UPSC PIB Summary Analysis Oct08

Read the daily PIB update and stay up-to-date on current affairs for the UPSC exam

Countering Radicalization: Challenges before Modern Society

• The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, delivered a lecture on the theme of ‘Countering Radicalisation: Challenges in Modern Societies’ at the University of Tajikistan in Dushanbe.
• He had chosen to speak on the subject for two reasons:

1. Tajikistan has done commendable work to tackle this global menace, and the world must recognise its efforts and success.
2. The battle against terrorism, extremism and radicalism must be fought, primarily, in the minds of people – between those who believe in peace and humanity and those who feed on death and destruction. It is a battle of opposing ideas.

• He also mentioned terrorism does not believe in borders. India, like Tajikistan, is taking on terrorism and extremism. We too face the problem of radicalisation but our inclusive society, where socio-economic partnerships and participatory politics provide everybody with an inherent sense of belonging, has been our most effective bulwark. Plural and democratic India is a land of equal opportunity and equal respect for all and a growing economy lifts one and lifts all.

India and Tajikistan announce nine agreements

1. An agreement on cooperation in the field of disaster management.
2. An agreement between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Tajik Academy of Agriculture Sciences.
3. An agreement on peaceful use of space technology for developmental purposes.
4. An agreement between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, and the Committee of Youth, Sports and Tourism, Government of Tajikistan.
5. An agreement between the Centre Council for Research in Unani Medicine, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, and the Tajik State Medical University Abualibh Sino.
6. A programme of cooperation between the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Tajikistan, for the period 2018-21.
7. An agreement between the India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan for cooperation in renewable energy.
8. A cultural exchange programme between the Ministries of Culture of India and Tajikistan for the period 2019-23.
9. An agreement for academic and research exchanges between the Vivekananda International Foundation, India, and the Centre for Strategic Researches, Tajikistan.

Wildlife Week Celebrations conclude

• Minister of State of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, has said that our relationship with environment must be based on cooperation. 
• The persistence of children can really be utilized to further the objective of wildlife conservation he stated. He added that the number of each animal species is dictated by nature and pointed out that it is the human beings who have invaded the forests that are home to wildlife. 
• He emphasized that though India has only 2.5 per cent of land of the world, it is home to about 18% of wildlife population and added that tiger, lion, rhinoceros and crocodile are surviving and thriving in the country. 
• The difference between in-situ conservation, wherein species are conserved wherever they originate and ex-situ conservation, where animal species are shifted out of the national park to a zoological park for their conservation was also discussed.
• A bio-methanation plant under an MoU between BARC and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change was also inaugurated. The capacity of the bio-methanation plant will be 3 Metric Tonnes (MT) per day. 

Background:

• Wildlife Week is celebrated every year from October 2.  The celebration of Wildlife Week started in the year 1952.

ESIC wins ‘ISSA GOOD Practice Award, Asia & the Pacific 2018’

• The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has won the ‘ISSA Good Practice Award’ for Administrative Solution for Coverage Extension at the “Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific” held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• The award recognizes the measures taken by ESIC for extension of coverage-SPREE (Scheme for Promoting Registration of Employers and Employees), reduced rate of contribution rates for 24 months in newly implemented areas and raising the wage limit for coverage under the ESI Act, etc.

About:

• The Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific is a triennial Forum, which is the most important social security event in the Region.  For the triennial Regional Forum, ISSA invites submissions for the ISSA Good Practices Award for Asia and the Pacific Regions.
• The Forum provides unique opportunities to CEOs and Managers of ISSA Member Institutions to discuss key social security challenges and share their experiences.

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