19 July 2018: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

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Ganga Vriksharopan Abhiyan

  • National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is organising “Ganga Vriksharopan Abhiyan” with 9th July to 15th July 2018 being observed as ‘Shubharambh Saptah’ in five main stem Ganga basin states – Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Aim of the campaign:

  • To bring greater awareness among people and other stakeholders regarding the importance of afforestation for the task of Ganga Rejuvenation.
  • A number of schools, colleges and departments have been requested to “Adopt a Plant” for turning this campaign into a people’s movement.
  • Plantation activities are being carried out with great enthusiasm all along the banks of the River Ganga with participation of local people.

Getting Forest Research Institute (FRI) on board

  • In order to implement the afforestation project in a scientific manner, Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun was assigned the project to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the basis of which the State Forest Departments would carry out their plantation activities.
  • The FRI report provides a multi-disciplinary approach with potential plantation and treatment models. Considering the type of natural ecosystem, identification of native vegetation, soil conditions and agro-climatic zones, potential models of various types have been developed.
  • The implementation plan aims to contribute towards the Clean Ganga Mission, particularly Aviral Dhara and Nirmal Dhara besides maintenance of the ecological and geological integrities, by improving the base flow and filtration of the ground water pollution.

Why is Afforestation in Ganga Basin important?

  • Forests cause higher rainfall and raise water level in the rivers.
  • Through their foliage, craggy bark and abundant leaf litter, trees and forests decrease the speed of water dispersion and favour slow but greater infiltration of rainwater to ensure smooth functioning of the hydrological cycle.
  • Presence of healthy forest cover along the river provides self-cleaning ability to the river.
  • Thus, afforestation and augmentation of existing forest along the Ganga holds the promise to strengthen the riparian ecosystem thereby contributing to the overarching cause of Ganga Rejuvenation.

 

Joint Military Exercises

  • The details of joint military exercises conducted with foreign countries during the last three years and the current year are as under:

Joint Exercises conducted by Army:

S. No.

Country

Exercise

Year

1.

Australia

Ex AUSTRA HIND

2016-17, 2017-18

2.

Bangladesh

Ex SAMPRITI

2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18

3.

China

Ex HAND IN HAND

2015-16, 2016-17

4.

France

Ex SHAKTI

2015-16, , 2017-18

5.

Indonesia

Ex GARUDA SHAKTI

2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18

6.

Kazakhstan

Ex PRABAL DOSTYK

2016-17, 2017-18

7.

Kyrgyzstan

Ex KHANJAR

2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18

8.

Maldives

Ex EKUVERIN

2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18

9.

Mongolia

Ex NOMADIC ELEPHANT

2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18

10.

Myanmar

IMBEX

2017-18

11.

Nepal

Ex SURYA KIRAN

2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18

12.

Oman

AL NAGAH

2016-17

13.

Russia

Ex INDRA

2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18

14.

Seychelles

Ex LAMITIYE

2015-16, 2017-18

15.

Sri Lanka

Ex MITRA SHAKTI

2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18

16.

Thailand

Ex MAITREE

2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18

17.

UK

Ex AJEYA WARRIOR

2015-16, 2017-18

18.

USA

Ex YUDHABHAYAS

2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18

Ex VAJRA PRAHAR

2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18

19.

Vietnam

VINBAX

2017-18

20.

Multinational (ADMM Plus)

Ex FORCE 18

2015-16

 

Joint Exercises conducted by Navy:

S. No.

Country

Exercise

Year

1.

Australia

AUSINDEX

2017

2.

Bangladesh

IN-BN CORPAT

2018

3.

Brazil & South Africa

IBSAMAR

2016

4.

France

VARUNA

2016, 2017, 2018

5.

Indonesia

IND-INDO CORPAT

2016, 2017, 2018

IND-INDO BILAT

2016, 2017

6.

Malaysia

IN-MN Table Top Ex

2016, 2017

7.

Myanmar

IMCOR

2016, 2017, 2018

IN-MN BILAT

2018

8.

Oman

Naseem-al-Bahr

2017

9.

Russia

INDRA NAVY

2016, 2017

10.

Sri Lanka

SLINEX

2017

11

Singapore

SIMBEX

2016, 2017

12.

Thailand

INDO-THAI CORPAT

2016, 2017, 2018

13

UAE

In-UAE BILAT

2018

14

UK

KONKAN

2016, 2017

15.

USA

MALABAR

2016, 2017, 2018

RIMPAC (Multilateral)

2016, 2018

16

Multilateral Exercise by Brunei

ADMM+ Exercise

2016

17

Multilateral Exercise by Indonesia

Ex KOMODO

2016

18

Multilateral Exercise by India

MILAN

2018

 

Joint Exercises conducted by Air Force:

S. No.

Country

Exercise

Year

1.

Bangladesh

Table Top Ex

2017

2.

Israel

Ex Blue Flag-17

2017

3.

Oman

Ex EASTERN BRIDGE-IV

2017

4.

Russia

Ex INDRA-17

2017

5.

Singapore

JOINT MILITARY TRAINING

2015, 2016, 2017

6.

Thailand

Ex SIAM BHARAT

2016, 2017

7.

UAE

DESERT EAGLE-II

2016

8.

UK

INDRADHANUSH-IV

2015

9.

USA

RED FLAG 16-1

2016

 10.

Multinational Air Exercise

Ex Samvedna with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, UAE

2018

 

  • This is a continuous process, however, relevant steps are taken from time to time to engage friendly countries and to enhance the scope of exercises based on the principle of mutual benefit and our own strategic requirements.

 

Child Labour – Eradication

  • Child Labour is an outcome of various socio-economic problems such as poverty, economic backwardness, illiteracy etc.
  • As per 2011 Census, the number of main workers in the age group of 5-14 years in the country is 43.53 lakh which shows a decline from 57.79 lakh as per 2001 Census.
  • To ensure effective enforcement of the provisions of the Child Labour Act and smooth implementation of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme a separate online portal PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) has been developed.
  • The Portal connects Central Government to State Government(s), District(s) and all District Project Societies. Further the Ministry has instructed all the concerned States where NCLP Scheme is sanctioned, to form State Resource Centre (SRC) under the chairmanship of State Labour Secretary, which would monitor the enforcement of Child Labour Act, coordinate for the rescue of children and adolescents, child tracking system and supervise all the functions through PENCIL portal.
  • SRC would also prepare and implement awareness generation plan to curb the menace of child labour in the State.

Background:

  • Government has enacted the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 which came into force w.e.f 01.09.2016. The Amendment Act, inter alia, provides for complete prohibition on employment or work of children below 14 years and also prohibits employment of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous occupations and processes.
  • After strengthening the legislative framework through amendment in Child Labour Act, Government has framed the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2017 which inter alia specifies the duties and responsibilities of State Governments and District Authorities to ensure effective enforcement of the provisions of the Act.

 

Shram Suvidha Portal

  • Shram Suvidha Portal, launched by the Government on 16.10.2014, caters to four major Organisations under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, namely Office of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Directorate General of Mines Safety, Employees’ Provident Fund Organization and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation. The main features of the Portal are as follow:-
  1. Allotment of Unique Identity i.e. Labour Identification Number (LIN) for effective, efficient and real-time governance in Labour Administration
  2. To bring transparency and accountability in the enforcement of labour laws through Online Inspection System and Filing of Online Inspection Report
  3. Common Online Registration and Filing of Self-Certified and Simplified Single Online Annual Return for multiple labour laws to ease the complexity of compliance
  4. Unified ECR under EPFO/ESIC to encourage compliance by reducing transaction costs and promoting ease of business.
  • With these initiatives, the procedures have been simplified; returns and registration forms have been unified to provide an ease of doing business environment through Shram Suvidha Portal.

To ace UPSC current affairs section, read more PIB articles here.

Clean Ganga Child Labour Labour Reforms

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