10 May 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. India - Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI)
2. India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT)
3. Defence Production Department Waived off QA Charges
4. Deep Ocean Mission
5. SAKSHAM (Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management)
6. iDrone Initiative: Trial Run of Blood Bag Delivery
7. Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G), Phase II

1. India – Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI)

Syllabus – GS2, Bilateral agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Prelims – 6th India – Canada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI)

Context – India and Canada held the 6th MDTI in Ottawa, Canada.

Details –

• The two nations held their sixth Ministerial Dialogue on Trade & Investment (MDTI) in Ottawa, co-chaired by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Canada’s Minister of International Trade Mary Ng. The MDTI can play an important role to promote bilateral trade and investment ties and to strengthen economic cooperation between the two nations. 
• The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the rule-based, non-discriminatory, transparent, open and inclusive multilateral trading system embodied by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
• Despite the global challenges (Pandemic and Russia-Ukraine Conflict), India- Canada bilateral trade in goods reached about C$ 12 billion in 2022, a significant increase from the previous year and the bilateral services trade stood at C$ 8.9 billion in 2022. Both countries made improvements to facilitate growth and attract investment.
• Recognising the need for a comprehensive trade agreement to boost trade and investment flows, in 2022 India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was relaunched for negotiations. In order to achieve that goal, negotiations for an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), as a transitional step towards the CEPA, have been underway, and several rounds of discussions have already taken place.
• The two countries also agreed to explore enhanced cooperation through measures like coordinated investment promotion, information exchange and mutual support between the two parties in the near future. This cooperation will be finalised by way of the MoU, expectantly in 2023.
• In accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP, 2020), India invited the top universities of Canada to set up their campuses in India.
• Both countries recognised the need to strengthen cooperation across sectors in order to harness the full potential of the trade and investment opportunities between India and Canada. 

Also read – India-Canada Relations.

2. India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT)

Syllabus – GS3, Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate. 

Prelims – 35th edition of Indo-Thai CORPAT.

Context – The 35th edition of Indo-Thai CORPAT was conducted along the IMBL, in the Andaman Sea.

Details –

• The 35th edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol was conducted between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy (3 – 10 May) along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Andaman Sea.
• Indo-Thai CORPAT is a bi-annual maritime exercise conducted since 2005 along the IMBL.
• In its 35th edition, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari, an indigenously built LST (L) and His Thai Majesty Ship (HTMS) Saiburi, a Chao Phraya Class Frigate, along with the Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both the navies participated in the CORPAT.
• The exercise builds up understanding and interoperability between the two navies and facilitates instituting measures to prevent unlawful activities like Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, piracy, etc.
• As a part of India’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), the Indian Navy has been actively engaging with the countries in the IOR (Indian Ocean Region) towards enhancing regional maritime security.

3. Defence Production Department Waived off QA Charges

Syllabus – GS2, Government policies and interventions.

Prelims – Waiving off QA charges for defence equipment.

Context – The Department of Defence Production has waived off Quality Assurance (QA) charges on various equipment produced by defence manufacturers for exports.

Details –

• In a significant move to promote reforms and bring ease of doing business, the Department of defence production has waived off quality assurance (QA) charges levied by QA agencies under its administrative control for the stores meant for exports. 
• QA agencies levy the charges as per fixed rates and the industry adds up this charge to the cost of products. Now these charges no longer exist.
• This initiative will make the defence equipment cost competitive in the global market.

4. Deep Ocean Mission

Syllabus – GS3, Science & Technology: Scientific innovations and discoveries.

Prelims – Deep Ocean Mission

Context – The Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh chaired the first Steering Committee Meeting of the Deep Ocean Mission.

Details –

• The Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh chaired the first-ever high-level Steering Committee Meeting of Deep Ocean Mission – DOM.
  • The Mission Steering Committee (MSC) is the highest policy-making body constituted under the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).
  • It will provide broad policy direction to the mission and exercise the main programme and governance for the deep ocean sector.
• The Deep Ocean Mission is a multidisciplinary programme which aims to explore the deep sea living and nonliving sources of the Indian Ocean and will help in India’s efforts to achieve ‘Blue Economy’ status. The blue economy is going to play a critical part in building India’s economy in the years to come.
• The technologies developed under the Deep Ocean Mission would help in harnessing non-living resources like energy, strategic minerals, etc. The exploration of strategic minerals like cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese is expected to pave the way for future exploitation of these resources. Eleven potential sites for Hydrogen Sulphides have been mapped and detailed surveys in this region are planned for the end of 2024 using Remotely Operated Vehicles.

5. SAKSHAM (Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management)

Syllabus – GS2, Health: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Prelims – SAKSHAM-LMIS.

Context – The Union Health Ministry launched SAKSHAM, a Learning Management Information System (LMIS).

Details –

• The Union Health Ministry launched SAKSHAM, Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management, LMIS.
• SAKSHAM is a digital platform developed by the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW). The platform has been developed to provide online training and medical education to all health professionals in the country.
• SAKSHAM is a digital learning platform to ensure the inclusion capacity building of health professionals from primary health care centres to tertiary care and corporate hospitals in metropolitan cities.
• At present, SAKSHAM, LMIS is hosting more than 200 public health and 100 clinical courses via an online mode. Health professionals can register themselves for these courses and get certification after undergoing the training.

6. iDrone Initiative: Trial Run of Blood Bag Delivery

Syllabus – GS3, Achievements of Indians in science & technology: Developing new technology.

Prelims – iDrone Initiative.

Context – The trial run of blood bag delivery was successfully conducted under iDrone initiative.

Details –

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Union Health Ministry successfully conducted a trial run of blood bag delivery by drones under iDrone initiative.
• The inaugural trial flight carried 10 units of whole blood samples from GIMS (Government Institute of Medical Sciences), Greater Noida and LHMC (Lady Hardinge Medical College), New Delhi.
• LHMC and GIMS are included as centres for supplying blood bags and testing the samples, while JIIT (Jaypee Institute of Information Technology) is acting as the implementation centre for drone sorties. The protocol development, study designing, implementation, and coordination of the project are being undertaken by scientists from ICMR headquarters.
• With the relaxation of Drone rules-2022, the government has provided a ground for innovative uses of drones in various sectors like agriculture, health care, disaster relief and defence.
• i-Drone was first used during the pandemic by ICMR for distributing vaccines to unreachable regions of the country. ICMR has been a pioneer in using drones for healthcare purposes. The boost of technology is an accelerator which is gradually pushing India towards achieving the goal of being a developed nation by 2047.

7. Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G), Phase II

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

Prelims – SBM-G, Phase II.

Context – Half of the villages in the country are now ODF (Open Defecation Free) Plus under SBM-G, Phase II.

Details –

• In yet another significant milestone for India, 50% of villages have achieved ODF Plus status under SBM-G II. This year marks nine years of SBM (Swachh Bharat Mission).
• An ODF Plus village is one which has sustained its ODF status and also implemented either solid waste management or liquid waste management systems. At present, more than 2.96 lakh villages have declared themselves ODF Plus which is important in achieving the goals of SBM-G Phase II by 2024-25.
• In terms of the total percentage, the top-performing big states are –
  • Telangana (100%)
  • Karnataka (99.5%)
  • Tamil Nadu (97.8%)
  • Uttar Pradesh (95.2%)
• In terms of the total percentage, the top-performing small states are –
  • Goa (95.3%)
  • Sikkim (69.2%)
• Top performing UTs are Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, and Lakshadweep which have 100% ODF Plus Model villages. ODF Plus Model village is one which has sustained its ODF status and has arrangements for both solid and liquid waste management, observes visual cleanliness and displays ODF Plus Information, Education and Communication (IEC) messages.
• Major components of the SBM -G, Phase II are –
  • Sustaining Open Defecation Free Status (ODF-S), 
  • Solid (Biodegradable) Waste Management, 
  • Plastic Waste Management (PWM), 
  • Liquid Waste Management (LWM), 
  • Faecal Sludge Management (FSM), 
  • GOBARdhan, 
  • Information Education and Communication/Behavior Change Communication (IEC/BCC) and Capacity Building. 

Also read – Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Read the previous PIB articles here.

May 10th, 2023, PIB:- Download PDF Here