Daily Current Affairs 14 October 2023 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 14 October 2023 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Covid Symptoms Last for a Long

Source: Live Mint
GS II: Health

Overview

1. About the Study
2. About COVID 19
3. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

Why in the News?

Post covid-19 health complications were observed in a significant portion of patients, according to a recent study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

About the Study

• The study found that Covid Symptoms Last for a Long
  • 18.6% of individuals experienced difficulty in breathing (dyspnea)
  • 10.5% reported fatigue
  • 9.3% faced mental health issues after being discharged from hospitals.
• Data was collected from 8,042 patients admitted to 31 healthcare.
• The study aimed to find effective ways of managing post-COVID morbidities. 
• The Union Health Ministry defines post-covid syndrome as a condition emerging during infection persists for more than 12 weeks after recovery, and remains unexplained.
• Comprehensive analysis of the post-COVID complications and symptoms in different patients is critical to minimize the long-term morbidity and mortality associated with infection.
• Its objective is to estimate the frequency of post-sequelae and design a framework for holistic management of post-COVID morbidities
• This is the first such study
  • Those having co-morbidities have a higher chance of death
  • They should be taken care of accordingly.
  • Those with no pre-existing diseases have lesser chances of death with due care Dyspnoea, fatigue or mental health issues.
• Patients who died within 90 days post-discharge were older with at least one comorbidity and a higher proportion had required intensive care unit admission during the initial hospitalization for COVID-19.
• Moreover, the anti-covid vaccine (at least one dose) was protective against post-discharge mortality.

About COVID 19

• COVID-19 is a contagious disease.
• It is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
• The disease was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019.
• COVID-19 most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel much like a cold, the flu, or pneumonia.
• The virus is primarily spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes.
• It can also be spread by touching a surface or object contaminated with the virus and then touching one’s mouth, nose, or eyes.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is a government-funded organization in India.
• It is responsible for the formulation, coordination, and promotion of biomedical research.
• It is one of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world.
• The ICMR was established in 1911 as the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) and was renamed ICMR in 1949.
• The organization is funded by the Government of India through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meet

Source: Live Mint
GS III: Economy

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. What are the outcomes of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meet?
3. Explaining the concept of

Why in the News?

The G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the Indian Presidency was held on 12-13 October 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco, on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG).

• After the previous meetings in Bengaluru, Washington DC and Gandhinagar, Gujarat, this was the fourth and final meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors under the Indian Presidency.

News in Brief

• The finance ministers and central bank governors of G20 nations have adopted a roadmap to regulate crypto assets, as proposed by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), at their meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco.
• Over 370 delegates, including Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from G20 member countries, Invitee Countries, and Heads of various International Organisations participated in the meeting.
• The meeting was organised in two sessions covering the global economy, strengthening MDBs and crypto assets.
• Members discussed the priority of strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to address the global challenges of the 21st century.
• India has successfully demonstrated the success and potential of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in achieving developmental goals.

What are the outcomes of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meet?

• Planet, People, Peace and Prosperity
  • Immense human suffering and the adverse impact of wars and conflicts around the world.
  • All states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety.
  • The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.
  • These issues can have significant consequences for the global economy.
• Global Economy
  • Headline inflation rates have eased in several countries, risks remain and core inflation is elevated and persistent.
  • To address geoeconomic tensions, extreme weather events, and natural disasters need for well-calibrated monetary, fiscal, financial, and structural policies is required.
• Strengthening Multilateral Development Banks
  • Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to address the global challenges of the 21st century.
  • Continued focus on addressing the development needs of low and middle-income countries.
  • MDBs by enhancing operating models, improving responsiveness and accessibility, and substantially increasing financing capacity to maximise development impact
  • An increase in MDBs’ annual spending by $3 trillion by 2030, including $1.8 trillion for additional climate action, and $1.2 trillion to realise other sustainable development goals (SDGs).
  • MDBs to enhance private capital mobilization through supporting enabling conditions, innovative risk-sharing instruments and new partnerships to maximize their development impact.
• Managing global debt vulnerabilities
  • Stand by all the commitments made in the Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the DSSI.
  • Advanced work towards finalization of the MoU on the agreed debt treatment for Zambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka.
• Infrastructure
  • We endorse the G20/World Bank report on Enablers of Inclusive Cities: Enhancing Access to Services and Opportunities
  • It analyses how inclusivity varies across cities globally and presents a policy compass for various stakeholders to better plan, connect, and finance the delivery of urban infrastructure services.
• Sustainable Finance
  • Implementation Mechanism to promote the effective implementation of the G20 Sustainable Finance Technical Assistance Action Plan.
  • Compendia of Case Studies for Financing Sustainable Development Goals and NonPricing Policy Levers to support sustainable investment.
  • Further efforts to advance the Roadmap’s recommended actions will scale up sustainable finance, including, among others, the implementation of the Transition Finance Framework.
• Crypto-assets
  • Adopt the Roadmap proposed in the Synthesis Paper as a G20 Roadmap on Crypto Assets.
  • IMF and FSB to provide regular and structured updates on the progress of implementation of the G20 Roadmap on Crypto Assets.

Explaining the concept of

1. G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration
   • World leaders, meeting in the Indian capital for the annual G20 summit, reached an agreement by consensus on the declaration.
   • It covers issues ranging from climate change and green growth to gender equality and countering terrorism.
2. Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)
   • Multilateral development banks (MDBs) originated in the aftermath of World War II.
   • MDBs fund infrastructure, energy, education, and environmental sustainability in developing countries.
   • Examples of MDB are the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, World Bank Group, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank etc.
3. G20 Independent Expert Group (IEG)
   • As part of its G20 Presidency, India has established an Independent Expert Group (IEG).
   • The group aims to provide recommendations for strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).
   • The Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER, Delhi), along with the Centre for Global Development (CGD, Washington DC), has been appointed as the Secretariat for this Group.
4. G20 Sustainable Finance Technical Assistance Action Plan
   • Aims to mobilise sustainable finance to help ensure global growth and stability.
   • Promote the transition towards greener, more resilient and inclusive societies and economies.
   • The main purpose of the Group is to advance international work to help scale up private and public sustainable finance
   • It will accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
   • The G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap, as finalized in 2021, is the core around which the SFWG functions and takes up future work.
5. Crypto-assets: Policy and Regulation (G20)
   • Closely monitor the risks of the fast-paced developments in the cryptoasset ecosystem.
   • Authorities should apply comprehensive and effective regulation, supervision, and oversight to crypto-asset activities and markets.

India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

Source: The Hindu
GS II: International Relation

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)
3. Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII)

Why in the News?

The conflict in Israel and Palestine will not dampen plans for the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), noting that the strife didn’t figure significantly in parleys held with G20 FMs in Marrakech, Morocco.

News in Brief

• However, violence has brought concerns about fuel and food security to the fore again
• While higher for longer interest rates can impact investment flows in emerging markets.
• These economies are the growth engines of the world.
• So investment flows should not be influenced by high interest rates alone.

India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)

• The India-Middle East Europe Corridor (IMEC) is a network of transport corridors.
• It comprises railway lines and sea lanes to promote economic integration between Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe.
• The project will involve transit by
  1. Ship between India and Saudi Arabia
  2. Rail link to the UAE
  3. Jordan from where the shipment will move by sea to Turkey
  4. Further by rail.
• The proposed corridor will comprise of two separate corridors
  1. Eastern corridor: Connect India to the Arabian Gulf 
  2. Northern corridor: Northern Corridor will connect the Arabian Gulf to Europe
• The IMEC was launched at the recently concluded G20 Summit 2023 in India.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Governments of India, the US, Saudi Arabia, the European Union (EU), the UAE, France, Germany and Italy to establish this economic Corridor.
• The project is part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII).
  • Its is a collaborative effort by G7 nations.
  • It aims to fund infrastructure projects in developing nations.
  • PGII is part of G7’s vision of a Build-Back-Better framework.
• What is the significance?
  • The significance of IMEC lies in its geo-political and geo-economic significance.
  • It is an ambitious counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project
  • It also provides an opportunity to counter China’s growing geopolitical influence in the Middle East region.
  • The corridor will help bring countries in the Middle East together.
  • It will establish that region as a hub for economic activity instead of a region of challenge, conflict or crisis.

Self Declaration of Freedom from Avian Influenza

Source: PIB
GS II: Health

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. About Compartmentalization
3. Avian Influenza

Why in the News?

In a significant development for India’s poultry industry, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has approved India’s self-declaration of freedom from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in specific poultry compartments.

• This achievement is a testament to India’s commitment to maintaining high standards of animal health and biosecurity.

News in Brief

• The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, has submitted a self-declaration of freedom from High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza in 26 poultry compartments to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).
• On October 13, 2023, the self-declaration was approved by WOAH.
• This declaration is now publicly available on the WOAH.
• These poultry compartments are located in four states of India, namely Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.
• This recognition by WOAH signifies India’s commitment to international biosecurity standards and will enhance the export potential of Indian poultry and poultry products, including meat and eggs.
• India, as the third-largest producer of eggs (129.60 billion) and the fifth-largest producer of poultry meat (4.47 million tonnes) globally, is poised to capitalize on this achievement.
• During the 2022-23 fiscal year, India exported poultry and poultry products to 64 countries, generating revenue of 134 million USD.
• The approval of this self-declaration is expected to open up new opportunities for Indian poultry in the global market, contributing to the country’s economic growth.

About Compartmentalization

• Zoning and compartmentalization are strategic tools used to establish and maintain groups of animals with specific health statuses for the purposes of international trade and disease prevention or control.
• Compartmentalization involves defining a sub-population of animals with a specified health status within the national territory.
• The maintenance of this status relies on stringent management and farming practices that adhere to the standards outlined in the WOAH Terrestrial Code (Chapters 4.4 and 4.5) and recommendations related to specific disease chapters.
• India has established to mitigate the risks associated with Avian Influenza by adopting the concept of poultry compartmentalization.
• Compartmentalization enhances animal health and reduces the risk of disease outbreaks within and outside the compartment.

Avian Influenza

• Avian influenza, also known as bird flu.
• It is a viral infection that primarily affects birds.
• It is caused by the influenza A virus and can be classified into two types based on their pathogenicity
  • High pathogenicity (HP)
  • Low pathogenicity (LP)
• The type with the greatest risk is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Human Transmission

• It can be transmitted when a person has close contact with birds affected by the virus or from their secretions or excretions.
• The transmission from birds to humans happens rarely. 
• Symptoms
  • Mild conjunctivitis to severe respiratory illness and even death

H5N1

• This is the well-known strain of the virus.
• According to WHO report 700 human cases reported from 15 countries.

Treatment

• No specific treatment.
• In some cases vaccines are available.

Avian Influenza in India

• First detected in India in the state of Maharashtra in February 2006.
• There have been many outbreaks since then.
• The disease has been reported in 24 states and union territories, resulting in the culling of over 9 million birds to control its spread.
• India’s approach to controlling HPAI follows a detect and cull policy as outlined in the National Action Plan for Prevention, Control, and Containment of Avian Influenza (revised – 2021).
  • This comprehensive response includes the humane destruction of infected and exposed animals, eggs, feed, litter, and other contaminated materials.
  • Additionally, measures such as restricting the movement of poultry and poultry products, disinfection and clean-up of infected premises, and a Post-Operative Surveillance Plan (POSP) have been implemented.
  • It’s important to note that vaccination against HPAI is not permitted in India.

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