Protected Area Permit (PAP)
Recent Re-imposition: Union Government re-imposed PAP regime in Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland. Scrapped in 2011 to boost tourism.
- Legal Framework:Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958.
- Areas Covered:
- Regions between the Inner Line and the International Border.
- Includes all of Arunachal Pradesh, parts of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, etc.
- Regulation: Foreign nationals need a special permit from a competent authority.
- Issuing Authority: Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Validity: 10 days.
MedTech Sector
Recognition: Identified as a sunrise sector in India.
- Definition: MedTech focuses on designing and manufacturing medical products/devices for diagnosis, prevention, treatment, etc.
- Present Status:
- India is the fourth largest medical devices market in Asia after Japan, China, and South Korea.
- Valued at $14 billion, expected to grow to $30 billion by 2030.
- Initiatives: 100% FDI under automatic route, National Medical Device Policy 2023, Centres of Excellence, etc.
- Sunrise Sector: A new and rapidly growing industry or sector expected to become significant in the future.
Fir and Birch Trees
Climate Change Impact: Altering the tree line landscape of the central Himalayas. Birch trees being replaced by fir, a slow-growing evergreen conifer.
- About Birch Tree:
- Type: Fast-growing deciduous broadleaf species.
- Habitat: Found in the Himalayas, prefers moist or wet but well-drained rocky or sandy soil.
- About Fir Tree:
- Type: Conifer species, important for high-elevation forest ecosystems.
- Distribution: Found across North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Phewa Dialogue
Recently initiated by Nepal and China.
- Origin: Named after the famous Phewa Lake in Nepal.
- Location: Situated in Pokhara Valley.
- Inflows: Perennial spring – Harpan Khola and Seti Khola.
- Objective: Address issues like South Asia’s global industrial shift and needs.
- Significance: Nepal’s first official think tank forum for South Asia Regional Economic Integration.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
New class of medicines endorsed by WHO.
- Function:GLP-1 receptor agonists are used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
- Mechanism: Interact with GLP-1, a key hormone regulating blood glucose levels, lipid metabolism, and other biological functions.
- Production: GLP-1 is produced in the intestine, released in response to food.
- Effects: Causes reduced appetite and release of insulin.