Health Secretary and Director General Indian Council of Medical Research are the Co-Chair.
Besides, Director of AIIMS, Director of National Centre for Disease Control, Director of Institute of Infectious Diseases, and Additional Chief Secretary of Kerala are among the members of the Task Force.
Business Immunity Platform
Invest India, India’s national Investment Promotion & Facilitation Agency, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched The Invest India Business Immunity Platform.
The platform, hosted on the Invest India website, is designed as a comprehensive resource to help businesses and investors get real-time updates on India’s active response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).
This dynamic and constantly updating platform keeps a regular track on developments with respect to the virus, provides latest information on various central and state government initiatives, gives access to special provisions, and answers and resolves queries through emails and on WhatsApp.
The Business Immunity Platform (BIP) is the active platform for business issue redressal, operating 24/7, with a team of dedicated sector experts and responding to queries at the earliest. Invest India has also announced a partnership with SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) for responding and resolving queries for MSMEs.
Realizing the uncertainty that the Corona crisis has caused among businesses, the platform was launched on 21st March, 2020.
SIDBI
Small industrial Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is a development financial institution in India, headquartered at Lucknow and having its offices all over the country.
It was established on April 2, 1990, through an Act of Parliament, It operates under the Department of Financial Services, Government of India.
Its promotion & development program focuses on rural enterprises promotion and entrepreneurship development.
Its purpose is to provide refinance facilities and short term lending to industries, and serves as the principal financial institution in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.
SIDBI also coordinates the functions of institutions engaged in similar activities.
SIDBI is one of the four All India Financial Institutions regulated and supervised by the Reserve Bank; other three are EXIM Bank, NABARD and NHB.
But recently NHB is in government control by taking more than 51% stack.
They play a salutary role in the financial markets through credit extension and refinancing operation activities and cater to the long-term financing needs of the industrial sector.
State Bank of India is the largest individual shareholder of SIDBI with holding of 16.73% shares, followed by Government of India and Life Insurance Corporation of India.
