Daily Current Capsules 06^th October 2020

Science & Technology
DBT-THSTI recognized as a Global Bioassay Laboratory to assess COVID 19 Vaccine by CEPI

Relevance IN - Prelims (about THSTI and about CEPI and IndCEPI mission ) + Mains ( GS III awareness in the field of science and technology)
What's the NEWS

• Translational Health Science And Technology Institute (THSTI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Biotechnology, has now been recognized by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) as one of the Global network of Laboratories for centralized assessment of COVID 19 Vaccines.
• The CEPI network will initially involve six labs, one each in Canada, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Bangladesh and India.

CEPI Global network

• Under the CEPI Global network the Laboratory will use the same reagents and follow a common set of protocols to measure the immune response of multiple vaccine candidates under development and trial
• This will greatly harmonize the Vaccine trial process and allow different vaccine candidates to be compared and speed up the selection of the most effective candidate.
• The Ind-CEPI mission for establishment of bioassay laboratory at THSTI is to provide validated assays for vaccine development on par with global standards.

IndCEPI mission

• The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, and Government of India has been implementing the IndCEPI mission ‘India Centric Epidemic Preparedness through Rapid Vaccine Development: Supporting Indian Vaccine Development'.
• The objectives of this mission are aligned with the Global Initiative of Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness for Innovation (CEPI ) and aims to strengthen the development of vaccines and associated competencies/technologies for the diseases of epidemic potential in India.

Know! all about CEPI

• CEPI is an innovative global partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organisations launched in Davos in 2017 to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics.
• The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations' (CEPI's) mission is to stimulate and accelerate the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases and enable access to these vaccines for people during outbreaks.
• CEPI is a foundation that takes donations from public, private, philanthropic, and civil society organisations, to finance independent research projects to develop vaccines against emerging infectious diseases
• CEPI was conceived in 2015 and formally launched in 2017 at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
• It was co-founded and co-funded with US$460 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Wellcome Trust, and a consortium of nations, being Norway, Japan, Germany; to which the European Union (2019) and Britain (2020) subsequently joined.
• CEPI is headquartered in Oslo, Norway.

Defence
Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo(SMART)

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about SMART)
What's the NEWS

• The DRDO has tested a new weapon system called the Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) from its test facility at Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha.

Know! what exactly is SMART?

• SMART is a rocket system that carries an anti-submarine torpedo as its payload. Such rocket systems fly to a designated point over water, before releasing their torpedoes.
• A missile-assisted release of light weight anti-submarine torpedo system for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations far beyond torpedo range (50-650 km).
• Ejection trials had been conducted with a Torpedo Advanced Light (TAL), an indigenously developed torpedo, which is also called the Shyena.

Know! the role of Rocket-assisted torpedoes

• light-weight torpedoes have shorter range. For example, the Shyena is estimated to have a range of around 20km.
• The short range of light-weight torpedoes makes them, effectively, defensive weapons against enemy submarines.
• This would pose a significant disadvantage particularly if an enemy has a large number of submarines, in particular, nuclear-powered vessels that have much higher submerged speed than conventional diesel-electric submarines.
• Rocket-assisted torpedoes, effectively, extend a torpedo's range and also help it cover a larger distance in a shorter period of time.

Benefits of having SMART (rocket-assisted torpedoes)

• SMART, would be a quantum leap for the Indian Navy's anti-submarine warfare capabilities, given the very-long range that DRDO has specified and its supersonic speed.
• The Indian Navy would need to modernise and expand its range of ship-borne and airborne anti-submarine surveillance and detection capabilities to take full advantage of the SMART missile.

Torpedo

• A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target.

Bilateral Relations
India-Russia webinar on the use of natural gas as motor fuel
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about webinar takeaways + about LNG and CNG) + Mains ( GS II Bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• The first ever India-Russia webinar on the use of natural gas as motor fuel was organized under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India and the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation.

LNG and CNG as Transport Fuel

• LNG is being promoted as a transport fuel because of its low carbon emission. India is likely to have 120,000 LNG vehicles by 2030.
• City Gas distribution network expansion is the Backbone for CNG growth. Now CGD coverage is being expanded to over 400 districts across 27 states and Union Territories.
• There is a huge market potential in the CNG sector in India with expected investment of USD 3-4 billion in CNG equipment, USD 50-60 billion through CNG vehicles and USD 1-1.5 billion via service market till 2030.
• The webinar is expected to act as a catalyst for coming up with practical measures for initiating projects on pilot basis in each other's countries and eventually to scale up to the national levels and for mutual investments.

Know! about LNG

• LNG is a clear, colourless and non-toxic liquid which forms when natural gas is cooled to -162ºC (-260ºF).
• The cooling process shrinks the volume of the gas 600 times, making it easier and safer to store and ship. In its liquid state, LNG will not ignite.
• When LNG reaches its destination, it is turned back into a gas at regasification plants.
• It is then piped to homes, businesses and industries where it is burnt for heat or to generate electricity.
• LNG is now also emerging as a cost-competitive and cleaner transport fuel, especially for shipping and heavy-duty road transport.

Compressed natural gas (CNG)

• Compressed natural gas, or CNG, is natural gas under pressure which remains clear, odourless, and non-corrosive - and can be used as a cheaper, greener, and more efficient alternative to the traditional petrol and diesel fuels for vehicles.
• CNG is comprised mostly of methane gas which, like gasoline, produces engine power when mixed with air and fed into your engine's combustion chamber.
• CNG is compressed so that enough fuel can be stored in your vehicle to extend driving range, much like the gasoline tank in vehicles.
• Diesel and gasoline vehicles will need to be converted to use CNG fuel.

Social Issues
Tribal Entrepreneurship Development Programme Launched

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Tribal Entrepreneurship Development Programme + about ASSOCHAM) + Mains ( GS II Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes
What's the NEWS

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), an apex industry body have embarked upon a new three-year initiative jointly for Tribal Entrepreneurship Development'.
• ASSOCHAM has been designated as one of several Centres of Excellence which are partnering with Ministry of Tribal Affairs to carry out special projects related to socio-economic development of Tribals.

Tribal Entrepreneurship Development Programme

• The ‘Tribal Entrepreneurship Development Programme' would optimize the contribution of tribal population to the growing economy
• In a bid to promote and support entrepreneurship across Indian tribal communities, efforts are underway in connecting agriculture and forest produce with markets using technology, creation of self-help groups, empowering women, and creating self-sustainable enterprises.
• The ‘ASSOCHAM will strive to explore avenues of promotion to create a robust tribal brand identity and in the process - build and enhance the entrepreneurial capabilities of the tribal artisans.
• 1000 tribal artisans would be identified under this initiative and would be helped to create a unique brand identity with a differentiated value proposition and connect with the potential customer base through exhibitions, Virtual road shows and explore participation of the entrepreneur's in major events across the country and internationally.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)

• It is one of the apex trade associations of India.
• The organisation represents the interests of trade and commerce in India, and acts as an interface between issues and initiatives.
• The goal of this organisation is to promote both domestic and international trade, and reduce trade barriers while fostering conducive environment for the growth of trade and industry of India.

ASSOCHAM members represent the following sectors:

• Trade (national and international)
• Industry (domestic and international)
• Professionals (e.g., CAs, CMAs, lawyers, consultants)

Health and Family Welfare
Decade of Healthy Ageing (2020-2030) launched on International Day for Older Persons

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about International Day of Older Persons + Decade of Healthy Ageing + about LASI) + Mains( GS II Social Issues)
What's the NEWS

• Every year 1st October is celebrated as the International Day of Older Persons, as declared by United Nations, to recognize, enable and expand the contributions of older people in their families, communities and societies at large and to raise awareness towards issues of ageing.
• The UN theme of the International Day of Older Persons 2020 is "Pandemics: Do They Change How We Address Age and Ageing?"

Decade of Healthy Ageing (2020-2030)

• 1^st October, 2020 is the launch year of Decade of Healthy Ageing (2020-2030), many activities will be undertaken throughout the year, aimed at mainstreaming issues related to elderly and to deliberate upon ways to ensure better and effective delivery of services, making full use of convergence mechanisms.
• The broad aims of the Decade of Healthy Ageing will include evolving convergence within various national health programs and also promoting inter-sectoral coordination with other line Departments/Ministries.
• Community based organisations, NGOs and multinational agencies will also be involved for developing an implementation framework for multi-sectoral engagement on healthy aging.
• Workshops/webinars will be organised to bring out policy and programmatic responses to LASI data, highlighting the best practices for elder care

Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI)

• In order to generate comprehensive data on social, economic and health conditions of the elderly, the Government undertook Longitudinal Aging Study of India, the first nationwide study and world's largest study on older adults which will provide evidence base for national and state level programs and policies for elderly population.

• Findings of LASI are being finalised by the Ministry and will be released shortly.

Steps taken by India

• The National Programme for the Health Care for the Elderly (NPHCE) which is aimed to deliver comprehensive, affordable and quality geriatric care services at primary and secondary levels; "outpatient services from district hospital to health & wellness centres, minimum 10 bedded geriatric wards at all district hospitals, rehabilitation services down to CHC and HWC level and developing mechanisms for providing home based care to needy elderly.

India & Japan deliberate on ways to strengthening health care for elderly

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the webinar for older people - objective + about International Day of Older Persons) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• Experts from India and Japan discussed ways to strengthening health care for older people

Know! the key take-aways

• The webinar on ‘India - Japan Celebration of the International Day of Older Persons' was organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, jointly with the Embassy of India, Tokyo & and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), Government of Japan to celebrate the International Day of Older Persons on 1st October 2020.

Way Forward

• Expansion of initiatives like the National Program for Health care of the elderly, Ayushman Bharat and implementation of WHO's long term care protocol (ICOPE) could help in strengthening health care for older people.

Prelims Factoids
Good Samaritans

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Good Samaritans)
What's the NEWS

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has published the rules for the protection of Good Samaritans

Know! all about Good Samaritan (rules)

• Good Samaritan shall have the rights as detailed in the rules and shall be treated respectfully without any discrimination on the grounds of religion, nationality, caste or sex.
• No police officer or any other person shall compel a Good Samaritan to disclose his/her name, identity, address or any such other personal details. However, he may voluntarily choose to disclose the same.
• If a person has voluntarily agreed to become a witness in the case in which he has acted as a Good Samaritan, he shall be examined in accordance with the provisions of this rule
• It is noteworthy that the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, inserted a new section 134A, viz. "Protection of good Samaritans" which provides that a Good Samaritan shall not be liable for any civil or criminal action for any injury to or death of the victim of an accident

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