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2. United Nations World Food Program
Reference News-
 According to the United Nations
World Food Program (WFP), Drought
conditions have left an estimated 13
million people facing severe hunger
in the Horn of Africa.
 The Horn of Africa consists of the internationally recognized countries of Djibouti,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia, as well as the de facto country of Somaliland
Next Analysis-
 People in a region including Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya face the driest conditions
recorded since 1981.
 Drought conditions are affecting pastoral and farming communities. Malnutrition
rates are high in the region.
 WFP said it needs $327 million to look after the urgent needs of 4.5 million people
over the next six months.
 United Nations World Food Program (WFP)
 The World Food Programme is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations.
 It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization focused on hunger and food
security, and the largest provider of school meals.
 Founded in 1961.
 It is headquartered in Rome
SAMRIDH Initiative
Reference News-
The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI
Aayog, and the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) announced a new
partnership under the Sustainable Access to
Markets and Resources for Innovative
Delivery of Healthcare (SAMRIDH) initiative.
Aim:
o To improve access to affordable and quality healthcare for vulnerable populations
in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, and rural and tribal regions.
o to combine public and philanthropic funds with commercial capital to create and
rapidly scale market-based health solutions.
 SAMRIDH’s efforts will help reach vulnerable populations, leveraging AIM’s
expertise in innovation and entrepreneurship.

3.  The collaboration would focus on innovations across the healthcare landscape with
the common goal to mount an effective response to the ongoing third wave of
COVID-19 and build health system preparedness for future infectious disease
outbreaks and health emergencies.
PM CARES:
Reference News-
According to the latest Findings, 64 per cent of the Rs 10,990 crore collected by the PM
CARES Fund between March 27, 2020, and March 31, 2021, remained unused as of the
latter date.
 Billed as a “dedicated fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of
emergency and provide relief to the affected”, PM CARES spent just Rs 3,976 crore
in the first year of its operation.
Issues surrounding the fund and its functioning:
PM CARES has been under a cloud of suspicion ever since it was announced, with
opposition parties demanding transparency over the handling of the funds.
About PM-CARES:
The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES)
Fund was set up to accept donations and provide relief during the Covid-19 pandemic,
and other similar emergencies.
PM-CARES Fund:
 PM-CARES was set up as a public charitable trust with the trust deed registered on
March 27, 2020.
 It can avail donations from the foreign contribution and donations to fund can also
avail 100% tax exemption.
 PM-CARES is different from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF).
Who administers the fund?
Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the PM CARES Fund and Minister of Defence,
Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance, Government of India are ex-officio
Trustees of the Fund.
 In 2021, the Delhi High Court was informed that the PM CARES Fund is not a
Government of India fund and that the amount collected by it does not go to the
Consolidated Fund of India.

4. IDEA Database
Reference News-
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
has commenced the work for creating various
agricultural services built around a core layer
of Farmers’ Database (Agristack) in the
country.
 In order to create Agristack, Union Government is in the process of finalising
the “India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA)” which lays down a
framework for building Agristacks.
 This Ecosystem shall help the Government in effective planning towards increasing
the income of farmers in particular and improving the efficiency of the Agriculture
sector, as a whole.
 As a first step, in this direction, the Government has already initiated
building federated farmers’ database that would serve as the core of the
envisaged Agristack.
 The federated farmers’ database is being built by taking the publicly available data
as existing in the Department and in various data silos in Government and linking
them with the digitised land records.
 The issue of data protection / data privacy etc. in the Agristack are being
deliberated and hence, as of now, no decision has been taken regarding the
mandatory enrolment of farmers in the Database.
 At present, proposed farmers’ database will include the farmers registered under
the PM-Kisan Scheme.
India’s patent waiver plan at WTO and issues associated:
Reference News-
A proposal was taken up at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations, in 2020,
to “temporarily waive” intellectual property rights (IPR) held, by primarily Western
countries, on vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for covid-19. This proposal was co-
authored by India.
 Now, India runs the risk of being excluded from this proposal.
Background:
India and South Africa had jointly sponsored a proposal in October 2020 and this was
updated, with representation from several low– and middle–income countries — though
with the notable omission of China — to expand the scope of the waiver to “all health
products and technologies” and to have the waiver in place for at least a year.

5. What’s the issue?
A small group of WTO members are “discussing suggestions” to exclude drug
manufacturers in India and China — two major, global suppliers of medicine — from
prospective waivers to IPR obligations that result from the Trade Related Intellectual
Property Rights (TRIPS) which WTO members are committed to uphold.
 Also, Manufacturers want to “limit” any benefits of the waiver only to African
countries, and not pave the way for Indian manufacturers who, with their large
production capacities, would easily undercut Western competitors.
Why is there an opposition to the waiver? What are the arguments against it?
Waiving of intellectual property rights will neither lead to increased production of
vaccines or increased deployment nor practical solutions to fight the virus of COVID-19
vaccines since IP is not the barrier.
Waiving of intellectual property rights could impact patient safety by opening doors for
counterfeit vaccines to enter the supply chain.
Need of the hour:
Our top most priority should be to address the supply side constraints, including IP
barriers, to augment the manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics,
essential for treatment, prevention and control of the ongoing pandemic.
What does the intellectual property waiver for Covid-19 vaccines mean?
The IP waiver might open up space for production of Covid vaccines with emergency use
authorisations (EUA) — such as those developed by Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca,
Novavax, Johnson & Johnson and Bharat Biotech — on a larger scale in middle-income
countries.
 Most production is currently concentrated in high-income countries; production by
middle-income countries has been happening through licensing or technology
transfer agreements.
What are patents and IP rights?
A patent represents a powerful intellectual property right, and is an exclusive monopoly
granted by a government to an inventor for a limited, pre-specified time. It provides an
enforceable legal right to prevent others from copying the invention.
Patents can be either process patents or product patents:
1. A product patent ensures that the rights to the final product is protected, and
anyone other than the patent holder can be restrained from manufacturing it
during a specified period, even if they were to use a different process.
2. A process patent enables any person other than the patent holder to manufacture
the patented product by modifying certain processes in the manufacturing
exercise.
Patent regime in India:

6. India moved from product patenting to process patenting in the 1970s, which enabled
India to become a significant producer of generic drugs at global scale, and allowed
companies like Cipla to provide Africa with anti-HIV drugs in the 1990s.
 But due to obligations arising out of the TRIPS Agreement, India had to amend the
Patents Act in 2005, and switch to a product patents regime across the pharma,
chemicals, and biotech sectors.
What is the TRIPS Agreement?
The TRIPS agreement was negotiated in 1995 at the WTO, it requires all its signatory
countries to enact domestic law.
 It guarantees minimum standards of IP protection. Such legal consistency enables
innovators to monetise their intellectual property in multiple countries.
 In 2001, the WTO signed the Doha Declaration, which clarified that in a public
health emergency, governments could compel companies to license their patents to
manufacturers, even if they did not think the offered price was acceptable.
 This provision, commonly referred to as “compulsory licensing”, was already built
into the TRIPS Agreement and the Doha declaration only clarified its usage.
Parvatmala Scheme:
Reference News-
The National Ropeways Development Programme – “Parvatmala” was announced
recently by the Union Finance Minister in the Union Budget for 2022-23 to improve
connectivity in hilly areas.
About the scheme:
 This will be a preferred ecologically sustainable alternative in place of
conventional roads in difficult hilly areas.
 The idea is to improve connectivity and convenience for commuters, besides
promoting tourism.
 This may also cover congested urban areas, where conventional mass transit
systems are not feasible.
Implementation:
The scheme is being presently started in regions like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh,
Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir and the other North Eastern states.
Nodal Ministry:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) will have responsibility for
development of ropeway and alternative mobility solutions technology, as well as
construction, research, and policy in this area.

7. Benefits of Ropeway infrastructure:
 Economical mode of transportation: Given that ropeway projects are built in a
straight line over a hilly terrain, it also results in lower land acquisition costs.
 Faster mode of transportation: Owing to the aerial mode of transportation,
ropeways have an advantage over roadway projects where ropeways can be built
in a straight line, over a hilly terrain.
 Environmentally friendly: Low dust emissions. Material containers can be designed
so as to rule out any soiling of the environment.
 Last mile connectivity: Ropeway projects adopting 3S (a kind of cable car system)
or equivalent technologies can transport 6000-8000 passengers per hour.
 Ideal for difficult / challenging / sensitive terrain.
Powerthon-2022:
Reference News-
Launched by the Ministry of Power, it is a
hackathon competition under RDSS (Revamped
Distribution Sector Scheme) to find technology
driven solutions to solve the complex problems
in power distribution.
The nine themes for the hackathon are:
 Demand/load forecasting, AT&C (Aggregate Technical and Commercial) loss
reduction, energy theft detection, prediction of DT (Distribution Transformer)
failure, asset inspection, vegetation management, consumer experience
enhancement, renewable energy integration and power purchase optimization.
About the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme for better operations & financial
sustainability of all DISCOMs:
Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in July 2021.
Highlights of the scheme:
1. It is a reforms-based and results-linked scheme.
2. It seeks to improve the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of all
DISCOMs/Power Departments excluding Private Sector DISCOMs.
3. The scheme envisages the provision of conditional financial assistance to DISCOMs
for strengthening supply infrastructure.
4. The assistance will be based on meeting pre-qualifying criteria as well as upon the
achievement of basic minimum benchmarks by the DISCOM.
5. The scheme involves a compulsory smart metering ecosystem across the
distribution sector—starting from electricity feeders to the consumer level,
including in about 250 million households.

8. 6. Scheme also focuses on funding for feeder segregation for unsegregated feeders.
7. The Scheme has a major focus on improving electricity supply for the farmers and
for providing daytime electricity to them through solarization of agricultural
feeders.
Implementation:
 Existing power sector reforms schemes such as Integrated Power Development
Scheme, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli
Har Ghar Yojana will be merged into this umbrella program.
 Each state would have its own action plan for implementation of the scheme rather
than a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.
 Nodal agencies for the scheme’s implementation are Rural Electrification
Corporation (REC) Limited and Power Finance Corporation (PFC).
Objectives of the scheme:
1. Reduction of average aggregate technical and commercial loss to pan-India levels
of 12-15% by 2024-25.
2. Narrow the deficit between the cost of electricity and the price at which it is
supplied to zero by 2024-25.
3. Developing institutional capabilities for modern DISCOMs.
4. Improvement in the quality, reliability, and affordability of power supply to
consumers through a financially sustainable and operationally efficient
distribution sector.
What are ‘marine heatwaves’?
A marine heat wave is usually defined as a coherent area of extreme warm sea surface
temperature that persists for days to months. Marine heatwaves happen when sea
temperatures are warmer than normal for an extended period. MHWs have been
observed in all major ocean basins over the recent decade.
Causes:
 The most common cause of marine heat waves are ocean currents which can build
up areas of warm water and air-sea heat flux, or warming through the ocean
surface from the atmosphere.
 Weak winds: Normally, sunlight passes through the atmosphere and heats the
surface of the ocean. If there are weak winds this warm water doesn’t mix with the
cooler waters below. It sits on top and continues to heat leading to marine heat
waves.
Impacts of rising marine heatwaves:
 Affect ecosystem structure, by supporting certain species and suppressing others.

9.  Can change the habitat ranges of certain species, such as the spiny sea urchin off
southeastern Australia which has been expanding southward into Tasmania at the
expense of kelp forests which it feeds upon.
 Can cause economic losses through impacts on fisheries and aquaculture.
 There is a link between marine heat waves and harmful algal blooms.
Marine heatwaves in Indian ocean:
According to a study, the Western Indian Ocean region experienced the largest increase
in marine heatwaves at a rate of about 1.5 events per decade, followed by the north Bay
of Bengal at a rate of 0.5 events per decade.
From 1982 to 2018, the Western Indian Ocean had a total of 66 events, while the Bay of
Bengal had 94 events.
Factors affecting:
 The marine heatwaves in the Western Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal
increased drying conditions over the central Indian subcontinent.
 Correspondingly, there is a significant increase in the rainfall over south peninsular
India in response to the heatwaves in the north Bay of Bengal.
Governor’s role in approving a Bill
Reference News-
The Tamil Nadu Assembly has once again adopted a Bill that was earlier returned by Governor
R.N. Ravi.
 The Bill seeks to grant exemption from the mandatory National Entrance-cum-
Eligibility Test (NEET) for seats allotted by the Government in undergraduate
medical and dental courses in Tamil Nadu.
 Recently, the Governor returned the Bill, contending that it was against the interests of
rural and poor students.
What comes next?
 Under Article 200, the Governor may
o (a) grant assent
o (b) withhold assent
o (c) return for reconsideration by the Legislature or
o (d) reserve for the consideration of the President any Bill passed by the State
legislature and presented to him for assent.
 There is no timeframe fixed in the Constitution for any of these functions.
 If the State legislature reconsiders the bill and passes it again, with or without changes,
and presented for assent, “the Governor shall not withhold assent therefrom”.

10.  The Constitution makes it mandatory that the Governor should reserve for the
President’s consideration if, in his opinion (discretionary power) any Bill that seems to
clip the wings of the High Court or undermine its functioning.
 In the present case, the Bill will have to be sent to the President for his assent, as it is
enacted under an entry in the Concurrent List on a subject that is covered by a central
law. There is no doubt that the Governor will now have to grant his assent to the Bill.
 NEET is mandatory under Section 10D of the Indian Medical Council of India Act, an
amendment introduced in 2016. Therefore, the State law can be in force only if the
President grants his assent. This will cure the ‘repugnancy’ between the central and
State laws.
What happens when the President considers the Bill?
 Once again, there is no timeframe.
 Article 201 says when a Bill is reserved by a Governor for his consideration, “the
President shall declare either that he assents to the Bill, or that he withholds assent
therefrom”. He may also direct the Governor to return the Bill, if it is not a Money Bill, to
the Legislature along with a message.
 State Legislature will have to reconsider the Bill within a period of six months from
receiving it. It may pass the Bill again with or without any change.
 The Bill shall again be presented to the President for his consideration. The article ends
with that. This means that the Bill will become law if the assent is given, but nothing can
be done if the Bill is denied assent by the President or if he makes no decision.
Does the Governor have any discretion in this regard?
 Section 75 of the Government of India Act, 1935, contained the words ‘in his discretion’
while referring to the Governor’s grant of assent to Bills. The phrase was consciously
omitted when Article 175 in the draft Constitution (later renumbered as the present
Article 200) was enacted.
 It is generally agreed that the Governor, who normally functions on the aid and advice
of the Council of Ministers, is bound to go by the advice in the matter of granting
assent.
 Also, a reading of the Constituent Assembly debates shows that framers of the
Constitution intended that Governor should act on ministerial advice even when
withholding assent and returning a Bill for reconsideration. Such a situation may arise
when a bill has been hastily adopted or that it requires changes.
o In such a situation, the Constitution must provide for the possibility that the
Council may want to recall its Bill, and accordingly advise the Governor to return
it.
 Sarkaria Commission notes that there could be occasions for even withholding assent
on the advice of the Ministers. For instance, if after a Bill is passed the Ministers resign
before the Bill gets the Governor’s assent, the new Ministry may not want to go
ahead with the Bill and might advise against assent being given.

11.  These examples suggest that no discretion was ever envisaged for the Governor in
dealing with Bills.