Science & Technology
Drug Discovery Hackathon 2020 (DDH2020)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about DDH2020) + Mains ( GS III Mains ( GS III Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life)

What's the NEWS

• The Union Government launched Drug Discovery Hackathon
  

Know! all about DDH2020

• This Drug Discovery Hackathon is a joint initiative of MHRD's Innovation Cell (MIC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and supported by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), MyGov as well as private players.
• This Hackathon is first of its kind National initiative for supporting drug discovery process and will see participation from professionals, faculty, researchers and students from varied fields like Computer Science, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Medical Sciences, Basic Sciences and Biotechnology.
• In this initiative, MHRD's Innovation cell and AICTE will focus on identifying potential drug molecules through the Hackathon while CSIR will take these identified molecules forward for synthesis and laboratory testing for efficacy, toxicity, sensitivity and specificity.
  

Know! the background Information and Methodology of Hackathon

• The Hackathon consists of challenges that are posted as problem statements and, are based on specific drug discovery topics which, are open to the participants to solve.
• MyGov portal is being used and any Indian student can participate.
• Professionals and researchers from anywhere in the world can participate.

The Hackathon will have three Tracks.

• Track 1 will primarily deal with drug design for anti-COVID-19 hit/lead generation: this is done using tools such as molecular modelling, pharmacophore optimization, molecular docking, hit/lead optimization, etc.
• Track 2 will deal with designing/optimizing new tools and algorithms which will have an immense impact on expediting the process of in silico drug discovery.
• There is also a third track called "Moon shot "which allows for working on problems which are ‘out of the box' nature.

Food Processing
PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme launched

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about PM FME Scheme) + Mains ( GS III Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
What's the NEWS

• Minister for Food Processing Industries launched the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme as a part of "Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

Know! all about PM FME scheme

• The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has launched an all India "Centrally Sponsored PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme" to be implemented over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs 10,000 crore.
• The objective is to providing financial, technical and business support for upgradation of existing micro food processing enterprises
• The expenditure under the scheme would to be shared in 60:40 ratio between Central and State Governments, in 90:10 ratio with North Eastern and Himalayan States, 60:40 ratio with UTs with legislature and 100% by Centre for other UTs.
• The Scheme adopts One District One Product (ODODP) approach to reap benefit of scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of products.
• The Scheme also place focus on waste to wealth products, minor forest products and Aspirational Districts.
• Existing micro food processing units can avail credit-linked capital subsidy at 35% of the eligible project cost with a maximum ceiling of Rs.10 lakh per unit.
• Seed capital at Rs.40,000/- per SHG member would be provided for working capital and purchase of small tools.
• FPOs/ SHGs/ producer cooperatives would be provided credit linked grant of 35% for capital investment along the value chain.

Know! the status of food processing sector (unorganised)

• The unorganized food processing sector comprising nearly 25 lakh units contribute to 74% of employment in food processing sector.
• Nearly 66% of these units are located in rural areas and about 80% of them are family-based enterprises supporting livelihood rural household and minimizing their migration to urban areas. These units largely fall within the category of micro enterprises.

Food Processing
Extension of Operation Greens from TOP (Tomato-Onion-Potato) crops to all Food Perishable Fruits & Vegetables (TOP to Total)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about TOP to Total Scheme) + Mains ( GS III Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management.
What's the NEWS

• Operation Greens Scheme, being implemented by MoFPI has been extended from tomato, onion and potato (TOP) crops to other notified horticulture crops (to all perishable fruits and vegetables) for providing subsidy for their transportation and storage from surplus production area to major consumption centres.

Know! about the Scheme (Top to Total )

• The objective of intervention is to protect the growers of fruits and vegetables from making distress sale due to lockdown and reduce the post -harvest losses.

Eligible Crops:

• Fruits- Mango, Banana, Guava, Kiwi, Lichi, Papaya, Citrus, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Jackfruit; Vegetables: - French beans, Bitter Gourd, Brinjal, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chillies (Green), Okra, Onion, Potato and Tomato.
• Any other fruit/vegetable can be added in future on the basis of recommendation by Ministry of Agriculture or State Government

Duration of Scheme:

• It is for the period of six months from the date of notification i.e., 11/06/2020.

Eligible entities

•  Food Processors, FPO/FPC, Co-operative Societies, Individual farmers, Licensed Commission Agent, Exporters, State Marketing/Co-operative Federation, Retailers etc. engaged in processing/ marketing of fruits and vegetables.

Pattern of Assistance:

• Ministry will provide subsidy @ 50 % of the cost of the following two components, subject to the cost norms:

1. Transportation of eligible crops from surplus production cluster to consumption centre; and/or
2. Hiring of appropriate storage facilities for eligible crops (for maximum period of 3 months)
Free on-line Skilling programme for the SC/ST Food Processors

• MoFPI is planning to start free on-line skilling classes for SC and ST entrepreneurs, in collaboration with NIFTEM and FICSI, for providing e-learning.
• MoFPI has identified 41 courses and job roles like on baking, making jam, pickles, etc for which access to digital content would be made available.
• Once certified, these entrepreneurs would have better employment potential, or they can start their own venture.

Prelims Factoids
NADA app

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NADA app + about NADA)
What's the NEWS

• Sports Minister unveiled National Anti-Doping Agency's first mobile app to provide information about prohibited substances and their inadvertent use

Know! all about the app

• The app aims to create a bridge between athletes and the NADA by providing easily accessible information on various aspects of sport, and most importantly about prohibited substances and their inadvertent use which may affect the career of athletes.
• With this app, athletes can check for themselves the list of prohibited substances and don't have to depend on anyone else for assistance
• The app also has exhaustive information about whether a specific commonly-prescribed medicine contains any substance that is prohibited by NADA, therefore helping athletes and coaches to decide which medicines athletes can consume in case they are unwell.
• To ensure a smoother, quicker process of dope test for athletes, the app allows doping control officer to record their availability to conduct a test through this app

Know! about NADA

• The National Anti Doping Agency [NADA] was established by the Government of India, with the objective of acting as the independent Anti-Doping Organization for India having a vision of dope free sports.
• It is responsible for promoting, coordinating, and monitoring the doping control program in sports in all its forms in India.
• NADA deals with adopting and implementing anti-doping rules and policies which conform with the World Anti-Doping Agency, cooperates with other anti-doping organisations and promotes anti-doping research and education.
• NADA is formed by the Union Government under the societies Registration Act. NADA includes scientists and representatives from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Government Schemes
World Bank approves fresh funds for Ganga cleaning mission
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about National Ganga River Basin Project + National Mission for Clean Ganga ) + Mains ( GS III Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of
their design and implementation.
What's the NEWS

• The World Bank has enhanced its support for Government of India's program to rejuvenate Ganga river with a USD 400 million (about Rs 3,000 crore) assistance that will help stem pollution in the river.
• The Second National Ganga River Basin Project (SNGRBP), approved by the World Bank will support the government's Namami Gange program and its long-term vision for controlling pollution in the river and restoring its water quality

National Ganga River Basin Project

• The $1 billion National Ganga River Basin Project is helping the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) build institutional capacity for rejuvenating the river.
• It is also financing key infrastructure investments in the five mainstem states - Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• World bank has been supporting the government's efforts since 2011 through the ongoing National Ganga River Basin Project, which helped set up the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) as the nodal agency to manage the river, and financed sewage treatment infrastructure in several riverside towns and cities

Know! about National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

• NMCG is the implementation wing of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga (referred as National Ganga Council)
• It was established in the year 2011 as a registered society under Societies Registration Act, 1860
• It has a two tier management structure and comprises of Governing Council and Executive Committee
• In October 2016, National Ganga Council has replaced National Ganga River Basin Authority(NGRBA) which was constituted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA), 1986.
• With the formation of the NGC, the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was dissolved.
• The functioning of the NGRBA was similar to the NGC, and the prime minister was the chairman of the NGRBA as well.

Prelims Factoids
G4 swine flu
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about G4 swine flu)
What's the NEWS

• The scientists identified the virus through surveillance of influenza viruses in pigs that they carried out from 2011 to 2018 in ten provinces of China.

Know! more about it

• In a new research, scientists from China - which has the largest population of pigs in the world - have identified a "recently emerged" strain of influenza virus that is infecting Chinese pigs and that has the potential of triggering a pandemic.
• Named G4, the swine flu strain has genes similar to those in the virus that caused the 2009 flu pandemic.
• The scientists identified the virus through surveillance of influenza viruses in pigs that they carried out from 2011 to 2018 in ten provinces of China.

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