07 Feb 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. National Air Sports Policy (NASP 2022)
2. Eco-friendly Use of Abandoned Coal Mines
3. Corporatisation of Ordnance Factories
4. Benefits Of OROP Scheme
5. Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources Scheme
6. Import of Cheetahs from Abroad
7. SBM-U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0
8. Funds for Nai Roshni Scheme
9. Auto Fuel Vision and Policy-2025
10. Parvatmala

1. National Air Sports Policy (NASP 2022)

Syllabus: GS 2, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors

Prelims: National Air Sports Policy (NASP 2022)

Context:

• In order to promote air sports in the country, the Government has prepared a draft National Air Sports Policy (NASP 2022). 

National Air Sports Policy (NASP 2022):

• National Air Sports Policy (NASP) seeks to leverage India’s potential for air sports and places a strong focus on ensuring international best practices in safety. 
• The vision of the policy is to make India one of the top air sports nations by 2030.
• Once NASP 2022 is finalized and the proposed Air Sports Federation of India (ASFI) is constituted, the Government may release the funds based on need and justification.
• Sports covered under the policy: aerobatics, aeromodelling, amateur-built and experimental aircraft, ballooning, drones gliding, hang gliding and paragliding, micro-lighting and paramotoring, skydiving and vintage aircraft.
• Know more about National Air Sports Policy in PIB dated Jan 2, 2022.

2. Eco-friendly Use of Abandoned Coal Mines

Syllabus: GS 3, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.

Prelims: Use of abandoned Coal Mines

Mains: Environment Conservation through Abandoned Coal Mines

Context: 

Coal India Limited is exploring the reuse of closed mines for eco-friendly purposes.

Description: 

• Some mines have been closed due to depletion of the reserve, spontaneous heating, safety reasons, inundation, adverse techno-economics, financial losses, adverse geo-mining conditions, surface constraints, conversion to opencast mine, etc.
• The abandoned quarries of CIL are used for the following purposes:
  • Dumping/Filling of fly ash into the worked-out area for suitable reclamation
  • Development of eco and mine tourism parks
  • Afforestation
  • Pisciculture
  • Source to supply drinking water and other domestic use
  • Generation of sand from overburden of opencast mines at a few places
• CIL is also exploring the possibilities to develop ground-mounted solar power projects in its suitable decoaled area.

3. Corporatisation of Ordnance Factories

Syllabus: GS 3, Effects of liberalization on the economy

Prelims: Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)

Mains: Corporatisation of OFB

Context: 

The Government is committed to safeguarding the interests of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).

What is Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)?

• The Kolkata-based OFB presides over a group of 41 factories that specialize in the production, testing, logistics, research, development and marketing of a comprehensive product range in the area of land, sea and air systems.
• The origin of the OFB can be traced back to British times when the colonialists set up the Board of Ordnance at Kolkata’s Fort William in 1775. 
• The OFB controls 41 factories which will be split into seven Defense Public Sector Units (DPSUs), fully owned by the government.

Corporatisation of OFB: 

• Need for Corporatisation of OFB: The main idea behind this has been efforts to improve the efficiency in the functioning of the units; improvement in the quality and making the end products competitive. 
• Recommendations for Corporatisation of OFB:
  • Three expert committees looking into the defense reforms recommended the corporatization of OFB.
  • These include – in 2000 the TKS Nair Committee; this was followed by Vijay Kelkar Committee in 2005; and then in 2015 Vice Admiral Raman Puri Committee.

4. Benefits Of OROP Scheme

Syllabus: GS 2, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors

Prelims: One Rank One Pension (OROP)

Context: 

The Government took a historic decision of implementing ‘One Rank One Pension (OROP)’ for Defence Forces Personnel.

One Rank One Pension (OROP):

• OROP implies that uniform pension is paid to Defence Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement.
• OROP is not paid as a separate element. It is an integrated part of the pension.  
• Know more about One Rank One Pension (OROP).

5. Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources Scheme

Syllabus: GS 2, Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States

Prelims: Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR)

Context: 

The expenditure under the NLCPR-State scheme is now being made for ongoing projects to meet committed liabilities as per reported actual progress.

Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR)

• The Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) Scheme came into existence in 1998 under the Planning Commission. 
• Subsequently, it was transferred to DoNER (Department for Development of North-East Region) in 2001.
• Funds under the scheme are shared between the Central and State Governments on a 90:10 basis.
• The broad objective of the NLCPR Scheme is to ensure the speedy development of infrastructure in the N-E region.

6. Import of Cheetahs from Abroad

Syllabus: GS 3, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

Prelims: Reintroduction of Cheetah in India

Context: 

The Government of India is in the process of holding consultation meetings with African countries for bringing cheetahs. 

About the Cheetah: 

• The cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952.
• Currently, there are no cheetahs in any National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary in India.
• The cheetah is the only large carnivore to have become extinct in Independent India. 
• Know more about the Reintroduction of Cheetahs in India.

7. SBM-U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0

Syllabus: GS 2, Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Center and States

Prelims: SBM-U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0

Context: 

Both SBM-U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0 have been launched to make cities ‘garbage–free’ and ‘water–secure’.

About SBM-U 2.0: 

• Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban (SBM-U) 2.0 was launched in 2021 for a Mission period of five years.
• It involves urban-rural convergence, whereby infrastructure projects can be taken up on a cluster basis to groups of neighbouring Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and rural areas.
• The aim of Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 is to make the cities garbage-free.

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0)

• AMRUT 2.0 is a step towards AatmaNirbhar Bharat with the aim of making the cities ‘water secure’ and providing functional water tap connections to all households.
• This Mission will be run as a people’s program i.e. Jan Aandolan. 
• Mission also targets to provide 100% sewage/septage management in 500 AMRUT cities.
• The mission will co-opt women and youth for concurrent feedback about its progress.

8. Funds for Nai Roshni Scheme

Syllabus: GS 1, Women and associated issues 

Prelims: Nai Roshni Scheme

Context: 

This article gives details of the funds sanctioned under the Nai Roshni Scheme.

Nai Roshni Scheme: 

• Nai Roshni scheme is a Central Sector scheme.
• It aims to empower and enhance confidence in women by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for Leadership Development of Women.
• It is a six-day non-residential/five-day residential training programme conducted by selected Programme Implementing Agencies for the women belonging to minority communities in the age group of 18 to 65 years.

9. Auto Fuel Vision and Policy-2025

Syllabus: GS 3, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

Prelims: Auto Fuel Vision and Policy-2025

Mains: Measures taken by Government to enhance energy security

Context: 

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Government informed that it has taken a series of measures to enhance energy security and improve efficiency in the use of energy.

Measures taken by Government to enhance energy security 

• National Policy on Biofuels 2018: 
  • The government has been promoting the use of biofuels with multiple objectives of reducing import dependency, generating employment, providing better remuneration to farmers, reduction in environment pollution, etc. in line with the National Policy on Biofuels 2018.
• Auto Fuel Vision and Policy-2025:
  • The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has constituted an Expert Committee for drafting Auto Fuel Vision and Policy – 2025.
  • Recommend a suitable roadmap for auto fuel quality till 2025 for the country.
  • Recommend suitable mix of auto fuels including gas and its specifications, considering the following:
    • Availability of infrastructure and logistics of fuel supplies,
    • The processing economics of Auto fuels, and
    • Improvement in the quality of fuel vis-à-vis improvement in vehicle engine technology.

10. Parvatmala

Syllabus: GS 3, Infrastructure

Prelims: Parvatmala Scheme

Context: 

Union Budget for 2022-23 announced National Ropeways Development Programme – “Parvatmala”. 

Parvatmala: 

• Parvatmala is also known as National Ropeways Development Programme.
• It has been announced for hilly states including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and the North East region of the country.
• The project will be taken as a preferred ecologically sustainable alternative to conventional roads in difficult hilly areas. 
• It will be taken up in PPP mode. 
• Objectives: 
  • To improve connectivity and convenience for commuters
  • To promote tourism
• This may also cover congested urban areas, where conventional mass transit systems are not feasible.

Read previous PIB here.

February 7th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here