Biological Diversity Act 

 Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Environment & Ecology 

 Why in News?

· The Lok Sabha has passed the Biological Diversity Amendment Bill, 2021.

· It amends the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. 

 Significance of the Bill:

 · It seeks to exempt the registered AYUSH medical practitioners from intimating the biological boards before accessing the biological resources.

 · It wants to boost the investment and simplify the patent application process.

 · It will decriminalise certain activities. 

 Concerns: 

 · Environmental Organizations are raising concerns about the potential for bio piracy.

 · They are saying that it will favour industries rather than local communities.

 Biological Diversity Act, 2002: 

· It was enacted to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992. 

 · Its main aim is to conserve the biological resources in India. 

 · It provides a framework for the access and sharing of the biological resources. 

 · It deals with the intellectual property rights relating to the Indian biological resources. 

 · It is a three-tier structure which consists of: 

a) The National Biodiversity Authority 

b) The State Biodiversity Boards 

c) The Biodiversity Management Committees

Objectives:

· To protect the India’s rich biodiversity 

 · To check biopiracy

 · To take measures against the intellectual property rights in any country outside India.

 · To share the monetary benefits from the commercial use of biological resources.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority

Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Science & Technology 

 Why in News? 

NPPA has received 5,772 complaints on overcharging. 

 National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority:

· It was constituted in the year 1997.

 · It is an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. 

 · It is an independent regulatory agency which controls the prices of pharmaceutical drugs in India.

 · It ensures the availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices. 

 · It publishes the lists of medicines and their maximum ceiling prices. 

 Functions: 

 · It implements and enforce the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) order. 

 · It deals with all the legal matter related to the decisions of the authority. 

 · It monitors the availability of drugs and identifies the shortages. 

 · It maintains the data on production, exports and imports of the drugs. 

 · It also deals with the market share of individual companies, the profitability of companies etc.

 · It appoints the officers and also the staff members of the authority. 

 · It advices the central government on changes in drug policy and also in the parliamentary matters relating to the drug pricing.

 · Price monitoring and resource unit (PMRU) was set up under Consumer awareness, publicity and price monitoring (CAPPMS). 

 · 12 PMRUs were setup in different states and UTS.

 · PMRUs are the societies which are registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

· It is under the direct supervision of the State Drug Controller along with its board of governors.

Sickle Cell Disease

Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Science & Technology 

 Why in News? 

· The Government of India wants to provide affordable and accessible care to all Sickle cell Disease Patients

· It is more common in Tribal population in India. 

 Sickle Cell Disease:

 • It is an inherited group of blood disorders. 

 • They are genetic in nature. 

 • It breaks down the red blood cells. 

 • The cells of the patient die early leaving a short age of healthy red blood cells 

 • It even blocks the blood flow by causing pain.

 • It is characterized by: 

 1) Chronic anaemia

 2) Acute Painful episodes

 3) Organ infraction 

 4) Chronic Organ damage 

 Causes: 

• SCD is caused by a mutation in the haemoglobin-Beta gene which is found in chromosome 11. 

 • It effects the organs like liver, kidney, lungs, heart and spleen. 

 Transmission:

• It is carried from parents to the child during the birth. 

 • Both parents can be the carriers of SCDs. 

 Symptoms: 

• Chronic Anaemia: 

Fatigue, weakness and paleness

 • Painful episodes: Sudden and intense pain in bones, chest, back, arms and legs. 

 • Delayed growth and also puberty 

 Treatment: 

 • Blood Transfusion can help in relieve anaemia

 • It even reduces the risk of pains. 

 • Hydroxyurea is a medication helps in reducing the painful episodes. 

 • Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation are also used to treat this disease.

 Government Initiatives:

• Government of India has released the operational guidelines for the prevention and control of hemoglobinopathies in 2016. 

 • Integrated centres are established in 22 tribal districts

• The State Haemoglobinopathy mission has started in Madhya Pradesh 

 Important Points: 

 • World Sickle Cell Day is observed every year on June 19th . 

 • In India it is estimated that about 1 in 86 births in STs are having SCD. 

 • It will be eradicated by early detection, management and treatment.

Cannabis Project

Syllabus: GS Paper-3-Science & Technology 

 Why in News? 

Union Minister of Science and Technology has expressed satisfaction with the research work conducted on Cannabis project by the CSIR-IIM. 

 Cannabis Project:

 · It is recognized as the first ever cannabis medicine project in India.

 · This project is taking place in Jammu & Kashmir

· The implementing agency of this project is CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine. 

 · It is established in collaboration with Canada.

 · It is the first major initiative in the state of Jammu & Kashmir after it became a UT. 

 · The medicine which is produced from the cannabis is used to produce the pain relief medicine. 

 Cannabis:

 · Cannabis refers to the group of three plants with psychoactive properties such as Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica and Cannabis ruderalis. 

 · It is made up of more than 120 components. 

 · Those components are known as cannabinoids.

 · The experts have good understanding of two of them known as Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabinol 

 Cannabis in India: 

 · The farming of Cannabis in India is legalised in the state of Uttarakhand. 

 · Controlled cultivation of cannabis is done in some of the districts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. 

 · The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, of 1985 prohibits the sale and production of cannabis resin and flowers. 

 · But it allows the use of leaves and seeds of the cannabis plant 

 · The states of India have the power to regulate and also form the rules for it.

 Uses: 

 Cannabis is mainly used in the treatments of: 

 · Chemotherapy 

 · Painful muscle spasms

 · Glaucoma 

 · HIV/AIDS 

 · Neuropathy etc

 Side effects: 

 · Coordination issues

 · Nausea 

 · Anxiety

 · Increased heart rate etc.

Kargil Vijay Diwas

Syllabus: Prelims-Important Events 

 Why in News? 

Prime Minister of India has paid tributaries to the martyrs of the Kargil war. 

 Kargil Vijay Diwas: 

· It is celebrated every year on 26^th July.

· It is observed to remember the India’s momentous victory over the Pakistan in the Kargil war. 

 Kargil War: 

 · It took place in the 1999 from 3^rd May-26^th July.

 · Operation Vijay was launched by the Indian Army to clear the infiltration Kargil sector from the Pakistani soldiers.

 · During this war Safed Sagar operation was launched by the Indian Air Force. 

 · Our country had lost 500 men on the Kargil territory. 

 · It was fought for more than 60 days.

· Pakistan Army took advantage of the melting snow and betrayed the bilateral understanding of both the nations.

 · It took command of the high outposts of India. 

 · After the war Pakistan army refused the claims that its soldiers were involved in the war. 

 · It said that they were rebels from the Kashmir.

 · But the identity cards and other evidences proved that Pakistan was behind the war. Results of the war: 

 · Indian Army had recaptured two strategic positions in Batalik sector. 

 · India regains the control of Tooling peak. 

 · It captures the Point 5060 and Point 5100 near the Tiger Hills after 11-hours fierce battle.

International Civil Aviation Organization

Syllabus: Prelims-Important Organizations 

 Why in News? 

 · The Directorate General of Civil Aviation adopted guidelines for the environmental protection which is developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization

· These guidelines are introduced to promote the sustainable aviation practices and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector. 

 International Civil Aviation Organization: 

 · It was formed as a specialized agency of UN in the year 1944.

 · It was formed as a result of the Convention on the International Civil Aviation.

 · Convention on the International Civil Aviation is also known as the Chicago convention. 

 · This convention established the core principles permitting the international transport by air. 

 · ICAO sets standards and regulations for the aviation safety, security. 

 · It serves as a clearinghouse for cooperation on civil aviation issues.

 · Member-193 member countries · India is one of the members of ICAO 

 · India is also one of the founders of ICAO. 

 · Headquarters-Montreal, Canada. 

 Objective:

 · To foster the planning and development of International air transport. 

 · To ensure safety and growth of the International civil aviation throughout the world.

India Climate Energy Dashboard 3.0

Syllabus: Prelims-Important Reports

Why in News?

NITI Aayog has released the India Climate Energy Dashboard 3.0 

 India Climate Energy Dashboard: 

 · It is launched by NITI Aayog in association with the Vasudha foundation. 

 · It is a one-stop platform for the near real-time data on the energy sector, climate and related economic datasets based on the government published sources. 

 · It provides Near Real-Time Data with in-built Analytics to track the Climate Action Program.

 Features of ICED: 

 · It is a user-friendly platform. 

 · It enables the users to freely access and analyse the datasets using an analytical engine. · It offers more than 500 parameters, over 2000 infographics.

 · It even allows a number of interactive visualizations to gain a holistic understanding of India’s energy sector. 

 · This dashboard offers information on economy and demography for comparative study.

 · It provides analysis on the energy and climate issues

Questions

1.Consider the following statements regarding Biological Diversity Act, 2002:

 1. Biological Diversity Act was enacted to achieve the objectives of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992.

 2. Biological Diversity Amendment Bill, 2021 to exempt the registered AYUSH medical practitioners from intimating the biological boards before accessing the biological resources. 

 Which of the above statements are correct?

 a) Only 1 

 b) Only 2 

 c) Both 1&2 

 d) Neither 1 nor 2

2.Consider the following statements regarding National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority: 

 1. It works under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 

 2. It was constituted in the year 2001. 

 3. It is an independent regulatory agency which controls the prices of pharmaceutical drugs in India. 

 How many of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only One

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three 

 d) None

3.Consider the following statements regarding Sickle Cell Disease:

 1. It is inherited group of blood disorder. 

 2. It is carried from parents to the child during the birth. 

 3. Both parents can be the carriers of SCDs. 

 How many of the above statements are incorrect?

 a) Only One

 b) Only two 

 c) Only three

 d) None

4.Consider the following statements regarding Cannabis Project: 

 1. It is the first ever cannabis medicine project in India. 

 2. This project is taking place in Uttarakhand 

 3. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, of 1985 allows the use of leaves and seeds of the cannabis plant 

 How many of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only One

 b) Only two

 c) Only three 

 d) None

5.Consider the following statements regarding Kargil Vijay Diwas 

 1. It is celebrated every year on 26^th July 

 2. Kargil war took place in the year 1997. 

 3. During this war Safed Sagar operation was launched by the Indian Army. 

 Which of the above statements are correct? 

 a) Only 1 

 b) Only 2&3

 c) Only 1&3 

 d) All of the above

6.Consider the following statements regarding International Civil Aviation Organization:

 Statement-I: It was founded as a result of the Chicago convention 

 Statement-II: India is one of the founding members of ICAO

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect 

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

7.8.Consider the following statements regarding Indian Climate Energy Dashboard:

 Statement-I: It is launched by NITI Aayog in association with the Vasudha foundation.

 Statement-II: It is a one-stop platform for the near real-time data on the energy sector, climate and related economic datasets based on the government published sources 

 Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

 a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. 

 c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

 d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.

Comment the answers below.