14th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020

Dear Aspirants

IASbhai Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020 is an initiative to dilute major articles from leading Newspapers in India which are most relevant to UPSC preparation –‘THE HINDU, LIVEMINT , INDIAN EXPRESS’ and help millions of readers who find difficulty in answer writing and making notes everyday. Hence we choose articles on daily basis and analyse them with respect to UPSC PRELIMS 2020.

“A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at.” — Bruce Lee

HIGHLIGHT INFO:

ORANGE COLOUR: Important for Prelims.

RED COLOUR: Important for Mains.

BLACK COLOUR: Must Read !

BLUE COLOUR : Important Links/Survey.

PINK COLOUR: Reports/Themes/Summits.

Today's Must Read Articles :

NIIO

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

HORNBILLS

IWC

Page Contents:

818 mln Children Lack basic Hand-Washing Facilities

HEADLINES:

Around 818 mln children lack basic hand-washing facilities in schools: Report

WHY IN NEWS:

Around 818 million children across the world lacked basic hand-washing facilities in their schools, making them prone to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), said the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) August 13, 2020.

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Survey

ISSUE:

Two in every five schools in the world do not provide children with soap and water, say the WHO and UNICEF

WASH PROGRAMME

The programme produces internationally comparable estimates of progress on drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
The programme is responsible for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets and indicators related to WASH.

KEY FINDINGS

Access to these basic facilities can keep the novel coronavirus — that causes COVID-19 — and other transmittable diseases from spreading.
These basic hygiene measures form a key requirement for schools to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seven out of 10 schools in the least-developed countries lacked hand-washing facilities.

More than a third — or 295 million children — of the 818 million children who lacked these basic facilities were from sub-Saharan Africa.
Global school closures since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have presented an unprecedented challenge to children’s education and well-being.
Three in four of the children in 60 countries — at the highest risk of health and humanitarian crises from COVID-19 .
Half these children lacked basic water and sanitation services respectively.
One in three schools had either limited drinking water facilities or no such services at all.

IASbhai WINDUP:

We must prioritise children’s learning.
This means making sure schools are safe to reopen, including with access to hand hygiene, clean drinking water and safe sanitation.
Governments, however, needed to balance the social and economic impacts from these measures by implementing public health measures.

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 14th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis

Pavitrapati Masks and Aushada Tara Suits

HEADLINES:

“Launching of “Pavitrapati” Ayurvedic Biodegradable Face Mask and Anti-Microbial Body Suit Named “Aushada Tara””

WHY IN NEWS:

Hot from PIB !

MINISTRY? :-Ministry of Defence

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Diseases : Recent innovations

ISSUE:

Nanofibres of Ayurvedic based Biodegradable Face Mask which acts a virus neutraliser to resist against the bacteria / virus, and has named “Pavitrapati”.

PAVITRAPATI

The first ever Aurvedic based biodegradable face mask named “Pavitrapati” for sale. M/s Siddheshwar Techtessile Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra developed initially 10,000 Nos .

Pune based Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, DIAT (DU) has developed it.

AUSHADA TARA

Another ToT has been transferred to M/s. Siddheshwar Techtessile Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra by DIAT for development of anti-microbial body suit in the name of “Aushada tara”.

This suit has superhydrophobic, breathing, anti-microbial, comfort feeling properties.

The fabric material of the suit has the approval for fighting against the COVID-19.

IASbhai WINDUP:

The suit had cleared the splash resistant tests and it has got good repellent property of any fluids.
The demand of this suit will be for medical hospitals, private companies, airlines and Govt agencies.
The production of the Aushada Tara has started and the initial order is already placed and executed.
The above two products are the Trademarked products of DIAT (DU).

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 14th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis

Price Monitoring and Resource Unit

HEADLINES:

Price Monitoring and Resource Unit set up in Karnataka under the aegis of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority

WHY IN NEWS:

A Price Monitoring and Resource Unit (PMRU) has been set up in Karnataka under the aegis of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)

MINISTRY? :-Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: NPPA

ISSUE:

PMRU will function at the State level under the direct supervision of the State Drug Controller for increasing outreach of NPPA.

PRICE MONITORING AND RESOURCE UNIT

PMRUs are societies registered under the Societies Registration Act .
The Board of Governors of PMRU includes the representatives from Central Government and State Government concerned and other stakeholders.
NPPA, under its Central Sector Scheme named Consumer Awareness, Publicity and Price Monitoring (CAPPM), has already set up of PMRUs in 12 States/ UTs.

PRIMARY FUNCTION

The primary function of PMRUs is to assist NPPA in monitoring of prices of drugs, ensuring availability of drugs and raising consumer awareness.

They act as collaborating partners of NPPA with information gathering mechanism at the grass-roots level.
They will render necessary technical assistance to both the NPPA and the respective State Drug Controllers of States/ Union Territories.
The PMRUs are expected to strengthen drug security and affordability at regional levels.

IASbhai WINDUP:

NPPA has plans to set up PMRUs in all the 36 States/ UTs.
The expenses of PMRUs, both recurring and non-recurring are borne by NPPA under the Scheme.
Till now National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is headquartered at Delhi only and with the setting up of PMRUs in States/ UTs, NPPA shall have outreach at State Level as well.

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 14th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis

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