UN Inter-Agency Task Force Award

• The Award recognizes the achievements on multi-sectoral action in the prevention and control of NCDs, mental health. (Statement 1 is incorrect)
• The awards recognize achievements made during 2023.
• The 2024 award was given to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for its work in advancing multi-sectoral action on mental health.
• New partnership – In 2024, the Task Force is collaborating with the WHO Department of Health Products Policy and Standards.
• The awards now include recognition for work in assistive technology.
• There are 3 categories for nominations:
  • Ministries of health and government health agencies.
  • Ministries and government agencies outside health.
  • Non-governmental organizations, academia and foundations.
• Criteria for nominations:
• Nominees should demonstrate outstanding contributions in:
  • Preventing and controlling NCDs.
  • Promoting and accelerating equitable access to assistive technology.
  • Specific qualities sought in nominees:
  • Innovation in approaches and activities
  • Leadership and partnership skills
  • Resource mobilization abilities
  • Overcoming challenges and obstacles
  • Serving as an exemplar to others

Vultures

The Karnataka Forest Department and Karnataka Vulture Conservation Trust have recently organised the ‘Nature Walk and Vulture Observation’ to build awareness of the birds.

• Vultures are widely distributed globally, but they are absent from Australia and most oceanic islands.
• India has 9 species of vultures.
• Of these, four including long-billed, white-rumped, red-headed and Egyptian vultures van be seen in Karnataka. 
• Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary is situated at Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• In Ramadevarabetta, the permanent residents include the critically endangered long-billed vulture and the endangered Egyptian vulture.
• Himalayan Griffon and Eurasian Griffon visit the region in winter.
• The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is the only vulture in Europe that is globally endangered.
• The Egyptian Vulture is the world’s only tool-using vulture and Europe’s smallest and only true long-distance migratory vulture.
• The species is considered globally endangered and is the only European vulture which population is declining.
• The Karnataka Forest Department and Karnataka Vulture Conservation Trust organised the ‘Nature Walk and Vulture Observation’. (Statement 2 is incorrect)
• It aims to build awareness of the birds whose population in India declined by a staggering 99% between the 1980s and early 2000s.

Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)

• The Permanent Indus Commission (PIC), created by the treaty, mandates annual meetings between the two countries to address issues like water-sharing, hydropower projects, and ecological data.
• Current Status of PIC – India has decided not to attend PIC meetings until both governments renegotiate the IWT. 
• India's Position – India is pushing for renegotiation of the 64-year-old treaty due to changes in population demographics, environmental concerns (need for clean energy), and issues like cross-border terrorism.
• India believes that only governments, not the PIC, can renegotiate the treaty.
• Dispute Resolution – The dispute resolution mechanism has been a major point of contention, particularly since 2005, due to differing interpretations.
• India insists that each step (starting with the PIC) must be exhausted before moving on, while Pakistan moved to a Court of Arbitration without waiting for India's concurrence.
• The World Bank initially agreed that using a neutral expert and a court simultaneously could cause contradictions but later facilitated both mechanisms.
• Water Allocation – The treaty allocates water from the Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej (eastern rivers) to India and the Chenab, Indus, and Jhelum (western rivers) to Pakistan.
• India is allowed limited irrigation and non-consumptive use of water from the western rivers.

Global Food Regulators Summit (GFRS), 2024

• Global Food Regulators Summit (GFRS), 2024 aims to foster international collaborations and knowledge-sharing on food safety and regulatory issues.
• The first edition of this summit was held in July 2023 in India as a co-branded event of G20.
• Objectives – To facilitate the exchange of knowledge and information about food product regulatory frameworks and safety requirements across various countries.
• To promote a common dialogue on critical aspects such as food safety, risk assessment, analytical competence and capacity-building initiatives.
• It will also engage a diverse range of stakeholders from the food value chain, including food manufacturers, processors, government officials, and non-governmental organizations, in discussions about the global landscape of food safety and regulatory compliance.
• Participation – More than 70 countries are expected to participate in this summit to discuss and prepare strategy on key regulatory issues.
• State Food Safety Index 2024 – Will be soon introduced by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• It assesses the food safety performance of States and Union Territories.