UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 August 2024
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 August 2024 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles
InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.
Table of Contents
GS Paper 2: (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 August 2024)
• National Commission for Allied & Healthcare Professions Act 2021
National Commission for Allied & Healthcare Professions Act 2021
• Impact Assessment of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
Impact Assessment of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
Facts for Prelims (FFP)
• Kerala’s Jewish communities
Kerala’s Jewish communities
• Geneva Conventions of 1949
Geneva Conventions of 1949
• Technological doping
Technological doping
• Spintronic
Spintronic
• Gymnema sylvestre (Gurmar)
Gymnema sylvestre (Gurmar)
Mapping
• Tungabhadra dam
Tungabhadra dam
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 August 2024
#### GS Paper 2:
National Commission for Allied & Healthcare Professions Act 2021
Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions
Source: HT
Context: The Supreme Court has given the Centre and state governments a two-month deadline to implement the National Commission for Allied &
What is the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021?
It is a legislative framework aimed at regulating and standardizing education and practices in the allied and healthcare professions. The Act establishes the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions, which is responsible for setting policies, maintaining a central register of professionals, ensuring uniformity in qualifications, and overseeing professional conduct.
Key features of the Act:
Category | Details
Allied Health Professional | Defined as an associate, technician, or technologist trained to support the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, diseases, injuries, or impairments.
Must have obtained a diploma or degree.
The degree/diploma duration should be at least 2,000 hours (over two to four years).
Healthcare Professional | Includes scientists, therapists, or other professionals who study, advise, research, supervise, or provide preventive, curative, rehabilitative, therapeutic, or promotional health services.
Must have obtained a degree.
The degree duration should be at least 3,600 hours (over three to six years).
Allied and Healthcare Professions | Specifies certain categories of allied and healthcare professions as recognized categories in the Schedule to the Bill.
Includes life science professionals, trauma and burn care professionals, surgical and anaesthesia-related technology professionals, physiotherapists, and nutrition science professionals.
National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions | Established by the Act to oversee allied and healthcare professions.
Structure | Consists of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, five central government members, one representative from the Directorate General of Health Services, three Deputy Directors or Medical Superintendents on a rotational basis, and 12 part-time members representing State Councils.
Functions | Create and maintain an online Central Register of all registered professionals.
Provide basic standards for education, courses, curriculum, staff qualifications, examination, training, and maximum fee payable for various categories.
Professional Councils | The Commission will constitute a Professional Council for each recognized category of allied and healthcare professions.
The Council will consist of a president and 4 to 24 members representing each profession in the recognized category.
The Commission may delegate functions to the Council.
State Councils | State governments will constitute State Allied and Healthcare Councils within six months of the Act’s passage.
These councils will complement the National Commission’s work and maintain a State Register.
Permission for Establishment of Institutions | Prior permission from the State Council is required to establish a new institution, open new courses, increase admission capacity, or admit a new batch of students.
Failure to obtain permission means the qualification granted will not be recognized under the Bill.
Offences and Penalties | Practising as a qualified allied and healthcare practitioner without being enrolled in a State or National Register will result in a fine of Rs. 50,000.
Why did the Supreme Court direct the centre and States?
The Supreme Court noted that, despite the NCAHP Act being in force for 3-4 years, many provisions remain unimplemented. Only 14 out of 28 states and union territories have set up state councils, and even these are not fully functional.
The Court directed the Union and States to implement the Act within 2 months and instructed the Health Ministry to convene an online meeting within 2 weeks to outline a roadmap. States must ensure the infrastructure is set up and the Act’s provisions are operational, with a compliance report due at the next hearing.
Non-implementation of the Act has led to inconsistent qualifications, unregulated healthcare training institutions, and a rise in unapproved courses, jeopardizing patient care.
Conclusion:
The lack of implementation of the NCAHP Act highlights the urgent need for uniform standards and regulations in allied and healthcare professions to ensure patient safety and quality healthcare services.
Insta Links:
• National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professionals Bill, 2021
Impact Assessment of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions
Source: Niti Aayog
Key Findings of the PM Mudra Yojana Report:
• Overall Performance: Since 2015, the scheme has supported 35 crore Micro and Small entrepreneur accounts.
• Financial Inclusion: Women hold around 71% of the accounts (FY 2022). Sanctioned amounts for new entrepreneurs have increased.
• Support for Small Businesses: 80% of loan accounts are in the Shishu category (FY 2021).
• Regional Variation: The Northeast region has the lowest and decreasing number of accounts and sanctioned amounts.
Other Achievements of PM Mudra Yojana:
• Loan sanctioned: About ₹23 lakh crore has been sanctioned in nearly 41 crore loan accounts 30 crore MUDRA Yojana loans have been given to women entrepreneurs
• 30 crore MUDRA Yojana loans have been given to women entrepreneurs
• Inclusive growth: About 69% of accounts under the scheme belong to women entrepreneurs and 51% of accounts belong to entrepreneurs of SC/ST and OBC categories
• Easy availability of credit to budding entrepreneurs: Approximately 21% of the total loans have been sanctioned to New Entrepreneurs.
• Employment Generation: As per a survey conducted by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, PMMY helped generate over 1 crore net additional employment from 2015 to 2018, out of which women accounted for 69 lakh (62%)
Feature of the scheme
Features | Description
Full name | Mudra – Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd
Launch Year | 2015
Ministry | Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance
Aim | Providing loans up to Rs. 10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro-enterprises
Three pillars of the scheme | 1. Banking the Unbanked 2. Securing the Unsecured 3. Funding the Unfunded
Funding Provision | MUDRA, a financial institution set up by the government, provides funding to the small business sector through institutions like Scheduled commercial banks, NBFCs, and MFIs. MUDRA is a refinancing Institution. MUDRA does not lend directly to micro-entrepreneurs / individuals.
Loan Products | 1. Shishu (up to Rs. 50,000) 2. Kishore (above Rs. 50,000 and up to Rs. 5 lakh) 3. Tarun (above Rs. 5 lakh and up to Rs. 10 lakh)
Collateral | Loans under this scheme are collateral-free loans
Target Beneficiaries | Disadvantaged sections of society such as women entrepreneurs, SC/ST/OBC borrowers, minority community borrowers, and new entrepreneurs
Products and Services | Loans can be used for income-generating activities in the manufacturing, trading, services sector, and agriculture
Expansion | PMMY has been expanded over time to cover activities related to agriculture, such as fishing, dairy, and food processing, and loans for tractors and power tillers, and two-wheelers for commercial use were included in PMMY
Steps taken to improve the scheme | udyamimitra portal (for online applications); End-to-end digital lending for automated sanctions under PMMY (by some banks); Nomination of Mudra Nodal Officers in PSBs; Interest Subvention of 2% on prompt repayment of Shishu loans
2. Securing the Unsecured
- 1.Funding the Unfunded
MUDRA is a refinancing Institution. MUDRA does not lend directly to micro-entrepreneurs / individuals.
- 1.Kishore (above Rs. 50,000 and up to Rs. 5 lakh)
- 1.Tarun (above Rs. 5 lakh and up to Rs. 10 lakh)
Challenges faced by the scheme:
• High non-performing assets or bad loans
• Limited funds that cannot keep up with the pace of demand
• Regional disparities in the distribution of benefits
• Lack of financial literacy among beneficiaries leading to defaults
• Limited outreach to rural entrepreneurs
• Collateral requirements for loans above a certain amount make it difficult for many small enterprises to access credit
• Loan size limitations of up to Rs. 10 lakhs, which is inadequate for many small enterprises with higher capital requirements.
Key Recommendations:
• Implement a portal for real-time beneficiary data upload.
• Increase digitization, including chatbot use for query resolution.
• Establish a recognition system for Micro Lending Institutions based on their scale and performance.
Conclusion:
Overall, the MUDRA scheme has been successful in providing credit to small entrepreneurs. However, it faces some significant challenges that need to be addressed to make it more effective and inclusive.
Insta Links
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana
Mains Links
What are the objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)? Should the success of PMMY be measured in terms of the quantum of loans disbursed? Comment. (15M)
Prelims Links
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is aimed at ( UPSC 2016)
(a) bringing small entrepreneurs into the formal financial system (b) providing loans to poor farmers for cultivating particular crops (c) providing pensions to old and destitute persons (d) funding the voluntary organizations involved in the promotion of skill development and employment generation
Ans: A
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 August 2024 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Kerala’s Jewish communities
- •Source: IE*
Context: The recent death of the last Paradesi Jewish woman in Kerala, marks a significant moment in this community’s history.
• Kerala’s Jewish community, once thriving, has dwindled to near extinction.
• From a peak population of 20,000-50,000 in the 1940s, India’s Jewish population is now estimated at 4,000-5,000, mostly Marathi-speaking Bene Israel on the Konkan coast.
Kerala had two main Jewish communities: the Malabar Jews, who trace their origins back to the time of King Solomon, and the Paradesi Jews, who migrated from the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th and 16th centuries.
The Paradesi Jews, once active in Kerala’s spice trade, became a distinct group, adopting local customs but eventually separating themselves from the older Malabar Jewish community.
Kerala’s Jewish communities rarely faced persecution and many thrived under Dutch, Hindu, and later British rule.
However, since the 1950s, most Kerala Jews have migrated to Israel, leaving only a handful of Malabar and Paradesi Jews in Kerala today.
Geneva Conventions of 1949
Source: US Dept Of State
Context: Recently Secretary of State of the US commemorated the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
The Geneva Conventions are a set of international treaties that establish legal standards for humanitarian treatment during war. They form the core of international humanitarian law (IHL) and aim to limit the suffering of people who are not or no longer participating in hostilities, such as civilians, wounded soldiers, and prisoners of war.
Adoption and History:
• The first Geneva Convention was adopted in 1864 to protect wounded soldiers on the battlefield.
• The current four Geneva Conventions were adopted on August 12, 1949, after World War II, to address the horrors of the war and provide comprehensive protection in armed conflicts.
The Four Conventions:
• First Geneva Convention: Protects wounded and sick soldiers on land during war. Second Geneva Convention: Extends protection to wounded, sick, and shipwrecked military personnel at sea. Third Geneva Convention: Focuses on the treatment of prisoners of war. Fourth Geneva Convention: Protects civilians, including those in occupied territories, from inhumane treatment.
• First Geneva Convention: Protects wounded and sick soldiers on land during war.
• Second Geneva Convention: Extends protection to wounded, sick, and shipwrecked military personnel at sea.
• Third Geneva Convention: Focuses on the treatment of prisoners of war.
• Fourth Geneva Convention: Protects civilians, including those in occupied territories, from inhumane treatment.
Additional Protocols:
• Two Additional Protocols were adopted in 1977 to strengthen protections in both international and non-international armed conflicts. A third protocol was added in 2005 to recognize the Red Crystal as an additional emblem alongside the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
• Two Additional Protocols were adopted in 1977 to strengthen protections in both international and non-international armed conflicts. A third protocol was added in 2005 to recognize the Red Crystal as an additional emblem alongside the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
Technological doping
Source: The Conversation
Context: There is a growing concern about “technological doping” in professional sports, where advancements in technology enhance an athlete’s performance beyond their natural capabilities, potentially creating unfair advantages.
• The term gained attention when Speedo’s LZR Racer swimsuits, developed with NASA, led to 13 world records in 2008 before being banned.
• Wearable technology, now used by around 500 million people globally, provides athletes with data to improve performance, but it raises questions about whether improvements are due to the technology or a placebo effect.
For instance, new running shoes like Nike’s Vaporflys, which helped Eliud Kipchoge break the two-hour marathon record, have sparked debates about their fairness. Despite outperforming other shoes, the exact biomechanical reasons for their superiority remain unclear.
Way Forward:
• To address this issue, regulatory bodies like World Athletics have introduced rules to ensure fairness, such as limiting the stack height and requiring that shoes be available to the public before competition.
• There is a need for regular biomechanical testing and expert input to ensure that technological advancements do not undermine the integrity of sports by creating inequalities based on affordability and access to high-tech gear.
Example of Technological doping
Spintronic
Source: The Hans India, PIB
Context: Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) in India have developed a groundbreaking transparent layer between two insulating materials, enabling the movement of electrons in a two-dimensional plane at room temperature with their spins aligned.
• This advancement in spintronics—a field focused on manipulating the spin of electrons alongside their charge—could lead to ultrafast, low-power electronics, including next-generation quantum devices and data storage solutions.
• The team created a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the interface of LaFeO3 and SrTiO3, which exhibited unique properties like negative magnetoresistance and the anomalous Hall effect.
• These phenomena open up possibilities for new device architectures, such as transparent spintronic devices that could be integrated into displays or solar cells.
The research marks a significant step toward developing quantum devices with enhanced functionalities, paving the way for advanced electronics and quantum computing.
Gymnema sylvestre (Gurmar)
Source: Mint
Context: A team of researchers has discovered several medicinal plants on Brahmayoni Hill in Gaya, Bihar, with the anti-diabetic herb *Gymnema sylvestre* (Gurmar) being a significant find.
• Gurmar, known for reducing blood sugar levels through the presence of gymnemic acid, has been utilized in the anti-diabetic drug BGR-34, developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
• The herb also contains flavonoids and saponins, which help regulate lipid metabolism and lower cholesterol.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 August 2024 Mapping:
Tungabhadra dam
Source: TOI
Context: The Tungabhadra Dam in Karnataka experienced a significant failure when one of its gates was washed away, due to a snapped chain link.
• This gate had been a crucial part of the dam’s infrastructure for over 70 years. The breach led to the uncontrolled release of 35,000 cusecs of water, raising flood alarms in both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, particularly in low-lying areas.
Tungabhadra Dam also known as Pampa Sagar is a multipurpose dam built across Tungabhadra River in Hosapete, Ballari district of Karnataka. It was built by Dr. Thirumalai Iyengar in 1953.
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 14 August 2024 [PDF]
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