Current Affairs 23 July 2022 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 23 July 2022 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Ayush Mark Certification Scheme

Source : PIB
GS II : Schemes – Health

What is discussed under Ayush Mark Certification Scheme ?

1. About Scheme
2. Features of Scheme
3. How it helps ?

Why in News ?

Ayush Mark Certification Scheme is operated by Quality Council of India (QCI) since 2009. 

Key Facts

About Scheme

• • • This  scheme of AYUSH is a voluntary certification scheme for ASU&H products having two levels:
      • Ayush Standard Mark
      • Ayush Premium Mark
    • Scheme will be overseen by a Multistakeholder Steering Committee (MSC) chaired by the Secretary (AYUSH) with secretariat in QCI.
    • The MSC will be supported by a Technical Committee and a Certification Committee constituted by QCI.

Features of Scheme 

• • Ayush Standard Mark
    • Ayush Standard Mark is based on compliance to the domestic regulatory requirements.
    • Based on Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines (ScheduleT) as per Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945.
    • Manufacturer to qualify for AYUSH Mark Certification, compliance to the domestic regulations is a pre-requisite.

      

    • The products are certified post regulatory approval given by State Licensing Authority of the state government concerned.
  • Ayush Premium Mark
    • Good Manufacturing Practice ( GMP) standards based on WHO Guidelines and product requirements with the ability to certify against any international legislation as long as it is stricter than the former criteria.
  • The Scheme is open to any manufacturing unit in India.
  • The Ministry of AYUSHis not involved in the certification of AYUSH products, but mentoring the process. 
  • The Certification body shall develop an Internal Quality Assurance Protocol (IQAP).
  • For Testing : Availability of in-house testing facilities for testing raw materials, finished products and conducting in-process testing required for ensuring appropriate process controls and as described in the agreed Internal Quality Assurance Protocol (IQAP), is a pre-requisite for obtaining AYUSH Premium mark certification.

How it helps ?

• • Providing individuals with cost-effective AYUSH services through AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, as well as AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and District Hospitals (DHs).
  • Support regional development, research and cultivation of medicinal plant group. 

Indian Antarctic Bill 2022

Source : PIB
GS II : Governance

What is discussed under Indian Antarctic Bill 2022 ?

1. Background
2. Importance of Law 
3. Features of the Bill
4. Indian Ambitions in Antartica
5. Treaties related to Antartica
6. About Antartica

Why in News ?

Lok Sabha passes the Indian Antarctic Bill 2022 aimed at having India’s own national measures for protecting the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystem.

Key Facts

The main aim is to ensure de-militarization of the region along with getting it rid of mining or illegal activities. It also aims that there should not be any nuclear test / explosion in the region.

Background

• • The bill is in pursuant to India’s accession to Antarctic Treaty, the Protocol on Environment Protection (Madrid Protocol) to the Antarctic Treaty and to the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.

Importance of Law 

• • Also facilitate India’s interest and pro-active involvement in the management of growing Antarctic tourism and sustainable development of fisheries resources in Antarctic waters.
  • It will also help in increased international visibility, credibility of India in Polar governance leading to international collaboration and cooperation in scientific and logistics fields.
  • The enforcement of such laws will confer Jurisdiction on the courts of India to deal with any dispute or crimes committed in parts of Antarctica.
  • Legislation of such a kind will bind the citizens to the policies of the Antarctic treaty system. This will also be useful in building credibility and enhance the status of the Country globally.

Features of the Bill

• • Bill proposed to set-up Indian Antarctic Authority (IAA) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

    

    • It shall be the apex decision making authority and  facilitate programmes and activities permitted under the Bill.
  • Provide a stable, transparent and accountable process for the sponsorship and supervision of Antarctic research and expeditions.
  • The Bill ensure the protection and preservation of the Antarctic environment also ensure compliance by Indian citizens engaged in the Antarctic programs and activities with relevant rules and internationally agreed standards.
  • Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences will be the Chairperson of the IAA and the IAA will have official members from the concerned India Ministries and decisions will be by consensus.
  • Prohibits drilling, dredging, excavation or collection of mineral resources or even doing anything to identify where such mineral deposits occur except for scientific reason and research.
  • Animals, birds, plants or microscopic organisms that are not native to Antarctica are also prohibited.
  • Also provides for Indian tour operators to be able to operate in Antarctica after acquiring a permit.

Indian Ambitions in Antartica

• • Two operational research stations in Antarctica named
    1. Maitri (Commissioned in 1989)
    2. Bharati (Commissioned in 2012)
  • Besdides India successfully launched 40 annual scientific expeditions to Antarctica till date.
  • With Himadri station in Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Arctic, India now belongs to the elite group of nations that have multiple research stations within the Polar Regions.

Treaties related to Antartica

1. 1. The Antarctic Treaty
      • Signed at Washington D.C. on the 1st December, 1959 and was initially signed by 12 countries.
      • Since then, 42 other countries have acceded to the Treaty.
      • A total of fifty-four State Parties to the Treaty, twenty-nine countries have the status of Consultative Party with a right to vote in the Antarctic Consultative Meetings and twenty-five countries are Non-Consultative Parties having no right to vote.
      • India signed the Antarctic Treaty on the 19th August, 1983 and received the consultative status on the 12th September, 1983.
   2. Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
      • Signed at Canberra on the 20th day of May, 1980,
      • Formed for the protection and preservation of the Antarctic environment and, in particular, for the preservation and conservation of marine living resources in Antarctica.
      • India ratified the Convention on 17th June, 1985 and is a member of the Commission for Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources under that Convention.
   3. Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
      • Signed at Madrid on 4th October, 1991
      • Aims to strengthen the Antarctic Treaty system and for the development of a comprehensive regime for the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems.
      • India signed the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty on 14th January, 1998.

Droupadi Murmu 15th President Of India

Source : PIB
GS II : Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies

What is discussed under Droupadi Murmu 15th President Of India ?

1. Droupadi Murmu
2. Election of President

Why in News ?

Draupadi Murmu  presidential candidate got elected as India’s first Tribal and 15th President of India in the recently concluded presidential elections.

Key Facts

Facts About Droupadi Murmu

• • She is also the first President, belong to Odisha.
  • She was born in Mayurbhanj district in Odisha, in the Santhal tribal community.
  • She is also India’s first president to be born after Independence.
  • She became the 9th and 1st tribal governor of Jharkhand in 2015 and served till 2021.

Qualifications for Election as President

• Citizen of India.
• Completed 35 years of age.
• Qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha.
• Candidate should not hold any office of profit under the Union government or any state government or any local authority or any other public authority. (A sitting President or Vice-President of the Union, the Governor of any state and a minister of the Union or any state is not deemed to hold any office of profit and hence qualified as a presidential candidate.)

Election of President

President is elected not directly by the people.

• • Members of electoral college consisting of:
    1. Elected members of both the Houses of Parliament
    2.  Elected members of the legislative assemblies of the states
    3. Elected members of the legislative assemblies of the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry
  • Memebers Not participate in electin
    1. Nominated members of both of Houses of Parliament
    2. Nominated members of the state legislative assemblies
    3. Members of both elected and nominated of the state legislative councils for bicameral legislature
    4. Nominated members of the Legislative Assemblies of Delhi and Puducherry.
  • Number of votes which each elected member of the legislative assembly of each state and the Parliament is
    • Value of MLA votes is calculated as multiples of one thousand in the quotient obtained by dividing the population of the state by the total number of the elected members of the assembly.

• • • Value of vote of MP as number of votes as may be obtained by dividing the total number of votes assigned to members of the legislative assemblies of the states by the total number of the elected members of both the Houses of Parliament.

• • • Quota of votes is determined by dividing the total number of valid votes polled by the number of candidates to be elected (here only one candidate is to be elected as President) plus one and adding one to the quotient.

• • • The voter indicate his preferences by marking 1, 2, 3, etc. against the names of candidates which indicates as many preferences as there are candidates in the fray.

Terms of President

• • • The President can hold office beyond his term of five years until his successor assumes charge. He is also eligible for re-election to that office.

President of India 1952-2022

Anti Maritime Piracy Bill 2019

Source : PRS
GS III : Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism

What is discussed under Anti Maritime Piracy Bill 2019 ?

1. About the Order
2. How it helps

Why in News ?

Bill enables Indian authorities to take action against piracy in the high seas. The Bill brings into law the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Key Facts

What is piracy and Pinishment under the law?

Bill defines piracy as any illegal act of violence, detention or destruction against a ship, aircraft, person or property, for private purposes, by the crew or passengers of a private ship or aircraft.

• • Piracy also includes inciting and intentionally facilitating such acts of violence, and voluntarily participating in the operation of a pirate ship or aircraft.
  • Committing an act of piracy will be punishable with:
    1. Life imprisonment; or
    2. Death, if the act of piracy causes or seeks to cause death.
  • Participating, organising, aiding, supporting, attempting to commit, and directing others to participate in an act of piracy will be punishable with up to 14 years of imprisonment, and a fine.

Area Covered

Bill will apply to all parts of the sea adjacent to and beyond the limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India, i.e., beyond 200 nautical miles from the coastline.

• It will apply to the high seas, which is the area beyond 200 nautical miles from India’s coastline.