About National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority:

• It was set up in 1997 to fix and revise the prices of controlled bulk drugs, and formulations and to enforce prices and availability of the medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995.
• It is an independent Regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
• Functions
  • To implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order in accordance with the powers delegated to it.
  • To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority.
  • To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps
  • To collect/ maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc, for bulk drugs and formulations
  • To undertake and/ or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of drugs/ pharmaceuticals
  • To render assistance to the Central Government in the parliamentary matters relating to the drugs

Nodal Ministry: It is an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

Q1: What is the "Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO)?

The Drugs Prices Control Order, 1995 is an order issued by the Government of India under Sec. 3 of Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to regulate the prices of drugs. The Order interalia provides the list of price controlled drugs, procedures for fixation of prices of drugs, method of implementation of prices fixed by Govt., penalties for contravention of provisions etc.

Source: Govt claims recovery of Rs 73 crore for drug price violations in FY24—what about the rest?

About Kindlins: 

• These are adapter proteins that exist inside the cells attached to the cell membranes of almost all types of cells in vertebrates.
• Kindlin family of proteins contains three members: Kindlin 1, 2, 3 with distinct amino acid sequences and tissue distribution. 
  • They transfer extracellular mechanical cues to biochemical signals inside the cells and play a pivotal role in conveying extracellular signals by physically interacting with structural proteins, receptors and transcription factors, triggering a cascade of chemical signals within the cell.
• Structural disruptions in these proteins can have a global impact on mechano chemical signaling, leading to disruptions in the state of balance among all the body systems needed for the body to survive and function correctly.
• Kindlins may undergo mutations under the influence of innumerable chemical and physical carcinogens like nicotine, ultraviolet rays and many more.
• Mutated Kindlin can potentially disrupt global mechanical homeostasis within cells.

Q1: What are Proteins?

These are large complex molecules that are fundamental to the structure and functioning of all living organisms. They are composed of chains of smaller units called amino acids, which are linked together in specific sequences. Proteins serve a wide variety of critical roles inbiological systems.

Source: Study of Kindlins reveal novel pathways to cancer treatment

About Sturgeon: 

• It is among the most endangered fish species globally.
• These species have been around since the age of the dinosaurs.
• Distribution: These northern hemisphere fishes can be found in large river systems, lakes, coastal waters and inner seas throughout Azerbaijan, Bulgaria,other European countries and North America.
• Since 1998, international trade in all species of sturgeons has been regulated under CITES owing to concerns over the impact of unsustainable harvesting of and illegal trade in sturgeon populations in the wild.
• Threats: Sturgeons are heavily exploited globally for their roe/eggs (caviar) and meat. This has led to a steep decline in populations worldwide.

Highlights of the report

• Of the six sturgeon species formerly native to the Danube river, two — the European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) and the ship sturgeon (A. nudiventris) — are considered locally extinct.
• The four sturgeon species in the Danube Basin are listed as Threatened by the IUCN Red List.
• The stellate sturgeon (A. stellatus), the Russian sturgeon (A. gueldenstaedtii) and beluga (Huso huso) are Critically Endangered;
• While the sterlet (A. ruthenus) was recently raised to a higher threat category and has been listed as Endangered since 2022,”
• The Lower Danube Basin is among the last European regions with self-reproducing sturgeon populations.

Q1: What is Living Planet Report?

It is published biennially by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It is a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet.

Source: Sturgeon, among the world’s most endangered fish, are being heavily poached & trafficked in the Lower Danube, their last stronghold: WWF

About Tejas Light Combat Aircraft:

• It is a 4.5-generationsingle seat supersonic multirole fighter aircraft.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) led the design and development of the aircraft under the light combat aircraft (LCA) programme, with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) working as the prime industrial contractor.
  • LCA programme was envisioned in the late 1980s to replace the MiG-21 and Su-7 fleet.
• It entered service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) in July 2016.
• It is India's second indigenous fighter jet after the HAL HF-24 Marut.
• It is designed for offensive air support, close combat, and ground attack roles.
• It has three production models: Tejas Mark 1, Mark 1A, and trainer variant.
• Features:
  • It is the smallest and lightest in its class of contemporary supersonic combat aircraft.
  • It features a fin but lacks a horizontal tail.
  • The aircraft weighs approximately 5,450 kg and has a maximum take-off weight of 13,500 kg.
  • It is powered by a single uprated General Electric F404-GE-IN20 engine.
  • It is designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision-guided, weapons.

Q1: What is the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)?

The DRDO is an agency of the Government of India responsible for the research and development of technology and equipment related to defense and military applications. Established in 1958, DRDO operates under the Ministry of Defence and plays a crucial role in enhancing India's defense capabilities by developing advanced technology, systems, and products.

Source: Tejas LCA fighter: Indian Air Force faces further delays in warplanes’ deliveries from HAL

About Mahanadi River:

• It is one of the major east-flowing peninsular rivers in India.
• It ranks second to the Godavari River among the peninsular rivers in respect of water potential.
• It is considered to be one of the most active silt-depositing streams in India. 
• Course:
  • Origin: The river originates from the Sihawa range of hills in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh.
  • It flows in a southeastern direction through Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
  • Length: It flows a total of 860 km by distance before it ends up in the Bay of Bengal.
  • The catchment area of the basin extends over major parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha and comparatively smaller portions of Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • It passes through several major cities and towns, including Raipur, Sambalpur, and Cuttack.
• The Mahanadi basin extends over an area of 141,589 sq.km, which represents 4.3% of the total geographical area of the country.
• The river is bounded in the north by Central India hills, in the south and east by the Eastern Ghats, and in the west by the Maikal hill range.
• Tributaries: The main tributaries of Mahanadi are the Seonath River, Jonk River, HasdeoRiver, Mand River, Ib River, Ong River, and Telen River.
• Hirakud Dam:
  • The Hirakud Dam, the world's longest earthen dam (26 km), is constructed across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur in Odisha.
  • The dam is used for irrigation, flood control, and power generation.
• Chilika Lake: Chilika, named a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, gets 61% of its inland flow from the Mahanadi River system, mainly from its distributaries - Daya and Bhargabi.

Q1: What is an earthen dam?

Earthen dams have been an essential part of human civilization for centuries, providing a reliable water source for agriculture, industry and domestic use. These dams are made from natural materials such as soil, sand, gravel and rock, making them a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for water management.

Source: No flood threat in Mahanadi river system: Odisha official

About National Apprenticeship Training Scheme: 

• It is one of the flagship programmes of Government of India for Skilling Indian Youth in Trade disciplines.
• The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme under the provisions of the Apprentices Act, 1961 amended in 1973.
• It offers Graduate, Diploma students and Vocational certificate holders; a practical, hands-on On-the-Job-Training (OJT) based skilling opportunities.
• Duration: Ranging from 6 months to 1 year.
• During the period of apprenticeship, the apprentices are paid a stipend amount, 50% of which is reimbursable to the employer from the Government of India.
• At the end of the training period the apprentices are issued a Certificate of Proficiency by the Government of India which can be registered at all employment exchanges across India as valid employment experience.
• There is no guarantee of employment after completion of training as an apprentice.

National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) 2.0 Portal

• It facilitates the registration and application process for apprenticeships, allowing industries to manage vacancies and contracts.
• This provides young graduates and diploma holders with essential employability skills and a guaranteed monthly stipend.
• It manages the entire apprenticeship lifecycle, including student registration, vacancy advertisements, applications, contract creation, certification, reporting, and stipend disbursal through DBT.
• It is developed by the Ministry of Education with AICTE and the Board of Apprenticeship Training/Practical Training (BoATs/BoPT).

Q1: What is the Skill India mission?

It was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2015 to create convergence across sectors and States in terms of skill training activities. The mission shall consolidate and coordinate skilling efforts, and expedite decision-making across sectors to achieve skilling at scale with speed and standards.

Source: Government Releases Rs 100 Crore Stipends For Apprentices, Launches NATS 2.0 Portal

About Exercise ‘Tarang Shakti:

• It will be the largest international air exercise ever conducted in India, with invitations extended to 51 countries.
• This exercise aims to strengthen strategic relations with our friends from the international community.
• Objective: The plan is to invite friendly foreign countries with whom the IAF interacts regularly and has a certain degree of interoperability.
• Participating countries: Fifty-one countries were invited to take part in the exercise and nearly 30 of them will be taking part in it
  • Phase one of the exercise will be conducted at Sulur in Tamil Nadu from August 6 to August 14 and four countries including France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom will participate with their assets.
  • Phase two will be held at Jodhpur in Rajasthan from September 1 to 14 and it will see participation from Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, UAE and the USA with their assets.
• It represents a unique opportunity for these nations to collaborate and enhance their tactical and operational capabilities.

Q1: What is a strategic relationship?

It is a comprehensive concept that uses states to have relations with one another in political, social, cultural, religious, economic and security areas and the like.

Source: What is Tarang Shakti, the largest military exercise that India will host?