Health Ministry issues alert on COVID variants
Union Health Ministry has issued alert on the risk posed by South African variant of COVID-19.
Important Points
- The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported that multiple cases of “COVID-19 variant 8.1.1529” have been reported in recent time.
- Botswana reported 3 cases, South Africa reported 6 cases while Honk Kong reported 1 case.
- The variant was reported to have a significantly high number of mutations. Thus, it has serious public health implications in light of relaxed visa restrictions and opening up of international travel.
Significance
These countries are part of ‘at risk’ country category of international travellers who are coming to India. These travellers will be subjected to rigorous screening and testing. Their contacts will be closely tracked and tested in accordance with the health ministry guidelines for this category. In case they test positive, their samples must be sent to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).
INSACOG
INSACOG is the forum, established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on December 25, 2020. It was set up to study and monitor genome sequencing and virus variation of different strains of COVID-19 in India. in the initial phase, it was tasked to study the virus variant Lineage B.1.1.7 which was found in United Kingdom. The forum works as a consortium of 28 national laboratories for genome sequencing, which are located in different parts of India.
‘Mysuru Declaration Service Delivery by Panchayats’
During a ‘National Consultative Workshop on Citizen Charter & Delivery of Services by Panchayats’, which was organised on November 22, 2021, participants from 16 States signed “Mysuru Declaration”. Under it, these states resolved to roll out Common Minimum Service delivery by Panchayats in India from April 1, 2022.
Mysuru Declaration
- The Mysuru Declaration aims to recognise Citizen Centric Services as the “Heart of Governance”.
- The declaration provides key inputs on various aspects of service delivery, which are either provided by the panchayats directly or by services of other departments facilitated by panchayats.
Commitments made by participating states
As a part of the declaration, participating states have committed:
- To increase availability of Citizen Services at grassroots levels in a efficient and timely manner.
- To implement highest standards of professional integrity and accountability to deliver Public Services in timely manner.
Background
The National Consultative Workshop on Citizen Charter & delivery of Services by Panchayats was organised by the Ministry of Panchayat Raj in collaboration with Abdul Nazir State Institute of Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Mysuru and National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Hyderabad.
Panchayati Raj
It is the system of local self-government of villages across rural India. It comprises of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by which the self-government of villages is realized. PRIs are tasked with “economic development, implementation of schemes and strengthening social justice besides 29 subjects which are listed in the Eleventh Schedule.
NBFID to start operations
The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NBFID) is set to start its lending operations with 190-200 big infrastructure projects in roads, railways, and energy sector.
Highlights
- This announcement was made by newly appointed Chairman of NBFID, K V Kamath.
- Central government had announced the appointment of K V Kamath as the chairperson of the newly set up NBFID.
- NBFID was set up with the aim of catalysing investment in fund-starved infrastructure sector in India.
- Under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), there are 193 projects above Rs 1,000 crore each.
- NIP with an ambition of USD 1.5 trillion covers key sectors like roads, metro, railways, and energy. It also includes some social projects like irrigation projects.
NAFID
NBFID was set up as a corporate body, with an authorised share capital of one lakh crore rupees. It was set up with following objectives:
- To directly or indirectly lend, attract investment or invest for infrastructure projects that are located entirely or partly in India.
- To facilitate the development of market for loans, bonds, and derivatives for infrastructure financing.
Functions of NBFID
Main functions of NBFID are:
- To extend loans and advances for infrastructure projects.
- To take over or refinance such existing loans.
- To attract investment from private sector investors as well as institutional investors for infrastructure projects.
- To organise and facilitate foreign participation in infrastructure projects.
- To facilitate negotiations with several government authorities for dispute resolution with respect to infrastructure financing.
- To provide consultancy services in infrastructure financing.
Funding
NBFID raises money in the form of loans or otherwise in Indian rupees and foreign currencies. It also raises money by issuing or selling financial instruments like bonds and debentures. It can also borrow money from central government, Reserve Bank of India, mutual funds, scheduled commercial banks besides multilateral institutions like Asian Development Bank and World Bank.
PM Modi inaugurates Noida International Airport
On November 25, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Noida International Airport (NIA) in Gautam Buddh Nagar.
Important Points
- PM Modi arrived at Jewar, the place accompanied by Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia, to lay down the foundation.
- Airport at Jewar is being developed by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), which is a 100 per cent subsidiary of project’s Swiss concessionaire Zurich International Airport AG.
PPP model
The Noida International Airport is being developed by Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (YIAPL) under the PPP model in association with the Uttar Pradesh Government and Indian Government.
Noida International Airport
Noida International Airport is spread across more than 1300 hectares of land. First phase of the airport will serve around 1.2 crore passengers in a year, after its completion. Work on first phase of the project is scheduled to be completed by 2024.
Cost
Estimated cost of the project is at around Rs 15000- 20000 crore. First phase of the project is being developed at a cost of around Rs 10,050 crore.
Location
The airport is located at a distance of 72 km from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi airport and 40 km from Noida.
Significance
- With this airport, Uttar Pradesh will become the only Indian state with five international airports.
- Noida International Airport will be the second international airport in the national capital region, after Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi.
- This will be India’s first net zero emissions airport. It will also have the provision of multi-modal seamless connectivity.
- Airport will be constructed with an integrated multi-modal cargo hub, for the first time in India.
Background
The airport is being constructed in line with vision of Prime Minister towards boosting connectivity and creating a future-ready aviation sector in order to establish Uttar Pradesh on the world’s map.
