29 Jan 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022
2. Green ports and green shipping in India
3. Baba Iqbal Singh

1. India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022

Syllabus: GS II, International Relations, regional groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Prelims: ASEAN 

Mains: Strengthening collaboration between India and ASEAN

Context: The 2nd ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting with India was held on a virtual platform.

About ADGMIN:

• The ASEAN(Association of South-East Asian Nations) Digital Ministers meeting is annually conducted in order to ascertain ways to expand the digital widespread promoting the usage of Information and communication technology (ICT).
• The India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022 has been approved for larger collaboration in the areas of emerging digital technologies. 
• This involves the telecom ministers from ten ASEAN countries namely, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. 
• The dialogue partner countries of the ASEAN were also present in the meeting.
• The discussion centered around strengthening regional digital cooperation in the spirit of digital inclusion and integration. 
• The significance of ICT in democratic systems and institutions with enhanced engagement between citizens and states was highlighted.

The Dialogue partner countries include: Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, UK and US.

The India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022 

• The work plan includes a system for combating the use of stolen and counterfeit mobile handsets.
• It will also work towards nationwide public internet access.
• Larger emphasis will be given on capacity building and knowledge sharing in emerging areas of Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, Advanced Satellite Communication, Cyber Forensics and so on and so forth. 

Read more about ASEAN in the linked article

2. Green ports and green shipping in India

Syllabus: GS III, Infrastructure: Ports

Prelims: Green ports, Maritime India Vision 2030

Mains: Initiatives taken to boost green infrastructure

Context: The progress of green initiatives undertaken for the development of green ports and green shipping, has been reviewed. 

About the initiative:

• The development of green ports has been planned under the Maritime India Vision 2030. 
• The major objective is to promote a green ecosystem in the maritime sector which is in alignment with the International Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy 2030 of International Maritime Organization and its Green-House Gas Strategy for 2050. 
• This will reduce the carbon footprint and ensure sustainable use of ports. 
• It involves stakeholders such as the major ports, Cochin shipyard limited (CSL) and IWAI (Inland waterways Authority of India) that review the progress of the green initiatives. 
• The major ports of India aims to increase the share of renewable energy to more than 60% by 2030 accompanied by the setting up of solar power plants, availing shore power supply to the vessels through multi-clean fuel adoption within the port. 
• In a collective decision, the major ports of India are planning to phase out diesel locomotives at ports.

The green port initiatives also include the following:

•  acquisition of equipments for monitoring environmental pollution
• Acquisition of dust suppression system
• Setting up sewage treatment plants
• Garbage disposal system for ports and ships
• Developing shore reception facility for wastes from ships
• Creating Oil spill response capacities at all ports
• Improvement of harbour water quality
• Increasing the green cover within port premises.

Read more about India’s Maritime Vision 2030 in the linked article

3. Baba Iqbal Singh

Syllabus: GS I, Society, Social empowerment

Mains: Contributions of Baba Iqbal Singh

Context: The Prime Minister expressed deep grief over the passing away of Baba Iqbal Singh Ji who was a promising educationist.

About Baba Iqbal Singh:

• He was an illustrious personality whose contributions towards education and society are of enormous importance. 
• He was born in a village of Pathankot, Punjab.
• He became the President of Kalgidhar Society/Trust and chancellor of Eternal University which was run under the Baru Sahib Organization. 
• He advocated the combination of modern education and spiritual knowledge with an aim to produce good global citizens. 
• He started teaching in a one room school with only five students which transformed to the present day chain of Kalidhar Trust that runs 129 Akal academies (Sikh schools), two universities in North India and one charitable hospital along with three centers to educate the youth about the negative implications of drug addiction. 
• In 2018, Baba Iqbal Singh was awarded with Shiromani Panth Ratan which is a title of honor and distinction for his excellent services to the Sikh community. 
• Recently, his name was listed for receiving the Padma Shri award for his relentless and remarkable social work.

Read previous PIB here.

January 29th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here