- INDIA HAS REJECTED DEMAND FOR DATA EXCLUSIVITY IN DRUG DEVELOPMENT IN FTA TALKS
- Demands for data exclusivity have cropped up since 2008 from the European Union and the EFTA — Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein — as part of trade negotiations with India, but these have been consistently rejected
- Data exclusivity -It pertains to a clause in the draft agreement that puts a minimum six-year embargo on clinical trial data generated during the testing and development of a drug
- Thus, manufacturers interested in making a copycat product would have to § Generate such data on their own which is an expensive proposition
- Or wait out that period before applying to register and sell their version in India
- This could also apply to drugs that are not patented in India
- India’s generic drug industry has over the years made affordable versions of expensive drugs and become a global supplier itself, and such a clause could hamper the industry
2. INSAT -3DS Mission to be launched from Sriharikota
- The GSLV-F14 is the 16th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and the 10th flight with the indigenous cryo stage
- This is the seventh operational flight of the GSLV with an indigenous cryogenic stage The GSLV-F14, with indigenous cryogenic stage, will place INSAT-3DS satellite in a geosynchronous transfer orbit
- The satellite is an exclusive mission designed for enhanced meteorological observations, monitoring of land and ocean surfaces for weather forecasting and disaster warning ○ The primary objectives of the mission are
- To monitor Earth’s surface
- Carry out oceanic observations
- Provide the vertical profile of various meteorological parameters of the atmosphere Provide satellite aided search and rescue services
3. Special Officer to mitigate human – wildlife conflict
- A meet of people’s representatives in Wayanad, chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has decided to appoint a special officer in the rank of a Chief Conservator of forest in the district to mitigate the accelerating human-wildlife conflict in the district Other decisions -Priority should be given to protecting the life of the public
- The command control centre of the officials of Revenue, Forest and Police Departments should be strengthened A war room should be set up with the officials of the three departments, and civic body members
- Strengthening of the rapid response teams – Utilise modern systems like community radio, wireless systems and WhatsApp groups to alert the public on the presence of wildlife in human habitats
- Restoration works of trenches and fencing on forest fringes should be completed quickly
- A people’s committee with ward members should be constituted to watch the movements of wildlife where the fencing works have been completed
- Night patrolling should be intensified on the fringes of forest
- Afforestation projects should executed on fallow lands of protected areas
- With the assistance of MGNREGS workers
4. Indian Martial Arts training for Army post Galwan Clash
- Various Indian martial arts are now part of the routine training of regiments of the Army
- Post the Galwan violent clash between India and China, the Army has added martial arts to the regular training of troops in addition to the usual physical exercise
- Punjab regiment has incorporated Gatka
- Gorkha Regiment has incorporated Khukri dance
- Madras regiment has incorporated Kalaripayattu
5. India Nepal sign pact to link UPI, NPI for Faster Remittances
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) signed and exchanged Terms of Reference (ToR) to integrate fast payment systems of India and Nepal through Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and National Payments Interface (NPI) of Nepal, respectively
- Collaboration between India and Nepal
- Linking their fast payment systems through the UPI-NPI linkage would
- Further deepen financial connectivity
- Reinforce the enduring historical, cultural, and economic ties between the two countries
6. U.K economy slipped into technical recession in 2023. Sunak faces flak
- Economists define a technical recession as two straight quarters of falling output
- A technical recession happens when gross domestic product (GDP) contracts for two consecutive quarters
- But the small scale of the declines suggests the UK is in stagnation rather than a full-blown downturn
- It could nonetheless increase pressure on the Bank of England to cut interest rates from a 16-year high
ONE LINER
- BILATERAL MAIDEN NAVAL EXERCISE BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES TO BE CONDUCTED
- Participating countries are India and Thailand with significance to symbolizes the Maritime connection between Ayodhya in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand.
- Meaning of Ex- Ayutthaya : The Invincible One
