MoU signed between Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Women and Child Development for Controlling Malnutrition

NATIONAL NEWS

MoU signed between Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Women and Child Development for Controlling Malnutrition

• A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Women and Child Development today in New Delhi for controlling Malnutrition as a part of POSHAN Abhiyaan.
• The MoU will see some time-tested and scientifically proven Ayush-based solutions being adopted for controlling malnutrition in the country.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan or National Nutrition Mission is Government of India’s flagship programme under Ministry of Women & Child Development to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
• As a major outcome of the MOU, the Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of WCD would be working together towards integrating Ayush in POSHAN Abhiyaan and management of malnutrition through the principles and practices of Ayurveda, Yoga and other Ayush systems.

Fact: Union Minister of AYUSH - Shripad Yesso Naik

         Union Minister of Women and Child Development - Smriti Irani

Drug Controller General of India approves commercial launch of COVID-19 test 'FELUDA'

• The Tata Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, CRISPR test, powered by CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) FELUDA has received regulatory approvals from the Drug Controller General of India for commercial launch.
• As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines, the test has met high quality benchmarks with 96 per cent sensitivity and 98 per cent specificity for detecting the Novel Corona virus.
• This test uses an indigenously developed, cutting-edge CRISPR technology for detection of the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 virus. CRISPR is a genome editing technology to diagnosing diseases.
• The Tata CRISPR test is the world’s first diagnostic test to deploy a specially adapted Cas9 protein to successfully detect the virus causing COVID-19.

Govt launches Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in 272 most affected districts

• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated and is implementing a National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) for 2018-2025.
• The Plan aims at reduction of adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy. The activities under the NAPDDR include awareness generation programmes in schools, colleges, Universities, workshop and provisioning of treatment facilities and capacity building of service providers.
• The Ministry has also launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in 272 most affected districts with focus on institutional support, community outreach and awareness generation.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

50th meeting of border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh concludes in Dhaka

• The 50th meeting of border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh, Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh concluded in Dhaka on 19^th September 2020.
• The bi-annual meeting discussed the issues related to India-Bangladesh border management and security.
• The BSF and BGB agreed for real time sharing of intelligence to reduce criminal activities on the border.
• Both the countries have agreed to resume the joint coordinated border patrolling to reduce criminal activities like smuggling of cattle, weapons and narcotics on the border.
• They also agreed to take effective steps for the prevention of human trafficking and illegal crossing of the International Border (IB).

Eight Indian beaches recommended for coveted Blue Flag international eco-label

• Eight beaches of the country have been recommended for the coveted ‘Blue Flag’ international eco-label announced by the Union Minister of Environment Prakash Javadekar.
• Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by an international agency ‘Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark’ based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads–environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environment management and conservation and safety and services in the beaches.
• The ‘Blue Flag’ beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists/beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.
• India’s own eco-label ‘Beach Environment and Aesthetics Management Services’ (BEAMS) under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project.
• The eight beaches recommended under the BEAMS are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman and Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden in Odisha and Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

India extends 250 million dollars support to Maldives to overcome economic impact of Covid-19

• India has provided financial assistance of 250 million dollars as budgetary support to the Maldives government to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The 250 million dollar budgetary support was a response to the request made by Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for financial assistance to overcome the difficult economic situation in the Maldives.
• India has provided substantial and continued assistance to the Maldives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day Of Peace 2020

• World Peace Day is observed every year on September 21, designated by United Nations was first established in 1981.
• On International Day of Peace, the world body encourages countries to observe the day by adhering to "24 hours of non-violence".
• This year, the day is extra special as it marks 75 years of the International Day of Peace. The theme of the International Day of Peace 2020 is “Shaping Peace Together.”