25 Mar 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Export Preparedness Index (EPI)
2. Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)
3. Status of Sagarmala Project
4. Animal Safety near railway tracks
5. Floating Solar Project
6. National Dolphin Day
7. Nano-Fertilisers

1. Export Preparedness Index (EPI)

Syllabus: GS III, Economy and issues related to growth and development

Prelims: Facts related to EPI

Context: The NITI Aayog in association with the Institute of Competitiveness, released the second edition of Export Preparedness Index 2021.

What is EPI?

• It refers to the report that offers a comprehensive analysis of India’s progress in terms of exports.
• This index can be used by the states and the union territories to assess their performance along with a healthy environment for competition among them.
• The development of better policy mechanisms for export-led growth at the sub-national level is facilitated by the Export Preparedness Index.
• It is an effort that is data-driven to identify the fundamental areas of significance for export promotion.

The ranking pattern:

• The EPI ranks are conferred to the states and union territories on 4 main pillars and they are:
• Policy
• Business ecosystem
• Export ecosystem
• Export performance

Important Elements of EPI 2021:

• The EPI 2021 determined that the coastal states are the best performers with Gujarat as the top-performing state.
• The Index highlighted the beneficial outcomes of export-oriented policies that have enhanced innovation leading to a significant flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Image source: niti.gov.in

What are the Challenges?

• Intra and Interregional differences in export infrastructure remain as an impediment to India’s export promotion and needs to be addressed.
• Existence of weak trade support and growth orientation across the states
• Lack of proper research and development infrastructure to set up complex and unique exports.

  Read more about EPI in CNA dated 27 Aug ’22.

2. Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP)

Syllabus: GS II, Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the centre and the state

Prelims: About SVEP

Mains: Policy measures adopted by the government to promote entrepreneurship among the rural population. 

Context: The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) under the supervision of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, signed an MoU with the Ministry of Rural Development to promote entrepreneurship at the local level empowering the rural youth. 

SVEP:

• It is a sub-scheme under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) with an aim to expand livelihood avenues for the rural population. 
• The MoU will be a major boost to SVEP and will act as a sustainable model for nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in rural areas. 
• The objective of empowering the rural youth will be accomplished through Information and Communication technology, capacity building, business advisory services and provisions of loans from banks, Self Help Group and federations. 
• The IIE will act as the National Resource Organisation (NRO) for SVEP and will also extend support to the State Rural Livelihoods Mission for the effective implementation of the scheme. 
• The NRO will also be responsible for scaling up the SVEP scheme in a holistic manner at the block levels through many entrepreneurship development programmes. 

Read more about SVEP in the linked article.

3. Status of Sagarmala Project

Syllabus: GS III, Infrastructure: Ports

Prelims: Sagarmala Project and related facts

Mains: Sagarmala project as an effective intervention for improving port connectivity. 

Context: Successful completion of seven years of the Sagarmala Project has been celebrated with an iconic event organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. 

Get a comprehensive understanding of the Sagarmala Project in the linked article.

4. Animal Safety near railway tracks

Syllabus: GS III, Conservation, Environmental degradation

Mains: Steps taken to tackle the safety of animals preventing human-wildlife conflict. 

Context: Numerous preventive measures have been taken up by the zonal railways to reduce animal fatalities on railway tracks. 

Steps taken: An Overview

• Cleaning of garbage and removal of wild vegetation along the track that would prevent the presence of animals near the tracks in search of food. 
• Construction of fencing walls at identified locations.
• Educating the village community about handling the cattle to prevent them from visiting the dangerous accident-prone areas. 
• Eliminating the practice of dumping food waste near the railway tracks through awareness programmes. 

Develop a detailed understanding of Human-Wildlife conflict by following the link.

5. Floating Solar Project

Syllabus: GS III, Infrastructure: Energy

Prelims: National Solar Mission

Mains: Estimating India’s progress in the adoption of clean and renewable energy

Context: The National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC) has commissioned an additional 42.5 MW of power generation capacity at Ramagundam floating solar project in Telangana. 

Floating Solar Power Plants:

• The floating solar power plant is an emerging field of solar energy which is accompanied by a photovoltaic set-up installed on the surface of a waterbody. 
• This concept has experienced considerable growth in many states of India like Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
• It is a new business opportunity to fulfil the demand of India’s renewable energy for energy efficiency, conservation and sustainability along with the creation of jobs in the clean energy sector. 

Image Source: nrdc.org

Explore the details of the National Solar Mission in the linked article.

6. National Dolphin Day

Syllabus: GS III, Conservation

Prelims: Salient Features of Gangetic River Dolphins, NBWL

Context: In order to spread awareness on dolphin conservation, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife has recommended the celebration of National Dolphin Day. 

Details:

• According to the recommendations of the 67th meeting of the Standing Committee of NBWL, every year, on the 5th of October, National Dolphin Day shall be celebrated. 
• Dolphins are potential ecological indicators of a healthy aquatic ecosystem and are required to be conserved for the sustenance of other aquatic species. 
• Conservation of Dolphins will result in the sustainable existence of livelihood for many individuals who depend on marine ecosystems. 

Facts about Dolphins:

• The Government of Uttar Pradesh in collaboration with WWF– India along with the National Mission for Clean Ganga started a campaign called ‘My Ganga, My Dolphin’ to promote awareness on Dolphin conservation by engaging the local communities and volunteers. 
• Uttar Pradesh is the only state that carried out the Dolphin census twice (in 2012 and 2015) to assess the status of the aquatic animal. 
• The first Dolphin Census was conducted in the riverine stretch of 2500 km covering rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Geruwa, Ghagra, Ken, Betwa, Surya and Rapti. Ghagra river recorded the maximum number of dolphins. No dolphins were found in Ken and Betwa rivers. 
• This census exercise delivered proper data and information on the dolphin population across the state of Uttar Pradesh. 
• The Dolphin census is usually carried out by techniques such as the Direct Count Method based on the IUCN survey protocol for studying freshwater cetaceans. 
• Gangetic and Indus dolphins are two different species of South Asian river dolphins with conservation status classified as ‘Endangered’. 

Read about the National Aquatic Animal of India in the link provided.

7. Nano-Fertilisers

Syllabus: GS III, Awareness in the field of nano-technology

Prelims: Relevant facts about Nano-fertilisers

Mains: Impact of Nano Urea on the betterment of crop productivity.

Context: Nano Urea has been notified as nano nitrogen fertiliser in the Fertiliser Control Order of 1985 by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. 

An Overview:

• After a precise assessment of All India Farmers field trials on several crops carried out by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra of  ICAR, it was inferred that nano urea enhances crop productivity. 
• The National Fertilisers Limited (NFL) and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited are two central public sector undertakings that have signed an MoU with Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) to transfer technology in order to set up nano urea plants. 
• Guidelines have been issued by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare for the development of entrepreneurs for drone spraying of liquid fertilisers along with an initiative to promote nano urea through different modes of awareness. 

About Nano-Urea:

• It is the only nano fertiliser approved by the Government of India and included in the Fertiliser Control Order. Also read about Fertiliser Policy in India in the linked article.
• It was developed and patented by IFFCO.
• Nano Urea can easily enter through the stomata of leaves and other openings to undergo assimilation by the plant cells. 
• As a result of the physiological processes in plants, the extra unused nitrogen is stored in the vacuoles and slowly released for the growth and development of the plant. 
• It has been estimated that a small size of nano urea particles (with 20-50 nanometre particle size) can increase crop productivity by more than 80%.  
• Nano Urea is environment friendly and is suitable for all soils and crops. 
• It effectively meets the crop nitrogen demands increasing leaf photosynthesis and root biomass. 
• This can have the potential of increasing the income of the farmers by bettering productivity and reducing the use of conventional urea by 50% or more. 
• Farmers can store it in a bottle at ease. 
• It helps in the conservation of soil and improves water and air quality. 
• It is non–toxic and safe for the users.

  To read more about Nano Urea, follow the link. 

Read previous PIB here.

March 25th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here