Today's Current Affairs 3-5/12/2023
- M.R Mishra
- Dec 5, 2023
- 7 min read
1.Leadership Group For Industry Transition (LeadIT) 2.0: LeadIT fosters collaboration between decision-makers in the public and private sector to create conducive policies and share best practices to accelerate industry transition.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi together with H.E. Mr. Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden, co-launched the Phase-II of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT 2.0) for the period 2024-26, at COP-28 in Dubai.
To accelerate this, they foster collaboration between decision-makers in the public and private sector to enable the needed policy environment, finance flows, and exchange of best practice by:
Convening and participating in high-level dialogues to set the international agenda to align on actions for net-zero
Holding regular meetings between private and public decarbonization experts
Support roadmapping processes with science-based tools and workshops
Track plans and investments to decarbonize heavy industry sectors
Carry out analysis that informs policymaking
During the event, Prime Minister highlighted that LeadIT 2.0 will focus on the following:
Inclusive & Just Industry TransitionCo-development & transfer of low-carbon technologyFinancial support to emerging economies for Industry Transition
India and Sweden had co-launched LeadIT at UN Climate Action Summit in New York in 2019.
2.Antarctica Day event: Members of India’s first expedition to Antarctica were felicitated recently at an ‘Antarctica Day event’.
Antarctica Day, observed on December 1st, serves as a platform to emphasize the scientific, environmental, and geopolitical importance of Antarctica. This day commemorates the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, which established the continent as a scientific preserve and demilitarized zone.
Elaborating further, events organized on Antarctica Day often include educational programs, lectures, virtual or physical exhibitions, and discussions. Scientists, researchers, and environmentalists share insights into the unique ecosystems of Antarctica, ongoing scientific discoveries, and the impact of climate change on this region.
Through these activities, the day seeks to engage the global community in conversations about the role Antarctica plays in climate regulation, sea-level stability, and biodiversity. It also highlights the collaborative international efforts in place to ensure the peaceful and environmentally responsible management of the continent.
Antarctica Day serves as a reminder of the need for continued cooperation and vigilance in safeguarding this pristine and fragile environment, encouraging sustainable practices and responsible stewardship for the benefit of both the region and the planet as a whole.
India's first Antarctica mission was top secret, felt like being in James Bond film: Recall members
3. Bihar receives global acclaim at COP-28 for afforestation initiatives.: State Environment Secretary Bandana Preyashi and Director (Ecology) Surendra Singh delivered a detailed presentation on ‘Afforestation Activities in Bihar to Combat Climate Change’ at the Dubai Climate Summit.
What is it?
JAL-JEEVAN-HARIYALI Mission (JJHM), an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860, under Rural Development Department, Govt. of Bihar. The Society is under overall administrative control of the State Government. This is an ambitious multi stakeholder programme with the objective of climate sustenance, conservation and rejuvenation of water bodies and to keep water pollution free, maintaining level of Ground water, ensuring adequate water availability, climate resilient agriculture, energy conservation etc. and promoting climate awareness among the masses.
11 target interventions that involves
identification and rejuvenation of all public conventional water storage structures, construction of check dams and other water harvesting structures in small rivers / drains and water storage in the hilly area,
Creation of new water sources and taking/delivering of water from the surplus river area to water deficit areas,
Construction of Rain Water Harvesting Structures in the buildings, Creation of nurseries and dense plantation of trees,
Promoting the usage of Alternative Cropping, Drip Irrigation, Organic Farming and other new techniques along with the
Promotion of the usage of solar energy and encouraging conservation of energy.
JAL-JEEVAN-HARIYALI Mission offers a great opportunity to citizen of India to recommit and strive to our path towards more sustainable future, as promised by its logo: Water, Life and Greenery, only then will be Prosperity.
Components of JAL-JEEVAN-HARIYALI Mission are-
Components of JAL-JEEVAN-HARIYALI Mission are-
Identifying and removing encroachments from public water bodies, reservoirs, etc
Restoration and rejuvenation of public water bodies such as Ponds/Tanks/Aahars/Payeens.
Identification and renovation of public wells.
Construction of soak pits/recharge pits and other water conservation structure near public wells and hand pumps.
Construction of check dams and water conservation structures near small rivers, drains and water storage structures in hilly areas.
Construction of New Water Resources. Channelling/delivering water from the rivers having surplus water to the water deficit areas.
Roof Top Rain-Water Harvesting Structure.
Developing nurseries and massive afforestation.
Adaptation of alternative agriculture, drip irrigation bio-farming and other new techniques.
Promoting use of solar energy and savings on energy.
JAL-JEEVAN-HARIYALI awareness campaign..
4.Purchasing Managers Index: is an indicator of business activity – both in the manufacturing and services sectors.
It is a survey-based measure that asks the respondents about changes in their perception of some key business variables from the month before.
It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is constructed.
The index helps in determining whether the market conditions, as seen by purchasing managers, is expanding, contracting or staying the same.
There are two types of PMI — Manufacturing PMI and Services PMI.
What does the PMI index mean?
Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI™) is a survey-based economic indicator designed to provide a timely insight into business conditions. The PMI is widely used to anticipate changing economic trends in official data such as GDP, or sometimes as an alternative gauge of economic performance and business conditions to official data, as the latter sometimes suffer from delays in publication, poor availability or data quality issues.
The PMI is produced globally by S&P Global although a small number of trade associations also produce local PMIs in certain markets, such as the ISM in the United States.
The Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI™) is a survey-based indicator of business conditions, which includes individual measures (‘sub-indices’) of business output, new orders, employment, costs, selling prices, exports, purchasing activity, supplier performance, backlogs of orders and inventories of both inputs and finished goods, where applicable.
The surveys ask respondents to report the change in each variable compared to the prior month, noting whether each has risen/improved, fallen/deteriorated or remained unchanged. These objective questions are accompanied by one subjective ‘sentiment’ question asking companies whether they forecast their output to be higher, the same or lower in a year’s time.
Originally compiled for manufacturing, S&P Global pioneered the extension of coverage to other sectors in the 1990s, including services, construction and retail. The PMI and its sub-indices are widely used to anticipate changing economic trends in official data such as GDP, or sometimes as an alternative gauge of economic performance and business conditions to official data, as the latter sometimes suffer from delays in publication, poor availability or data quality issues. Learn more about PMI™ by S&P Global.
5.Combined Maritime Forces (CMF): is a multi-national naval partnership, which exists to promote security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
CMF’s main focus areas are defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and promoting a safe maritime environment.
CMF counters violent extremism and terrorist networks in maritime areas of responsibility; works with regional and other partners to improve overall security and stability; helps strengthen regional nations’ maritime capabilities and, when requested, responds to environmental and humanitarian crises.
Comprised of five task forces: CTF 150 (Gulf of Oman security and counter-terrorism), CTF 151 (counter piracy), CTF 152 (Arabian Gulf security and cooperation), CTF 153 (Red Sea/Gulf of Aden security and cooperation) and CTF 154 (maritime security training).
38 member nations: Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, UAE, United Kingdom, United States and Yemen.
Commanded by a U.S. Navy Vice Admiral, who also serves as Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. Fifth Fleet. All three commands are co-located at U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain.
Deputy commander is a UK Royal Navy Commodore. Other senior staff roles at CMF headquarters are filled from personnel from member nations, including Australia, France, Italy and Denmark.
Participation is purely voluntary. No nation is asked to carry out any duty that it is unwilling to conduct. The contribution from each country varies depending on its ability to contribute assets and the availability of those assets at any given time.
The 38 nations that comprise CMF are not bound by either a political or military mandate. CMF is a flexible organisation. Contributions can vary from the provision of a liaison officer at CMF HQ in Bahrain to the supply of warships or support vessels in task forces, and maritime reconnaissance aircraft based on land. We can also call on warships not explicitly assigned to CMF to give associated support, which is assistance they can offer if they have the time and capacity to do so whilst undertaking national tasking.
6.National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD), 2021: As per the data available with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 9,675 patients have been enrolled since November, 2019 on the portal of National Registry for Rare and Other Inherited Disorders (NRROID) out of which 4,408 patients are from centrally governed Hospitals. For financial year 2023-24, funds of Rs. 92.84 Crore (Rs. Ninety Two Crore Eighty Four Lakh Only) has been allocated for treatment of rare diseases’ patients in the designated Centres of Excellence under the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD), 2021.
The term rare diseases, for the purpose of NPRD, 2021, shall construe the following groups of disorders identified and categorized by experts based on their clinical experience:
Group 1: Disorders amenable to one-time curative treatment:
(i) Disorders amenable to treatment with Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT).
(ii) Disorders amenable to organ transplantation.
Group 2: Diseases requiring long term / lifelong treatment having relatively lower cost of treatment and benefit has been documented in literature and annual or more frequent surveillance is required:
(i) Disorders managed with special dietary formulae or Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP).
(ii) Disorders that are amenable to other forms of therapy (hormone/ specific drugs).
Group 3: Diseases for which definitive treatment is available but challenges are to make optimal patient selection for benefit, very high cost and lifelong therapy.
(i) Based on the literature sufficient evidence for good long-term outcomes exists.
(ii) The cost of treatment is very high and either long term follow up literature is awaited or has been done on small number of patients.
In terms of NPRD, 2021, the steps have been taken by Government for treatment of patients suffering from rare diseases include designation of eleven (11) Centres of Excellence (CoEs), which are premier Government tertiary hospitals with facilities for diagnosis, prevention and treatment; and financial support for treatment of rare diseases patients, which has been increased from up to Rs. 20 lakhs per patient to up to Rs. 50 lakhs per patient. Treatment of patients starts immediately after registration with the CoEs.
Refrence: htps://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1981722
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