30 Mar 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban (SBM-U)
2. Aatmanirbharta in Defence
3. Chintan Shivir for Promoting ‘Tourism in Mission Mode’

1. Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U)

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

Prelims – SBM – U, International Zero Waste Day, 2023

Context – Swachhotsav 2023 – 1000 cities are targeted to become 3-star garbage-free by October 2024.

Details –

• On the occasion of International Zero Waste Day 2023, the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep S Puri highlighted the progress in the Garbage Free City (GFC) – star rating protocol which was launched in 2018 to promote competitive, mission mode spirit among Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). The minister said that 1000 cities are targeted to become garbage free by October 2023.
• Achievements of the SBM-U:

• • Urban India has become ODF (Open Defecation Free) with all 4,715 ULBs completely ODF.
  • 3,547 ULBs are ODF+ with functional and hygienic community and public toilets.
  • 1,191 ULBs are ODF++ with complete faecal sludge management.
  • Waste processing in India has increased four times from 17% in 2014 to 75% at present.

• SBM-U 2.0 – The vision of the mission is to create “Garbage Free Cities” (GFC) and place India on a new trajectory of growth towards an ecosystem of holistic sanitation and waste management.
• The government is also promoting the zero-waste approach that entails responsible production, consumption and disposal of products in a closed, circular system.

First International Zero Waste day, 2023

• On 14 December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution at its seventy-seventh session to proclaim 30 March as the International Day of Zero Waste, to be observed annually. 
• The day aims to encourage people to prevent and minimise waste and promote a societal shift towards a circular economy.
• The UN proclaimed the day in response to the worsening impacts of waste on human health, the economy and the environment.
• The day calls upon all stakeholders — including governments, civil society, businesses, academia, communities, women and youth — to engage in activities that raise awareness of zero-waste initiatives.

Also read – Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

2. Atmanirbharata in Defence

Syllabus – GS3, Science and Technology;  Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

Prelims – Akash Weapon System (AWS), Weapon Locating Radars (WLR), BrahMos Missiles

Context – The Ministry of Defence signed several contracts to boost Aatmanirbharata in Defence and to significantly enhance the capabilities of the defence sector.

Details –

• In order to boost Aatmanirbharat in Defence, the Ministry of Defence signed contracts for the acquisition of an improved Akash Weapon System (AWS) and 12 Weapon Locating Radars- WLR Swathi (Plains) for the Indian Army at a cost of over Rs 9,100 cr.

• • AWS is a Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System indigenously designed and developed by DRDO. The project has an overall indigenous content of 82% and is likely to increase to 93% by 2026-27.
  • WLR (Weapon Locating Radars) is indigenously designed and is capable of locating guns and rockets thereby facilitating their destruction through counter-bombardment by own firepower resources. The contract has been signed with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) at an overall cost of Rs 990 cr.

• The Ministry of Defence also signed a contract with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) for the acquisition of Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries, Long Range (NGMMCB, LR) and BrahMos Missiles at an approximate cost of Rs 1,700 cr under Buy (Indian) category. It will significantly enhance multi-directional maritime strike capability of the Indian Navy.

• • BAPL is a joint venture between India and Russia.

• The Ministry of Defence also signed contracts with Indian shipyards for the acquisition of 11 Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels and six Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMV) at an overall cost of approx. Rs 19,600 crore, for the Indian Navy.

3. Chintan Shivir for Promoting ‘Tourism in Mission Mode’

Syllabus – GS3, Economy: Growth & Development

Prelims – Tourism – Rural, MICE, Ecotourism; GTIS

Context – The Ministry of Tourism organised a two-day Chintan Shivir for promoting tourism.

Details –

• The Ministry of Tourism organised a two-day (29-30 March 2023) Chintan Shivir “Tourism in Mission Mode: Convergence and Public Private Partnership”. It included discussions on a wide range of challenges and opportunities for the development of the tourism sector with the active participation of States, Industry Associations and Industry Leaders.
• The agenda for discussions on the first day was set by Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER, G. Kishan Reddy. He outlined the vision of the Government to leverage tourism as a vehicle for socio-economic development, job creation and achieving sustainable development goals for the country.
• The three key pillars of developing tourism in mission mode are active participation of the States, Convergence of Government Programs and Public-Private Partnerships. 
• The Ministry of Tourism has formulated national strategies for the development of various tourism sectors such as Rural Tourism, Adventure Tourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and exhibitions) Tourism, Ecotourism, Medical Tourism, and Sustainable Tourism.
•  The first Global Tourism Investors Summit (GTIS), under India’s G20 Presidency will be held in New Delhi from the 17th to the 19th of May 2023. It will serve as a platform to enable interaction between domestic and international business leaders and explore investment opportunities in the Indian tourism and hospitality sector. 

Read the previous PIB articles here.

March 30th, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here