DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

27^th October 2021

1. About the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission: 

GS II

Topic – Government Policies and Interventions:

• Why in the News:
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launched the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, one of India’s largest pan-strengthening programs to strengthen health care infrastructure, in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi.
• About the program:
• The program aims to strengthen health care infrastructure across the country.
• Its purpose is to fill gaps in public health infrastructure, especially in critical care and primary care facilities in urban and rural areas.
• In this regard, critical care services will be available in all regions of the country with more than five lakh people in blocks of intensive care units, and the remaining districts will be covered with referral assistance.
• People will be able to access the full range of diagnostic resources in the public health care system through a network of laboratories across the country, and integrated community health laboratories will be built in all regions.
• Integrated community health labs will also be established in all districts, giving people access to “a variety of diagnostic services” through a network of laboratories across the country.
• An IT-based diagnostic system will be established through a network of surveillance laboratories at the blockchain level, regionally, regionally and nationally.
• All public health labs will be connected via the Integrated Health Information Portal, which will be extended to all provinces and UTs.
• Institutions to be established under the program:
• Under this program, one national health centre will be established, four new national virology centres, the WHO South East Asia Region regional research forum, nine biosafety level-III laboratories, and five new regional disease control centres will also be established.
• Benefits and importance of this program:
• It will provide support to 17,788 rural health and wellness centres in 10 highly focused provinces. In addition, 11,024 urban health and health centres will be established in all provinces.
• Source – https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-the-pm-ayushman-bharat-health-infrastructure-mission-7592119/

2. The AY 4.2 Variant of COVID 19:

GS II

Topic – Health related issues:

• Why in News:
• 4.2 is a sub-group of the new Delta variant of COVID-19.
• The Delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2, first appeared in India in October 2020.
• 4.2 (called “Delta Plus” and now called VUI-21OCT-01 by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)) sub-list contains 2 mutations in its spike protein – A222V and -Y145H.
• Spread:
• Currently, the United Kingdom makes 96% of AY 4.2 cases, followed by Denmark and Germany with one percent each. It has also been reported in the US, Israel and Russia.
• In India, cases were found in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• How dangerous is AY 4.2:
• Although the evidence in AY.4.2 is still emerging, as of now, it does not appear to cause the most serious diseases.
• According to COVID-19 jabs, the small genealogy does not provide the vaccines currently used against it.
• How do viruses develop and why:
• Viral strains have one or more differentiating mutations that are different.
• In fact, the virus’s goal is to reach a point where it can live with humans because it needs the host to survive.
• Defects in viral RNA are called mutations, and viruses with this mutation are called mutations. Differences can vary with one or more conversions.
• Prelims Hot-Link:
• What is Covid 19?
• What is genetic mutation?
• What is mRNA?
• What is an RT-PCR test?
• What is a genetic sequence?
• What is different about anxiety?
• Source – https://www.india.com/news/world/ay-4-2-new-delta-covid-variant-up-to-15-per-cent-more-transmissible-may-be-named-nu-all-you-need-to-know-5069105/

3. About the UAPA Act, 1967:

GS II

Topic – Internal Security related issues:

• Why in News:
• Srinagar students who celebrated Pakistan’s victory against India in the recent T20 World Cup cricket match will be charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
• Students will be marked as OGWs of Indian anti-India organizations on police records and denied all government-sponsored benefits in the future.
• About the UAPA (Amendment) Act:
• The Act gives central government full powers, which, if the Agency deems an activity illegal, may, through the Official Gazette, declare it so.
• It has the death penalty and life imprisonment as the highest penalties
• Key points:
• Under UAPA, both Indians and foreigners can be charged.
• It will apply to people in other countries even if crimes are committed in another country, outside of India.
• Under the UAPA, the investigating agency may file a case sheet within 180 days of the arrest and the period may be extended further after reporting to the court.
• According to the 2019 amendments:
• The law gives the Director-General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) the power to authorize the seizure or attachment of property if a case is being investigated by the agency.
• The law empowers NIA officials, Inspector-level or higher, to investigate terrorism cases other than those perpetrated by the DSP or ACP or a senior government official.
• It also included the provision of nominations for terrorism.
• Delhi High Court defines UAPA contours:
• In June 2021, issuing a ruling defining the provisions of Section 15 of the “ambiguity” of the Offenses (Prohibition) Act, 1967, (UAPA), the Delhi High Court set out some important provisions in setting out Section 15, 17. & 18 of the Act.
• Sections 15, 17 and 18 of UAPA:
• 15 charges a ‘terrorist act’.
• 17 puts down the penalty for raising money by committing terrorism.
• 18 charges ‘conspiracy’ and so on. committing an act of terrorism or any act of preparation to commit an act of terrorism ’.
• Prelims Hot-Link:
• Definition of illegal activity.
• Power of the Institution under the law.
• Does judicial review work in such cases?
• Changes introduced by amendments in 2004 and 2019.
• Can foreigners be prosecuted under this law?
• Source – https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/srinagar-medicos-booked-under-uapa/article37179717.ece

4. What is the National Population Register:

GS II

Topic – Indian Constitution and its various provisions:

• Why in News:
• The latest form of the National Population Register (NPR) seems to have controversial questions such as “mother tongue, birthplace of father and mother and place of residence”, according to a document compiled by a committee under the Registrar General of India.
• What is the problem:
• Although NPR was first incorporated in 2010 and reviewed in 2015, new questions were part of a trial involving 30 lakh respondents in September 2019.
• This work has been opposed by other countries and civil society groups as the NPR is the first step in compiling the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRCs) in terms of the Citizenship Act, 2003.
• How is NPR different from the Census:
• The purpose of the NPR is to establish a comprehensive identity website for all ordinary citizens of the country and “it is the responsibility of every ordinary person in India to register with the NPR.”
• Although the same data is collected through Census, in terms of Section 15 of the Census Act, 1948, all personal information collected in the Census is confidential and is “only aggregated data released at various levels of administration.”
• Criticism surrounding NPR:
• Many countries ruled by opposition parties have opposed the review of the NPR because of its links to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to be implemented.
• In terms of Citizenship Laws enacted in 2003, the NPR is the first step in compiling the National Register of Citizens of India (NRIC) or NRC.
• What is NPR:
• The NPR is a general citizen register that is linked to local details up to the village level and is updated periodically “to cover changes due to birth, death and migration”.
• The next phase would be reviewed in conjunction with the 2021 housing and housing census but was postponed due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
• Who is the general resident:
• A general resident is defined for NPR purposes as a person who has lived in the area for 6 months or more or who intends to stay in the area for 6 months or more.
• Prelims Hot-Link:
• National constitutional provisions.
• NPR data components.
• Who is the average resident?
• Who is preparing for NPR?
• How can one obtain Indian citizenship?
• Can an Indian citizen hold dual citizenship?
• What are long-term visas?
• Recent amendments to the National Law.
• Source – https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/updated-npr-form-appears-to-retain-contentious-questions/article37181229.ece

5. About the National Cyber Security Coordinator:

Prelims Specific Topic:

• In 2014, the Office of the Prime Minister created the position of National Cyber ​​Security Coordinator.
• The NCSC office works with various agencies at the national level on cyber security issues.

https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india-in-final-stages-of-clearing-national-cybersecurity-strategy/87306950