Health
Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Wave-1,India Report released

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Wave-1 -report highlights+ International Institute for Population Sciences, (IIPS) + United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and National Institute on Ageing.
What's the NEWS

• Dr.Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare released INDIA REPORT on Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Wave-1 on the virtual platform.

Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI)

• LASI is a full-scale national survey of scientific investigation of the health, economic, and social determinants and consequences of population ageing in India.
• The National Programme for Health Care of Elderly, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has undertaken the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India, through International Institute for Population Sciences, (IIPS), Mumbai in collaboration with Harvard School of Public Health, University of Southern California,USA, Dte.GHS, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and National Institute on Ageing.
• The LASI, Wave 1 covered a baseline sample of 72,250 individuals aged 45 and above and their spouses including 31,464 elderly persons aged 60 and above and 6,749 oldest-old persons aged 75 and above from all States and Union Territories (UTs) of India (excluding Sikkim).
• It is India's first and the world's largest ever survey that provides a longitudinal database for designing policies and programmes for the older population in the broad domains of social, health, and economic well-being.
• The evidence from LASI will be used to further strengthen and broaden the scope of National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly and also help in establishing a range of preventive and health care programmes for older population and most vulnerable among them."

Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) - Report Highlights

• In 2011 census, the 60+ population accounted for 8.6% of India's population, accounting for 103 million elderly people.
• Growing at around 3% annually, the number of elderly age population will rise to 319 million in 2050
• 75% of the elderly people suffer from one or the other chronic disease.
• 40% of the elderly people have one or the other disability and 20% have issues related to mental health.
• This report will provide base for national and state level programmes and policies for elderly population.
• The LASI data shall assist in addressing the broad aims of the Decade of Healthy Ageing and will lead to convergence within various national health programs and also promote inter-sectoral coordination with other line Departments/Ministries.

Know! the methods involved in studying LASI

• The LASI has embraced state-of-the-art large-scale survey protocols and field implementation strategies including representative sample of India and its States, socioeconomic spectrum, an expansive topical focus, a longitudinal design, and the use of Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing(CAPI) technology for data collection, quality control, and Geographic Information System (GIS).
• A unique feature of LASI is the coverage of comprehensive biomarkers.
• No other survey in India collects detailed data on health and biomarkers together with information on family and social network, income, assets, and consumption.

Terms associated
The International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

• It serves as a regional Institute for Training and Research in Population Studies for the ESCAP region.
• It was established in Mumbai in July 1956 and it was declared as a 'Deemed University' in August 19, 1985 under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.
• Started in 1956 under the joint sponsorship of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, the Government of India and the United Nations, it has established itself as the premier Institute for training and research in Population Studies for developing countries in the Asia and Pacific region.
• IIPS holds a unique position among all the regional centres, in that it was the first such centre to be started, and serves a much larger population than that served by any of the other regional centres.
• The Institute is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• Besides teaching and research activities, the Institute also provides consultancy to the Government and Non-Government organizations and other academic institutions.
• Over the years, the Institute has helped in building a nucleus of professionals in the field of population and health in various countries of the ESCAP region.
• During the past 53 years, students from 42 different countries of Asia and the Pacific region, Africa and North America have been trained at the SCAP region
• Since its founding in 1947 the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) serves as the United Nations' regional hub promoting cooperation among countries to achieve inclusive and sustainable development.
• The largest regional intergovernmental platform with 53 Member States and 9 associate members, ESCAP has emerged as a strong regional think-tank offering countries sound analytical products that shed insight into the evolving economic, social and environmental dynamics of the region.

National Institute on Aging

• The National Institute on Aging is a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, located in Bethesda, Maryland. The NIA itself is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.
• The NIA leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life.
• In 1974, Congress granted authority to form NIA to provide leadership in aging research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs relevant to aging and older people.

Environment
Govt. approves advisory for management of Human-Wildlife Conflict across the country.

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife(SC-NBWL -advisory highlights) + Mains ( GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• The Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife(SC-NBWL) in its 60th meeting has approved the advisory for management of Human-Wildlife Conflict(HWC) in the country.

Know! about the advisory

• The advisory makes important prescriptions for the States/ Union Territories for dealing with Human-Wildlife conflict situations and seeks expedited inter-departmental coordinated and effective actions.
• The advisory envisages empowering gram panchayats in dealing with the problematic wild animals as per the section 11 (1) (b) of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Utilising add-on coverage under the Pradhan MantriFasalBimaYojna for crop compensation against crop damage due to HWC and augmenting fodder and water sources within the forest areas are some key steps envisaged to reduce HWC.
• The advisory also envisages prescribing inter-departmental committees at local/state level, adoption of early warning systems, creation of barriers

Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife(SC-NBWL) meeting highlights

• Some of the other important approvals took place during the meeting are, inclusion of Caracal, a medium size wild cat found in some parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, into the list of critically endangered species for taking up conservation efforts with financial support under Centrally sponsored Scheme-Development of Wildlife Habitat.
• Now, there are 22 wildlife species under recovery programme for critically endangered species.
• SC-NBWL recommended the proposal for Tinaighat-Castlerock-Caranzol Railway doubling of South Western Railways, Karnataka with certain mitigation measures as advised by the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.

National Board for Wildlife (NBWL )

• The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is constituted by the Central Government under Section 5 A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA).
• The Standing Committee of NBWL considers proposals after a series of levels of scrutiny and have recommendations of the State Chief Wildlife Warden, State Government and the State Board for Wildlife.
• The National Board may, at its discretion, constitute a Standing Committee under sub-section (1) of Section 5B.
• The Standing Committee shall consist of the Vice-Chairperson (Union Minister in charge of Forests and Wildlife) the Member Secretary and not more than ten members to be nominated by the Vice-Chairperson from amongst the members of the National Board.
• The NBWL Standing Committee chaired by the Union Minister, Environment & Forests is duty bound to ensure compliance of the mandate's statutory processes prescribed by the WLPA in letter and spirit.

Specific provisions in the WLPA include:

• No construction of commercial lodges, hotels... shall be undertaken except with the prior approval of the National Board
• No alteration of the boundaries of a National Park except on a recommendation of the National Board;
• No destruction, removal of wildlife or forest produce from a National Park or diversion of habitat unless State Government in consultation with the National Board authorizes the issue of such permit
• Ensure Tiger Reserves and areas linking one protected area with another are not diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses except in public interest and with the approval of the National Board
• No alteration or denotification of Tiger Reserves without the approval of the National Board for Wildlife

Science and Technology
CEPI Centralized network lab at DBT-THSTI Faridabad
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about CEPI + THSTI) + Mains (GS III awareness in the field of science and technology)

What's the NEWS

• The Minister for Science & Technology, Health & Family Welfare and Earth Sciences inaugurated one of the seven labs of the world called as the centralized network lab of Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) established at Translational Health Science & Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, through virtual platform

Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Translational Health Science & Technology Institute (THSTI)

• THSTI is an institute of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). This is the only laboratory of such kind in India and is also accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) (ISO 17025:2017).
• The CEPI laboratory will be a great addition to the ability of THSTI to enhance quality of services towards making the vaccine and its acceptability at Global level.
• CEPI is an innovative partnership between public, private, philanthropic, and civil organizations, launched at Davos in 2017, to develop vaccines to stop future epidemics.
• The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India is implementing the Ind-CEPI mission titled ‘India Centric Epidemic Preparedness through Rapid Vaccine Development: Supporting Indian Vaccine Development Aligned with the Global Initiative of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)'.
• Ind-CEPI Mission aims to strengthen the development of vaccines for the diseases of epidemic potential in India as well as build coordinated preparedness in the Indian public health system and vaccine industry to address existing and emergent infectious threats in India.
• The major focus at present is to help evaluating new Covid-19 vaccines, using standard analysis and same reagents in all labs so that vaccine produced has global acceptance and repeatability of the results, for global use.

Defence
Advanced Biodigester Mk-II Technology
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Advanced biodigester Mk-II technology ) + Mains (GS III awareness in the field of science and technology)

What's the NEWS

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Government of India's premier research agency and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MAHA -METRO), a joint venture company of the GoI and Government of Maharashtra are working together to conserve water and protect the environment by installing DRDO's eco-friendly biodigester units (a non-sewered sanitation technology) in its facilities.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was inked between MAHA-METRO and DRDO through which DRDO will render technical support for the implementation of its advanced biodigester Mk-II technology for the treatment of human waste (night soil) in the metro rail network.

Advanced biodigester Mk-II technology

• DRDO's biodigester is an indigenous, green and cost-effective technology, with a rare distinction of having one of the largest numbers of DRDO-licensees (ToT holders).
• Indian Railways has already installed about 2.40 lakh biodigesters in its fleet of passenger coaches. Now for MAHA-METRO, the technology has been revamped and further improved in a bid to save the water and space.
• A customized version of this MK-II Biodigester, suitable for treating human waste generated from houseboats in Dal Lake was successfully demonstrated by the DRDO to J&K Administration.
• This technology is upgraded through improvements in the bio-degradation efficiency, design modification and addition of secondary treatment module.
• The new reactor is designed to provide more path length with increased biological reaction time, thereby enhancing the bio-degradation efficiency of the system.
• This technology was primarily developed for the armed forces in high altitude Himalayan regions, including Leh-Ladakh and Siachen glacier.

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