National
Book ‘Ambedkar and Modi: Reformer's Ideas Performer's Implementation'
⇒ Former President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind launched the book ‘Ambedkar and Modi: Reformer’s Ideas Performer’s Implementation’ on 16 September 2022 in presence of Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Anurag Thakur and other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion Shri Anurag Thakur said that the book is not a just a collection of the lofty ideas and vision of the great reformer Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, but also a compilation of how the ideas have been executed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the past eight years. It’s a documentation of the herculean efforts being made to realize the vision of Dr Ambedkar.
Compiled by:
The book has been carefully and expertly compiled by Bluekraft Digital Foundation. This foundation is one of the leading organisations that harness Indian talent and empowers Indian society by creating awareness and implementing out-of-box ideas for social welfare.
About the book ‘Ambedkar and Modi: Reformer’s Ideas Performer’s Implementation’:
- Rajya Sabha MP Ilaiyaraaja (also an acclaimed music composer and lyricist) has written the foreword in this book.
- This book serves as a vital addition to the continuous research on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s thoughts and works and will be an important contribution to the policy landscape of the country.
- It serves as a milestone in India’s journey as an independent nation and analyses how the vision of personalities like Dr Ambedkar is finally coming to fruition under the visionary and dynamic leadership of PM Modi.
- The book delves deep into the life, works and achievements of Dr Ambedkar from a scholarly perspective and presents an undeniable convergence between the ideals of Dr BR Ambedkar and New India’s development journey.
Top awards for PSB Reforms Enhanced Access and Service Excellence 4.0 (EASE 4.0)
⇒ Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the 75th Annual General Meeting of Indian Banks’ Association in Mumbai on September 16, 2022.
- Union Minister Smt Sitharaman has exhorted the banking sector to play a lead role in realising the dream of a developed India by 2047. The Minister highlighted the importance of cyber protection for the banks.
Top awards for PSB Reforms Enhanced Access and Service Excellence 4.0 (EASE 4.0):
During the function, the Union Minister felicitated the winners of PSB Reforms EASE Agenda 4.0.
- Bank of Baroda received the first prize among PSBs for the best overall performance on PSB Reforms EASE Agenda 4.0.
- State Bank of India and Canara Bank were ranked second and third respectively and were also felicitated by the Finance Minister.
- Indian Bank emerged as the ‘Top Improver’ across all PSBs.
» During the ceremony, the Minister unveiled the annual report for EASE 4.0, marking the conclusion of the fourth edition of EASE, which was focused on ‘technology-enabled simplified and collaborative banking.’
About Ease 4.0:
- Ease 4.0 is a reform for the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to ensure smart banking.
- It was presented by the finance minister to be implemented by the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
- The key issues touched upon in the EASE 4.0 reforms are co-lending with non-banking firms, digital, agriculture financing, and technological resilience for 24×7 banking. A huge focus has been given to data analytics, automation, and digitization.
EASE Program expanded into EASENext from FY2022:
The agenda for the fifth edition of EASE was unveiled earlier this year by the Minister of Finance. The reforms program has now been expanded into EASENext, which has been conceptualised with two broad pillars:
- EASE 5.0 – Common reforms agenda to be achieved by all PSBs
- Strategic 3-year roadmap specific to each PSB to focus on new strategic initiatives beyond the common reforms’ agenda.
» EASE 5.0 will continue to focus on driving an enhanced digital experience along with data-driven, integrated, and inclusive banking across all banks.
» The 3-Year Strategic Roadmap will offer each PSB the opportunity to set its own reforms path, contextualised to its starting position and strategic priorities.
International
Cooperation between INPI, France and CSIR on Access to TKDL
⇒ Through an agreement, The Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle (INPI; the National Industrial Property Institute), France and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) entered into a cooperation on the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) Access.
- The Agreement was exchanged by Mr Sebastien Connan, Regional IP Counselor for India and Dr Viswajanani J Sattigeri, Scientist-H and Head, CSIR-TKDL Unit.
Key Points:
- Through this Agreement, the INPI, France gains access to the complete TKDL database towards examining prior art related to Indian traditional knowledge for the purposes of patent grant procedure.
- The signing of the TKDL Access Agreement with the INPI, France marks the beginning of a new partnership and mutual cooperation in the domains of Intellectual Property Rights as well as traditional knowledge between France and India.
About Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL):
- The TKDL database, first of its kind worldwide, was established in 2001 by the Government of India, through a collaboration between CSIR and Ministry of AYUSH.
- The key objective of the TKDL is to prevent the erroneous grant of patents on Indian traditional knowledge (TK) and deter misappropriation of the country’s traditional knowledge.
- Currently, the TKDL contains information on over 4.2 lakh formulations and techniques of Indian Systems of Medicine such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Sowa Rigpa as well as Yoga from the traditional texts.
- The TK information from diverse languages and subject areas are transcribed into value-added information correlated with modern terminologies.
- The TKDL information is presented in a digitized format in five international languages including English, German, French, Japanese and Spanish, and format easily understandable by patent examiners.
- As per the extant approvals in place, the TKDL database is available only to patent offices through TKDL Access Agreements. With this cooperation with Danish Patent and Trademark Office, the number of patent offices worldwide that have access to the TKDL database rises to fifteen.
- The TKDL is a global benchmark in the defensive protection of traditional knowledge and has been successful in protecting India’s interest against any possible misuse of its heritage.
- The impact has been significant, with over 265 patent applications world-over being revoked, amended, withdrawn or abandoned, based on the prior art evidences presented from the TKDL database.
Important Day
World Patient Safety Day 2022
⇒ World Patient Safety Day is observed every year on 17 September.
World Patient Safety Day calls for global solidarity and concerted action by all countries and international partners to improve patient safety.
- Its objectives are to increase public awareness and engagement, enhance global understanding, and work towards global solidarity and action by Member States to enhance patient safety and reduce patient harm.
Theme:
The theme of World Patient Safety Day 2022 was ‘MEDICATION SAFETY’, with the slogan ‘MEDICATION WITHOUT HARM’.
History:
The World Health Organization established World Patient Safety Day in 2019 during the 72nd World Health Assembly when it adopted the resolution WHA 72.6 on ‘Global action on patient safety’.
Celebration in India:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India observes ‘Patient Safety Day’ on 17th September every year.
For creating, awareness on patient safety issues among field-level functionaries, MoHFW organised a week-long “Rogi Kalyan Saptaah” from the 12th – 17th September, 2022.
- In which all the states, districts, and healthcare facilities organised a series of activities to improve the safety of the healthcare system for everyone including patients and service providers.
Self-assessment Tool:
At the national level, in a function held on 16th September 2022, Shri Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary released a self-assessment tool, ‘SaQushal- Patient Safety Self-Assessment Tool’ under the existing National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) and also administered the Patient Safety Pledge.
- The tools have been developed by QPS Division, NHSRC in collaboration with the subject matter experts.
- The tools would enable the health facilities for self-assessment in matrix of safety and help them to reduce errors.