12 Oct 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Scheme PM-DevINE
2. India-Norway Joint Working Group on Science & Technology
3. Exercise IBSAMAR Ⅶ

1. Scheme PM-DevINE

Syllabus – GS 2, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors. 

Prelims – PM-DevINE scheme (Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North-East Region).

Context – A new scheme has been approved by the Union Cabinet – PM-DevINE.

Details –

• PM-DevINE was announced in the Union Budget 2022 – 23 to address developmental gaps in the North Eastern Region. 
• PM-DevINE is a centrally sponsored scheme with 100% central funding. The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) through the North Eastern Council (NEC) or Central Ministries/agencies. 
• The scheme will have an outlay of Rs. 6,600 cr for the remaining four years of the 15th Finance Commission from 2022-23 to 2025-26. 
• The scheme will help in the creation of infrastructure, support industries and social development projects. It will lead to employment generation for the youth.
• The objectives of PM-DevINE are to:
  • Fund infrastructure convergently, in the spirit of PM Gati Shakti
  • Support social development projects based on felt needs of the NER
  • Enable livelihood activities for youth and women and fill the development gaps in various sectors
• Efforts will be made to complete PM-DevINE projects by 2025-26 so that there are no liabilities beyond this year. This implies front loading of the sanctions under the scheme in 2022-23 & 2023-24.
• PM-DevINE reflects the importance given to the development of NER by the GoI. It will not be a substitute to the existing Central and State schemes but an addition to the quantum of resources available for the development of the North-Eastern Region. 
• The BMS (Basic Minimum Services) are below the national average in the NER and also there exists developmental gaps as per the North Eastern Region District SDG (sustainable Development Goals) Index (2021-22) by NITI Aayog, UNDP and MDoNER. The PM-DevINE scheme will address the BMS shortfall and developmental gaps in the region. 

2. India-Norway Joint Working Group on Science & Technology

Syllabus – GS 2, Bilateral agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.

Context – Intergovernmental agreement on S&T.

About Indo-Norwegian S&T Cooperation –

• An inter-governmental agreement was signed in Tromso Norway, in 2006 which was activated through the POC (Programme of Cooperation) signed in Oslo, in 2009.
• The activities under this cooperation included:
  • Support for joint workshops on ICT and Bioeconomy (2016-17)
  • A joint call on renewable energy was launched in 2017-18
  • A joint call on nanoscience and technology was launched in 2018-19

Details –

• Discussions were held to expand the areas of S&T cooperation between the two countries in areas like green hydrogen, ocean sciences, electric mobility, quantum science and technology, blue economy, information & communication technology, and also to strengthen the existing areas of cooperation – bio-economy, renewable energy, nanoscience and technology, polar sciences and antimicrobial resistance.

3. Exercise IBSAMAR Ⅶ

Syllabus – GS 2, global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.

Prelims – INS Tarkash, IBSAMAR Ⅶ

Context – Joint Multinational Maritime Exercise – IBSAMAR Ⅶ

Details – 

• INS Tarkash reached Port Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa to participate in the seventh edition of IBSAMAR.
• The Teg class guided missile frigate, a Chetak helicopter, INS Tarkash and the personnel from the Marine Commando Force (MARCOS) represents the Indian Navy. 
• The goal of the joint maritime exercise is to strengthen maritime security, promote joint operational training and enhance interoperability amongst the three naval forces to meet the challenge of common maritime threats.

About IBSAMAR-

• IBSAMAR is a joint multinational maritime exercise. The nations that participate in this trilateral maritime exercise are India, Brazil and South Africa.
• It was initiated in 2006.
• IBSAMAR Ⅵ ( previous edition) was held in October 2018. The sixth edition was held in South Africa’s Simons Town.
• IBSAMAR Ⅴ was conducted in Goa, India in February 2016.

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