16 Jan 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Saint Thiruvalluvar
2. Standardized Development and Building Regulations, 2023
3. Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2023
4. Boosting Employment for Divyangjans
5. MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application

1. Saint Thiruvalluvar

Syllabus: GS-1, History

Prelims: Saint Thiruvalluvar, Thirukkural

Context:

PM pays tributes to Saint Thiruvalluvar.

About Saint Thiruvalluvar:

• Saint Thiruvalluvar was a Tamil poet and philosopher who is best known for his work Thirukkural, a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economic matters, and love.
• He is considered a great sage and his Thirukkural is a widely cherished work in Tamil literature.
• He is believed to have lived from the fourth century BCE to the early fifth century CE.

2. Standardized Development and Building Regulations, 2023

Syllabus: GS-3, Infrastructure

Prelims: BIS, Standardized Development and Building Regulations, 2023

Context:

Bureau of Indian Standards issues ‘Standardized Development and Building Regulations, 2023’.

‘Standardized Development and Building Regulations, 2023’:

• The new regulations issued by the BIS are encapsulated in Special Publication SP 73: 2023.
• Aligned with the National Building Code of India 2016 (NBC 2016) and drawing inspiration from global best practices, these regulations set forth a comprehensive framework aimed at ensuring safety, accessibility, and sustainability in construction.
• The regulations aim to bring uniformity, streamline the structuring and detailing of the development and building regulations of the States/UTs, as well as to streamline the building regulatory system across the nation while accommodating the specific needs of individual states, UTs, and local bodies.
• The document is user-friendly, drafted in simple language for clarity, and facilitates easy understanding through the use of visual aids, illustrations, flowcharts and explanatory notes.
• It also addresses elements such as EV Charging Stations, Wind Electricity Generators, Transferable Development Rights, Transit Oriented Development, High Security Areas, and Retirement Homes.
• Beneficiaries of the document:
  • Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Town and Country Planning Organization (TCPO) under MoHUA;
  • State and Union Territory Governments;
  • Local Bodies (LBs), both urban and rural;
  • Development Authorities (DAs);
  • Cantonment Boards and Port Trusts;
  • Zila and Gram Panchayats; and
  • Other organizations involved in the development of built environment.

3. Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2023

Syllabus: GS-2, Governance

Prelims: Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2023

Context:

The Government has launched the Scheme for Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2023.

Details:

• The awards are designed to acknowledge, recognize, and reward exemplary work done by civil servants across the country. 
• For 2023, the Scheme for Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration has been revised to recognize the contribution of civil servants in the holistic development of districts under the following schemes:
  • Category 1: Holistic Development of Districts under 12 Priority Sector Programs, in this category 10 awards would be conferred.
  • Category 2: Innovations for Central Ministries/ Departments, States, Districts, under this category 6 awards would be conferred.
• Registration on the PM’s Awards web portal commenced on 3 January 2024 for registration and submission of nominations. The last date for submission of registrations is 31 January 2024.
• The Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2023 shall consist of a trophy, a scroll and an incentive of Rs. 20 lac to the awarded District/ Organization to be utilized for the implementation of projects/programs or bridging the resource gap in any area of public welfare.

4. Boosting Employment for Divyangjans

Syllabus: GS-2, Social Justice

Mains: Government schemes and programs for the disabled

Context:

DEPWD and NHRDN Join Forces to Boost Employment for Divyangjans.

Details:

• The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPWD) and the National Human Resources Development Network (NHRDN) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding on the closing day of the International Purple Fest in Goa. 
• This strategic collaboration aims to aggregate employment opportunities for Divyangjans through the innovative PM-DAKSH-DEPWD digital portal.
• This MoU marks a pivotal step in expanding the Department’s outreach and fostering connections with HR professionals nationwide. 
• The objective is to amplify efforts in facilitating meaningful employment opportunities for Divyangjans, fostering a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

5. MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application

Syllabus: GS-2, Government schemes and programs

Prelims: MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application, MPLADS

Context:

MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application launched.

MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application:

• The mobile application was launched for a revised fund flow procedure under the MPLAD Scheme
  • The objective of the MPLAD Scheme is to enable the Members of Parliament (MPs) to recommend works of a developmental nature with emphasis on the creation of durable community assets based on locally felt needs. 
• The revised set of guidelines aims to broaden the scope of the Scheme to enable the MPs to recommend the developmental works as per the changing needs of the community; with an emphasis on improving the functioning, implementation and monitoring of the MPLAD scheme.
• Benefits of the App:
  • The mobile app would offer convenience and accessibility, allowing MPs to propose, track, and oversee the projects at their fingertips. 
  • This real-time access enhances decision-making processes, enabling swift responses to emerging needs or issues. 
  • The application will streamline the communication between MPs and relevant authorities, facilitating a more efficient exchange of information.

Read previous PIB articles here.