PIB Summary- 4th May, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

India – UK Virtual Summit

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Summit outcomes:

• An ambitious ‘Roadmap 2030’ was adopted at the Summit to elevate bilateral ties to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.
• The Roadmap will pave the way for a deeper and stronger engagement over the next ten years in the key areas of people to people contacts, trade and economy, defence and security, climate action and health.
• The two leaders discussed the Covid-19 situation and ongoing cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, including the successful partnership on vaccines.
• The leaders launched an ‘Enhanced Trade Partnership’ (ETP) to unleash the trade potential between the 5th and 6th largest economies of the world and by setting an ambitious target of more than doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
  (i) As part of the ETP, India and the UK agreed on a roadmap to negotiate a comprehensive and balanced FTA, including consideration of an Interim Trade Agreement for delivering early gains.
  (ii) The enhanced trade partnership between India and the UK will generate several thousands of direct and indirect jobs in both the countries.
• A new India-UK ‘Global Innovation Partnership’ was announced at the Virtual Summit that aims to support the transfer of inclusive Indian innovations to select developing countries, starting with Africa.
  (i) Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on new and emerging technologies, including Digital and ICT products, and work on supply chain resilience.
  (ii) They also agreed to strengthen defence and security ties, including in the maritime, counter-terrorism and cyberspace domains.
• They reiterated commitment to climate action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and agreed to closely engage in the run up to CoP26 hosted by the UK later this year.

Ayush-64

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What’s in the News?

• The clinical trials were conducted by CCRAS in collaboration with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and many other research organizations and medical colleges across the country.
• The trials have shown that Ayush-64 is found to be useful in the treatment of asymptomatic, mild and moderate COVID-19 infection.
• Consequently, the drug is now repurposed for COVID-19.

What is Ayush-64?

• Ayush-64 is an Ayurvedic formulation developed by CCRAS.
• Originally developed in 1980 for the management of Malaria, this drug has now been repurposed for Covid-19 as its ingredients showed notable antiviral, immune-modulator and antipyretic properties.
• The in-silico study done on Ayush 64 showed that 35 out of 36 of its Phyto-constituents have high binding affinity against the COVID-19 virus.
• The formulation has also shown very promising results in Influenza like illnesses.
• With scientific evidence generated from six clinical studies across India, Ayush 64 has been identified as a potential adjunct to standard care in the management of asymptomatic, mild and moderate COVID-19 to improve the clinical recovery and quality of life.
• Ayush-64 is found to significantly enhance the speed of clinical recovery in terms of disease symptoms and severity. It also has significant beneficial effects on general health, fatigue, anxiety, stress, appetite, general wellbeing and sleep.
• The formulation can be taken by patients at any stage of the COVID-19 disease. However, its efficacy was scientifically studied in asymptomatic, mild and moderate disease without risk factors for poor outcome and those not requiring emergency interventions or hospitalization are eligible to take Ayush-64.

About Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS):

• It is an autonomous body of the Ministry of AYUSH.
• It is an apex body in India for the formulation, coordination, development and promotion of research on scientific lines in Ayurveda and Sowa-Rigpa system of medicine.
• The activities are carried out through its 30 Institutes/Centres/Units located all over India and also through collaborative studies with various Universities, Hospitals and Institutes.
• The research activities of the Council include Medicinal Plant Research (Medico-Ethno Botanical Survey, Pharmacognosy and Tissue Culture), Drug Standardization, Pharmacological Research, Clinical Research, Literary Research & Documentation and Tribal Health Care Research Programme.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi.

Moorhen Yoga Mat

Context:

What’s in the News?

• Six young girls belonging to the fishing community in the fringes of the Deepor Beel in Assam have developed a biodegradable Yoga mat from water hyacinth.
• The Deepor Beel lake has been a source of livelihood for 9 villages of the fishing community who share this biome for centuries, but over the years have suffered from excessive growth and accumulation of water hyacinth.
• This innovation could therefore contribute significantly towards the environmental conservation and sustainability of Deepor Beel and also ensure local livelihood.
• The mat called ‘Moorhen Yoga Mat’ will soon be introduced to the world market as a unique product.
• The mat has been named after Kam Sorai (Purple moorhen, a resident bird of Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary).

Significance:

• Considering all aspects of water hyacinth’s properties and the functional requirements of a product like a mat, a hand-woven 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable mat to be used for doing Yoga was ideated as a means to provide multiple ecological and social benefits.
• The mat developed through fibre processing and technological interventions could improve the aquatic ecosystem of the wetland through the removal of water hyacinth.
• It will also help in the sustainable production of utility products with community engagement and generate of livelihood for indigenous communities to become completely ‘Atamanirbhar’.
• The intervention was triggered through an initiative by North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), an autonomous body under Department of Science & Technology (DST) to involve the entire women community associated with a collective called ‘Simang’, led by the 6 girls to create wealth from water hyacinth plants.

About Deepor Beel:

• It is a permanent freshwater lake in the southwest of Guwahati city, recognised as a Ramsar Site and a bird wildlife sanctuary.
• It is the only wetland in Assam designated as a site of importance for “conservation and sustainable use” under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
• The landscape of Deepor Beel, a riverine wetland in Kamrup district in the lower Brahmaputra valley, is dynamic, holding attraction for ornithologists, wildlife biologists and environmentalists.
• It is also a grooming site for bird enthusiasts as it sustains over 200 species of birds, including about 70 species of migratory birds.
• It is known for its fish and bird diversity and rich aquatic vegetation that attracts wild elephants.
• However, it faces conservation threats from garbage dumping, quarrying, a railway line, etc.