Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter: Recently, Conference of Parties (COP28) President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the official launch of the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC).It is a dedicated initiative for the oil and gas sector. It aims to induce substantial impact in addressing climate challenges. Currently, 50 companies, collectively responsible for over 40 percent of global oil production, have committed to the OGDC. National Oil Companies have shown historic participation, constituting over 60 percent of the total signatories, marking a noteworthy shift towards decarbonization within this sector. It is integral to the Global Decarbonization Accelerator (GDA).
Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence: It is a multi-stakeholder initiative which aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities. It was launched in June 2020. Membership in GPAI is open to all countries, including emerging and developing countries. Member countries: At present it has 28 member countries including the European Union. India is one of the founding members of GPAI. Its secretariat is hosted at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris. It has a Council and a Steering Committee. It has two Centres of Expertise: One in Montreal and another in Paris. These Centres of Expertise will facilitate GPAI’s four working groups and their research and practical projects, across various sectors and disciplines. The working groups will initially focus on four themes: Responsible AI, Data Governance, the Future of Work, Innovation and Commercialization.
DRESS Syndrome: It is a type of drug allergy that can occur as a reaction to a large variety of medications. It is sometimes referred to as DIHS (Drug Induced Hypersensitivity Syndrome).This syndrome causes a diverse array of clinical symptoms, anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks after initiating the offending drug. Patients typically present with a rash, fever, and eosinophilia but can have a variety of symptoms including liver, lung, or kidney involvement. Also have a visceral involvement (hepatitis, pneumonitis, myocarditis, pericarditis, nephritis, and colitis) which is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in this syndrome. The most important step to treat DRESS Syndrome is to stop the medication involved in the reaction, and sometimes, no further treatment is needed. It is largely supportive and symptomatic; corticosteroids are often used and sometimes immunosuppressants like cyclosporine.
Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA): It was launched in 2013 as a centrally sponsored programme to improve access, equity, and quality in higher education through the planned development of higher education at the state level. It aims to work with 300-plus state universities and their affiliated colleges. Objectives: creating new academic institutions, expanding and upgrading the existing ones, developing institutions that are self-reliant in terms of quality education, professionally managed, and characterised by a greater inclination towards research. It aims at providing strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions. The central funding is based on norms and is outcome-dependent. Funds flow from the central ministry through the state governments/union territories before reaching the identified institutions.
