03 Dec 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Azadi Ka Digital Mahotsav
2. Component Champion Incentive Scheme
3. Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)
4. Global Hunger Index
5. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
6. International Day of Persons with Disability

1. Azadi Ka Digital Mahotsav

Related to Awareness in the field of IT, GS III

Prelims: About the National Strategy on Blockchain, Indigenous Servers

Mains: India’s future with Digital Revolution, Significance of the Blockchain Technology

Context: In order to celebrate Azadi Ka Digital Mahotsav, the Ministry of Electronics and IT released the National Strategy on Blockchain along with the launch of RUDRA, India’s first indigenous server.

The Strategy Document aims at the following:

Read more about National Strategy on Blockchain Technology in the linked article.

RUDRA:

• India’s first indigenous server was launched during the celebration of Azadi Ka Digital Mahotsav.
• RUDRA is developed by C-DAC (Centre for development of advanced computing) under the National Supercomputing Mission.
• This was backed by the Ministry of Electronics and IT along with the Department of Science and Technology.
• The RUDRA server was a part of Phase – 3 of the National Supercomputing Mission.
• This aims at the design and manufacture of Supercomputers in India offering a secure, reliable, dual-socket updated Intel Xcon scalable processor technology with a faster computing facility.
• This will augment India’s digital competency and meet the demands of the country’s multidisciplinary computing needs.

• The RUDRA server exemplifies the self-reliance of India in the field of Supercomputing.

The Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge:

• In order to encourage innovation in indigenous hardware computing systems and to improve microprocessor technology, the Ministry of Electronics and IT announced the Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge in August 2020.
• This challenge was open to the students at all levels and startups with the objective of creating a microprocessor startup ecosystem.
• The top ten teams who successfully complete the 15 months challenge will be awarded a seed fund of Rs 2.30 crore along with 12 months incubation support and will also get an opportunity to translate their innovative ideas and reach them to the market.
• The power-pack indigenous duo processor which was developed by open-source architecture has been named as SHAKTI processor. This was developed by IIT Madras and the VEGA processor was developed by C-DAC.

Significance:

• The entire event embodied a progressive step of India towards reduced dependency and closer proximity towards the ‘Atma Nirbharta’ vision.
• This event would be an enabler of creating a startup ecosystem that would assist in employment opportunities and shape the innovative ideas of students across the country by offering them a strong platform.

2. Component Champion Incentive Scheme

Related to Economy, GS III; Govt Schemes, GS II

Prelims: Important facts about the scheme

Mains: Significance

Context: To enhance the manufacturing capabilities of the Automobile industries the Government of India has initiated the PLI Scheme for the Automobile and Auto components industries which is known as the Component Champion Scheme.

About the scheme:

• The scheme has two parts such as the Champion OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Incentive scheme and the Component Champion Incentive Scheme.
• This Aims at – Identification of Auto component champions and incentivizing them and enabling them to become global operators and automotive champions.
• This is a sales value linked scheme for incentivizing advanced technology used in the components of:
  • Complete and Semi knocked down kits (CKD/SKD)
  • Vehicle aggregates of two-wheelers
  • Three-wheelers
  • Passenger vehicles
  • Tractors

• Extent of the Scheme – The incentive provisions under the scheme will commence from the financial year 2022-23 and will continue for a period of 5 years.
• An approved applicant cannot enjoy the benefits after 31/03/2027.
• The financial year of 2019-20 will be the base year for the calculation of eligible sales. This is not applied to the approved non-automotive investor company.
• The battery run electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells are also covered under the scheme.

Significance:

• The automobile sector is an important component of the macroeconomic indicator contributing about 7.1% of GDP and employing about 37 million people. With the onset of the pandemic, there have been umpteen challenges that left the auto sector under enormous stress.
• This Production linked Incentive scheme will act as a boost to revive the manufacturing capabilities of the sector and promote advanced automotive technology.
• Besides, the provision of the scheme that incentivises electric vehicles and hydrogen technology will result in the reduction of carbon footprint and will ensure the decarbonisation of transport. This is a step towards building a sustainable ecosystem in the automobile sector with a robust manufacturing platform.

3. Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)

Related to Judiciary, GS II

Prelims: About the process of Resolution

Mains: Effectiveness of ODR in improving judicial administration

Context: Pendency in the Indian judicial system is a major crisis and a topical context. The NITI Aayog has constituted a high-level committee to discuss the progress of Online Dispute Resolution and recently the report of the committee was released. The report considered ODR to be an effective, convenient and efficient mechanism to address and resolve disputes offering a faster delivery of justice.

• Justice Chandrachud once affirmed that the ODR will play a transformative role in adopting digital solutions in multiple forms.
• Therefore it will enable better data management of cases with the help of digital notes, digital files and have all the documents in one place.

Read more about Online Dispute Resolution in the linked article

4. Global Hunger Index

Relevant for Issues relating to poverty and hunger, GS II; Economy, GSIII

Prelims: About the GHI, indicators used, India’s rank

Mains: Critical Analysis of the authenticity of GHI, GOI initiatives to mitigate hunger

Context: The Government of India has pointed out the faults in the parameters of the Global Hunger Index which is released by Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide. It had positioned India at the 101st rank among 116 countries with a score of 27.5.

The Issue in Brief:

• In the Lok Sabha session, the faulty measure of hunger has been highlighted mentioning that undernourishment is the only indicator that is related to hunger out of the four indicators such as stunting, wasting and child mortality.
• Stunting and wasting is an outcome of various genetic factors and sanitation. Hunger directly doesn’t contribute to these indicators.
• Likewise in the case of child mortality, hunger cannot be considered as a direct contributor.
• The data used in the Hunger Index report are alleged to be not updated. This allegation has been backed up by the fact that the FAO which is the data source agency for undernourishment indicator has relied on opinion polls conducted telephonically which has completely rejected the contribution made by PM Garib Kalyan Yojana towards food security during the pandemic.
• It was emphasized that the Government of India is all set with a series of initiatives to tackle the issue of hunger and establish a strong network of food security and safety. For example:
  • Mission POSHAN Abhiyan 0 to better nutrition content ensuring immunity against diseases and malnutrition.
  • Enhancing the quality standards of nutrient supplements under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
  • Poshan Vatikas at anganwadi centres to share knowledge pertaining to dietary intake and improve nutrition practices.
  • To achieve the zero hunger target the GOI is implementing the National Food Security Act of 2013 that aims to provide 75% coverage of rural population and 50% coverage of urban population to get highly subsidized food grains.

Read more about the Global Hunger Index in the linked article. 

5. Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Context: The President of India offered homage to the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad on his birth anniversary, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Read more about Dr. Rajendra Prasad in the given link:

This Day in History dated Feb 28.

6. International Day of Persons with Disability

Related to Social Justice, GS II

Prelims: Important facts

Mains: Significance, Approach and schemes of Government to address the challenges of the disabled persons

Context: On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the President of India conferred National Awards for outstanding work done towards the empowerment of individuals with disabilities. This occasion was organised by the Department of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Read more about the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

December 3rd, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here