11 Oct 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Indian Space Association
2. International Day of the Girl Child
3. Vision Plan (2021-2031) for Indian Zoos

1. Indian Space Association

Context:

Indian Space Association (ISpA) launched.

About Indian Space Association:

• The Indian Space Association is an industry body representing the various stakeholders in the Indian space domain with members comprising the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Bharti Airtel, OneWeb, Tata Group’s Nelco, L&T, MapMyIndia among others.
• Founder members are: ISRO, Larson & Toubro, Bharti Airtel, Nelco (Tata Group), OneWeb, Walchandnagar Industries, Ananth Technology Limited and Mapmyindia.
• This comes in the backdrop of the government opening up the space sector for private sector participation, and cleared the creation of a new entity, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), to encourage private companies to use India’s space infrastructure.
• According to the PM, India’s approach to space reforms is based on four pillars:
  • Freedom to private sector in innovation
  • Role of government as an enabler
  • Making the youth future-ready
  • Seeing the space sector as a resource for the progress of common man
• The Indian Space Association will be headed by retired Lieutenant General AK Bhatt, who will be its Director General.
• The ISpA will undertake policy advocacy and engage with all stakeholders in the Indian space domain. It will also engage with the government and all its agencies.
• It is expected to make India technologically advanced, self-reliant and a leading player in the space sector.
• ISpA represents companies with advanced capabilities in space and satellite technologies that are charting the future of last-mile connectivity.
• It is represented by leading homegrown and global corporations with advanced space and satellite technology capabilities.
• Its tagline is “Bhumandal Se Brahmaand Tak”, meaning from “Earth to the Universe”.

2. International Day of the Girl Child

Context:

International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually on October 11.

About International Day of the Girl Child:

• Declared by the United Nations, it was first observed in 2012. The day is dedicated to raising awareness on gender equality while assuring rights and improving opportunities for girls.
• The theme this year is “Digital generation. Our generation.”

3. Vision Plan (2021-2031) for Indian Zoos

Context:

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the Vision Plan (2021-2031) for Indian Zoos.

About the Vision Plan:

• The vision plan is aimed at upgrading Indian zoos and strengthening the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
• The vision document is committed to making CZA and Indian zoos a greater force for conservation by providing unparalleled animal care, cutting edge research, and immersive visitor experiences that strike meaningful chords with people of all ages.
• The exhaustive 10 years’ vision plan has been arrived at after a very stringent data mining and stakeholder consultive process and is expected to give a direction towards ex-situ conservation approaches in India.

About Central Zoo Authority:

• The Central Zoo Authority is the statutory regulatory body for zoos in India.
• It was established in 1992.
• The main objective of the Authority is to complement and strengthen the national effort in conservation of the rich biodiversity of the country, particularly the fauna as per the National Zoo Policy, 1998.
• It also enforces minimum standards and norms for the upkeep and healthcare of animals in Indian zoos.
• Every zoo in the country is required to obtain recognition from CZA for its operation.
• It can also de-recognise zoos.

Read previous PIB here.

October 11th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here