• The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill 2019 and The National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2019, were passed in Lok Sabha
• The bills were passed in Rajya Sabha in January, 2019, to regulate alternative systems of medicine on the lines of the National Medical Commission Bill, and create a new regulatory body for homoeopathy in the country.

• The Indian System of Medicine bill proposes a common entrance exam and an exit exam for all graduates to obtain their license to practice Indian medicine.
• The bill will replace the Central Council for Indian Medicine that regulates alternative systems of medicine.
• There is a provision for constituting four autonomous boards dedicated to providing Ayurveda education under Board of Ayurveda, and training in Unani, Siddha and Sowarigpa under Board of Unani, Siddha and Sowarigpa.
• Two common boards, which are, the board of assessment and rating to grant permission to educational institutions of Indian systems of medicine, and the board of ethics and registration of practitioners of Indian systems to maintain a national register and address ethical issues, will relate to practice under the National Commission for Indian Medicine.

• The National Commission for Homoeopathy, Bill, 2018, aims to replace the Central Council for Homoeopathy, which is the current regulatory body for homoeopathy.
• It proposes a teacher's eligibility test to assess the standard of teachers before appointment and promotions.
• The National Commission will have three autonomous boards entrusted with conducting overall education of homoeopathy by homoeopathy education board.
• The board of assessment and rating will grant permission to educational institutions, while the board of ethics and registration of homoeopathy practitioners will maintain the national register and address ethical issues.

• The health minister also introduced the much-awaited assisted reproductive technology (ART) Bill in the Lok Sabha.
• The bill aims to lay down guidelines for dos and don'ts of running ART clinics and conducting procedures in the country.
• It proposes constitution of a national board that will set the minimum standards of physical infrastructure, laboratory and diagnostic equipment and expert manpower to be employed by clinics and banks.
• There will be a National Registry and Registration Authority to maintain a central database and assist the National Board in its functioning.

• The bill also proposes for a stringent punishment for those found practising sex selection, or involved in sale of human embryos or gametes, running agencies, rackets, and also organisations found violating the law.

What's the NEWS

• Originally observed on December 19, the date for the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation was moved to September 12 in 2011.
• It commemorates the date when the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted a plan of action in 1978 to promote and implement technical cooperation among developing countries.
• The United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation celebrates economic, social and political developments in many developing countries

South-South Cooperation

• South-South Cooperation is a general term often used to describe the exchange of resources, technology and knowledge between developing countries (who are sometimes referred to as the global south).
• It also refers to the exchange of expertise between actors (governments, organizations and individuals) in developing countries.
• So South-South Cooperation is a general term to describe political, economic, social, cultural, environmental or technical cooperation or collaboration between countries of the global south.
• Through this model of cooperation, developing countries help each other with knowledge, technical assistance, and/or investments.
• Developing countries are the agents of action in South-South cooperation - not just as partners, but as leaders of the development process.
• This process moves away from the paradigm of cooperation as a one-way assistance from donor to recipient - towards a model where emphasis is firmly placed on capacity building, self-reliance, and the sustainable development of countries from the global South.

Bilateral Relations
India, Japan ink mutual military logistics agreement
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the objective of MLSA and its benefits) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• The signing of the "Agreement on Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services" between the Indian Armed Forces and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan.
• After years of negotiations, India and Japan have inked a landmark agreement that will allow their militaries to access each other's bases for logistics support, a key development that comes in the backdrop of growing concerns over China's military muscle flexing in the region

Know! all about the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) and its benefits

• The agreement provides for creation of an enabling framework for closer cooperation and interoperability, besides allowing militaries of the two countries to use each other's bases and facilities for repair and replenishment of supplies
• The pact will further enhance the depth of defence cooperation between the two countries and contribute to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region
• The agreement will promote closer cooperation between the militaries of the two countries, and enable them to actively contribute to international peace and security.
• The agreement will facilitate the smooth and prompt provision of supplies and services between the Self-Defense Forces of Japan and the Indian Armed Forces
• The pact will enhance the interoperability between the armed forces, resulting in further expansion of bilateral defence engagement under the Indo-Japan special strategic and global partnership.
• The agreement establishes the enabling framework for closer cooperation between the armed forces of India and Japan in reciprocal provision of supplies and services
• India and Australia sealed a similar Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA) while resolving to scale up their overall defence cooperation.

• India has already signed similar agreements with the US, France and Singapore.
• India has been signing MLSAs with countries primarily eyeing deeper maritime cooperation which is important considering China's rapid military expansionism in the Indo-Pacific, Indian Ocean and South China Sea.
• The pacts signed with the US and France provide for accessing various crucial bases by Indian military in Djibouti, Guam and the Reunion Islands among others.

Polity
Breach of privilege
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the breach of privilege ) + Mains ( GS II Parliament and State Legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.
What's the NEWS

• A motion for breach of privilege was moved in the Maharashtra Assembly against Republic TV's Managing Director
• A similar motion was moved in the Maharashtra Legislative Council against actor Kangana Ranaut.

Know! about Privileges

• The powers, privileges and immunities of either House of the Indian Parliament and of its Members and committees are laid down in Article 105 of the Constitution.
• Article 194 deals with the powers, privileges and immunities of the State Legislatures, their Members and their committees.
• Parliamentary privilege refers to the right and immunity enjoyed by legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made in the course of their legislative duties.

• These powers and privileges are not codified.
• There are no clear, notified rules to decide what constitutes a breach of privilege, and the punishment it attracts.
• Any act that obstructs or impedes either House of the state legislature in performing its functions, or which obstructs or impedes any Member or officer of such House in the discharge of his duty, or has a tendency, directly or indirectly, to produce such results is treated as breach of privilege.
• It is a breach of privilege and contempt of the House to make speeches or to print or publish libel reflecting on the character or proceedings of the House, or its Committees, or on any member of the House for or relating to his character or conduct as a legislator.

Know! the procedure (the role of Privileges Committee)

• The Legislative Assembly Speaker or Legislative Council Chairman constitutes a Privileges Committee consisting of 15 members in the Assembly and 11 members in the Council.
• The Speaker or Chairman first decides on the motions.
• If the privilege and contempt are found prima facie, then the Speaker or Chairman will forward it to the Privileges Committee
• The Committee will examine whether statements made by the accused had insulted the state legislature and its Members
• The Committee, which has quasi-judicial powers, will seek an explanation from all the concerned, will conduct an inquiry and will make a recommendation based on the findings to the state legislature for its consideration.
• If the Committee finds the offender guilty of breach of privilege and contempt, it can recommend the punishment.
• The punishment can include communicating the displeasure of the state legislature to the offender, summoning the offender before the House and giving a warning, and even sending the offender to jail.
• In the case of the media, press facilities of the state legislature may be withdrawn, and a public apology may be sought

Human Resource Development
NISHTHA

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

• A total of 23,137 Key Resource Persons (KRPs) and State Resource Persons (SRPs) and 16,99,931 School Heads and Teachers have been trained under NISTHA in 2019-20.
• In 2020-21, it has been decided to launch NISHTHA - Phase II at the secondary level. Due to COVID - 19situations, NISHTHA Online has been created by customizing Modules for Online delivery.

Know! about NISHTHA

• The Department of School Education and Literacy launched a National Mission to improve learning outcomes at the Elementary level through an Integrated Teacher Training Programme called NISHTHA - National Initiative for School Heads' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement on 21st August, 2019.
• The aim of this integrated teacher training programme was to build the capacities of around 42 lakh teachers and Heads of Schools, faculty members of SCERTs and DIETs and Block Resource Coordinators and Cluster Resource Coordinators.

• Central Board of Secondary Education also keeps organizing Prospective Resource Persons training programmes for the key resource persons.
• These Key Resource Persons, in turn, train other teachers of the schools affiliated to CBSE in various subjects through online as well as in-person training programmes organized by CBSE.

• A comprehensive initiative called PM eVIDYAhas been initiated which unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-mode access to education.
• This will benefit nearly 25 crore school going children across the country. The initiative includes:
• DIKSHA the nation's digital infrastructure for providing quality e-content for school education in states/UTs: and QR coded Energized Textbooks for all grades (one nation, one digital platform)
• One earmarked TV channel per class from 1 to 12 (one class, one channel)
• Extensive use of Radio, Community radio and CBSE Podcast- ShikshaVani
• Special e-content for visually and hearing impaired developed on Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY) and in sign language on NIOS website/ YouTube

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