News: World Health Organization(WHO) has released the World Malaria Report 2020.
Facts:
- Aim: To look at the 20 years of global progress and challenges in the fight against the Malaria.
Key Takeaways:
- Malaria Control: The two decades from 2000 to 2020 was a period of extraordinary success in malaria control: As many as 1.5 billion cases and 7.6 million deaths were averted.
- Burden of Malaria: At least 29 countries accounted for 95% malaria cases globally, with Africa carrying the highest burden.The continent accounted for 94% of the world’s malaria cases and deaths with an estimated 215 million cases in 2019.
- India: India is the only high endemic country which has reported a decline of 17.6% in 2019 as compared to 2018.India has contributed to the largest absolute reductions in the WHO South-East Asia Region from about 20 million cases in 2000 to about 5.6 million in 2019.
- Malaria Free: Sri Lanka was certified malaria free in 2015 and Timor-Leste reported zero malaria cases in 2018 and 2019.
- Concerns: The gains made in malaria control have levelled off in recent years and more so in the wake of COVID-19 as pandemic caused disruptions in essential malaria services.
Recommendations:
- WHO Initiatives: High burden to high impact initiative is a country-led response supported by WHO and the RBM Partnership to End Malaria to reignite the pace of progress in the global malaria fight.
- Examples to implement: The report referred to the Mass Action Against Malaria initiative in Uganda which is an example of a country-led process of political engagement at all levels and multi-sectoral and community mobilisation.
- National Plan for Insecticide Resistance: It has called on countries to develop a national plan for insecticide resistance monitoring and management and draw on the WHO Framework for a national plan for monitoring and management of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors.
Additional Facts:
- Malaria: It is a disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Karnataka MLC disqualified for being appointed as minister: HC
News: Karnataka High Court has held that Member of Legislative Council(MLC) Vishwanath stands disqualified under the anti-defection law and hence cannot be inducted into the state cabinet.
Facts:
- Background: A petition was filed in the court alleging that AH Vishwanath had been appointed as member of the Legislative Council(MLC) for the sole purpose of making him minister despite the fact that he had lost the bye-polls.
- The petitioner argued that he was still disqualified as per the Supreme Court judgement which upheld former Assembly Speaker’s orders for disqualification.
- The plea maintained that a disqualified member can become eligible to hold the position of a minister only if they win the bye-elections from the same constituency.
- What was the judgement: The Karnataka High Court has held that AH Vishwanath has incurred disqualification under Article 164(1B) and Article 361 B of the Indian Constitution.
Additional Facts:
- Article 164(1B): It states that any member of the Legislative Assembly either the house or the council, belonging to any political party, if disqualified as a member of the Assembly, shall also be disqualified to be appointed as a Minister for the period of their disqualification.
- Article 361B– It states that a member of a House belonging to any political party who is disqualified for being a member of the House under Tenth Schedule shall also be disqualified to hold any remunerative political post for duration of the period commencing from the date of his disqualification till the date on which the term of his office as such member would expire or till the date on which he contests an election to a House and is declared elected whichever is earlier.
- Anti-defection law: It is contained in the 10th Schedule of Constitution.It was enacted by Parliament in 1985.It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House.
Union Minister E-Inaugurates The First Ever Virtual Aadi Mahotsav
News: Union Minister for Tribal Affairs has launched the virtual edition of Aadi Mahotsav in Madhya Pradesh.
Facts:
- Adi Mahotsav: is a National Tribal Festival launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India(TRIFED).
- Objective: To familiarise the people with the rich and diverse craft, culture of the tribal communities across the country in one place.
Additional Facts:
- TRIFED: It was established in 1987 under the administrative control of the Ministry of Tribal affairs.It aims to provide good price to the products made or collected from the forest by the tribal people.
- Tribes India e-market place: It is a TRIFED initiative that aims to showcase the produce and handicrafts of tribal enterprises from across the country and helps them market their produce/ products directly.
News: Department of Science and Technology(DST) in association with Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) announced the 26th edition of Technology Summit 2020.
Facts:
- Aim: To provide benefit to the Indian industry and academic & research institutions by forging partnerships, stimulating innovation, investment & trade and facilitating technology transfers, joint projects and market access.
- Partner Country: Portugal is the partner country this year.
- Focus Sectors: The focus sectors of the summit are Watertech, Agritech, Healthtech, Energy, Climate change, Cleantech, IT, ICT, Advanced technologies, and Space- Ocean Interactions.
Indian Navy’s MARCOS deployed near Ladakh’s Pangong lake
News: Indian Navy has deployed Marine Commandos(MARCOS) in the Pangong lake area in eastern Ladakh amid India-China standoff.
Facts:
- MARCOS also known as the Marine Commando Force(MCF) is the special forces unit of the Indian Navy founded in 1987 responsible for conducting special operations.
- Role: They are trained to conduct amphibious warfare, counter terrorism, special reconnaissance, hostage rescue and asymmetric warfare operations.
Geospatial Practices for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific 2020 Report
News:United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) has released a report titled “Geospatial Practices for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific 2020 Report”.
Facts:
- What is Geospatial data? It means the data that has a geographic component to it.This means that the records in a dataset have locational information tied to them such as geographic data in the form of coordinates, address, city and PIN code.
Key Takeaways from the Report:
- Use of Geospatial Technology: Asian and Pacific countries are increasingly using geospatial information to respond to challenges on the ground including efforts to contain the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
- India’s BHUVAN Portal: The report praised the role being played by ‘BHUVAN’, India’s national geo-portal developed and hosted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in combating COVID-19.
- UN Space+ Initiative: The report flagged the role of the UN-led ‘Space+’ initiative that focuses on strengthening implementation through enhanced partnership with global and regional stakeholders.
Additional Facts:
- UNESCAP: It is the regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region.It has 53 Member States and 9 Associate Members from Asia-Pacific Region including India.
News: The World AIDS Day is observed on 1st December every year all over the world.
Facts:
- World AIDS Day: It was founded in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Aim: To create global solidarity among people who live with HIV and also seek to destigmatize the health issue.
- Theme for 2020: “Global solidarity, resilient HIV services.”
Additional Facts:
- HIV: It is the human immunodeficiency virus which targets the immune system and weakens people’s defense systems.AIDS is the acquired immune deficiency syndrome, the most advanced stage of HIV infection.
- Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS): It is the main advocate for accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action on the HIV/AIDS pandemic.It was established in 1994 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Global health sector strategy on HIV for 2016–2021: It was launched at the Sixty-Ninth World Health Assembly.The strategy includes five strategic directions which includes:
- Information for focused action (know your epidemic and response)
- Interventions for impact (covering the range of services needed)
- Delivering for equity (covering the populations in need of services)
- Financing for sustainability (covering the costs of services)
- Innovation for acceleration (looking towards the future).
