12 Jul 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Bihar Legislative Assembly
2. International Rice Research Institute
3. Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS)

1. Bihar Legislative Assembly

Syllabus: GS 1- Modern Indian History from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.

Prelims: Government of India Act, 1919

Context:

The PM addressed the closing ceremony of the Centenary celebrations of the Bihar Legislative Assembly in Patna.

About the Bihar Legislative Assembly:

• The Bihar Legislative Assembly, also known as the Bihar Vidhan Sabha, is the lower house of the state where the first elections were held in 1952.
• Bihar and Orissa got full statehood (earlier was part of the Bengal Presidency) in 1920 after the enactment of the Government of India Act, 1919.
• The first meeting of the Assembly was held in 1921.
• After independence, the Legislative Assembly met for the first time in 1952 with 331 members.

Also read: Difference between Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) and Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)

2. International Rice Research Institute

Syllabus: GS 3- Economy- Agriculture and related issues- Major crops 

Prelims: Rice cultivation in India; IRRI

Context:

MoU signed between the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

Details of the MoU:

• The MoU is regarding the commencement of Phase 2 activities of IRRI South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) to scale up the existing partnership for food and nutrition security in the South Asian region.

About ISARC:

• The IRRI South Asia Regional Centre is a regional facility that supports research collaboration, training, and service provision to institutions, scientists, and other stakeholders from India and other South Asian and African nations.
• It is located in Varanasi and was established through an agreement between DA&FW and IRRI, Philippines. 
• ISARC is the first research centre of the IRRI to be established outside of its headquarters in the Philippines.
• About IRRI:
  • The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is an international agricultural research and training organization with its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna in the Philippines, and offices in seventeen countries. It was established in 1960.
  • IRRI is the world’s premier research organization dedicated to reducing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition through rice science.

3. Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS)

Syllabus: GS-3, Economy- Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.

Prelims: PIMS

Context:

Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) to come into effect from 1st October 2022.

Details:

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has introduced the Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) by amending the import policy of major paper products from ‘Free’ to ‘Free subject to compulsory registration under PIMS’.
• The PIMS shall be applicable on import by a Domestic Territory Area unit on a wide range of paper products covering 201 tariff lines, such as newsprint, handmade paper, coated paper, uncoated paper, Litho and offset paper, tissue paper, toilet paper, cartons, labels, etc. 
• However, paper products like currency paper, bank bond and Cheque paper, security printing paper, etc. have been excluded from mandatory registration.
• Registration under PIMS shall also be required at the point of import by a Unit in Special Economic Zone/Free Trading Warehousing Zone or at the time of import by an Export Oriented Unit of the items covered under PIMS. 

Significance:

• Based on the demand of the domestic paper industry, the introduction of PIMS is intended to curb imports under the “Others” category Tariff Lines, dumping of paper products in the domestic market by way of under-invoicing, entry of prohibited goods by mis-declaration, re-routing goods through other countries in lieu of trade agreements.  
• This may also promote the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar’ initiatives under this category.

Read previous PIB here.

July 12th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here