24-25-10-21 Daily-Tamilnadu-TNPSC Current Affairs

In the past couple of years, the Union Government has been ushering in a change in the rules governing the working conditions of people. But the new labour codes, by amalgamating existing asymmetrical labour laws, not only weaken safeguards for and entitlements of the countrys vast workforce, but also strike at one of the basic structures of theConstitution Federalism.

Since labour falls under the concurrent list of the Constitution, Parliament and state legislatures can make laws on the subject. The government of India has shifted deadlines and not fixed a date to implement theWage Code(enacted in August 2019), the Industrial Relations Code, the Code on Social Security and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (enacted in September 2020). The draft rules (by the Centre) for all the codes have been notified. But major industrial states like Nadu, Maharashtra, Haryana andWest Bengalare yet to frame and notify them. The rules could make a big difference, especially inTamil Naduwhere the DMK government has all along emphasised federalism and social Justice.

Some of the features of the codes like setting threshold for application of social security schemes, retrenchment and closure, specifying safety standards and working conditions in establishments have been delegated to the government to be framed as rules. Although relegating core components of the legislation to rules is against principles of administrative law, state governments could use the space to ensure workers of their entitlements.
The buzz around federalism has made a comeback with the DMK assuming office and with it the demand for state autonomy. This is apparent especially on subjects like Education (shift from the concurrent to state List); NEET, UDAY scheme, one nation-one ration card, smart city projects and the National Food Security Act, which are perceived to be a push towards homogenisation.

Recently, when the state adopted a special resolution to repeal the three farm laws, on the grounds that they were arbitrarily enacted by the Union government without consulting any of the states, the principle of federalism was reaffirmed.

The codes also attack another basic feature of the Constitution Separation of Powers. It allows an officer not below the rank of an under secretary to the government to be notified with the power to impose a penalty instead of a judicial magistrate. Thereby, a judicial function gets vested with the executive under the Wage Code, and the Industrial Relations Code in contravention of Article 50 of the Constitution that mandates the separation of the judiciary from the executive in public Services.

National Cybersecurity Strategy is in its final stage in India and ready to be cleared as the increasing cyber-attacks and threats from nation-state actors against India.

Highlights:

India has been working on the National Cybersecurity Strategy for the last two years in the cabinet for final approval.

National Cyber Security Strategy 2020 was selected to improve cyber awareness and cybersecurity using stringent audits.

Under the policy, empanelled cyber auditors will carefully look at the security features of companies.

The table-top cyber crisis management exercises will be conducted to reinforce the idea that cyber-attacks can happen regularly.

India has led to avoid any significant cyber-attacks or threats. As a result, in Global Cybersecurity Index 2021, India has jumped from 47 to 10.

As the policy is executed, the country will confront the challenge of addressing cyber-skilling.

As per the report, there will be around 1.5 million job vacancies in cybersecurity in India by 2025.

Indias first IVF calf of the Banni breed of buffaloes was born at a farmers house in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat on 23 October.

Highlights

Banni breed of buffalo is found in the Kutch region of Gujarat.

The IVC process was conducted to enhance the number of genetically superior buffaloes for enhancing milk production.

Banni buffalo belongs to a farmer from Dhanej village, who gave birth to IVF male calf.

Embryos of Banni donors were instilled in 18 recipient buffaloes using the IVF technology.

The Banni breed had gained six pregnancies at the farmers firm, and One calf was born.

This process was carried out by JKBovagenix of NGO JK Trust, a social enterprise of Raymond Group.

Banni buffalo is also known as Kutchi, found primarily in the Kutch district of Gujarat.

PMASBY to be one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare across the country

The objective of PMASBY is to fill critical gaps in public Health infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. It will be in addition to the National Health Mission.

It will provide support for 17,788 rural Health and Wellness Centres in 10 High Focus States. Further, 11,024 urban Health and Wellness Centres will be established in all the States.

Critical care Services will be available in all the country districts with more than 5 lakh populations through Exclusive Critical Care Hospital Blocks. The remaining districts will be covered through referral services.

People will have access to a full range of diagnostic services in the Public Healthcare system through a Network of Laboratories across the country.
Integrated Public Health Labs will be set up in all the districts.

Under PMASBY, a National Institution for One Health, 4 New National Institutes for Virology, a Regional Research Platform for WHO South-East Asia Region, 9 Biosafety Level III laboratories, 5 New Regional National Centre for Disease Control will be set up.

PMASBY targets to build an IT enabled disease surveillance system by developing a network of surveillance laboratories at block, district, regional and national levels in Metropolitan areas.

Affairs:World Polio Day is celebrated on 24 October to raise awareness for polio vaccination and eradication of Polio.

Highlights:

The Day was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk,

He led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis.

The 2021 theme for World Polio Day is Delivering on a Promise.

Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease.

There is no cure, but there are safe and effective Vaccines. Polio can be prevented through immunization.

The Polio vaccine, given multiple times, almost always protects a child for life. Therefore, the strategy to eradicate Polio is based on preventing infection by immunizing every child until transmission stops and the world is polio-free.

Polio is caused by an RNA virus, where 85% of the infections are paralytic. Poliovirus is most commonly spread in areas where there is poor sanitation.