CURRENT AFFAIRS
27 September 2020
NATIONAL NEWS:
A) Modi holds talks with Rajapaksa, pitches for devolution of powers to minority Tamils.
On 26 September, India has pitched for devolution of powers by the Sri Lankan government to the minority Tamils in the island. The issue was dealt with in a virtual bilateral summit between the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa. In the talks, Modi has emphasized the need to fully implement the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, by saying it is essential for the peace and reconciliation process. The 13th amendment provides for the devolution of powers to the Tamil community in the neighboring country. Both the leaders also deliberated on a range of key issues, including ways to deepen defense and security ties, as well as trade and investment cooperation. The outcomes of the summit are substantial, forward-looking, and will help in setting an ambitious agenda to deepen ties, Joint Secretary in the Indian Ocean division in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Amit Narang said at a media briefing. In the talks, Modi also announced grant assistance of $15 million for the promotion of Buddhist ties with Sri Lanka.
B) Renowned economist Isher Judge Ahluwalia dies aged 74
Dr. Isher Judge Ahluwalia, a renowned economist, and Padma Bhushan awardee, who had worked extensively on issues related to urbanization and education, passed away on 26 September in the national capital. Fondly known as Isher by her colleagues and friends, the 74-year old, who was married to former Deputy Chairperson of the erstwhile Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, was battling cancer over the past ten months. Her demise comes a little over a month after she stepped down from the chairpersonship of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), which she is credited with transforming into a research institution to reckon with. Dr. Ahluwalia was ICRIER’s chairperson for a period of 15 years till she resigned citing her declining health. Prior to that, she had been the director and Chief Executive of the think tank since 1998. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the President of India in 2009 for her services in the field of education and literature. Dr. Ahluwalia had also led a high-level expert group on urban infrastructure and services for the Centre.
C) NCB questions Deepika Padukone for over 5 hours
On 26 September, Actor Deepika Padukone was questioned in Mumbai for over 5 hours by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) probing the alleged Bollywood-drug nexus linked to film star Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case. Her WhatsApp chats, including purported conversations about drugs with one ‘D’, are on the radar of the anti-drugs agency. She reached the NCB guest house in Colaba in south Mumbai around 9.50 am, left around 3:50 pm. The NCB is also questioning actors Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan at its office separately in connection with the alleged drug nexus. Actor Rhea Chakraborty had been arrested by the federal agency. Apparently, the names of Deepika and Shraddha were mentioned in WhatsApp chats on the phone of Rajput’s talent manager Jaya Saha. Meanwhile, the family of Sushant Singh Rajput has criticized the direction the probe has taken. In general, the NCB’s mandate is to probe drug cartels, smugglers and suppliers rather go after individual consumers.
D) Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments.
The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 59,80,040 with the death toll at 94,448. The coronavirus vaccine in India would likely retail between $2-3 (₹140-210), a highly placed. He also said that those unable to afford the vaccine will get it for free, and the government is considering a large immunization program to make the vaccine widely available. On 26 September, Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India (SII), has tweeted that the expenses involved in delivering the vaccine could cost the government ₹ 80,000 crore, which roughly works out to ₹600 per person for 130 crore Indians. Will the government of India have 80,000 crores available, over the next 1 year? This is the next concerning challenge that India need to tackle.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A) Reforms the need of the hour, says PM Modi in an address to UN General Assembly.
On 26 September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that reform of the United Nations is the need of the hour. He also asked that for how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United States. Narendra Modi also raised questions about the response of the United States in combating the Covid-19 pandemic and assured the global community that India will use its production capacity in fighting the deadly disease. Modi said as he asserted that reform in the responses, in the processes, and in the very character of the UN is the need of the hour. In his pre-recorded video statement to the landmark General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Modi said that even during these difficult times of the pandemic, the pharmaceutical industry if India has sent essential medicines to over 150 countries. The remarks of Prime Minister remarks questioning the effectiveness of United States in combating the pandemic came amidst strident criticism of the World Health Organization (WHO) by U.S. President Donald Trump, this week he alleged that the top world health body was virtually controlled by China. Modi told the 193-member UN General Assembly that in India and the neighborhood, they are moving ahead with phase 3 clinical trials. He also assured that India will also help the world for the delivery of the vaccines.
B) Donald Trump’s $200 prescription cards won’t hit mailboxes just yet.
On 25 September, the government officials of the United States said that the key details of the election-year giveaway of Donald Trump still have to be fleshed out. Trade groups that were representing the 2 industries were most affected by the plan drug companies and insurers said that they have received no specifics from the administration of Trump. Public policy experts were calling it an attention-grabbing move. The administration had nearly 4 years to work with Congress or to go through the regulatory process to adopt proposals that could have a real and sustained impact on drug prices. Meanwhile, the administration is still working on regulatory actions to try to lower prices abroad. Medicare enrollees can get prescription drug coverage by purchasing a Part D drug plan or by joining a Medicare advantage plan. By using the figure of 33 million people, Trump by getting the $200 cards, the cost would work out to $6.6 billion. The White House says that the prescription cards are definitely coming. They will be sent the mail in the coming weeks. As per the White House, the cards would provide savings off copays owed by seniors for their medications.
