08 Jun 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Cannabis Research Project
2. ‘Agni Prime’ Ballistic Missile
3. Maiden India-France-U.A.E Maritime Partnership Exercise
4. District Good Governance Index (DGGI) of Arunachal Pradesh
5. Sahkar Se Samridhi

1. Cannabis Research Project

Syllabus – GS3, Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects.

Prelims – Cannabis Research Project of CSIR IIIM, Jammu.

Context – The Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh reviewed the Cannabis Research Project of CSIR-IIIM at Jammu.

Details –

• Cannabis Research Project of CSIR-IIIM, Jammu is a first of its kind in the country and has great potential to produce export-quality medicine for neuropathies, epilepsy and cancer.
• The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology chaired a review meeting of the Cannabis Research Project with officials of CSIR-IIIM and J&K UT Science and Technology Department.
• The project is likely to give an impetus for huge investment in Jammu Kashmir and bring the Union Territory on the international map for export-quality medicines.
• In 2019, the Union Finance Ministry sanctioned a research and development project on compounds such as cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in cannabis, commonly known as ganja.
• CSIR-IIIM is the oldest scientific research institute in India which discovered mint in 1960, it is the centre of the purple revolution and the Cannabis Research Project is adding one more feather to its cap.
•  For projects like the Cannabis Research Project, the synergy between institutions like CSIR-IIIM, IIT, IIM, AIIMS, etc is important to look for various technicalities involved in it like the marketing strategies that can be done through IIMs, clinical trials through AIIMS, technical support through IITs, etc.

2. ‘Agni Prime’ Ballistic Missile

Syllabus – GS3, Achievements of Indians in Science and Technology, Indigenisation of Technology.

Prelims – Agni Prime – New Generation Ballistic Missile.

Context – Ballistic Missile ‘Agni Prime’ was successfully tested by DRDO off Odisha Coast.

Details –

• The New Generation Ballistic Missile ‘Agni Prime’ was successfully flight tested by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
• This was the first pre-induction night launch conducted after three successful developmental trials of the missile.
• Range instrumentation like Radar, Telemetry and Electro Optical Tracking Systems were deployed at various positions including two down-range ships at the terminal point to capture flight data covering the entire trajectory of the vehicle.
• The successful tests have paved the way for the induction of the system into the armed forces. It is a canisterised missile that can be launched at short notice and has a range between 1000 and 2000 km.
• The new missile comes with significant advancements in technology including composites, propulsion systems, and guidance and control mechanisms. 
• The other variants of the Agni missiles developed by DRDO include the 700-km  Agni-I, 2,000-km range Agni-II, 3,000-km range Agni-III, 4,000-km range Agni-IV and the 5,000-km range Agni-V missile. The Agni missiles form the backbone of India’s nuclear deterrence.

Also read – Surface to Surface Missile – Agni, Brahmos, Prithvi.

3. Maiden India-France-U.A.E Maritime Partnership Exercise

Syllabus – GS3, Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate. 

Prelims – Trilateral Maritime Exercise – India-France-UAE.

Context – The maiden India-France-U.A.E maritime partnership exercise in the Gulf of Oman.

Details –

• The first India-France-UAE Maritime Partnership Exercise commenced in the Gulf of Oman. The exercise involves the Indian Navy frigate INS Tarkash, the French Navy ship Surcouf along with Rafale fighter jets, and UAE Navy maritime patrol aircraft.
• The two-day exercise will witness a range of naval operations including surface warfare, helicopter cross-deck landing operations, advanced air defence exercises and boarding operations. It will also include cross-embarkation of personnel to exchange best practices. 
• The exercise aims to increase trilateral cooperation between the three navies and address traditional and non-traditional threats in the maritime domain.

4. District Good Governance Index (DGGI) of Arunachal Pradesh

Prelims – DGGI of Arunachal Pradesh.

Context – DGGI of Arunachal Pradesh prepared by DARPG and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh released.

Details –

• The first District Good Governance Index (DGGI) of Arunachal Pradesh prepared by DARPG (Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances) in collaboration with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh with Knowledge Partner CGG (Centre for Good Governance), Hyderabad was released. 
• The DGGI represents Next Generation Administrative Reform in Benchmarking Governance at the district level. The index benchmarks governance in all 25 districts of Arunachal Pradesh on 136 data points under 65 indicators spread across eight sectors.
• The districts of Arunachal Pradesh have been ranked division-wise – East, West and Central Divisions.
• The DGGI is expected to provide insight into the existing administrative gaps, which will help state government and district administration to bridge these gaps. The DGGI Arunachal Pradesh will help its districts to prepare a futuristic roadmap and to reorient their implementation strategies.
• The DARPG has initiated next-generation reforms in benchmarking governance by releasing Good Governance Index 2019, Good Governance Index 2021, NeSDA (National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment) 2019, NeSDA 2021, DGGI J&K, DGGI Gujarat and now DGGI Arunachal Pradesh.

5. Sahkar Se Samridhi

Syllabus – GS2, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors.

Prelims – Sahkar Se Samridhi- Broadening the functioning of PACS.

Context – To realise the vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samridhi’, five more decisions were taken by the Ministry of Cooperatives and Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers. 

Details –

• The Government of India aims to achieve overall prosperity in the country through the mantra of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi”. It is being proposed to strengthen cooperatives by bringing transparency, modernization, and creating competitiveness. 
• The GoI has taken five more important decisions to realise the vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samridhi’. These are –

1. PACS (Primary Agriculture Credit Society) which are not functioning as fertiliser retailers will be identified and encouraged to function as retailers on the basis of feasibility in a phased manner. There are about one lakh PACS in the country.
2. PACS will be connected with the marketing of organic fertilisers, especially Fermented Organic Manure (FoM)/Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM)/Phosphate Enriched Organic Manure (PROM).
3. Under the Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme of the Department of Fertilisers, fertiliser companies will act as an aggregator for small bio-organic producers to market the end product, in this supply and marketing chain of bio-organic fertilisers PACS will also be included as wholesalers/retailers.
4. PACS will act as drone entrepreneurs for spraying pesticides and fertilisers. 
5. All the PACS will be brought under the ambit of PMKSK (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras).

The above-mentioned decisions have been taken to increase the income of PACS, create employment opportunities in rural areas and make available fertilisers, pesticides and agricultural machines at local levels.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

June 8th, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here