India’s First Indigenous Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Rig

South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA):

The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India has urged the Central Government to regulate the rise in refined soybean and palm oil imports from Nepal, citing a violation of the ‘Rule of Origin’ norm.

About SAFTA:

• Genesis: SAFTA, the free trade agreement of SAARC, replaced the 1993 SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement in 2006.
• Members: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
• Special Treatment for LDCs: The SAFTA agreement acknowledges the need for special and differential treatment for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in its preamble.
• Challenges: Despite the agreement, South Asia’s intraregional trade remains low, at around 5%, due to factors like poor transport infrastructure and political disputes.

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Sŗjanam: India’s First Indigenous Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Rig

India’s first indigenous automated biomedical waste treatment rig, Sŗjanam, was launched at AIIMS Delhi. Developed by CSIR-NIIST (National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology), Thiruvananthapuram, it disinfects biomedical waste without the need for expensive incinerators.

About Biomedical Waste:

• Definition: Biomedical waste refers to waste generated from diagnosis, treatment, immunization, research, or biological production/testing in healthcare settings.
• India’s Biomedical Waste Challenge: India produces 743 tonnes of biomedical waste daily, which requires safe and efficient disposal (CPCB, 2023).
• Regulation: The Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016, mandate the proper segregation, treatment, and disposal of biomedical waste.

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