22 Feb 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Decarbonisation of transport
2. PM CARES scheme for children
3. One class, One Channel
4. National Means-cum-merit Scholarship Scheme

1. Decarbonisation of transport

Syllabus: GS III, Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

Prelims: Green finance

Mains: Role of green finance in decarbonisation of transport

Context: In order to promote the idea of ‘Financing for Decarbonisation of Transport’, a consultation workshop was organised virtually by the NITI Aayog in collaboration with World Resource Institute, India, backed by GIZ India, partner of India for sustainable economic,ecological and social development. This is a part of the NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) – Transport Initiative for Asia (NDC-TIA) project.  

The objective : 

• The workshop commenced with a major objective of facilitating clean mobility in the country and generating more financial instruments to do so. 
• The incorporation of green finance in the transport industry will enable a low interest cost financing of Electric Vehicles. 

Elements of the discussion:

• The requirement of a robust roadmap for the electrification of transport has been addressed with much attention.
• The avenues for mobilisation of capital to fund the decarbonisation process by involving multi-stakeholder collaborations formed a major part of the discussion. 
• This initiative of the NDC-TIA has brought together a wide spectrum of participants to exchange information on various themes. 

Significance:

• The initiative of financing the decarbonisation of transport will be a sustainable climate-centric approach that will not only benefit the environment but also be of advantage from a financial perspective. 
• It is in alignment with India’s active participation in mitigating climate change and the ambitious targets set at COP26. 
• Decarbonisation is an emerging concept of green mobility that ensures to reduce the carbon footprint that results from vehicular emissions. 
• The transport industry constitutes the third largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in India and accounts for 14% of the CO2 emissions. 
• Therefore, it is a matter of essence to decarbonise the transport sector with active involvement of the stakeholders and strategic investments boosting a speedy transition to 100% zero emission vehicles. The workshop exemplifies a welcoming start towards a low carbon and sustainable future.

Read more about Green Finance in the linked article

2. PM CARES scheme for children

Syllabus: GS II, Welfare schemes for the vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre

Prelims: PM CARES

Mains: Initiatives taken by the government to protect the interests of the children.

Context: The PM CARES for Children scheme has been extended till the end of February, 2022 by the Ministry of Women and Child development.

About the scheme:

• This scheme was launched by the government to extend assistance to the children who lost their parents or single parents or legal guardians / adoptive parents due to COVID-19. 
• Under this scheme, an amount of Rs. 10 lakhs has been allocated to the children from the PM CARES Fund. This lump sum amount would be given to the children on attaining 23 years of age. 
• The major aim of the scheme is to offer care and protection to the children in a sustainable manner through health insurance, proper education along with the provision of financial support till they reach the age of 23 ensuring a monthly stipend from the age of 18.

3. One class, One Channel

Syllabus: GS II, Issues relating to Education

Mains: Emerging popularity of digital education in India

Context: A webinar on ‘Widening reach of One Class-One channel has been organised by the Ministry of Education and was addressed by the Prime Minister. 

About the Webinar:

• The significance of creating online content in the mother tongue has been discussed.
• Immense focus has been provided to the futuristic vision of digital education across the country  and there were discussions on technical preparations required for initiating 200 PM eVidya DTH TV channels. 
• The concern of heterogeneity among the learners’ group has been raised and the need to introduce innovation in pedagogy for better learning outcomes has been highlighted. 
• It is envisaged that the One Class-One Channel programme will play a transforming role in creating better learning outcomes.
• The medium of tele-schooling through the satellite medium of the Edustat network was discussed.
• The successful model of Vande Gujarat channels was presented to exemplify the outcome of digital mode of learning. 
• The requirement of infrastructural set-up, creation of quality e-content in various languages, creation of quality digital content for DIVYANG (Persons with disabilities) and the gifted children were some of the key elements of the One Class-One Channel initiative. 

Read about PM eVidya Scheme in the linked article

4. National Means-cum-merit Scholarship Scheme

Syllabus: GS II, Issues relating to Education

Prelims: About NMMSS 

Mains: Preventive measures taken for reducing the dropout rate of school going children belonging to economically weaker sections of the society.

Context: The continuation of the National Means-cum- Merit Scholarship scheme has been approved by the government over the 15th Finance Commission cycle for a period of five years

About the Scheme :

• The objective of the scheme is to offer scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to reduce the dropout rate from school encouraging them to continue their studies at the secondary level. 
• To take the scheme further, one lakh fresh scholarships will be provided to the students of class IX every year and their continuation in classes X to XII. 
• It covers the government aided and local body schools apart from the schools under the state government. 
• The students are selected through an examination conducted by the state and union territories. The scheme is available on the National Scholarship Portal.
• The scholarships are transferred to the bank accounts of the selected students through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
• As this is a central sector scheme, 100% funds are provided by the central government.

Read previous PIB here.

February 22nd, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here