18 Sep 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

September 18th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
2. PM-KISAN
3. e-NAM
4. Organic farming in India
5. One District One Product Concept
6. World Bamboo Day
7. Blue Flag Label
8. CAROTAR, 2020

1. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

Context:

Timely settlement of claims under PMFBY.

To know more about the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), click on the linked article.

2. PM-KISAN

Context:

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Yojana, the responsibility of identifying the landholder farmer family eligible for benefit under the Scheme and uploading the data of the eligible beneficiaries on the PM-KISAN Portal is that of the States/UT Administrations.

To know more about PM-KISAN, click on the linked article.

3. e-NAM

Context:

As of 2020, a total of 1.67 crore farmers, 1.44 lakh traders and 83,958 commission agents and 1722 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been registered on e-NAM platform.

To know all about the e-NAM, click on the linked article.

4. Organic farming in India

The schemes under which assistance is provided by the GOI for promoting organic farming in India are:

1. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): It is a traditional farming improvement programme launched in 2015. Know more in the linked article.
2. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER):
   1. The scheme promotes 3^rd party certified organic farming of niche crops of the northeast region through Farmers Producer organizations (FPOs) with a focus on exports.
   2. Farmers are given an assistance of Rs 25000/ha/3 years for organic inputs including organic manure and biofertilisers, etc.
   3. Support for the formation of FPOs, capacity building, post-harvest infrastructure up to Rs 2 crores are also provided in the scheme.
3. Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) under Soil Health Management Scheme:
   1. 100% assistance is provided to State Government/Government agencies for setting up of mechanized fruit/vegetable market waste/Agro waste compost production unit up to a maximum limit of Rs.190.00 Lakh/unit (3000 Total Per Annum TPA capacity).
   2. Similarly, for individuals/private agencies, assistance up to 33% of the cost limit to Rs 63 lakh/unit as capital investment is provided.
4. National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP): This scheme supports plantation, maintenance and intercropping with Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBOs) e.g. olive, neem, karanja, mahua, etc. Subsidised biofertilisers are provided under the scheme.
5. National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Under this scheme, financial help is given for biofertilisers, thereby boosting organic farming. To know what other components are there in this scheme, check PIB dated Nov 19, 2019.

Additional information

• As per International resource data from Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Statistics 2020, India stands at 9^th position in terms of certified agricultural land with 1.94 million ha (2018-19).
• China is in the third position with 3.14 million ha and the US is in the seventh position with 2.02 million ha of certified agricultural land.

5. One District One Product Concept

Context:

One District One Product Concept for Encouraging Domestic Manufacturing.

One District One Product (ODOP):

• The objective of the concept is to convert each district of the country into an export hub by:
  • Identifying products with export potential in the district
  • Addressing bottlenecks for exporting these products
  • Supporting local exporters, manufacturers to scale up manufacturing, and find potential buyers outside India.
• The aim is to promote exports, promote the manufacturing & services industry in the district and generate employment in the district.
• Towards this end, District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs) are being set up in each district.
  • These committees are likely to be headed by the DM/Collector/DC/District Development Officer of the District and co-chaired by the designated Regional Authority of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
  • The primary function of the DEPC will be to prepare and act on district-specific Export Action Plans in collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders from the Centre, State and the District levels.

6. World Bamboo Day

Context:

September 18 is observed annually as World Bamboo Day.

About World Bamboo Day:

• This day is celebrated to increase awareness of bamboo and its conservation throughout the globe.
• The celebration was initiated by the World Bamboo Organisation (WBO) in 2009.
  • The WBO was established in 1992 as the International Bamboo Association.
  • It is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium.
• The theme of the WBD 2020 is ‘BAMBOO NOW.’

7. Blue Flag Label

Context:

In a first, eight beaches of India recommended for the coveted “Blue Flag” International eco-label.

Details:

• The eight beaches are – Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman and Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri beaches in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden Beach in Odisha and Radhanagar beach in Andaman and Nicobar.
• The recommendations made by an independent national jury comprises of eminent environmentalists and scientists.

India’s Eco-Label BEAMS:

• India also launched its own eco-label BEAMS.
• “BEAMS” (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services) has been launched by the Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM, MoEFCC) under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZM).
• It is one of the several other projects of ICZM that the government is undertaking for the sustainable development of coastal regions striving for globally recognized and the coveted eco-label Blue Flag.
• The objective of BEAMS is to abate pollution in coastal waters, promote sustainable development of beach facilities, protect & conserve coastal ecosystems & natural resources, and seriously challenge local authorities & stakeholders to strive and maintain high standards of cleanliness, hygiene & safety for beachgoers in accordance with coastal environment & regulations.
• This program promotes beach recreation in absolute harmony with nature.

Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZM):

• The Environment Ministry launched the ICZM activities in India with a view to protect and conserve the coastal and marine ecosystems and the environment through holistic coastal management.
• The project promotes the sustainable development & management of coastal zones through its own wing SICOM.
• The concept of ICZM was introduced in 1992 during the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro and most of the coastal countries in the world have been adopting ICZM principles for managing their coastal zones.

International Coastal Cleanup Day:

• The International Coastal Cleanup began more than 30 years ago when communities rallied together with the common goal of collecting and documenting the trash littering their coastline.
• The day is observed on the third Saturday of September.
• The movement was initiated by two individuals Linda Maraniss and Kathy O’Hara in the United States.

8. CAROTAR, 2020

Context:

CAROTAR, 2020 shall come into force from 21^st September 2020.

What is CAROTAR, 2020?

• CAROTAR, 2020 stands for the Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements) Rules, 2020.
• It applies to the import of goods into India where the importer makes a claim of a preferential rate of duty in terms of a trade agreement.
• Under the terms of the CAROTAR, in order to claim a preferential rate of duty under a trade agreement, the importer is required to make a declaration in the bill of entry that the imported products qualify as originating goods for a preferential rate of duty under that agreement, in addition to producing the Certificate of Origin (CoO).
• The importer is also required to possess all relevant information (as per a prescribed list) related to the country of origin criteria, including the manufacturing process, regional value content and product-specific criteria, etc. and submit the same to the proper officer on request.
• Thus, the importer has been made liable for every information in relation to the imported goods where he claims any preferential treatment.
• The new Rules will support the importer to correctly ascertain the country of origin, properly claim the concessional duty and assist customs authorities in the smooth clearance of legitimate imports under FTAs (free trade agreements).
• Traditionally, for claiming preferential tariff treatment for originating goods, a CoO issued by a competent body was required to be submitted to the customs authority by the importer, together with the documents required for the importation of goods like the bill of entry and invoice.
• However, with the implementation of CAROTAR, 2020, submission of merely a CoO by an importer will no longer suffice for availing concessional benefits.
• The customs authorities have been entrusted with a wide array of powers through which they can ask importers to substantiate and satisfy with respect to the scrutiny undertaken on the question of origin.

Read previous PIB here.

September 18th, 2020, PIB:- Download PDF Here