07 Mar 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. International Election Visitors Programme 2022
2. Science behind jets of plasma occurring all over Sun’s chromosphere unravelled
3. Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women – SAMARTH
4. Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY)
5. EXERCISE SLINEX
6. PLI Scheme for White Goods (ACs and LED Lights)

1. International Election Visitors Programme 2022

Context: The Election Commission of India (ECI) hosted the virtual International Election Visitors Programme (IEVP) 2022.

International Election Visitors Programme (IEVP) 2022:

• India has been hosting the International Election Visitors Programme (IEVP) since 2012.
• Under the program, international delegates are invited to visit polling stations and see the electoral processes in practice for themselves in person. 
• Even during the Covid pandemic with travel restrictions, IEVP in India has not been discontinued and continues to be held in an innovative virtual mode.
• Focus Areas:
  • The Election Commission of India’s initiatives such as voter-friendly polling stations to ensure ease of voter registration.
  • Voter connect through SVEEP and facilitation for various categories of voters for electoral participation.
    • The Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation Program (SVEEP) is the Election Commission of India’s flagship program for voter awareness, voter education, and voter literacy in India.

2. Science behind jets of plasma occurring all over Sun’s chromosphere unravelled

Context: Scientists have unravelled the science behind the jets of plasma.

Plasma 

• Plasma is the fourth state of matter consisting of electrically charged particles that occur just about everywhere in the sun’s chromosphere. 
• It is an ionized gas consisting of approximately equal numbers of positively and negatively charged particles.

Plasma jets

• Plasma Jets appear as thin grass-like plasma structures that constantly shoot up from the surface and are then brought down by gravity.
• The amount of energy and momentum that these spicules can carry is of fundamental interest in solar and plasma astrophysics. 
• The processes by which plasma is supplied to the solar wind, and the solar atmosphere is heated to a million degrees Celsius, still remain a puzzle.

Solar plasma 

• Solar plasma can be imagined as threaded by magnetic field lines, much like the long chains in polymer solutions. 
• This makes both the systems anisotropic, with properties varying with the direction in space.

3. Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women – SAMARTH

Context: Union Minister for MSME launched a Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women – “SAMARTH”.

 Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women – “SAMARTH”:

• A Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women -“SAMARTH” is being implemented by the Ministry of MSME.
• It aims to provide women with an opportunity to be self-reliant and independent by undertaking self-employment opportunities.
• The Ministry of MSME envisions greater participation of women in the MSME sector and therefore will work hard to promote entrepreneurship. 
• Under the Samarth initiative of the Ministry, the following benefits will be available to aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs:
  • 20% Seats in free Skill Development Programs organized under skill development schemes of the Ministry will be allocated for Women. More than 7500 women will be benefited.
  • 20% of MSME Business Delegations sent to domestic & international exhibitions under the schemes for Marketing Assistance implemented by the Ministry will be dedicated to women-owned MSMEs.
  • 20% Discount on annual processing fee on NSIC’s Commercial Schemes.
  • Special Drive for registration of women-owned MSMEs under Udyam Registration.

4. Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY)

Context: The Government has approved the continuation of the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) for the Financial Years 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY)

• Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) is a monthly Samman Pension to freedom fighters.
• It is launched as a token of respect for their contribution in the national freedom struggle and on their demise, to their eligible dependents viz. spouses and thereafter, unmarried and unemployed daughters and dependent parents, as prescribed by eligibility norms and procedure.
• It is a Central Scheme for the grant of pension to freedom fighters and their eligible dependents (where freedom fighters have already passed away).

5. EXERCISE SLINEX

Context: The Ninth Edition of EXERCISE SLINEX is scheduled at Visakhapatnam.

EXERCISE SLINEX: 

• Exercise Slinex is India – Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise.
• SLINEX stands for Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise.
• It aims to enhance interoperability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies. 
• SLINEX is in consonance with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’.

6. PLI Scheme for White Goods (ACs and LED Lights)

Context: The Union Cabinet had given approval for the PLI Scheme for White Goods for the manufacture of components and sub-assemblies of Air Conditioners (ACs) and LED Lights.

PLI Scheme for White Goods (ACs and LED Lights)

The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods (PLIWG) shall provide financial incentives to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in the White Goods manufacturing value chain. 

Objectives: 

• Removing sectoral disabilities, 
• Creating economies of scale, 
• Enhancing exports, 
• Creating a robust component ecosystem and employment generation. 

Know more about the PLI Scheme for White Goods in the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

March 7th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here