27 June 2019: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

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June 27th 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here

New Company for Commercial Exploitation of Research and Development

Context

New Space India Limited (NSIL), has been incorporated, as a wholly owned Government of India, under the administrative control of Department of Space (DOS) to commercially exploit the research and development work ISRO Centres and constituent units of DOS.

NSIL functions

• Small Satellite technology transfer to industry, wherein NSIL will obtain license from DOS/ISRO and sub-license it to industries
• Manufacture of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) in collaboration with Private Sector
• Productionisation of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) through Indian Industry
• Productionisation and marketing of Space based products and services, including launch and application
• Transfer of technology developed by ISRO Centres and constituent units of DOS
• Marketing spin-off technologies and products/services, both in India and abroad; and
• any other subject which Government of India deems fit.

Significance

• The above-mentioned mandate for NSIL would enable Indian Industries to scale up high-technology manufacturing
• Also production base for meeting the growing needs of Indian space programme and would further spur the growth of Indian Industries in the space sector.

National Logistics Policy

Context

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry & Railways, PiyushGoyal, reviewed the draft National Logistics Policy and the proposed action plan for implementation of the policy prepared by the Department of Logistics, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

About the policy

• The draft National Logistics Policy has been prepared in consultation with the Ministries of Railways, Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Civil Aviation.
• Commerce and Industry Minister in his opening remarks urged that all the four Ministries and their departments must leverage existing infrastructure to support each other in the logistics chain.
• Piyush Goyal directed that all four Ministries must work in coordination with each other so that the 14% logistics cost of India’s GDP may be brought down to 9%.

Logistics Sector

• India’s logistics sector is highly defragmented and the aim is to reduce the logistics cost from the present 14% of GDP to less than 10% by 2022.
• As per the Economic Survey 2017-18, the Indian logistics sector provides livelihood to more than 22 million people and improving the sector will facilitate 10 % decrease in indirect logistics cost leading to the growth of 5 to 8% in exports.
• Further, the Survey estimates that the worth of Indian logistics market would be around USD 215 billion in next two years compared to about USD 160 billion currently.

Implementation of National Food Security Act

Context

Moving towards One Nation One Ration Card (RC), Integrated Management of PDS creating a Central Repository of RCs which will help in de-duplication & allow National Portability to ensure all beneficiaries especially migrants can access PDS across the nation

Depot Online System

• Depot Online is an important project under Digital India initiative of Government.
• Highlights of the Depot Online System
  • The system will automate/streamline all the activities during the stock inflow/outflow by road.
  • The system will provide an efficient way to monitor & track the movement of items by rail.
  • Godown operation such as dumping management, stack management, spillage management, stack suggestion, storage loss calculation etc. will be automated. Stock position/occupancy of the shed will also be available on real time basis.
  • The application will integrate with the weighbridge installed within the depot.
  • The system will track chemical spraying, fumigation & procurement quality check.
  • The system will keep track of all the millers/Agency that are associated with the depots. Miller/Agency will be able to log in into the system & enter required details.
  • The system will provide a tracking of gunny, chemical & equipment, using technologies like RFID.
  • System will provide Dash board for managerial staff along with basic MIS reports such as daily stock receipt, daily stock issue, quality related reports etc.
  • Facilitate the depot management for FCI, help in speeding up operations, Free up manpower from laborious data collation and report preparation. Thus, saving operational costs by proper planning & optimizing the administrative.
  • Integrated view of end to end processes, use of workflow, notification and alerts and seamless connection between depots and district/regional offices of FCI.
  • Capture data at source and in real time through Handheld Devices, reduce redundancy.
  • SMS alerts will help field staff to take timely action.
  • Will help save costs and prevent leakages.

One Nation One Ration Card

• One Nation One Ration Card (RC) which will ensure all beneficiaries especially migrants can access PDS across the nation from any PDS shop of their own choice.
• This will provide freedom to the beneficiaries as they will not be tied to any one PDS shop and reduce their dependence on shop owners and curtail instances of corruption.
• Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS) is a system that is already operational in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tripura wherein a beneficiary can avail his share of food grain from any district in the State.

India signs a Loan Agreement with the World Bank

Context

• The World Bank and the Government of India signed here today a Loan Agreement of $400 Million to expand the coverage and the quality of interventions for the control of Tuberculosis (TB), which kills approximately half a million people in India every year.
• The World Bank supported Program will cover Nine State in the country to achieve the target of eliminating TB

About the program

• Drug resistant TB is a major public health threat and despite a growing number of TB cases being notified, India has more than a million “missing” cases every year with most of them being either undiagnosed or inadequately diagnosed and treated in the private sector.
• The Program seeks to ensure that these private sector providers adhere to established protocols of timely diagnosis, notification and effective management of TB.
• The Program will provide financial incentives to private sector care providers for reporting cases of TB and ensuring that their patients complete the treatment regimen.
• It will also provide Direct Benefit Transfers to patients for acquiring the critical nutrition needed during treatment.
• The Program will help the GoI strengthen the monitoring and implementation of Nikshay – a web-based TB case monitoring system introduced by the government
• The Program will also strengthen the detection, treatment and monitoring of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis and will track progress in detection of additional drug resistance.
• It will also support the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to develop and implement a human resource plan to meet institutional capacity needs at the Centre and State level, for the successful implementation of the NSP.

Govt has taken several steps to increase enrolment of girls

Context

The Government is committed towards encouraging girl students for taking up higher studies. Various schemes, as detailed below, are being implemented for the same:

Steps taken

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) has two specific schemes for promotion of Women’s Studies in Universities & Colleges namely:
  • Development of Indian Studies in Indian Universities & Colleges and
  • Capacity Building and Women Managers in Higher Education.
• For supporting single girl child, special scholarship schemes are there namely:
  • Post-Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child and
  • Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Scholarship for Research in Social Science.
• UGC has special schemes for promotion of women hostels in Universities and Colleges and establishment of Day Care Centres therein.
• UGC has provided support for eight exclusive women universities.
• The All India Council for Technical Education is implementing the PRAGATI scholarship scheme for assistance of girls pursuing technical education.
• To improve female enrolment in the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), the Government has decided to increase female enrolment in B. Tech. Programmes of IITs from the current 8% to 14% in 2018-19, 17% in 2019-20 and 20% in 2020-21 by creating supernumerary seats.
• The Government has also decided to increase female enrolment from existing 14% to 20% over a period of 2-4 years by creating supernumerary seats in undergraduate programmes.

Right to Education of children of migrant workers

Context

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides for free and compulsory elementary education of equitable quality to all children, including the children of migrant workers, of 6-14 years age.

Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan

• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) was designated as a vehicle programme for universalization of elementary education up-to 2017-18, which was implemented in coordination with the States and UTs.
• Now, the provisions of RTE Act are implemented through the Samagra Shiksha which subsumes the erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of SSA, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).
• Samagra Shiksha – an Integrated Centrally Sponsored Scheme for School Education has been launched throughout the country, as on overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class XII.
• This scheme aims towards ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education.
• Under the scheme since its inception, approval has been given for setting up 2.04 lakh primary and 1.59 lakh upper primary schools across the country.
• Further, to address the issue of seasonal migration for varying periods, States are using various strategies which are supported by Government of India under Samagra Shiksha.
• All States and UTs are required to conduct household surveys/ update household surveys annually to identify out of school children.
• These surveys also collect information on children affected by migration of their families
• In order to ensure provision of elementary education to these children, various interventions are supported under Samagra Shiksha such as
  • Provision of seasonal hostels/residential camps in villages during the period of migrations of families,
  • Residential and non-residential special training centres for out of school, dropout and migrant children,
  • Provision of mid-day meal, free textbooks and free uniforms as per norms of the scheme.

Steps to provide quality education to poor students

Context

• The Government is committed to ensure adequate representation and admission of students from poor economic backgrounds.
• Government has issued instructions providing 10 percent reservation to EWS categories for admission in Central Educational Institutions (CEIs).
• The Ministry of Human Resource Development is implementing the Central Sector Interest Subsidy Scheme for welfare of the students from rural areas with poor economic backgrounds.

About the scheme

• The scheme aims to ensure that no one from the Economically Weaker Sections, including minorities, SCs/STs, women and disabled, is denied access to professional education only for the reason that he or she is poor.
• Under the Scheme, full interest subsidy is provided during the moratorium period (course period plus one year), on the educational loan up to Rs. 7.5 lakh, taken by the students having annual parental income up to Rs.4.5 lakh.
• The Government is regularly monitoring the creation of seats for EWS categories in the CEIs.
• In order to prevent commercialization of education and protect the interests of the poor students the UGC (Institution of Eminence Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2017 have been notified.

Initiatives to Make Khadi an International Brand

Context

Government in the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), has taken various initiatives to make Khadi an international brand.

About the initiative

• To ensure genuineness of Khadi “Khadi Mark” has been notified by Government of India.
• Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India has extended KVIC, the status of Deemed EPC, for supporting promotion of Khadi and Village Industries products in international market. 1088 Khadi & Village Industries Institutions and REGP/PMEGP Units have taken its membership to enter the field of export. KVIC through its assisted institutions and units participates in various international exhibitions:
• Tie up arrangement with premier institutions like Federation of Indian Export Organization (FIEO), World Trade Centre (WTC), Indian Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), Trade Promotion Council of India etc., for invigorating business opportunities in the overseas market by conducting exhibitions and workshops for Khadi Institutions.
• Tie up arrangements for bringing out innovative export quality product designs with NIFT, etc.
• KVIC participated/Exhibited/Promoted Khadi products on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day celebrations on 15th August 2018 in 10 Indian Consulates abroad.
• Exhibited/Promoted Khadi products under an activity of “Global Khadi” on the celebration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in 57 Indian Embassies/ Missions abroad.
• To unique identity of “Khadi”, a separate HS code for 22 items of Khadi product is also requested from the Ministry of Commerce for recognizing the potential of export of KVI products.
• Participated in International Exhibition in St. Petersburg (Russia) organized by ITPO from 12-14 March, 2019 with ten KVI Institutions/ Units from Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Gujarat and Kerala. The Exhibition provided an opportunity and strong platform to showcase quality of KVI products.
• KVIC engaged fashion designer of national and international repute for Fashion Designing to make Khadi products more competitive and appealing in the domestic as well as overseas market segment.
• Financial support under International Cooperation (IC) Scheme of Ministry of MSMEfor Technology infusion and/or up-gradation of MSMEs, their modernization and promotion of their exports through participation in international exhibitions/trade fairs etc.
  1. To and Fro economy class air fare subject to a maximum of Rs. 1.50 lakh or actual fare paid, whichever is lower.
  2. 100% of the space rent subject to a maximum of Rs. 1.00 lakh or actual rent paid, whichever is lower.
  3. US Dollar 150 per day Duty allowance.
• Assistance would be provided under the MPDA Scheme to the eligible Khadi and Village Industries (KVI) Institutions for participation in International Exhibitions/Trade Fairs held in foreign countries in order to showcase KVI products.

Steps taken to prevent misuse of Trade Mark of ‘Khadi’

• KVIC had filed invalidation application against BNP and filed appeals in the matter; but it could not succeed.
• KVIC has filed application for revocation of the Trade Mark “KHADI” registered by BNP on the ground of non-use. The proceedings are pending.
• KVIC is also proposing to negotiate with BNP for assignment of its registered Trade Mark “KHADI” in favour of KVIC.
• Further, KVIC also filed fresh applications in EU under 13 classes i.e. 1, 3, 5, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 35.
• KVIC has already obtained registration under Trade Mark “KHADI” in 5 countries of the world viz. Germany, UK, Australia, Russia and China.

National Statistical Organization

• The Government, through its resolution, decided to set up the National Statistical Commission.
• It also decided to merge the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) and National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) into a single entity called the National Statistical Organisation (NSO).
• The Government followed the due process of inter-ministerial consultation as an integral part of the decision-making process.

Go Tribal Campaign

Context

• Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Smt. Renuka Singh will launch the “Go Tribal Campaign” by Tribes India
• TRIFED has organized this event to institutionalize collaborations and partnerships with different organizations to promote tribal products.

TRIFED

• TRIFED is an organization under Ministry of Tribal Affairs and is engaged in marketing development of tribal products including tribal art and craft under the brand name “TRIBES INDIA”.

Go Tribals Campaign by Tribes India

• Campaign will be launched under which a number of innovative activities have been planned to be undertaken to promote use of tribal handicrafts, handicrafts and natural products.
• Global Launch of “Tribes India” through Amazon Global Selling, under which Tribes India and Amazon Global Marketing will launch TRIBES India products globally through Amazon.com.
• With this collaboration, tribal products shall be available in the US and will help establish export market with tribal products.
• Collaboration of Tribes India with Central Silk Board for development, promotion, marketing of tribal silk products and empowerment of tribal weavers.

Financial Assistance From UNESCO

Context

• As per the report of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) – 4 conducted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2015-16, 35.7% children under 5 years of age are underweight, 38.4% are stunted and 58.5% are anemic.
• UN agencies provide technical support to the Government to prevent and reduce malnutrition among women and children. No financial assistance has been received from United Nations or UNESCO.

Monitoring systems

• NITI Aayog undertakes periodic monitoring and evaluation of POSHAN Abhiyaan through their ‘Technical Unit’ for assessing the impact of the programme.
• In order to ensure regular monitoring and review of all sectoral programmes under POSHAN Abhiyaan, a National Nutrition Resource Centre – Central Project Monitoring Unit (NNRC–CPMU) has been constituted.
• The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana is implemented through web based Management and Information (MIS) Software, viz., Pradhan Mantri Matru VandanaYojana-Common Application Software (PMMVY-CAS) which is used as an effective tool for regular monitoring.
• The Anganwadi Services Scheme has an in-built monitoring system since its inception to track the physical progress of the scheme in respect of various input process, output and impact indicators through a standardized Management Information System (MIS).
• Further, in order to strengthen the performance of Anganwadi Services, Government has introduced monitoring and review mechanism at different levels (National/ State/ District/ Block and Anganwadi level).

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June 27th 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here

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