01 Feb 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. India’s Blue Economy
2. G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill
3. Indian Coast Guard - 47th  Raising Day

1. India’s Blue Economy

Syllabus – GS3, Indian Economy – Mobilisation of Resources 

Prelims – Blue Economy.

Context – The International Seabed Authority with headquarters in Jamaica has officially designated India as a “Pioneer Investor”.

Details –

• The Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority, Michael. W. Lodge is on a visit to India and has officially designated India as a “Pioneer Investor” in Blue Economy. 
• The Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said the GoI has given high priority to the Blue Economy referring to India’s Deep Ocean Mission. (Rs 600 cr has been allocated for the mission). 
• The International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the Ministry of Earth Sciences also exchanged a PMN (Poly Metallic Nodules) exploration extension contract. 
  • This contract was initially signed in March 2002 for a period of fifteen years, and was  extended in 2017 for further five years and in 2022 for another five years. 
• India has a 7500 km long coastal belt and is both a stakeholder as well as a contributor in exploring and utilising sea resources.
• The blue economy in India is the sum total of economic activities sourced from marine resources. Fisheries, deep sea mining and offshore oil and gas make up a large section of India’s blue economy. 
• India is a strong proponent of “Blue Growth” as a part of the long-term strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors.  India is in the process of bringing out its own comprehensive Blue Economy policy framework, which aims at covering the coastal economy, tourism, marine fishery, technology, skill development, shipping, deep-sea mining, and capacity building in a holistic manner.

2. G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill

Syllabus – GS2, Global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.

Prelims – G20 India’s Presidency. 

Context – Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma, the Secretary Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology (MeitY) inaugurated the G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill under India’s G20 Presidency.

Details –

• The G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill was conducted in a hybrid mode by CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team). It was attended by international participants from over 12 countries via virtual mode while domestic participants attended in person as well as in online mode.
• Cyber incidents are increasing rapidly, becoming more sophisticated and also having a transnational impact, so there is an urgent need to work collectively to build joint resilience to counter cyber attacks.
• The programme highlighted the need for a whole-of-government response to counter cyber challenges including cooperation with LEA (Law Enforcement Agencies) at both national and international levels.

3. Indian Coast Guard – 47th Raising Day

Syllabus – GS3, Various security forces and agencies and their mandate.

Prelims – 47th Raising Day of the Indian Coast Guard.

Context – Shri Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to all coast guard personnel on their Raising Day.

About  –

• The ICG (Indian Coast Guard) observes Raising Day on February 1 every year. ICG is the fourth largest coast guard across the globe.
• The ICG has been instrumental in protecting the Indian coastline and enforcing laws in the country’s marine zones.
• ICG was established in August 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 as an independent armed force of India.
• From just seven ships in 1978, ICG now has a strength of 150 ships and 70 aircraft.
• The ICG established its regional headquarters at Gandhinagar, Gujarat in December 2009.

Also read – Indian Coast Guard Ships.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

February 1st, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here