INSIGHTS

DAILY
CURRENT
AFFAIRS + PIB
SUMMARY

27 APRIL 2023

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 GS2
Table of Contents
NATIONAL MEDICAL DEVICES
GS Paper 2
• National Medical Devices Policy 2023 2 POLICY 2023
• Ayurveda practitioners Vs Allopathy doctors 3
Syllabus: Government policies
GS Paper 3
• Rising sea levels and their disastrous consequence Context: Indian Union Cabinet has approved the National
Medical Devices Policy, 2023
4
• Left Wing Extremism (LWE) 4 Need for the policy:
• Nearly 80% of the medical devices currently sold in
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME) the country are imported, particularly high-end de-
• ‘Makkalai Thedi Mayor’ 6 vices.
• Barbie with Down syndrome 6 • India has one of the lowest per capita spending on
medical devices at $3 compared to the global aver-
Facts for Prelims (FFP) age of per capita consumption at $47.
• Thirunelly temple 6
• Zero Shadow Day 7 The objective of the Policy:
• PM-SHRI scheme 7 • Facilitating orderly growth: The medical devices
sector is a fast-growing sunrise sector in India with
• SUPREME initiative 8
a 1.5% share in the global medical device market.
• The Big Catch-up 9 • Accelerated growth with a patient-centric approach
• Shingrix 9 • Achieving a 10-12% share in the expanding global
• Quasars 10 market over the next 25 years (from 1.5% currently)
• 3200 Phaethon 10 • Expanding market size to $50 billion by 2030 (from
current $11 billion)
• Providing an enabling ecosystem for manufacturing
• Encouraging domestic investments and production
of medical devices
• Promote the safety and efficacy of medical devices.
• Provide support in training and capacity-building
programs

Strategies to Promote Medical Device Sector:

Strategy Example
Streamlining Creation of a Single Window Clearance
R e g u l a t o r y System for Licensing of Medical Devices;
Processes coordination between all the stakehold-
er departments/organizations such as
AERB, MeitY, DAHD, etc., Enhancing the
role of Indian Standards like BIS; Design-
ing a coherent pricing regulation.
Enabling Infra- Developing medical device parks and
structure clusters in line with the National Indus-
trial Corridor Program and the proposed
National Logistics Policy 2021 under the
ambit of PM Gati Shakti.
F a c i l i t a t i n g Supporting R&D and innovation through
R&D and Inno- the establishment of Centres of Excel-
vation lence in academic and research institu-
tions, innovation hubs, ‘plug and play’
infrastructures and support to start-ups.

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 Attracting In- Supporting investments through schemes GS2
vestments in and interventions like Make in India,
the Sector Ayushman Bharat program, Heal-in-In-
dia, Start-up mission, and encouraging
AYURVEDA PRACTITIONERS VS
public-private partnerships. ALLOPATHY DOCTORS
Human Re- Skilling, reskilling, and upskilling of pro-
sources Devel- fessionals in the medical device sector; Syllabus: Government Policies
opment Supporting dedicated multidisciplinary
courses for medical devices in existing Context: The Supreme Court of India has set aside a 2012
institutions; Developing partnerships Gujarat High Court order which held that Ayurveda practi-
with foreign academic/industry organi- tioners working in government hospitals should be treated
zations. at par with allopathy doctors and entitled to equal pay.
Brand Posi- Initiating studies and projects for learning
tioning and from best global practices of manufac- SC contention:
A w a r e n e s s turing and skilling systems, promoting • Both categories of doctors were not performing
Creation more forums to bring together various equal work to be entitled to equal pay.
stakeholders for sharing knowledge, and • Allopathy doctors were required to perform emer-
building strong networks across the sec- gency duties and provide trauma care, which could
tor. not be performed by Ayurveda doctors.
• Complicated medical conditions and post-mortem/
autopsy cannot be carried out by Ayurveda doctors
Government Initiatives:
• Doctors with MBBS degrees attend to hundreds of
• PLI Scheme for medical devices: A total of 14 proj-
patients during outpatient days in general hospitals,
ects producing 37 products commissioned
which is not the case for Ayurveda practitioners.
• Manufacturing of high-end medical devices has
started which include Linear Accelerator, MRI Scan,
Comparison of Ayurveda and Allopathy
CT-Scan, Mammogram, C-Arm, MRI Coils, high-end
X-ray tubes, etc. Aspect Ayurveda Allopathy
• Support for setting up of 4 Medical devices Parks Origin Originated in India Originated in Europe
in the States of Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and America
Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh Treatment Holistic approach, Scientific approach,
• Medical Devices Rules in 2017: The rules classify approach natural remedies drug-based treat-
medical devices into four classes based on associat- ments
ed risks and international standards.
Diagnosis Observational, Diagnostic tests, im-
• National Health Policy 2017: It highlights the need
pulse diagnosis aging techniques
to promote R&D and domestic manufacturing of
medical devices Training and Formal education, Formal education in
Education Gurukul system medical schools
Conclusion: Surgery Limited to minor Advanced surgical
The policy is expected to provide the required support and procedures procedures
directions to strengthen the medical devices industry into a Focus Prevention and Disease management
competitive, self-reliant, resilient, and innovative industry overall well-being and symptom relief
that caters to the healthcare needs of India and the world.
Research Limited research Extensive research
and clinical trials
Insta Links
• Set up a new regulator for medical devices Side effects Minimal Possible side effects of
• India’s draft medical devices policy drugs and treatments
Integration Limited integration Widely used in con-
with mod- junction with modern
Mains Links ern medi- medicine
Q. Discuss the major provisions of National Medical Devic- cine
es Policy 2023 (250 Words)
Status of doctors in India:
• Allopathic: There is only one allopathic government
doctor for every 10,926 people in India against the
WHO’s recommended doctor-population ratio of
1:1000.

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 • Number of registered AYUSH doctors: Around 8
lakh (in 2018)
• There has been an increase in the availability of
allopathic medical practitioners, dental surgeons
and nurses per lakh population over the years.
GS Paper 3
RISING SEA LEVELS AND THEIR
DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES
Syllabus: Environment, Conservation
Context: As per the WMO’s ‘State of the Global Climate
2022’ report, the world’s sea level is rising at an unprece-
dented rate.
Rising sea levels: The rate of global mean sea-level [GSML]
rise has doubled from 2.27 mm/year in 1993-2002 to 4.62
mm/year in 2013-2022.
Case study (Impact of sea-level rise on societies):
● The Sunderban Delta in West Bengal is the world’s
largest mangrove area.
● The lives of coastal communities, including their eco-
nomic activities, are tied intricately with the coastal
ecosystem.
● Rising sea levels and coastal erosion has left more
islands submerged under water, endangering so-
cio-economic stability and has forced local commu-
nities to migrate.
● A combination of these forces has increased child
trafficking in the Sundarbans.
Way ahead:
● More reports are required to generate and accumu-
late data on climate change.
● These reports should also press for global and local
policy-level changes related to climate change.
Insta Links: State of the Global Climate 2022
GS Paper 3

GSML budget (individual contribution of these factors): Loss

of glaciers and ice sheets contributed 36% to the GSML rise LEFT WING EXTREMISM (LWE)
(between 2005-2019), Ocean warming (55%), and changes
in the storage of land water (less than 10%). Syllabus: Challenges to Internal Security

Causes: Context: Ten personnel of the Chhattisgarh Police’s District

● Ocean warming (increasing concentrations of CO2
and other GHGs drive global warming, 90% of the
extra heat is stored in the oceans),
● Ice loss from glaciers and ice sheets. Earth’s ice cov-
er/cryosphere includes the
○ Arctic and Antarctic regions (called sea ice),
○ Glaciers,
○ Ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica,
○ Seasonal snow cover, and
○ Permafrost (mass of land that remains be-
low 0ºC for at least two straight years).
Reserve Guard (DRG) were reported killed in an IED attack by
Maoists in the state’s Dantewada district.
The left-wing extremism (LWE) or Naxal insurgency in India:
● It originated in a 1967 uprising in Naxalbari (West
Bengal) by the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
● Naxals are a group of people who believe in the po-
litical theory derived from the teachings of the Chi-
nese political leader Mao Zedong.

Effects:
● It will cause changes in land cover - seas swallowing
more of the land cover.
● The chances of weather formations like cyclones
could increase.
● Changes in land water storage → more seawater
could seep into the ground → Groundwater (usually
freshwater) turning saline.
● Water crises in coastal areas → impacting agriculture
in adjacent regions → displacement of hundreds of
thousands of people → increasing social disparities
and economic liabilities of governments.

Most vulnerable: Coastal communities particularly in trop-

ical countries like India and South Africa, which have high
population densities.

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Causes: Inequitable development, Displacement of people
(eviction from lands traditionally used by tribals), etc.
Strategy: They believe that the solution to social and eco-
nomic discrimination is to overthrow (by force) the existing
political system.
Govt. measures to solve LWE:
● The Home Ministry came up with the -
○ The strategy of Samadhan.
○ The LWE Division to implement security-re-
lated schemes aimed at capacity building in
the LWE-affected States.
● Modernising the police force (SMART, CCTNS, NAT-
GRID)
● Social Integration (surrender and rehabilitation pol-
icy, skill development)
● Development (Infrastructure - mobile towers)
● The state governments have also launched several
counter-insurgency measures. For example, Andhra
Pradesh established an elite force called Greyhounds
to successfully crack down on Naxal leaders.
Current situation:
● The influence of Maoists and associated violence has
been falling consistently (gone down by 77% since
2010 and resultant deaths by 90% to 98 in 2022) in
the country.
● A general disenchantment with the Maoist ideol-
ogy among the youth has deprived the insurgent
movement of new leadership.
● The government has cut the number of districts de-
clared to be Naxal-affected from over 200 in the ear-
ly 2000s to just 90 now.
● The presence of Naxals is said to be minimal to zero
in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand,
and Bihar.
● The Home Ministry has vowed to rid the country of
the Maoist problem by 2024.
A widely accepted principle in counter-Maoist strategy:
● The war against Left Wing Extremism can only be
won by the state police and not central forces.
● This is because the state police have local knowl-
edge, understand the language, and have local net-
works that are essential for the generation of intel-
ligence.
Situation in Chhattisgarh:
● It is the only state in the country where Maoists con-
tinue to have a significant presence.
● In the last five years (2018-22), 1,132 violent inci-
dents, in which 168 security forces personnel and
335 civilians lost their lives, accounted for over a
third of all Maoist-related violence.
Why did the Maoists attack in Chhattisgarh at this time?
● The onset of the monsoon makes it difficult to con-
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duct offensive operations in the jungles.
● Almost all major attacks by Maoists on security forc-
es have taken place during the Tactical Counter Of-
fensive Campaigns (TCOCs) period in the summer.
● The TCOC period this year has been characterised
by increasing improvised explosive device (IED) at-
tacks.
Why does Chhattisgarh continue to remain troubled?
● The counter-insurgency measures started late in Ch-
hattisgarh.
● By this time, the police of neighbouring states had
pushed Maoists from their states to Chhattisgarh,
making it a concentrated zone of Maoist influence.
● The special unit of the Chhattisgarh Police, the DRG,
was raised from the local tribal population and
trained to fight Maoists and has become active rel-
atively recently.
● The absence of roads and minimal presence of the
administration in the interiors of Bastar has stymied
the operations of security forces and ensured Mao-
ists’ influence through a mix of fear and goodwill.
How has the Centre responded?
● Apart from supporting LWE states through Security
Related Expenditure (SRE), the Special Infrastruc-
ture Scheme (SIS) aims to strengthen local police
and intelligence setups.
● Through the Special Central Assistance for building
infrastructure (roads), the Centre has maintained a
massive presence of the CRPF in the affected states.
● The Centre has also unleashed the Counter-terror-
ism National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the En-
forcement Directorate on CPI(Maoist) cadres.
Conclusion: The Chhattisgarh experience demands an ur-
gent revisiting of the existing counter-insurgency strategy →
a security-centric approach. The most appropriate thing at
this juncture would be to open the channels for political dia-
logues with Maoists.
Insta Links: LWE
Mains Links:
Q. What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in
the Eastern part of India? What strategy should the Gov-
ernment of India, civil administration and security forces
adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas? (UPSC
2020)
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

‘MAKKALAI THEDI MAYOR’

Chennai Mayor R. Priya will launch a new scheme called ‘Makkalai Thedi Mayor’ in the city on May 3. Under this scheme,
the Mayor will visit each of the 15 zones in the city every 15 days to meet with residents and receive petitions relating to
civic issues in the zone.

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) already has a helpline, 1913, to resolve civic issues, and residents are encouraged
to use this helpline as well as the ‘Namma Chennai’ app to report civic issues.

Usage: The example can be used in governance case studies. It shows the values of -Accountability, Responsiveness, Em-
pathy, and Transparency

BARBIE WITH DOWN SYNDROME

Mattel, the toy company behind the iconic Barbie doll, has introduced its first Barbie representing a person with Down
syndrome. The company collaborated with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to ensure that the doll accurately
represents a person with Down syndrome.

The company aims to increase diversity and inclusivity. Previous dolls line includes a Ken doll with a prosthetic leg, a Barbie
with hearing aids, and dolls with a skin condition called vitiligo.

Usage: The example shows respect for diversity, inclusivity, representation, and sensitivity towards people with disabilities.

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

THIRUNELLY TEMPLE
Context: The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has urged the government to conserve historically
significant structures, including the 600-year-old ‘Vilakkumadom’ at the Sree Mahavishnu Temple in Thirunelly, during its
renovation.

About Thirunelly temple

Information Details
Name Sree Mahavishnu Temple at Thirunelly
Location Wayanad district, Kerala
Architectural style Traditional Kerala architecture
Age Built-in the 15th century AD

Significant struc- Vilakkumadom, a granite structure

ture
Concerns raised Loss of historically significant structures during renovation
River nearby Papanashini
Hills nearby Brahmagiri hills

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 About INTACH The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (est. 1984; HQ: New Delhi) is a non-profit char-
itable organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Its vision is to spearhead
heritage awareness and conservation in India. In 2007, the United Nations awarded INTACH a special
consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council.
About Kerala ar- Kerala architecture uses wood, brick, and laterite stone. It has sloping roofs, intricate carvings, and
chitecture style an open courtyard. Teakwood and rosewood are commonly used, and rainwater harvesting is im-
portant. It’s used in temples, palaces, and houses in Kerala.

ZERO SHADOW DAY

Context: Recently, Bengaluru experienced a ‘Zero Shadow Day’, when vertical objects appear to cast no shadow.
About Zero Shadow Day:
Description
Definition Zero Shadow Day is a phenomenon where the sun is exactly overhead and vertical objects ap-
pear to cast no shadow. It happens twice a year for every point on Earth between the Tropic
of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
Causes Earth’s rotation axis is tilted at an angle of roughly 23.5° to the axis of revolution around the
Sun
Occurrence One day during Uttarayan (Sun moves northwards from winter solstice to summer solstice)
and one day during Dakshinayan (Sun moves southwards from summer solstice to winter sol-
stice)
Latitude Occurs at latitudes equal to the angle between the Sun’s location and the equator on that day
Bengaluru Example Experienced Zero Shadow Day on April 25, 2023, at 12:17 pm local time along 13-degree Lati-
tude, with the next one expected on August 18, 2023

As the Earth revolves around the Sun, it also rotates on its

axis. During the year, the Sun’s location moves from 23.5
degrees south of the celestial equator to 23.5 degrees north
of the equator (Uttarayan), and then back again (Dakshi-
nayan). All places whose latitude equals the angle between
the Sun’s location and the equator on that day experience
Zero Shadow Day

PM-SHRI SCHEME
Context: The government has selected 6,448 schools from 28 states and Union territories for upgradation under the Prad-
han Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme, out of more than 200,000 eligible schools that applied.

Key details of the PM ScHools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) initiative:

PM ScHools for Rising India (PM-SHRI)
Type of Scheme Centrally Sponsored Scheme
Announced 2022
Duration 2022-23 to 2026-27

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 Eligibility Existing schools run by the Centre, States, UTs, and local bodies, including KVs, JNVs, state gov-
ernment schools, and those run by municipal corporations
Objective To showcase the components of the National Education Policy, 2020 and serve as a model
school.
Key Features of Redeveloped Schools
Modern infrastructure including labs and smart classrooms; experiential, holistic, integrated, play/toy-based, inquiry-driv-
en, and discovery-oriented pedagogy
Cost Sharing Ratio 60:40 between Union Government and States/UTs (90:10 in certain cases)
Number of Schools to be 14,500
Redeveloped
Selection process It had three stages: Firstly, states and UTs had to agree to implement NEP in its entirety and
sign MoUs. Then, schools eligible for selection were identified based on a minimum bench-
mark using UDISE+ data. Finally, the selected schools had to compete for the PM-SHRI status.
Parameters of selection Curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment; access and infrastructure; human resources leader-
ship; inclusive practices and gender equity; management, monitoring, and governance; and
beneficiary satisfaction

SUPREME INITIATIVE
Context: The Ministry of Science and Technology has launched the Support for Up-gradation Preventive Repair and Main-
tenance of Equipment (SUPREME) initiative to provide financial support for the upgradation and maintenance of analytical
instrumentation facilities (AIFs).

What are AIFs?

They are specialized laboratories that provide advanced research infrastructure and technical expertise for scientific inves-
tigations in various fields such as physical sciences, life sciences, materials sciences, and engineering.

About SUPREME initiative:

Topic Details
Aim To provide financial support for repair, upgradation, maintenance, retrofitting, or acquiring addi-
tional attachments to increase the functional capabilities of existing analytical instrumentation
facilities
Eligibility Different facilities created under the projects with the support of DST only will be considered for
funding support under this Scheme. Also, UGC recognized Central Universities/ State Funded Uni-
versities/Deemed Universities /Private Universities among others are also eligible to apply under
this scheme.
Duration The duration of support will be for a period not exceeding 3 years.
Funding Pattern The funding pattern in the scheme would be 75:25 for all private and government-owned institu-
tions (except for state-funded institutions for which 100% funding would be considered).

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 THE BIG CATCH-UP
Context: On April 24, 2023, a global effort called “The Big Catch-up” was announced by various health organizations

About Big Catch-up Initiative:

The Big Catch-up
Implementing Partners WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Immunization Agen-
da 2030, and other health partners
Objective Boost childhood vaccination rates and reverse declines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
Target Countries 20 countries including India, where three-quarters of the children who missed vaccinations in
2021 live
Key Activities Strengthen healthcare workforces, improve health service delivery, build demand for vaccines,
and address obstacles to restoring immunization
Current coverage In India, full immunization coverage among 12–23-month-old children increased from an esti-
mated 62% in 2015–2016 to 76% in 2019–2020.
About Immunisation It has set a target of avoiding 50 million vaccine-preventable infections in this decade; It in-
Agenda 2030 (launched tends to reduce the number of zero-dose children by 50%. And achieve 90% coverage for es-
in 2021) sential vaccines given in childhood and adolescence.

SHINGRIX
Context: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Pharma has announced the launch of the Shingrix vaccine in India for the prevention of
shingles (herpes zoster) and post-herpetic neuralgia in adults aged 50 years and above.

Vaccine Shingrix ( for prevention of shingles)

About shingles Shingle is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. It can occur anywhere
in your body. Shingles are caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same
virus that causes chickenpox
Purpose To prevent shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia in adults aged 50 years or
more

Virus Target Varicella zoster virus (VZV)

Type It is the world’s first non-live, recombinant subunit vaccine to be given intramuscularly in two doses.

Approved By US Food and Drug Administration and the European Commission

Risk Groups Individuals with weakened immunity due to diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, etc.
What is a “non- It is a type of vaccine that is made by taking a small piece of the germ (and not the whole germ) that
live, recombi- causes a disease and using it to stimulate the body’s immune system to produce a response.
nant subunit
vaccine”?

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 QUASARS
Context: According to a new study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, galaxy mergers likely
ignite quasars, the most powerful and brightest objects in the universe.
About Quasars:
Property Description
Definition Quasars (short for “quasi-stellar radio source”) are very lumi-
nous objects in faraway galaxies that emit jets at radio frequen-
cies
Detection First detected in the 1960s
Emits Radio waves, visible light, ultraviolet rays, infrared waves,
X-rays, and gamma-rays
Size Most are larger than our solar system, approximately 1 kilopar-
sec in width
Location Only found in galaxies with supermassive black holes that pow-
er the bright discs

Formation As matter falls into the black hole, it emits a tremendous amount of energy, creating a very bright and lumi-
nous disc around the black hole. Quasars are formed by the energy emitted by materials swirling around a
blackhole right before being sucked into it
Types Radio-loud: About 10% of the overall quasar population with powerful jets that are strong sources of ra-
dio-wavelength emission

Radio-quiet: The majority of quasars (about 90%) lack powerful jets, with relatively weaker radio emission
than the radio-loud population
A b o u t Point in space where matter is so compressed as to create a gravity field from which even light cannot escape
Black Hole

3200 PHAETHON
Context: Phaethon, an asteroid that is the source of the annual Geminid meteor shower, has been found to have a tail made
of sodium gas rather than dust as previously thought.
About Phaethon
It is classified as an asteroid (the first to be discovered via satellite in 1983) and named after the Greek myth of Phaethon,
son of the sun god Helios, due to its close approach to Sun. It is blue in colour, which is rare for an asteroid.

Mystery Phaethon is an asteroid but it shows comet-like behaviour, by being the source of the annual Gem-
inid meteor shower.
About the Geminid The Geminids are a prolific meteor shower caused by the object 3200 Phaethon, which is thought to
meteor shower be a Palladian asteroid with a “rock comet” orbit. The meteor shower peaks during mid-December
each year and is considered to be one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers.

Asteroid Vs Comet An asteroid is a small rocky or metallic body that orbits the Sun, while a comet is a small icy body
that also orbits the Sun but is composed of ice, dust, and rock. Asteroids are generally solid and
inactive, while comets are known for their long tails created by the sublimation of their ice as they
approach the Sun.
About Meteor A meteor, on the other hand, is a small particle, typically a piece of an asteroid or comet, that enters
the Earth’s atmosphere and burns up due to the friction with the air. When a meteor enters the
Earth’s atmosphere and starts to glow, it is often referred to as a shooting star or meteorite.

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