What is the News ?

Recently, the government was asked about the constitution of consultative committees for the year 2023-24.

Facts About:

Consultative Committees. 

• These committees are constituted by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Consultative Committees of different ministries are not constituted year wise.
• As per Guidelines on Constitution, Functions and Procedures of Consultative Committees, Consultative Committees shall be constituted upon constitution of each Lok Sabha. 
  • For 17th Lok Sabha, 40 Consultative Committees have so far been constituted.
• The maximum membership of a Consultative Committee should be limited to forty. In addition, a maximum of four Members from both Houses can also be nominated as Permanent Special Invitees. The minimum membership of the Consultative Committee shall be  ten.
• There is no requirement of presence of a minimum number of Members to constitute the quorum for holding meetings of Consultative Committees.
• The Minister concerned with each Ministry/Department shall preside over the meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to his/her Ministry.
• Functions: Consultative committees provide a forum for informal discussions between the ministers and the members of Parliament on policies and programmes of the government and the manner of their implementation

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1947060

What is the News ?

The recent increase in coal consumption, despite the increase in solar and wind power, suggests that reliable and low-carbon electricity resources are critical to ensure the deep decarbonisation of power generation, along with grid stability and energy security.

Small modular reactors – a type of nuclear reactor – can be helpful to India in this regard.

Facts About:

Sources of Energy Production:

• India’s Energy sector is one of the most diversified in the world. Sources of power generation range from conventional sources such as coal, lignite, natural gas, oil, hydro and nuclear power, to viable non-conventional sources such as wind, solar, agricultural and domestic waste.
• India was ranked fourth in wind power, fifth in solar power and fourth in renewable power installed capacity, as of 2020.
• Near-universal household access to electricity was achieved in 2019, meaning that over 900 million citizens have gained an electrical connection in less than two decades.
• But, the per capita electricity consumption in India is only one-third of the global average, even though the demand for energy has doubled.
• So, to catch up with the increasing demand for energy, there is a need to make arrangements for a secure and sustainable form of self-reliance in the energy sector.

What are Small Modular Nuclear reactors (SMRs)?

• Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW (e) per unit, which is about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors.
• SMRs, which can produce a large amount of low-carbon electricity using:
• Small– physically a fraction of the size of a conventional nuclear power reactor.
• Modular – making it possible for systems and components to be factory-assembled and transported as a unit to a location for installation.
• Reactors – harnessing nuclear fission to generate heat to produce energy.

Conventional Nuclear power plants vs. Small modular reactors:

• Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) are efficient users of land and their grid integration costs are lower than those associated with variable renewable energy (VRE) sources because NPPs generate power 24x7 in all kinds of weather.
• As an alternative, several countries are developing small modular reactors (SMRs) – nuclear reactors with a maximum capacity of 300 MW – to complement conventional NPPs.
• SMRs can be installed in decommissioned thermal power plant sites by repurposing existing infrastructure, thus sparing countries from having to acquire more land and/or displace people beyond the existing site boundary.
• SMRs can be safely installed and operated at several brownfield sites that may not meet the more stringent zoning requirements for conventional NPPs.

Need for SMRs:

• According to the International Energy Agency, the demand for critical minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements, required for clean-energy production technologies, is likely to increase by up to 3.5x by 2030.
• This jump poses several global challenges, including the large capital investments to develop new mines and processing facilities.
• The environmental and social impacts of developing several new mines and plants in China, Indonesia, Africa, and South America within a short time span, coupled with the fact that the top three mineral-producing and -processing nations control 50-100% of the current global extraction and processing capacities, pose geopolitical and other risks.

Advantages of SMRs:

• SMRs are designed with a smaller core damage frequency (the likelihood that an accident will damage the nuclear fuel) and source term (a measure of radioactive contamination) compared to conventional NPPs.
• They also include enhanced seismic isolation for more safety.
• SMR designs are also simpler than those of conventional NPPs and include several passive safety features, resulting in a lower potential for the uncontrolled release of radioactive materials into the environment.

How nuclear reactors can lead to sustainable energy generation?

• Accelerating the deployment of SMRs under appropriate international safeguards, by implementing a coal-to-nuclear transition at existing thermal power-plant sites, will take India closer to net-zero and improve energy security because uranium resources are not as concentrated as reserves of critical minerals.
• Most land-based SMR designs require low-enriched uranium, which can be supplied by all countries that possess uranium mines and facilities for such enrichment if the recipient facility is operating according to international standards.
• Further, serial manufacture of SMRs can reduce costs by simplifying plant design to facilitate more efficient regulatory approvals and experiential learning with serial manufacturing.

What are the initiatives to Achieve Self-reliance in the Energy Sector?

• Gas Based Economy
• Blending of Ethanol in Petrol
• Prime Minister UjjwalaYojana
• Renewable Energy Initiatives
• National Hydrogen Mission

Way forward:

• The aspects like investment, infrastructure development, private-public partnership, green financing, policy framework need to be strengthened both at the national level and regional level to cater to inclusiveness in the development process.
• Green energy has tremendous potential in contributing to income, employment, and entrepreneurship and undoubtedly fosters sustainable development.
• In addition to job and income generation, it opens up opportunities/avenues for investment and markets for new products and services. So, India should focus on achieving green energy and self-reliance in the Energy Sector together.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/small-modular-reactors-india-nuclear-power-net-zero/article67175626.ece

What is the News ?

The number of elephants in Karnataka has increased according to an interim report on Asian Elephant Population and Demography Estimates, 2023.

Facts About:

• It was reported by “Asian Elephant Population and Demography Estimates, 2023”.
• The population range for elephants in Karnataka is estimated to bebetween (5,914 - 6,877).
• The report was officially released by Karnataka’s Forest Minister, ahead of World Elephant Day, which is observed on August 12 to raise awareness about the importance of protecting these endangered animals.
• The report was the result of a synchronised elephant census conducted from May 17 to 19, involving the Forest Department of Karnataka and neighbouring states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Goa.
• Among the different regions, the Bandipur Tiger Reserve stands out with the highest elephant density of 1,116 elephants and a density of 0.96 elephants per square kilometre.

 The Nagarahole Tiger Reserve follows closely with 831 elephants and a density of 0.93 elephants per square kilometre.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/number-of-elephants-in-state-goes-up-by-364-from-last-census-touching-6395/article67176333.ece

What is the News ?

The eight countries that make up the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) signed the Belém Declaration during the Amazon Summit.

Facts About:

• The leaders focused on initiating a dialogue about the sustainability of mining and fossil fuel-related activities but failed to commit to stopping oil drilling in the region.
• This lack of consensus has implications for global biodiversity goals, including those set under the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022, where countries agreed to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030.

About Belem Declaration:

The Belem Declaration is a statement released during the Amazon Summit, involving leaders from Amazon countries.

• It emphasizes the importance of Indigenous knowledge for biodiversity conservation and calls for Indigenous Peoples’ participation in decision-making.
• The declaration promotes sustainable forest use and diverse economic solutions, addressing concerns about deforestation and degradation in the Amazon region.
• It also underlines the need to protect land rights to prevent deforestation and preserve biodiversity within Indigenous territories.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/forests/belem-declaration-amazon-countries-fail-to-agree-on-protection-goals-91095

What is the News ?

India is all set to get its own car crash safety star rating from Oct 1, 2023

Facts About:

What is Bharat NCAP?

• Bharat NCAP is a new car safety assessment programme which proposes a mechanism of awarding ‘Star Ratings’ to automobiles based upon their performance in crash tests.
• BNCAP standard is aligned with global benchmarks and it is beyond minimum regulatory requirements.
• The proposed Bharat NCAP assessment will allocate Star Ratings from 1 to 5 stars.
• The testing of vehicles for this programme will be carried out at testing agencies, with the necessary infrastructure.

Its implementation

• BNCAP will be rolled out from April 1, 2023.
• It will be applicable on type-approved motor vehicles of category M1 with gross vehicle weight less than 3.5 tonnes, manufactured or imported in the country. 
• M1 category motor vehicles are used for the carriage of passengers, comprising eight seats, in addition to driver’s seat.

Significance of Bharat NCAP

• BNCAP rating will provide consumers an indication of the level of protection offered to occupants by evaluating the vehicle in the areas of:

1. Adult occupant protection
2. Child occupant protection
3. Safety assist technologies

• It will serve as a consumer-centric platform, allowing customers to opt for safer cars based upon their Star-Ratings.
• It will also promote a healthy competition among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in India to manufacture safer vehicles.
• It will ensure structural and passenger safety in cars, along with increasing the export-worthiness of Indian automobiles.
• It will prove to be a critical instrument in making our automobile industry Aatmanirbhar.

Why does India need to crash-test vehicles?

• Indian vehicles have historically not been crash-tested in the country.
• Despite being home to only 1% of the world’s vehicles, India shoulders 11% of the global road crash fatality burden.

What about existing testing standards?

• India’s Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) mandate a safety and performance assessment, including a basic conformity crash test by agencies like the ARAI and ICAT when vehicles go in for type approvals.
• However, this does not involve a crash test rating.
• Many international automakers have been found to sell products in India which score much lower on safety and structural performance parameters.
• This is done to reduce costs in the price-sensitive Indian market.
• However, safety is moving up nowadays the list of key purchase criteria in India as well.

How will a homegrown NCAP help?

• Global NCAP (GNCAP) crash tests for many best-selling Indian vehicles have dismal ratings, many of them rated zero in a bias.
• The government hopes that by facilitating these tests by in-house agencies, more automakers will voluntarily undergo safety assessments and build vehicles that hold up to global standards.

How will it compare with GNCAP?

• The government wants the two tests to be in congruence with each other.
• It intends to design the?BNCAP?to?resemble?the GNCAP, the global gold standard, as closely as possible, including the speed for crash testing at 64kmph.
• Central Motor Vehicle rules encompass standards with?respect?to pedestrian protection and seat belt reminders among others and will be retained in the testing under the BNCAP.
• The government hopes the move will increase the export-worthiness of Indian automobiles.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/explained-what-is-the-bharat-new-car-assessment-programme/article67228536.ece

What is the News ?

Recently, an amendment to the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules (2023) passed by the Government of India, aims to replace the use of animals in research, especially in drug testing.

Facts About:

What is the reason behind shifting to Alternative testing modes?

• The drug development journey involves rigorous testing to assess the efficacy and unintended effects.
• The first step of this process has been to test the candidate molecule in at least two animal species: a rodent (mouse or rat) and a non-rodent, such as canines and primates
• Lack of accuracy: Human response is influenced by factors like genetics and diet, leading to a significant mismatch between animal models and human responses.
• This mismatch contributes to the high failure rate during human clinical trials, highlighting the need for more accurate testing methods.
• Animals cannot consent to their own participation in research.
• Welfare of animals: Critics argue that animal testing can cause suffering and harm to animals. Animals are held in sterile, isolated cages, forced to suffer disease and injury, and typically euthanized at the end of each study.

What are Alternative testing modes?

• Organoids: These technologies encompass three-dimensional cellular structures, known as "organoids" or "mini-organs," which closely replicate the functions of specific body organs at a miniature scale.
• Organ-on-a-chip: The "organ-on-a-chip" technology employs small chips with human cells and microchannels to simulate physiological processes.
  • organ-on-a-chip are AA-battery-sized chips lined with human cells connected to microchannels, to mimic blood flow inside the body.
• Additive manufacturing: 3D bioprinters use human cells as 'bio-ink' to build tissues. This could help make personalized drug tests and change how we create drugs.

What are Global regulatory frameworks that have adopted non-animal methods to test the effect and potential side-effects of new drug candidates?

• European Union: In 2021, the European Union adopted a resolution for an action plan promoting non-animal technologies in research, regulatory testing, and education.
• USA: The U.S. passed the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 in December 2022, permitting the use of these methods for drug safety and efficacy testing.
• South Korea: South Korea introduced a Bill for advancing alternatives to animal testing in December 2022.
• Canada: In June 2023, Canada amended its Environmental Protection Act to minimize vertebrate animal use in toxicity testing.

India

• In March 2023, the Indian government incorporated non-animal alternatives for drug testing and development into the drug development process by modifying the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules 2019.
• This step followed public input and consultation with the Drug Technical Advisory Board, which advises governments on drug-related technical issues at both the Central and State levels.

What are the challenges with these alternate methods?

• Multidisciplinary: Developing an organ-on-a-chip system requires multidisciplinary knowledge in the fields of cell biology, materials science, fluid dynamics, electronics, engineering, and pharmacology/toxicology to accurately replicate organ behavior and assess drug effects.
• At present there is a lack of focused training and expertise in India.
• Dependence of Imports: Most of the reagents, cell-culture related materials, and instruments for these technologies are currently imported from the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
• Managing Complexity: Researchers simplify recreating human tissues in the lab by minimizing components for disease simulation.
• No universal approach due to disease-specific variations; for example, a liver-on-a-chip won't fit all liver diseases.
• Variability arises from differences in lab protocols, expertise, and specific research goals. Regulators express concerns about data consistency due to these variations.

Suggestions

• Establishment of specialized institutes: Recently, a meeting organized by the Centre for Predictive Human Model Systems and Humane Society International India called for the need of specialized institutes similar to the Wyss Institute.
  • WyssInsitute in Boston is a dedicated center that focuses on innovations that emulate human biology.
• The dedicated institute will facilitate effective communication and collaboration across various fields.
• Promoting innovation: Developing a comprehensive and self-sustaining ecosystem in India to address this gap in the fields of cell culture, material science, and electronics.
• Guidelines: Urgent need for guidelines establishing minimal quality criteria and standards for these systems.
• Existing guidelines on animal testing requirements need re-evaluation and updating to accommodate advancements in cell-based and gene-editing therapies.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/animal-trials-drug-development-india-amendment-2019-rules/article67019288.ece