Recently, the Supreme Court issued a directive to the Centre and state governments, to effectively implement the National Commission for Allied & Healthcare Professions Act (NCAHP), 2021.
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The court said, the non-implementation of the NCAHP Act is violative of general publics’ Fundamental Right to Life and Personal Dignity guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The court issued orders for the establishment of the respective professional councils and state allied and health care councils to implement the law.
About National Commission for Allied & Healthcare Professions Act (NCAHP)
The NCAHP Act was enacted in March 2021, recognising the critical importance of human resources for health.
The NCAHP Act was introduced to regulate allied and healthcare professionals through a National and State Commission.
The act provides for the maintenance of central and state registers for the registration of professionals, and prescribes regulations for education standards, common entrance and licensing exams, a code of ethics, and disciplinary mechanisms. It also prohibits practice without registration.
It aims to protect the public against illegal institutional bodies.
The Act was part of the govt’s attempt to provide universal health coverage, a mandate which is vitally dependent on an adequate and effective health workforce providing care at all levels in both the public and private sectors.
The 2021 law provides a broad definition of an allied healthcare professional.
Allied healthcare professionals, or AHPs, are specialised persons who support healthcare operations in settings operated by doctors or professionals.
They perform functions such as conducting x-rays and serving as operation theatre technicians or radiotherapy technologists.
Why has the Act not been operationalised?
There is no uniformity in, or regulation of, the qualifications prescribed for these professional courses.
The lack of properly regulated healthcare training institutions. It has led to a proliferation of institutes offering diplomas and certificate courses without any standardised curriculum or teaching methods.
AUKUS
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Recently, the AUKUS countries signed an agreement for cooperation related to naval nuclear propulsion technology.
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The agreement will enable the UK and the US to transfer submarine-specific material and equipment for Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines.
It will also allow the continued communication and exchange of information related to nuclear-powered submarines among AUKUS partners.
About AUKUS
AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership between the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Australia agreed in 2021.
AUKUS is seen as a strategic buildup to deter Chinese aggression and ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. The countries aim to strengthen their defense capabilities and industrial capacity to deter coercion or aggression.
It consists of two key pillars and has been designed to allow the three nations to cooperate closely on key defence capabilities, including submarine technology and cutting-edge advanced capabilities such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
Pillar 1 focuses on supporting Australia to acquire its first conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
Pillar 2 focuses on cooperation in eight advanced military capability areas, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, innovation, information sharing, and cyber, undersea, hypersonic and counter-hypersonic and electronic warfare domains.
The AUKUS Scheme is the first time a provision in the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty has been used to transfer fissile material and nuclear technology from a nuclear weapons state to a non-weapons state.
The nuclear reactors that will power Australia’s nuclear submarines will not be built in Australia. They will arrive from either the UK or US in a welded power unit and will not require refuelling during their expected lifetime.
Geneva Conventions of 1949
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Recently, the world celebrated the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, which are considered the foundation of international humanitarian law.
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The Conventions are a universal acknowledgment that war needs rules to limit its devastating impact on humanity.
They are based on shared human values that have been around since the first human civilizations, and are deeply rooted in ancestral cultures and traditions.
The Conventions are universally ratified, with 196 states as parties, including all UN member states, UN observers, and the Cook Islands.
The Conventions call on parties to armed conflict to comply with IHL to protect civilians and other victims, mitigate the worst consequences of war, and support pathways to peace.
The Conventions also establish the role of a protecting power, which is a state that is not involved in the conflict but agrees to look after the interests of a party to the conflict.
The protecting power acts as a mediator, monitors the implementation of the Conventions, and advocates for civilians, prisoners, and the wounded.
Global Employment Trends (GET) for Youth 2024
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Recently, the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) released the Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024 Report.
Key highlights
According to the report, the post-COVID-19 pandemic employment recovery has not been universal.
The report cautioned that the number of 15- to 24-year-olds who are not in employment, education or training is concerning.
The report finds that young men have benefited more from the labour market recovery than young women.
The report found that in low-income countries, only one in five young adults aged 25 to 29 manage to find a secure paid job.
In Asia and the Pacific region, the youth unemployment rate was at 13.9% in 2023 and the ILO said it reflected a full recovery from the Covid crisis years.
The report states that "only in high- and upper-middle-income economies are the majority of young workers today in a regular, secure job.
NIRF Ranking 2024
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Recently, the Ministry of Education has released the ninth edition of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024.
About
The NIRF is a ranking system introduced by the Ministry of Education in 2015.
It aims to provide a fair and transparent assessment of higher education institutions across India based on various parameters.
The NIRF rankings will cover 13 categories including universities, colleges, research institutions, engineering, management, pharmacy, medical, dental, law, architecture and planning, agriculture and allied sectors and innovation.
The NIRF rankings are determined based on five broad parameters: Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RP), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (O&I), and Perception (PR). The rankings serve as an essential guide for students making crucial decisions about their higher education paths.
The NIRF rankings 2024 continue to offer an 'Overall' rank for institutions while providing detailed rankings across various categories.
In the 2024 ranking based on the 'Overall' category, the maximum number of top colleges are from Tamil Nadu.
Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir among others have no colleges in the top 50 overall category.
Women and Men in India Report
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Recently, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the 25th edition of a report titled Women and Men in India 2023.
Key highlights
The publication is a comprehensive and insightful document that attempts to bring a holistic view of the situation of women and men in India.
It provides data on a wide range of topics such as Population, Education, Health, Participation in Economy, Participation in Decision making etc. among others.
It presents data disaggregated by gender, urban-rural divide, and geographical region, which helps to understand the disparities that exist between different groups of women and men.
The publication includes important indicators as derived from published official data of different Ministries/Departments/Organizations.
According to a report, by 2036, the population of India is expected to reach 152.2 Crore, with a slightly improved female percentage of 48.8% as compared to 48.5 percent in 2011.
The proportion of individuals under 15 years is projected to decrease from 2011 to 2036, likely due to declining fertility. Conversely, the proportion of the population aged 60 years and above is anticipated to substantially increase during this period.
India's population in 2036 is expected to be more feminine compared to the 2011 population, as reflected in the sex ratio which is projected to increase from 943 in 2011 to 952 by 2036, highlighting a positive trend in gender equality.
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is one of the SDG indicators and to bring it down to 70 by 2030 is explicitly laid down in the SDG framework.
Forever Chemicals
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Recently, an American team of researchers found a method to trace the origin and the destination of forever chemicals.
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The researchers have used a technique which involves magnetic fields and radio waves to track the spread of these chemicals in the ecosystems across the globe.
The technique involves passing samples through a strong magnetic field then reading the burst of radio waves their atoms emit.
This reveals the composition of carbon isotopes in the molecule and gives the chemical its fingerprint, a feat that had not previously been achieved with forever chemicals.
About Forever Chemicals
Forever chemicals refer to human-made toxic compositions which are not depleted naturally and can stay in the environment for thousands of years.
Forever chemicals are made by bonding carbon isotopes to the element fluorine, which almost never happens in nature. Once the molecular bonds form, they are virtually unbreakable.
These chemicals that are scientifically known as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are generally useful in applications such as water-proofing, heat resistance, detergents, food packaging and non-stick technologies.
They are known to stay in the environment virtually forever and contribute to environmental degradation which adversely impacts the health of all organisms including human beings.
Ballast Water
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According to Scientists, ballast water carried by ships is providing a vehicle to bring in exotic and invasive species in coastal areas.
About
Ballast water is fresh or saltwater that ships carry in their ballast tanks and cargo holds to improve stability and manoeuvrability during a voyage.
It's used when ships are not carrying cargo, are not carrying enough cargo, or need more stability due to rough seas.
The water contains thousands of aquatic organisms, including plants, animals, microbes, viruses, bacteria, algae, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates.
When a ship reaches its destination, it releases the ballast water, which can introduce these organisms into local waters. If the organisms survive the trip and spread out in their new environment, they can become invasive species.
A recent survey had recorded the presence of as many as 10 invasive species in the biodiversity-rich intertidal habitats of the Kerala coast. They include one seaweed, one species of bryozoan, one species of mollusc and seven species of ascidian.
Tungabhadra River
Why in news?
Recently, environmentalists have decided to take out a march to spread awareness about the conservation of the Tungabhadra River.
About Tungabhadra River
Tungabhadra is a major river in the south Indian peninsula.
The river Tungabhadra derives its name from the Tunga, and the Bhadra.
The river, after the influence of the two streams near Shimoga, runs for about 531 Km till it joins the river Krishna in Andhra Pradesh.
It forms the boundary between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh for 58 Km.
It is influenced chiefly by the South-West monsoon. It is a perennial river but the summer flows dwindle.
Major tributaries are the Bhadra, the Haridra, the Vedavati, the Tunga, the Varda and the Kumdavathi.
FloodWatch India Application
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Recently, the Union Jal Shakti Ministry has launched 'FloodWatch India' 2.0 version.
About
FloodWatch India was developed by the Central Water Commission.
It utilizes advanced technologies such as satellite data analysis, mathematical modelling and real-time monitoring to deliver accurate and timely flood forecasts.
The app also provides flood forecasts at the nearest location where users can check the flood situation at the station nearest to them.
This app gives information related to the flood situation and forecasts up to 7 days on a real-time basis to the public.
The user-friendly app presents all the information in 2 languages - English and Hindi – and is available in readable and audio broadcast format.
GAURAV
Why in news?
Recently, the DRDO successfully carried out the maiden test flight of the Long-Range Glide Bomb GAURAV from Sukhoi-30 MK-I.
About
GAURAV is an air-launched one-thousand-kilogram class glide bomb, capable of hitting targets at long distances.
It has been designed and developed indigenously by the Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad.
It uses a hybrid navigation system that combines Inertial Navigation System (INS) with Global Positioning System (GPS) data for highly accurate targeting.
Glide bombs can accurately deliver warheads in a manner comparable to cruise missiles at a fraction of the cost.
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