Page 6 - NIS English January 16-31,2023

News Briefs

BHAGAVAD GITA VERSES WILL BE

INCLUDED IN NCERT TEXTBOOKS

he government has informed the Lok Sabha
Tthat verses from the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita
and knowledge of the Vedas should be included in
the National Council of Educational Research and
Training (NCERT) Sanskrit text books for classes
11 and 12. NCERT books for classes VI and VII
should include references to the Bhagavad Gita. The
National Education Policy also states in paragraph
4.27 that Indian traditional knowledge is sustainable
and aims to benefit the common man. in the 21st century, we must first understand our
In a written statement, Minister of State heritage and then teach the rest of the world the
for Education Annapurna Devi stated that the "Indian way of doing things."
ministry had established the Indian Knowledge A parliamentary panel has also recommended
System (IKS) Division in the All India Council for that NCERT include the achievements and sacrifices
Technical Education (AICTE) in 2020 to promote of "unknown freedom fighters" from all regions of
interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary research. the country, including the Northeast, and prominent
NCERT has begun work on the National Curriculum Indian women personalities in NCERT's "regular
Framework (NCF). To become a knowledge power books" to make it "compulsory reading material."

BIG JUMP IN SPACE SECTOR, ESSENTIAL MEDICINES WILL BE CHEAPER,

177 FOREIGN SATELLITES CAP ON PRICES OF 119 MEDICINES
LAUNCHED hen a patient becomes ill, he or she not only suffers
Wphysical problems, but the expensive medicine also
has a financial impact on the family. While Jan Aushadhi
ndia has successfully launched 177 Kendras are being opened to reduce the burden of
Iforeign satellites from 19 countries costly medicines, the government has set the maximum
in the last five years as a result of price of essential medicines for the fifth time in a year.
global use of self-reliant space The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
technology. As a result, foreign has set the maximum price for 119 drugs, including
exchange worth approximately 9.4 Paracetamol and Amoxicillin, which are used in Corona.
crore dollars and 46 million euros The new order will reduce the cost of medicines for many
has been earned. serious diseases, including cancer, diabetes, fever, and
For the last five years, from 2017- hepatitis, by up to 40%. The anti-cancer and anti-tumour
18 to 2021-22, the government drug temozolomide, will now be available for Rs 393.6. It
has budgeted approximately was previously priced at Rs 662. Similarly, Sofosbuvir, a
55 thousand crore rupees. The hepatitis drug, will be available for Rs. 468 instead of Rs
government has launched the IN- 741. The price of the 400 mg moxifloxacin drug, which
SPACe digital platform to encourage is used to treat bacterial infections, has been reduced
and support the private space to Rs 22.8 per tablet from Rs 31.50 per tablet. Earlier,
sector. This site currently lists 111 the government had fixed the prices of 84 medicines in
space startups. July 2022.

4 New India Samachar January 16-31, 2023