Source: Urdu Times & Inquilab - 30th November2022
https://m.urdutimesdaily.com/?d=2022/11/30&pg=8
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Zydus Lifesciences gets USFDA nod for thyroid hormone deficiency drug
Zydus Lifesciences has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market Levothyroxine Sodium injection, used to treat thyroid hormone deficiency. The company's US-based unit has received tentative approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market the medication, the drug firm said in a regulatory filing.
“Zydus Lifesciences Limited’s (formerly known as Cadila Healthcare Limited) U.S. subsidiary Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc. has received tentative approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market Levothyroxine Sodium for injection, 100 mcg/vial, 200 mcg/vial, and 500 mcg/vial," Zydus Lifesciences said in a regulatory filing.
Levothyroxine Sodium injection is indicated for the treatment of myxedema coma.
The drug will be manufactured at the company's injectable manufacturing facility at Jarod, near Vadodara.
According to IQVIA data, Levothyroxine Sodium injection had annual sales of USD 45.2 million in the US market.
Monday, November 28, 2022
GATE 2023 schedule released, exam from February 4 to 12
Source: https://gate.iitkgp.ac.in/
GATE 2023: Papers are scheduled for February 4, February 5, February 11 and February 12, 2023.
GATE 2023 Schedule: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has published the detailed schedule or timetable for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2023. The exam will be held between February 4 and 12 and admit cards will be uploaded on January 3. Candidates can download it from gate.iitk.ac.in.
Papers are scheduled for February 4, February 5, February 11 and February 12, 2023.
The exam will be held in 2 shifts on all days. The first one is from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and the second one is from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
Here is the complete schedule:
GATE 2023 schedule
February 4: Morning (9:30 am to 12:30 pm): CS; Afternoon (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm): AR, ME
February 5: Morning (9:30 am to 12:30 pm): EE, ES, XH; Afternoon (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm): BM, CY, EC
February 11: Morning (9:30 am to 12:30 pm): GG, IN, MA, PE, XE, XL; Afternoon (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm): AE, AG, BT, CH, EY, GE, MT, NM, PH, PI, TF
February 12: Morning (9:30 am to 12:30 pm): CE1, ST; Afternoon (2:30 pm to 5:30 pm): CE2, MN
GATE is a national level exam that tests the comprehensive understanding of candidates of various undergraduate subjects in engineering, technology, architecture, science, commerce and arts disciplines.
GATE result is used for admission and/or financial assistance to postgraduate and doctoral programmes in relevant branches. The test result is also used by many Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in their recruitment processes.
Research: AI tailors artificial DNA for future drug development
Source: https://theprint.in/science/research-ai-tailors-artificial-dna-for-future-drug-development/1237651/
With the help of AI, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have succeeded in designing synthetic DNA that controls the cells’ protein production. The technology can contribute to the development and production of vaccines, drugs for severe diseases, as well as alternative food proteins much faster and at significantly lower costs than today.
How our genes are expressed is a process that is fundamental to the functionality of cells in all living organisms. Simply put, the genetic code in DNA is transcribed to the molecule messenger RNA (mRNA), which tells the cell’s factory which protein to produce and in which quantities.
Researchers have put a lot of effort into trying to control gene expression because it can, among other things, contribute to the development of protein-based drugs. A recent example is the mRNA vaccine against Covid-19, which instructed the body’s cells to produce the same protein found on the surface of the coronavirus. The body’s immune system could then learn to form antibodies against the virus. Likewise, it is possible to teach the body’s immune system to defeat cancer cells or other complex diseases if one understands the genetic code behind the production of specific proteins.
Most of today’s new drugs are protein-based, but the techniques for producing them are both expensive and slow, because it is difficult to control how the DNA is expressed. Last year, a research group at Chalmers, led by Aleksej Zelezniak, Associate Professor of Systems Biology, took an important step in understanding and controlling how much of a protein is made from a certain DNA sequence.
“First it was about being able to fully ‘read’ the DNA molecule’s instructions. Now we have succeeded in designing our own DNA that contains the exact instructions to control the quantity of a specific protein,” says Aleksej Zelezniak about the research group’s latest important breakthrough.
The principle behind the new method is similar to when an AI generates faces that look like real people. By learning what a large selection of faces looks like, the AI can then create completely new but natural-looking faces. It is then easy to modify a face by, for example, saying that it should look older, or have a different hairstyle. On the other hand, programming a believable face from scratch, without the use of AI, would have been much more difficult and time-consuming. Similarly, the researchers’ AI has been taught the structure and regulatory code of DNA. The AI then designs synthetic DNA, where it is easy to modify its regulatory information in the desired direction of gene expression. Simply put, the AI is told how much of a gene is desired and then ‘prints’ the appropriate DNA sequence.
“DNA is an incredibly long and complex molecule. It is thus experimentally extremely challenging to make changes to it by iteratively reading and changing it, then reading and changing it again. This way it takes years of research to find something that works. Instead, it is much more effective to let an AI learn the principles of navigating DNA. What otherwise takes years is now shortened to weeks or days,” says first author Jan Zrimec, a research associate at the National Institute of Biology in Slovenia and past postdoc in Aleksej Zelezniak’s group.
The researchers have developed their method in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, whose cells resemble mammalian cells. The next step is to use human cells. The researchers have hopes that their progress will have an impact on the development of new as well as existing drugs.
“Protein-based drugs for complex diseases or alternative sustainable food proteins can take many years and can be extremely expensive to develop. Some are so expensive that it is impossible to obtain a return on investment, making them economically nonviable. With our technology, it is possible to develop and manufacture proteins much more efficiently so that they can be marketed,” says Aleksej Zelezniak. (ANI)
Pharmacists deserve more recognition for their work
Pharmacists make a significant contribution in saving lives but their work is not recognised, said P V Vijayalakshmi, Director of Drugs Control, Tamil Nadu.
Pharmacists make a significant contribution in saving lives but their work is not recognised, said P V Vijayalakshmi, Director of Drugs Control, Tamil Nadu. The Indian Pharmacy Graduates’ Association, Tamil Nadu Branch celebrated 61st National Pharmacy Week on Saturday at the Madras Medical College old campus.
Speaking at the event, Vijayalakshmi said, during the pandemic, the pharmacists ensured drugs and medical oxygen were available. The Indian Pharmacy Graduates’ Association also honoured the best pharmacists. R Kalaiselvi, Drugs Inspector, Zone-1 was honoured with the Best Drugs Regulatory Officer. M P Muralikrishnan, Secretary, Indian Pharmacy Graduates’ Association-Tamil Nadu said, the association also distributed awareness pamphlets on the safe use of drugs.
Saturday, November 26, 2022
Greetings!! Dear AIKTC'ians,
Greetings!! Dear AIKTC'ians,
Knowledge Resources & Relay Centre (Central Library) and AIKTC-NDLI Club celebrates the "National Constitution Day 2022" and organizes –
eQuiz on the Constitution: On the occasion of Constitution Day, Let us test our knowledge on Constitution and life and the achievements of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar. Kindly spare 10 minutes of your day and take this quiz.
Link Activate from 26th to 30th November 2022
eQuiz Link: https://forms.gle/xcFtQq9BXvHtUuJp6
Thematic Book Display: Visit the Library
Virtual Book Shelf: https://drive.google.com/.../1ZKX4I9PNCAnnyHBJbkcKKy.../view
Wakelet: https://wakelet.com/wake/FBKOZy-QJasUbofMHLUtJ
AIKTC-KRRC
Friday, November 25, 2022
Institutes offer scholarships for underprivileged students
Source: https://www.aicte-india.org/
Several Scholarships / Fellowships have been taken out by various institutions and programmes to help children of the underprivileged sector in pursuing professional courses and apprenticeships. These include:
Laduma Dhamecha Youth Scholarship
The Laduma Dhamecha Yuva Scholarship Program 2022 is an initiative of ‘Yuva Unstoppable’ that aims to provide financial assistance to meritorious and needy students to support them in achieving their academic dreams. Under this scholarship programme, students who are pursuing JEE/NEET coaching after Class 10 or the first year of the engineering/MBBS programme will be provided with financial assistance of INR 50,000 per year to cover their educational expenses.
Last Date of Application: November 30, 2022
For more details visit: www.b4s.in/dbl/YUUS1
AICTE PG Scholarship 2022-23
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Ministry of Education have invited applications from GATE/GPAT/CEED qualified students for Post Graduation programs approved by AICTE recognized Institutes/Universities.
AICTE is doing in order to ensure the development of technical education in India awards Post Graduate Scholarship of Rs. 12,400/- per month to full-time GATE/GPAT/CEED qualified students admitted to AICTE approved post-graduate programmes in AICTE approved Institutions/ University Departments as per AICTE approved intake.
Last Date of Application: November 30, 2022
For details visit: www.b4s.in/dbl/AICTEPG2
Credit Suisse Scholarship for MBA & MA Students 2022
Credit Suisse is committed to building an inclusive culture and is proud to introduce the Credit Suisse Scholarship Programme 2022. This is an initiative to provide access to quality education and make it affordable to students in need. Credit Suisse has partnered with Buddy4Study to provide financial support to meritorious students to pursue their higher education. Students pursuing MBA and MA (Economics) programs at selected institutions will be eligible to apply for a scholarship of up to 80% of their total fees or a fixed sum of up to INR 200,000. Candidates registered for MBA/MA (Economics) in select institutes can apply for this.
Last Date of Application: December 24, 2022
For details visit: www.b4s.in/dbl/CSE4
AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls
Pragati Scholarship is a government scholarship scheme implemented by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Under this scholarship scheme, a total of 5,000 scholarships are disbursed every year among meritorious girl students for pursuing technical education. An amount of INR 50,000 per annum is given to the scholarship winners for every year. Since its inception in the year 2014-15, thousands of girl students have benefitted from the Pragati Scholarship scheme.
Applications have been invited from girl students admitted through lateral entry into the first year or second year of a Diploma level course in an AICTE-recognised institution by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
Last Date of Application: 30 November 2022
For more details visit: www.b4s.in/dbl/APSS2
One Nation One Subscription initiative by education ministry to allow open access to research papers from April 1
Indian Today Web Desk | New Delhi | Nov. 19, 2022
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced a One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative through which people of India can have open access to national and international research papers and journals from April 1.
In an excellent piece of news for research scholars in India, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced a One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative through which people of India can have open access to national and international journal publications and research papers from April 1, 2023. Not just schools, colleges, universities and research institutes, the ONOS initiative will benefit everyone in the nation. This initiative is by the Office of Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. Resources from 70 publishers recommended by the Planning and Execution Committee (PEC) are being taken into consideration by the core committee for the first phase of ONOS. A state from the education ministry reads: ”The ONOS intends to sign national licenses with most of the prominent STEM publishers and database producers of the world whose contents are already being subscribed by various institutions of higher education and research organizations either directly or through government-funded consortia
PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES:
The primary institutes which would benefit from ONOS are government institutes, government-funded academic institutes, and research and development institutions. Other beneficiaries would be research labs from ministry departments such as the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEiTY), and others.
Related Document: https://iicdelhi.in/sites/default/files/2022-09/OP-111_Final_13.09.2022.pdf
Thursday, November 24, 2022
Zydus Lifesciences gets USFDA nod for ulcer treatment drug
The drug maker on Wednesday (23 November 2022) announced that it has received a final approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to market Famotidine Injection.
Famotidine Injection is indicated to treat ulcers of the stomach and intestines and to prevent intestinal ulcers from coming back after they have healed. This medication is also used to treat certain stomach and throat (esophagus) problems such as erosive esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease-GERD and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
The pharmaceutical company said that the drug will be manufactured at the group's injectable manufacturing facility at Jarod, near Vadodara, India.
According to IQVIA MAT September 2022 data, Famotidine Injection had annual sales of $1.9 million in the United States.
The group now has 333 approvals and has so far filed over 431 ANDAs since the commencement of the filing process in FY 2003-04, the drug maker stated.
Zydus Lifesciences is a discovery-driven, global lifesciences company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of healthcare therapies.
The company's consolidated net profit slumped 82.6% to Rs 522.50 crore despite of a 10% increase in total revenue from operations to Rs 4,134.7 crore in Q2 FY23 over Q2 FY22.
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Career Opportunities in the Realm of Social Media Management
Source: EMPLOYMENT NEWS- 26th November - 2nd December'2022
Agar Aap yaaddasht (Memory) tez karna chahte hain to ' Samurai Tareeka' aazmayen
Source: INQUILAB - 23rd November'2022
Career Guidance: " Main Mechanical Diploma Course ka talib-e-ilm hun, is ke baad kaunsa course karna behtar hoga?"
Source: INQUILAB - 23rd November'2022
Toppers' Book Bank Facility for SY - SoET Stuents
Attention: Second Year School of Engineering & Technology Students
The
library is providing the following “Book Bank Facility (BBF)” to all
the students from Second Year School of Engineering & Technology.
Toppers' Book Bank Facility (Top-BBF) -
Eligibility: 1st, 2nd, 3rd Toppers and 4th on Deans/Heads suggestion
Benefits: 4-5 books for the entire Semester
Book Bank Facility Rules:
- Book Bank facility is available to the valid AIKTC Library members only.
- Topper’s list will be collected from the each School’s/ Department’s.
- All students who are availing the facility must ensure returning the entire set of books provided to them within ten days of completion of their final examination in the concerned Semester/Competitive Exams.
- The late fee will be applied in accordance with the library's fine policies.
- If any student availing the facility loses/damages/disfigures the book(s), he/she shall replace the book(s) with new book(s) (Or pay the current cost of the book plus fine, if any, as may be directed by authority).
For eNotice visit Facebook -
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=504551391697579&set=a.200465148772873
Dr. Maryam Afifa Ansari to become the youngest neurosurgeon
Dr. Maryam Afifa Ansari, who has secured admission for a postgraduate course in neurosurgery at Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, is set to become the youngest neurosurgeon from India’s Muslim community following completion of her degree in three years.
She had gotten 137th rank in the All India NEET SS exams held in 2020.
Interestingly, Ms. Ansari, who has left many amazed with continuous successes, has been educated in Urdu medium schools till 10th class.
She studied till seventh class in the Tahzeen High School in Malegaon, Maharashtra. Then, she moved to Hyderabad and took admission to Princess Durrushawar Girls High School. She was a topper in her school in the 10th class examination and also a gold medalist.
After completing intermediate from MS Junior College, Hyderabad with the top rank, Afifa managed to take admission in MBBS at Osmania Medical College free of cost
In 2019, she completed a postgraduate degree, MRCS, from Royal College of Surgeon, England.
In 2020, she did the Diplomate of National Board course. This is a special postgraduate degree awarded to the Specialist Doctors in India. After scoring high in the 2020 NEET SS exams, she was granted free admission in MCH at the Osmania Medical College.
Speaking to Muslim Mirror, she said ” my success is a gift from Allah and a responsibility’ .
She would try to serve the community through her profession, she added.
Ms. Ansari’s continuous hard work has helped her cross every hurdle on the path of success. She is an inspiration for the young generation in India.
CBSE to Remove 10+2 Education Format, to Adopt New System From Next Academic Year
According to CBSE chairperson Nidhi Chhibber, the board will soon be issuing directions for the adoption of the new academic system of education for all of its affiliated schools
In line with the recommendations of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is gearing up to prepare for a shift towards the 5+3+3+4 pedagogical structure. The board will soon disseminate an order asking all CBSE board-affiliated schools in India to make provisions for a migration from the current 10+2 system to the proposed 5+3+3+4 one, reported the Times of India.
According to CBSE chairperson Nidhi Chhibber, the board will make the shift from the upcoming academic session onwards. The board “will be shortly issuing directions for the adoption of the new 5+3+3+4 system of education for all the schools instead of 10+2 as envisaged in NE," she said, adding that CBSE will initiate the creation of a school registry, teacher registry and student registry in order to track the growth of these resources throughout the multiple stages of schooling.
The CBSE chief said that the inclusion of 3- to 6-year-old children in formal education is a salient feature of the NEP. She further highlighted that several CBSE schools, through pre-nurseries and preparatory schools, are already into younger children’s education. Efforts from the board will bring this under the formal CBSE system framework.
The new pedagogical structure outlined in the NEP 2020 divides children’s education into four stages. The first is the foundational stage lasting for five years. The next two stages, preparatory and middle, will be three years each. The secondary stage will be four years long. The new divisions are claimed to be in accordance with the kind of cognitive development stages that children and adolescents go through.
Under the NEP, while the board exams for grades 10 to 12 will continue, this system of examinations will be changed to remove the need for coaching classes. The NEP states that in order to do away with the ‘high stakes’ aspect of board exams, all students will be allowed to take these examinations on two occasions during a school year. The main examination will be compulsory, while the improvement exam will be optional.
IIT-Guwahati director T G Sitharam appointed as new AICTE chairman
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/education/aicte-chairman-tg-sitharaman-jagadesh-kumar-8281956/
T G Sitharam will take over from UGC chairman Jagadesh Kumar, who was holding interim charge of the AICTE chairman post after Anil Sahasrabuddhe was released from his duties on September 1, 2021, upon turning 65 years old.
IIT Guwahati Director T G Sitharam has been appointed chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
According to a government notification dated November 17, he will serve as the Council head for three years or before he turns 65 years old, whichever is earlier. The Indian Express has learned that AICTE vice chairperson M P Poonia and a professor from IIT Kanpur were among the other front runners for the job.
Sitharam will take over from UGC chairman Jagadesh Kumar, who was holding interim charge of the AICTE chairman post after Anil Sahasrabuddhe was released from his duties on September 1, 2021, upon turning 65 years old.
Sitharam will take over from UGC chairman Jagadesh Kumar, who was holding interim charge of the AICTE chairman post after Anil Sahasrabuddhe was released from his duties on September 1, 2021, upon turning 65 years old.
Before he joined as Director of IIT Guwahati, he was a professor in the department of civil engineering at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Earlier, he was a chair professor in the area of Energy and Mechanical Sciences at IISc. His research interests include rock mechanics and rock engineering, geotechnical earthquake engineering and earth dams and tailing ponds.
Tuesday, November 22, 2022
4-year UG programmes from 2023-24: Details from UGC chairman
The 4-year UG programmes or the FYUGP will be adopted by all HEIs from 2023-24. Here are the details as per the UGC chairman.
The framework for the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUGP), which will be adopted in all higher education institutions as of the upcoming academic session 2023–2024, has been finalised by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The UGC has stated that these regulations for four-year undergraduate programmes will be distributed to all universities in the nation starting next week.
UGC likely to introduce courses in regional languages across disciplines
The higher education regulator, in collaboration with the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, a panel of experts under the Union ministry of education to promote Indian languages, will soon notify an apex committee to prepare the plan, officials said.
The move is in continuation with the Union government’s several initiatives to introduce regional languages as a medium of education in both school and colleges in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) will soon come up with a roadmap to introduce undergraduate and postgraduate courses in regional languages in all disciplines, including commerce, humanities and science, across the country, people familiar with the development said.
The higher education regulator, in collaboration with the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, a panel of experts under the Union ministry of education to promote Indian languages, will soon notify an apex committee to prepare the plan, officials said.
The move is in continuation with the Union government’s several initiatives to introduce regional languages as a medium of education in both school and colleges in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The Centre has already introduced engineering and medical courses in regional languages in several states. In June, the Bar Council of India (BCI) also constituted a panel to come up with recommendations on how to introduce courses in regional languages in law colleges.
The proposed committee will first start dialogues with publishers of the standard, globally used textbooks for the translation work, said UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar.
“It won’t be possible for the universities to start offering courses in regional languages without proper textbooks,” said Kumar. “So, the first task of the committee will be to start the process of identifying books of global authors that we have been using in our colleges and universities for decades, and hold discussions with the well-known international publishers and authors regarding our intention to translate them into several Indian languages.”
He further said: “The UGC has already conducted meetings with some of the popular international publishers and we have received a good response from them.”
The UGC head added that the proposed committee will also identify books written by Indian authors that can be translated into regional languages. “It will also conduct dialogues with Indian authors and encourage them to write in regional languages,” he said.
Chamu Krishna Shastry, chairperson of the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, said the proposed committee will work on providing quality textbooks in regional languages at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
“The proposed committee will frame the guidelines on how to ensure that books in all disciplines are available in Indian languages. The committee will also lay down guidelines on taking examinations in Indian languages,” he said. “However, it will be students’ choice to opt for it or not. The idea is to provide an opportunity to students to study in their mother tongue.”
The development comes amid a swirling political row between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition parties over the government’s language policy. A number of opposition parties, especially those from southern states, say the BJP is trying to push Hindi in its policies at the cost of regional tongues but the Union government has dismissed these concerns and said it wanted to help all Indian languages.
The UGC, meanwhile, will also constitute multiple sub-committees under the apex panel, Kumar said. “These sub-committees will be assigned languages and they will work closely with the universities interested in introducing courses in those languages,” the UGC chairperson added.
On October 16, HT had reported that the government was planning to establish 22 “bhasha kendras” (language centres) to prepare study material and courses in regional languages. Kumar said the apex committee will also collaborate with these centres.
USFDA gives final nod to Alembic Pharmaceutical’s cardiac disorder tablets
The drug is indicated for the management of Vasospastic Angina, Chronic Stable Angina (Classical Effort-Associated Angina), and hypertension.
Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited on Monday announced that it has received final approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) Nifedipine Extended-Release Tablets USP, 30 mg, 60 mg and 90 mg.
According to the company’s press statement, the approved ANDA is therapeutically equivalent to the reference listed drug product (RLD), Procardia XL Extended-Release Tablets, 30 mg, 60 mg and 90 mg, of Pfizer Inc. Nifedipine Extended-Release Tablets.
The drug is indicated for the management of Vasospastic Angina, Chronic Stable Angina (Classical Effort-Associated Angina), and hypertension.
Nifedipine Extended-Release Tablets USP, 30 mg, 60 mg and 90 mg, have an estimated market size of US$ 56 million for twelve months ending Sep 2022 according to IQVIA.
Alembic has a cumulative total of 177 ANDA approvals (153 final approvals and 24 tentative approvals) from the USFDA.
Combating Counterfeit drugs: Digital technology is the key
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) needs to work closely with pharmaceutical firms and state authorities to weed out the problem by following standard and defined protocols.
Medicines are important for us to get better from illnesses. These may be prescription or dietary supplements. They help prevent, treat diseases, and improve health. With the rising menace of counterfeit medications prevalent across the world, ensuring authenticity becomes the need of the hour. Nearly 10.5% of the medications sold worldwide are falsified, negatively impacting public health, pharmaceutical businesses, and a company’s reputation.
India’s tryst with fake and falsified drugs is no different. While India
stands tall as one of the biggest market leaders, supplying and
exporting generic drugs worth millions each year, the business of
spurious drugs is tarnishing its image.
As the demand for medicines surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, online pharmacies benefited largely which led to rising investments in this sector. However, the trade of spurious medicines and medical essentials also increased during this time. News reports of fake vials of medicines like remdesivir made headlines globally. Even though counterfeiting is a major challenge for any industry, the sale of sub-standard and falsified (SFFC) drugs has a greater impact since it affects human lives.
Challenges faced by the healthcare ecosystem
The sale of fake medicines that usually contain toxic or substandard active ingredients can adversely impact health outcomes and cause morbidity and mortality. India-specific challenges that need to be addressed include over-the-counter dispensing of medicines (often without a valid prescription), lack of insurance and the enforcement of consistent investigations against manufacturers of spurious medicines.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) needs to work closely with pharmaceutical firms and state authorities to weed out the problem by following standard and defined protocols. When a complaint is raised and the investigation is conducted, the directive from DCGI labels the drug as ‘Not of standard quality,’ without specifying whether it is a substandard formulation or a fake or falsified one. Stringent steps must be taken to punish those who are manufacturing and selling falsified or fake drugs in the name of the original pharmaceutical company, which is unaware of the same.
Additionally, the lack of quality control infrastructure makes it doubly hard for authorities to impose a strict vigil on the menace of counterfeiting in the pharma sector. Moreover, poor consumer awareness and supply-chain imbalances add to the burden. However, with the rising demand to put patient needs first, these infrastructural gaps need to be closed and upgraded wherever possible.
Benefits of digital tech for safe access to drugs
While
fake medicines impose dangers on India’s healthcare system and public
health, corrective actions are being taken to overhaul the manufacturing
and supply chain discrepancies. The adoption of digital technology has
been one of the steps taken to tackle the sale of spurious medicines. It
is also helping the industry modernize and weed out SFFC drugs.
Track and trace digital technology can strengthen the authenticity of
the product and stop blatant copying. Technological advancements can
also facilitate companies to adopt features like serialization, and
unique packaging with scannable barcodes which can help with more
consumer-focused content and awareness of what to look for. These can
also enable consumers to authenticate a product by simply using their
phones.
In 2019, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization
(CDSCO) tabled a draft law establishing a uniform QR code on medicinal
packs for ethical compliance and industry-wide quality control.
Recently, the health ministry put out a draft Bill titled ‘Drug, Medical
Devices, and Cosmetics Bill-2022’ which addresses the potential gaps in
the sale of medicines through online pharmacies. Starting January 2023,
the government has mandated the use of barcode/QR codes on active
pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), raw materials, and packaging
materials for domestically available brands.
Combating pharmaceutical counterfeiting is also essential to cut manufacturing losses and ensure patient safety. The pharma industry and the government must act together to establish uniformity in testing mechanisms and regulatory frameworks and enable punitive actions against fraudulent retailers and agencies. Higher authorities, including the CDSCO, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Ministry of Commerce and Industry, must also actively promote programs that encourage consumer awareness and empower pharmaceutical companies.
Maharashtra ki sab se badi bijli (Electricity) company 'Maha Genko' mein engineers ke liye mulazmatein (jobs)
Source: INQUILAB - 22nd November'2022
Why Research Matters
Source: THE HINDU - 21st November'2022
Publishing research papers in established journals and presenting at conferences has many benefits for a scholar
Monday, November 21, 2022
Friday, November 18, 2022
Mission Prarambh. ISRO all set to launch India’s first private rocket
Source: https://www.isro.gov.in/
Union Minister Jitendra Singh will be at Sriharikota to watch the event
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to make history on Friday when it launches the first-ever private rocket, setting a new milestone in the 75 years journey of independent India.
The Hyderabad-based space startup Skyroot Aerospace’s rocket Vikram-S with three small satellites is scheduled for launch on November 18 at 11.30 a.m. The ‘Prarambh’ mission carries three customer payloads equipped with sensors for the measurement of acceleration and pressure.
The mission’s aim is to launch Vikram–S (VKS), a single-stage solid fuelled sub-orbital rocket into space. The launch vehicle has been named ‘Vikram-S’ as a tribute to the father of the Indian space programme, the late Vikram Sarabhai.
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), Department of Space (DOS), on Wednesday, authorised for the launch on Friday.
It took nearly two years for Skyroot to build the rocket using carbon composite structures and 3D-printed components. Founded by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka in 2018, the company has 200 employees, and is the largest funded private space start up in India with ₹526 crore raised as capital till date.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh, will be in Sriharikota to witness the historic launch of Vikram-suborbital (VKS) rocket, said, “the launch will herald a level-playing field for cost-efficient satellite launch services by disrupting the entry barriers.”
The launch will be a major milestone in the ISRO’s journey, after Prime Minister Modi unlocked the Space Sector in 2020 for private participation. Skyroot was the first StartUp to sign a MoU with ISRO for rocket launch, he said.
Skyroot’s rocket is a single stage spin stabilised solid propellant rocket with mass of around 550 kg. It can reach a maximum altitude of 101 km and splashes into the sea and the overall launch duration will be around 300 seconds.
Space reforms have unleashed innovative potentials of StartUps and within a short span of time, from a couple of Space Start-ups three -four years back, there are 102 working on areas like space debris management, nano-satellite, launch vehicle, ground systems and research. With the integration of R&D, Academia and Industry with equal stake, it is safe to say that a space revolution led by ISRO along with the private sector and start-ups is on the horizon, the minister said.
UGC asks universities to hold lectures on loktantra traditions
Evidence shows ancient India was not monarchical, but democratic: UGC chairperson M. Jagadesh Kumar
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has urged universities and
colleges to hold lectures on themes such as the “ideal king” in Indian
philosophy as well as khap panchayats and their “democratic traditions”
to celebrate India as the “mother of democracy” on Constitution Day on
November 26.
UGC chairperson M. Jagadesh Kumar has written to all Governors to “encourage” universities in their States to conduct such lectures.
On August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address from the Red Fort called India “the mother of democracy.”
The UGC has provided 15 themes on which universities could hold lectures, and these include the concept of the “ideal king (rajarsi or seer king or philosopher king)“ according to Kautilya as well as Bhagavad Gita, India’s “loktantra (self-governance)“, Harappans as the pioneering architect of the democratic system in the world, as well as khap panchayats and their “democratic traditions”.
The Bhakti tradition responsible for religious reforms, and democracy as known to ancient Indian Buddhism and Institutions of the Sikhs also find a mention along with tribal traditions in governance and tradition of local self-government in ancient and medieval Tamil Nadu.
These themes are based on a book brought out by the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) on “India: the mother of democracy”, which is a compilation of 30 chapters contributed by 30 different authors. And in order to take their writings to teachers and students, the UGC has planned 90 lectures in 90 universities across the country.
The over-arching theme for the lectures that has been spelt out by the ICHR is to promote India as a “loktantra” as opposed to “prajatantra” or “jantantra”. According to its explanation, while the former stands for “community system oriented towards the welfare of the community”, “prajatantra” is a mere translation of democracy and “jan tantra” is the “ruler versus people-oriented system”.
It adds that ancient India was unique because there was no autocracy or aristocratism as there was no concentration of the prestige of birth, influence of wealth and political office, and “Bharatiya” governance was different from ancient Rome and Greece. Sovereignty in India instead rested on “Dharma” which the note explains as “law”.
“There are many indications that the ancient form of governance in India was democratic, contrary to the general belief that it was monarchical. There is more evidence in the form of archaeological, literary, numismatic, epigraphical, bhakti, and so on, to emphasise the Loktantrik traditions of Bharat. The recent archaeological excavation at Rakhigarhi and Sanauli reveals that the roots of people’s self-governance date back to at least 5000 BCE,” the UGC chairperson explained.
UGC To Hold Workshop On Draft National Credit Framework To Create Awareness Among Stakeholders
The University Grants Commission (UGC) will organise a workshop on Draft National Credit Framework (NCrF) to create awareness among the stakeholders.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) will organise a workshop on Draft National Credit Framework (NCrF) to create awareness among the stakeholders. The workshop will aim to enrich knowledge of stakeholders on how the NCrF enables a learner to move between academic and vocational domains, exit, and re-enter the programmes by accumulating and transferring credits.
A half-day workshop steered by the IITs will be organised in five zones namely North Zone (IIT Delhi). West Zone (IIT Bombay), North- East Zone (IIT Guwahati), East-Central Zone (IIT Bhubaneswar) and South Zone (IIT Madras) in the hybrid mode under the aegis of the Ministry of Education (MoE). Details of States/UT's covered under each zone, host IIT, nodal officer, date of the workshop, tentative programme etc. are enclosed in the UGC's letter.
In a letter to the Vice-Chancellors/Representatives of universities from the States and UTs, UGC Secretary Professor Rajnish Jain urges to attend the workshop in the IITs earmarked for their zone for further dissemination of knowledge about NCFF among the student community and for the smooth implementation of NCRF in the institutions.
Earlier on October 21, UGC issued the draft guidelines on National Credit Framework and asked stakeholders to send their feedback and suggestions by November 30, 2022, at comments.ncrf@gmail.com. "To realise the intent and objective of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the National Credit Framework (NCrF) has been jointly developed by a high-level committee constituted by the central government," UGC said in a statement.
IIT Kanpur, Kharagpur Offer Free Online Courses on Machine Learning, Data Science
Source: https://swayam.gov.in/explorer
IIT Kanpur and Kharagpur have announced weeks-long free courses on data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
IIT Kanpur is offering to teach two new online courses — data science With R software 1: Probability And Statistical Inference, and data science With R software 2: Sampling theory and linear regression analysis.
Meanwhile, Kharagpur is offering a free applied linear algebra course in artificial intelligence and machine learning that can be completed in 12 weeks.
Things to know:
IIT Kanpur:
- The course will be conducted by Dr Shalabh, a professor of statistics at IIT Kanpur.
- The last day to apply is 30 January 2023.
- It will start on 23 January and end on 14 April, 2023.
- More than 150 students have already enrolled for the course.
IIT Kharagpur:
- IIT Kharagpur’s course on artificial machine learning will be conducted by professor Swanand Khare, MSc and PhD IIT Bombay. He is currently an associate professor in the department of mathematics and in the centre of excellence in artificial intelligence at IIT Kharagpur.
- The course will start on 3 January 2023 and will go on till 14 April 2023. The last day of enrolling is 23 January 2023.
- Participants will also receive a certificate if they take an examination after completing the course by paying Rs 1,000.
Both the courses are available for enrollment on the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) platform.
Who can apply?
Kharagpur’s course is suitable for senior undergraduates and postgraduates in the field of Computer Science Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, or Mathematics.
IIT Kanpur’s course can be taken up by anyone with a mathematics background up to class 12. It is more suitable for undergraduate students of science and engineering, students of humanities with basic mathematical and statistical background, and working professionals in analytics.
How to apply?
- The online courses by both the institutes are open for enrollment on the NPTEL online website.
- Interested candidates can apply for free by logging into an existing account or signing up for a new one.
- For more information visit : Swayam NPTEL
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