Prelims Factoids
Oxycare Systems to be procured through PM CARES

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Oxycare System + PM CARES fund)
What's the NEWS

• PM-CARES Fund has accorded sanction for procurement of 1,50,000 units of Oxycare System at a cost of Rs 322.5 Crore.
• It is a comprehensive system developed by DRDO to regulate oxygen being administrated to patients based on the sensed values of their SpO2 levels.

Know! all about Oxycare System

• The system has been developed in two Configurations. The basic version consists of a 10 litre Oxygen cylinder, a Pressure Regulator cum Flow Controller, a Humidifier and a Nasal Cannula.
• The Oxygen flow is regulated manually based on the SpO2 readings.
• The intelligent configuration includes a system for automatic regulation of Oxygen through a Low Pressure Regulator, Electronic Control System and an SpO2 Probe in addition to the basic version.
• SpO2 Based Oxygen Control System optimises consumption of oxygen based on the SpO2 level of the patient and effectively increases the endurance of portable Oxygen cylinder.
• The threshold SpO2 value for initiating flow from the system can be adjusted by the health staff and the SpO2 levels are continuously monitored and displayed by the system.
• It reduces the work load and exposure of healthcare providers by eliminating the need of routine measurement and manual adjustments of Oxygen flow, thereby facilitating tele-consultation also.
• The automatic system also provides suitable audio warning for various failure scenarios including low SpO2 values and probe disconnections.
• These Oxycare systems can be used at Homes, Quarantine Centres, COVID Care Centres and Hospitals.
• In addition, Non-Rebreather Masks (NRM) are integrated with the Oxycare Systems for efficient use of oxygen which results in saving of Oxygen by 30-40%.
• DRDO has transferred the technology to multiple industries in India who will be producing the Oxycare Systems for use all across India.

PM CARES Fund

• The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) was created on 27 March 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
• The stated purpose of the fund is for combating, and containment and relief efforts against the coronavirus outbreak and similar pandemic like situations in the future.
• Although the documentation for the constitution of the fund has not been made public, the Government of India has stated that the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, is the chairman of the fund, and that trustees include the Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh; Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, and Minister of Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Government of India.

Prelims Factoids
Amphotericin B

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Amphotericin B and Mucormycosis)
What's the NEWS

• A sudden increase in demand has been observed in some states for Amphotericin B which is being actively prescribed by the physicians to patients suffering from Mucormycosis, a post COVID complication.
• The Government of India is therefore engaging with the manufacturers to ramp up production of the drug.
• The supply position is expected to improve with extra imports of this drug and increase in its production domestically.
• States have been requested to put in place a mechanism for equitable distribution of supplies amongst Government and Private hospitals and health care agencies.
• States have also been requested to publicise in the State the ‘Point of Contact' for Private and Government hospitals to obtain the drug from this allocation.
• The arrangements for supply will be monitored by National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA).

Amphotericin B

• It is an antifungal medication used for serious fungal infections and leishmaniasis. The fungal infections
• It is used to treat include aspergillosis, blastomycosis, candidiasis, coccidioidomycosis, and cryptococcosis. For certain infections it is given with flucytosine.
• It is typically given by injection into a vein.

Mucormycosis (previously called zygomycosis)

• It is a serious but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes.
• These molds live throughout the environment.
• Mucormycosis mainly affects people who have health problems or take medicines that lower the body's ability to fight germs and sickness.

International Organisations
Pakistan government to set new rules to meet FATF requirements
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about FATF)
What's the NEWS

• Pakistan, keen to exit from the grey list of the FATF, is set to introduce new rules relating to anti-money laundering cases and change the prosecution process to meet its remaining tough conditions

Know! about the steps taken by Pakistan

• Pakistan was put on the grey list by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog for money laundering and terror financing in June 2018 and the country has been struggling to come out of it.
• The changes being made also include the transfer of investigations and prosecution of anti-money laundering (AML) cases from police, provincial anti-corruption establishments (ACEs) and other similar agencies to specialised agencies.
• This is part of two sets of rules, including the AML (Forfeited Properties Management) Rules 2021 and the AML (Referral) Rules 2021 under the "National Policy Statement on Follow the Money" approved by the federal Cabinet meeting a few days ago
• Based on these measures, the FATF would conclude if Pakistan has complied with three outstanding benchmarks, out of 27, that blocked its exit from the grey list in February this year.
• The AML (Forfeited Properties Management) Rules 2021 specify how the inventories would be measured, described or defined, protected, and evaluated for auction and how to complete all processes
• The Anti-Money Laundering (Referral) Rules, 2021 are being introduced to enable transfer of the cases from one set of investigation agencies to another.
• The Cabinet was explained that based on the outcomes of the mutual evaluation, Pakistan was placed by Asia Pacific Group (APG) in the (Expedited) Enhanced Follow Up process which requires the country to submit its follow up report almost every quarter to the APG to provide it with an update on the progress made.

Know! about FATF

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.
• The inter-governmental body sets international standards that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harm they cause to society.
• As a policy-making body, the FATF works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas.
• With more than 200 countries and jurisdictions committed to implementing them.
• The FATF has developed the FATF Recommendations, or FATF Standards, which ensure a co-ordinated global response to prevent organised crime, corruption and terrorism.
• They help authorities go after the money of criminals dealing in illegal drugs, human trafficking and other crimes.
• The FATF also works to stop funding for weapons of mass destruction.
• The FATF reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and continuously strengthens its standards to address new risks, such as the regulation of virtual assets, which have spread as cryptocurrencies gain popularity.
• The FATF monitors countries to ensure they implement the FATF Standards fully and effectively, and holds countries to account that do not comply.

Prelims Factoids
India variant is of global concern: WHO
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about B.1.617)
What's the NEWS

• The World Health Organization classified the B.1.617 variant first identified in India last year as a variant of global concern.
• There is some available information to suggest increased transmissibility.
• The WHO has said the predominant lineage of B.1.617 was first identified in India last December, although an earlier version was spotted in October 2020.
• The variant has already spread to other countries, and many nations have moved to cut or restrict movements from India.
• WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the WHO Foundation was launching a "Together for India" appeal to raise funds to purchase oxygen, medicines and protective equipment for health workers.

Prelims Factoids
India ranked 51 in Expat Insider Survey
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Expat Insider Survey - highlights)
What's the NEWS

• India ranks among the bottom 10 of the Expat Insider 2021 survey that provides in-depth information on expats' satisfaction with the quality of life, ease of settling in, working life, personal finance, and the cost of living in their respective country of residence.

Know! the report highlights

• Coming in 51^st place out of 59 countries, the country is ranked fourth worldwide in the Personal Finance Index as 82% of expats in India are satisfied with their financial situation (64% globally) and 89% say their disposable household income is enough or more than enough to cover their expenses (77% globally).
• While India gets an average result in the Ease of Settling In Index (34^th), it only lands in a low 46th place in the Working Abroad Index. Finally, it does worst in the Quality of Life Index (58^th).
• Taiwan, Mexico, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Portugal, New Zealand, Australia, Ecuador, Canada, and Vietnam are the best destinations for expats in 2021. The worst countries are Kuwait (59^th), Italy, South Africa, Russia, Egypt, Japan, Cyprus, Turkey, India, and Malta (50^th).
• Kuwait is the hardest country for expats to feel at home in, Italy is the worst for personal finances, and expats in South Africa do not feel safe.
• Interestingly, 37% of expats in India have a gross income of $ 75,000 or more per year (33% globally).
• Additionally, India is 13^th in the Cost of Living Index, with 69% of expats rating the cost of living positively (48% globally).
• India receives the second-worst results worldwide in the Quality of Life Index (58^th)-only ahead of Kuwait (59^th)-and performs especially poorly in the Quality of Environment subcategory (59^th) as 67% of expats rate the air quality negatively (20% globally), and more than half (54%) are unhappy with the water and sanitation infrastructure (12% globally).
• The overall quality of life is also lowered by India's poor performance in the Safety & Security subcategory (56^th).
• Just around three in ten expats (29%) are satisfied with the country's political stability, compared to 64% globally.
• Moreover, 28% rate its peacefulness negatively, and less than three-quarters (72%) feel personally safe in India's cities (84% globally).
• India also lands in the bottom 10 of the Digital Life (55^th) and Travel & Transportation (57^th) as a quarter of expats (25%) finds it difficult to get high-speed internet access at home, and 62% rate the transportation infrastructure negatively.

Prelims Factoids
Central Vista project
Know! all about the Project

• The Central Vista project is a mega redevelopment plan in New Delhi for India's power corridor.
• The Central Vista is a grand redevelopment project for building what will be the power corridor of India, having a new Parliament building, a common central secretariat and revamped three-km-long Rajpath, from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate.
• The Central Vista redevelopment project is a construction plan to give India's power corridor a new spatial identity in what is usually called the Lutyen's Delhi.
• Under the Central Vista project, the residence of the prime minister is likely to be shifted near the South Block that houses the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
• The vice-president's new house will be closer to the North Block. The "North" and "South" Blocks are named so for their location north and south of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• According to the Central Vista redevelopment plan, North and South Blocks will be converted into museums. However, the current residence of the vice president is among the buildings identified for demolition
• The new Parliament Building Complex, triangular in shape spread over 64,500 square metre, is described as the pivot of the Central Vista project design.
• It is to be much bigger than the existing Parliament building and will be able to house 1,224 Members of Parliament.
• The Lok Sabha chamber will have a seating capacity of 888 MPs while the Rajya Sabha chamber will accommodate 384 MPs.
• The increased capacity of the chambers has been provisioned for keeping in mind future increase in the number of MPs.
• Currently, the Lok Sabha has 545 MPs and the Rajya Sabha 245. All MPs will have separate offices in the new building.
• The new Parliament building will have a grand Constitution Hall showcasing India's democratic heritage.
• The Constitution Hall will showcase the original copy of the Constitution and a visitors' gallery digitally displaying India's democratic heritage.
• The existing Parliament House building will continue to be in use by retro-fitting it to provide more functional spaces for parliamentary events.
• The new Parliament building will be equipped with the latest digital interfaces as a step towards creating 'paperless offices'.
• A monitoring committee drawing members from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the CPWD, the NDMC and architect/designer of the project will monitor the construction work.
• The new Parliament building complex is expected to be complete by 2022. The Central Vista project has a work completion deadline of 2024, when the next Lok Sabha election will take place.
• The existing Parliament building was constructed by the British colonial rulers. It was designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.
• The existing Parliament building complex took six years in construction - from foundation stone laying on February 12 in 1921 to the inauguration by then Viceroy Lord Irwin on January 18 in 1927.
• The construction cost back then was Rs 83 lakh - a princely sum in those days. The current Central Vista project is estimated to cost Rs 971 crore.

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