Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP)

• The Integrated Health Information Platform is the next generation highly refined version of the presently used Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
• We have started a new chapter in India’s public health trajectory. India is the first country in the world to adopt such an advanced disease surveillance system.
• The new version of IHIP will house the data entry and management for India’s disease surveillance program.
• In addition to tracking 33 diseases now as compared to the earlier 18 diseases, it shall ensure near-real-time data in digital mode, having done away with the paper-mode of working.
• Terming this as the world's biggest online disease surveillance platform, he stated that it is in sync with the National Digital Health Mission and fully compatible with the other digital information systems presently being used in India.
• The refined IHIP with automated -data will help in a big way in real time data collection, aggregation & further analysis of data that will aid and enable evidence-based policy making, he explained.
• IHIP will provide health information system developed for real time, case-based information, integrated analytics, advanced visualization capability.
• It will provide analyzed reports on mobile or other electronic devices.
• In addition, outbreak investigation activities can be initiated and monitored electronically.
• It can easily be integrated with other ongoing surveillance program, while having the feature of addition of special surveillance modules.

PLI Scheme for White Goods

• Taking another important step towards the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods (Air Conditioners and LED Lights) with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 6,238 crores.
• The prime objective of the PLI scheme is to make manufacturing in India globally competitive by removing sectoral disabilities, creating economies of scale and ensuring efficiencies.
• It is designed to create a complete component ecosystem in India and make India an integral part of the global supply chains.
• The scheme is expected to attract global investments, generate large-scale employment opportunities and enhance exports substantially.
• The PLI Scheme for White Goods shall extend an incentive of 4% to 6% on incremental sales of goods manufactured in India for a period of five years to companies engaged in manufacturing Air Conditioners and LED Lights.
• Different segments have been earmarked for different types of components separately to specifically target global investments into desired areas.
• Selection of companies for the Scheme shall be done so as to incentivize the manufacturing of components or sub-assemblies which are not manufactured in India presently with sufficient capacity.
• Companies meeting the pre-qualification criteria for different target segments will be eligible to participate in the Scheme. Incentives shall be open to companies making brown field or green field Investments.
• Thresholds of cumulative incremental investment and incremental sales of manufactured goods over the base year would have to be met for claiming incentives.
• An entity availing benefits under any other PLI Scheme of Govt. India will not be eligible under this scheme for the same products but the entity may take benefits under other applicable schemes of Govt. of India or schemes of State governments.
• The Scheme will be implemented as a pan India scheme and is not specific to any location, area or segment of population. A number of global and domestic companies, including a number of MSMEs are likely to benefit from the Scheme.
• The Scheme is expected to be instrumental in achieving growth rates that are much higher than existing ones for AC and LED industries, developing complete component eco-systems in India and creating global champions of manufacturing in India.
• They will have to meet the compulsory BIS and BEE Quality standards for sales into the domestic market and applicable standards for global markets. It will also lead to investments in innovation and research and development and the upgradation of technology.

PLI scheme: 'National Programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules

• The Cabinet has approved the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy's proposal for the implementation of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme 'National Programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV (Photo Voltic) Modules' for achieving manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in high-efficiency solar PV modules with an outlay of Rs.4,500 crore.

Analysis of PLI Scheme on Solar PV Modules

• Solar capacity addition presently depends largely upon imported solar PV cells and modules as the domestic manufacturing industry has limited operational capacities of solar PV cells and modules.
• The National Programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules will reduce import dependence in a strategic sector like electricity.
• It will also support the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Solar PV manufacturers will be selected through a transparent competitive bidding process.
• PLI will be disbursed for 5 years post commissioning of solar PV manufacturing plants, on sales of high-efficiency solar PV modules.
• Manufacturers will be rewarded for higher efficiencies of solar PV modules and also for sourcing their material from the domestic market.
• Thus, the PLI amount will increase with increased module efficiency and increased local value addition.

The outcomes/ benefits expected from the scheme are as follows:

• Additional 10,000 MW capacity of integrated solar PV manufacturing plants,
• Direct investment of around Rs.17,200 crore in solar PV manufacturing projects
• The demand of Rs.17,500 crore over 5 years for 'Balance of Materials',
• Direct employment of about 30,000 and Indirect employment of about1,20,000 persons,
• Import substitution of around Rs.17,500 crore every year, and
• The impetus to Research & Development to achieve higher efficiency in solar PV modules.

How Asian desert dust enhances Indian summer monsoon

• Dust swarms can influence moisture transport, increase precipitation, rainfall
• Carl Sagan once described Earth as a ‘small speck of dust, a seemingly insignificant tiny particle.
• But the dust has incredible power: it is known to influence monsoons, hurricanes and even fertilize rainforests.
• A new study now details how dust coming from the deserts in West, Central and East Asia plays an important role in the Indian Summer Monsoon.

Reverse effect

• The researchers also explain how the Indian Summer Monsoon has a reverse effect and can increase the winds in West Asia to produce yet more dust.
• Dust swarms from the desert when lifted by strong winds can absorb solar radiation and become hot.
• This can cause heating of the atmosphere, change the air pressure, and wind circulation patterns, influence moisture transport and increase precipitation and rainfall.
• A strong monsoon can also transport air to West Asia and again pick up a lot of dust. The researchers say this is a positive feedback loop.
• Lead author Qinjian Jin, lecturer and academic program associate at the University of Kansas explains a new hypothesis formulated by the team to The Hindu.
• “Not just the dust from the Middle East [West Asia], we think the Iranian Plateau also influences the Indian Summer Monsoon. The hot air over the Iranian Plateau can heat the atmosphere over the plateau, strengthen the circulation over the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula and increase dust emission from the Middle East [West Asia].”

Aerosols transported

• He explains how deserts across the globe play important roles in monsoons. “The dust aerosols from deserts in West China such as the Taklamakan desert and the Gobi Desert can be transported eastward to eastern China and can influence the East Asia summer monsoon. And in the southwest United States, we have some small deserts that influence the North African monsoon..”
• When asked if anthropogenic dust from vehicles, mining, and construction can influence monsoons, he explained: “Some studies have found that the anthropogenic aerosols emitted from the Indian subcontinent can decrease summer monsoon precipitation, while others found that absorbing aerosols such as dust can strengthen the monsoon circulation.
• However, in our study, we use the carbon model to simulate the impact of anthropogenic aerosols on India and our results showed that they can strengthen Indian summer monsoon rainfall.”
• The findings were recently published in Earth-Science Reviews.

But why is it important to study dust?

• Many studies have shown that the dust emission scheme is extremely sensitive to climate change and the team writes that understanding these mechanisms and effects of dust will help us understand our monsoon systems in the face of global climate change.

Minor components

• The team has now planned to study the minor components of desert dust aerosols. “We used to think that dust from deserts across the globe will have the same components, but we now know that different deserts have different chemical compositions and this can influence the dust’s properties.
• For example, we think that dust from the Middle East [West Asia] has more absorbing ability of solar radiation than dust from North Africa and this difference in absorbing ability might influence monsoon systems,” adds Dr Jin.
• “We have also planned to use high spatial resolution remote sensing to identify source regions and create a better dust emission map. I would also like to study new drying lakes and how dust from them can also play a role in the monsoons.”

Indian Army to participate in Exercise “Shantir Ogroshena-2021”

About Exercise ‘Shantir Ogroshena-2021’:

• Exercise Shantir Ogroshena (Front Runner of the Peace) is a multinational military exercise.
• The 2021 edition of the Exercise will be held in Bangladesh.
• It is held there to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangladesh’s ‘Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
• The theme of the exercise is “Robust Peacekeeping Operations”.
• Participating Countries: The participants of the Exercise are
  • The DOGRA Regiment of the Indian Army
  • A contingent of the Royal Bhutan Army
  • Sri Lankan Army
  • Bangladesh Army.
• Observers: The military observers from the USA, UK, Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Singapore will also be present throughout the exercise.

India contributes $300,000 to UN Women

India recently announced the contribution of USD 300,000 to the UN Women to support gender equality and women empowerment.

About UN Women:

• UN Women is the United Nations entity, dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.
• Headquartered in New York.
• Established in 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly to accelerate the progress in meeting women’s needs worldwide.
• It was formed by merging the four previously distinct parts of the UN system which are:
  • Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW)
  • International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)
  • Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI)
  • United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
• Objectives of UN Women:
  • To support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women in their formulation of policies, global standards, and norms.
  • To help the Member States to implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, and to forge effective partnerships with civil society.
  • To hold the UN system accountable for its own commitments to gender equality.
    • It includes regular monitoring of system-wide progress.

National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 Released

The Union Health Ministry recently released the policy.

Rare Diseases: WHO defines a rare disease as a lifelong disease or disorder that often highly weakens an individual. It has a prevalence of 1 or less per 1000 population.

• Example: Haemophilia, Thalassemia, Sickle cell anaemia, and auto-immune diseases among others.
• However, every country has its own definition of rare diseases.
• The US defines rare diseases as a disease or condition that affects fewer than 200,000 patients in the country.
• Likewise, the EU defines rare diseases as life-threatening or chronically debilitating (weakening) conditions. It should affect no more than 5 in 10,000 people.

About National Policy For Rare Diseases,2021:

• Aim: The policy aims to lower the incidence and prevalence of rare diseases based on an integrated and comprehensive preventive strategy.
• The strategy includes awareness generation, counselling programmes, and providing affordable Health Care among others.

Key Features of the National Policy For Rare Diseases, 2021:

• Categorisation: The policy categorizes rare diseases into three groups:
  • Group 1: Disorders amenable to one-time curative treatment;
  • Group 2: Diseases requiring long-term or lifelong treatment; and
  • Group 3: Diseases for which definitive treatment is available, but challenges are to make an optimal patient selection for benefit.
• Government Support:
  • The government will provide Financial support of up to Rs. 20 lakh under the Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi for the treatment of those rare diseases listed under Group 1.
  • Moreover, Beneficiaries of such financial assistance would not be limited to BPL families.
    • About 40% of the population, eligible under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, will also be eligible for assistance.
  • For group 2, the State Governments can consider supporting specific patients.
    • It includes a rare disease that can be managed with special diets or hormonal supplements or other relatively low-cost interventions (Diseases listed under Group 2).
• Voluntary Crowdfunding: The government has said that it will assist in voluntary crowd-funding for the treatment of Group 3. It is because it will be difficult to fully finance the treatment of high-cost rare diseases in Group 3.

Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi scheme:

• It provides financial assistance to patients living below the poverty line and who are suffering from major life-threatening diseases, to receive medical treatment.

NITI Aayog's “AIM-PRIME” scheme to support science-based startups

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers on Innovations, Market-Readiness & Entrepreneurship).

About AIM-PRIME:

• AIM-PRIME Program aims at promoting science-based, deep technology. For that, it will provide training and guidance over a period of 12 months.
• Implementation to be done by Venture Center – a non-profit technology business incubator.
• The program is open to:
  • Technology developers (early-stage deep tech start-ups, and scientists/ engineers/ clinicians) with strong science-based deep tech business ideas.
  • CEOs and Senior incubation managers of AIM Funded Atal Incubation Centers that are supporting deep tech entrepreneurs.
• Benefits of the programme:
  • The candidates selected for the program will get access to in-depth learning resources via a comprehensive lecture series, live team projects, exercises, and project-specific mentoring.
  • They will also have access to a deep tech startup playbook, a curated video library, and plenty of peer-to-peer learning opportunities.

About Deep Technology:

• Deep techs are very high cutting-edge and disruptive technologies. These technologies are based on scientific discoveries, engineering, mathematics, physics, and medicine. For Example A new medical device or technique fighting cancer, data analytics to help farmers grow more food, or a clean energy solution trying to lessen the human impact on climate change.