Quit India Movement: Every year Quit India Day is observed on August 8 to commemorate the occasion. This year marks the 81st anniversary of the event. The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement or Bharat Chodo Andolan, was a significant civil disobedience movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress on August 8, 1942 at Gowalia Tank Maidan also known as August Kranti Maidan in Bombay.
On this day, August 8th, in 1942, Gandhi gave the famous “Do or Die” speech, urging the Indian people to act decisively and nonviolently against British rule.
While factors leading to such a movement had been building up, matters came to a head with the failure of the Cripps Mission. The failure of the Cripps Mission made Gandhi realize that freedom would come only if Indians fought tooth and nail for it.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA):It is a government regulatory agency established with the aim of controlling and regulating the prices of pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices in the country to ensure their availability at affordable rates. It was constituted vide Government of India Resolution dated 29th August 1997 as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. It is to implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order in accordance with the powers delegated to it.
- To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority.
- To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps.
- To collect/ maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc., for bulk drugs and formulations.
Direct Incentive Disbursement Program: Recognising the pivotal role of its sales force, the Postal Life Insurance (PLI) introduced the pilot program for “Direct Incentive Disbursement” in the Delhi and Uttarakhand Circles. This programme will recognize the role of PLI’s sales force which is the driving force behind the department’s accomplishments. It will impact around two lakh sales force members across the nation, including Gramin Dak Sevaks, Direct Agents, Field Officers, and Departmental Employees.
Key benefits:
- Swift and Secure Transactions: Sales force receives incentives directly in their Post Office Savings Bank accounts.
- Convenience and Motivation: Sales force can conveniently manage their funds, and immediate rewards drive optimal performance.
- Simplified Administration: Automated payouts reduce administrative costs, enabling a greater focus on delivering client service.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): It is the West African nation’s regional group which was established in 1975 through the Lagos Treaty. Mandate: Promoting economic integration among its members. Aim is to have a single common currency and create a single, large trading bloc in areas of industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, financial issues, and social and cultural matters.
Member countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’ Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.
Headquarters: Abuja, Nigeria.
