GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 2
Technology driven processes required to address multiple challenges: Vice President
Topic: Governance
Highlights:
- Public Administration has always been the management of change: administering change in society, in the economy and in political life.
- Our administrative abilities should be re-fashioned to implement the innovative and citizen-centric schemes of the Central and State Governments.
- India’s fifteen-year development agenda is completely aligned with the global UN Sustainable Development Goals of citizen-centricity.
- The agenda before use is to convert ‘swaraj’ in to ‘suraj’ by providing good governance, by reaching all sections of the people.
- Greater ‘efficiency’ and ‘effectiveness’ comes with a culture of ‘evaluation’ and constant ‘learning’.
- The Antyodaya approach that focuses on the most vulnerable, marginalized and hard-to-reach populations groups.
- Our approach has to be more empathetic, responsive and inclusive, that cares for women, differently abled and has, at its heart, a genuine commitment to spread the benefits of democratic governance to all sections in society without any discrimination in the spirit of the principle “Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikaas”.
Cabinet approves MoC between India and Japan on the “Technical Intern Training Program (TITP)”
Topic: International Relations
- The Union Cabinet approved the signing of “Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC)” between India and Japan on the “Technical Intern Training Program (TITP)”.
- The Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) is an ambitious program to send Indian technical interns to Japan for on the job training for a period of three to five years.
- It is expected that the MoC will pave the way for bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the area of skill development.
Cabinet approves signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between India and Japan on establishing a Liquid, Flexible and Global LNG Market
Context:
- The Union Cabinet approved the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan on establishing a liquid, flexible and global LNG Market.
Benefits:
- The MoC will promote bilateral relationship between India and Japan in the energy sector.
- It will contribute to the diversification of gas supplies for India.
- This will strengthen our energy security and lead to more competitive prices for consumers.
- It also provides a framework to cooperate in facilitating flexibility in LNG contracts, abolition of Destination Restriction Clause and also explore possibilities of cooperation in establishing reliable LNG spot price indices reflecting true LNG demand and supply.
Background:
- India and Japan are major consumers of energy in the world.
- In the LNG sector, Japan is the world’s largest importer and India is the 4th largest importer.
- Under the Japan-India Energy Partnership Initiative signed in January 2016, the two sides had agreed to work together in promoting well-functioning energy markets and affirmed to promote a transparent and diversified Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market through the relaxation of Destination Restriction Clause.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Belarus for Cooperation in the field of Vocational Education and Training
Context:
- The Union Cabinet given its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Belarus for cooperation in the field of Vocational Education and Training (VET).
Importance of the MoU:
- This is for the first time MoU for cooperation in area of vocational education, training and skill development has been signed with Eurasian country.
- Belarus has a large concentration of industries, mainly into manufacturing and heavy industries, which draw their strength from available skilled manpower and a highly developed skill training system.
- The transfer of knowledge of their skilling methodology will immensely help in our initiatives like “Make in India” and “Skill India”.
- This MoU would pave the way for systematic transfer of their expertise and knowhow in skilling the manpower especially in manufacturing sector.
- Cooperation between two countries in identified areas would be implemented through establishing institutional partnerships between Republican Institute for Vocational Education” (RIPO) , an apex institution for development of Belarusian vocational education system and Directorate General of Training for transfer of technology in VET delivery & its sustainability.
The areas of cooperation are as under:
- The Belarusian side shall provide comprehensive transfer of know-how of emerging technologies, training and evaluation methodologies, content development for regular / distance learning / e-learning/training of master trainers, competency building of the assessors in area of their competency and network building & industry linkage;
- Vocational education services for Indian citizens for skill development in the field of construction, electric-power production and distribution, manufacturing industry, trade, auto service and household goods repair and maintenance, transport, communication, hotels and restaurants as well as other fields being in high demand in India;
- Retraining, up-skilling, internship for Vocational Education and Training managers, teachers and trainers of India by the Belarusian Side;
- Advisory services in order to enhance planning, management and delivery of Vocational Education and Training and Skill Development.
Major impact
- The MoU would bring in Belarus experience and expertise for overall improvement in skill eco system of the country.
- Implementation of proposal includes innovation and improvement in the existing vocational education and skill development through Research and Development in the field.
- The financial arrangement for the co-operative activities undertaken within the framework of this MoU shall be mutually agreed upon by the Parties on a case-by-case basis, subject to the availability of funds.
Cabinet approves MoU between SEBI and FSC
Topic: Governance
Highlights:
- The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Financial Services Commission (FSC), Gibraltar for mutual co-operation and technical assistance.
- The MoU is likely to promote further development of economic links and cooperation between the two regulators and aims at creating conditions for an effective development of securities markets in the two countries.
- It would also contribute towards strengthening the information sharing framework between the two signatories.
- It is expected to add value to overseas mutual cooperation and regulation activities of SEBI and FSC, Gibraltar.
Cabinet approves IALA to change its status from Non-Governmental Organization to Inter-Governmental Organization
Context:
- The Union Cabinet given its approval for International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) to change its status from Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to Inter-Governmental Organization (IGO).
Highlights:
- The move will facilitate “to foster the safe, economic and efficient movement of vessels”. It will bring IALA at par with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO).
Background:
- The IALA, having headquarters at St. Germainen Laye (France) was established in 1957 under French law.
- In its Xll session held in La Coruna, Spain in May 2014, International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) General Assembly adopted a resolution stating its firm belief that the status of IALA from NGO to IGO will best facilitate lALA’s aims in the 21st century.
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