UPSC DNA 23 JUNE 2014

[IR]Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

India has decided to ratify the Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA)
What will this mean?
grant greater ease to IAEA to monitor Indias civilian atomic programme
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would also facilitate regular entry and exit of the IAEA personnel by providing them with
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multi-entry visas, apart from guaranteeing free communication generated by the
surveillance or measurement devices of the IAEA that are already in place in facilities that
are under international safeguards
The Additional Protocol will cover only those facilities which are monitored by the IAEA, and
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will have no bearing on the non-safeguarded facilities which are used for building weapons.
Why was it important?
Indo-Us nuclear deal in 2005 has stated that India will have to conclude an additional
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protocol with the IAEA.
It will clear the way for more imports of nuclear material
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It would further strengthen Indias candidature for NSG
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[security]NEW NSA- AJIT DOVAL
[economy]Drugs and Patents
Big Pharma companies have raised issues over India using the flexibilities that are
available in the existing TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights)
Agreement.
Note : Since 2005, when patent protection was incorporated into domestic laws, the
flexibilities were used only twice.
March 2012 : compulsory licence to an Indian firm for a cancer drug(patent was held 1.
by the German multinational Bayer, had priced it well beyond the reach of a majority of
Indian patients.)
In April 2013, the Supreme Court upheld the 2006 decision of the Indian Patent Office 2.
denying the Swiss company Novartis patent on a drug precisely on the ground that
the drug involved only incremental innovation
[Culture] World Heritage Site tag for 11th century step well in Gujrat : Rani ki Vav
As per the UNESCOs announcement, the Queens Stepwell was designed as an inverted
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temple highlighting the sanctity of water.
Located on the banks of the Saraswati
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built as a memorial to King Bhimdev I of the Solanki dynasty
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Rani-ki-Vav is divided into seven levels of stairs with sculptural panels.
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