Daily Current Capsules - 17th July 2020
Human Resource Development
NISHTHA programme

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NISHTHA programme) + Mains ( GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.)

What's the NEWS

• The first on-line NISHTHA programme for 1200 Key Resources Persons of Andhra Pradesh was launched by Union HRD Minister

Know! about NISHTHA

• NISHTHA is a National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement at the elementary stage under Samagra Shiksha -a flagship programme of MHRD to improve learning outcomes.
• NISHTHA in face-to-face mode was launched on 21st August, 2019. Thereafter, 33 states/UTs have launched this programme in their states/UTs in collaboration under Samagra Shiksha, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Around 23,000 Key Resource Persons and 17.5 lakh teachers and school heads have been covered under this NISHTHA face to face mode till date.

Know! about on line NISHTHA

• Lockdown has affected the conduct of this programme in face-to-face mode. Therefore, for providing training to remaining 24 lakh teachers and school heads, NISHTHA has been customized for online mode to be conducted through DIKSHA and NISHTHA portals by the NCERT.
• ISHTHA- online includes multiple approaches for interaction. While there are text modules alongwith videos, there will also be live sessions by the National level Resource persons on DTH Swayam Prabha TV Channel. Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) will also be utilized for interaction with teachers.
• Andhra Pradesh is the first state for which we are launching on-line
• These resource persons will help in the mentoring of teachers of Andhra Pradesh, who will take on-line NISHTHA training on DIKSHA later on.
• The efforts of MHRD and NCERT for building capacities of teachers and school heads at the elementary level across the country through NISHTHA will not only help in enhancing learning outcomes of students but also in their all-round development.

International
High-Level Segment of ECOSOC
Relevance IN - Prelims( about ECOSOC + main organs of UN)
What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a keynote address virtually at this year's High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council session on Friday

Know! about the high level segment of ECOSOC

• The annual High-level Segment convenes a diverse group of high-level representatives from the Government, the private sector, civil society and academia.
• The theme of this year's High-level Segment is "Multilateralism after COVID19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary".

Know! all about ECOSOC

• The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development - economic, social and environmental.
• It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals.
• The Council serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues and formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states and the United Nations system.
• A number of non-governmental organizations have been granted consultative status to the Council to participate in the work of the United Nations.
• It holds one four-week session each year in July, and since 1998, it has also held an annual meeting in April with finance ministers heading key committees of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations.

• The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN. All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation.
• Each year, in September, the full UN membership meets in the General Assembly Hall in New York for the annual General Assembly session
• The United Nations has six principal organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.

Government Schemes
Implementation Guidelines for Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund launched

What's the NEWS

• Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying launched the Implementation Guidelines for Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) worth Rs. 15,000 crores, which was approved by the Union Cabinet on 24.06.2020 under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan stimulus package for ensuring growth in several sectors.

Know! all about Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development fund (AHIDF)

• Government has been implementing several schemes for incentivizing the investment made by dairy cooperative sector for development of dairy infrastructure.
• MSMEs and Private companies also need to be promoted and incentivized for their involvement in processing and value addition infrastructure.
• AHIDF would facilitate much needed incentivisation of investments in establishment of such infrastructure for dairy and meat processing and value addition infrastructure and establishment of animal feed plant in the private sector.
• The eligible beneficiaries under the Scheme would be Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), MSMEs, Section 8 Companies, Private Companies and individual entrepreneur with minimum 10% margin money contribution by them.
• The balance 90% would be the loan component to be made available by scheduled banks.
• Government of India will provide 3% interest subvention to eligible beneficiaries.
• There will be 2 years moratorium period for principal loan amount and 6 years repayment period thereafter.
• Government of India would also set up Credit Guarantee Fund of Rs. 750 crore to be managed by NABARD.
• Credit guarantee would be provided to those sanctioned projects which are covered under MSME defined ceilings. Guarantee Coverage would be upto 25% of Credit facility of borrower.
• The beneficiaries intending to invest for establishing dairy and meat processing and value addition infrastructure or strengthening of the existing infrastructure can apply for loan in the scheduled bank through "Udyami Mitra" portal of SIDBI.

Science & Technology
ZyCoV-D
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about ZyCoV-D + National Biopharma Mission ) + Mains ( GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

What's the NEWS

• ZyCoV-D, the plasmid DNA vaccine designed and developed by Zydus and partially funded by the Department of Biotechnology, has initiated Phase I/ II clinical trials in healthy subjects, making it the first indigenously developed vaccine for COVID-19 to be administered in humans in India.
• The Department of Biotechnology Government of India has partnered with Zydus to address rapid development of an indigenous vaccine for COVID-19 under the National Biopharma Mission.

Know! about ZyCoV-D recent developments

• In the pre-clinical phase, the vaccine was found to elicit a strong immune response in multiple animal species like mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits.
• The antibodies produced by the vaccine were able to neutralize the wild type virus in virus neutralization assay indicating the protective potential of the vaccine candidate.

Know! about National Biopharma Mission, DBT:

• The Industry-Academia Collaborative Mission of Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt of India for accelerating discovery research to early development for Biopharmaceuticals approved by the Cabinet for a total cost US$ 250 million and 50% co-funded by the World Bank is being implemented at Biotechnology Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
• This program is dedicated to deliver affordable products to the nation with an aim to improve the health standards of India's population.
• Vaccines, medical devices and diagnostics and biotherapeutics are few of its most important domains, besides, strengthening the clinical trial capacity and building technology transfer capabilities in the country.

Know! about BIRAC

• Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Section 8, Schedule B, Public Sector Enterprise, set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India as an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs.

Know! about Zydus

• Zydus Cadila is an innovative, global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of healthcare therapies, including small molecule drugs, biologic therapeutics, and vaccines.

Prelims Factoids
Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Somnath, Gujarat' under Prashad scheme
Funded under PRASHAD Scheme of Tourism Ministry
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about PRASHAD Scheme)
What's the NEWS

• The project "Development of Pilgrimage Amenities at Somnath, Gujarat" sanctioned under the PRASHAD scheme in March 2017 has been successfully completed with the cost of Rs. 45.36 crores.
• High quality world class facilities for Parking, Tourism Amenities Centre and Solid Waste Management have been developed under the project.

Know! about PRASHAD Scheme

• The ‘National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive' (PRASHAD) launched by the Ministry of Tourism in the year 2014-15 with the objective of integrated development of identified pilgrimage and heritage destinations.
• The scheme aimed at infrastructure development such as entry points (Road, Rail and Water Transport), last mile connectivity, basic tourism facilities like Information/ Interpretation Centers

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