24 Apr 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

24 Apr 2024 PIB
Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL)
2. International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
3. Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG)
4. Prelims Facts

1. Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL)

Syllabus: GS-3, Mines and minerals

Prelims: KABIL

Context:

KABIL inks MoU with CSIR-NGRI for Advancing Geophysical Investigations in Critical and Strategic Minerals Sector.

Details:

• Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR-NGRI) to foster a long-term collaboration in the field of geophysical investigations to bolster its ongoing projects and activities in critical and strategic minerals.
• This collaboration will focus on Geophysical, Geochemical and Geological surveys, data analysis, interpretation and modelling, scientific knowledge sharing, technical support and advisory services.

KABIL:

• KABIL is a Joint Venture company of three public sector undertakings – National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL), under the aegis of the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
• It was incorporated in 2019.
• KABIL’s mandate is to identify, explore, acquire, develop, mine, process, and procure strategic minerals outside India for supplying primarily to India, to meet domestic requirements due to its non or meagre availability in the country and giving a big push to Make in India.

 

2. International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

Syllabus: GS-3, Disaster Management

Prelims: International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

Context:

PM addressed the 6th edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI).

About the ICDRI 2024:

• The ICDRI 2024 was held in New Delhi with the theme “Investing today for a more resilient tomorrow.”
• The two-day hybrid conference brought together governments, the global infrastructure community, multilateral development banks, and the private sector to agree on a roadmap for putting ideas into action to mobilise public and private investment in disaster-resilient infrastructure.
• There is a need for enhanced and informed investments in resilient infrastructure to support a sustainable and low-carbon future.
• The World Bank predicts the net benefits of investing in resilient infrastructure in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) to be US$ 4.2 trillion.
• The ICDRI aimed to showcase solutions, build partnerships, and agree on concrete actions to accelerate resilient infrastructure investments through various measures such as policy action, improved governance mechanisms, technology, sustainable business models, private sector investments, focus on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and LMICs, etc.

Read more on the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in the linked article.

3. Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG)

Syllabus: GS-2, Governance

Prelims: Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), CPGRAMS

Context:

Indian Delegation from the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) participated in the 3rd Biennial Pan-Commonwealth Heads of Public Services/Secretaries to Cabinet meeting in London.

Details:

• The Commonwealth Secretariat had recognized CPGRAMS as a state-of-the-art grievance redressal system for SMART Government and invited DARPG to make a presentation at the 3rd Biennial Pan-Commonwealth Heads of Public Service/Secretaries to Cabinet Meeting.
• The theme of the Meeting: ‘Institutionalization of SMART Government for Improving Service Delivery’ with a focus on adopting AI in governance. The meeting was attended by nearly 50 member countries of the Commonwealth.

4. Prelims Facts

Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO)

• The Coal Controller Organisation under the Ministry of Coal collects and maintains coal production data of all private and public sector coal mines in the country.
• The information is collected on a monthly basis.
• Responsibilities of CCO:
  • Inspection of collieries to ensure the correctness of the class, grade or size of coal.
  • To issue directives for declaration and maintenance of grades of coal of a seam mined in a colliery.
  • To act as the appellate authority in case of dispute between consumers and owners arising out of the declaration of grade and size of coal.
  • To regulate disposal of stock of coal or the expected output of coal in the colliery.
  • Quality surveillance concerning maintenance of grade, and loading of coal in wagons/ trucks according to laid down procedures regarding grades and sizes.
  • To grant opening / re-opening permission of coal mine, seam or a section of seam or to sub-divide a mine.
  • Assessment and collection of excise duty levied on all raw coal raised and dispatched.
  • Submission of monthly coal data to different ministries of the Central and State governments, and national and international organizations.
• The Office of Coal Controller (earlier Coal Commissioner) was established in 1916.

Read previous PIB articles here.