EDITORIALS & ARTICLES
27th April 2021
Project DANTAK
Recently, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has announced that the Project DANTAKhas completed 60 years in Bhutan.
- It was established on April 24, 1961.
- It was constituted as a result of the visionary leadership of His Majesty the Third Kingand then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru.
- It was raised with its Headquarters at Deothang.
- In 1997, the Project DANTAK headquarters moved to its present location atSimtokha (Thimphu) from Deothang.
- It was tasked to construct the pioneering motorable roads in Bhutan by identifying the utmost importance of connectivity in spurring the socio-economic development and growth of Bhutan.
- It completed the road connecting Samdrup Jongkhar to Trashigang in 1968 and also Thimphu was connected to Phuentsholing.
- The notable projects executed by DANTAK include the construction of Paro Airport, Yonphula Airfield, Thimphu – Trashigang Highway, Telecommunication & Hydro Power Infrastructure, Sherubtse College, Kanglung and India House Estate.
- The medical and education facilities established by DANTAK in far flung areas were often the first in those locations.
- The food outlets along the road introduced the Bhutanese to Indian delicacies and developed a sweet tooth in them.
Importance of India-Bhutan relations
- India and Bhutan share a unique and time tested bilateral relationship, characterized by utmost trust, goodwill and mutual understanding.
- The Government of India has consistently supported the socio-economic developmentof Bhutan.
- The hydro-power cooperation between the two countries is an example of win-win cooperation.
- The ongoing cooperation between India and Bhutan in the hydro-power sector is covered under the 2006 bilateral agreement for cooperation and its Protocol signed in 2009.
- India has been extending economic assistance to Bhutan’s socio-economic development since the early 1960s when Bhutan launched its Five Year Plans.
- India is Bhutan's largest trading partner as in 2018, the total bilateral trade between the two countries stood at Rs. 9227.7 crores.
Challenges in India-Bhutan relations
- The older Bhutanese generations looked to India with gratitude but the newer generation tends to look more deeply and with more dissatisfaction at the situation.
- The terms on which India is financing the hydropower projects are unfavorable to Bhutan and it is also getting electricity from Bhutan at cheap rates.
- India has continued to pressure Bhutan to dominate the foreign relations of the country to such an extent that Bhutan does not engage in diplomatic talks with China.
- The current Bhutanese government faces major challenges with respect to rising unemployment and rising foreign debt to India.
Project Ladakh Ignited Minds
Recently, the Ministry of Defence has announced the conceptualization of Project Ladakh Ignited Minds.
Project Ladakh Ignited Minds
- It is collaboration between Indian Army and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).
- The India Army would oversee the overall operations to include administration and logistics with requisite funding support through Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).
- Its executing agency is National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation, (NIEDO).
- (NIEDO) will not only mentor and guide the kids and aid their future growth story but will also provide value-based education.
- It is a Centre of Excellence and Wellness which has been conceptualised to secure a better future for the youth of UT of Ladakh.
- It is a full-time residential program to mentor and guide them for a period of twelve months for entrance examinations of various Medical and Engineering Colleges spread across in India.
Drug for common bowel disorder found to blunt Covid-19 vaccine response
Recently, the authors of a large-scale study found out that people who take a commonly-prescribed drug for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) should not assume they are protected after a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.
- The research measured antibody responses after vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in 865 people treated with infliximab.
- The research highlighted that by suppressing the immune system, the Anti-TNF drugs can reduce vaccine effectiveness and increase risk of serious infection.
- The research found that people treated with infliximab had significantly lower concentrations of antibodies, when compared to 428 people on an alternative treatment, vedolizumab.
- After a single dose of vaccine, only about one-third of participants treated exclusively with infliximab generated adequate levels of antibodies to the virus for the vaccine to be considered effective.
Common bowel disorder
- It is an umbrella term used to describe disorders that involve chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.
- The two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
- Ulcerative colitis: It involves inflammation and sores (ulcers) along the superficial lining of your large intestine (colon) and rectum.
- Crohn's disease: It is characterized by inflammation of the lining of your digestive tract, which often can involve the deeper layers of the digestive tract.
- The symptoms include urgent and frequent bloody diarrhoea, weight loss, pain, and extreme fatigue.
Infliximab
- It is an anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) biologic drug, prescribed to around two million people worldwide.
- One of the brand names under which infliximab is marketed is Remicade, which has got regulatory clearance in India.
- The Anti-TNF drugs are effective treatments for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.
Military Expenditure Report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Recently, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has released the report on military expenditure and arms trade globally.
- The US accounted for 39 per cent of the money spent on military globally, China accounted for 13 per cent, and India accounted for 3.7 per cent of the globe’s share.
- The US spent a total of $778 billion in 2020, China spent $252 billion and India’s military expenditure was $72.9 billion.
- India’s spending since 2019 grew by 2.1 per cent but the increase for China was more moderate, at 1.9 per cent.
- The US saw a 4.4 per cent growth over its 2019 expenditure.
- The United States’ military spending was 3.7 per cent of its GDP while the corresponding numbers for China and India were 1.7 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively.
- The American military expenditure dropped by 10 per cent, but China saw a 76 per cent growth while India’s military spending grew by 34 per cent between 2011 and 2020.
- The report highlighted that military spending in Asia and Oceania was 2.5 per cent higher in 2020 than in 2019 and 47 per cent higher than in 2011.
- The other top spenders included Russia with $61.7 billion, the UK at $59.2 billion, Saudi Arabia at $57.5 billion, followed by Germany and France at just under $53 billion each.
- The five biggest spenders in 2020 were the United States, China, India, Russia and the United Kingdom, which together accounted for 62 per cent of world military spending.
SIPRI Military Expenditure Database
- It provides military expenditure data by country for the years 1949–2020 in local current prices, constant US dollars, current US dollars, as a share of gross domestic product, per capita and as a share of general government expenditure.
- The SIPRI military expenditure data includes all current and capital expenditure on the:
- Armed forces, including peacekeeping forces;
- Defence ministries and other government agencies engaged in defence projects;
- Paramilitary forces, when judged to be trained and equipped for military operations; and
- Military space activities
- The civil defence and current expenditure on previous military activities, such as veterans’ benefits, demobilization, conversion, weapon destruction and military involvement in non-military activities (e.g. policing) are excluded.
Power Grid Infrastructure Investment Trust (PGInvIT)
Recently, the Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) has launched its infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) called Power Grid Infrastructure Investment Trust (PGInvIT).
Power Grid Infrastructure Investment Trust (PGInvIT)
- It is the first infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) to be launched by a public sector company.
- It has offered a price band of Rs 99-100 per unit for the public issue.
- The InvIT will raise Rs 4993 crore as fresh issuance and PGCIL is also providing an offer for sale (OFS) of Rs 2742 crore of existing units.
- It owns, construct, operate, maintain and invest in power transmission assets in India.
- It is registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as an InvIT.
- The Units of POWERGRID InvIT are proposed to be listed on BSE Limited (BSE) and National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE).
- It will be the third InvIT after IRB InvIT and India Grid Trust to be listed in India.
Significance of Power Grid Infrastructure Investment Trust (PGInvIT)
- The net proceeds will be used to provide loans to the initial portfolio assets for repayment or pre-payment of their debt.
- The government has allowed Power Grid to monetise its other TBCB subsidiaries through the InvIT route, which are under construction or will be acquired by it in the future.”
- It would help PGCIL to monetise in the first lot, assets with gross block value of more than Rs 7,000 crore.
- The proceeds from the asset monetisation would be deployed by PGCIL in their new and under-construction projects.
Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL)
- It is a “Maharatna” Central Public Sector Enterprise.
- It is the largest power transmission company in India.
- It is engaged in project planning, designing, financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining power transmission projects across India.
Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI)
Recently, the first edition of annual series of Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI)was released.
- Finland came top with 0.848 points ahead of Switzerland and Singapore, while Zimbabwe was Nigeria’s runner up followed by Venezuela at the bottom of the log.
- Mauritius, with an Index score of 0.5670 and at number 38 on the log, was Africa’s best performer.
- It highlights a key need for ‘pracademics’ in government i.e. people who combine a rigorous understanding of research and data with a practical and grounded sense of what governments need to do to succeed.
- It taps over 50 publicly available global data sources such as the World Trade Organisation, United Nations and World Bank.
- The report noted that countries that have done well under this pillar are all market economies with sound property rights and stable business regulations.
- India has been ranked 49th with a score of 0.516.
- The BRICS countries ranking are China (40th), Russia (48th), India (49th), Brazil (67th) and South Africa (70th).
- The ranking among the South Asian nations are India (49th), Nepal (92nd), Pakistan (90th) and Sri Lanka (74th).
Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI)
- It is the first edition which classifies 104 countries in terms of government capabilities and outcomes.
- It shows the importance of measuring and investing in governance capabilities that matter.
- The index focuses on seven pillars: leadership and foresight; robust laws and policies; strong institutions; financial stewardship; attractive marketplace; global influence and reputation; and helping people rise.
- It is a practical tool for all governments to understand and benchmark their capabilities.
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