Nano drugs evaluation: New guidelines released
Why in news?
- The Union Minister for Health released “Guidelines for Evaluation of Nano pharmaceuticals in India”.
Key points
- The Guidelines are developed by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Ministry of Health.
- The guidelines apply to the nano pharmaceuticals in the form of finished formulation as well as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) of a new molecule or an already approved molecule with altered nanoscale dimensions intended to be used for treatment or prevention of diseases.
- These guidelines are intended to provide transparent regulatory pathways for nano pharmaceuticals in India. It would facilitate translational research in line with the regulatory requirements.
- Nano carrier based targeted drug delivery is an emerging field with introduction of nano pharmaceuticals in the market. These nano formulations have higher efficacy, lower toxicity and are safer than the conventional drugs.
- All drugs are made up of two core components: (1) Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), which is the central ingredient, and (2) excipients. API is the part of any drug that produces its effects.
India plans first-ever snow leopard survey
- India will commission its first-ever snow leopard survey to estimate the population and geographical range of the snow leopard.
About:
- It is a member of the genus ‘Panthera’ to which tiger, leopard and lion also belong. Its Scientific name is “Panthera uncia”.
Range:
- They inhabit alpine and subalpine zones at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m (9,800 to 14,800 ft). It is native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia.
- The 12 range countries are Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. - India is home to 10% of the global population in less than 5% of its global range.
Conservation status:
- In 2017, status of Snow leopard in the Red List of the IUCN was changed from ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’.
- Listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.
- Listed in Appendix I of the CITES, which makes trading of animal body parts (i.e., fur, bones and meat) illegal in signatory countries.
Project snow leopard:
- It was launched in 2009 in the 5 Himalayan states of Jammu and Kashmir, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh to conserve India’s high altitude wildlife populations such as Snow Leopard, Asiatic Ibex, Tibetan Argali, Ladakh Urial, Chiru, Takin etc.
NAM summit
- Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu will represent India at the 19th Non Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Baku, Azerbaijan on October 25 and 26, marking the second time in a row that PM Modi will give the summit a miss.
About:
- In 2016 as well, India was represented by then Vice-President at the NAM summit in Venezuela.
- Since it was inaugurated in 1961, the Indian Prime Minister has always attended the NAM summit, except in 1979, when Chaudhury Charan Singh was the caretaker PM and hence missed it, and in 2016.
- Modi’s absence indicates a decisive move away from past practice at the 60-year-old organisation that India was a founding member of, by the NDA government.
Antarctic ocean sanctuary plans
- A push by Australia and France to create a massive ocean sanctuary in east Antarctica is in doubt as nations meet in Hobart to discuss the plans, with China and Russia opposing.
About:
- CCAMLR is an international commission with 26 Members (India being one of them), and a further 10 countries have acceded to the Convention.
- CCAMLR was established by international convention in 1982. This was in response to increasing commercial interest in Antarctic krill resources, a keystone component of the Antarctic ecosystem and a history of over-exploitation of several other marine resources.
East Antarctic Marine Protected Areas (MPA):
- In 2010, Australia, France and the European Union proposed the creation of East Antarctic marine park to protect one million sq.km. of ocean by creating a massive ocean sanctuary in east Antarctica.
- But China and Russia have repeatedly blocked the proposal at meetings of CCAMLR. All 26 members of the organisation must consent to the marine park’s creation.
- It has previously established other major ocean Antarctic sanctuaries — including the world’s largest spanning 1.55 million sq.km. in the Ross Sea — but governments and environmental groups say more action is needed to protect the last pristine continent.
Cabinet eases norms for firms to set up fuel outlets
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the Review of Guidelines for Granting Authorization to market Transportation Fuels. This marks a major reform of the guidelines for marketing of petrol and diesel.
Key features of guidelines and Major Impact:
- Non-oil companies can also invest in setting up retail outlets for fuel, regardless of whether they have prior investments in the oil and gas sector.
- There is much lower entry barrier for private players. The entities seeking authorisation would need to have a minimum net worth of Rs.250 crore vis-à-vis the current requirement of Rs. 2000 crore prior investment.
- The companies have been given flexibility in setting up a Joint Venture or Subsidiary for market authorisation.
- In addition to conventional fuels, the authorized entities are required to install facilities for marketing at least one new generation alternate fuel, like CNG, LNG, biofuels, electric charging, etc. at their proposed retail outlets within 3 years of operationalization of the said outlet
- The authorised entities are required to set up minimum 5% of the total retail outlets in the notified remote areas within 5 years of grant of authorisation.
Zubin Mehta
Why In News?
- Iconic conductor Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharonic Orchestra’s ‘Music Director for Life’ retired after a 50-year-tenure.
About:
- Zubin Mehta (born 1936) is an Indian conductor of Western and Eastern classical music.
- He is the music director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) and Conductor Emeritus of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
- He is one of the greatest music conductors in the world who built a reputation for himself by interpreting the music of Romantic-era titans such as Mahler, Tchaikovsky, Brahms and Beethoven.
- A permanent resident of the United States, Mehta retains his Indian citizenship.
Honours:
- The Government of India honoured Mehta in 1966 with the Padma Bhushan and in 2001 with the Padma Vibhushan. He is an honorary citizen of both Florence and Tel Aviv.
- In 2013, President of India Pranab Mukherjee awarded him the Tagore Award 2013 for his outstanding contribution towards cultural harmony.
Uterine transplant
Why in News?
- Radha — India’s first uterine transplant baby and also the world’s 12th uterine transplant baby celebrated her first birthday.
- The first birth after a transplant, in 2014, happened in Sweden.
About:
- The uterine transplant is the surgical procedure whereby a healthy uterus is transplanted into an organism of which the uterus is absent or diseased.
- For women whose uterus is not healthy, or who do not have one, a transplant is the newest form of infertility treatment.
Concerns:
- Uterine transplants are still extremely rare, complicated and expensive. A uterine transplant, like that for other organs, requires clearances at several levels.
- Concerns have been raised about the welfare of living donors who may end up regretting their choice to donate. A living donation is justified only after informed consent by the donor, and this after counselling by physicians and psychologists.