CONTENTS

1. Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovation
2. Common Services Centres Special Purpose Vehicle

Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovation

Context:

Recently, union Minister for the Ministry of Science & Technology inaugurated Asia’s first health research-related “Pre-clinical Network Facility” under the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) in Faridabad.

Relevance:

GS III: Security Challenges

Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

Overview

• Launch Year: 2017
• Founders: Established in Davos, Switzerland by the governments of Norway and India, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, and the World Economic Forum.
• Partnership: A collaborative effort involving public, private, philanthropic, and civil organizations.

Mission

• Objective: Accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures to address epidemic and pandemic threats, ensuring accessibility for all.

Achievements

• Support: CEPI has backed the development of over 50 vaccine candidates and platform technologies.
• Focus: Targets multiple high-risk pathogens and prepares for future threats, referred to as “Disease X.”

Key Initiatives

• 100 Days Mission: A central part of CEPI’s five-year plan (2022-2026) aiming to reduce the development time for safe and effective vaccines against new threats to just 100 days.

India-CEPI Collaboration

Ind-CEPI Mission

• Objective: Enhance epidemic preparedness through rapid vaccine development, focusing on supporting Indian vaccine development.
• Implementation: Managed by a dedicated Program Management Unit (PMU) at the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
• Support: Backed by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Common Services Centres Special Purpose Vehicle

Context:

Recently, Common Services Centres Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV) celebrated 15 glorious years of its establishment.

Relevance:

1. Common Services Centres (CSC) Special Purpose Vehicle

Common Services Centres (CSC) Special Purpose Vehicle

Overview

• Incorporation: Established under the Companies Act, 1956 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
• Role: Oversees the implementation of the Common Services Centers (CSC) Scheme, part of the Digital India Programme.
• Function: Provides a centralized framework for service delivery through CSCs, ensuring the scheme’s systemic viability and sustainability.

Key Facts about Common Services Centres

• Initiative: Launched by the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), Government of India.
• Purpose: Acts as front-end delivery points for a variety of services, including government, private, and social sector services, to rural citizens.
• Services Provided:
  • Public Utility Services: Essential services such as electricity, water, and gas.
  • Social Welfare Schemes: Distribution and information about various social schemes.
  • Healthcare: Basic health services and information.
  • Financial Services: Banking, insurance, and financial literacy.
  • Education: Access to educational resources and courses.
  • Agriculture: Support for farmers with information and resources.
  • B2C Services: Various business-to-consumer services for rural areas.
• Network: A nationwide network catering to India’s regional, geographic, linguistic, and cultural diversity.
• Objective: Supports the Government’s goal of creating a socially, financially, and digitally inclusive society.