UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis Nov 08

Organic World Congress

• The Organic World Congress (OWC) is organized once every three years in a different country and this time it is being organised in India. The last edition of the Organic World Congress took place in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2014.
• The aim of the Congress and related activities (pre-conference, General Assembly, side-events and organic exhibition) is to share experiences, innovations and knowledge about the organic world while giving the organizing country global visibility. In 2017, the Congress will take place in India.
• The goal is to move from organic India to the organic world.

India’s Second Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) Established at Anna University, Chennai 

• The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has signed an Institutional agreement with Anna University to establish India’s second Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) at the Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), Anna University, Chennai, under the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) TISC program. 
• WIPO’s Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) program provides innovators in developing countries with access to locally based, high-quality technology information and related services, helping them to exploit their innovative potential and to create, protect, and manage their Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). 

Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC)

• The objective of the TISC is to stimulate a dynamic, vibrant and balanced Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) system in India to foster creativity and innovation, thereby promoting entrepreneurship and enhancing social, economic and cultural development by establishing a network of TISCs in India.
• Over 500 TISCs operate worldwide and establishing a TISC in India will give the host institutions access to the global network.
• TISC will give an impetus to knowledge sharing, sharing of best practices among the TISCs, capacity building, generation and commercialization of Intellectual Properties. 

Islands Development Agency (IDA)

• The IDA was set up on June 01, 2017 following the Prime Minister’s review meeting for the development of islands.
• The meetings of the agency are chaired by the Union Home Minister.
• The vision was for developing India’s maritime economy while preserving the natural eco-system and addressing the security concerns.
• The project is steered by NITI Aayog aims at promoting and implementing development based on the sustainable approach to building a thriving maritime economy of the project islands.
• After detailed consultations with key stakeholders, 10 islands namely Smith, Ross, Aves, Long and Little Andaman in Andaman & Nicobar and Minicoy, Bangaram, Suheli, Cherium and Tinnakara in Lakshadweep have been identified for holistic development in the first phase
• Other Members of the IDA including Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary (Environment, Forests and Climate Change), Secretary (Tourism) and Secretary (Tribal Welfare)

Titbit

PM congratulates Chennai on city’s inclusion in UNESCO Creative Cities Network

PM congratulates Mary Kom on her gold at Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships