Daily News Simplified - DNS · 2019-10-03 · Daily News Simplified - DNS 06 09 19 Notes SL. NO....

Daily News Simplified - DNS

06 09 19

Notes

SL. NO.

TOPICS THE HINDU

PAGE NO.

1 WHO SE Asia Region plans to banish measles, rubella by 2023 12

2 A Weak Chase 10

3 Institute of Eminence tag for five 01

4 Will PSB mergers alter the banking scenario? 11

5 Puppets have no ego (Puppetry art forms in India) 04 (Friday Review)

6 India lends $1 billion for Russia’s Far East 01

Dated: 06. SEPTEMBER. 2019 DNS Notes Title 1. WHO SE Asia Region plans to banish measles, rubella by 2023 (The Hindu, Page 12) Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II – Social Justice; GS Paper III – Science and Technology Theme WHO resolution to control measles and rubella

Highlights Context: A resolution to eliminate the Measles and Rubella diseases have been adopted at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia in Delhi. About Measles and Rubella Measles and rubella are two infections that affect children mostly, and can cause deaths and even complications if the patient survives.

• Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It can result in serious health complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and even cause death.

• Rubella is a viral infection that affects unvaccinated children and young adults. If an unvaccinated woman gets rubella while pregnant – especially in her first three months – serious consequences can result, including miscarriages, fetal deaths, still births, and having infants born with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).

Resolution of the South-East Asian Region

The member countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO) from the South-East Asian Region have adopted a “Strategic Plan for Measles and Rubella Elimination 2020-2024” that lays down the road map and focus areas to achieve the elimination targets in the Region. Resolution states that:

• The Member countries resolved to strengthen immunization systems for increasing and sustaining high level of population immunity against measles and rubella at both national and sub-national levels.

• The resolution calls for ensuring a highly sensitive laboratory supported case-based surveillance system – better evidence for appropriate planning and response. It also emphasizes on preparedness for outbreak response activities for measles and rubella.

• All countries pledged to mobilize political, societal and financial support to ensure interruption of transmission of indigenous measles and rubella virus by 2023.

Measles elimination and rubella control has been a regional flagship priority since 2014. Five countries have eliminated measles – Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste. Six countries have controlled rubella - Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste.

Dated: 06. SEPTEMBER. 2019 DNS Notes

Proposed impact • Eliminating measles will prevent 500,000 deaths a year in the Region, while eliminating

rubella/ CRS would avert about 55,000 cases of rubella and promote health and well-being of pregnant woman and infants.

Personal Notes

Title 2. A Weak Chase (The Hindu, Page 10) Syllabus GS Paper II – Social Justice Theme India fails to control Hepatitis B even after implementation of Universal Immunisation

Programme Highlights Context

Recently Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand became the first four countries in the World Health Organization’s southeast Asia region to have successfully controlled hepatitis B. The virus is said to be controlled when the disease prevalence is reduced to less than 1% among children less than five years of age. The following article analysis that despite having Universal Immunisation Programme in India, it has failed in eliminating the disease. Firstly, understand the basics about Hepatitis. What is Hepatitis? Hepatitis refers to an inflammation of the liver cells and damage to the liver. The liver's functions include detoxifying the blood, storing vitamins, and producing hormones. Hepatitis can disrupt these processes and create severe health problems throughout the body. Types of Hepatitis The type of hepatitis is named for the virus that causes it; for example, hepatitis A, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV)


• It is present in the faeces of infected persons and is most often transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food.

• Infections are in many cases mild, with most people making a full recovery and remaining immune from further HAV infections.

• Most people in areas of the world with poor sanitation have been infected with this virus.

• Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent HAV. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

• It is transmitted through exposure to infective blood, semen, and other body fluids.

• HBV is spread through having unprotected sex with an infected person, sharing needles or “works” when shooting drugs, exposure to needle-sticks or sharps on the job, or from an infected mother to her baby during birth.

• HBV can be transmitted from infected mothers to infants at the time of birth or from family member to infant in early childhood.

• Safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent HBV. Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

• It is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This may happen through transfusions of HCV-contaminated blood and blood products, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injection drug use.

• Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common. • There is no vaccine for HCV.

Hepatitis D virus (HDV)

• These infections occur only in those who are infected with HBV. • The dual infection of HDV and HBV can result in a more serious disease and

worse outcome. • Hepatitis B vaccines provide protection from HDV infection.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV)

• It is mostly transmitted through consumption of contaminated water or food.

• HEV is a common cause of hepatitis outbreaks in developing parts of the world and is increasingly recognized as an important cause of disease in developed countries.

• Safe and effective vaccines to prevent HEV infection have been developed but are not widely available.

Status of Hepatitis B in India

• Even after the introduction of hepatitis B vaccine in the Universal Immunisation Programme in 2002 and scaling-up nationwide in 2011, about one million people in India become chronically infected with the virus every year.


• According to the Health Ministry, as on February 2019, an estimated 40 million people in India were infected. Hepatitis B infection at a young age turns chronic, causing over 1,00,000 premature deaths annually from liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.

• According to the WHO, the coverage of hepatitis B third dose had reached 86% in 2015. However, despite the high vaccination coverage, disease prevalence in children aged less than five years has not dropped below 1%.

Reasons for this anomaly • Sub-optimal coverage of birth dose in all infants within 24 hours of birth. Hepatitis B

birth dose, given in the first 24 hours, helps prevent vertical transmission from the mother to child. Its coverage remained low — 45% in 2015 and 60% in 2016 — according to a 2019 Health Ministry report. Even in the case of institutional delivery, the birth dose vaccine coverage is low — 76.36% in 2017.

• The reasons for the low coverage is the fear of wastage of vaccine when a 10-dose vial is used. Unfortunately, health-care workers are very often unaware of the WHO recommendation that allows hepatitis B open-vial policy. Opened vials of hepatitis B vaccine can be kept for a maximum duration of 28 days for use in other children if the vaccine meets certain conditions.

• There is also a need to increase public awareness about the merits of the birth dose.

About Universal Immunisation Programme • Immunization is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an

infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India provides several vaccines to infants, children and pregnant women through the Universal Immunisation Programme.

• India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) provide free vaccines against 12 life threatening diseases, to 26 million children annually.

• The Universal Immunization Programme provides life-saving vaccines to all children across the country free of cost to protect them against Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia and Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea. (Rubella, JE and Rotavirus vaccine in select states and districts).


Personal Notes

Dated: 06. SEPTEMBER. 2019 DNS Notes Title 3. Institute of Eminence tag for five (The Hindu, Page 01) Syllabus Mains: GS Paper II – Social Justice

Theme Institute of Eminence tag to institutes Highlights Context:

The Human Resource Development Ministry has awarded the status of Institute of Eminence to the IIT-Madras, the IIT-Kharagpur, Delhi University, Benares Hindu University and the University of Hyderabad. Four private universities — the Vellore Institute of Technology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Jamia Hamdard University and the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology — were issued Letters of Intent to grant them the status. The new greenfield Bharti Institute, a project of Airtel’s Satya Bharti Foundation, has also been issued the letter. However, before understanding the concept of Institute of Eminence, lets analyse the status of higher education in India. Status of higher education in India Higher education is critical for developing a modern economy, a just society and a vibrant polity. It equips young people with skills relevant for the labour market and the opportunity for social mobility. However, the issues are:

• The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education is 25.8% (2017-18). • Poor quality of higher education

o Low ranking of Indian universities at global level. o Poor faculty-student ratio o Lack of quality faculty at university level, low quality of research and

pedagogical innovation, lack of accountability and incentives among teachers, system of evaluation which encourages rote learning, governance structures of universities which make innovations difficult.

o Research in higher education institutions is at its lowest ebb. About Institute of Eminence

• The institutes of eminence scheme is under the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry and aims to bring higher educational institutions selected as IoEs in top 500 of world ranking in the next 10 years and in top 100 eventually overtime.

• The scheme has been launched with an objective to provide world class teaching and research facilities to Indian students within the country and enhance general level of education of the country.

• The selection shall be made through challenge method mode by the Empowered Expert Committee constituted for the purpose.


• Eligibility: Only higher education institutions currently placed in the top 500 of global rankings or top 50 of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) are eligible to apply for the eminence tag.

• The private Institutions of Eminence can also come up as greenfield ventures provided the sponsoring organisation submits a convincing perspective plan for 15 years.

Principles for selecting IOE • Since the thrust of the scheme is to prepare institutions for the global rankings, no

existing institution which has NOT figured in any of the global/national ranks shall be recommended for the IoE status.

• Only after exhausting the above criterion, if any slot remains vacant, consideration shall be given to yet to be established (Greenfield) proposals.

• In case of the private institutions proposed as Institutions of Eminence, there will be no financial support, but they will be entitled for more autonomy as a special category Deemed University.

• The Greenfield Institutions would get 3 year period to establish and operationalise the institution, and thereafter, EEC will consider giving IoE status to such institutions.

Institution of Eminence will get: • greater autonomy viz. to admit foreign students up to 30% of admitted students; to

recruit foreign faculty upto 25% of faculty strength; to offer online courses upto 20% of its programmes;

• to enter into academic collaboration with top 500 in the world ranking Institutions without permission of UGC;

• free to fix and charge fees from foreign students without restriction; • flexibility of course structure in terms of number of credit hours and years to take a

degree; • complete flexibility in fixing of curriculum and syllabus, etc. • Each Public Institution selected as IoE will be provided financial assistance up to Rs.

1000 Cr over a period of five years. • These institutions will not be subject to UGC inspections

Academic institutions that can impart highest quality education, generate cutting edge research, and attract the best and the brightest from across the globe can have multiplier beneficial effects for the country. So the idea of elevating the best in a sector to an eminent status by granting autonomy is a good one. But to maintain credibility, the process and the selection of these institutions should be above reproach.


Personal Notes

Dated: 06. SEPTEMBER. 2019 DNS Notes Title 4. Will PSB mergers alter the banking scenario? (The Hindu , pg no - 11) Syllabus Mains GS Paper III – Economy

Theme Merger of Banks Highlights The banking sector has played a key role in advancing and sustaining economic growth in India.

However, in the recent past, the banks have been facing multi-faceted challenges such as high NPAs, poor governance of Public Sector banks etc. which has taken a toll on the entire banking Structure. In order to tide over these problems, the government has recently announced the mergers of several banks into "consolidated banks" as she addressed a press conference amid an economic slowdown.

• Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank to be merged with Punjab National Bank. • Syndicate Bank to be merged with Canara Bank. • Union Bank of India to be merged with Andhra Bank and Cooperation Bank. • Indian Bank is merged with Allahabad Bank.

Background of merger of banks in India • Narasimhan Committee Report in 1991 (NC-I),recommended a three tier banking structure in

India through establishment of three large banks with international presence, eight to ten national banks and a large number of regional and local banks.

• The PJ Nayak Committee on improving the governance of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) had also recommended for merger of PSBs.

• Earlier in August 2017, the Union Cabinet had given in-principle approval for Public Sector Banks to amalgamate through an Alternative Mechanism (AM) in August 2017.

Need for Consolidation of Banks

A. Fragmented Banking Structure in India • Indian banking sector is highly fragmented, especially in comparison with other key

economies. • Additionally, most of the PSBs in India are competing within themselves; most of them

have same business models and compete in the same segments as well as same geographies.

• Thus, there is a huge scope of consolidation in this sector

B. Need to build capacity to meet credit demand • India needs to have global sized banks that can support the investment needs of

economy and sustain economic growth. • To meet the growing credit demand of the economy, the Public Sector Banks need to be

well capitalized and need to enhance their capacity to lend to larger companies and larger projects.

• Consolidation of Public Sector Banks would create larger banks with capacity to fund larger size projects of economic importance.


C. Need for larger capital base to manage NPAs • Public Sector Banks (PSBs) which form approximately 72% of the Indian banking system

are among the most affected by the high non-performing asset (NPA) problem at present

• There are suggestions that a consolidation of PSBs can help them manage the challenge of NPAs more effectively.

Risks and Challenges • Systemic risk: It has been argued that a failure of a very large bank may have adverse impact

on the economy as witnessed during the financial crisis of 2008. The 2008 crisis highlighted that presence of large financial institutions pose systemic risk to the economy and such institutions are "too big to fail". Further, in event of any such crisis in future, the onus would lie on the government to bail out the institutions, thus posing a moral hazard.

• Human resource integration: Other issue is human resource integration and management as many employees would fear job loss and disparities in the form of regional allegiances, benefits, reduced promotional avenues, new culture, etc.

• Customer Retention: The other challenge is customer retention. SBI’s recent merger with its associate banks saw customers of associate banks opting to move their business to rival lenders as result of a lack of comfort in banking with the larger parent.


Personal Notes

Title 5. Puppets have no ego (The Hindu Pg no 04 Friday Review ) Syllabus Mains GS paper I – Indian Culture

Theme Puppets art-forms in India Highlights Puppetry throughout the ages has held an important place in traditional entertainment.

Puppetry has been successfully used to motivate emotionally and physically handicapped students to develop their mental and physical faculties. Awareness programmes about the conservation of the natural and cultural environment have also proved to be useful. These programmes aim at sensitising the students to the beauty in word, sound, form, colour and movement. The aesthetic satisfaction derived from making of puppets and communicating through them helps in the all round development of the personality of the child.

The puppets are believed to be around since the time of Harappa and Mohenjodaro civilisation dating back to 2300 BC. Several dolls with strings are found in some of the harappan cities.


The Mahabharata also refers to popular entertainment in India including art of puppetry and shadow theatre. There is reference in Gita where the three qualities found in men (Satta, Rajah and Tamah) are said to be the three strings pulled by the Divine to lead man in life.

Silappadikaaram is earliest reference to the art of puppetry is found in Sangam literature.

Stories are adapted from puranic literature, local myths and legends usually form the content of traditional puppet theatre in India which, in turn, imbibes elements of all creative expressions like painting, sculpture, music, dance, drama, etc. The presentation of puppet programmes involves the creative efforts of many people working together.

Several types of Puppet forms are available in our diverse culture of India:

• String Puppets

Characteristics:

a) It has jointed body and limbs that allow movement.

b) Puppets are made of wood, or wire, or cloth stuffed with cotton, rags or saw dust.

c) The puppet is suspended from a hand held control strings that are attached to different parts of the puppet’s body.

d) The puppet is manipulated by operating the control as well as by loosening or pulling the relevant string(s).

e) For the convenience of manipulation and support, two rods are attached to the hands of the puppets.

Examples:

i. Kathputli (Rajasthan)

ii. Kundhei (Orissa)

iii. Gombeyatta (Karnataka)

iv. Bommalattam (Tamil Nadu)

• Shadow Puppets


Characteristics

a) Shadow puppets are flat puppets that are operated against the rear of a tightly stretched white cloth screen.

b) They are cut out of leather, which has been treated to make it translucent.

c) Shadow puppets are pressed against the screen with a strong source of light behind it.

d) The manipulation between the light and the screen make silhouettes or colourful shadows for the viewers who sit in front of the screen.

e) The puppet shapes or cutouts are perforated and split bamboo or cane sticks are attached vertically to the puppet for handling and manipulation.

Examples:

i. Togalu Gombeyatta (Karnataka)

ii. Tholu Bommalata (Andhra Pradesh)

iii. Ravanachhaya (Orissa)

iv. Tolpavakoothu (Kerala)

v. Chamadyache Bahulya (Maharashtra)

• Rod Puppets

Characteristics

a) These puppets have mostly three joints. The heads, supported by the main rod, is joined


at the neck and both hands attached to rods are joined at the shoulders.

b) The main holding rod that supports the puppet may be hidden by a robe or costume of the puppet.

c) The action rods are usually connected to the hands of the puppet and manipulated by the puppeteer to show action.

d) The body and hands have a bamboo base covered and plastered with hay and rice husk mixed and moulded into required shape.

e) Due to the absence of legs the puppets are draped in a sari or dhoti as per the character.

f) The puppet movements are highly dramatic.

Examples:

i. Putul Nautch (West Bengal)

ii. Yampuri (Bihar)

iii. Kathi Kandhe (Orissa)

• Glove Puppets

Characteristics

a) The glove puppets are worn on hands just like a glove.

b) The middle finger and thumb act as hands of the puppet and the index finger acts as the head.

c) Head is made of either papier mache, cloth or wood, with two hands emerging from just below the neck.

Examples:

1. Pava-kathakali (Kerala)

2. Kundhei nach (Orissa)

In the past, traditional puppet shows were used to convey religious messages in villages. Today, due to the influence of modern communication methods, the traditional puppetry is at the cross roads in many states of India with most puppeteers taking to alternate source of livelihood. However, contemporary puppetry has a tremendous scope in the field of


education, entertainment and awareness generation.

Pavai (Centre for Puppetry) explores and uses the art of puppetry for communication at various levels and works towards its promotion and preservation with the help of children, youth and the teaching community.

Personal Notes

Dated: 06. SEPTEMBER. 2019 DNS Notes Title 6. India lends $1 billion for Russia Far East (The Hindu Pg no 01) Syllabus GS paper II – International Relations

Theme India-Russia Relations Highlights Context

In the recent visit to Russia, Indian PM has announced a $1 billion line of credit for the development of the resource-rich region for the development of its Far East. What is Line of credit? A line of credit is a type of loan that provides a borrower access to a certain amount of money. As long as they do not exceed that maximum amount, the borrower can withdraw funds as they see fit. That maximum amount that a borrower can withdraw is called the “credit limit.” Interest is only charged on funds that the borrower withdraws. It needs to be clarified that Indian Government has extended a Line of Credit (LOC) and it is a type of soft loan (one that invites concessional interest rates) and not a grant and, hence, needs to be repaid. How India will benefit from this Line of Credit One benefit of LOCs is that it promotes export of Indian goods and services as 75% of the value of contract must be sourced from India. Another benefit is that only Indian companies/firms can bid for executing Line of Credit projects. This, in turn, creates opportunities for Indian companies. Instrument of LOC India first used LOCs in 2004 to develop partnerships in Africa. In the current case, there has been a variation from the previous versions. First, it is region specific and second, it is offered to a developed country.


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