NATIONAL – DAIRY OF EVENTS

Advanced Therapies Under Centrally Licensed Approving Authority (CLAA)

• Context: The Central government amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, bringing stem cell derived products, gene therapeutic products and xenografts under the ambit of the Centrally Licensed Approving Authority (CLAA) framework to enhance regulatory oversight of new and emerging therapies.

Objective:

• To strengthen regulatory oversight of advanced and emerging medical technologies by ensuring uniform regulation across the country through the Centrally Licensed Approving Authority (CLAA) framework.

Expansion of Regulatory Scope

• Stem cell-derived products: Regenerative medicine products, including CAR-T cell therapies used for treating leukaemias and lymphomas, have now been brought under the CLAA framework.
• Gene therapeutic products: Gene replacement and gene-editing therapies developed for genetic disorders and cancers are now covered under the revised rules.
• Xenografts: Products derived from animal tissues, such as heart valves used in cardiology and orthopaedics, have also been included within the expanded regulatory ambit.

Legal Basis

• The amendment has been made under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Drugs Rules, 1945.

• • Earlier, the CLAA framework covered critical products such as: 

• Vaccines

• Large volume parenterals (intravenous solutions exceeding 100 ml)

• Recombinant DNA (r-DNA)-based medicines

• The latest amendment extends this regulatory framework to advanced cell- and gene-based therapies.

Significance

• The amendment strengthens India’s regulatory framework for emerging medical technologies by bringing advanced therapies under a uniform central approval mechanism. 
• It aligns the country’s regulatory standards with global best practices while enhancing oversight, quality, safety, and consistency in the approval of innovative medical products.

Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)

• Context: Recently, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) organised the second edition of the National Skill Olympiad on Seafood Value Addition during Seafood Expo Bharat 2026 held in Kochi.

 

About MPEDA

• • Nature: A statutory body responsible for promoting the export of marine products from India.

• Establishment: Constituted under an Act of Parliament in 1972. It replaced the Marine Products Export Promotion Council, which had been established by the Government of India in 1961.

• Headquarters: Kochi, Kerala.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Functions

• • Promotes and regulates offshore and deep-sea fishing.
  • Conserves and manages marine fisheries.

• Registers fishing vessels, processing units, storage facilities, and transport systems.

• Prescribes export quality standards for marine products.
• Regulates marine product exports and registers exporters.
• Operates 5 Quality Control Laboratories.
• Maintains 18 Regional/Sub-Regional/Desk Offices across India.

Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA)

• Context: The Global Biofuels Alliance inducted 15 early-career researchers as the first cohort of Global Biofuel Champion Fellows on 30 June 2026 at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.

• Each fellow will receive a research grant of up to US$15,000 and will serve as a GBA Ambassador for two years.

About Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA)

• • The Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) is a collaborative platform that brings together governments, international organizations, and industry stakeholders to promote the use of biofuels worldwide.

• It is an India-led initiative that unites major biofuel-producing and biofuel-consuming countries to accelerate the development, adoption, and expansion of sustainable biofuels.

• The alliance was officially launched during the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi.

• Its primary objective is to establish biofuels as an important component of the global clean energy transition, while also supporting economic growth, energy security, and employment opportunities.

Significance of the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA)

• • Strengthens biofuel markets and promotes global biofuel trade.
  • Encourages policy sharing and provides technical support for national biofuel programs.
  • Accelerates biofuel adoption through capacity building and technological innovation.
  • Promotes the use of sustainable biofuels with support from diverse stakeholders.
  • Develops international standards, sustainability guidelines, and regulations for biofuels.
  • Serves as a global knowledge-sharing platform and expert resource center.

• Supported by 34 countries and 14 international organizations.

Biofuel

• Biofuel is a renewable fuel produced from biomass in a short period, unlike fossil fuels that take millions of years to form.

Generations of Biofuels:

• First Generation: Made from food crops (sugar, starch, vegetable oil, animal fats). Examples: Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Biogas.
• Second Generation: Produced from non-food crops and agricultural/forest waste. Examples: Cellulosic biofuels, Biohydrogen, Biomethanol.
• Third Generation: Produced from algae and other microorganisms.
• Fourth Generation: Produces clean energy while also capturing and storing CO₂.

 

Project SAMARTH

• Context: Project SAMARTH, or the Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Research and Training Hub, is being established at IIT Gandhinagar in Gujarat with a total budget of ₹190 crore. 
• Work on the training facility began on 2 March 2026, and the centre is linked to semiconductor manufacturing, research, and skill development.

About Project SAMARTH

• Project SAMARTH (Silicon and Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Research and Training Hub) at IIT Gandhinagar in Gujarat was officially launched on July 3, 2026. 

• SAMARTH is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Department of Science and Technology of the Gujarat government, and IIT Gandhinagar.

• The ₹190-crore initiative was announced under India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 and began its core training operations in 2026.

Key details of the program

• • Target:
    •  Train over 10,000 individuals over a 5-year period.

• The planned trainees include 5,600 undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students, 1,500 technicians, and 1,000 participants in short-term certificate courses.

• Facilities: Features advanced nanofabrication, CMOS process training, and device modelling laboratories.
• Collaboration: Funded jointly by the Centre, the Gujarat government, and IIT Gandhinagar, with partnerships spanning engineering colleges across the state.

 

LokOS: A Digital Backbone for Rural Livelihoods

• • Meaning: LokOS (Lok = People, OS = Operating System) is a digital platform
  • Programme Link: It operates under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
  • Purpose: Enables end-to-end digitization of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their federations.
  • Objective of DAY-NRLM: Promotes self-employment, skill development, and sustainable livelihoods for rural poor households.
  • Platform Structure: Available as web and mobile applications.

• Web Application:

• • Used by administrators, e-bookkeepers, and approval authorities.
  • Supports creation and approval of SHGs, Village Organizations (VOs), Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), and members.
• Mobile Application:
  • Used for field-level operations.
  • Helps record and manage Community-Based Organization (CBO) activities efficiently.

Features of LokOS:

• • Digitizes SHG data such as member profiles, savings, loans, repayments, and financial records.
  • Manages livelihood activities and convergence programmes digitally.
  • Enhances governance and financial management of SHGs.
  • The platform improves transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency while enabling integrated programme implementation and monitoring across all levels.

• It currently covers 34 States/UTs, 762 districts, 7,241 blocks, 2.57 lakh Gram Panchayats, and 5.92 lakh villages.

Benefits:

• Reduces dependence on manual record-keeping.
• Enables real-time tracking of SHG financial transactions.
• Improves transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
• Manages financial flows worth around ₹2 lakh crore annually within SHG systems.

Digital Features of LokOS

• End-to-End Digital Management: Registers and manages SHGs, Village Organizations (VOs), Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), and their members.
• Unique Digital IDs: Generates Aadhaar- and bank-linked digital identities for CBOs and members.
• Digital Financial Records: Records savings, loans, repayments, and other financial transactions.
• Livelihood Profiling: Captures livelihood data to support planning and convergence with government schemes.
• Role-Based Administration: Enables user management, approvals, monitoring, and reporting from village to national level.
• Real-Time Analytics: Provides dashboards and one-click reports for data-driven decision-making.