World Leprosy Day

World Leprosy Day is observed on the last Sunday of January, seeks to increase public awareness about leprosy and focuses on the target of zero cases of leprosy-related disabilities in children.

• This year’s theme for World Leprosy Day is ‘ending discrimination, stigma, and prejudice’.
• In India, it is celebrated on the 30^th January each year to commemorate the death of Mahatma Gandhi. This day was chosen as a tribute to the life of Gandhi who had a lifelong compassion for people affected by leprosy.
• Recently, Shri Yohei Sasakawa has been awarded Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2018 for his contribution in Leprosy Eradication in India and across the world.
• In India, though we achieved leprosy elimination (<1 new leprosy case per 10,000 population) in 2005, 60% of the world’s leprosy patients are in our country.
• Further, a sample survey for leprosy conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 2008-2011 estimated that there may be 2,50,000 new cases every year.

Steps Taken to Eliminate Leprosy

• In 2017, government launched nationwide Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign (SLAC) which aims at communicating the importance of early detection and treatment of leprosy.
• National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP): It focuses on both prevention and cure, especially in endemic regions. A Leprosy Case Detection Campaign was launched in March 2016, involving house-to-house screening and referral of patients for diagnosis.
• Introduction of an indigenously developed vaccine for leprosy into the National Leprosy Elimination Programme (NLEP). The vaccine, known as Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP), has been developed by National Institute of Immunology. This vaccine will be administered as a preventive measure to those staying in close contact with leprosy patients.
• Indian research contributed to the development of Multi-Drug Therapy or MDT, now recommended by WHO, which led to the shortening of treatment and higher cure rates.
• Removal of social stigma: The fight against leprosy has to be measured against sensitivity displayed by society. Removal of the stigma is vital. More than laws, our attitude to leprosy has to change, doing away with discrimination.

South Africa’s President Visit to India

Recently, President of South Africa Cyril Ramphosa visited India on a two-day visit.

• President Ramphosa was the chief guest at 70th Republic Day Celebrations in New Delhi.
• He is the second president of South Africa after Nelson Mandela to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations.

Outcome of Visit

• During the visit, a Three-Year Strategic Programme of Cooperation (2019-2021) was signed which is aimed at further enhancing the strategic partnership between the two countries.
• Strategic Programme of cooperation covers overall relations with South Africa in defense, security, economic, trade & investment relations, development partnership, and capacity building etc.
• Both countries recalled the Strategic Partnership established between India and South Africa through the Red Fort Declaration of March 1997 in New Delhi and the Tshwane Declaration of October 2006 in Pretoria, South Africa which reaffirmed the Red Fort Declaration of 1997.
• During the visit of President Mandela to India in March 1997, the two countries signed the historic Red Fort Declaration for Strategic Partnership between India and South Africa.
• Both countries emphasized the need to further deepen relations in the political, economic, defense, scientific, consular and socio-cultural spheres.

• International Cooperation
  • India and South Africa share a common vision on a range of global issues and closely cooperate in multilateral forums like the UN, BRICS, G-20, Commonwealth, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and IBSA.
  • Both India and South Africa are supportive of reforms in UN Security Council (UNSC) to achieve a more representative and equitable UNSC and reform in the global governance architecture such as World Trade Organization (WTO).
  • India and Africa also cooperate in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a common platform for cooperation among solar resource-rich countries.

• Diaspora
  • There are 1.5 million Persons of Indian Origin in South Africa and constitute 3% of South Africa’s total population.
  • Both countries agreed to work on the simplification of the visa agreement to broaden people-to-people interactions and to increase two-way tourism.

• Defense Relation
  • South Africa has a robust defense industry. India and South Africa have cooperation in the defense sector encompassing a wide range of engagements including defense production, joint collaboration, manufacturing, research and development, training and joint exercises.
  • South-Africa will also participate in India-Africa Field Training Exercise (IAFTX) in March 2019 at Pune, India.
  • India and South Africa also have close naval cooperation through the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).
• Trade Relation
  • Trade between India and South Africa has also increased to $10.7 billion in 2017-18 with an increase of about 13% over the previous year.
  • During the visit, both countries agreed to agree to further enhance bilateral investments between the two countries.
  • Both nations also agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of the Blue Economy including in the framework of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
• On terrorism
  • Both countries agreed on early agreement and adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) and condemned terrorism in all its forms. We share common concerns in the area of terrorism, FATF, cyber-security etc.
• India For Humanity
  • India has also launched the "India for Humanity” initiative in South Africa in the context of Gandhiji’s 150th birth anniversary to provide artificial limbs by "Jaipur Foot” in South Africa.
  • “India For Humanity” initiative was launched by Ministry of External Affairs.
  • It features a year-long series of artificial limb fitment camps in a number of countries spanning the globe.

Corruption Perceptions Index 2018 : Transparency International

India has been ranked at 78^th place out of 180 countries in ‘Corruption Perception Index’ (CPI) released by Transparency International in 2018 against 2017’s 81^st, where it had slid from 79^th in 2016.

• The index ranks the countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people.
• It uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

Key Findings

• Continued failure of most countries to significantly control corruption is contributing to a crisis of democracy around the world.
• A general lack of political will, weak institutions and few political rights create an environment where corruption flourishes with little opposition.
• More than two-thirds of countries score below 50, with an average score of only 43.
• Denmark and New Zealand top the Index with 88 and 87 points, respectively. Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria are at the bottom of the index, with 10, 13 and 13 points, respectively.
• The highest scoring region is Western Europe and the European Union, with an average score of 66, while the lowest scoring regions are Sub-Saharan Africa (average score 32) and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (average score 35).
• With a score of 71, the United States lost four points since last year, dropping out of the top 20 countries on the CPI for the first time since 2011. The low score comes at a time when the US is experiencing threats to its system of checks and balances as well as an erosion of ethical norms at the highest levels of power.

Indian Scenario

• India marginally improved its score to 41 (from 40 in 2017).
• Massive public mobilisation against corruption and voter turnout resulted in new governments and anti-corruption reforms in India, Malaysia, the Maldives, and Pakistan.
• Despite these encouraging developments, these are yet to translate into solid action against corruption.

Way Forward

• To make real progress against corruption and strengthen democracy around the world, Transparency International calls on all governments to:
  • strengthen the institutions responsible for maintaining checks and balances over political power, and ensure their ability to operate without intimidation;
  • close the implementation gap between anti-corruption legislation, practice and enforcement;
  • support civil society organisations which enhance political engagement and public oversight over government spending, particularly at the local level;
  • support a free and independent media, and ensure the safety of journalists and their ability to work without intimidation or harassment.

Important Facts for Prelims (30th January 2019)

National Statistical Commission (NSC)

• NSC was set up by the Government through a resolution in 2005.
• The setting up of the NSC followed the decision of the Cabinet to accept the recommendations of the Rangarajan Commission, which reviewed the Indian Statistical System in 2001.
• NSC is the apex advisory body on statistical matters as it was constituted to evolve policies, priorities, and standards in statistical matters.
• The NSC has four Members besides a Chairperson, each having specialization and experience in specified statistical fields.

Domestic Council for Gems & Jewellery

• Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced the formation of a Domestic Council for Gems & Jewellery to bring the industry’s domestic business stakeholders under one umbrella so that they could evolve a unified approach to promote growth in the sector.
• This Council will help in tapping new opportunities in the already existing large domestic market.
• The basic objective of the government is making this unorganized sector, organized and structured so that additional jobs can be created.

Golden Langur

• Recently, the Assam State Zoo, Guwahati welcomed the birth of a baby Golden Langur at langur breeding facility.
• The Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi entrusted the state zoo with the project for the conservation breeding of golden langur in Assam in 2011.
• Gee’s golden langur (Trachypithecus geei), or simply the golden langur, is an Old World Monkey found in a small region of western Assam, India and in the neighboring foothills of the Black Mountains of Bhutan.
• It is one of the most endangered primate species in India.
• It is listed in Appendix I of CITES, as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.