CONTENTS
- National Medical Commission (NMC)
- 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:
- About National Medical Commission (NMC)
- 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.
