22 Aug 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Paravanar River
2. Indian Coast Guard signs MoU with Philippines Coast Guard
3. MoU signed between the Ministry of DoNER and UNDP
4. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

1. Paravanar River

Syllabus: GS-1, Geography

Prelims: Paravanar River

Context:

Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited (NLCIL) completed the permanent diversion of the Paravanar River.

Details:

• Paravanar is a seasonal and ephemeral river in Tamil Nadu.
• It originates from the streams in the highlands northwest of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation area, i.e. from Semmakottai Reserve forest, at an altitude of about 100 m above sea level near Raghavankuppam and Kovilankuppam villages respectively.
• The Paravanar River basin is the second-smaller river basin in Tamil Nadu.
• It is a leaf-shaped river basin lying in the Cuddalore District.
• The Neyveli Lignite Corporation is located within this basin.
• The river managed stormwater from the catchment area spanning over 100 sq km in the northwestern and southern regions. 
• This work of permanently diverting the Paravanar became vital due as numerous villages and agricultural fields within the vicinity must be shielded from flooding during monsoon.

2. Indian Coast Guard signs MoU with Philippines Coast Guard

Syllabus: GS-2, IR

Prelims: Indian Coast Guard

Context:

Indian Coast Guard signed MoU with the Philippines Coast Guard on enhanced maritime cooperation.

Details:

• The MoU seeks to enhance the professional linkage between the two Coast Guards in the domain of Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE), Maritime Search & Rescue (M-SAR) and Marine Pollution Response (MPR). 
• The implementation of this MoU will enhance bilateral maritime cooperation between the two nations for ensuring safe, secure and clean seas in the region.

3. MoU signed between the Ministry of DoNER and UNDP

Syllabus: GS-2, Governance

Prelims: DONER schemes, UNDP

Context:

The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and UNDP signed an MoU.

Details:

As per the MoU, UNDP would provide MDoNER with technical support on fast-tracking progress on the SDGs; monitoring, evaluation and capacity building; support Aspirational Districts and blocks; support in the deployment of emerging technologies in governance and in scaling up good practices.

4. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Syllabus: GS-2, Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests

Prelims: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Context:

9th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) – India Region Conference held in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA):

• It is an organisation established under the Commonwealth of Nations.
• It is an organisation which works to support good governance, democracy and human rights.
• It was established in 1911 and is headquartered in London.
• It was previously known as the Empire Parliamentary Association.
• The Association is made up of over 180 Legislatures (or Branches) divided up between nine geographic regions of the Commonwealth.

Read the previous PIB articles here.