Credit Assistance Program for Jan Aushadhi Kendras

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Health & Family Welfare, inaugurated a credit assistance program for Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAK), aiming to enhance accessibility to affordable medicines across India.

• As a part of the program a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) to provide financial assistance and support infrastructure development for JAKs.

What is the Credit Assistance Program for Jan Aushadhi Kendras?

• The Government of India under this program will provide credit/loan assistance to operators/entrepreneurs running Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country.
• The credit assistance program utilizes both Goods and Services Tax (GST) and India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to offer unsecured working capital loans to small businesses.
  • Through this program, operators can access unsecured working capital loans and infrastructure funding to establish and maintain their Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
  • The program seeks to empower small entrepreneurs, enhance the accessibility of affordable medicines, and strengthen the healthcare ecosystem in India.

What are Jan Aushadhi Kendras?

• About:
  • Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) is a government initiative launched to provide affordable and quality medicines to the public.
    • They operate under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• PMBJP Scheme:
  • The Jan Aushadhi Scheme, revamped as Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana (PMJAY) in September 2015, aimed to make quality medicines available at affordable prices, particularly for the poor and disadvantaged.
  • In November 2016, the scheme underwent further enhancement and was renamed as PMBJP to strengthen its impact.
  • PMBJP, focuses on providing generic drugs through exclusive outlets known as Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
    • These stores offer generic medicines at significantly lower prices compared to branded drugs, ensuring reduced out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare.
    • Generic drugs provided by PMBJP stores are equivalent in quality and efficacy to expensive branded drugs, promoting the rational use of medications.
• Benefits of Jan Aushadhi Kendras:
  • Increased affordability of medicines: JAKs have significantly reduced healthcare costs for many people and reduced out-of-pocket expenditure.
    • Indian citizens have collectively saved over Rs. 28,000 crores over the last decade by purchasing medicines from Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
  • Improved access to medicines: JAKs have made essential medicines more readily available in underserved areas.
    • Around 10 to 12 lakh people visit JAKs daily.
  • Promotion of rational medicine use: JAKs provide information and counselling on the appropriate use of medicines, which can help to reduce misuse and overuse.
• Expansion of Jan Aushadhi Kendras:
  • PMBJP has expanded significantly in recent years, from only 80 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in 2014, to around 11,000 units operating across the country today.
  • The government aims to further increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras to 25,000 in the next two years.

What are India's other Initiatives for Affordable Healthcare?

• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
• National Health Mission (NHM).
• Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana .
• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK).
• Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).
• Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN).
• Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Deendayal Outlets.

Role of the Internet in Drug Trafficking

Source: INCB

Why in News?

Recently, the International Narcotics Control Board in its 2023 Annual Report, highlighted that online Drug Trafficking has increased the availability of drugs on the illicit market.

What are the Key Highlights of the Annual Report by the International Narcotics Control Board?

• Regional Drug Supply Trends:
  • In Afghanistan, illicit opium poppy cultivation and heroin production declined dramatically.
  • The opioid crisis continues to have serious consequences in North America with the number of deaths that involve synthetic opioids other than methadone continuing to increase, reaching more than 70,000 in 2021.
  • Drug trafficking organisations continue to expand their operations in the Amazon Basin into illegal mining, illegal logging and wildlife trafficking.
  • Record levels of illicit coca bush cultivation were recorded in Colombia and Peru, rising by 13% and 18% respectively.
  • Seizures of cocaine reached a record level in 2021 in West and Central Africa, a significant transit region for cocaine.
  • South Asia appears to be increasingly being targeted for the trafficking of methamphetamine illicitly manufactured in Afghanistan to Europe and Oceania.
  • Pacific island States have transformed from solely transit sites along drug trafficking routes to destination markets for synthetic drugs.
    • This is posing significant challenges to communities and their public health systems.
• Challenges in Online Drug Trafficking:
  • There is an evolving landscape of online drug trafficking, presenting new challenges to drug control.
  • The increased availability of illicit drugs on the Internet, exploitation by criminal groups of online platforms, and the risk of overdose deaths due to the online presence of synthetic opioids like fentanyl are significant challenges.
• Exploitation of Online Platforms:
  • Criminals are exploiting legitimate e-commerce platforms, social media, and other online platforms for drug trafficking.
  • Encryption methods, anonymous browsing on the darknet, and cryptocurrencies are used to avoid detection, making it difficult to prosecute online trafficking offences.
    • France’s law enforcement authorities collected more than 120 million text messages from 60,000 mobile phones.
• Concerns about Patient Safety:
  • Patient safety is at risk from illicit Internet pharmacies that sell drugs without a prescription directly to consumers.
  • It is impossible for consumers to know whether the drugs are counterfeit, unapproved or even illegal.
  • The global trade in illicit pharmaceuticals is estimated to be worth 4.4 billion USD.
• Recommendations:
  • Despite challenges, there are opportunities to use online platforms for drug use prevention, awareness campaigns, and improving access to drug treatment services.
    • Governments can use social media platforms to conduct drug use prevention campaigns to prevent substance misuse among young people in particular.
  • Telemedicine and Internet pharmacies could improve access to healthcare and help reach patients with drug use disorders and deliver drug treatment services to more people.
  • Online platforms could also be used for sharing information about the adverse consequences of drug use and communicating warnings of adulterated drugs which could save lives.
  • Placing certain amphetamine-type stimulant precursors and fentanyl precursors under international control to prevent illicit drug manufacturers from substituting controlled chemicals with closely related substitutes.
  • Given the global nature of online platforms, collaborative efforts between governments, international organizations, regulatory authorities, and the private sector are essential to identify new threats and develop effective responses.
    • INCB encourages voluntary cooperation to tackle the misuse of legitimate e-commerce platforms for drug trafficking.

What are the Initiatives Taken by India to Curb the Drug Menace?

• The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985: It prohibits a person from producing, possessing, selling, purchasing, transporting, storing, and/or consuming any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
  • The National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse was also created under a provision of the NDPS Act, 1985, to meet the expenditure incurred in the implementation of the Act.
• National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has prepared a plan for Drug Demand Reduction for 2018-25.
  • This plan focuses on preventive education, awareness generation, identification, counselling, treatment, and rehabilitation of drug-dependent persons, as well as training and capacity building of service providers through collaborative efforts of government and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs).
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Campaign (NMBA): NMBA was launched in 2020 to tackle the issue of Substance Abuse and a vision to make India drug-free. It is a three-pronged attack combining:
  • The supply curb by the Narcotics Control Bureau
  • Outreach and Awareness and Demand Reduction efforts by Social Justice and Empowerment
  • Treatment through the Health Department.
• International Treaties and Conventions to Combat Drug Menace: India is a signatory of the following international treaties and conventions:
  • United Nations (UN) Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)
  • UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
  • UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971)
  • UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) 2000

Conclusion

• Addressing the issue of drug trafficking requires comprehensive strategies that encompass law enforcement efforts, international cooperation, border control measures, and robust demand reduction initiatives.
• By tackling both the supply and demand sides of the illicit drug trade, governments and communities can work together to mitigate its harmful effects and safeguard public health and safety.

NITI for States Platform

Source: PIB

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology inaugurated the 'NITI for States' platform, a digital initiative aimed at empowering states and union territories (UTs) in their pursuit of national development goals.

• The ‘Viksit Bharat Strategy Room’ at NITI Aayog was also inaugurated.

What is NITI for States Platform?

• About: Developed by NITI Aayog, “the NITI for States” platform serves as a repository of valuable resources, aiming to integrate data across states, centralising findings to inform future decisions by state governments based on data-driven insights.
  • The platform incorporates real-time data updation and monitoring, spanning 10 sectors and two cross-cutting themes.
    • Sectors include agriculture, education, energy, health, livelihoods and skilling, manufacturing, micro, small and medium enterprise, tourism, urban, water resources, and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene).
    • Cross-cutting themes encompass gender and climate change.
• Features:
  • Extensive Knowledge Base: Curated best practices, policy documents, datasets, data profiles, and NITI Aayog publications.
  • Multilingual Accessibility: Inclusive access in major Indian languages and foreign languages.
  • Capacity Building Initiatives: Tailored digital training modules for officials at block, district, and state levels.
  • Expert Help Desk: Specialised guidance through partnerships with leading institutions.
  • Data Integration: Leverages data from the National Data & Analytics Platform (NDAP) for comprehensive insights.

What is the Viksit Bharat Strategy Room?

• The Viksit Bharat Strategy Room is an interactive space where users will be able to visualise data, trends, best practices and policies in an immersive environment and make a holistic assessment of any problem statement.
• It also allows users to interact through voice-enabled AI, and connect to multiple stakeholders through video conferencing.
  • It is designed to become a plug-and-play model to enable replication at state, district and block levels.

PM-SURAJ and NAMASTE Scheme

Source: TH

Why in News?

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the 'Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan and Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan' (PM-SURAJ) national portal online aimed at offering credit support to the marginalized segments of society, with the Prime Minister as the Chief Guest.

• The PM distributed Ayushman Health Cards and Personal Protective Equipment to Safai Mitras(sewer and septic tank workers), under the National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme, which was previously a rehabilitation scheme for manual scavengers.

What is PM-SURAJ?

• The 'PM-SURAJ' national portal aims to uplift the most marginalized sections of society and provide credit assistance to one lakh entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities.
  • It is implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and its departments.
• The portal serves as a one-stop point where people from disadvantaged sections of society can apply for and monitor the progress of all loan and credit schemes already available to them.
• The credit support will be facilitated through banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies Finance Institutions (NBFC-MFIs), and other organizations, ensuring accessibility across the country.
  • An NBFC MFI is a non-deposit taking NBFC with a minimum Net Owned Funds (NOF) of Rs. 5 crore (Rs. 2 crore for those registered in the North Eastern Region of the country) and having at least 85% of its net assets as “qualifying assets (intended use or sale)”.

What is the NAMASTE Scheme?

• About:
  • The NAMASTE Scheme is a central Sector Scheme formulated in 2022, by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
    • It aims to ensure safety, dignity, and sustainable livelihoods for urban sanitation workers.
  • The Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) has been renamed as the NAMASTE.
    • The SRMS scheme was launched in 2007 to help rehabilitate manual scavengers and their dependents.
  • The NAMASTE scheme is to be implemented over 4800 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of the country, during the next three years i.e. up to 2025-26.
    • The National Safai Karamchari Financial Development Corporation (NSKFDC) is the implementing agency for NAMASTE.
• Objectives:
  • Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (MS) and Persons Engaged in Hazardous Cleaning of Sewer and Septic tanks (SSWs).
  • Promotion of safe and mechanised cleaning of sewers and septic tanks through trained and certified sanitation workers.
• Intended Outcomes:
  • Zero fatalities in sanitation work in India.
  • All sanitation work is performed by formalized skilled workers.
  • No sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter.
  • Sanitation workers are collectivised into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and are empowered to run sanitation enterprises.
  • Sewers and SSWs and their dependents also have access to livelihoods by providing capital subsidies for purchase of sanitation-related equipment.
  • Increased awareness amongst sanitation services seekers (individuals and institutions) to seek services from registered skilled & certified sanitation workers
  • Extending Health Insurance Scheme benefits under Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) to SSW & manual scavengers and their family members.

What are India's Other Credit Schemes to Empower Marginalized Sections?

• Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)
• Stand-Up India Scheme
• Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission
• Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
• Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme
• Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan:
  • National campaign for dignity and eradication of the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers.

BBNJ Treaty

Source: DTE

Why in News?

The Blue Leaders High-Level Event on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction took place in Belgium, encouraging nations to ratify the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty aimed at protecting the high seas from pollution, climate change, and overfishing.

What is the BBNJ Treaty?

• About:
  • The BBNJ treaty commonly referred to as the Treaty of the High Seas was agreed upon in March 2023 for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
    • It represents a crucial step towards conserving and sustainably managing marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
• Ratification Progress:
  • The treaty aims to address the challenges faced by the high seas, which constitute areas beyond 200 nautical miles from the exclusive economic zones of coastal countries.
    • So far, 88 countries have signed the treaty, with Chile and Palau being the only two to have ratified it.
    • However, at least 60 ratifications are necessary for it to come into force.
• Objectives:
  • The treaty seeks to increase the percentage of protected areas on the high seas, which currently stands at a mere 1.44%, despite covering more than two-thirds of the global ocean.
  • Additionally, it aims to ensure fair and equitable sharing of profits from marine genetic resources (MGR) and establish rules for conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), which deal with identifying and evaluating the potential impacts an activity could have on the ocean.
  • This aligns with the 30x30 target, it is a global commitment to protect at least 30% of the planet for nature by 2030. It was agreed upon at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the Conference of Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 2022 and is included in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Challenges:
  • Despite widespread support for the treaty, concerns persist regarding potential delays in ratification, echoing past challenges faced by similar international agreements like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas.
  • Additionally, operationalising the treaty poses logistical hurdles, including defining procedural frameworks and securing adequate funding.
• Moving Forward:
  • Efforts towards the treaty's entry into force and subsequent implementation require concerted global collaboration.
    • The upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference in 2025 is identified as a crucial platform for advancing these objectives.

Centre Amends IT Rules for Interception Record Destruction

Source: IE

The government has amended the Information Technology (IT) rules to allow for the Home Secretary or other bureaucrats in the Centre to issue directions to destroy digital records of interception or decrypt information.

• So far, the power lies with security agencies, such as law enforcement bodies.
• The amendment, outlined in a gazette notification by the IT Ministry, involves a modification to Section 23 of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring, and Decryption of Information) Rules, 2009.
  • Specifically, the term "security agency" has been replaced with "competent authority and the security agency," granting the Centre broader powers to issue directives for the destruction of digital evidence.
• Rule 23 of the law mandates that all records, including electronic ones related to interception, monitoring, or decryption of information, must be destroyed by security agencies every six months, unless deemed necessary for functional purposes.

Read more: New IT Rules

CDSCO Caution on Unapproved New Drugs

Source: TH

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has issued a cautionary statement regarding the manufacture and sale of unapproved drugs, particularly emphasising the category of "New Drugs."

• Notably, drugs like Meropenem, an antibacterial agent, and Disodium EDTA, used to treat calcium overload, were highlighted as examples of such unapproved medications.
• CDSCO emphasised that no new drug should be manufactured for sale without approval from the licensing authority.
• CDSCO is the Central Drug Authority for discharging functions assigned to the Central Government under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
  • Major functions of CDSCO include regulatory control over the import of drugs, approval of new drugs and clinical trials, and approval of certain licences as Central License Approving Authority.

Read more: Regulatory Issues in Indian Pharmaceutical Sector

Boosting Fintech Education and Innovation

Source: PIB

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a USD 23 million loan agreement to enhance access to quality fintech education, research, and innovation at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT-City).

• The project will establish an International Fintech Institute (IFI) to strengthen fintech education, boost startup success rates, and drive fintech research and innovation.
  • Emphasis will be placed on market-driven fintech skills programs, private sector investment, and collaboration between industry, institutes, and partners for holistic growth.
  • IFI will offer industry-aligned fintech training programs meeting international standards and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.
• The ADB program will support research in climate fintech, regulatory technology, social inclusion, and gender equality in finance to develop new solutions and a state fintech readiness index.
• GIFT-City is a business district and the first operational greenfield smart city in India. It's located on the banks of the Sabarmati River in Gujarat
  • It is inclined to provide a conducive business ecosystem at par or above with leading global financial hubs.
  • It consists of a multi-service Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which houses India’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) and an exclusive Domestic Tariff Area (DTA).

Read more: GIFT City and Bullion Exchange, ADB Regional Conference and PM Gati Shakti

India's First Green Hydrogen Plant in the Stainless Steel Sector

Source: PIB

Recently, the Union Minister for Steel, virtually inaugurated India's 1^st Green Hydrogen Plant in the Stainless Steel Sector located at Jindal Stainless Limited, Hisar. It is the world's first off-grid green hydrogen plant dedicated to the stainless steel industry.

• Conventional steel production relies heavily on coal, a major source of greenhouse gasses. This dependence is problematic for India's environmental goals. Green hydrogen offers a cleaner alternative.
  • The plant targets a considerable reduction in carbon emissions, aiming to cut around 2,700 Metric Tonnes per annum and 54,000 tons of CO2 emissions over the next two decades.
• Stainless steel is a type of steel alloy that contains a minimum of 10.5% chromium by mass.
  • It is known for its exceptional corrosion resistance, making it highly suitable for various applications where durability and resistance to rust and staining are essential.
• India is the world's second-largest producer of crude steel, with an output of 125.32 million tonnes (MT) of crude steel and 121.29 MT of finished steel production in FY23.
  • India is also a net exporter of steel witnessing an export of 6.72 MT of finished steel against the import of 6.02 MT in 2022-23.

Read more: Steel Sector, Green Hydrogen

India and Dominican Republic to Strengthen Economic Ties with JETCO Protocol

Source: PIB

The protocol for the establishment of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) between India and the Dominican Republic was signed at Santo Domingo (Capital of the Dominican Republic).

• The protocol envisages strengthening and develop cooperation on trade, services, industrial technologies and various other sectors by means of technical assistance, training programmes and capacity building.
• Diplomatic relations between India and Dominican Republic were established in May 1999. However, at present, there is no bilateral institutional mechanism between India and the Dominican Republic on trade and commerce.
  • India primarily imports gold from the Dominican Republic and exports pharmaceuticals, marine products, motor vehicles, two and three-wheelers etc.

Read more: India-Dominican Republic Relations

Covishield and Covaxin Immunogenicity

Source: TH

A recent study led by scientists from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and conducted across 11 institutes has provided compelling insights into the immunogenicity of 2 primary Covid-19 vaccines in India: Covishield and Covaxin.

• Immunogenicity refers to the ability of a substance, such as a vaccine or antigen, to provoke an immune response in the body.
  • This response typically involves the production of antibodies and activation of immune cells, leading to protection against infection or disease.
• The recent study examined the immune responses induced by Covishield and Covaxin vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
  • Covishield, utilising a virus vector to deliver the coronavirus spike protein, consistently elicited a more robust immune response (higher antibody levels in both seronegative (individuals without prior exposure) and seropositive (individuals with prior exposure)) compared to Covaxin, an inactivated virus vaccine.
  • Additionally, Covishield elicited a greater number of T cells, indicating a stronger immune response.

Read more: Covishield and Covaxin