19 Dec 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Update on National TB Elimination Programme
2. 100 Microsites Project
3. FDI in Renewable Energy Sector
4. Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector
5. INS Shivaji

1. Update on National TB Elimination Programme

Syllabus: GS-2, Health

Prelims: National TB Elimination Programme, TB

Mains: Elimination of TB in India

Context:

Update on National TB Elimination Programme.

Details:

• As per the Global TB Report 2023, published by the WHO, the estimated number of drug-resistant TB in India has reduced by 21% from 1.4 lakhs in 2015 to 1.1 lakhs in 2022. 
• There has been an increase in the proportion of TB patients being screened for the presence of drug resistance because the government has scaled up the availability of molecular diagnostic facilities.
• There has been regular supply of Anti-TB drugs to all the State/UTs from the central level under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) throughout the year.
• Universal Drug Susceptibility Testing (UDST) is implemented to ensure every diagnosed TB patient is tested to rule out drug resistance at the time of diagnosis.
• Newer drugs like Bedaquiline and Delamanid have been introduced for the management of drug-resistant TB.

Know more about TB and its elimination in the link.

2. 100 Microsites Project

Syllabus: GS-2, Govt initiatives/schemes

Prelims: 100 Microsites Project, ABDM

Context:

NHA announced the 100 Microsites Project under ABDM in July 2023.

About the 100 Microsites Project:

• The project was announced to promote digital health adoption and hence make healthcare more accessible to all, especially in the private sector. 
• A Microsite, within the context of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), is a cluster of all small and medium-scale clinics, nursing homes, hospitals (preferably <10 beds), labs, pharmacies and other healthcare facilities that are ABDM-enabled and offer digital health services to the patients.
• Currently, there are 29 microsites under ABDM in ten states/UTs. The first microsite was declared in Mumbai in October 2022.
• Microsites are implemented to counter various challenges encountered in ABDM adoption, especially for private sector providers.
• Types of facilities to be covered under a Microsite:
  • Private facilities such as standalone clinics, polyclinics, nursing homes, small hospitals (preferably <10 beds), labs, pharmacies, and any other healthcare facilities wherein health records are generated.
  • Health Facilities and Health Professionals from all the systems of medicine.
• There are two categories of microsites:
  • Category A Microsite: A microsite which consists of at least 1000 facilities, inclusive of all types of health facilities, as mentioned above.
  • Category B Microsite: A microsite which consists of at least 500 facilities but less than 1000 facilities, inclusive of all types of health facilities, as mentioned above.

3. FDI in Renewable Energy Sector

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy, Environment 

Prelims: FDI

Mains: Renewable Energy Sector

Context:

India’s renewable energy sector received FDI equity investments of $ 6.1 billion from April 2020 – September 2023.

Details:

• Under the current FDI policy of the GOI, FDI in the renewable energy sector is permitted up to 100% under the automatic route.
• Steps taken by the government to attract FDI and investments into the renewable energy sector.
  • Setting up of Project Development Cell for attracting and facilitating investments.
  • Declaration of trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) up to the year 2029-30.
  • Setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks to provide land and transmission to RE developers for installation of RE projects at a large scale.
  • Laying of new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable power.
  • Launching schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan  (PM-KUSUM), Solar Rooftop Phase-II, 1200 MW CPSU Scheme Phase II, etc.
  • National Green Hydrogen Mission
  • Notification of Promoting Renewable Energy through Green Energy Open Access Rules 2022.
  • Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) to facilitate the sale of Renewable Energy Power through exchanges. Read more about GTAM in PIB dated Sep 1, 2020.
  • Release of Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff-based competitive bidding process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar PV and Wind Projects.
  • Waiver of Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-state sale of solar and wind power for projects to be commissioned by 30th June 2025.
  • Notification of standards for deployment of solar photovoltaic systems/devices.
  • Issue of orders that power shall be dispatched against Letter of Credit (LC) or advance payment to ensure timely payment by distribution licensees to RE generators.

4. Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy

Prelims: Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector

Context:

The government sanctioned nine new projects under the ‘Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector’ scheme.

Details:

• Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) launched the Scheme “Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector” in 2014 to address the infrastructure development and technology needs of the Capital Goods Sector.
• Under the Scheme, the following have been established:
  • 8 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for technology development
  • 15 Common Engineering Facility Centres (CEFCs) including four Industry 4.0 SAMARTH centres
  • 6 technology innovation platforms
• Under phase 2 of this scheme, 9 projects for setting up of new advanced CoEs and augmentation of existing CoEs and 5 projects for setting up of CEFCs and augmentation of existing CEFCs have been sanctioned.
• For phase 2, a total of Rs 326.14 crores sanctioned so far.

5. INS Shivaji

• It is a naval station in Lonavala, Maharashtra housing the Naval College of Engineering, which educates and trains Indian Navy and Coast Guard officials.
• It also contains three training institutes, namely, the Centre of Marine Engineering and Technology (CMET), the Centre of Excellence in Marine Engineering and the School of Basic Sciences.
• It also houses the Nuclear Biological Chemical Defence School, the school that imparts training to naval personnel on all aspects of NBCD.
• INS Shivaji was commissioned as HMIS (His Majesty’s Indian Ship) Shivaji in 1945.

Read previous PIB articles here.