Current Affairs 12 September 2022 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 12 September 2022 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)

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

What is discussed under Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)?

1. About Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)
2. Why India opt out of the trade?

Why in News ?

Recently Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal, discussions had been held over the course of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Ministerial.

About Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)

• The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) was launched by United States (US) President Biden in Tokyo on May 23, 2022.
• Four pillars of IPEF
  1. Trade;
  2. Supply chains;
  3. Clean energy, decarbonisation and infrastructure;
  4. Tax and anti-corruption;
• Except Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, other Southeast Asian nations are a part of the IPEF.
• IPEF has fourteen member states and represents 40% of world GDP.
• The member states are 
  1. Australia
  2. Brunei
  3. Fiji
  4. India
  5. Indonesia
  6. Japan
  7. South Korea
  8. Malaysia
  9. New Zealand
  10. Philippines
  11. Singapore
  12. Thailand
  13. United States
  14. Vietnam

India in the Group Initially

• India has agreed to three pillars relating to supply chains: tax, anti-corruption and clean energy.
• The fourth pillar on data and privacy is not yet agreed. 
• Reason for not agreeing : India was in the process of firming up its own digital framework and laws especially privacy. Also possible discrimination against developing economies.

Why India opt out of the trade?

• India had engaged very exhaustively in all the various streams of discussion, three out of four pillars related to supply chains, tax and

  

  anti-corruption and clean energy, India was comfortable with the outcome and text and have joined the declaration.

• India has stayed out of the trade pillar, it announced after the IPEF ministerial meeting in Los Angeles.
• India was the only one of the 14 IPEF countries, which include South East Asian countries, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan, not to join the declaration on trade.
• Reason India not been a part of 
  • India has yet to see the benefits member countries will derive from various aspects of the trade pillar.
  • US is not willing to make substantive concessions on economy and trade issues of concern to India.
  • India is unlikely to accept the principle of reciprocity that the US has demanded in trade negotiations.
  • US standards in terms of technology, labour, and environment are also deemed to be unacceptable to India.

National Health Estimates 2018-19

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

What is discussed under National Health Estimates 2018-19?

1. What are the findings?
2. About National Health Account (NHA) estimates

Why in News ?

NITI Aayog released findings of the National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates for India for 2018-19.

What are the findings?

• The NHA estimates for 2018-19 show that there has been an increase in the share of government health expenditure in the total GDP of the country.

  

• It has increased from 1.15% in 2013-14 to 1.28% in 2018-19.
• In 2018-19, the share of government expenditure was 40.6%, substantially higher than the share of 28.6% in 2013-14.
• Government’s health expenditure as a percentage of Current Health Expenditure has increased from 23.2% in 2013-14 to 34.5% in 2018-19.
• Per capita government spending on healthcare has increased by 74% since 2013-14, i.e., Rs. 1042 to Rs. 1815 in 2018-19.
• Government is focusing on primary healthcare expenditure which has increased from 51.1% in 2013-14 to 55.2% in 2018-19.
• Primary and secondary care accounts for more than 80% of the current Government Health Expenditure.
• In case of the private sector, the share of tertiary care has increased but primary and secondary care show a declining trend.
• Between 2013-14 and 2018-19, in government, the share of primary and secondary care has increased from 74% to 86%.
• On the other hand, in the private sector, the share of primary and secondary care has declined from 82% to 70% during the same period.
• Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) as percentage of total health expenditure has declined substantially by 16% points, from 64.2% to 48.2%.
• Out of pocket expenditure as a percentage of current health expenditure has also declined over time from 69.1% in 2013-14 to 53.2% in 2018-19.
• Per capita out-of-pocket expenditure in the country has decreased by 8% since 2013-14, from Rs. 2,366 to Rs. 2,155 currently.
• Social security has resulted in expenditure on health as a percentage of total health expenditure growing from 6% to 9.6% now.
• Government-financed health insurance expenditure has increased by 167% since 2013-14.

About National Health Account (NHA) estimates

• The National Health Account (NHA) estimates for India 2018-19 is the sixth consecutive NHA estimates report prepared by NHSRC, designated as National Health Accounts Technical Secretariat (NHATS) in 2014 by the Union Health Ministry.
• The NHA estimates are prepared by using an accounting framework based on the internationally accepted standard of System of Health Accounts, 2011, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• With the present estimate of NHA, India now has a continuous series of NHA estimates for the country, from 2013-14 to 2018-19.
• These estimates are not only comparable internationally, but also enable the policymakers to monitor the progress in different health financing indicators of the country.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)

Source : Indian Express
GS II : Government Policies and Interventions

What is discussed under Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)?

1. What is Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)?
2. e-cigarette market in India

Why in News ?

Juul Inc a dominant player in the e-cigarette or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) market, agreed to pay $438.5 million to settle claims by 34 US states and territories which said its marketing led to an increase in teenage vaping.

What is Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)?

• E-cigarettes, e-hookahs, e-pipes, vapes and vape pens are some examples of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products.

  

• They are electric devices that produce an aerosol made by heating a liquid, usually containing nicotine, flavourings and other chemicals.
• While some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, others are slickly designed, often resembling everyday items like pens or USB drives.

Why it is used?

• To help smokers quit the habit or as a safer alternative to cigarettes.

What is the impact now?

• They have become very popular among young people, often attracting non-smokers as well.
• UK’s National Health Service data : There has been a steady increase in its use or vaping by children and teenagers in the country, as they are targeted by companies with bright packaging, exotic flavours and enticing names.
• US Centre for Disease Control : While e-cigarettes have the potential to help adult smokers if used as a complete substitute for regular cigarettes, they can still cause harm.
• Apart from highly addictive nicotine, e-cigarette aerosol can also contain harmful substances like heavy metals and cancer-causing agents.

e-cigarette market in India

• 2019 the Indian government banned the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of all ENDS.
• All other e-cigarettes are currently banned in India.
• Punishment :
  • Ranges from a fine of one to five lakh rupees, as well as imprisonment for 1 to 3 years.
  • Found storing the devices shall face imprisonment of up to 6 months and/or a fine up to Rs 50,000.

Rabies Vaccine and Issues In India

Source : Indian Express
GS II : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

What is discussed under Rabies Vaccine and Issues In India?

1. About Rabies and its Vaccine
2. How India dealing Rabies issues?

Why in News ?

Recently the death of a 12-year-old girl in Kerala from rabies, despite having multiple inoculations of the vaccine, has raised questions on the efficacy of rabies vaccines in India and their availability.

About Rabies and its Vaccine

Rabies

• Rabies is a disease that is caused by a family of viruses called the lyssaviruses and found in a range of mammals.

  

• The virus targets the central nervous system
• It is nearly 100% fatal to the host animal if it succeeds in infecting it.
• Spread : Most likely to spread to people from the bite of an infected dog or a cat as they are the most common pets.
  • After being bitten by a rabid animal the virus is slow-moving and it can be several weeks before the disease manifests into a fatal encephalitis.

Rabies vaccine

• Working : Vaccine induce to the body into producing antibodies that can neutralise the live virus in case of infection.
• Dose : No single-shot rabies vaccine or one that offers permanent immunity.
• Two ways to administer 
  • Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) which is given to persons who have been exposed via a bite to an animal suspected to be infected. The vaccines are administered either into the muscles, or into the skin.
  • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) which is given ahead of time to persons who have a high risk of being infected, such as veterinarians. WHO doesn’t recommend PrEP as a general preventive.
• There are at least six rabies vaccines approved for India and all contain inactivated virus made of duck, chicken or human cell cultures.
  • They are available for free in government dispensaries.

How India dealing Rabies issues?

• India has committed to eliminate the disease by 2030 which requires vaccination of dogs who are deemed responsible for 99% of all rabies infections in people
• The government in its 2021 plan, National Action for Plan — Rabies Elimination which aims to vaccinate at least 70% of all dogs in a defined geographical area annually for three consecutive years.
• Challenges : No centralised database of vaccine availability is maintained and knowledge about vaccines and treatment is still inadequate in India.

Operation Gear Box

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

What is discussed under Operation Gear Box?

1. About the Order
2. How it helps

Why in News ?

Recently, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) launched operation ‘Gear Box’ to stop heroin smuggling, seizes 39.5 kg of contraband from Kolkata port.

What is Operation Gear Box?

• Operation Gear Box is conducted to detect the hidden drugs in the gear boxes.
• The gears from old and used gearboxes were removed after opening them and plastic packets containing the narcotic substance were placed in the created cavity and the gearboxes were refitted to avoid detection.
• The drug syndicate has used this unique modus operandi to conceal heroin.
• These packets were shipped concealing inside this metal scrap with other metal scrap so that it would go unnoticed by the authorities.
• Examination and seizure proceedings by DRI under the provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985.

Drug usage in India

• According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) World Drug Report 2022 India is one of the world’s single largest opiate

  

  markets in terms of users.

• An intensification of trafficking in opiates originating in Afghanistan may be taking place eastwards, in addition to southwards and westwards along the traditional Balkan route.
• India has the fourth largest quantities of opium seized in 2020 at 5.2 tons and the third-highest amount of morphine was also seized from the country the same year at 0.7 tons.
• 3.8 tons of heroin were seized in 2020 in India, the fifth-highest in the world.
• National Crime Records Bureau’s Crime in India 2020 report, a total of 59,806 cases were lodged under NDPS Act.

Various treaties

• United Nations (UN) Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)
• UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971)
• UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
• UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) 2000

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