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January 27th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Science and Technology Innovation (STI) System
2. Novel Coronavirus
3. India-Brazil
4. Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC)

1. Science and Technology Innovation (STI) System

Context:

Addressing scientists and researchers of CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad, the Vice President referred to the vital role of the Indian Science and Technology Innovation (STI) System in achieving national goals as India aspires for sustainable and inclusive growth.

About the STI System:

• Since independence, there have been four major interventions by the government in the form of a science and technology policy. They are:
  • The Science and Technology Policy Resolution 1958
  • The Technology Policy Statement 1983
  • Science and Technology Policy 2003
  • Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STI) 2013

About the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STI) 2013

• This policy seeks to send a signal to the Indian scientific community, both in the private and public domain, that science, technology and innovation should focus on faster, sustainable and inclusive development of the people.
• The policy also seeks to encourage investments in innovations.
• It also seeks to bring in mechanisms for achieving gender parity in STI activities and gaining global competitiveness in select technological areas through international cooperation and alliances.
• This policy is different from the previous interventions because of the term ‘innovation’.
• Promoting a science and technology-led innovation ecosystem in the country and broadly linking science, technology and innovation to socio-economic priorities were some of the key aspects of STIP 2013.
• It seeks to attract private-sector contributions into the R & D ecosystem.
• It lays emphasis on directing scientific discoveries and outputs of science and technology activities towards developmental priorities in key areas (agriculture, manufacturing, water, health, environment and infrastructure).
• This policy also resulted in India’s increased participation in global mega-science initiatives such as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), the Large Hadron Collider (LHC — CERN), the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), among others.
• India has declared 2010-20 as the “Decade of Innovation.”

STI 2013

2. Novel Coronavirus

Context:

Cabinet Secretary reviews the preventive measures on the “Novel Coronavirus” outbreak.

Details:

To read more on the Wuhan Coronavirus, click on the linked article.

• Flight passengers are being screened.
• Ministry of Civil Aviation:
  • Issue of instruction to airlines for managing and notifying anybody reporting illness on all flights with direct or indirect connectivity to China.
  • Facilitate in-flight announcements.
  • Distribution of health cards to all flights with direct or indirect connectivity to China.
• Ministry of Home Affairs
  • To ensure that integrated check posts initiate screening of visitors across the Nepal border, states have been requested to provide health staff for these check posts. SSB/BSF/Immigration officers manning integrated check posts have been sensitized.
• Ministry of Shipping
  • To initiate entry screening at the international ports having traffic from China.
• The Health Ministry also held a meeting with the Chief Secretaries to review the preparedness and screening in 5 states having a border with Nepal. They have been asked to ensure that community-level monitoring of passengers is undertaken through health staff.
• It was decided that steps may be taken to prepare for the possible evacuation of Indian nationals in Wuhan. Accordingly, the Ministry of External Affairs will make a request to the Chinese authorities.
• The Ministries of Civil Aviation and Health will make arrangements for transport and quarantine facilities respectively.

3. India-Brazil

Context:

India-Brazil set a target of USD 15 billion trade by 2022.

Details:

• The inaugural session of the India-Brazil Business Forum was held in New Delhi.
• 15 MoUs were signed between India and Brazil when the President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro visited as the Chief Guest of India’s 71^st Republic Day parade.
• The MoUs of cooperation that has been signed during the presidential visit on investments, trade facilitation, social security, agriculture, defence and double taxation make this the most productive visit by a Brazilian Head of State.
• Brazil is one of India’s largest trading partners in the entire LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) region.
• India’s services in the wellness sector like Yoga and Ayurveda will further grow as Brazil has a strong community of Yoga and Ayurveda practitioners.
• Brazil has an association of Ayurveda (ABRA), a non-profit association with offices in 9 states of Brazil and members all over Brazil.
• The third International Congress on Ayurveda was held in March 2018 in Rio de Janeiro.
• India and Brazil share close relationship at the bilateral level as well as plurilateral fora like BRICS, BASIC, G-20, IBSA, International Solar Alliance and in larger multilateral bodies like UN, UNESCO and WIPO.

4. Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC)

Context:

While addressing the Investiture Ceremony & International Customs Day 2020, the Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs talked about the big role the CBIC will play in improving India’s Ease of Doing Business ranking.

About the CBIC:

• The CBIC is the apex body for administering the levy and collection of indirect taxes of the Union of India.
• The Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIC) is a part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• For more on the CBIC, check PIB dated 7^th Nov 2019 under the heading ‘DIN System of CBIC’.

About International Customs Day:

• Annually held on January 26, International Customs Day (ICD) recognizes the role of custom officials and agencies in maintaining border security.
• It focuses on the working conditions and challenges that customs officers face in their jobs.
• It was instituted by the World Customs Organization (WCO).
• January 26^th commemorates the day in 1953 when the inaugural session of the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) was held in Brussels, Belgium.
• In 1994 the CCC was renamed World Customs Organization (WCO) and today customs organizations from 179 countries are WCO members.
• The theme for the 2020 commemoration was, ‘Customs fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet’.

January 27th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

Become familiar with the UPSC Syllabus by visiting the linked article. For more IAS-related preparation materials and other articles, visit the link given in the table below:

Read more PIB articles here.