Monthly Current Affairs March 2020

Easy to PICK195 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Laser Surface Micro-Texturing The International Advanced Centre for Powder o Development of high- Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI) has performance materials and developed ultrafast laser surface texturing processes for niche markets technology, which can improve the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines. o Demonstration of technologies at prototype/pilot scale  The technology helps to control friction and wear. o Transfer of technology to Indian industry Key Points Surface engineering, ceramics, powder  Laser surface micro-texturing offers metallurgy and laser processing of materials precise control of the size, shape and constitute the four major thrust areas at ARCI. density of micro-surface texture features.  In this technology, a pulsating laser beam creates micro-dimples or grooves on the surface of materials in a very controlled manner.  Such textures can trap wear debris when operating under dry sliding conditions and sometimes provide effects like enhancing oil supply (lubricant reservoir) which can lower friction coefficients and may enable reduced wear rate. International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI)  It was established in the year 1997.  It is an autonomous research and development centre of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).  Its main campus is located at Hyderabad with operations in Chennai and Gurgaon.  ARCI's mandate is-

Easy to PICK196 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 107th Indian Science Congress Recently, the Prime Minister has inaugurated 107th Indian Science Congress.  It is scheduled to take place between January 3-7, at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Key Points  The theme of the congress for 2020 is “Science & Technology: Rural Development”.  Indian Science Congress is a major focal point for scientists, researchers and academicians interested in various aspects of scientific discoveries and technologies.  The previous (2019) session 106th edition was held at Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Jalandhar, Punjab. Indian Science Congress  The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) owes its origin to the foresight and initiative of two British Chemists, namely, Professor J. L. Simonsen and Professor P.S. MacMahon.  The first meeting of the Congress was held from January 15-17, 1914 at the premises of the Asiatic Society, Calcutta.

Easy to PICK197 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Review 2019: Ministry of Science & Technology Atal Jai Anusandhan Biotech Mission -  IT is PPP between Department of Undertaking Nationally Relevant Technology Science & Technology (DST) and Innovation (UNaTI) Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).  It is expected to transform the Health,  It aims towards enhancing the country’s Agriculture and Energy sectors during innovation ecosystem. the next 5 years. This mission includes the following missions- Redefined Units of Kilogram, Kelvin, Mole and Ampere o GARBH-ini - A Mission to promote Maternal and Child  The recent open session of the General Health and develop prediction Conference on Weights and Measures tools for preterm birth. (CGPM) at BIPM, has unanimously adopted the resolution to redefine four of o IndCEPI - A Mission to develop the seven base units, the kilogram (SI affordable vaccines for endemic unit of weight), Kelvin (SI unit of diseases, temperature), mole (SI unit of amount of substance), and ampere (SI unit of o Development of Biofortified current). and Protein-Rich wheat - contributing to POSHAN  The new SI is being implemented Abhiyan, worldwide from 20th May 2019 i.e. the World Metrology Day by CSIR-NPL in o Mission on Antimicrobial India. Resistance for Affordable Diagnostics and Therapeutics IndiGen Genome Project o Clean Energy Mission -  The CSIR has conducted Whole Genome Sequencing of 1,008 Indians from Innovative Technology different populations across the country. interventions for Swachh Bharat.  The whole genome data will be important for building the knowhow, UMMID Initiative baseline data and indigenous capacity in the emerging area of Precision Medicine.  Government has launched UMMID (Unique Methods of Management and Important Legislations treatment of Inherited Disorders) initiative DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill - 2019  NIDAN (National Inherited Diseases Administration) Kendras have also been  The Bill has been passed in Lok Sabha. launched. Global Innovation and Technology Alliance (GITA)

Easy to PICK198 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020  The Bill has been formulated Global Antimicrobial Resistance recognizing the need for regulation of the Research and Development Hub use and application of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) technology, for establishing  India joined the Global Antimicrobial identity of missing persons, victims, offenders, under trials and unknown Resistance (AMR) Research and deceased persons. Development (R&D) Hub. Guidelines for Evaluation of Nanopharmaceuticals in India  This expands the global partnership working to address challenges and These guidelines are intended to provide improve coordination and collaboration transparent, consistent and predictable in global AMR R&D to 16 countries, the regulatory pathways for nanopharmaceuticals in India. European Commission, two  Nanopharmaceuticals are defined as a philanthropic foundations and four pharmaceutical preparation containing nanomaterials intended for internal use international organisations (as or external application on a human for observers). the purpose of therapeutics, diagnostics and health benefits. Global Bio-India Summit, 2019  Nanomaterial is defined as material  Global Bio-India is one of the largest having a particle size in the range of 1 to 100 nm in at least one dimension. biotechnology stakeholders  Nano-formulations are not entirely new conglomerates being held in India for the drugs but medicines that have better quality because of the technology-led first time. delivery mechanisms that are used to make its administration in the body more Important Facts effective. Prime Minister’s Science, Technology Important Conventions and Innovation Advisory Council (PM- STIAC) One Health India Conference, 2019  PM-STIAC is an overarching body that  The conference aimed to launch India's assesses specific science and technology new One Health Initiative - an inter- domains in India, and formulates sectoral approach to tackling the most interventions and roadmaps. urgent health threats in India as well as in low and middle income countries across  It advises the Prime Minister on all South and South East Asia and Sub- matters of science, technology and Saharan Africa. innovation. Department of Biotechnology  The Department of Biotechnology in the Ministry of Science and Technology celebrated its 33rd Foundation Day in New Delhi on 26th February with the theme as \"Celebrating Biotechnology:

Easy to PICK199 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Building Indian as an Innovation Nation\".  Biotechnology Research Innovation and Technology Excellence (BRITE) awards were given on the occasion. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) prizes for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 The SSB Prize is awarded each year on the basis of conspicuously important and outstanding contributions to human knowledge and progress, made through work done primarily in India during the five years, preceding the year of the prize. First Indigenous Fuel Cell System developed by CSIR  Developed under India’s flagship program named “New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI)” Bharatiya Nideshak Dravya  HPCL and CSIR–NPL released 26 Petroleum BNDs (Bharatiya Nideshak Dravya or Indian Reference Material) coinciding with the occasion of World Metrology Day.  These will be of immense use for BS VI fuels and will save foreign exchange through import substitution for Certified Reference Materials (CRMs).  This will provide traceability for all vital parameters of Petroleum products testing and certification comprising 13 physical properties, 2 Physicochemical properties and 11 Chemical properties, including BND for sulfur content measurement at lower concentrations which will be of immense use for BS VI fuels.

Easy to PICK200 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 IndiGen Genome project Details of the IndiGen Genome project, 1. Ever since the human genome was first conducted by CSIR, were recently announced. sequenced in 2003, it opened a fresh perspective on the link between disease The initiative was implemented by the CSIR- and the unique genetic make-up of each Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology individual. (IGIB), Delhi and CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad. 2. Nearly 10,000 diseases — including cystic fibrosis, thalassemia — are known Significance, outcomes and benefits of to be the result of a single gene the project: malfunctioning. The outcomes of the IndiGen will have 3. While genes may render some applications in a number of areas insensitive to certain drugs, genome including predictive and preventive medicine sequencing has shown that cancer too with faster and efficient diagnosis of rare can be understood from the viewpoint of genetic diseases. genetics, rather than being seen as a disease of certain organs. The data will be important for building the knowhow, baseline data and indigenous capacity in the emerging area of Precision Medicine. About Genomics for Public Health in India (IndiGen) programme: IndiGen programme aims to undertake whole genome sequencing of thousands of individuals representing diverse ethnic groups from India. The objective is to enable genetic epidemiology and develop public health technologies applications using population genome data. Need for genome sequencing:

Easy to PICK201 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 DNA Technology-Use & Application This bill allows the use of DNA Technology for  DNA Databanks will be created at establishing the identity of persons in matters of national and regional levels. DNA crime, parentage disputes, immigration and laboratories will have to share DNA data transplantation of human organs. prepared by them with DNA Data Banks. Provisions of the Bill  In criminal cases, the laboratory is required to return the biological sample  The Bill regulates DNA testing for to the investigating officer after identification of persons under the Indian depositing the DNA profile with the Penal Code, 1860, the Immoral Traffic DNA Data Banks. In all other cases, the (Prevention) Act, 1956, the Medical laboratory will destroy the sample and Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 and inform the concerned person. the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.  Punishment: The penalty for  The Bill allows for DNA testing in various offences such as unauthorized certain civil matters as well. This disclosure of information from the Data includes matters such as parentage Bank or obtaining information from the disputes; issues related to ancestry, Data Bank without authorization is immigration, assisted reproductive imprisonment up to three years and fine technologies, transplantation of human of up to One Lakh Rupees. organs, and for the establishment of individual identity. DNA Technology  Written consent is required for DNA  The Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is a samples to be collected, processed and set of instructions found in a cell. These included in the database except for instructions are necessary for the growth those who have committed crimes with and development of an organism. punishment of seven years.  The DNA of a person is unique, and  DNA Regulatory Board: This Bill variation in the sequence of DNA can be envisages the establishment of DNA used to match individuals and identify Regulatory Board that will set standards them. for the proper storage of DNA samples collected. It will be chaired by Secretary  A DNA test is an ultimate test for of Government of India, Department of deciding the cases on parentage, Biotechnology. inheritance, unidentified bodies and thus also useful in identifying victims of  Any laboratory that conducts DNA natural and man-made disasters. testing and analysis to establish the identity of an individual (in respect of  Use of DNA Technology in criminal matters listed in the Schedule) is required investigations was first started in the to obtain accreditation from the DNA U.K. in 1984. Regulatory Board.  In India, the first conviction with the help of DNA Technology was made in Rajiv Gandhi’s murder case.

Easy to PICK202 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Concerns  Inadequate Resources: Currently, laboratories are able to assess only one or two samples at a time. This results in delayed investigations.  Shortage of such investigators who either are trained forensic scientists or know the art of collecting and preserving the requisite DNA sample.  The possibility of misuse of DNA samples: Through DNA, not only the identity of a person can be known but also other characteristics like if she/he is suffering from any disease etc. There is a possibility that people having access to DNA samples, blackmail the person who has submitted his/her DNA sample.  Single Use: Bill envisages the use of a DNA sample for a particular specified purpose only. For any other purpose, the DNA sample will have to be processed again. Way Forward  Laboratories need to be modernized so that around 40 to 50 samples can be processed at the same time. This will help in the quick resolution of various cases and thus will strengthen India’s Justice Delivery System.  Use of DNA cannot be restricted to a particular purpose. A series of situations may arise that can demand usage of a DNA sample again and again.  Effective implementation of the provisions mentioned in the bill is required to ensure the proper storage and usage of DNA bills. Privacy of individuals anyhow cannot be compromised.

Easy to PICK203 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Initiatives to Fight Coronavirus I. Recently, the Government has developed a content available in regional platform which will host webinars by All India Institutes of Medical Sciences languages. (AIIMS) doctors for healthcare workers across the country.  The government has also worked on a contact path tracing app, tentatively called ‘Corona Kavach’.  It has also developed an app that will o The app would store location data trace the paths of COVID-19 positive and would enter the credentials of patients, serving as a warning to possible the person if he/she tests positive. contacts. This information would be sent to the cloud. Key Points o A signal would come to the app  Chat Boxes on Facebook and which would convert it from WhatsApp have been set up by green to red. the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for o The server would then find out providing information about COVID-19. people who were in close proximity with the infected  A portal to map the requirements of person in the last 14 days. hospitals, and cross-referencing them with those who have offered to help with o Their apps would turn yellow and equipment is also being set up by the they would get an alert that they government. should quarantine themselves.  A webinar platform has been developed All India Institutes of Medical Sciences in tandem with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.  The AIIMS was created in 1956, as an autonomous institution of national o The webinars are for importance through an Act of the frontline health Parliament. workers (nurses, paramedics, ASHA- Accredited Social Health  Objectives Activist workers, anganwadi workers), who are more prone to o To develop a pattern of teaching COVID-19. in undergraduate and o The webinars would be streamed on Facebook, YouTube and postgraduate medical WhatsApp. education in all its branches so o The state governments would also be involved so as to make the as to demonstrate high standard of medical education to all medical colleges and other allied institutions in India. o To bring together in one place educational facilities of the

Easy to PICK204 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 highest order for the training of o The antibody test for COVID- the personnel in all important 19 will act as a screening branches of the health activity. process that will give quick results in a few hours. o To attain self sufficiency in postgraduate in medical o The antibody test detects the education. body’s response to the virus. It gives an indication that a person  Recently, the central government has has been exposed to the virus. decided to set up 22 new establishments of AIIMS. These AIIMS would be set up o If the test is positive, the swab is under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya collected and a Ribonucleic Acid Suraksha Yojana. (RNA) test is done using the Polymerase Chain Reaction Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha (PCR) kit. Therefore, this is Yojana a two-stage process.  PMSSY is a Central Sector Scheme. o However, the antibody test does not not definitely indicate that a  The primary objective of PMSSY is to person is infected with COVID- correct the regional imbalances in 19 infection. It is only for availability of affordable/reliable screening. tertiary level healthcare in the country in general, and, to augment facilities for  Currently, India is only conducting the quality medical education in under- conventional RT-PCR test (Reverse served or backward States, in particular. Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction).  In addition to setting up of  Antibody Kits vs RT-PCR Test (PT AIIMS, PMSSY also envisages up- SHOT) gradation of several existing o RT-PCR test detects the virus genetic material, which is the Government Medical RNA. Colleges/Institutions in different states o The antibody test detects the body’s response to the virus. in the country. o RT-PCR provides direct evidence II. The Indian Council of Medical Research whereas antibody kits provide the (ICMR) has invited manufacturers to supply 5 indirect evidence. lakh antibody kits for diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.  Need for Antibody Kits  The antibody test will help in screening o Shortage of the PCR kits and suspected patients. thus the test is complicated, expensive and time-consuming. Key Points  The antibody test will be  The Antibody Test (PT SHOT) where a large number of people are being quarantined and where

Easy to PICK205 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 everybody cannot undergo  Indian Council of Medical Research an RNA test. (ICMR) is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and o Results of Testing in South promotion of biomedical research. Korea  The antibody test was  Its mandate is to conduct, coordinate done in South Korea, one of the few countries which and implement medical research for has been able to flatten the pandemic curve. the benefit of the Society; translating  In South Korea, people with a history of travel and medical innovations into contact are screened using the antibody kit. products/processes and introducing them  Then, a large number of suspected patients were into the public health system. being quarantined in the country through contact  It is funded by the Government of India tracing of just a single through the Department of Health patient. Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Ribonucleic Acid III. The Defence Research and Development  RNA is an important biological Organisation (DRDO) has developed a macromolecule that is present in all ventilator and plans to produce 5,000 of them biological cells. per month to treat COVID-19 patients.  It is principally involved in the synthesis Key Points of proteins, carrying the messenger instructions from Deoxyribonucleic  DRDO had developed a ventilator along acid (DNA), which itself contains the with the Society for Biomedical genetic instructions required for the Technology (SBMT) and now the development and maintenance of life. technology has been transferred to an industry in Mysuru.  In some viruses, RNA, rather than DNA, carries genetic information. o The industry is producing the secondary version of a ventilator Contract Tracing initially developed by DRDO.  Contact tracing is the process of o Currently, it has a capacity to identifying, assessing, and managing manufacture 5,000 ventilators per people who have been exposed to a month and this could be scaled up disease to prevent transmission. to 10,000 per month. Indian Council of Medical Research  Other contributions by DRDO: o DRDO laboratories have manufactured 20,000 litres of sanitiser and supplied to

Easy to PICK206 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 various organisations like Delhi o Design, develop and lead to police. production state-of-the-art o It has developed N-99 and 3- layered sensors, weapon systems, masks and supplied 10,000 masks to Delhi police personnel. platforms and allied equipment o It is tying up with some private for Indian Defence Services. companies to make personal protection equipment such as o Provide technological solutions body suits and also ventilators. to the services to optimise combat effectiveness and to promote o It is working on providing well-being of the troops. ready-to-eat meals for the government and health workers o Develop infrastructure and through the Defence Food committed quality manpower and Research Laboratory, Mysore build strong indigenous which already supplies them to technology base. the armed forces. Society for Biomedical Technology o The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) has also increased  It is an inter-ministerial initiative of the the production of sanitisers, Government of India established masks and bodysuits. to promote healthcare by providing indigenous solutions in the field of Defence Research and Development medical equipment and devices. Organisation  It was established under the Department  It works under the administrative of Defence Research and control of the Ministry of Defence. Development (DRDO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and  It’s objective is to establish a world class Technology, Ministry of Social Justice science and technology base for India and Empowerment and Ministry of and provide Indian Defence Services Health & Family Welfare. decisive edge by equipping them with internationally competitive systems and Ordnance Factory Board solutions.  The OFB which includes 41 Ordnance  It was established in Factories is headquartered at Kolkata. 1958 after combining Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of  Indian Ordnance Factories is the oldest the Indian Army and the Directorate of and largest industrial setup which Technical Development & Production functions under the Department of (DTDP) with the Defence Science Defence Production of the Ministry of Organisation (DSO). Defence.  Mission:  The ordnance factories form an integrated base for indigenous production of defence hardware and equipment, with the primary objective of self reliance in equipping the armed

Easy to PICK207 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 forces with state of the art battlefield education at par with the non ST equipment. population. IV. The Supreme Court has issued a circular  Each school has a capacity of 480 informing that it would continue to hear cases of students, catering to students from extreme urgency through videoconferencing Class VI to XII. during the lockdown, keeping in mind physical distancing norms.  These are being set up by grants provided under Article 275(1) of the  A Bench, led by Chief Justice of India Constitution. Sharad A. Bobde, recently used its extraordinary powers under Article 142  Eklavya Model Residential Schools to lift the limitation period for all cases (EMRSs) are funded by the Ministry of until further notice. Tribal Affairs. V. In view of prevailing sensitive health  In order to give further impetus to conditions affecting community health due EMRS, it has been decided that by to Covid-19, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has the year 2022, every block with more asked State Governments for rescheduling of than 50% ST population and at least holidays in Eklavya Model Residential 20,000 tribal persons, will have an Schools (EMRS) and Eklavya Model Day EMRS. Boarding Schools (EMDBS).  Eklavya schools are on par with Eklavya Model Residential Schools Navodaya Vidyalaya and have special facilities for preserving local art and  Eklavya Model Residential Schools culture besides providing training in (EMRS) started in the year 1997-98 to sports and skill development. impart quality education to ST children in remote areas. Eklavya Model Day Boarding Schools (EMDBS)  The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round  Wherever density of ST population is development of the students. higher in identified Sub-Districts (90% or more), it is proposed to set up Eklavya  The objective of EMRS is to provide Model Day Boarding School (EMDBS) quality middle and high level on an experimental basis for providing education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) additional scope for ST Students seeking students in remote areas, not only to to avail school education without enable them to avail of reservation in residential facility. high and professional educational courses and as jobs in government and Background public and private sectors but also to have access to the best opportunities in  STs, constitute 8.6% of the country’s total population and 11.3% of the total rural population.  Despite the increase in literacy rates among STs from 8.53% in 1961 to 58.96% in 2011, and the fact that the

Easy to PICK208 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Right to Education Act, 2009 makes it  In a move aimed at easing the impact of mandatory that all children between the the lockdown, RBI has come out with ages of 6 and 14 be provided free and several measures to increase liquidity in compulsory education, significant the economy. disparities exist in enrolment rates, drop- outs, across states, districts and blocks. CRR reduction:  In the case of tribals, dropout rates are still very high – 35.6% in Classes I to V;  In a move to infuse sufficient liquidity 55% in Classes I to VIII; and 70.9% in into the banking system, RBI Classes I to X in 2010-11, according to has reduced the Cash Reserv the Statistics Of School Education 2010- Ratio (CRR) requirement by 100 basis 2011. points (bps) for banks. The cash reserve  According to a 2014 UNICEF-sponsored ratio has been reduced from 4% to 3%. South Asia regional study, economic and socio-cultural factors are reasons  The minimum daily requirement of behind the education deprivation for maintaining CRR balance has also been certain groups in India, especially SCs, reduced to 80% from 90%. STs and Muslims.  The India Human Development Survey  With the reduction in CRR shows the incidence of poverty is highest requirements, banks can deploy the among the STs (49.6%), followed by the liquidity in interest-earning assets. SCs (32.3%), and then the Muslims (30.6%). Reduction in key interest rates: VI. RBI cuts rates, allows loan  The RBI has reduced the key interest moratorium rates of repo and reverse repo rates sharply. Context:  The repo rate was reduced by 75 bps to  The economic impact of the COVID-19 4.4% while the reverse repo rate was cut pandemic and Reserve Bank of India’s by 90 bps point to 4%. (RBI) efforts to address it.  The higher reduction in the reverse repo rate was aimed at Details: prompting banks to lend more rather than keeping their excess  The countrywide lockdown in place to liquidity with the RBI. check the spread of novel Coronavirus will have an economic  While cutting benchmark rates, the RBI impact for India. has continued with its accommodative stance.  In this light of the unprecedented crisis, the meeting of the Monetary Policy EMIs deferred: Committee (MPC) was advanced.  RBI has also allowed banks to defer payment of Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs) on home, car,

Easy to PICK209 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 personal loans as well as credit card dues or a percentage point above the for three months till May 31, 2020. repo rate.  Since non-payment will not lead Long-term repo operations: to non-performing asset classification by banks, there will  Observing that large sell-offs in the be no impact on credit score of the borrowers. domestic equity, bond and forex  The interest payments have been markets has intensified redemption deferred and not waived. pressures, the central bank has decided to  The three-month moratorium on all term loan installments, along with infuse money into the economy through deferment of interest on working capital, will help mitigate debt Targeted Long-Term Repo servicing burden due to COVID-19 disruption, and prevent transmission of Operations (TLTRO). financial stress to various sectors of the economy. This move will protect  The RBI will auction long-term repo borrowers financially amid the of around 1 lakh crore rupees. nationwide lockdown.  Liquidity availed under the scheme by Marginal Standing Facility: banks has to be deployed in investment grade corporate bonds, commercial  RBI has increased the cap for liquidity paper and non-convertible debentures. available under the marginal standing facility.  The three-year targeted long term repo operations will decongest credit  Under the marginal standing facility channels and lower cost of (MSF), banks can borrow overnight at credit, providing much needed relief to their discretion by dipping up to 2% into the corporate. the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR). The RBI has decided to increase the limit of Indian Banks in offshore NDF 2% to 3% till June 2020. markets:  Marginal standing facility (MSF)  The ongoing financial market is a window for banks to borrow volatilities triggered by Coronavirus from the Reserve Bank of India in outbreak dragged the rupee to touch an emergency situation when lifetime lows and also breach the 75- inter-bank liquidity dries up mark against the US dollar. The rupee completely. has come under pressure recently as foreign investors are exiting emerging  Banks borrow from the central economies. bank by pledging government securities at a rate higher than the  The Reserve Bank of India has allowed repo rate under liquidity Indian banks to participate in the adjustment facility. The MSF offshore Non-Deliverable Forwards rate is pegged 100 basis points (NDF) rupee derivatives.  This is a positive step in broadening market participants and better rate discovery.

Easy to PICK210 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020  The move is aimed at curtailing the o At the low growth rate of 2.5% in volatility in the domestic currency due 2020, India may see a sharp fall in to the Covid-19 pandemic. incomes, further weighing on domestic demand and the pace of Conclusion: recovery in 2021.  The above actions will see an infusion of o The ongoing 21-day lockdown in 3.74 lakh crore rupees into the India has brought business banking system. These measures will activity in most sectors of the provide adequate liquidity in the system, economy to a halt and resulted in bring down the cost of capital and thousands of job losses. mitigate the impact of pandemic COVID-19.  The ratings agency expects the country's economy to recover in 2021, estimating  The Indian financial markets which are a growth rate of 5.8%, but warned that facing heightened volatility due to the uncertainty regarding the virus’s spread spread of the COVID-19 and containment makes it difficult to pandemic could stabilize with the fully assess the economic toll of the Reserve Bank of India unveiling crisis. India grew at 5% in 2019. measures.  The G20 countries are likely to see an  Given the importance of monetary overall contraction of GDP by 0.5%. G20 policy transmission to ensure the GDP growth rate, which was 2.6% in effectiveness of RBI actions, banks will 2019, is likely to recover to 3.2% in have to reduce their lending rates and 2021. ramp up credit disbursal.  The U.S. economy would contract by 2% Economic Impact of the Pandemic in 2020, while the Euro area would see a 2.2% contraction. China's economic  According to the International growth rate is expected to slow to 3.3%, Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina although it is expected to recover to 6% Georgieva, the world has entered a in 2021. recession that will be worse than the one in 2009, following the global financial VII. The Centre has announced a ₹1.7 lakh crore crisis. relief package – Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan o Recession implies significant (PMGK) Yojana in response to the COVID- decline in general economic 19 pandemic and countrywide lockdown, activity. providing free food and cash transfers to support the poorest and most vulnerable citizens during  Moody's Investor Service (a rating the crisis. agency) has reduced its GDP growth forecast for India to 2.5% in 2020 - a Details: sharp drop from an earlier projection of 5.3%, due to the impact of the COVID-  The package will cost the national 19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown. exchequer Rs 1.7 lakh crore, which is 0.8 per cent of India’s estimated gross

Easy to PICK211 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 domestic product in the current financial What help is being provided to poor year. and those in unorganised sector?  Garib Kalyan package is a range of The help is in two ways — free food grains and measures that the Government of India cash transfers. will take to alleviate the economic, health, and food-related distress of 1. The central government, working with India’s poor. the state governments, will provide an additional quota of food grains free of  The Finance Minister’s (FM) previous cost to all 80 crore beneficiaries under relief package was primarily targeted the Public Distribution System. towards the firms in the organised sector of the economy. (However, the informal  As such, PDS beneficiaries will sector accounts for 90 per cent of all jobs get 5 kg of wheat (or rice) per in the country). The PMGK attempts to month for the next three months. plug these gaps.  Additionally, each household (or What does the PM Garib Kalyan family – typically, a household is package entail? assumed to have 5 members) will get 1 kg of pulses per month. There are five elements to the PMGK package: 2. 6 types of additional cash transfers have 1. Medical insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh been announced. These are: for all health workers (doctors, paramedics, Asha workers, etc.) treating  Rs 2,000 per farmer to 9 crore farmers patients. under the PM-KISAN scheme. (To be frontloaded in the first week of April). 2. Help for the poor and those engaged in the unorganised sector.  An additional Rs 1,000 per month pension for the next 3 months for those 3. Help for the poor engaged in the receiving old age, widow or disability organised sector. pensions. It is a one-time payment. (Expected to help 3 crore beneficiaries). 4. Help for construction workers.  Rs 500 per month will be transferred for 5. Use the money already available in the the next 3 months to women holding a “district(-level) mineral fund” to pay for Jan Dhan bank account. (Expected to medical testing and screening for the help 20 crore women). coronavirus.  Women who are registered beneficiaries How does it benefit the health under Ujjwala Yojana will get one LPG workers? cylinder per month for the next three months. While this is not cash transfer,  Medical insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh the cylinders will be free of cost. per person for all health workers (Expected to help over 8 crore (doctors, paramedics, Asha workers, women beneficiaries under the etc.) treating COVID-19 patients has programme). been announced.  Women Self Help Groups across the country can take collateral-free loans up

Easy to PICK212 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 to Rs 20 lakh instead of the existing limit  This amount is, however, limited of Rs 10 lakh. There are roughly around to 75 per cent of the total money 63 lakh SHGs. (This is an enabling in one’s EPF account, or one’s provision for receiving higher credit). salary for three months, whichever is lower.  Wages paid for manual labour under MGNREGA have been increased  This move is expected to help from Rs 180 per day to Rs 202 per day. close to 4.8 crore workers (This move will help 5 crore households registered with the EPFO. [since only one person per household can avail of employment under MGNREGA] What about construction workers? and enable them to earn Rs 2,000 as additional income). However, the work  To alleviate the economic distress of needs to be done in a manner that construction workers, the government ensures social distancing. has asked state governments to use the money which is roughly Rs 31,000 crore, What help is being provided to poor in already available in a welfare fund for organised sector? construction workers. This help essentially relates to the Employees’  This would give relief to 3.5 crore Provident Fund. There are two initiatives registered workers. announced by the government. Concerns:  Under the first provision, the GoI will pay the EPF contributions (12% of the The announcements related to the provisioning basic salary) of both the employees and of food grains via PDS will be especially the employers for the next three months. helpful. However, a few points need to be flagged.  However, this move applies only to about 4 lakh firms where the  Some of the cash transfer amounts are total number of employees is less too small (like Rs 500 per month for than 100, and where 90 per cent women Jan Dhan account holders); some of the employees earn less than others are not really there (like the Rs 15,000 per month. doubling of loans for women SHGs).  The move is aimed at reducing  At present many construction workers the monetary strain on small and labourers are struggling to reach firms in the organised sector that their homes. To receive help, they will may feel compelled to fire need to have been registered in a employees given the mounting particular state, but there is nothing to financial strain. assume that they are in the state in which they are registered.  The government has amended the Employees Provident Fund  It is a concern as to how work would be Organisation (EPFO) regulations to carried out under MGNREGA while enable workers to withdraw a non- maintaining social distancing. If a lot of refundable advance from their EPF people join in, there would be a concern accounts. of disease transmission — and if very

Easy to PICK213 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 few join in (fearing the disease) then the hoped-for benefit may not actually accrue.  In a lockdown, where there’s little scope to undertake MNREGA works, an unemployment allowance would have served well.  Since the onus for paying unemployment allowance to MGNREGA workers under the Act is on the state governments, there remain concerns if the state governments would make the necessary budgetary provision.  These measures ignore the poorest, especially migrant workers, who have been excluded from the ambit of social security programmes of the government because they do not possess the necessary documents and proof of address.  It is time for states to learn from the experience of Kerala and other States which have universalised their social security programmes to ensure no deserving family is excluded.  Also, care needs to be taken to ensure that social distancing norms necessary to prevent the COVID-19 from spreading are adhered to, else the entire purpose of the curbs stands to be defeated.

Easy to PICK214 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020

Easy to PICK215 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Humanoid robot tested A series of trials were conducted on a humanoid Organisation (ISRO) for an unmanned space robot at a government hospital in Jaipur. mission later in 2020. Key takeaways: Who is Vyommitra?  The trials were carried out to check if  ISRO’s Vyommitra (vyoma = space, robot could be used for delivering mitra = friend) is the prototype for a medicines and food to the COVID-19 “half-humanoid”. patients admitted there.  She is also being called a half-humanoid  If approved, the robot would help in since she will only have a head, two keeping the doctors and nursing staff at hands and a torso, and will not have a safe distance to protect them against lower limbs. the dreaded coronavirus.  She is under development at a robotics  The medicos and paramedical staff are laboratory at the Vikram Sarabhai Space at higher risk of being infected with the Centre. virus despite wearing protective gear.  She will fly to space on an unmanned  It is battery-operated humanoid robot mission later this year, aiming to lay the with a lifespan of four to five years ground for ISRO’s manned mission Gaganyaan in 2022.  It uses artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT). What is a half-humanoid?  It can navigate its own way without the  A humanoid is basically a robot with the instructions to follow lines on the floor. appearance of a human being.  The robots could also be easily  Like any robot, a humanoid’s functions disinfected and used multiple are determined by the computer systems times inside the high-risk isolation ward. to which it is connected. Humanoid robot  With the growth of artificial intelligence and robotics, humanoids are being  It is a robot with its body shape built to increasingly used for repetitive jobs. resemble the human body.  The artificial intelligence technologies  The design may be for functional are used in a humanoid to perform simple purposes. functions that include walking, moving things, communicating and obeying commands. More PICK Ups Why is ISRO developing a humanoid? 1. Vyommitra, a half-humanoid is being  ISRO plans to send a human into space developed by the Indian Space Research for the first time by 2022.

Easy to PICK216 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020  It is racing against time to develop a crew  She will report back to Earth on the module and rocket systems that will changes occurring in the crew module ensure the safe travel and return of the during the spaceflight and return. Indian astronaut.  This willl enable ISRO to understand the  Other countries that have successfully safety levels required in the crew module launched humans into space did so after that will eventually fly a human being. having used animals for conducting tests of their rockets and crew recovery 2. FEDOR systems. 1. It is carrying a life-size humanoid  ISRO will use the humanoid to test the robot that will spend 10 days learning to assist efficacy of its GSLV Mk III rocket to astronauts on the International Space Station. transport a human to space and back. 2. Known as FEDOR, which stands for Final Experimental Demonstration Object What are the tasks Research, the Skybot F-850 is the first that Vyommitra will perform in space? humanoid robot to be sent to space by Russia. 3. The robot’s main purpose it to be used in  The Vyommitra humanoid will test the operations that are especially dangerous for ground for the human spaceflight. humans onboard spacecraft and in outer space. 4. FEDOR, who is the size an adult and can  Once fully developed for the unmanned emulate movements of the human body, has flight, she will be able to perform apparently embraced his mission, describing activities which will include, himself as “an assistant to the ISS crew”. 1. Procedures to use equipment on Significance: board the spacecraft’s crew module such as safety 1. Fedor copies human movements, a key mechanisms and switches, skill that allows it to remotely help astronauts or even people on Earth to carry out tasks while the 2. Receiving and acting on humans are strapped into an exoskeleton. commands sent from ground 2. Fedor is described as potentially useful stations. on Earth for working in high radiation environments, demining and tricky rescue  The functions listed for the humanoid missions. include attaining launch and orbital postures, responding to the environment, PT SHOT: Fedor is not the first robot to go into generating warnings, replacing CO2 space. canisters, monitoring the crew module, etc. In 2011, NASA sent up Robonaut 2, a humanoid robot developed with General Motors that had a  Vyommitra will have lip movement similar aim of working in high-risk synchronised to mimic speech. environments.  She can also double up as an artificial buddy to an astronaut - providing audio inputs on aspects like the health of the spacecraft during the launch, landing and orbital phases of the manned mission.

Easy to PICK217 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 In 2013, Japan sent up a small robot called Kirobo along with the ISS’s first Japanese space commander. 3. Recently an exhibition of art created by a humanoid AI robot, named Ai-da was held at University of Oxford.  Aida is the world's first ultra-realistic humanoid artist, able to draw creatively due to in-built artificial intelligence (AI) technology.  Ai-Da is named after Ada Lovelace, the English mathematician and writer often called the world's first computer coder.  In 2017, social robot Sophia was given citizenship of Saudi Arabia – the first robot to be given legal personhood anywhere in the world. 4. Sophia is a social humanoid robot developed by Hong Kong based company Hanson Robotics. Sophia was activated on February 14, 2016, and made her first public appearance at South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) in mid- March 2016 in Austin, Texas, United States. She is able to display more than 60 facial expressions. Sophia has been covered by media around the globe and has participated in many high-profile interviews. In October 2017, Sophia became a Saudi Arabian citizen, the first robot to receive citizenship of any country. In November 2017, Sophia was named the United Nations Development Programme first ever Innovation Champion, and is the first non-human to be given any United Nation title.

Easy to PICK218 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Pandemics of the world COVID-19 is the most recent disease which was Between 1347 and 1351, it spread throughout declared as pandemic by the World Health Europe, killing approximately 25 million Organization. people. It is believed to have been the result of plague – an infectious fever caused by bacterium Difference between Epidemic Vs Yersinia pestis. It was likely transmitted from Pandemic rodents to humans by the bite of infected fleas. Epidemic is a term that is often broadly used to Smallpox (15th – 17th centuries) describe any problem that has grown out of control. An epidemic is defined as \"an outbreak Smallpox claimed the lives of approximately 20 of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic million people, close to 90% of the population, area and affects an exceptionally high in the Americas. The pandemic helped proportion of the population.\"2 Europeans colonize and develop the newly vacated areas. Smallpox is caused by infection An epidemic is an event in which a disease with the variola virus transmitted through is actively spreading. In contrast, the various ways. term pandemic relates to geographic spread and is used to describe a disease that affects a whole Cholera (1817 – 1823) country or the entire world.3 The first cholera pandemic began in Jessore, While casual use of epidemic may not require India. It was the first of 7 major cholera such nuance, it's important to know the pandemics that have killed millions of people. differences between these two terms (and The World Health Organization has called similar ones like outbreak and endemic) when cholera “the forgotten pandemic”. Its seventh considering public health news. In addition, outbreak, which began in 1961, continues to this from an epidemiologic standpoint, terms like day. It is caused by eating food or drinking water these direct the public health response to better contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio control and prevent a disease. cholera. A glimpse through major pandemics of the Spanish Flu or H1N1 (1918 – 1919) world which caused huge loss to life: It is caused due to H1N1 virus. It infected The Plague of Justinian around 500 million people, or a third of the world’s population, of that time. The pandemic It killed between 30 million and 50 million was responsible for killing over 50 million people. The cause of the Plague of Justinian was people globally. infectious fever caused by Yersinia pestis. Hong Kong Flu or H3N2 (1968 – 1970) Black death

Easy to PICK219 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Global fatalities were around one million. It was It began in a small village in Guinea in 2014 and caused by an H3N2 strain of the influenza a spread to a handful of neighbouring countries in virus. It is believed that the virus responsible for West Africa. It is caused by infection with a the Asian flu evolved and re-emerged 10 years virus of the Filoviridae family, genus later into this so-called “Hong Kong flu”. H3N2 Ebolavirus. The virus killed 11,325 of the was exceptionally contagious. 28,600 infected people, with most cases occurring in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. HIV/AIDS (1981 – present) Zika Virus (2017) Since 1981, 75 million people have had the HIV virus and approximately 32 million have died as Zika virus (ZIKV) is a member of the virus a result. family Flaviviridae. It is spread by daytime- active Aedes mosquitoes, such as A. aegypti HIV/AIDS is a persistent epidemic that and A. albopictus. Its name comes from the continues to impact millions of people every Ziika Forest of Uganda, where the virus was year. The HIV infection is caused by the human first isolated in 1947. Zika virus is related to the immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The virus can dengue, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, be transmitted through contact with infected and West Nile viruses. Since the 1950s, it has blood, semen or vaginal fluids. been known to occur within a narrow equatorial belt from Africa to Asia. From 2007 to 2016, the SARS (2002 – 2003) virus spread eastward, across the Pacific Ocean to the Americas, leading to the 2015–2016 Zika SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, is virus epidemic. an illness caused by one of the 7 coronaviruses that can infect humans. In 2003, an outbreak The infection, known as Zika fever or Zika virus that originated in the Guangdong province of disease, often causes no or only mild symptoms, China became a global pandemic. It infected similar to a very mild form of dengue fever. around 8,000 people and killing 774 of them. While there is no specific treatment, The consequences of the 2003 SARS pandemic paracetamol (acetaminophen) and rest may help were largely limited due to an intense public with the symptoms. As of 2016, the illness health response by global authorities. cannot be prevented by medications or vaccines. Zika can spread from a pregnant woman to her Swine Flu or H1N1 (2009 – 2010) baby. This can result in microcephaly, severe brain malformations, and other birth defects. It was a new form of the influenza virus which Zika infections in adults may result rarely in emerged in 2009. It infected approximately Guillain–Barré syndrome. millions of people with global deaths in the range of 151,700 to 575,400. It is called the Coronavirus, or COVID-19 (2019 – “swine flu” because it appeared to cross over present) from pigs to humans in transmission. 80% of the virus-related deaths occured in people younger Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an than 65. infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Worldwide cases have surpassed Ebola (2014 – 2016) 500,000 with more than 24,000 deaths globally.

Easy to PICK220 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 It is believed to be transmitted from animals to humans. The vast majority of cases are reported from USA now. On March 11, the WHO characterized the outbreak as a pandemic. Estimates indicate that Coronavirus could eventually infect 40% to 70% of the global population. Practicing social distancing is recommended. The damage to the world economy threaten the worst recession since the Great Depression or the “panics” of the 1800s, depending on the scale of government responses.

Easy to PICK221 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Initiatives to Fight Coronavirus – Part-2 I. India is all set to join the World Health Challenges Organisation’s (WHO) Solidarity Trial which  Shortage of Medical Devices and aims at rapid global search for drugs to Equipment: The Medical Technology Association of India (MTAI), which treat COVID-19. represents research-based medical technology companies, has highlighted Key Points the shortage of medical devices and equipment.  India has stayed away from the multi- country trial till now due to its small o The Centre has exempted sample size. manufacturing, warehousing and distribution of the medical  It will express its interest to participate in devices and equipment from the the trial for the Indian population when it lockdown but these are being feels that the time is right. clamped down by the state governments and local level  Vaccine development wasn’t a priority administrators. for Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) currently because o Transport trucks carrying these there are around 30 vaccine groups vital preparatory materials are already in operation worldwide. stuck at city and state borders.  Keeping in view the rising number of  Delays in Import: India is importing cases and challenges faced by probes and rapid testing kits from China, India, the government has decided to Germany and WHO. However, some participate in the solidarity trial. delays have been reported but it is made sure that the delays do not affect the Solidarity Trial (PT SHOT) testings.  It will test different drugs or  Time Constraints: ICMR is currently combinations like: looking at repurposed drug molecules to find treatment for COVID-19 due to time o Remdesivir. constraints. o Combination Solutions of lopinavir and ritonavir (anti- HIV drugs).  India needs to prioritise what it needs right now to deal with the situation. o Interferon beta with the  Indian scientists have formed a group combination of called Indian Scientists’ Response to COVID-19 (ISRC) to tackle the lopinavir and ritonavir. pandemic. o Chloroquine.  It will compare their effectiveness to the standard of care, the regular support used by the hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.

Easy to PICK222 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020  While governmental bodies make their  It is suggested that an decisions and professional scientific app should be developed academies take principled stands, there is that can map spaces being a need for individuals in the scientific used as shelters and share community to also help individually and that data with the State collectively. governments. Indian Scientists’ Response to  A platform has also been developed to COVID-19 connect people in need with those who can provide help.  Indian Scientists’ Response to o It works through two channels, COVID-19 (ISRC) is a voluntary phone and WhatsApp. group of scientists to address the concerns raised by the COVID-19 o It can connect patients or people outbreak and to discuss the rapidly with symptoms to doctors. evolving situation with its dire need for science communication. o It may also connect elderly people with volunteers from  The group consists of nearly 200 NGOs to assist in chores such as scientists from institutions such as the grocery shopping. National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), the Indian Institute of Science NOTE: World Health Organization (WHO), the (IISc), the Tata Institute of Fundamental United Nations’ specialized agency for Health Research (TIFR), the Indian Institute of was founded in 1948. Technologies (IITs), etc.  Its headquarters are situated in Geneva,  It aims to study existing and available Switzerland. data to bring out analysis that will support the Central, State and local  There are 194 Member States, 150 governments in carrying out their tasks. country offices, six regional offices.  There are several working groups  It is an inter-governmental organization within it: and works in collaboration with its member states usually through the o One of them works on hoax Ministries of Health. busting to address disinformation spreading with respect to the  The WHO provides leadership on global coronavirus. health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and o One works on science standards, articulating evidence-based popularisation to develop policy options, providing technical material that explains concepts support to countries and monitoring and such as home quarantine. assessing health trends. o Other groups work on resources It began functioning on April 7, 1948 – a date in Indian now being celebrated every year as World languages, mathematical models Health Day. and apps etc.

Easy to PICK223 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Objectives  The e-Platform will enable the SAARC nations to share and exchange  To act as the directing and information, knowledge, expertise and coordinating authority on best practices for jointly combating the international health work. Coronavirus epidemic.  To establish and maintain effective o Objectives of the e-Platform collaboration with the United Nations, specialized agencies,  Training of emergency governmental health administrations, personnel professional groups and such other organizations as may be deemed  Disease surveillance appropriate.  Joint research  To provide assistance to the o Currently the platform is in the Governments, upon request, in construction stage. strengthening health services. o Meanwhile India suggested to set  To promote cooperation among up a Whatsapp or email group to scientific and professional help facilitate exchange of groups which contribute to the information among the SAARC advancement of health. countries till the platform became fully operational  During the conference all the countries highlighted their specific II. Recently, India has decided to set up an vulnerabilities, capacities, the best electronic platform to help member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional practices, gaps in resources and Cooperation (SAARC) fight the COVID- 19 pandemic. logistics, private sector participation as  The decision has been conveyed during a well as levels of preparedness. virtual conference of health professionals of eight countries in the  Community engagement and region. participation was identified as an important element in any anti-Covid19 Key Points strategy.  The virtual conferencing of the health  Fight Corona IDEAthon workers of the SAARC Nation was part of the two proposals made by Indian o Recently, a 2-day online Prime Minister during the recently held virtual meeting of SAARC. IDEAthon has been organized to o The other proposal was to set up SAARC COVID-19 search for accessible and Emergency Fund. affordable technological solutions that can contain the rapid spread of infection, ease the mounting pressure and ensure a quick return to normalcy. o The initiative was jointly organised by MHRD Innovation Cell, AICTE, MeitY Startup Hub, InnovatioCuris

Easy to PICK224 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 and other institutions of global They are assured that their families will and national prominence. be well taken care of. o The focus area of the IDEAthon o Leave extension of those on was leave as well as curtailment of leave to bare minimum have been  designing imposed. reusable/washable masks o Segregation facilities have been  system to disinfect set up to observe troops already currency notes/coins back from leave from various states.  a non-invasive diagnostic kit  So far six quarantine facilities at Manesar, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Chennai,  Storage Kits to collect test Hindan and Mumbai have been samples from homes established where 1,463 people evacuated from coronavirus-affected India in SAARC Region- Neighbour countries have been accommodated. first policy  India launched the GSAT-9, also o The forces are setting up more dubbed the South Asia Satellite, aiming to provide space-enabled services such facilities at Kolkata, to other South Asian countries. Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Dundigal, Bengaluru, Kanpur,  India has offered member countries of Jaisalmer, Jorhat and Gorakhpur which can be ready within 72 the South Asian Association for hours, if needed. Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to join  28 Armed Forces hospitals have been earmarked as COVID hospitals its advanced navigational satellite programme—GPS-Aided Geo o These hospitals will include armed forces patients as well as Augmented Navigation (GAGAN). civilian patients transferred from state health authorities.  Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) has potential to be o Five hospitals from the Army, useful for the SAARC countries which Navy and the Air Force are are dependent on foreign systems. conducting coronavirus tests using the RT-PCR III. The Indian Army has code-named its anti- methodology and more hospitals COVID-19 campaign as Operation will be equipped soon with the Namaste to help the government in its fight resources. against the pandemic. o 62 Cantonment Boards have been Key Points instructed to identify beds in hospitals and health centres and  Soldiers are advised to follow guesthouses for any eventuality. the lockdown, wherever they do not have any operational role, and stay fit. Contributions by Other Forces

Easy to PICK225 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020  Recently, Defence Research and for natural and unavoidable catastrophes Development Organisation (DRDO) that interrupt the expected course of also came forward to help events and restrict participants from by developing ventilators and providing fulfilling obligations. other medical equipment.  Force majeure clauses excuse companies (or other parties to a  Indian Navy also contributed by contract) from meeting certain delivering 60,000 face masks ordered obligations when events beyond their by Indian Medical control interfere with their ability to hold Association, Goa which were stuck in up their end of the bargain. Delhi due to the lockdown.  If invoked, the clauses can relieve o Ilyushin 38 SD (FROM companies from commitments, RUSSIA) departed INS temporarily or permanently, without Hansa for Palam Airport, New being in breach of their agreement. Delhi and returned on the same day with the masks. V. In view of the hardships faced by the parents and the students due to the COVID-19 epidemic, IV. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indian the National Testing Agency has postponed the Railways has decided that the period from ensuing NEET (UG) May 2020 examination 22.03.2020 to 14.04.2020 shall be treated scheduled to the last week of May 2020. The under “Force Majeure”. National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is the examination for admission to Key Points undergraduate medical degree programmes.  A Force Majeure (FM) means National Testing Agency extraordinary events or circumstances beyond human control such as an event  National Testing Agency (NTA) was described as an Act of God (like a natural established as a Society registered under calamity). the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860.  During this period no demurrage, wharfage, stacking, stabling, detention  It is an autonomous and self-sustained and ground usage charge shall be testing organization to conduct entrance leviable. examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions.  Zonal Railways have been advised to coordinate with State Government  Objective: To conduct efficient, authorities to ensure logistics transparent and international standards support in order to keep up the tests in order to assess the competency of essential goods transportation. candidates for admission and recruitment purposes. Force Majeure  Force majeure refers to a clause that is included in contracts to remove liability

Easy to PICK226 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 VI. The Department of Empowerment of Note: Section 8 of the Rights of Persons with Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Disabilities Act, 2016 guarantees equal Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment protection and safety for persons with has issued “Comprehensive Disability disabilities in human emergencies and natural Inclusive Guidelines” to States and Union disasters territories. This is for the protection and safety of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) in o The Government of India has light of Pandemic COVID19. declared the situation arising out of COVID 19 as a National Highlights from the Guidelines Disaster.  Training: All persons responsible for  In September 2019, National Disaster handling emergency response services Management Authority, Union should be trained on Ministry of Home Affairs issued National Disaster Management o the rights of persons with Guidelines on Disability Inclusive disabilities. Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR). o the risks associated with VII. Privacy concerns over the government’s additional problems for persons measures to tackle the spread of Coronavirus. having specific impairments. Details:  Ensuring Essentials to PwDs: All states and UTs should ensure services like  The governments have taken many steps caregiver support, supplies and medical to monitor the people who are advised aid at the doorstep of PwDs. quarantine to contain the spread of COVID-19. o It is sought that caregivers should be allowed to reach PwDs by  Databases of passengers who exempting them from restrictions during lockdown or providing returned from high risk passes in a simplified manner on priority. “coronavirus affected  Helpline Number: States should set-up countries” have been shared with 24x7 helplines for persons with disabilities. relevant departments to monitor  Information: All video-graphic these high risk suspected cases. In awareness material related to COVID 19 should be with subtitles and there should Delhi, the list contains details of be sign language interpretation for persons with hearing impairment. 722 passengers who arrived in  For Resolving Disability Specific Delhi and are mandated 14 days Issues: The states should make the State Commissioner for PwDs the nodal of quarantine. officer to resolve disability specific issues during the crisis period.  The government has newly launched pilot or beta version of a mobile phone application called “Corona Kavach” which uses the data of confirmed COVID-19 patients to alert

Easy to PICK227 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 subscribers when they are in close proximity.  The app is designed to track the location of COVID-19 infected people and alert subscribers when they come near their location.  The app will require all the COVID-19 patients to download the app to track their whereabouts. Government’s efforts to monitor people advised quarantine for COVID-19 has run into privacy issues.

Easy to PICK228 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Global Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Development Hub – Antibiotic resistance Antibiotic resistance is not a problem that can be solved by any one country or even one region. Since, we live in a connected world, where PT PICKS: Antimicrobial resistance people, animals and food travel and microbes (AMR) is the ability of a microorganism (like travel with them, a global action is essential to bacteria, viruses, and some parasites) to stop an make progress in the long run. Increasing public antimicrobial (such as antibiotics, antivirals awareness and understanding is therefore the and antimalarials) from working against it. As most crucial pillar towards tackling a result, standard treatments become ineffective, antimicrobial resistance. AMR is an infections persist and may spread to others. increasingly serious threat to the global public health that requires action across all When an organism is resistant to more than one government sectors and societies. drug, it is said to be multidrug-resistant. What is Antimicrobial resistance? Antimicrobial resistance (AMR or AR) is the Key findings: ability of a microbe to resist the effects of medication that once could successfully treat the 1. India is one of the top users of microbe. The term antibiotic resistance is a antibiotics. subset of AMR, as it applies only to bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics. Antibiotics are 2. The private sector clocked high levels of medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial antibiotic prescription rates (412 per infections. Antibiotic resistance occurs when 1,000 persons per year). bacteria change in response to the use of these medicines. 3. The highest rate was seen among children aged 0–4 years (636 per 1,000 Bacteria, not humans or animals, become persons) and the lowest in the age group antibiotic-resistant. These bacteria may infect 10–19 years (280 per 1,000 persons). humans and animals, and the infections they cause are harder to treat than those caused by 4. Per-capita antibiotic consumption in the non-resistant bacteria. Antibiotic resistance retail sector has increased by around 22% occurs naturally, but misuse of antibiotics in in five years from 2012 to 2016. humans and animals is accelerating the process. A growing number of infections – such as Ways by which individuals become antibiotic pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, and resistant (2019 PT) salmonellosis – are becoming harder to treat as the antibiotics used to treat them become less  Inappropriate use of antibiotics such effective. It leads to higher medical costs, as popping pills for mild ailments like prolonged hospital stays, and increased common cold. mortality.  Rampant use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry animals. Antibiotics used in animals to treat infections and for

Easy to PICK229 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 growth promotion are often passed on to  To set up an antimicrobial program to humans who consume their meat. rationalize use of antimicrobials and to encourage the innovation of newer and  Improper disposal of residual effective antimicrobials. antibiotics that eventually enter the food chain.  In addition, some major action points identified in the national policy are:  Prolonged illness o Establishing an AMR  Poor diagnosis surveillance system.  Poor health and hygiene management o To strengthen infection, in Hospitals (Fluid exchange) prevention and control measures.  Globalisation o Educate, train and motivate all stakeholders in the rational use of Doctors’ take on antibiotics antimicrobials.  Doctors believe that the inappropriate o Providing sanitation, clean water and sometimes rampant use of antibiotics and good governance. has transformed the healthy human intestinal gut flora into a reservoir of o Increasing public health antibiotic resistance organisms. expenditure and better regulating the private health sector.  At present organisms are resistant to low end antibiotics but if the misuse persists, WHO’s take on antibiotic resistance these may become resistant to high end antibiotics as well.  As per the World Health Organization (WHO), antibiotic resistance is rising to  There are as many bacteria in a human dangerously high levels in all parts of the body as the number of cells. They world. perform a host of functions to keep the body running for example, processing  The alarming rate at which bacteria the food we eat and modulating the are becoming resistant has led the immune system. The antibiotic resistant World Health Organization (WHO) to bacteria aren’t healthy so they cannot identify AMR as one of the top ten perform these functions well. threats to global health.  The presence of antibiotic resistance in  The world body recommends that healthy individuals is a cause for concern countries must prioritize their national because it signals that it will get more action plans to scale up financing and difficult to treat infections in the future. capacity building efforts, put in place a stronger regulatory systems and support India’s action plan for AMR awareness programmes for responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials by  A national policy for containment of professionals in humans, animals and AMR was introduced in 2011. The plants health. policy aims to understand emergence, spread and factors influencing AMR.  In addition, countries must invest in ambitious research and development technologies to combat AMR.

Easy to PICK230 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020  The WHO also suggests a number of For Health Professionals steps that can be taken at various levels to reduce the impact and also limit the  Health professionals need to play a major spread of this resistance. role in preventing and controlling the spread of antibiotic resistance. At individual level  The first and foremost thing that must be  For individuals, the most important step done is to ensure that their hands, towards preventing and controlling the instruments and environment are spread of this antibiotic resistance is clean. to use antibiotics only when prescribed by a certified health professional. Also,  They should only prescribe and never sharing with anyone used leftover dispense antibiotics when they are antibiotic. needed.  Preparing food hygienically and  They must immediately report antibiotic avoiding close contact with sick people. resistant infections to surveillance teams.  Practising safer sex and keeping For different sectors vaccinations up to date.  Sectors like healthcare and agriculture  Following the WHO’s five keys to must also act to prevent and control the safer food i.e. to keep clean, separate spread of antibiotic resistance. raw and cooked, cook thoroughly, keep food at safe temperatures, use safe water  The healthcare industry can invest in and materials and choose foods that have research and development of new been produced without the use of antibiotics, vaccines, diagnostics and antibiotics for growth promotion or other tools. disease prevention in healthy animals.  The agricultural sector must adhere to For Policymakers the guidelines such as giving antibiotics to animals only under  Policymakers must ensure that a robust veterinary supervision. national action plan is in place to tackle antibiotic resistance.  Antibiotics should not be used for growth promotion or to prevent diseases in  Surveillance of antibiotic-resistant healthy animals. infections must be improved.  Animals must be vaccinated to reduce  Policies, programmes and the need for antibiotics and use alternatives to antibiotics when implementation of infection prevention available. and control measures must be  The agriculture sector should also promote and apply good practices at all strengthened. steps of production and processing of food from animals and plants sources.  It is required to regulate and promote the appropriate use of quality medicines.  In addition, they must also improve biosecurity on farms and prevent  Information must also be made available on the impact of antibiotic resistance.

Easy to PICK231 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 infections through improved hygiene Reserve — antibiotics to be used sparingly or and animal welfare. preserved and used only as a last resort RECENT STRATEGIES: 4. India has been called the epicenter of the global drug resistance crisis. Chickens in 1. In 2015, WHO launched the global numerous poultry farm are being antimicrobial surveillance system (GLASS) given Colistin, to protect them against diseases to work closely with WHO collaborating or to make them gain weight faster. Doctors call centres and existing antimicrobial resistance Colistin the ‘last hope’ antibiotic. surveillance networks. The World Health Organisation has called for o As members of GLASS, the use of such antibiotics to be restricted to countries are encouraged to animals. These should be banned as growth implement the surveillance promoters. standards and indicators gradually based on their national MCR-1 is one such gene discovered recently. priorities and available resources. It could be transferred within and between species of bacteria. This means that microbes 2. Recently, the United Nations (UN) has begun did not have to develop resistance themselves, considering the threat of antimicrobial they could become resistant just by acquiring the resistance (AMR) to be at par with diseases like MCR-1 gene. The resistance could be passed to ebola, HIV. bugs which are already multi-drug resistant. This could lead to untreatable infections. 3. The WHO has launched a global campaign Another such gene is New Delhi Metallo-beta- that urges countries to adopt its new online tool lactamase 1 (NDM-1), which makes bugs aimed at guiding policy-makers and health resistant to carbapenem antibiotics. workers to use antibiotics safely and more effectively. 5. 2017 National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance AWARE Tool 1. For the first time, the 2017 National The tool, known as ‘AWaRe’, classifies Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance antibiotics into three groups: talks about limiting antibiotics in effluent being dumped by drug makers into the Access — antibiotics used to treat the most environment common and serious infections 2. This is because when these drugs taint Watch — antibiotics available at all times in soil and water, the scores of microbes the healthcare system that live there grow drug-resistant 3. Until now, India’s fight against antibiotic-resistance was focussed on

Easy to PICK232 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 getting people to cut down on It stands for ‘Antibiotics and mobile resistance unnecessary antibiotic consumption elements in wastewater reuse applications: risks and innovative solutions’. This project studies Why is resistance among microbes a technologies to remove antibiotic-resistance problem? germs from wastewater along with other research. 1. The answer lies in the intimacy shared between environmental bacteria and 6. India’s Red line campaign: (launched in Feb human pathogens 2016) is finding recognition, and could be adopted globally. It should be considered as 2. A pathogen, say Klebsiella pneumoniae starting point of restriction over use of (K. pneumoniae), that causes antibiotics. Aim: To decrease the use of Red line pneumonia, can take two routes to antibiotics without prescription, create antibiotic resistance awareness of danger of taking antibiotics. 3. The first is for its own genes to mutate 7. Recently, India has joined the Global spontaneously to help fight the drug Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research and Development (R&D) Hub as a new 4. The second route, a shortcut known as member. horizontal gene transfer, is for the bug to borrow resistance genes from its  Working with AMR(R&D) Hub would neighbours help India to expand existing capabilities, resources and collectively 5. Scientists believe that many human focus on new R&D intervention to pathogens today picked up their address drug-resistant infections present resistance genes from the environment in the country. through this shortcut  Global Antimicrobial Resistance Phenomenon of anti-microbial resistance (AMR) Research and Development not new (R&D) Hub is a collaboration of 16 countries, the European Commission, 1. Phylogenetic studies suggest that the two philanthropic foundations and four earliest antibiotic-resistance genes in international organizations (as nature are millions of years old observers). 2. But when humans started manufacturing  It was launched in 2018 during antibiotics in the 1950s, a dramatic shift the 71st session of the World Health occurred Assembly, following a call from G20 Leaders in 2017. 3. Large doses of these drugs seeped into the environment through poultry and  It is supported through human excreta, and waste water from a Secretariat, established in Berlin, drug makers and hospitals Germany. 4. This led to an explosion of resistance genes in soil and water microbes 6. European project ANSWER

Easy to PICK233 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020  It aims to further improve the coordination of international efforts and initiatives to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance while further increasing investments into R&D for AMR.  The work of the Global AMR R&D Hub will be aligned to the priorities set by o World Health Organization (WHO) o Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) o World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).  It enforces the One Health Approach by including environmental aspects and veterinary medicine against antimicrobial resistance.  It integrates human and animal health, worldwide food safety and environmental factors.

Easy to PICK234 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Can drugs for Ebola be used to treat COVID-19? Medical research towards the development of  Recently, India has approved the use of drugs and vaccines against the coronavirus the anti-malarial drug, infection – COVID 19. hydroxychloroquine, as a preventive medication for people at high risk, such Background: as health workers and immediate contacts of a person who has tested  The virus, SARS-CoV-2, according to positive for COVID-19. the World Health Organization (WHO), has caused the world’s largest WHO-led Solidarity trials: pandemic. Over six lakh are infected and nearly 29,000 dead globally.  WHO Director-General, recently announced the launch of ‘Solidarity’, a  In India, the number of cases is giant multinational trial for testing growing despite the unprecedented therapies that researchers have measures put in place by the Central and suggested may be effective against State governments. COVID-19. Details:  This coordinated push would help generate robust, high-quality Medical strategy: scientific evidence from across the world in a short frame of time.  Given the long gestation period in the development of a vaccine and WHO  India too has joined the study after observations that it would take over 18 staying away due to its small sample size. months to be ready for use, “vaccination” as an immediate solution has been ruled Potential drugs: out.  WHO is considering some of the most  15% of COVID-19 needs hospitalized promising therapies including the care and of these 5% need ICU care. Now following drugs: with time running out rapidly for the entire world, re-purposed drugs are  A combination of two HIV being aimed at to contain the drugs, lopinavir and ritonavir. problem, reducing hospital load, freeing  The combination drug, critical hospital beds and allowing ritonavir/lopinavir, was people to swiftly return to normal work. introduced two decades ago to treat HIV  WHO and other health agencies are re- infections. looking at the efficacy of known therapies and drugs to treat COVID-  Doctors in Wuhan, China 19. They are considering re-purposed have used this drugs. combination.  Although the drug is generally safe it may

Easy to PICK235 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 interact with drugs usually Agencies are also looking at unapproved drugs given to severely ill that have performed well in animal studies with patients, and doctors have the other two deadly coronaviruses, which cause warned it could Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) cause significant liver and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome damage. (MERS). Given the fact that the novel coronavirus hails from a family on which  Anti-malaria medications, extensive research work has already been done worldwide after SARS and MERS is a chloroquine and significant advantage. hydroxychloroquine.  Hydroxychloroquine is being looked at in India and the ICMR has said that it is currently studying the drug action in the Indian population with respect to COVID-19.  Its usage in some patients has shown a significantly reduced viral load in nasal swabs.  Hydroxychloroquine, in particular, is known to have a variety of side- effects, and can in some cases harm the heart.  An experimental antiviral compound called remdesivir.  This drug was developed to treat Ebola and related viruses.  It works by shutting down the viral replication.  Studies have pointed out that the drug shows that it can be used in high doses without causing toxicities.  Another combination under testing is interferon-beta, which WHO has cautioned might be risky.

Easy to PICK236 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Kerala sought a relaxation of FRBM rules Kerala is seeking relaxation from the provisions annual revenue and fiscal deficit of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget goals over a three-year horizon. Management (FRBM) Act.  The act envisages a longer-term Kerala Economic package: glide path to achieve the key objective of reducing the fiscal  Kerala had announced an economic deficit to 3% of GDP within a package of 20,000 crore rupees to specified time frame. Currently, mitigate the impact on livelihoods and the government has set overall economic activity from the steps a deadline of March 2023 for taken to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. ensuring a fiscal deficit target of 3.1%.  To help fund the emergency relief package, Kerala proposes to borrow as  To ensure that the States too are much as 12,500 crore rupees from the financially prudent, the 12th Finance market. Commission’s recommendations in 2004 linked debt relief to States with Details: their enactment of similar FRBM acts. Fiscal Responsibility and Budget  The States have since enacted Management (FRBM) Act: their own respective Financial Responsibility  The FRBM Act was enacted in August Legislation, which sets the same 2003. 3% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) cap on their  The FRBM Act is aimed at making the annual budget deficits. Central government responsible for ensuring inter-generational equity Kerala seeking flexibility under the in fiscal management and long-term FRBM: macro-economic stability.  Kerala’s current fiscal position means  The Act envisages the setting of limits that it can borrow about ₹25,000 crores on the Central government’s debt and during the financial year 2020-21. deficits as well as mandating greater transparency in fiscal  Given that Kerala proposes to raise operations of the Central government ₹12,500 crore through borrowings in and the conduct of fiscal policy in a April 2020 itself, it could be severely medium-term framework. constrained in its borrowing and spending ability over the remaining 11  Every Budget of the Union months of the financial year, due to the stringent borrowing cap under the fiscal government includes a Medium- responsibility laws. Term Fiscal Policy  This could affect the State’s socio- economic programs as well as the post- Statement that specifies the pandemic recovery apart from

Easy to PICK237 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 undermining the state’s continued goal for 2020-21 from 3% mitigation efforts against COVID-19. to 3.5%.  Kerala has urged the Centre to provide  The most significant FRBM Kerala with flexibility under the Fiscal deviation happened in 2008-09, Responsibility and Budget Management in the wake of the global financial (FRBM) Act. crisis, with the Centre resorting to a fiscal stimulus. Relaxation under the FRBM act:  Tax relief was provided to  The FRBM act does contain provisions boost demand for relaxation from FRBM clauses. This is commonly referred to as an ‘escape  Public expenditure was clause’. increased to create employment and public  Under Section 4(2) of the Act, the assets, to counter the Centre can exceed the annual fiscal fallout of the global deficit target citing grounds that include: slowdown.  National security,  This led to the fiscal deficit climbing to  War, 6.2%, from a budgeted goal of 2.7%.  National calamity,  Simultaneously, the  Collapse of agriculture, deficit goals for the States  Structural reforms and too were relaxed.  A decline in real output growth of a quarter by at least three Arguments in favor of suspending Fiscal percentage points below the targets: average of the previous four quarters.  The following two aspects could be used for suspending both the Centre’s and Past precedents of relaxing FRBM norms: States’ fiscal deficit targets.  There have been several instances of the FRBM goals being reset.  Given the extraordinary  Recently, the Budget for 2020- circumstances, COVID-19 21 had cited the recent reductions in corporate tax as structural pandemic could be considered reforms, triggering the escape clause. as a national calamity.  This enabled the  The ongoing pandemic in government to recalibrate conjunction with the ongoing the fiscal deficit target for lockdown will cause a severe 2019-20 to 3.8%, from the contraction in economic output. budgeted 3.3%. It also changed the deficit target  This would allow both the Union government and States including Kerala to undertake the much-needed increases in expenditure to meet the extraordinary circumstances.

Easy to PICK238 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020  Given the past precedents and the The general perspective of the FRBM unprecedented nature of the pandemic Review Committee and its devastating impact on the global economy, another significant deviation Before going into the point-by point from the FRBM norms is very likely in presentation of the NK Singh Committee’s the current and next fiscal years. suggestions, it is important to look at the overall perspective adopted by it about borrowing run NK Singh FRBM review committee (fiscal deficit) government budget in the Indian context. The FRBM Review Committee headed by former Revenue Secretary, NK Singh was The FRBM Review Committee’s philosophy is appointed by the government to review the visible in its report throughout and is that in a implementation of FRBM. In its report country like India, where budgets are framed by submitted in January 2017, titled, ‘The accommodating populist pressures, activist or Committee in its Responsible Growth: A Debt discretionary fiscal policy with high fiscal and Fiscal Framework for 21st Century India’, deficit has limitations. the Committee suggested that a rule based fiscal policy by limiting government debt, fiscal “The maxim that “you cannot spend your way deficit and revenue deficits to certain targets is to prosperity” is now widely accepted. Fiscal good for fiscal consolidation in India. policies must therefore be embedded in caution than exuberance. In restraint than profligacy.” Why a rethinking on FRBM was needed? The Committee cited evidences that in the recent past, the economy faced troubles whenever the After nearly twelve years into running of the government made high expenditure by shooting FRBM (2003) legislation, there was a big debate over the FRBM targets. on whether India has to continue with a fiscal deficit target or not. One group argued that in a At the same time, when some crisis like the developing country, government has to make lot 2007-08 appears, fiscal policy should have some of expenditure and an upper ceiling will reduce flexibilities. Here, the Committee suggested a government involvement. The opposite group carefully crafted escape clause allowing higher countered that loosening of the target will led to fiscal deficit. This escape clause is ‘rule based’ excess expenditure, government debt, inflation (smart rules) and not ‘discretionary’. Following and several other macroeconomic problems are the main recommendations of the NK Singh besides creating intergenerational inequality. Committee. The responsibility of the NK Singh Committee thus was to suggest a way out. Specifically, the 1. Public debt to GDP ratio should be Committee has to make suggestions on a considered as a medium-term anchor for commonly raised idea that of a fiscal deficit fiscal policy in India. The combined debt-to- range than a fixed target (like 3% of GDP). GDP ratio of the centre and states should be Similarly, the committee should suggest brought down to 60 per cent by 2023 changes required in FRBM in the context of (comprising of 40 per cent for the Centre and rising global uncertainties. 20% for states) as against the existing 49.4 per cent, and 21per cent respectively.

Easy to PICK239 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 2. Fiscal deficit as the operating The Committee advocated formation of target: The Committee advocated fiscal deficit institutions to ensure fiscal prudence in accordance with the FRBM spirit. It as the operating target to bring down public recommended setting up an independent Fiscal debt. For fiscal consolidation, the centre should Council. The Council will provide several reduce its fiscal deficit from the current 3.5% advisory functions. It will forecast key macro (2017) to 2.5% by 2023. variables like real and nominal GDP growth, tax buoyancy, commodity prices. Similarly, it will Justifying the target of 2.5% to be realized in do a monitoring role, besides advising about the the next six years, the Committee observed that use of escape clause and also specify a path of debt sustainability analysis (DSA) conducted for return. the central government suggests such a target (for fiscal deficit) will help to achieve the public 5. Escape Clause to accommodate counter debt target of 40% for the centre by 2023. cyclical issues: 3. Revenue deficit target The NK Singh Committee points out that there are disadvantages with set fiscal deficit target if The Committee also recommends that the some economic instabilities like an external central government should reduce its revenue crisis affects the Indian economy. For example, deficit steadily by 0.25 percentage (of GDP) the government has to spend more during the points each year, to reach 0.8% by 2023, from a time of a recession and hence it need not restrict projected value of 2.3% in 2017. its borrowing to keep the fiscal deficit target. Hence, the committee advocates countercyclical The Committee advised government to follow covers in fiscal policy while following the FRBM. the golden rule here ie., not to finance government’s day to day expenditure through Here, the committee recommends fiscal flexibilities to go above or below the fiscal borrowings. Revenue deficit implies financing deficit targets in the form of ‘escape clauses’. of government’s day today activities from The Committee set 0.5% as escape clause for fiscal deficit target. borrowings. What is escape clause? Table: Fiscal roadmap for 2023 and the targets for the Centre (figures are as a percent of GDP) The flexibility to adjust with cyclical FD is fiscal deficit and RD is revenue deficit. fluctuations (boom/recession) is incorporated under the “escape clause” (in the case of Year Debt/GDP FD RD recession) where temporary and moderate deviations can be made from the baseline fiscal 2017 49.4 3.5 2.3 path. This can be permitted under exceptional circumstances and in reaction to external 2023 38.7 2.5 0.80 shocks. To ensure that these “escape” clauses are not mis-used, the Committee suggests Source: NK Singh Committee Report several specific guidelines. The escape clause 4. Formation of Fiscal Council to advice the government.

Easy to PICK240 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 can be used only during the time of following finance Commission award). Now, total state essential circumstances: expenditures (as a percent of GSDP) is now even greater than the Centre. Hence, fiscal • Over-riding consideration of national consolidation should also be made by the states. security, acts of war, calamities of national They should bring down their debt target to 20% proportion and collapse of agriculture severely of GDP from the current 21%. affecting farm output and incomes. 8. Congruence of Fiscal and Monetary • Far-reaching structural reforms in the Policy economy with unanticipated fiscal implications. The FRBM Review Commitee observed that • Sharp decline in real output growth of both monetary and fiscal policies must ensure at least 3 percentage points below the average growth and macroeconomic stability in a for the previous four quarters. complementary mannger. For this, the Inflation Targeting (IT) regime and Fiscal Rules (FRs) Deviation from the stipulated fiscal deficit target have to interact with each other. shall not exceed 0.5 percentage points in a year. The Escape Clauses can be invoked: (a) by the Government after formal consultations and advice of the Fiscal Council. (b) with a clear commitment to return to the original fiscal target in the coming fiscal year. 6. Buoyancy: What the government has to do with fiscal deficit target when higher economic growth occurs? The Committee also advocates that that the policy responses to sharp changes in output growth should be symmetric (to that of the escape clause). This implies that during higher economic growth, fiscal deficit should be reduced accordingly. (Here, in the case of growth fall, fiscal deficit target can be raised using the escape clause). 7. Fiscal consolidation responsibility for states The Committee observes that state government’s fiscal position is important after greater resource transfer to them (Fourteenth

Easy to PICK241 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Convalescent Plasma Therapy and COVID-19  Basis of the Therapy: o However, while plasma transfers immunity from one person to o The convalescent plasma therapy another, it is not known if it can seeks to make use of the save lives in COVID-19 antibodies developed in the infection. recovered patient against the coronavirus. o The treatment could be effective for patients in the age group 40- o The whole blood or plasma from 60, but may be less effective for such people is taken, and the people aged beyond 60 years. plasma is then injected in critically ill patients so that  Previous Application of the the antibodies are Convalescent Plasma Therapy: transferred and boost their fight against the virus. o The United States used plasma of recovered patients to treat  Time Period for Infusion: patients of Spanish flu (1918- 1920). o A study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases stated that a COVID-19 o Hong Kong used it to treat SARS patient usually develops primary (Severe Acute Respiratory immunity against the virus in Syndrome) patients in 2005. 10-14 days. o In 2009, the swine flu (H1N1) o Therefore, if the plasma patients were treated with plasma. is injected at an early stage, it can possibly help fight the virus  A study in Oxford and prevent severe illness. University’s journal  Infusion into COVID-19 Patients: Clinical Infectious o The plasma can be infused into Diseases found that two kinds of COVID-19 “convalescent plasma patients— those with a severe illness, or individuals at a reduced respiratory tract higher risk of getting the virus. viral load, serum cytokine response, and mortality” in H1N1 patients.  WHO Guidelines (2014): o WHO guidelines in 2014 mandate a donor’s permission before extracting plasma.

Easy to PICK242 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 o Plasma from only recovered o Mutation of the Virus: patients must be taken, and donation must be done from  The probable people not infected with HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, or any mutations, is one of the infectious disease. major reasons for making o If whole blood is collected, the plasma is separated by an individual vulnerable sedimentation or centrifugation, then injected in the patient. to reacquire the COVID- o If plasma needs to be collected 19 infection. again from the same person, it must be done after 12 weeks of o Unknown Behaviour of the the first donation for males and 16 Virus: weeks for females.  Since the exact behaviour  Application in India: of the novel coronavirus is o Currently, India has facilities for removing 500 ml of still being plasma from a donor. studied, immunity o For this experimental therapy, the Drug Controller General of India against it is not fully will first have to grant blood banks approval for removal of understood. plasma from recovered COVID- 19 patients.  At this stage, it is not fully understood as to how long o In India, the special care of the the antibodies provide risk of infection during protection against the transfusion needs to be taken viral infection. care of.  Also, in the absence of Relapse in Patients Recovered from COVID-19 any vaccination, it is not  Patients who test positive for COVID-19 known whether develop protective antibodies. Theoretically, there can be a relapse the immunity acquired even in patients who have antibodies. There are various reasons for by the persons is such relapsing of COVID-19, some of them are: permanent. o False RT-PCR test (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) Test: It has been observed that a “false negative” RTPCR test — the RNA test being conducted to diagnose COVID-19 infection — can lead to a patient testing positive a second time after testing negative in between.

Easy to PICK243 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 Improved Air Quality during COVID-19 The nationwide lockdown, to prevent COVID- sensitivity thus 19, has led to minimal air pollution in over 90 cities including Delhi. contributing to diabetes. o Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)  Environmentalists have welcomed the  NOx pollution is mainly reduction in pollution and have urged the caused due to a high motor government to treat it as a wake-up call vehicle traffic and can and stop the development at the cost of increase the risk of the environment. respiratory conditions. Key Points  Generally in March, pollution is in the moderate category in the Air Quality Index while currently, it is in the satisfactory or good category.  During the lockdown, the government o Under the good category, pollution is considered to be at has asked the people to avoid the lowest and the air is believed to be the healthiest to breathe. unnecessary travel which has significantly reduced the traffic movement.  According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data:  Other factors which have contributed to the improved air quality are shutting o Air quality in the National Capital down of industries and construction Territory of Delhi is presently in sites and rains. the good category.  According to the centre-run System of o Kanpur, which has high Air Quality and Weather Forecasting pollution levels normally, is in and Research (SAFAR), the measures the satisfactory category. against COVID-19 have led to a drop in: o 92 other cities with CPCB o PM2.5 monitoring centres have recorded minimal air pollution, with the air  It is an quality ranging between good and atmospheric Particulate satisfactory. Matter of diameter of less than 2.5  Observations and Suggestions: micrometres, which is around 3% of the diameter o The low AQI and the blue skies of a human hair. prove that air pollution was mostly anthropomorphic (man-  It causes respiratory made), which can be reduced by problems and also reduces conscious efforts. visibility. It is an endocrine disruptor that o Reducing air pollution by rapidly can affect insulin slowing down the economy is not secretion and insulin an ideal way so mindful use of

Easy to PICK244 – “UPSC Monthly Magazine\" March-2020 technologies and low-emission  It is not a primary alternatives can be opted to pollutant but a secondary minimise the pollution. one. o It was also emphasised that air  Ground-level ozone is not pollution weakens the lungs so countries like India with emitted directly into the higher pollution and lower nutrition levels will be more air but is created by affected by COVID-19 leading to higher morbidity and deaths. chemical reactions Air Quality Index between oxides of  The AQI is an index for reporting daily nitrogen (NOx) air quality. and volatile organic  It focuses on health effects one might experience within a few hours or days compounds (VOC) in after breathing polluted air. the presence of sunlight.  AQI is calculated for eight major air pollutants: o PM10 o Ground-level ozone o PM2.5  It is also found in the stratosphere and pro o Carbon monoxide tects from ultraviolet o Sulfur dioxide o Nitrogen dioxide o Ammonia o Lead Ground-level ozone and airborne particles are the two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in India (UV) rays, while in the troposphere (ground level) it acts as a pollutant.