UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis Aug 30

UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis Aug 30 for IAS Exam Preparation

PM’s interaction through PRAGATI

PRAGATI is the ICT-based, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

The Prime Minister reviewed the progress towards handling and resolution of grievances related to patents and trademarks.

He noted the improvement in performance, asked the concerned officers to work towards further expediting the processing of patent and trademark applications.

Officials explained the steps taken towards speeding up the grant of patents and trademarks, including enhanced manpower.

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of using latest available technology, to streamline the process, and reach global standards in this regard.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the progress of the Smart Cities Mission. He appreciated the participation of cities in the challenge route. He said the challenge before everyone is now to ensure implementation and expeditious completion of the work in the 90 identified cities, with high quality.

On Government e-Marketplace (GeM), he said the portal has improved transparency, and has reduced wasteful expenditure.

Cabinet approves Memorandum of Understanding by the Election Commission 
of India with the Election Management Bodies of other countries/International 
Agencies

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Election Commission of India to enter into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of electoral management and administration with the Election Management Bodies of other countries/International Agencies namely Ecuador, Albania, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Guinea and Myanmar.

Background

The Election Commission has been participating in promoting cooperation in the field of election matters and electoral processes across the world with certain foreign countries and agencies by adopting the mode of MoU signed by the concerned parties.

The Election Commission, a constitutional body, conducts the largest electoral exercise in the world. It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to organize free and fair election in the country of about 85 crore voters with diverse socio-political and economic backgrounds.

In recently years, the role being played by the Election Commission ensures greater participation of people in political affairs. India, today, is considered as the world’s largest democratic country. The success of democracy in India has attracted the attention of almost every political system around the world.

Cabinet approves MoU with Myanmar for the Conservation of  Earthquake-Damaged 
Pagodas at Bagan

Implementation of the project will further strengthen India’s enduring ties in culture and religion with Myanmar.

It will also generate immense goodwill for India among the people of Myanmar due to the religious significance as well as the touristic significance of the project.

It will also contribute to India’s development partnership with Myanmar. Bagan is one of the premier tourist attractions of Myanmar.

It will be an opportunity to showcase India’s expertise in the restoration and conservation of monuments not only to the people of Myanmar but also to the tourists from other countries.

Cabinet approves MoU on "India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological 
Innovation Fund"

The Union Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Israel on “India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (I4F)”.

India and Israel will make a contribution of four million US Dollars each for the Fund, both equivalent amount, annually for five years. The Innovation Fund will be governed by a joint Board which will consist of four members from each country.

The MoU envisages promotion of bilateral Industrial R&D and Innovation cooperation in the fields of science and technology by extending support to joint projects for innovative or technology-driven new or improved products, services or processes.

Such projects will lead to affordable technological innovations in focus areas of mutual interest such as water, agriculture, energy and digital technologies. Institutional support in building up consortia including private industry, enterprises and R&D institutions from India and Israel will be enabled through these collaborative projects.

The activities supported by the Joint Fund would increase the techno-economic collaboration between the two countries by investing in jointly developed technology projects and collaborations based on technological innovation.

It would leverage the complementary strengths of Israel and India to encourage Israel-Indian joint projects that capitalize on both the national and global marketplace. It would provide a comprehensive set of support tools to encourage joint projects that convert “know-how” into “show-how”.

It is expected that this will foster and strengthen the eco-system of innovation and techno-entrepreneurship in India and will contribute directly to the Start-up India programme.

Cabinet approves MoU between India and Brazil for cooperation in the fields of Zebu 
Cattle Genomics and Assisted Reproductive Technologies

The MoU will strengthen the existing friendly relations between India and Brazil and promote development of Genomics and Assistant Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) in Cattle through joint activities to be implemented through mutually agreed procedures.

The MoU would promote and facilitate scientific cooperation and setting up of genomic selection programme in Zebu Cattle through

(a) application of genomic in Zebu Cattle and their crosses and buffaloes

(b) application of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) in cattle and buffaloes

(c) capacity building in genomic and assisted reproductive technology

Agriculture Ministry is trying to ensure women participation in the mainstream 
agriculture: Shri Radha Mohan Singh

Statistics

According to NSSO (National Sample Survey Office) survey, a decline in both male and female labour force in agriculture has been observed in the last three decades.

The number of men in agriculture has decreased from 81 percent to 63 percent, and women from 88 percent to 79 percent.

The following measures have been taken to bring women in the mainstream agricultural sector:

Earmarking at least 30% of the budget allocation for women beneficiaries in all ongoing schemes/programmes and development activities.

Initiating women centric activities to ensure benefits of various beneficiary-oriented programs/schemes reach them.

Focusing on women self-help group (SHG) to connect them to micro-credit through capacity building activities and to provide information and ensuring their representation in different decision-making bodies.

Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare decided to celebrate 15th October of every year as Women Farmer’s Day. This marks a significant step forward in women empowerment.

C-DOT celebrates its 34th Foundation Day

The Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha has called upon C-DOT, Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) to innovate and develop Telecom products at reasonable costs for exporting to SAARC countries and other developing regions of the world.

The premier Telecom R&D center of the Government of India, can develop products having far reaching impact in the areas of Agriculture, Education and Health care.

In an era of M2M communications, Internet of Things, 5G, Cognitive learning and hyper speed networks, C-DOT has to play an important role in developing state of the art telecom infrastructure at affordable rate for the common man.

Referring to the launch of C-DOT’s latest innovation, “WiDHWAN”, the minister said that, it has been exclusively designed to cater to the recurring call drop issues in no-signal and low-signal network scenarios in places such as offices and homes.

He also congratulated C-DOT for regularly organizing lecture series on its foundation day, attracting national and international talents from the fields of IT and Engineering to brain storm on the future challenges facing the sector.