17 July 2019: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

The PIB segment consists of articles taken from the PIB website of the Government of India, which gives the latest schemes and news from the GOI. This is important for UPSC current affairs.

July 17th, 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here

Export Promotion Scheme

Context

• The Government of India has launched a scheme namely, Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES) with the objective to assist Central and State Government Agencies for creation of appropriate infrastructure for growth of exports from the States.

About the scheme

• The Scheme provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid to Central/State Government-owned agencies for setting up or for up-gradation of export infrastructure as per the guidelines of the Scheme.
• The scheme can be availed by the States through their Implementing Agencies, for infrastructure projects with overwhelming export linkages like the Border Haats, Land customs stations, quality testing and certification labs, etc.
• The Government of India strives to ensure a continuous dialogue with the State Governments and Union Territories on measures for promoting exports.
• Also for providing an international trade enabling environment in the States, and to create a framework for making the States active partners in boosting exports from India.
• Under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), DGFT operates various Export promotion schemes such as Advance Authorization, Duty Free Import Authorization, Export Promotion of Capital Goods, Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) and Services Exports from India Scheme (SEIS).
• To give effect to these schemes, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has issued various exemption notifications.

Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS)

• MEIS was introduced in the FTP from 01.04.2015, providing rewards for exporters of specified goods.
• The objective of the MEIS is to offset infrastructural inefficiencies and associated costs involved in exporting goods/products which are produced/manufactured in India.
• The scheme incentivizes exporters in terms of Duty Credit Scrips at the rate of 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 % of FOB Value of exports realized.
• These scrips are transferable and can be used to pay certain Central Duties/taxes including Customs Duties.

Agriculture Export Policy

• The Agriculture Export Policy was launched in 2018 to harness export potential of Indian agriculture, through suitable policy instruments, to make India global power in agriculture and raise farmers’ income
• This comprehensive “Agriculture Export Policy” aims to increase agricultural exports by integrating Indian farmers and agricultural products with the global value chains.

Policy for Digital Economy

Context

• The Government has recently introduced National Policy on Electronics (NPE) and National Policy on Software Products (NPSP) in 2019 for the growing digital economy.
• Further, a draft National e-Commerce policy has been prepared and placed for comments in public domain.

e-Commerce policy

• The draft National e-Commerce policy has been prepared to create a facilitative regulatory environment for growth of e-commerce sector in India and to leverage access to data such that data of Indians can be used for the growth of digital economy in India.
• The policy establishes strategies which aim to
• Empower domestic entrepreneurs and encourage Make in India;
• Safeguard interests of the consumers;
• Ensure creation of jobs in the digital sphere in the times to come;
• Promote domestic research and development in digital innovation and
• Prevent misuse of data while maintaining the spirit of existing regulations.

Steps taken for manufacturing of defence products

• Self-reliance is a major corner-stone on which the military capability of any nation rests. Accordingly, the Defence Production Policy promulgated by the Government, aims at achieving substantive self-reliance in the design, development and production of equipment, etc.
• Defence Production in India is led by Ordnance Factories and Defence Public Sector undertakings which have played a huge role in making our country a defence manufacturing hub.
• In view of the aforesaid Defence Production Policy and ‘Make in India’ initiative, several policy initiatives have been taken for promoting manufacturing of State-of-the-art defence products. These include:-
• Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX): An innovation ecosystem for Defence titled Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) has been launched
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): FDI Policy has been revised and under the revised policy, FDI is allowed under automatic route upto 49% and beyond 49% through Government route wherever it is likely to result in access to modern technology or for other reasons to be recorded.
• Government has notified a Policy for indigenisation of components and spares used in Defence Platforms in March, 2019 with the objective to create an industry ecosystem which is able to indigenize
• Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti: The Ministry has instituted a new framework titled ‘Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti’ which aims to provide boost to the IPR culture in indigenous defence industry.
• Technology Development Fund: Government has set up the Technology Development Fund (TDF) to encourage participation of public/private industries especially MSMEs, through provision of grants.

Look East Agenda

Context

• Act East Policy focuses on strengthening India’s relations with countries in the immediate and extended neighbourhood to the east.

About the agenda

• The focus has been on the development and prosperity of the North Eastern states by improving connectivity, access and facilities to the region through various initiatives
• Various projects are undertaken from various funds which have been set up by Government of India for undertaking joint projects with ASEAN Member States. These Funds are rolling funds and are replenished on need basis.
• Initiatives include infrastructure projects like India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar.

Steps Taken to Deal with Cyber Crime

Context

• The Central Government has rolled out a scheme for establishment of Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre to handle issues related to cybercrime in the country in a comprehensive and coordinated manner..
• Central Government has taken steps to spread awareness about cybercrimes to prevent such crimes and to speed up investigation.

Steps taken by government

• Establishment of National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) for protection of critical information infrastructure in the country.
• All organizations providing digital services have been mandated to report cyber security incidents to CERT-In expeditiously.
• Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) has been launched for providing detection of malicious programmes and free tools to remove such programmes.
• Issue of alerts and advisories regarding cyber threats and counter-measures by CERT-In.
• Issue of guidelines for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) regarding their key roles and responsibilities for securing applications / infrastructure and compliance.
• Provision for audit of the government websites and applications prior to their hosting, and thereafter at regular intervals.
• Formulation of Crisis Management Plan for countering cyber attacks and cyber terrorism
• Empanelment of security auditing organisations to support and audit implementation of Information Security Best Practices.
• Conducting cyber security mock drills and exercises regularly to enable assessment of cyber security posture and preparedness of organizations in Government and critical sectors.
• Conducting regular training programmes for network / system administrators and Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) of Government and critical sector organisations regarding securing the IT infrastructure and mitigating cyber-attacks.

Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana

Context

The ESI Corporation has launched a scheme named ‘Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana’ (ABVKY)

About the scheme

In the scheme in case the Insured Person (IP) is rendered unemployed, provides relief to the extent of 25% of the average per day earning during the previous four contribution periods, to be paid up to maximum 90 days of unemployment once in lifetime.

Conditions and other features

• The Insured Person should have been rendered unemployed during the period the relief is claimed.
• The Insured Person should have been in insurable employment for a minimum period of two years.
• The Insured Person should have contributed not less than 78 days during each of the preceding four contribution periods.
• The contribution in respect of him should have been paid or payable by the employer.
• The contingency of the unemployment should not have been as a result of any punishment for misconduct or superannuation or voluntary retirement.
• Aadhar and Bank Account of the Insured Person should be linked with insured person data base.
• In case the IP is working for more than one employers and is covered under the ESI scheme he will be considered unemployed only in case he is rendered unemployed with all employers.
• As specified in Section 65 of the ESI Act, an IP shall not be entitled to any other cash compensation and the Relief under ABVKY simultaneously for the same period. However, periodical payments of Permanent Disability Benefit (PDB) under ESI Act and Regulations shall continue.
• As specified under Section 61 of the ESI Act, an IP who is in receipt of Relief under ABVKY shall not be entitled to receive any similar benefit admissible under the provisions of any other enactment.
• The IP will be eligible for Medical benefit as provided under the Act for the period he is availing this relief.
• The claim for Relief under ABVKY may be submitted by the claimant any time after rendering unemployed, but not later than one year from the date of unemployment to the appropriate Branch Office in form of affidavit in prescribed Form. No prospective claim i.e. claim for relief under ABVKY for any future period will be allowed.
• The IP will submit his claim online through the ESIC Portal.

Inter-Institutional Agreement between India and USA

Context

The Union Cabinet has given approval to the Inter-Institutional Agreement between India and the USA in the areas of regenerative medicine and 3D bioprinting, new technologies, exchange of scientific ideas/information and technologies.

Benefits:

• The joint research projects, training programmes, conferences, seminars etc. under this Agreement will be open to all qualified scientists and technologists, and will be supported on the basis of scientific merit and excellence.
• Scientific research and technology development in the areas of regenerative medicine and 3D bio-printing will have potential for generation of new Intellectual Property, processes, prototypes or products.
• Both institutes anticipate the general academic exchange contemplated under the Agreement will lead to the development of specific projects, each of which may have academic, clinical and commercial implications.

Salient features:

• The objective of the Agreement is to contribute towards the development of research and education of both the Institutions through academic collaboration.
• The general areas of common interest where collaboration and exchange of knowledge are intended for both include:
  • Exchange of faculty members and students for training, study and research especially in the areas on 3D Bioprinting;
  • Execution of joint research projects; and
  • Exchange of information and academic publications.

Related Links:

June 17th, 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here

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