CONTENTS

1. National Medical Commission (NMC)
2. Steel Slag

National Medical Commission (NMC)

Context:

Dr. B.N. Gangadhar appointed as Chairperson of the National Medical Commission

Relevance:

GS II: Polity and Governance

Dimensions of the Article:

1. About National Medical Commission (NMC)
2. Functions and Responsibilities

About National Medical Commission (NMC):

• The National Medical Commission (NMC) is a regulatory body responsible for overseeing medical education and profession in India.
• The NMC was established in 2019 under the National Medical Commission Act, replacing the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI).

Composition:

• The NMC consists of a Chairperson, members, and ex-officio members appointed by the Central Government.
• The Chairperson and members include eminent medical professionals, academicians, and experts from various fields related to medical education and practice.

Autonomous Boards:

• The NMC comprises autonomous boards responsible for specific areas such as undergraduate education, postgraduate education, medical assessment and rating, ethics and medical registration, and continuing professional development.

Reforms and Objectives:

• The NMC was established to bring about significant reforms in the medical education sector, promote transparency, improve the quality of education, and ensure the availability of competent medical professionals.
• It aims to address challenges in medical education, bridge gaps, and align education with evolving healthcare needs.

Functions and Responsibilities:

• Regulating Medical Education: The NMC sets standards, guidelines, and regulations for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in India.
• Assessing Medical Institutions: It conducts inspections and assessments of medical colleges and institutions to ensure compliance with prescribed standards.
• Granting Recognition: The NMC grants recognition to medical qualifications and degrees obtained from Indian and foreign institutions.
• Promoting Ethical Practices: It establishes and enforces ethical standards and guidelines for medical professionals.
• Conducting Common Entrance Examinations: The NMC conducts a common entrance examination called the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India.
• Oversight and Quality Assurance: The NMC monitors the quality of medical education, training, and research to maintain high standards in the healthcare sector.

Steel Slag

Context:

Recently, the member (Science) of Niti Aayog released the Guidelines for Utilization and Processing of Steel Slag as Processed Steel Slag Aggregates in Road Construction.

Relevance:

Facts for Prelims

About Steel Slag

• Industrial Byproduct: Obtained from the steel manufacturing industry as a byproduct.
• Production: Generated in large quantities during steel-making operations using electric arc furnaces or smelting iron ore in basic oxygen furnaces.
• Composition: Primarily consists of calcium, magnesium, manganese, aluminum silicates, and oxides in various combinations, formed during the cooling process.

Applications of Steel Slag

• Environmental Remediation:
  • Used as a barrier material in waste sites to prevent heavy metals from leaching into the environment.
  • The high oxide mineral content of steel slag helps in precipitating heavy metals from water runoff.
• Water Treatment:
  • Successfully employed to treat acidic water discharges from abandoned mines.
• Construction Industry:
  • Can replace coarse aggregate in concrete due to its higher impact and crushing strength.
  • Offers better anti-skid capacity compared to conventional aggregates.