PIB Summary- 28th November, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Tuberculosis

Why in News?
Padma Shri, Khel Ratna Arjuna Awardee, India’s First Woman Paralympic Medalist and President of the Paralympic Committee of India, Dr. (h.c) Deepa Malik has pledged her support to the TB Mukt Bharat campaign by becoming its national ambassador and a Ni-Kshay Mitra.

About Tuberculosis

• TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious killer.
• Each day, over 4000 people lose their lives to TB and close to 30,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease
• TB is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs.
• Transmission: TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air.
• Symptoms: Cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.
• Treatment: TB is a treatable and curable disease. It is treated with a standard 6 month course of 4 antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer.
• Anti-TB medicines have been used for decades and strains that are resistant to 1 or more of the medicines have been documented in every country surveyed.
• Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a form of TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid and rifampicin, the 2 most powerful, first-line anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB is treatable and curable by using second-line drugs.
• Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is a more serious form of MDR-TB caused by bacteria that do not respond to the most effective second-line anti-TB drugs, often leaving patients without any further treatment options.

Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY)

• It is a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme for nutritional support to Tuberculosis (TB) patients rolled out in April 2018 by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme under National Health Mission (NHM).
  • Financial norms of NHM in terms of cost sharing are applicable to the scheme.
• This scheme is implemented across all States and UTs in India.
• All TB patients notified on or after 1st April 2018 including all existing TB patients under treatment are eligible to receive incentives.
• The patient must be registered\notified on the NIKSHAY portal.

About Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan

• It has been envisioned to bring together all community stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination.
• This is aimed at working towards TB elimination from the country by 2025.
• Under the scheme, individuals, NGOs and corporates can adopt TB patients by committing support for 1-3 years. 
• To join the initiative, they have to register on the site, which has an anonymous list of TB patients, categorized according to the primary health centres, blocks, districts and states. 
• The sponsors can select the number of patients as per their capacity.

Components of the scheme

• The Ni-kshay Mitra initiative which forms a vital component of the `Abhiyaan’ is also launched along with the Abhiyaan.
  • This portal provides a platform for donors to provide various forms of support to those undergoing TB treatment.
• The three-pronged support includes:
  • Nutritional,
  • Additional diagnostic,
  • Vocational support.

Indo Pacific Regional Dialogue

Why in News?
Recently, the fourth edition of Indo Pacific Regional Dialogue concluded in Delhi.

Theme: Operationalising the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative

About Indo Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD)

• IPRD is an apex level international annual conference of the Indian Navy.
• In 2018, the initial conception of an IPRD was made.
• With the exception of 2020, when it had to be postponed owing to the Covid-19, the event has been hosted annually since its initial year in 2018.
• The National Maritime Foundation (NMF) is the Navy’s knowledge partner and chief organizer of each edition of the event.

Objectives

• The IPRD reviews the current geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific region and identifies opportunities, dangers, and problems that might be present.
• IPRD remains crucial to its interests because one of the main goals of the NMF is to conduct analyses of international relations and geopolitical factors that are important to India strategically,

About Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)

• It was articulated by the Indian Prime Minister at the 14th East Asia Summit (EAS) in 2019.
• It is a comprehensive and inclusive construct for regional cooperation that is focused on seven interconnected spokes or pillars:
  • Maritime Security
  • Maritime Ecology
  • Maritime Resources
  • Disaster Risk-reduction and Management
  • Trade-Connectivity and Maritime Transport
  • Capacity-building and Resource sharing
  • Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation

AUSTRA HIND 22

Why in News?
The bilateral training exercise “AUSTRA HIND 22” between contingents of the Indian Army and the Australian Army is scheduled to take place at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges (Rajasthan).

About exercise “AUSTRA HIND 22

• This is the first exercise in the series of AUSTRA HIND with participation of all arms and services contingent from both armies.
• Exercise “AUSTRA HIND” will be a yearly event that will be conducted alternatively in India and Australia.
• Aim of the exercise is to build positive military relations, imbibe each other’s best practices and promote the ability to operate together while undertaking multi-domain operations in Semi deserts terrain under a UN peace enforcement mandate.
• This joint exercise will enable the two armies to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for conducting tactical operations at Company and Platoon level for neutralising hostile threats.
• Training on new generation equipment and specialist weapons including snipers, surveillance & communication equipment to achieve a high degree of situational awareness apart from casualty management, casualty evacuation and planning logistics at Battalion / Company level are also planned.
• During the exercise, participants will engage in a variety of tasks ranging from joint planning, joint tactical drills, sharing basics of special arms skills and raiding a hostile target.
• The joint exercise, besides promoting understanding and interoperability between the two armies, will further help in strengthening ties between India and Australia.