08 Feb 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

February 08th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Central Sector Scheme to address air pollution and manage crop residues
2. National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)
3. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
4. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan
5. Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana
6. Setting up of Migration Commission
7. Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)
8. Sadiya earthquake

1. Central Sector Scheme to address air pollution and manage crop residues

Context:

The central sector scheme for the ‘Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi’ has been implemented during 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Details of the scheme:

• It was announced in Budget 2018.
• The objectives of the scheme are:
  • Protecting environment from air pollution and preventing loss of nutrients and soil micro-organisms caused by burning of crop residue.
  • Promoting in-situ management of crop residue by retention and incorporation into the soil through the use of appropriate mechanization inputs.
  • Creating awareness among stakeholders through demonstration, capacity building activities and differentiated Information, Education and Communication strategies for effective utilization and management of crop residue.
• This Scheme was further extended for the year 2020-21.
• The residue burning events in 2020 in Punjab, Haryana and UP together have reduced by -30% as compared to 2016. In Punjab the reduction is -22.7%, Haryana – 63.8% and UP – 52.01%.

Read more about Stubble Burning.

2. National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)

Context:

328 appeals have been filed before NCLAT from decisions of the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

About the NCLAT:

• The NCLAT was constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013 for hearing appeals against the orders of National Company Law Tribunal.
• The NCLAT is also the appellate tribunal for hearing appeals against:
  • Orders passed by NCLT(s) under Section 61 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
  • Orders passed by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India under Section 202 and Section 211 of IBC.
  • Any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
• Benches of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) are set up in various States depending on the case load and other relevant factors.
• Considering the heavy case load at some existing benches, additional members have been appointed and additional courts have been operationalised from time to time.

3. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

Context:

As reported by Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and 14 major Private Sector Banks, as on January 2021, a total number of 41.75 crore accounts have been opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). This information was given by the Union MoS for Finance and Corporate Affairs.

Know more about the PMJDY in the linked article.

4. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan

Context:

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan was launched in June 2020 to boost employment and livelihood opportunities for returnee migrant workers and similarly affected citizens in rural area, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Know more about the Abhiyan in CNA dated June 19, 2020.

5. Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana

Context:

Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) has been launched to incentivize employers for the creation of new employment along with social security benefits and restoration of loss of employment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more on ABRY in PIB dated Dec 9, 2020.

6. Setting up of Migration Commission

Context:

NITI Aayog has constituted a sub-group to prepare a National Action Plan for Migrant Workers.

Details:

• The sub-group comprises members from various ministries of the Govt. of India, subject experts, NGOs and civil society organisations, to prepare a tangible action plan to address issues related to migrant workers.

Background:

• In order to safeguard the interest of the migrant workers, the Central Government had enacted the Inter-state Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979.
• This Act has now been subsumed in the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 and the Code has been notified on 29.09.2020.
• The above mentioned code, commonly known as OSH Code, provides for decent working conditions, minimum wages, grievances redressal mechanisms, protection from abuse and exploitation, enhancement of the skills and social security to all category of organised and unorganised workers including Migrant workers.
• The Code is applicable to every establishment in which 10 or more inter-state migrant workers are employed or were employed on any day of the preceding 12 months.

Read more on the recently enacted labour reforms here.

7. Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB)

What is the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board?

• PNGRB was constituted under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006.
• The Act provides for the establishment of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board to protect the interests of consumers and entities engaged in specified activities relating to petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas and to promote competitive markets and for related matters.
• The Board’s mandate also includes regulating the refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas (excluding production of crude oil and natural gas) so as to ensure uninterrupted and adequate supply of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas in all parts of the country.
• The Statutory Board engages in the registration of entities that market notified petroleum and petroleum products, establish and operate liquefied natural gas terminals, etc.

8. Sadiya earthquake

Context:

Scientists have found the first geological evidence of an earthquake at Himebasti Village on the border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, documented by historians as Sadiya earthquake.

Details:

• Sadiya earthquake is recorded to have caused massive destruction in the region and almost destroyed the town in 1697 CE.
• This finding could contribute to a seismic hazard map of the eastern Himalaya, which can facilitate construction and planning in the region.
• Historical archives refer to often recurring earthquakes along the Eastern Himalaya for which geological evidence is lacking, raising the question of whether these events ruptured the surface or remained blind and how they contribute to the seismic budget of the region, which is home to millions of inhabitants.

What is the present study?

• Scientists carried out a mega trench excavation at Himebasti village, Arunachal Pradesh where the most recent event records the imprints of the 1697 Sadiya earthquake and analysed it with modern geological techniques.
• They found the first geological surface rupture signatures in the form of exposed deposits associated with rivers and streams deformed by a thrust fault along a Northeast dipping fault zone.
• In order to constrain the causative faulting event at this site, the team dated twenty-one radiocarbon samples from the trench exposure.
• They also found large tree trunks embedded in the youngest flood deposits at the exit of the Subansiri River (Sadiya town is located roughly 145 km southeast of Subansiri river), suggesting the post-seismic aggradation of the river following an array of aftershocks till six months in an abortive fashion.

Significance:

• The study of the earthquake at Sadiya standing on a grassy plain, almost surrounded by forested Eastern Himalayas on the right bank of the Lohit River, adds an important site to the seismic hazard assessment of the eastern Himalaya.
• This which will benefit the inhabitants and help in providing better infrastructure across the Eastern Himalayan foothills which is one of the most densely populated regions in the world.

Who conducted the Study?

• Scientists from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), a research institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India.

Read previous PIB here.

February 08th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here