BPaLM Regimen
The Ministry of Health has approved the initiation of a new treatment regimen, BPaLM, for Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP).
Objectives of the BPaLM Treatment Approach:
BPaLM Regimen:
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New Treatment Method: The BPaLM (BPaLM) regimen includes Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid, and Moxifloxacin.
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Drug Approval: Pretomanid has been approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
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Benefits: The treatment for drug-resistant TB can be completed in just six months, making it safer and more effective compared to traditional treatments.
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Reach: Approximately 75,000 drug-resistant TB patients will benefit from this new treatment.
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Cost-Benefit: The shorter treatment duration results in overall cost savings.
Process and Monitoring:
National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP):
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Objective: To make India TB-free by 2025.
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History: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the vision for TB elimination in March 2018. In 2020, RNTCP was renamed NTEP.
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Scope: Reaches over one billion people in 632 districts, implementing national strategic plans for TB elimination.
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Plan: To identify all TB patients, test for drug resistance, and complete treatment within six months.
Key Initiatives:
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PMTBMBA: Launched by the President in 2022 to encourage public participation in TB elimination.
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Nikshay Mitra: Provides additional diagnostic, nutritional, and vocational support.
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Nikshay 2.0 Portal: Assists TB patients and enhances community involvement.
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Laboratory Network: Includes 7,767 rapid molecular testing facilities and 87 culture laboratories, aiding in the timely detection of MDR-TB.
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis:
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Description: Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which belongs to the Mycobacteriaceae family, which includes approximately 200 other bacteria.
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Diseases: Some mycobacteria cause diseases like TB and leprosy in humans, and infect a wide range of other animals.
TB Statistics in India:
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Data: For the year 2021, the incidence of TB in India was 210 cases per 100,000 population, a reduction of 18% compared to the baseline year of 2015 (where the rate was 256 cases per 100,000 population). This reduction is 7 percentage points better than the global average of 11%.
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Ranking: These statistics place India 36th in terms of case rates, from highest to lowest cases.
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Inauguration of Military School in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the Military School in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
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Gorakhpur Military School: This is the first military school in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
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Management: It is the second military school operated by the Uttar Pradesh Military School Society.
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Fifth Military School: It is the fifth military school in Uttar Pradesh, of which three (in Jhansi, Amethi, and Mainpuri) are operated by the Ministry of Defence.
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Fourth and First: The fourth military school in the country, which is in Lucknow, is operated by the Uttar Pradesh government.
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Under-20 Wrestling World Championship
In wrestling, Nitika won the silver medal in the women’s 62 kg freestyle category at the Under-20 World Championship held in Pontevedra, Spain.
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She lost to Ukrainian wrestler Irina Bondar with a score of 1-4.
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Last year, Nitika won the gold medal at the Under-20 Asian Championship.
Under-20 Wrestling World Championship 2024
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The Under-20 Wrestling World Championship 2024 is being held at the Pontevedra Municipal Sports Hall in Spain.
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The annual competition will take place from September 2 to September 8.
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The championship includes three wrestling events: men’s freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s freestyle.
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India and Maldives
The 5th Defense Cooperation Talks between India and Maldives were held on September 6, 2024, in New Delhi.
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Inauguration: Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar inaugurated a major water and sanitation project, funded by Indian cooperation, on 28 islands with 7% of the Maldivian population. The project is valued at $110 million.
Key Discussion Points
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Ongoing Defense Projects: Both sides emphasized accelerating ongoing defense cooperation initiatives.
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High-Level Exchanges: Discussions were held on enhancing high-level defense exchanges.
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Capability Development: Focus was placed on collaborative capacity development projects.
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Military Exercises: Future participation in bilateral military exercises was discussed.
Defense Cooperation Between India and Maldives
Defense cooperation between India and Maldives is a crucial area that reflects the strong strategic partnership between the two countries. Key aspects of this cooperation include:
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Maritime Security: Special attention is given to maritime security. India has provided Maldives with maritime patrol vessels, patrolling assets, and other maritime resources to enhance the security and surveillance of its maritime territory.
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Satellite Cooperation: India has provided satellite-based services to Maldives, aiding in maritime surveillance and early warning for natural disasters.
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Military Exercises and Training: Both countries regularly participate in military exercises and training programs. Indian armed forces provide training to Maldivian armed forces and collaborate to enhance their capabilities.
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Defense Infrastructure: India has assisted in the development of defense infrastructure in Maldives, including security equipment, helicopters, and other military supplies.
Significant Events and Initiatives
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2020 Amphibious Rescue Vehicle Supply: India supplied an amphibious rescue vehicle to Maldives to aid in emergency situations such as floods and other natural disasters.
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Military Supplies and Assistance: India has provided various military supplies to Maldives, including boats and medical equipment.
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Joint Security Initiatives: Both countries have worked together on shared security measures against terrorism, maritime crime, and smuggling
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VizioneNext Web Portal
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The Ministry of Textiles has launched the VizioneNext web portal to establish India as a global fashion leader
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The VizioneNext web portal is an initiative developed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) under the Ministry of Textiles.
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It was launched in 2018 with the support of the Ministry of Textiles.
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The goal of this initiative is to provide the fashion industry with in-depth insights and analysis on emerging trends and consumer preferences.
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VizioneNext is now based at the NIFT Chennai campus.
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VizioneNext combines artificial intelligence and emotional intelligence to generate fashion trends based on traditional Indian culture.
About the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
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The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) is a leading institute for higher education in fashion design, technology, and management in India.
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It was established in 1986.
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In 2006, it was declared a statutory institute under the NIFT Act of the Indian Parliament and was given the authority to grant its own degrees.
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It operates under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
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Hokato Hotohze Sema
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Shot-putter Hokato Hotohze Sema won the bronze medal in the men's shot put F57 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
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Sema, a survivor of a landmine explosion, achieved this medal in his first Paralympics.
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Sema, who hails from Dimapur in Nagaland, also won a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Paralympics last year.
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Recently, India successfully tested the Agni-4 ballistic missile.
About Agni-4 Missile:
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It is a medium-range ballistic missile.
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The Agni-4 was launched from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha.
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The launch successfully verified all operational and technical parameters.
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It was conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command, a part of India's Nuclear Command Authority (NCA).
Features:
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It can reach up to 4,000 kilometers.
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The missile is 20 meters long and can carry a payload of 1,000 kilograms; it can be launched from a road-mobile launcher.
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It is a surface-to-surface missile.
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It has a mobile, two-stage solid fuel system.
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The design and development of the Agni missiles have been carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
About DRDO:
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DRDO was established in 1958 through the amalgamation of the Indian Army's then existing Technical Development Establishments (TDEs) and Defence Science Organisation (DSO) with the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP).
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DRDO is the R&D wing of the Ministry of Defence of the Government of India.
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Currently, DRDO has around 41 laboratories and a network of 05 DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories (DYSLs).
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Eastern Economic Forum (EEF)
The Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) is being held in Vladivostok, Russia, in 2024. This forum is hosted annually in the same city.
About the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF):
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The EEF was established in 2015.
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It aims to support the economic development of Russia's Far East and expand international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
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The forum showcases the region’s economic potential, favorable business conditions, and investment opportunities.
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China, South Korea, Japan, and India are key stakeholders in the region, with China being the largest investor.
India's Role in Russia’s Far East:
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Petroleum Resources: The Far East region of Russia has vast petroleum and natural gas resources, which are of significant interest to India. India is keen on leveraging these resources to enhance its energy security.
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Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Route: Plans to establish a maritime route between Chennai and Vladivostok could further strengthen trade relations between India and Russia. This route could serve as an alternative to the Suez Canal.
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Strategic Response to China: The growing Chinese presence in the South China Sea and the expansion of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative could make the Chennai-Vladivostok route a strategic countermeasure. It provides India with an opportunity to play a stronger role in regional security and balance China's influence.
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Benefits to Russia: India’s presence and trade activities could help limit Chinese influence in the region. This would also benefit Russia by maintaining a balance in regional politics and economics, and by supporting a stable trade partnership.
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