ICMR recommends use of hydroxychloroquine to treat Coronavirus
Context :
The national task force for COVID-19, constituted by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), has recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 for a high-risk population.
ICMR directed that the hydroxy-chloroquine should be given to high-risk population asymptomatic healthcare workers. The medication can be used to treat the suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 and asymptomatic household contacts of laboratory-confirmed cases. The Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) approved the usage of hydroxychloroquine for restricted use in emergency situations.
Hydroxychloroquine :
Hydroxychloroquine is generally used to treat malaria infections. The medication can be used with other medications to treat particular auto-immune diseases when other medications cannot be used for the treatment.
Hydroxy-chloroquine will be effective against Coronavirus in laboratory studies and in-vivo studies. The use in prophylaxis is derived from the available evidence of benefit as treatment and supported by preclinical data. Also, the drug should be given only on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner.
The usage of the drug, in the initial days, has been proven efficient by the United States.Italy and South Korea have used the drug to treat COVID-19.
Cabinet approves schemes to boost electronics manufacturing
Context :
The Union Cabinet approved schemes that involve a total incentive of around Rs.48,000 crore to boost electronics manufacturing in the country. The information was passed by Union Minister Telecom and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Scheme Highlights :
- Under the scheme, electronic manufacturing companies will be given an incentive of 4% to 6% on incremental sales, over base year, of goods manufactured in India to eligible companies over a period of next 5 years.
- The government aims to generate manufacturing revenue potential of Rs.10 lakh crore.
- Government plans to create direct and indirect jobs for 20 lakh people by 2025 through these schemes.
- Also, Cabinet has approved production linked-incentive for electronics companies. The govt. will give Rs.40,995 crore in the coming five years for production linked-incentive.
- The scheme also aims for the promotion of manufacturing of electronics components and semiconductors with a budget outlay of Rs.3,285 crore spread over a period of 8 years.
Cabinet approved inclusion of AYUSH health and wellness centre
Context :
The Union Cabinet approved the inclusion of the AYUSH health and wellness centre component of Ayushman Bharat in National Ayush Mission. It is expected that it will provide enhanced accessibility to achieve universal health coverage for affordable treatment.
Highlights :
- The proposal entails an expenditure of Rs.3399.35 crore. The cost includes a central share of Rs.2209.58 crore and Rs.1189.77 crore as state share.
- The wellness centre will be operationalized within a period of five years.
- The proposal will establish a holistic wellness model based on AYUSH principles and practices focusing on preventive promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative healthcare by integration with the existing public health care system.
- A total of 12,500 Ayush health and wellness centres throughout the country will be operationalized under the mission.
Schemes Approved to Promote Drug Manufacturing
Context :
Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved two schemes, namely the scheme on Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme to promote domestic manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials/Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in the country.
Key Points :
Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks Scheme :
- Number of Parks: The government aims to develop 3 mega Bulk Drug parks in India in partnership with States.
- Funding: Government of India will give Grants-in-Aid to States with a maximum limit of Rs. 1000 Crore per Bulk Drug Park.
- A sum of Rs. 3,000 crore has been approved for this scheme for next 5 years.
- Facilities: Parks will have common facilities such as solvent recovery plant, distillation plant, power & steam units, common effluent treatment plant etc.
- Need of the Scheme: Despite being 3rd largest in the world by volume the Indian pharmaceutical industry is significantly dependent on import of basic raw materials, viz., Bulk Drugs that are used to produce medicines. In some specific bulk drugs the import dependence is 80 to 100%.
- Objectives: The scheme is expected to reduce manufacturing cost of bulk drugs in the country and dependency on other countries for bulk drugs.
- The scheme will also help in providing continuous supply of drugs and ensure delivery of affordable healthcare to the citizens.
- Implementation: The scheme will be implemented by State Implementing Agencies (SIA) to be set up by the respective State Governments.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme :
- Aim: The PLI scheme aims to promote domestic manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) in the country.
- Funding: Under the scheme financial incentive will be given to eligible manufacturers of identified 53 critical bulk drugs on their incremental sales over the base year (2019-20) for a period of 6 years.
- Impact: PLI scheme will reduce India’s import dependence on other countries for critical KSMs/Drug Intermediates and APIs.
- This will lead to expected incremental sales of Rs.46,400 crore and significant additional employment generation over 8 years.
- Implementation: The scheme will be implemented through a Project Management Agency (PMA) to be nominated by the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
Extradition Treaty between India and Belgium
Context :
Cabinet approves signing and ratifying of the Extradition Treaty between India and Belgium.
Salient features :
- Obligation to Extradite: Each Party agrees to extradite to the other any person found in its territory, who is accused or convicted of an extraditable offence in the territory of the other Party.
- Extraditable Offences: An extraditable offence means an offence punishable under the laws of both the Parties with imprisonment for a period of one year or more severe punishment.
- Duration of sentence: Where extradition is sought in respect of a convicted person, the duration of the sentence remaining to be served must be at least six months at the time of making the request.
- Offences relating to taxation, or revenue or is one of a fiscal character also fall within the scope of this Treaty.
- Extradition of Nationals is discretionary. The nationality will be determined at the time the offence was committed.
Under the Treaty, extradition shall be refused if :
- The offence involved is a political offence. However, the Treaty specifies certain offences, which will not be considered as political offences.
- The offence for which extradition is requested is a military offence
- The request for prosecution has been made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing the person on account of his race, sex, religion, nationality or political opinion.
- The prosecution of enforcement of sentence has become time barred.
What is Extradition :
As defined by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, ‘Extradition is the delivery on the part of one State to another of those whom it is desired to deal with for crimes of which they have been accused or convicted and are justifiable in the Courts of the other State’.
When can it be initiated :
An Extradition request for an accused can be initiated in the case of under-investigation, under-trial and convicted criminals. In cases under investigation, abundant precautions have to be exercised by the law enforcement agency to ensure that it is in possession of prima facie evidence to sustain the allegation before the Courts of Law in the Foreign State.
What is the Legislative Basis for Extradition in India :
The Extradition Act 1962 provides India’s legislative basis for extradition. It consolidated the law relating to the extradition of criminal fugitive from India to foreign states. The Indian Extradition Act, 1962 was substantially modified in 1993 by Act 66 of 1993.