27 Aug 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

August 27th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. UDAN Scheme
2. ASEAN-India Business Council Virtual Meet
3. Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D)
4. Textile Grand Challenge 2019

1. UDAN Scheme

Context:

78 New Routes Approved Under UDAN 4.0.

Details:

• Under this fourth round of the UDAN scheme, priority has been given to enhancing connectivity to remote and regional areas of the country.
• The focus has been given to the north-eastern region, hilly states and islands.
• So far under this regional connectivity scheme, 766 routes have been sanctioned.
• Under UDAN 4.0, the operation of helicopters and seaplanes has also been incorporated.

2. ASEAN-India Business Council Virtual Meet

Context:

ASEAN-India Business Council virtual meet held.

India – ASEAN Trade:

• The Union Commerce Minister said in the meet that India-ASEAN trade can reach $300 billion and the two can resolve their differences by addressing concerns of all nations and businesses.
• In FY20, India’s merchandise trade with ASEAN was $86.86 billion.
• The two sides inked a free trade agreement (FTA) and have now agreed to review the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement that was signed in 2009 after New Delhi complained of a burgeoning trade deficit with the grouping.
• India had a trade deficit of $23.88 billion with ASEAN in FY20.
• Since the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) was implemented in 2010, bilateral trade increased from just $57 billion to $77 billion in about a decade.
  • India is not too happy with the ASEAN-India CECA as it believes that it has led to more benefits for businesses in the bloc due to various non-tariff barriers erected by ASEAN countries.
• Moreover, lax implementation of rules of origin has also led to Chinese goods coming into India through some ASEAN nations at preferential tariff rates.
• ASEAN is also part of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade bloc that India exited last year.

3. Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D)

Context:

Golden jubilee anniversary of BPR&D on 28^th August.

About BPR&D:

• The Bureau of Police Research and Development was raised in 1970 through a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs, GOI, with a mandate to promote excellence in policing, promote the speedy and systematic study of police problems, apply science and technology in the method and techniques by the Police.
• The primary objective of the Bureau is to modernise the police force of the country.
• The Bureau is headed by a Director-General and is composed of the following divisions:
  • Research division
  • Correctional administration
  • Development division
  • Training division
  • Administration division
  • National Police Mission (NPM) Division

4. Textile Grand Challenge 2019

Context:

Grand finale of the Textile Grand Challenge 2019 organised by the Ministry of Textiles.

About the Textile Grand Challenge:

• The aim of the challenge was to bring forward innovative ideas by start-ups/entrepreneurs for the development of cost-effective and low-weight carry bags using jute bio-mass, jute plant-based bio-polymer and cotton fibre waste to phase out plastic bags.
• The challenge was organised by the Textiles Ministry along with the National Jute Board, and the Start-Up India team of the Department for Promotion of Industry & Industrial Trade (DPIIT).
• Under the challenge, innovative solutions were sought for alternatives to single and multi-use plastic bags using domestically grown natural fibres, jute and cotton.

Read previous PIB here.

August 27th, 2020, PIB:- Download PDF Here