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Daily Current Capsules - 13th February 2020

Defence
India developing new 200-km strike range Pranash ballistic missile

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Pranash ballistic missile)
What's the NEWS
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has started working on the development of the 200-km strike range Pranash ballistic missile which would be armed with conventional warheads
Know! more about Pranash
  • The missile is an advanced version of the 150-km strike range Prahar missile which was being developed for tactical missions.
  • The surface-to-surface ballistic missile will be of use for the Air Force and Army.
  • The trials of the missile would be conducted in next couple of years and the single-stage solid-propellant missile would also be readied for exports to friendly foreign countries as its strike range is within the permissible limits of international regimes on missile sales.
Bilateral Relations
India-Bangladesh rail link to be ready by 2021

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the rail link and its benefits) + Mains (GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS
  • The landmark rail line to connect the northeastern region with Bangladesh will be ready by the end of 2021
Know! more about the Rail link Project
  • The completion of the line between Agartala in Tripura and Akhaura in Bangladesh would pave the way for the first train to run from the northeastern region to Bangladesh on the eve of the 75th anniversary of India's independence in 2022.
  • Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) would bear the cost of laying the 5.46-km track on the Indian side and the cost of the 10.6-km track on the Bangladesh side was being borne by the Ministry of External Affairs.
  • The link will connect Gangasagar in Bangladesh to Nischintapur in India and from there to Agartala.
Environment Conservation
India to host 13th Conference of Parties(COP) of the Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals(CMS)

Relevance IN - Prelims (about COP 13 and factual information related to COP 13) + Mains (GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS
  • The 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals (CMS), an environmental treaty under the aegis of United Nations Environment Programme, is going to be hosted by India during 15th to 22nd February, 2020 at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
  • As the host, India shall be designated the President for the next three years.
  • The theme of CMS COP13 in India is ‘Migratory species connect the planet and we welcome them home'.
  • The CMS COP 13 logo is inspired by ‘Kolam', a traditional art form from southern India.
  • In the logo of CMS COP-13, Kolam art form is used to depict key migratory species in India like Amur falcon, humpback whale and marine turtles.
  • The mascot for CMS COP13 is ‘Gibi - The Great Indian Bustard'. It is a critically endangered species which has been accorded the highest protection status under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
Know! more about CMS COP
  • Representatives from 129 Parties and eminent conservationists and international NGOs working in the field of wildlife conservation are expected to attend the COP.
  • India has been a Party to the CMS since 1983. The Conference of Parties (COP) is the decision-making organ of this convention.
Know! about Migratory species
  • Migratory species are those animals that move from one habitat to another during different times of the year, due to various factors such as food, sunlight, temperature, climate, etc.
  • The movement between habitats, can sometimes exceed thousands of miles/kilometres for some migratory birds and mammals.
  • A migratory route can involve nesting and also requires the availability of habitats before and after each migration.
  • In order to protect the migratory species throughout their range countries, a Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), has been in force, under the aegis of United Nations Environment Programme.
  • Also referred to as the Bonn Convention, it provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats and brings together the States through which migratory animals pass, the Range States, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range.
  • Under this convention, migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I and Parties strive towards strictly protecting these animals, conserving or restoring the places where they live, mitigating obstacles to migration and controlling other factors that might endanger them.
  • Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international co-operation are listed in Appendix II of the Convention.
  • India has also signed non legally binding MOU with CMS on the conservation and management of Siberian Cranes (1998), Marine Turtles (2007), Dugongs (2008) and Raptors (2016).
  • India is temporary home to several migratory animals and birds.
  • The important among these include Amur Falcons, Bar headed Gheese, Black necked cranes, Marine turtles, Dugongs, Humpbacked Whales, etc.
  • The Indian sub-continent is also part of the major bird flyway network, i.e, the Central Asian Flyway (CAF) that covers areas between the Arctic and Indian Oceans, and covers at least 279 populations of 182 migratory water bird species, including 29 globally threatened species.
  • India has also launched the National Action Plan for conservation of migratory species under the Central Asian Flyway.
Health Sector
The Illness Now Has a Name, COVID-19
Relevance IN - Prelims (guideline for choosing an official name by WHO)
What's the NEWS
  • The World Health Organization proposed an official name for the illness caused by the new coronavirus: COVID-19.
  • "CO" stands for "corona", "VI" for "virus" and "D" for "disease", while "19" was for the year, as the outbreak was first identified on December 31.
Know! more about it
  • The World Health Organization said it had chosen a name for the disease that makes no reference to places, animals or people to avoid stigma.
  • The acronym stands for coronavirus disease 2019, as the illness was first detected toward the end of last year.
  • Under international guidelines, the W.H.O. "had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease,"
  • Under a set of guidelines issued in 2015, WHO advises against using place names such as Ebola and Zika - where those diseases were first identified and which are now inevitably linked to them in the public mind.
  • More general names such as "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome" or "Spanish flu" are also now avoided as they can stigmatise entire regions or ethnic groups.
  • WHO also notes that using animal species in the name can create confusion, such as in 2009 when H1N1 was popularly referred to as "swine flu".
  • This had a major impact on the pork industry even though the disease was being spread by people rather than pigs.
Health Sector
Medical devices to be treated as drugs from the next financial year
Relevance IN - Prelims (about Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 +Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) +Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)
What's the NEWS
  • All medical devices sold in the country would be treated as drugs and would be regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940. This is to come into effect from April 1, 2020
  • According to the regulation, every product that is used to treat a patient will now be under the ambit of DCA
  • Medical devices -This would cover all devices, including apparatus, appliances, MRI, CT scan, thermometer, dialysis machines,implants, instruments (including a software or accessory) used on humans as well as animals
Know! more about it
  • At present, only 23 medical devices have been classified as drugs. Of these, only a few including cardiac stents, drug eluting cardiac stents, condoms, intrauterine devices, have been brought under price control.
  • The decision was taken after consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), the apex decision making body on technical matters related to drugs.
  • The health ministry made some amendments to the Medical Devices Rules, 2017 (which was made public and suggestions were invited from stakeholders). This will be called Medical Devices (Amendment) Rules, 2020 and would also come in force from April 1.
  • The medical devices shall be registered with the Central Licensing Authority through an identified online portal established by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)
  • The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) is the national regulatory body for Indian pharmaceuticals and medical devices,
  • The government has announced its plan to bring all medical devices, including implants and contraceptives, under the view of the Central Drugs and Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
  • 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).
Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
  • The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 is an Act of the Parliament of India which regulates the import, manufacture and distribution of drugs in India.
  • The primary objective of the act is to ensure that the drugs and cosmetics sold in India are safe, effective and conform to state quality standards.
  • The related Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 contains provisions for classification of drugs under given schedules and there are guidelines for the storage, sale, display and prescription of each schedule.
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