03 May 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Centre De-recognises Two Postal Unions
2. Indian Defence Minister’s Visit to Maldives
3. International Year of Millets, 2023
4. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)
5. Metavalent Chemical Bonding

1. Centre De-recognises Two Postal Unions

Syllabus: GS2, Government Policies and Interventions.

Prelims – Centre De-recognises Two Postal Unions – AIPEU and NFPE

Context – Centre de-recognises two Postal Unions – AIPEU & NFPE due to irregular funding and violation of multiple provisions. 

Details –

• The centre has de-recognised the All India Postal Employees Union (AIPEU) and the National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE). The Union Ministry of Communications took the decision based on Centre Civil Services (Recognition of Service Association) Rules, 1993.
• Central Civil Services (Recognition of Service Association) Rules – CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993 provide for recognition of the Service Associations. It is incumbent upon all the recognised associations to comply with all the provisions of the CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993. A complaint was received regarding the alleged violation of these rules by the two associations – AIPEU & NFPE.
• The enquiry report identified various irregularities in fund utilisation by the unions which were violative of provisions of the Central Civil Services (RSA) Rules, 1993. Violation of multiple provisions under these rules amounted to non-compliance with the objective of service associations with respect to the following aspects-
  • Promoting the common service interest of its members [Rule 5(b)].
  • Utilising funds for purposes other than the furtherance of objects of service association [Rule 5 (h)].
  • No political funding or propagation of political views of any party or its member [Rule 6 (c)]

2. Indian Defence Minister’s Visit to Maldives

Syllabus: GS2, India and its neighbourhood – relations.

Prelims – India – Maldives Relations.

Context – The Defence Minister’s three-day visit to the Maldives to strengthen the partnership between India and the Maldives.

Details –

• The Indian Defence Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh visited Maldives at the invitation of his Maldivian Counterpart Defence Minister Ms Mariya Didi. A wide range of regional and global security issues of mutual concern were discussed during the meeting and both leaders agreed to deepen their cooperation in the defence and security domains.
• The Defence Minister also met with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohmed Solih and discussed the progress of various developmental projects undertaken by India in Maldives. 
• Shri Rajnath Singh handed over a Fast Patrol Vessel and a Landing Craft Assault ship to the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF).  The Fast Patrol Vessel, capable of coastal and offshore surveillance at high speeds, was commissioned as the MNDF Coast Guard ship Huravee.
• The handing over of the two ‘Made in India’ platforms is a symbol of the shared commitment of both nations and their objectives towards peace and security in the IOR (Indian Ocean Region).
• The visit saw the laying of the foundation stone for the MNDF Coast Guard ‘Ekatha Harbour’ by Shri Rajnath Singh and Minister Didi. The development of the Coastguard Harbour and repair facility at Sifavaru is one of the biggest grant-in-aid projects by India. 
• Both the ministers agreed to explore new avenues for cooperation, including in the areas of defence trade, capacity building and joint exercises. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the relationship between them.

Also read – India – Maldives Relations.

3. International Year of Millets, 2023

Syllabus: GS3, Marketing of Agricultural Produce, Food Security.

Prelims – International Year of Millets (Shree Anna), 2023

Context – The Ministry of Home Affairs takes a momentous decision to introduce 30% of millets in the meals of CAPFs and NDRF. 

Details –

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has taken a momentous decision to introduce 30% of millets in the meals of personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and the NDRF ( National Disaster Response Force). The decision has been taken after a detailed discussion with all the forces.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked all the forces to take action for the introduction of the Shree Anna-based menu.  Millets will also be extensively used in various functions and events of CAPFs and NDRF.
• Millets are healthy, environment friendly and also beneficial for farmers. They are gluten-free with a low glycemic index. The micronutrients present in the millets include – iron, phosphorus, calcium, etc.
• Millets can grow on arid lands with minimal inputs and are resilient to changes in climate. They are therefore an ideal solution for countries to increase self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on imported cereal grains. 

About International Year of Millets, 2023 (IYM, 2023)

• The United Nations General Assembly at its 75th session in March 2021 declared 2023 the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). FAO is the lead agency for celebrating the Year in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders. 
• The year will promote the sustainable production of millets, while highlighting their potential to provide new sustainable market opportunities for producers and consumers.

4. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)

Syllabus: GS3, Growth & Development.

Prelims – Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)

Context – Rail Vikas Nigam Limited receives the status of  Navratna.

Details –

• The Department of Public Enterprises granted the status of Navratna to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). In India, Navratna companies are those state-controlled firms that can receive investments up to a value of Rs 1,000 crore. With RVNL, India now has 15 Navratnas. It includes companies like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bharat Electronic Ltd and Oil India Ltd.
• Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) is an Indian Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) which works as the construction arm of the Ministry of Railways for project implementation and transportation infrastructure development.
• RVNL was incorporated as PSU on 24th January 2003 and the company began its operations in 2005. The company was granted Mini-Ratna status in September 2023.
• RVNL has been assigned the following functions –
  • Undertaking project development and execution of works covering the full project life cycle.
  • Creating Project specific SPVs for individual works, if required.
  • On completion of a Railway project by RVNL, the concerned Zonal Railway will undertake its operation and maintenance.
• The grant of Navratna status to RVNL leads to an enhanced delegation of powers, more operational freedom and financial autonomy which will give huge impetus to RVNL’s progress.

Also read – List of Navratna Companies in India.

5. Metavalent Chemical Bonding

Syllabus: GS3, Science & Tech, Developing New Technology.

Prelims – Metavalent Chemical Bonding – a new type of chemical bonding in solids. 

Context – Metavalent Chemical Bonding can be used to tailor the thermoelectric performance in quantum materials.

Details –

• Metavalent bonding, a new type of chemical bonding in solids, can be used to tailor the thermoelectric performance in quantum materials and efficiently convert waste heat to electricity, which could show a new direction for the country’s newly launched Quantum Mission. 
  • Metavalent bonds are multicentric soft bonds with less than 2 electrons shared between the bonding atoms, defying the classical octet rule in chemistry.
• Producing electricity from waste heat holds an exciting prospect for green energy production. Finding high-performance thermoelectric materials for this purpose requires materials that can conduct electricity like a metal (good electrical conductivity), heat like a glass and have the Seebeck Coefficient like a semiconductor. 
• The researchers chose TlBiSe2 – a renowned topological insulator for investigation and confirmed that TlBiSe2 indeed demonstrated metavalent bonding. The compound showed a zT (thermal conductivity) of around 0.8, which is the highest reported to date amongst n-type thallium chalcogenides.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

May 3rd, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here