Health
6^th Edition of ‘India Pharma & India Medical Device 2021'

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about India Pharma & India Medical Device 2021) + Mains ( GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, addressed the curtain raiser Press Conference on the 6th Edition of ‘India Pharma & India Medical Device 2021

India Pharma & India Medical Device 2021

• The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, jointly with FICCI & Invest India is organizing the 6th edition of annual program on Pharmaceuticals & Medical Device sector - ‘India Pharma & India Medical Device 2021'
• The government through its various policies and schemes is encouraging the manufacturing of affordable medical devices and pharmaceutical under its ‘Make in India' initiative.
• Increasing the accessibility to diagnosis and treatment, boost local manufacturing of medical equipment and encouraging innovation to further reduce the cost of healthcare.
• The India Pharma 2021 & India Medical Device 2021 will lay the groundwork for the next wave of development."
• India is a leading exporter of affordable generics and a major hub for medical devices and diagnostics.
• India has been serving more than 200+ countries and territories with its Pharma products and will continue to discharge its responsibilities.
• The theme for this year India Pharma is ‘Indian Pharma Industry: "Future is Now" and for India Medical Device is "India MedTech Future: Innovate & Make in India through Global Alliance".
• The participants will deliberate upon the opportunities and key challenges in the areas of the sectors.
• Salient components of the event include a showcase of investment opportunities in India, panel discussions with industry leaders, International Drug Regulator Session, India Pharma & Medical Device Awards, and a discussion of sectoral startups.

Know! about Invest India

• Invest India, set up in 2009, is a non-profit venture under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
• As the national investment promotion and facilitation agency, Invest India focuses on sector-specific investor targeting and development of new partnerships to enable sustainable investments in India.
• In addition to a core team that focuses on sustainable investments, Invest India also partners with substantial investment promotion agencies and multilateral organizations.
• Invest India also actively works with several Indian states to build capacity as well as bring in global best practices in investment targeting, promotion and facilitation areas.

Environment
Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi'

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the scheme and steps taken for in-situ management of crop residue)
Know! about the Scheme

• In pursuance to Budget 2018 announcement regarding a special Scheme to support the efforts of the governments of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and the NCT of Delhi to address air pollution and to subsidize machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue, a Central Sector Scheme (100% funded by the Central Government) on ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi' has been implemented during 2018-19 and 2019-20 with

Objective of the Scheme

• Protecting environment from air pollution and preventing loss of nutrients and soil micro-organisms caused by burning of crop residue; promoting in-situ management of crop residue by retention and incorporation into the soil through the use of appropriate mechanization inputs and creating awareness among stakeholders through demonstration, capacity building activities and differentiated Information, Education and Communication strategies for effective utilization and management of crop residue.
• This Scheme was further extended for the year 2020-21.
• The residue burning events in 2020 in Punjab, Haryana and UP together have reduced by -30% as compared to 2016. In Punjab the reduction is -22.7%, Haryana - 63.8% and UP - 52.01%.

Defence
Joint Advanced Technology Program

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the MoU and about JATP-Center of Excellence)
What's the NEWS

• DRDO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru for creation of JATP-Center of Excellence (JATP - CoE) in the premises of IISc to expand the scope and objective of existing Joint Advanced Technology Program.

JATP-Center of Excellence (JATP - CoE)

• The JATP-CoE located in the campus of IISc, Bengaluru will enable Directed Basic & Applied Research and engage with premier research institutes through multi-disciplinary & multi-institutional collaboration.
• The focused research efforts at the centre will lead to realization of indigenous technologies in the critical areas to develop state of art technologies.
• DRDO will support JATP in equipping it with advanced and unique research facilities that will enable the faculty and scholars to conduct advanced research.
• DRDO will facilitate for advanced research to utilize technology outcome in the futuristic applications.
• DRDO scientists and engineers will work with the academic research faculty and scholars in addressing challenging scientific problems to find an innovative solution in advanced areas of research namely Advanced Aerospace Systems & Materials, High Temperature Materials, Micro & Nano Systems Science and Technology, Artificial Intelligence & Robotics, Quantum Technologies etc.
• JATP-CoE may also involve other premier institutions in the country, based on their research strengths.

Joint Advanced Technology Program.

• JATP was created by Late Hon'ble President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in 1983 (while leading IGMDP program), where the DRDO scientists actively collaborated with the faculty of IISc to work on various missile technologies.
• He further emphasized on expanding research activities for defence & security by incorporating the future technology requirements of other DRDO technology clusters and associated laboratories.

Government Schemes
Labour initiatives announced in Union Budget 2021

One Nation One Ration Card:

• It will benefit migrant workers, building and other construction workers, textile sector workers and other workers.
• Beneficiaries can claim their ration anywhere in the country. This scheme is being implemented by Ministry of Food and Public Distribution.
• Migrant workers, in particular, will benefit from the scheme.
• Those staying away from their families can partially claim their ration where they are stationed, while their family in their native places can claim the rest.

Launching of Portal for the unorganised labour:

• The work on setting up of the portal by this Ministry is progressing as per the schedule.
• Portal will collect relevant information on gig, building and construction workers, among others.
• It will help to formulate Health, Housing, Skill, Insurance, Credit and food schemes for migrant workers.
• The Portal will be rolled out by May/June 2021 for registration and other facilities of workers in the unorganised sector, including gig and platform workers and migrant workers.
• Enrolled workers will be provided with an incentive of free coverage for a period of one year for accidental and disability cover under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bhima Yojana(PMSBY).
• Labour Bureau, an attached office under this Ministry, has started vigorously work on four new survey for Migrant workers, Domestic workers, Employment generated by Professionals and Transport Sector. It will also commission " All India Establishment based Employment Survey(AIEES)". Results of all these surveys are likely to come within 8-9 months from the start of actual field surveys.

Rules for four (4) labour codes:

• This Ministry would soon be in a position to bring into force the four Codes, viz., Code on Wages, Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions and Social Security Codes.

Timely Deposit of contribution towards Provident Fund etc

• It will provide security of amount deducted by employer towards payment of contribution deducted from employee on account of employees Provident Fund and Employees Insurance Scheme.

Rationalisation of Tax-free Income on Provident Funds

• This decision will stop high net worth individuals to misuse a welfare facility and earn wrongfully tax-free income as assured interest return.
• Interest portion is calculable on a year-to-year basis just like bank interest.
• Tax payers will be required to include the annual income from contribution beyond Rs 2.5 lakhs into their PF accounts while filing their returns.

Environment
World Sustainable Development Summit 2021

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about World Sustainable Development Summit + about TERI)
What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister will inaugurate the World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 on 10th February
• The theme of the Summit is ‘Redefining our common future: Safe and secure environment for all'.

Know! about the Summit

• The 20^th edition of The Energy and Resources Institute's (TERI) flagship event, the World Sustainable Development Summit, will be held online from 10^th-12^th February, 2021.
• The Summit will bring together a wide number of governments, business leaders, academicians, climate scientists, youth, and the civil society in the fight against climate change.
•  India's Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Ministry of Earth Sciences are key partners of the Summit.
• Energy and industry transition, adaptation and resilience, nature based solutions, climate finance, circular economy, clean oceans and air pollution, are amongst the range of topics to be discussed during the Summit.

Know! about TERI

• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is a research institute in New Delhi that specializes in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development.
• Established in 1974, it was formerly known as the Tata Energy Research Institute.
• As the scope of its activities widened, it was renamed The Energy and Resources Institute in 2003
• It is an independent, multi-dimensional organization, with capabilities in research, policy, consultancy and implementation.

KEEP Learning KEEP Evolving
TEAM CL IAS