Daily Current Affairs 10 July 2023 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 10 July 2023 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

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Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023

Source : The Hindu
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

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Overview

1. News in Brief
2. How it helps

Why in News ?

A Parliamentary committee, set up to examine proposed amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, has endorsed the amendment Bill in its entirety.

• A number of factors, including industrial demands, agricultural needs, and consumer demand for forest products, have increased pressure on forest land, according to the Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests (2019).

News in Brief

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• The Bill seeks to amend the pivotal 1980 law which was enacted to ensure that India’s forest land is not wantonly usurped for non-forestry purposes.
• The Act empowers the Centre to require that any forest land diverted for non-forestry purposes be duly compensated.
• It also extends its remit to land which is not officially classified as ‘forest’ in State or Central government records.

Key Features of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill 2023

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• The Bill provides that two types of land will be under the purview of the Act:
  • (i) land declared/notified as a forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 or under any other law, or
  • (ii) land not covered in the first category but notified as a forest on or after October 25, 1980 in a government record.
• The Bill exempts certain types of land from the provisions of the Act, such as forest land along a rail line or a public road maintained by the government.
• Under the Act, a state government requires prior approval of the central government to assign forest land to any entity not owned or controlled by government.
  • In the Bill, this condition is extended to all entities, including those owned and controlled by government.
  • It also requires that prior approval be subject to terms and conditions prescribed by the central government.
• The Act restricts the de-reservation of forests or use of forest land for non-forest purposes.
  • Such restrictions may be lifted with the prior approval of the central government.
  • Non-forest purposes include use of land for cultivating horticultural crops or for any purpose other than reafforestation.
  • The Act specifies certain activities that will be excluded from non-forest purposes, meaning that restrictions on the use of forest land for non-forest purposes will not apply.
  • The Bill adds more activities to this list such as –
    • (i) zoos and safaris under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 owned by the government or any authority, in forest areas other than protected areas,
    • (ii) ecotourism facilities,
    • (iii) silvicultural operations (enhancing forest growth), and
    • (iv) any other purpose specified by the central government.
• The Bill adds that the central government may issue directions for the implementation of the Act to any authority/organisation under or recognized by the center, state, or union territory (UT).

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OTT Services Regulation

Source : The Hindu
GS II : Governance

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Overview

1. News in Brief
2. Need for regulation
3. What are OTT platforms?
4. About TRAI

Why in News ?

Almost three years after it first recommended against creating a specific regulatory framework for over-the-top (OTT) communication services like WhatsApp, Zoom, and Google Meet, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is revisiting its stance and starting consultations on how these services can be regulated.

News in Brief

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• In a consultation paper released Friday (June 7), the TRAI has asked stakeholders to send suggestions about regulating services.
• Regulating such services has been a long standing demand of telecom operators advocating for same service same rules.
• The sector should be monitored and intervention should be done at an appropriate time.
• In 2022, the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) wrote back to the authority, requesting it to reconsider its recommendations
  • Also suggest a suitable regulatory mechanism for selective banning of OTT services.

Need for regulation

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• Although OTT platforms like WhatsApp and telecom providers provide comparable services, they are not subject to the same

  

  regulations, necessitating the need for regulatory parity.

• OTT communication service providers offer voice call, and messaging and video call services similar to the services provided by TSPs.
• No license required for the services provided by OTT.
• Regulating laws
  • Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
  • The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1933
  • The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997
• All the above said laws are not applicable for OTT.
• OTT not paying Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) like operators.
• The draft Indian Telecommunication 2022 Bill was released by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to govern Internet-based OTT (Over-The-Top) telecom services.

What are the challenges?

• The economy of a nation may be significantly impacted by the shutdown of telecommunications or the Internet.
• Also interferes with essential services like healthcare and education.
• The country’s residents’ lives and way of life are impacted by the closure.
• Websites using volatile IP addresses and cloud servers might make traditional blocking techniques difficult.
• Website security and encryption provided by the HTTPS protocol make it challenging for service providers to ban content on these websites.
• For these reason selective banning of OTT apps .

What are OTT platforms?

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• The term OTT (Over-The-Top) refers to content providers who allow customers to access media without the usage of traditional cable or satellite TV services directly through the internet.
• These platforms provide a variety of content and using artificial intelligence to recommend to users the material they are most likely to watch based on their prior platform usage.
• From 2017 to 2022, 46% of the overall increase in India’s media and entertainment sector was attributable to over-the-top (OTT) video streaming.
• Growth of OTT platforms
  • High-speed mobile internet at affordable prices
  • Flexibility to stream movies anywhere any time
  • Cultural changes in media consumption
  • Both regional and global content accessible.

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Biosimilar Guideline 2016

Source : The Hindu
GS II : Health

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Overview

1. News in Brief
2. About Biosimilar Guideline 2016

Why in News ?

Health activists and patient groups seek revision of existing Biosimilar Guideline for increased access to critical drugs.

News in Brief

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• Seeking immediate revision of Biosimilar Guideline (2016).
• Aims to facilitate access to quality biosimilars at an affordable price, representatives of various civil societies, community and health organisations, and patient groups have written to the Central Health Ministry and Department of Biotechnology
• Write to form a committee free from the influence of innovator biologic manufacturers who have a clear conflict of interest promoting the originator products which are exorbitantly priced and clearly out of reach of most Indian people.
• A biosimilar, or biosimilar drug, is a medicine that is very close in structure and function to a biologic medicine and is safe and effective treatment options for many illnesses including arthritis, kidney conditions, and cancer.
• They increase access to lifesaving medications at potentially lower costs.

About Biosimilar Guideline 2016

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• Only an authorised reference biological that has been approved utilising a full data package may be used as the basis for developing a similar biologic.
• The reference biological should have been licenced, approved, and sold in a nation that is a member of the ICH (International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use).
• If the reference biological is not authorised in India.
• The eligibility requirements for conducting clinical studies on biosimilars are outlined in the Draught Guidelines.
• Phase III biosimilar trials must include at least 100 evaluable patients, whereas Phase IV trials require at least 200 evaluable patients.
• The patent on the original drug or product must have expired before the biosimilars may be produced and commercialised, much like other medications and formulations.

Guidelines

• Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation : The applicant must adhere to the RCGM criteria, such as showing that the process and product are consistent, as well as the product’s characterisation and standards.
• According to the CDSCO industry guidelines from 2008, the applicant must submit an application for the conduct of a clinical trial using the information provided in the preclinical application.
• The applicant should archive all the data for a period of at least 5 years after marketing approval by competent authority in India.
• Competent Authorities
  • Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
  • Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)
  • Institutional BioSafety Committee (IBSC)
  • Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM)

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