Today's Brief 29/07/2025

1 .Jan Aushadhi Kendras 

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

are dedicated outlets that provide quality generic medicines at affordable prices in India.

They are a crucial part of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), a flagship scheme launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India.

Objective: The primary goal of PMBJP and Jan Aushadhi Kendras is to make quality medicines accessible and affordable for all sections of the population, especially the poor and disadvantaged, thereby reducing their out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare.

It also aims to create awareness about generic medicines, dispelling the misconception that low-priced medicines are inferior in quality.

Key Features and Benefits:

• Affordable Medicines: Jan Aushadhi medicines are priced significantly lower (50% to 90% less) than their branded counterparts, offering substantial savings to patients.

  
  

• Quality Assurance: Medicines are procured from WHO-GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certified suppliers. Each batch of drugs is rigorously tested at NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accredited laboratories to ensure quality, safety, and efficacy before being supplied to the Kendras.

  
  

• Wide Product Basket: The Kendras offer a comprehensive range of medicines (over 2000 drugs and 300 surgical items) covering various therapeutic categories, including cardiovascular, anti-cancers, anti-diabetic, anti-infectives, anti-allergic, and gastro-intestinal medicines.

  
  

• Employment Generation: The scheme encourages individuals, NGOs, and other organizations to open Jan Aushadhi Kendras, generating self-employment opportunities.

  
  

• Incentives for Kendra Owners: Owners of Jan Aushadhi Kendras receive incentives, including a 20% margin on the MRP of medicines sold, and additional incentives based on monthly purchases, up to a certain limit.

  
  

• Special incentives are also provided for Kendras opened in North-Eastern states, Himalayan areas, island territories, aspirational districts, or by women entrepreneurs, Divyang (persons with disabilities), and SC/ST categories.

  
  

• Janaushadhi Suvidha Sanitary Napkins: As a step towards women's health security, oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins are also made available at a very affordable price (Re. 1/- per pad) at these Kendras.

  
  

• Accessibility: As of July 2025, there are over 16,000 functional Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country, with plans for further expansion.

2 . Ladakh's Hot Springs:

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

Scientists in Ladakh have discovered that hot springs in the Puga valley may hold crucial clues about the origin of life on early Earth and potentially Mars.

A team from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) found evidence of rapid carbonate precipitation in the geothermal environment of Puga, leading them to hypothesize its role as a natural "prebiotic reactor."

Traditionally, theories about life's origins have focused on silica. However, this new research highlights the unexplored role of carbonates, specifically calcium.

The team analyzed travertine (calcium carbonate deposits) from the Puga hot springs using various geochemical techniques.

Their findings revealed preserved amino acid derivatives, formamide, sulfur compounds, and fatty acids encapsulated within calcite.

This suggests that calcite can concentrate and stabilize organic precursors crucial for life.

Dr. Amritpal Singh Chaddha, the lead author, stated that these findings indicate natural travertine can trap and preserve prebiotic organic molecules, making calcium carbonate a potential natural template for the chemistry of life's origin under extreme, early-Earth-like conditions.

Published in ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, this study not only sheds light on how life might have begun on Earth but also offers insights for future planetary exploration missions, including those to Mars.

It could help organizations like ISRO identify true biosignatures on other planets and enhance our understanding of how biomolecules are naturally preserved, potentially influencing new material development and life-detection technologies in astrobiology and synthetic biology.

3 . Animal Husbandry Through Technology and Innovation:

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

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) is significantly advancing India's livestock sector through the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and other initiatives, focusing on cutting-edge technologies and promoting an innovation ecosystem.

Key Technological Interventions:

• Sex-Sorted Semen Technology: This technology, available at 5 government and several private semen stations, has produced 1.25 crore sex-sorted semen doses.

  It ensures 85-90% female calf births, enhancing farmer income, and offers a 50% cost incentive under the scheme. An indigenous, affordable version developed with NDDB was launched by the Prime Minister on October 5, 2024.

  
  

• Bovine IVF Technology: With 23 operational IVF labs, this technology has produced 26,987 viable embryos, resulting in 2,361 calves. It can achieve in one generation what traditionally takes seven. Farmers receive an incentive of ₹5,000 per assured pregnancy.

  
  

  An indigenous IVF media, launched on September 23, 2024, makes the technology more cost-effective.

  
  

• Genomic Selection (GAUCHIP & MAHISHCHIP): Launched by the Prime Minister on October 5, 2024, these indigenous genomic chips (for cattle and buffaloes, respectively) developed with NDDB and ICAR-NBAGR allow for early identification of elite animals.

  
  

  This accelerates genetic progress, improves milk production, and enables farmers to make quicker, informed decisions about their herds.

  
  

Promoting Innovation and Collaboration:

The DAHD is also fostering innovation through:

• Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF): Supporting technologies like dairy/meat processing automation, sensor-based feed systems, environmentally controlled poultry shelters, vaccine production, and animal waste management.

• Startup Grand Challenges (1.0 & 2.0): Organized in 2020-21 and 2021-22 to scout for innovative solutions, providing incubation and masterclasses to winners.

• Startup Conclave: Held in Hyderabad in February 2023 to promote existing and emerging startups in the livestock, dairy, and animal husbandry sectors.

• International Collaborations: Agreements signed with Denmark, the UK, and Brazil, along with research projects with IAEA and ASEAN countries, focusing on areas like antimicrobial resistance, camel genome diversity, and anti-haemoprotozoan activities.

• Centre of Excellence for Animal Husbandry (CEAH): A consortium of 5 organizations in Hessarghatta, Karnataka, dedicated to skill development, technology-driven initiatives, research, and knowledge exchange.

This comprehensive approach aims to boost productivity, improve animal health, and augment farmer incomes across India's animal husbandry and dairy sectors.