PRO-ACTIVE GOVERNANCE AND TIMELY IMPLEMENTATION. (PRAGATI)

Context: The Prime Minister chaired his thirtieth interaction through PRAGATI – the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

• This was also the first PRAGATI meeting in the new term of the Union Government.

About PRAGATI:

• It is a multi-purpose and multi-modal platform that is aimed at addressing common man’s grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by State Governments.
• Agencies involved: It has been designed in-house by the PMO team with the help of National Informatics Center (NIC).

Key Features:

• It is a three-tier system (involving PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States);
• PM will hold a monthly interaction with the Government of India Secretaries and Chief Secretaries through Video-conferencing enabled by data and geo-informatics visuals;
• Issues to be raised before the PM are picked up from the available database regarding Public Grievances, on-going Programs and pending Projects.

VPM1002 AND IMMUVAC

Context: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) launched India’s first large-scale trial for two new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines.

• The total number of deaths because of TB (excluding HIV) was 4,23,000, and the incidence of HIV-TB was 87,000 per year.
• India contributes to 27 per cent of the global TB burden; the highest share globally.
• India has the highest number of TB cases in the world and aims to eliminate TB by 2025.
• ICMR is undertaking this first vaccine clinical trial after the BCG vaccine trial undertaken decades ago
• Two vaccines- ‘VPM1002’ and Immuvac or MIP had been shortlisted for the phase III trial among the healthy household contacts of a sputum smear positive patient
• While the neonatal BCG vaccination is partially efficacious at protecting infants and young children, particularly from the most severe consequences of TB disease
• The WHO End TB Strategy aims at a 95 per cent reduction in TB mortality and a 90 per cent reduction in TB incidence worldwide by 2035

About TB:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria.
• Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body.
• Tuberculosis is Spread through the Air when people who have active TB in their lungs cough, spit, speak, or sneeze.

SINGAPORE CONVENTION

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements (UNISA) resulting from mediation by the Republic of India scheduled to be held at Singapore on 7th August, 2019.

Benefit:

• Signing of the Convention will boost the confidence of the investors and shall provide a positive signal to foreign investors about India’s commitment to adhere to international practice on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

Features:

• The Convention provides a uniform framework for the enforcement of international settlement agreements resulting from mediation and for allowing parties to invoke such agreements.
•  The Convention defines two additional grounds upon which a court may, on its own motion, refuse to grant relief.
•  Those grounds relate to the fact that a dispute would not be capable of settlement by mediation or would be contrary to public policy.

ISRO TECHNICAL LIAISON UNIT (ITLU)

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of ISRO Technical Liaison Unit (ITLU) at Moscow, Russia.

Objective:

•  It will enable effective technical coordination for timely interventions on diversified matters with Russia and neighbouring countries for realization of the programmatic targets of ISRO.

Implementation Strategy:

•  The ITLU Moscow office would be managed by an ISRO Scientist/Engineer designated as “Counsellor (Space)” on deputation, deputed from ISRO and supported by a staff locally sourced.
•  The process is planned to be completed within six months from the date of approval.

Benefits:

•  ISRO will be able to collaborate with Space agencies/industries in Russia and neighbouring countries for mutually synergetic outcomes.
•  ISRO’s Gaganyaan programme requires development of some of the key technologies and establishment of specialized facilities, which are essential to support life in space.

SHAWALA TEJA SINGH TEMPLE

Context: Pakistan opens 1000-year-old Shawala Teja Singh temple in Punjab for worship after 72 years

About:

•  The Shawala Teja Singh temple, located in Dhaarowal locality, some 100-km from Lahore, is more than 1,000 years old.
•  Built by Sardar Teja Singh, it is dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva, in Sialkot in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

NATIONAL CENTRE FOR DISEASE CONTROL(NCDC):

Context: Ministry of Health inaugurates a new laboratory complex and new National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) building on the occasion of 110th Annual Day of NCDC

About NCDC:

•  It is an institute under the Indian Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• It was established in July 1963 for research in epidemiology and control of communicable diseases and to reorganize the activities of the Malaria Institute of India
•  It was previously known as National Institute of Communicable Diseases.