TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. SCO: Promoting Traditional Medicine 2. Cooperative Societies 3. Atmanirbharata in Defence 4. SAREX , 2023 5. AFINDEX, 23 6. New India Literacy Programme (NILP) 7. Second G20 Sherpas Meeting, Kerala 8. Welfare Schemes for Minorities- PMVIKAS
1. SCO: Promoting Traditional Medicine
Syllabus – GS2, Health; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health
Prelims – India’s Presidency of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Context – 25 SCO countries come together to promote traditional medicine.
Details –
- Under India’s presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the B2B Conference and Expo along with National Arogya Summit held in Guwahati has brought together 25 SCO countries to promote traditional medicine. The promotion of traditional medicine can contribute to economic development, and environmental protection and will also help in achieving the goal of health security among SCO nations.
- In 2017 India attained full member status and assumed the Presidency of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the year 2023 in September 2022. India took the initiative for a new SCO expert working group on traditional medicine.
- Accordingly, the Ministry of AYUSH has taken several measures to promote traditional medicine-organised virtual conference of experts and practitioners of traditional medicine, conducted the first Expert Working Group (EWG) on traditional medicine wherein Draft Regulations of the EWG on traditional medicine were approved at an expert level and will be further subjected to other respective country administrative procedures and finally to be adopted at the Head of the States Summit.
- The B2B conference was organised in line with the theme “SECURE” SCO, where ‘S’ stands for Security for Citizens, ‘E’ for Economic Development, ‘C’ for Connectivity, ‘U’ for Unity, ‘R’ for Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Unity and ‘E’ for Environment Protection.
- A total of 214 participants attended the B2B conference, out of which 83 were international delegates from 16 SCO countries and 131 were Indian delegates.
Syllabus – GS3, Growth & Development
Prelims – Cooperative Societies
Context – Creation of ‘National Cooperative Database’ and tax benefits to cooperatives.
Details –
- A process has been initiated by the Ministry of Cooperation for creating a ‘National Cooperative Database’ with the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI). The database will provide single-point access to information on cooperatives of different sectors.
- The database will be completed in a phased manner. Under phase 1, the mapping of about 2.63 lakh primary cooperative societies operating in three sectors – Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Dairy and fisheries has been completed.
- The database is expected to be extended to other cooperative societies by July 2023.
- The database will help in planning, formulating and implementing appropriate policies for cooperatives.
- Tax benefits to cooperatives – During the financial year 2023-24 following tax benefits will be provided for the cooperatives –
- A new cooperative society is allowed to pay tax at a concessional rate of 15% which would benefit new cooperatives engaged in manufacturing and production activities.
- For sugar co-operatives, for years prior to the assessment year 2016-17, if any deduction claimed for expenditure made on the purchase of sugarcane has been disallowed, the same shall be recomputed after allowing such deduction up to the price fixed or approved by the Government for such previous years.
- A higher limit of Rs. 2 lakh per member for cash deposits to and loans in cash by Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Primary Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Banks (PCARDBs) has been provided.
- A higher limit of Rs. 3 Crore for TDS on cash withdrawal has been provided to cooperative societies.
Also read – Co-operative Societies.
Syllabus – GS3, Science and Technology; Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Prelims – Project Akashteer, Sarang ESM and GSAT 7B
Context – The Ministry of Defence signed contracts with BEL and NSIL to boost the defence capabilities of the country.
Details –
- The Ministry of Defence signed three contracts, two with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and one with NSIL (New Space India Limited) to boost the defence capabilities of the country.
- The first contract with BEL is for the procurement of an Automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System – ‘Project Akashteer’ (Rs 1982 cr) for the Indian Army.
- The Automated Air Defence Control & Reporting System – Akashteer will enable monitoring of low-level airspace over the battle areas of the Indian Army and effectively control the Ground Based Air Defence Weapon Systems.
- The second contract with BEL pertains to the procurement of Sarang Electronic Support Measure (ESM) systems along with the associated Engineering Support Package from BEL for the Indian Navy at a cost of about Rs 412 cr.
- The contract with NSIL relates to the acquisition of an advanced Communication Satellite, GSAT 7B for the Indian Army at a cost of Rs2963 cr.
- The geostationary satellite, the first of its kind in the 5-tonne category, will be indigenously developed by Indian Space Research Organisation.
- All three contracts are under the Buy {Indian – IDMM(Indigenously designed, developed and manufactured)} category.
4. SAREX , 2023
Syllabus -GS3, Security; Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
Prelims – SAREX, 2023
Context – Indian Coast Guard conducted Search and Rescue Operations in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
Details –
- The exercise aimed to simulate a real-time maritime distress scenario and highlight the functioning of the Search and Rescue (SAR) organisation for a mass rescue operation. The exercise involved all stakeholders with the effective use of available resources towards M-SAR (Maritime Search and Rescue) contingency efficiently.
- The sea area off Kakinada was chosen as the venue for the exercise considering the large-scale exploration and production activities in the Krishna Godavari basin which makes the area potential for emergencies necessitating large-scale SAR response.
5. AFINDEX, 23
Syllabus -GS3, Security; Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
Prelims – AFINDEX, 2023
Context – The second edition of the joint military exercise between African countries and India concluded at the Foreign Training node, Pune (16-29 March 2023).
Details –
- In AFINDEX, Africa-India Field Training Exercise, a total of 25 nations of the African Continent with 124 participants and Indian troops from the Sikh, Maratha and Mahar regiments participated in the multinational exercise.
- The aim of the exercise is to build strong relations between the countries, imbibe each other’s best practices and promote the ability to operate together while undertaking the execution of Humanitarian Mine Action and Peace Keeping Operations under the UN mandate.
6. New India Literacy Programme (NILP)
Syllabus – GS2, Education; Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education
Prelims – New India Literacy Programme (NLIP)
Context– NLIP is being implemented for five years, from 2022-23 to 2026-27.
Details –
- New India Literacy Programme (NILP) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for implementation during five years ( 2022-23 to 2026-27).
- The budgetary outlay for the scheme is Rs 1037.90 Cr- Rs 700 cr is the central share and Rs 337.90 is the state share.
- The target is to cover 5.0 crore illiterates in the age group of 15 years and above. The scheme is being implemented mostly through online mode.
- It has five components –
- Foundational literacy and numeracy.
- Critical life skills.
- Vocational skills development.
- Basic education and
- Continuing education.
Read more about the scheme in the link – New India Literacy Programme.
7. Second G20 Sherpas Meeting, Kerala
Syllabus -GS2, International Relations; Regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Prelims – India’s G20 Presidency
Context – Second G20 Sherpas Meeting to be held in Kumarakom, Kerala.
Details –
- Under India’s G20 presidency, the second G20 Sherpas Meeting will take place in Kumarakom, Kerala (March 30 – April 2). It will be chaired by India’s G20 Sherpa, Shri Amitabh Kant.
- The second Sherpa Meeting will work on issues of global concern and will encompass the work being done under the 13 Working Groups within the Sherpa Track.
- The deliberations of the Sherpa Meetings will take forward the outcomes of various Sherpa Track and Finance Track Meetings and will form the basis of the Leaders’ Declaration, slated to be adopted at the New Delhi Summit in September 2023.
- Over 120 delegates from G20 countries, 9 invitee countries and regional and multinational organisations will hold discussions on G20’s economic and developmental priorities and will also address global challenges.
- The meeting will start with two high-level side-events on-
- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
- Green Development.
8. Welfare Schemes for Minorities- PMVIKAS
Syllabus – GS2, Social Justice; Welfare Schemes for vulnerable sections of society
Prelims -PMVIKAS
Context– Minority Schemes – Pradhan Mantri Virasat ka Samvardhan (PMVIKAS)
Details –
- The GoI implements various schemes for the upliftment of economically weaker and less privileged sections of society. The Ministry of Minority Affairs specifically implements a number of schemes for the empowerment of the six centrally notified minority communities.
- Educational Empowerment Schemes.
- Employment and Economic Empowerment Schemes like PMVIKAS ( Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan).
- PMVIKAS aims to improve the livelihoods of minorities, particularly the artisan communities, using the components of skill development, education, women leadership & entrepreneurship.
- It is an integrated scheme which converges five erstwhile schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs-Seekho aurkamao, Nai Roshni, Nai Manzil, Hamari Dharohar and USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills & Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development).
- Special schemes like Jiyo Parsi, Qaumi Waqf Board Taraqqiati Scheme (QWBTS) and Shahari Waqf Sampatti Vikas Yojana (SWSVY).
- Infrastructure Development Schemes – Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK).
Also read – National Commission for Minorities (NCM).
Read the previous PIB articles here.
March 29th, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here
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