02 Jul 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. International Day of Cooperatives
2. Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign
3. Operation NARCOS
4. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)
5. India-EU Trade and Investment Agreements

1. International Day of Cooperatives

Syllabus: GS II, Governance; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors

Prelims: International Day of Cooperatives

Context

100th International Day of Cooperatives

International Day of Cooperatives

• International Co-operative Day is celebrated on the first Saturday in July annually since 1923 by the International Co-operative Alliance.
• International Cooperative Day is a celebration of the cooperative movement.
• Since 1995 the United Nations’ International Day of Co-operatives has been jointly celebrated alongside International Co-operative Day.
• 100th International Day of Cooperatives was celebrated on 02 July 2022.
• It is popularly known as #CoopsDay and the slogan for 2022 is “Cooperatives Build a Better World”.

Know more about – International Day of Cooperatives

2. Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign

Syllabus: GS III, Environment; Conservation

Prelims: Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign

Context

Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign would be launched to celebrate International Coastal Cleanup Day.

Background

• India has a coastline of more than 7,500 km 
  • India has a rich marine history, with marine activities dating back to the age of Rig Veda. 
• Further, the Indian Ocean is the only ocean named after a country.
• However, the plastic litter mainly due to land-based activities, tourism and fishing has been polluting the coasts, seas and ocean, which is posing a serious threat to the marine ecosystem.

Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar campaign

• The Union Government along with various voluntary organizations will run a cleanliness campaign “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” along the coastline of the country.
• The campaign will start on  17th September 2022 on account of “International Coastal Clean Up Day” which is celebrated every year on the third Saturday of September.
• This campaign will involve the Ministries of Earth Sciences (MoES) and Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Indian Coast Guard, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and other social organizations and educational institutions.
• It will be the first-of-its-kind and longest-running coastal cleanup campaign in the world with the highest number of people participating in it.
• The coastal cleanup drive will be carried out at 75 beaches across the country as a part of  Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

3. Operation NARCOS

Syllabus: GS III, Security; Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Prelims: Operation NARCOS

Context

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched Operation “NARCOS” in the month of June-2022.

Operation “NARCOS

• RPF has been empowered to conduct search, seizure and arrest under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) since April 2019 and has been actively participating in restricting illegal trade.
• Under this operation, RPF has performed extremely well against the transporters of narcotics products through Indian Railways. 
• In the month of June 2022, RPF recovered various narcotics products worth Rs. 7,40,77,126/ and has helped arrest over 160 individuals.

4. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

Syllabus: GS III, Economy; Issues relating to growth, development and employment.

Prelims: About National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

Context

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship announced that National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) will be part of the Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT) scheme.

National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS)

• National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) was launched in 2016.
• Objective: to promote apprenticeship training in the country and to provide financial support to establishments undertaking apprenticeships.
• The scheme aims to motivate employers to hire apprentices and help them in discovering the right job profiles while maximising their potential through in-depth skill development. 
• Under the scheme, the Government will share 25% of the prescribed stipend subject to a maximum of Rs 1500/month/apprentice with the employers.
• With the launch of the DBT scheme, the government will directly transfer its contribution to the bank accounts of apprentices through National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
  • This move is expected to boost apprenticeship and aims to realise the potential of Skill India.
• State Apprenticeship Advisers (SAAs) and Regional Directorates of Apprenticeship (RDAIs) are entrusted as implementing agencies in their respective state/regions.
• This scheme will also play a key role in skilling, reskilling and upskilling young Indias, increasing their per capita economic production and supporting national missions.

5. India-EU Trade and Investment Agreements

Syllabus: GS II, International Relations; Bilateral, regional and global agreements involving India

Mains: India – European Union Relations

Context

India and the European Union concluded the first round of negotiations for the India-EU Trade and Investment Agreements.

Details

• The negotiation included various aspects of Free Trade Agreements (FTA), Investment agreements and agreements on Geographical Indicators (GI).
• The second round of negotiations is expected to take place in September 2022 in Brussels.
• Both the parties are aiming for the trade negotiations to be broad-based, balanced, and comprehensive, based on the principles of fairness and reciprocity.

India-EU Relations

• India-EU bilateral trade stood at USD 116.36 billion in 2021-22. 
• Despite the disruptions in the global market due to the pandemic and other supply chain issues, bilateral trade achieved annual growth of 43.5% in 2021-22.  
• At present, the EU is India’s second-largest trading partner after the US, and the second-largest destination for Indian exports. 
• The trade agreement between the two is significant for India in expanding and diversifying its exports of goods and services, including securing the value chains. 

Read more about – India-EU Relations

Read previous PIB here.

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