Daily Current Capsules 27^th March 2021

Science and Technology
Indian beamline project

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Indian beamline project + about India-Japan Scientific and Technological Cooperation) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations + GS III awareness in the field of S&T)
What's the NEWS

• The third phase of the Indian beamline project, a facility for materials research set up under India-Japan Scientific and Technological Cooperation, was initiated on March 23, 2021, with special focus on industrial application research.
• The initiation of the third phase took place with the signing of MoU between Ambassador of India in Japan \with Director, Institute of Material Structure Science, Dr. KOSUGI Nobuhiro.

The third phase of the Indian beamline project

• The phase would increase the number of young researchers from India to be trained in advanced X-ray techniques of material research.
• Besides, steps will be taken to allocate more beamtime so that more researchers can get access to it. At present, only 50 % of Indian researchers who apply receive beamtime.
• The Indian beamline has been constructed and maintained by Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics (SINP), Kolkata and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore; in Japanese synchrotron light source Photon Factory (PF) of High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), with support from Nano Mission, Department of Science and Technology (DST).

India-Japan Scientific and Technological Cooperation

• This project was initiated between the DST and the KEK on 24 July 2007.
• In the first phase (2009-2015) of this project, an X-ray beamline (BL18B) was constructed by SINP in PF, and over the years, this facility has provided substantial amount of quality beamtime for the use of Indian scientists to carry out front-ranking research in advanced materials including nano materials. (beamtime - time allocated to a researcher for use of a beam of particles from a particular source)
• So far, 45 Indian Institutes across the country have used this facility and published research papers in top-ranking International Journals.
• In the second phase (2016-2021), JNCASR and SINP jointly developed the beamline further to cater to the need of various users from India by implementing various modes of operation of the Indian beamline.
• The required planning was finalized during a one-year extension (April 2015 to March 2016) of first phase through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and it was mentioned in the Joint Statement in Japan during the visit of Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, from 30 August to 3 September 2014.
• Recognizing the successful operation of the Indian Beam Line at High-Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) at Tsukuba as a flagship cooperative activity, both sides announced their decision to take forward this collaboration in structural materials science area to the second phase for the study of advanced materials. Now it has been extended to the third phase.

Indo-Japan S&T cooperation

• It was formalized through Inter-Governmental Agreement signed in 1985 between Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Government of Japan.
• Indo Japan Joint S&T Committee Co-chaired by Department of Science & Technology (DST) India and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Japan, is the apex body which provides vision and direction to the cooperative S&T activities.
• An Implementation Arrangement (IA) between DST & Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology (MEXT) was signed in January 2014 at New Delhi.
• The two sides have held two Coordination Committee Meetings for S&T Cooperation since then.
• India and Japan aim at working together in developing STI (Science, Technology & Innovation) Roadmap for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with India as pilot country and Japan being its partner country as a party of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) under the UN programme.

Social Justice
Eklavya Model Residential Schools

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) + Mains (GS II Social Issues)
What's the NEWS

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs through its autonomous body, the National Education Society for Tribal Students will fill up around 3479 vacancies of teaching staff in the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in 17 States across the country, the application process for which will be opened from 1st of next month.

Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)

• The scheme of EMRS is a flagship intervention of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs to provide quality education to the tribal students in the tribal areas of the country.
• The scheme, in operation since 1998 underwent a major revamping in the year 2018-19 to improve the geographical outreach of the schools to every block with 50% or more ST population and 20,000 or more tribal persons with an aim to improve accessibility to the schools.
• Under the revamped scheme, 452 new schools will be setup in addition to the existing 288 schools thereby taking the total number of schools to 740 in the coming years.
• Out of these, proposals submitted by States for opening of 100 schools have been finalised, where in construction will start soon.
• The focus under the scheme is to ensure holistic development of the students in both academic and extracurricular sphere.
• The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of the students. Each school has a capacity of 480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII. Hitherto, grants were given for construction of schools and recurring expenses to the State Governments under Grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution.
• In order to give further impetus to EMRS, it has been decided that by the year 2022, every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, will have an EMRS.
• Eklavya schools will be on par with Navodaya Vidyalaya and will have special facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development.
• Across the country, as per census 2011 figures, there are 564 such sub-districts out of which there is an EMRS in 102 sub-districts. Thus, 462 new schools have to be opened by the year 2022.

Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS)

• Wherever density of ST population is higher in identified Sub-Districts (90% or more), it is proposed to set up Eklavya Model Day Boarding School (EMDBS) on an experimental basis for providing additional scope for ST Students seeking to avail school education without residential facility.

Written Reply given by the Minister of State for Tribal Affairs in Rajya Sabha
Functioning of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about National Commission for Scheduled Tribes ) + Mains ( GS II Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections)
What's the NEWS

• The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes have been set up under Article 338A of the Constitution of India.

• The functions of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes are given below:-

The Sub-clause (5) of the Article 338A of the Constitution of India provides that it shall be the duty of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes as under:-
a. To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Tribes under this Constitution or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;
b. To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled tribes;
c. To participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Tribes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;
d. To present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;
e. To make in such reports recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled tribes; and
f. To discharge such other functions insulation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the Scheduled tribes as the President may, subject to the provision of any law made by Parliament by rule specify
Other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes, namely

• Measures that need to be taken over conferring ownership rights in respect of minor forest produce to STs living in forest areas.
• Measures to be taken safeguard rights of the tribal communities over mineral resources, water resources etc. as laid down by law.
• Measures to be taken for the development of tribal to plug loopholes and to work more viable livelihood strategies.
• Measures to be taken to improve the efficacy of relief and rehabilitation measures for tribal groups displaced by development projects.
• Measures to be taken to prevent alienation of tribal people from land and to effectively rehabilitate such people in whose case alienation has already been taken place.
• Measures to be taken to elicit maximum cooperation and involvement of tribal communities for protecting forests and undertaking social afforestation.
• Measures to be taken to ensure full implementation of the provision of Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996.
• Measures to be taken to reduce and ultimately eliminate the practice of shifting cultivation by tribal that lead to their continuous disempowerment and degradation of land and the environment.

The NCST in its First Report for the year 2004-05 and 2005-06 made a recommendation for safeguarding the rights of Tribal Communities over mineral Resources

• There is need to issue clear guidelines for giving preference to Scheduled Tribes in the grant of mining concessions in Scheduled Areas.
• The Deptt. Of Mines should introduce a bill to give effect to the recommendations of the Bhuria Committee 1995 to the effect that in all industrial enterprises set up in the Scheduled Areas (other than small ventures), the community should be deemed to be the owner with 50% shares in its favour by virtue of its allowing the industry to use local resources and getting established.
• To make specific legal provisions in their Acts relating to mines and minerals making it mandatory for them to consult Gram Sabhas before of any lease about minor minerals. [Para: 3.13.4(iii)]

The NCST has presented the following two reports to Hon'ble President of India

• Indira Sagar Polavaram Project Affected Tribal People
• Rourkela Steel Plant on Rehabilitation & Resettlement of Displaced Tribal.

Health
7^th NATHEALTH Annual Summit

Relevance IN - Prelims (about 7^th annual summit of NATHEALTH) + Mains ( GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
What's the NEWS

• Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare addressed the 7th annual summit of NATHEALTH focusing on ‘Indian Health system expansion in post-COVID era' through a video conference
• With an objective to bring the Healthcare industry together to engage, collaborate and deliberate, to chart a forward path together and emerge resilient in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, NATHEALTH- Healthcare Federation of India, is organizing the 7th NATHEALTH Annual Summit on the theme of 'Indian Health System Expansion in Post-COVID

Know! all about annual summit of NATHEALTH

• The 2-day virtual summit to be held on 25^th and 26th March 2021 will bring senior Government representatives, top industry leaders, and sectoral experts from both the private and public sector in India together to forge strong partnerships and identify areas of cooperation with discussions and presentations on short term and long-term focus areas.
• The annual summit provides a platform to reemphasize the fact that we need to find solutions to the barriers of access to quality healthcare, building essential infrastructure for patients, harness technology, address the shortage of skilled workforce and medical professionals and find ways to improve patient outcomes.
• The theme, "Indian Health System Expansion in Post- COVID Era" will assess approaches and strategies to arrive at solutions around the potential of the Indian healthcare sector to attract investments for building a modern 21^st-century universal healthcare delivery model that delivers affordable excellence.
• NATHEALTH has been successfully organizing annual summits to address key issues significant for the Indian Healthcare ecosystem and engage with all stakeholders across sectors to leverage innovation and technology to improve access and quality of care.
• The NATHEALTH Summit 2021 is a vital opportunity for all of us to address critical gaps and needs not only for India but for Bharat.
• Infrastructure expansion, increasing access and services in tier 2/3 geographies, supporting small hospitals and health centers to build equity in healthcare will be some of the key focus areas.
• The NATHEALTH annual summit is the right platform for stakeholders from the Government and the private sector to discuss how digital can transform healthcare in India.
• The Summit will focus on 5 critical and most relevant themes for today - catalyzing the investment cycle in healthcare post COVID19; strategies for financing healthcare to accelerate momentum for achieving Universal Health Coverage; leveraging Digital health and Med Tech for improving access to and quality of care; reimagining health infrastructure development over the next 5 years for India and Bharat and bridging the demand-supply gap in skilling.
• The 2021Summit will focus on meaningful conversations catalyzing investments, gearing up for digital healthcare, ideating to expand health infrastructure, methods to leverage the power of partnerships for skilling and medical education.
• NATHEALTH is providing a platform for experts across the healthcare sector to discuss new paradigms in healthcare financing, why patient centricity and quality care should be at the forefront and how India can move towards a value-based framework.
• The summit will help in engaging the industry in thought-provoking ideas for greater collaboration amongst all healthcare stakeholders, while also exploring varied pricing models to ensure viability and scale without compromising quality."

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