25 July 2019: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

Read the daily PIB update and stay up-to-date on current affairs for the UPSC exam.

July 25th, 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here

North Eastern Region Vision 2020

Background

• North Eastern Region Vision 2020 document provides an overarching framework for the development of the North Eastern Region to
• The main objective is to bring the north eastern region at par with other developed regions under which different Ministries, including the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region have undertaken various initiatives.

Reasons for resource flow

• Mandatory earmarking of at least 10% of GBS of Central Ministries/Departments for North Eastern Region (NER)
• Creation of Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR)
• There has been a sharp rise in provisional expenditure (subject to final vetting by Ministry of Finance) by Central Ministries in NER by 83%.

Major initiatives

• Strengthening infrastructure and connectivity is a major thrust area identified by the Vision document. Several connectivity initiatives have been undertaken in the recent past.
• In the last five years under the schemes of Ministry of DoNER funds were released for road projects, bridges, ISBT, airports, railway in North Eastern Region.
• Moreover, Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN) has been launched to provide connectivity to unserved and underserved Airports within the country.
• Also to promote regional connectivity, airfare has been made affordable through Viability Gap Funding (VGF). The North East has been kept as a priority area under RCS-UDAN.
• In respect of Rail Connectivity, during the last four years the entire North East Region has been converted to the Broad Gauge (BG) network.
• Other major initiatives taken up in the North-East Region inter alia include
• Promotion of MSMEs in North Eastern Region and Sikkim
• Comprehensive Telecom Development Project (CTDP) for the North-Eastern Region
• Comprehensive Scheme for strengthening of Transmission and Distribution Systems (CSST&DS)
• North Eastern Region Power System Improvement Project (NERPSIP)
• Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region scheme
• North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS)
• National Sports University at Imphal, Agartala-Akhaura Rail-Link to connect the existing Agartala station in Tripura to Akhaura Station of Bangladesh Railways
• Development of Brahmaputra and 19 new waterways including Barak.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

Context

• The Government of India is encouraging the schools to provide exposure of science and technology to students so that they can be exposed with futuristic technology platforms.

Objective of establishing AIM in school

• To create scientific temper and cultivate the spirit of curiosity and innovation among young minds.
• Inculcate skills such as design mind-set, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing, rapid calculations, measurements, etc.

About AIM

Objective

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) including Self-Employment and Talent Utilization (SETU) is Government of India’s endeavour to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Its objective is to serve as a platform for promotion of world-class Innovation Hubs, Grand Challenges, Start-up businesses and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology-driven areas.

Functions

• Entrepreneurship promotion through Self-Employment and Talent Utilization, wherein innovators would be supported and mentored to become successful entrepreneurs
• Innovation promotion: to provide a platform where innovative ideas are generated

Freedom of Expression to Government Employees

Background

• It is mentioned that as per Rule 8 of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, no Government servant shall, except with the previous sanction of the Government, own or conduct or participate in the editing or management of, any public media.

Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules provides

• Which has the effect of an adverse criticism of any current or recent policy or action of the Central Government or a State Government
• which is capable of embarrassing the relations between the Central Government and the Government of any State
• which is capable of embarrassing the relations between the Central Government and the Government of any foreign State

Exceptions

• Bonafide expression of views by office-bearers of a trade union or association of Government servants for the purpose of safeguarding the conditions of service of such Government servants or for securing an improvement thereof.
• Views expressed by a Government servant in his official capacity or in the due performance of the duties assigned to him.

MoU between India and Maldives

Background

• India and Maldives had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Passenger and Cargo Services in Male last month

Objective

• The objective of the MoU is to improve people to people contact between the two countries by providing an alternate, direct and less expensive means for transport for passengers and goods.
• It also aims to advance economic, social and cultural ties between the two countries.
• Sea connectivity between the two countries would help to promote inbound tourism, particularly health and wellness tourism.

Implementation of Poshan Abhiyaan

Background

• POSHAN Abhiyaan has been set up by Government of India in 2017 for a three-year time frame.

Objectives

• Reduce the level of stunting in children (0-6 years) under-nutrition (underweight prevalence)in children (0-6 years) and Low Birth Weight at 2% per annum
• Reduce anaemia among young children (6-59 months), women and adolescent girls at 3% per annum across the country.

About the Abhiyaan

• The Abhiyaan ensures convergence with various programmes, organising Community Based Events; incentivizing States/UTs for achieving goals.
• Community Mobilization and Awareness Advocacy leading to Jan Andolan – to educate the people on nutritional aspects. Incremental Learning Approach (ILA); strengthening Field Functionaries.
• Under the Abhiyan, all districts of the 36 States/UTs, including Tamil Nadu, have been covered for implementation in a phased manner.

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June 25th, 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here

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