08 Aug 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Bharat Campaign under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
2. India-Vietnam Joint Trade Sub-Commission
3. ISO Bill, 2023
4. Two bills passed by Parliament

1. Bharat Campaign under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

Syllabus: GS-3, Agriculture

Prelims: Bharat Campaign, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

Context:

Bharat Campaign launched under AIF.

Bharat Campaign:

• A new campaign named ‘BHARAT’ (Banks Heralding Accelerated Rural & Agriculture Transformation) has been launched by the Government under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme.
• It aims to provide maximum benefits to the people and to create a competitive spirit among banks and lending institutions to mobilize agriculture infrastructure projects loans at a faster pace. 
• This is a month-long campaign from 15th July 2023 to 15th August 2023.
• Banks have been requested to achieve the targets considering the potential for agri-infra projects from time to time and the response of the banks is encouraging. 
• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare sets AIF annual targets for individual banks based on their clientele base, geographical reach and share in the agricultural advance and past performance.

2. India-Vietnam Joint Trade Sub-Commission

Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations

Prelims: India-Vietnam Joint Trade Sub-Commission

Mains: India – Vietnam Relations

Context:

The 5th India-Vietnam Joint Trade Sub-Commission (JTSC) meeting was in New Delhi.

Details:

• The previous JTSC meeting was held in January 2019. The current meeting was held after a long gap because of the covid pandemic.
• Both sides reviewed the progress on bilateral trade and economic cooperation and discussed ways to unlock the vast untapped potential in bilateral trade to enable the business communities from the two sides to benefit from the partnership of two of the fastest-growing economies.
• The Indian side raised the issues of pending registration of Indian fishery and meat establishments for export, restricted market access in public procurement of drugs for Indian pharmaceutical companies and high anti-dumping duties imposed on Indian polyester filament yarn products and sorbitol.
• Both sides discussed logistics challenges affecting bilateral trade and agreed to continue efforts for exploring direct shipping services, collaboration in freight movement and improving air connectivity.

Significance of Vietnam:

• Vietnam is the 23rd largest global trade partner of India.
• It is also the 5th largest among ASEAN countries with bilateral trade of USD 14.70 Bn during 2022-23. 
• Vietnam accounts for 11.2% of India’s total trade with ASEAN. 
• Vietnam is an important destination for India’s iron & steel and agricultural and animal products mainly meat products, animal fodder, cereals and marine products.

Also read: India – Vietnam Relations

3. ISO Bill, 2023

Syllabus: GS-2, Polity

Prelims: ISO Bill

Mains: ISO Bill, Defence reforms

Context:

Rajya Sabha passes Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill – 2023.

ISO Bill, 2023:

The bill seeks to empower the Commander-in-Chief and Officer-in-Command of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) with all disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of the personnel serving in or attached to such organisations.

Background:

• Currently, the Armed Forces personnel are governed in accordance with the provisions contained in their specific Service Acts – Army Act 1950, Navy Act 1957 and Air Force Act 1950.
• The bill proposed will bring in the following benefits:
  • Maintenance of effective discipline in inter-service establishments by the Heads of ISOs
  • No requirement of reverting personnel under disciplinary proceedings to their parent service units
  • Expeditious disposal of cases of misdemeanour or indiscipline
  • Saving public money & time by avoiding multiple proceedings
• The bill will also lead to much greater integration and jointness amongst the three Services and improve the functioning of the armed forces.
• The ‘ISO Bill-2023’ is essentially an Enabling Act and it does not propose any change in the existing Service Acts/Rules/Regulations which are time-tested and have withstood judicial scrutiny over the last six decades or more. 

Salient Features of ISO, 2023:

• It empowers the Commander-in-Chief, Officer-in-Command or any other officer specially empowered on this behalf by the Central Government with all the disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of personnel serving in or attached to their Inter-Services Organisations for the maintenance of discipline and proper discharge of their duties, irrespective of the service to which they belong to.
• The Bill also empowers the Commanding Officer of an Inter-Services organisation to initiate all disciplinary or administrative actions over the personnel appointed, deputed, posted or attached to that Inter-Services Organisation. 
• The Bill empowers the Central Government to constitute an Inter-Services Organisation.

4. Two bills passed by Parliament

Syllabus: GS-2, Polity & Governance

Prelims: National Dental Commission Bill, 2023; National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC) Bill, 2023

Context:

Parliament passes National Nursing and Midwifery Commission (NNMC) Bill, 2023 and the National Dental Commission Bill, 2023.

For details about the two bills, please check CNA dated July 29, 2023.

Read the previous PIB articles here.