India first high tech sports training centre for Divyangjan (GS Paper 2, Social Justice)
Why in news?
- On the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, Prime Minister inaugurated the country's first high-tech sports training centre for Divyangjan, in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
- It is named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Key Highlights:
- This initiative aims to provide equal opportunities in sports, enhance talent, and encourage participation in various sports disciplines.
- Divyangjan from all over the country can practice and train in the Atal Bihari Training Center for Divyang Sports.
Way Forward:
- This inauguration program serves as a platform to demonstrate commitment to an inclusive and accessible sports ecosystem, emphasizing the power of sports in inspiring individuals to overcome obstacles without worrying about their physical abilities.
At 36 percent, EBCs largest group in Bihar, shows caste study
(GS Paper 1, Social Issues)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Bihar government released the report of a caste survey conducted in the State.
Key Highlights:
- The Other Backward Classes (OBCs) make up 27.1286% of the population of the State;
- the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) 36.0148%;
- the Scheduled Castes 19.6518%; and
- the Scheduled Tribes 1.6824%.
- The upper castes make up 15.5224%.
- Hindus form 81.9986% of the population and Muslims 17.7088%.
- The total population is over 13 crore.
Caste-wise:
- The survey report ‘Bihar Jaati Adharit Ganana, 2022 (Bihar caste-based survey, 2022) says the Yadavs make up 14.26% of the State population; Kushwahas 4.27%; and and Kurmis 2.87%.
- The Musahar caste makes up 3% of the State population and Brahmins 3.66%.
- The upper-caste Kasha community comes to 0.68% population of the State.
WHO approves use of malaria vaccine with adjuvant tech
(GS Paper 2, Health)
Why in news?
- The R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, leveraging Novavax’s adjuvant technology, was recommended for use by the World Health Organization (WHO) recently.
Details:
- Following a detailed scientific review by the WHO’s independent advisory body, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE), and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group (MPAG), the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine has been recommended for use.
- With the approval and recommendations by the WHO, additional regulatory approvals are expected to follow shortly and vaccine doses could be ready to begin wider roll-out as early as next year.
Matrix-M component:
- The Matrix-M component is a proprietary saponin-based adjuvant from Novavax, which is licensed to the Serum Institute for use in endemic countries, while Novavax retains commercial rights in non-endemic countries.
- The vaccine was developed by the Jenner Institute at Oxford University and the Serum Institute of India with support from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), the Wellcome Trust, and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Way Forward:
- The Serum Institute has already established production capacity for 100 million doses a year, which will be doubled over the next two years.
- This scale of production is critical because vaccinating those at high risk of malaria will be important in stemming the spread of disease, as well as protecting the vaccinated.
