23.02.23 Daily [Telangana] TSPSC Current Affairs

In a major validation of Hyderabad’s growing clout as a global vaccine hub, World Health Organisation (WHO) is setting up an mRNA vaccine hub in Hyderabad as part of its plans to set up such hubs in select locations globally, industries minister KT Rama Rao disclosed.

The mRNA vaccine hub is coming up atBiological Eby way of a technology transfer by WHO to create capacities not just for global emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic but also to tackle future pandemics as well as develop capacities for ailments such as malaria, HIV, and cancer.

KTR said that as Hyderabad is also home to one of the largest number of US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) approved manufacturing plants at 214, the state government was trying to get the US drug regulator to set up its offices in the city.

The city accounts for about 40% of India’s pharma output, KTR said at an interaction in the run-up to the 20th edition of Asia’s largest life sciences conclave – BioAsia 2023 -that kicks off on February 24.

OnTelanganagovernment’s target to double the state’s life sciences ecosystem from $50 billion in value (turnover of $13 billion) in 2021 to $100 billion by 2028, he said the plan is to also double the employment generated by the sector to 8 lakh over the next five years.

TheUnion Cabinetapproved the centrally-sponsored “Vibrant Villages Programme” for financial years 2022-23 to 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs 4,800 crore.

It will lead to infrastructure development and livelihood opportunity in four states and one Union Territory along the northern borders.

The programme will help encourage people to stay in their native locations in border areas and reverse the out-migration from these villages, thus adding to improved security of the border.

The scheme aids to identify and develop economic drivers based on local, natural, human and other resources of the villages on the northern border and development of growth centres on Hub and Spoke Model through promotion of social entrepreneurship, empowerment of youth and women through skill development and entrepreneurship.

In a bid to increase its footprint, the government is planning a fresh auction of FM radio stations, roll out an OTT platform, and conduct trials of direct-to-mobile television broadcast this year.

Chandra said the government has made an allocation of 2,500 crore over a four-year period for the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) Scheme to widen the reach of Prasar Bharati, including in the Left wing extremism, border and strategic areas.

The scheme aims to boost public sector broadcasting in the country and focuses on infrastructure development of Prasar Bharati, including All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).

Chandra said IIT-Kanpur and Sankhya Labs have installed transmitters along Kartavya Path and adjoining areas to demonstrate how television signals can be directly broadcast to mobile phones.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed hope that digital transactions would soon surpass cash as Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is increasingly becoming the most preferred payment mechanism in the country.

Modi after the launch of the cross-border connectivity between the UPI and PayNow of Singapore said about 74 billion transactions amounting to more than Rs 126 trillion, which is approximately 2 trillion Singapore dollars, was done through UPI in 2022.

The linkage of these two payment systems would enable residents of both countries in faster and cost-efficient transfer of cross-border remittances.

It will also help the Indian diaspora in Singapore, especially migrant workers and students, through instantaneous and low-cost transfer of money from Singapore to India and vice-versa.

India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing ecosystems for fintech innovation.

Whiteshield, a global strategy and public policy advisory firm, released its Global Labour Resilience Index (GLRI) 2023 during the World Government Summit. The index is a first-of-its-kind measurement tool that assesses the capacity of an economy to limit fluctuations in employment and quickly rebound from setbacks. The index ranked 136 countries for their resiliency in labour markets, policies, and key capabilities to face crises such as pandemics, technological disruptions, and transition to a green economy.

The last two years have tested the limits of labour market resilience and the global labour force would have been in a more challenging position if it were not for the unprecedented government support, the report revealed.
The GLRI 2023 analysed countries that are prepared for the future of work. Alongside structural vulnerabilities, the report ranked countries on their ability to absorb crises, recover, and align their economies with future trends.