Today's Brief 13/08/2025

1 .The State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH) 

General Studies Paper-II (250 Marks) – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

is a key initiative by India's Union Health Ministry to evaluate and strengthen drug regulatory systems across all states and Union Territories.

This program uses a data-driven framework to benchmark the performance of state drug authorities, ensuring that drug safety and quality standards are consistently met.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) proposed and implemented the index, which acts as a virtual tool for states to assess their regulatory capabilities.

The evaluation framework for SHRESTH categorizes states into "manufacturing states" and "primarily distribution states," each with its own set of indices that cover key themes like human resources, infrastructure, and surveillance activities.

States are required to submit monthly data, which is then scored and ranked to promote healthy competition and cross-learning.

By identifying specific weaknesses and sharing best practices, SHRESTH helps states improve their regulatory processes, harmonize standards across the country, and ultimately build greater public trust in the safety and efficacy of medicines available in India.

2 .Carbon Border Tax :

(General Studies-III (250 marks)Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management)

The European Union has approved a controversial "Carbon Border Tax," officially known as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), on imported goods. 

This policy is designed to put a carbon price on certain imports to the EU, with the aim of creating a level playing field for European companies that face stricter environmental regulations and to prevent Carbon Border Tax," where businesses might relocate production to countries with less stringent climate policies. 

The tax initially targets carbon-intensive sectors such as iron, steel, cement, aluminum, fertilizers, and hydrogen. 

While the EU frames the CBAM as a necessary step to meet its climate goals, the initiative has drawn strong protests from developing nations, which view it as a form of protectionism and a unilateral trade barrier. 

Countries like India, South Africa, and China argue that the tax unfairly places the financial burden of transitioning to cleaner technologies on them, violating the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" outlined in the Paris Agreement. 

They contend that the tax will increase the cost of their exports, making their goods less competitive in the EU market and potentially hindering their economic development.

3 . International Youth Day is an annual awareness day observed on August 12, designated by the United Nations to celebrate the potential of youth as partners in the global society and to draw attention to the cultural and legal issues they face.

First observed in 2000, the day aims to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth and its goals. Each year, a specific theme is chosen to highlight a pressing issue relevant to young people.

For example, the theme for 2025 is "Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond," which emphasizes the critical role of young people in translating global sustainable development goals into local realities.

4 .National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM),:

General Studies Paper-II (250 Marks) – Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations

The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) is a landmark initiative launched by the Government of India with the ambitious goal of eliminating sickle cell disease as a public health problem in the country by 2047.

Launched by the Prime Minister in July 2023, the mission is a part of the National Health Mission and places a special focus on the tribal population, which is disproportionately affected by the genetic blood disorder.

The mission's strategy is built on three pillars: awareness generation and pre-marital genetic counseling for primary prevention; universal screening and early detection for secondary prevention; and holistic management and continuum of care for affected individuals.

The NSCAEM aims to screen approximately seven crore people aged 0 to 40 years in high-prevalence areas by the fiscal year 2025-26.

By employing a multi-faceted approach that includes community-based screening, strengthening diagnostic facilities, and providing affordable and accessible treatment, the mission seeks to improve the quality of life for those living with the disease and, ultimately, halt its transmission to future generations.

5 .World Organ Donation Day:

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August 13 a global initiative to honor donors and raise awareness about the life-saving impacts of organ donation. In India, pledging platforms such as NOTTO facilitate advance donor registrations and help correct common misconceptions like disfigurement or delays in funeral proceeding,

The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is the apex body in India responsible for the implementation of the National Organ Transplant Programme.

Established under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, NOTTO plays a crucial role in regulating and coordinating organ and tissue donation and transplantation activities across the country.

Its primary functions include operating a national network for the procurement and distribution of organs and tissues, maintaining a national registry of donors and recipients, and formulating policy guidelines and protocols for transplant procedures.

NOTTO's mandate, as per the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Act of 2011