05 January 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

1. Farmer Connect Portal of APEDA
2. Antarrashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman
3. UJALA and SLNP

Context:

800 FPOs registered on Farmer Connect Portal of APEDA.

Details:

• A Farmer Connect Portal has been set up by APEDA on its website for providing a platform for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to interact with exporters.
• A Market Intelligence Cell was set up in APEDA and the activity of dissemination of e-market intelligence reports comprising detailed market analysis, international trade issues, current scenario of the interest to Indian exporters in important markets and statistical information has been started from November 2019.

About the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA):

• APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, promotes export of agricultural and processed food products from India.
• APEDA conducts regular promotional activities in the area of agricultural exports. It provides support to exporters to set up infrastructures like packhouses and cold storages.
• APEDA also helps exporters to exhibit their products in several national and international expos and exhibitions.
• It was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act passed by the Parliament in 1985.
• APEDA is engaged in the development of industries relating to the scheduled products for export by way of providing financial assistance or otherwise for undertaking surveys and feasibility studies, participation in enquiry capital through joint ventures and other reliefs and subsidy schemes.
• Exporters can register themselves with APEDA if they are engaged in the export of the scheduled products.
• APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the following scheduled products:
  • Fruits, Vegetables and their Products.
  • Meat and Meat Products.
  • Poultry and Poultry Products.
  • Dairy Products.
  • Confectionery, Biscuits and Bakery Products.
  • Honey, Jaggery and Sugar Products.
  • Cocoa and its products, chocolates of all kinds.
  • Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages.
  • Cereal and Cereal Products.
  • Groundnuts, Peanuts and Walnuts.
  • Pickles, Papads and Chutneys.
  • Guar Gum.
  • Floriculture and Floriculture Products.
  • Herbal and Medicinal Plants.
• APEDA also monitors the import of sugar.

Context:

The first Antarrashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman to be conferred to 30 media houses.

About the Antarrashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman:

• Acknowledging the positive role and responsibility of the media in disseminating the outreach of Yoga within India and abroad, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting had instituted the first Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman (AYDMS) in June 2019 to mark the contribution of the media in spreading the message of Yoga.
• 30 awards would be given in three categories.
• The award will comprise a special medal/plaque/trophy and a citation.

About the International Day of Yoga:

• The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated annually on 21 June since 2015.
• The idea of the International Day of Yoga was first proposed by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, during his address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Context:

The Government of India’s UJALA & Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) complete five successful years.

About UJALA:

Unnat Jyoti by Affordable Lighting for All (UJALA) is a zero-subsidy scheme launched by the Government in 2015. It is touted as the world’s largest domestic lighting project. For more on the UJALA Scheme, click on the linked article.

About the SLNP:

• The SLNP is a government scheme to promote energy-efficiency in India.
• Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Power Ministry, is the implementing agency for SLNP.
• EESL, launched in 2015, has already replaced 50 lakh street lights with LED bulbs in more than 500 cities of India.
• To bring in mass-scale transformation, EESL has adopted a unique strategy by joining hands with states, municipal bodies and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
  • Under the programme, EESL replaces the conventional street lights with LEDs at its own costs, with no upfront investment by the municipalities, thereby making their adoption even more attractive.
  • Over a period, EESL is repaid through the consequent reduction in energy and maintenance cost of the municipality.
• This scheme is expected to enable peak demand reduction of 500 MW, annual energy savings of 190 crore kWh, and reduction in 15 lakh tons of CO2.
• Objectives of SLNP:
  • Mitigate climate change by implementing energy-efficient LED-based street lighting.
  • Reduce energy consumption in lighting which helps DISCOMs to manage peak demand.
  • Provide a sustainable service model that obviates the need for upfront capital investment as well as additional revenue expenditure to pay for the procurement of LED lights.
  • Enhance municipal services at no upfront capital cost of municipalities.

January 5th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

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