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Public Information Bureau (PIB) Compilation November (1st-15th) BILLS, PROGRAMS, POLICIES, SCHEMES, ORDERS, JUDGEMENTS
Global Clubfoot Conference Context: • The first Global Clubfoot Conference was held in India. • It was being organised by CURE International India Trust in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and other partner institutions. What is clubfoot? • Clubfoot is one of the most common orthopaedic birth defects. • It can cause permanent disability if not treated early. • This affects the child’s mobility and confidence. • Inevitably, education and schooling suffer – and the child cannot fulfil his or her potential. What is the scenario of Clubfoot in India? • It is estimated that over 50,000 children are born annually in India with clubfoot. • Till recently most children who suffered from clubfoot needed to be treated surgically. • This was expensive for parents and traumatic for both the children and their families. • Access to surgery was also difficult in rural areas. As such, many received no treatment. What is the initiative taken? • Ponseti method has been developed to treat and correct clubfoot without surgery. • The Ponseti method and the treatment of clubfoot require that all children who suffer from it are able to get a full course of treatment. • The programme is now active in 29 states of India, with teachers in government medical colleges and doctors in the public health system participating. What is the way forward? • State governments too are to be commended for taking up the challenge of treatment in partnership with CURE International India. • It should be a national resolve that by then every child born with clubfoot gets access to treatment services as soon as the condition is diagnosed. • Like in the case of polio, this will need a multi-pronged, multi-stakeholder approach involving public and private agencies and health-care providers, government and civil society organisations. Asia Pacific Cert (APCERT) Discuss Building Trust in Digital Economy Context: •
First ever Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (APCERT) Open Conference in India and the first in South Asia was held in New Delhi on November 15, 2017.
What are initiatives taken by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology during the conference? • •
The government will offer PhD scholarships in cyber security to candidates from Asia Pacific, In furtherance of the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) preference shall be provided by all procuring entities in the government to domestically manufactured / produced Cyber Security Products
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The ministry is in the process of working with Data Security Council of India to conduct Challenge Grant for cyber security as a means to encourage budding start-ups to develop innovative technologies. Climate Change: as a major Threat to Collective being
Context: • India considers climate change as a major threat to collective well-being and wants to play a positive, as well as constructive role in combating it. • In this regard, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister highlighted several key initiatives at the national and state level. What are initiatives taken to advance climate change actions? •
India has formulated an array of policies and institutional mechanisms to advance climate actions. These initiatives are: o Pradhan Mantri UjjwalaYojana for providing free LPG connections and Ujala for embracing energy efficient LED bulbs dedicated towards supporting citizens move towards sustainable lifestyle. o 32 States and Union Territories have put in place the State Action Plan on Climate Change attempting to mainstream climate change concerns in their planning process. o As part of our mission on strategic knowledge on climate change, India has established 8 Global Technology Watch Groups in the areas of Renewable Energy Technology, Advance Coal Technology, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Green Forest, Sustainable Habitat, Water, Sustainable Agriculture and Manufacturing. o A number of schemes for transformation and rejuvenation of urban areas have been launched including Smart Cities Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation. o Swachh Bharat Mission has been launched with aim to make India clean and litter free. Government has recently revised following waste management rules to make them more effective, efficient and stringent. o Government has revised six waste management rules which are more effective, efficient and stringent: solid waste, Plastic waste, E-waste, bio-Medical and Hazardous and Construction and Demolition Waste. o Air Quality Index launched in over 30 cities to provide real-time data of air pollution on daily basis. o Pradhan Mantri KrishiSinchayeeYojana has been formulated with the vision of extending the coverage of irrigation and improving water use efficiency ‘More crop per drop'. o Pradhan Mantri FasalBimaYojana has been launched for farmers’ welfare. Another scheme has been launched to provide Soil Health Card to every farmer. Further Government of India has set up the goal is to double the income of the farmers by 2022. o Government has launched “Skill India” with the target to provide skill training in various sectors including sustainable development to about 400 million people by 2022. o Zero Effect, Zero Defect is a policy initiative to enhance energy efficiency and resources efficiency in Medium & Small Industries. o Another important initiative relating to rivers is the National Mission for Clean Ganga which seeks to rejuvenate the river along its length of more than 2,500 km. o Digital India has been launched to transform India into digital empowered society and knowledge economy.
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Cabinet approves amendment in the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 Context: •
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993, namely the National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Act, 2017.
Provisions of the amendment: • • •
The amendment seeks to grant retrospective recognition to the Central/State/Universities who are found to be conducting teacher education courses without NCTE permission. The retrospective recognition is being given as a onetime measure so as to ensure that the futures of the students passed out/enrolled in these institutions are not jeopardized. The amendment will make students studying in these Institutions/Universities, or already passed out from here, eligible for employment as a teacher.
What is the NCTE Act, 1993? • •
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The NCTE Act, 1993 came into force on 1st July, 1995 and is applicable throughout the country, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The main objective of the Act is to provide for the establishment of a NCTE to achieve planned and coordinated development of the teacher education system, regulation and ensure proper maintenance of norms and standards in the said system. In order to achieve the objectives of the Act, separate provisions have been, made in the Act, for recognising Teacher Education courses and to lay down guidelines for compliance by recognized Institutions/Universities.
Various schemes and programs initiated by the Government to achieve the target of Doubling of Farmers’ Income Context: •
The Prime Minister has set a target to double the farmers’ income by 2022.
What are the various initiatives taken? •
The Ministry is working towards achieving the goal. And to achieve this target, the Prime Minister has advocated a seven-point strategy: o Special focus on irrigation with sufficient budget, with the aim of “Per Drop More Crop”. o Provision of quality seeds and nutrients based on soil health of each field. o Large investments in Warehousing and Cold Chains to prevent post-harvest crop losses. o Promotion of value addition through food processing. o Creation of a National Farm Market, removing distortions and e-platform across 585 Stations. o Introduction of a New Crop Insurance Scheme to mitigate risks at an affordable cost. o Promotion of ancillary activities like poultry, beekeeping, and fisheries.
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DeenDayal SPARSH Yojana Context: •
Minister of Communications launched a Pan India scholarship program for school children called DeenDayal SPARSH Yojana to increase the reach of Philately.
What is SPARSH? •
Under the scheme of SPARSH (Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude & Research in Stamps as a Hobby), it is proposed to award annual scholarships to children of Standard VI to IX having good academic record and also pursuing Philately as a hobby through a competitive selection process in all postal circles.
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It is proposed to award 920 scholarships to students pursuing Philately as a hobby.
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Every Postal Circle will select a maximum of 40 scholarships representing 10 students each from Standard VI, VII, VIII& IX. The amount of Scholarship will be Rs. 6000/- per annum @ Rs. 500/per month.
What are the requirements to avail the SPARSH scholarship? •
To avail this scholarship, a child must be a student of a recognized school within India.
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The concerned school should have a Philately Club and the candidate should be a member of the Club.
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In case the school Philately Club hasn’t been established a student having his own Philately Deposit Account will also be considered.
What is Philately? •
Philately is the hobby of collection and study of Postage stamps.
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It also entails the collection, appreciation and research activities on stamps and other related philatelic products.
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The hobby of collecting Stamps includes seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloguing, displaying, storing, and maintaining the stamps or related products on thematic areas.
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Stamp collection as a hobby has lot of educational benefits - it teaches a lot about the socio economic political reality of the period in which the stamp is issued or the theme on which it is issued.
Cabinet approves ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme (State Plans) – RashtriyaKrishiVikasYojana (RKVY) as RashtriyaKrishiVikasYojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) for three years i.e. 2017-18 to 2019-20 Context: •
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of RashtriyaKrishiVikasYojana (RKVY) as RashtriyaKrishiVikasYojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) for three years i.e. 2017-18 to 2019-20.
Provisions of the scheme: •
The objective of the scheme is making farming as a remunerative economic activity through strengthening the farmer's effort, risk mitigation and promoting agribusiness entrepreneurship. Created with by ForumIAS.com – The Knowledge Network for Civil Services. Visit http//forumias.com New! http://forumiasacademy – Prelims & Mains Test Series
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RKVY-RAFTAAR funds would be provided to the States as 60:40 grants between Centre and States (90:10 for North Eastern States and Himalayan States). The scheme will incentivize States in enhancing more allocation to Agriculture and Allied Sectors. The scheme will also strengthen farmer’s efforts through creation of agriculture infrastructure that help in supply of quality inputs, market facilities etc. It will further promote agri-entrepreneurship and support business models that maximize returns to farmers.
What is RashtriyaKrishiVikasYojana (RKVY)? • • •
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RashtriyaKrishiVikasYojana (RKVY) is a continuing scheme under implementation from XI Five Year Plan. The scheme provides considerable flexibility and autonomy to states in planning and executing programmes for incentivizing investment in agriculture and allied sectors. States initiate the process of decentralized planning for agriculture and allied sectors through preparation of District Agriculture Plans (DAPs) and State Agriculture Plan (SAP) based on agro-climatic conditions, availability of appropriate technology and natural resources to ensure accommodation of local needs, cropping pattern, priorities etc. National priorities like Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI), Crop Diversification Program (CDP), Reclamation of Problem Soil (RPS), Foot & Mouth Disease - Control Program (FMD-CP), Saffron Mission, Accelerated Fodder Development Programme, etc. are being implemented through the window of RKVY.
INTERNATIONAL ISSUES Session of 7th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable in Bangkok Context: What are the measures taken in India to increase domestic production of gas and promote the usage of gas? • •
India is currently the world’s fourth-largest importer of LNG, behind Japan, South Korea and China. Several far-reaching measures are taken in India to increase domestic production of gas and also to promote the usage of gas: o introduction of pricing and marketing freedom for gas producers in future exploration bidding rounds; o increase the consumption of natural gas through policy measures in each micro segment of consumption; o expanding the LNG re-gasification capacity on both East and West Coast of India; o keen to develop a South Asian gas grid connecting important neighbours such as Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, etc.; o signing long-term contracts for around 22 MMTPA from different supply sources across world such as Qatar, Australia, Russia, USA etc.; o under a scheme called Pradhan Mantri UjjwalaYojana, India has distributed 30 million LPG cooking gas connections to poor households with government subsidy; and o multilateral organizations like the UN Women, the World Bank and others have shown great interest in Indian LPG schemes and delegations from several countries have approached us to know about our experience and initiatives.
What is the way ahead? •
There is a need to change the collective consciousness and public perception about natural gas. Created with by ForumIAS.com – The Knowledge Network for Civil Services. Visit http//forumias.com New! http://forumiasacademy – Prelims & Mains Test Series
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Both producers and consumers should join hands to promote flexible and transparent global markets for gas and promote infrastructure for Natural Gas. This will help not only economies but also promote the quality of life of our people.
Commerce & Industry Minister visits Cuba to explore bilateral trade and investment opportunities in Latin American and Caribbean regions Context: •
The Minister for Commerce and Industry Shri Suresh Prabhu visited Cuba to explore opportunities to tap the huge untapped potential, for not only bilateral trade but also investment in the Latin American and Caribbean regions.
Salient features of the visit: • •
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It has been pledged to pursue new markets to expand India's trade footprint and targets to double trade with the Latam and Caricom region in the next 4 to 5 years. Considering the overwhelming support and warmth in the meetings, a spontaneous decision was taken to take the next step in this econmic engagement in the form of an MoU between the Federation of Indian Exporters Organisation (FIEO) and the Cuban Chamber of Commerce. The MoU priorities six sectors for bilateral trade and investments. These are Pharmaceuticals, Tourism, Renewable Energy, Bio Technology, Sugar and Infrastructure development. Similar MoUs were later signed with Barbados and Guyana. India also inaugurated the Indian Pavilion in the presence of the Cuban Minister of Energy & Mines.
India and Cuba relations: • • •
With the Caribbean region, India’s bilateral trade was US$ 1755 million in 2016-17, constituting only 7.16 percent of India’s trade with the Latin American and Caribbean region. India has always enjoyed a good political relationship with Cuba, with India being one of the first countries to recognise the regime after the Revolution. India has a prominent role in global dynamics and aligned with the Minister for Commerce & Industries’ proposition of an integrated approach in multilateral organisations and environmental issues.
India and UK Science & Technology Ministers review the progress made in the India-UK partnership in science, technology and innovation Context: • •
Science and Technology Ministers of India and UK reviewed the progress made in the India-UK partnership in science, technology and innovation. It has been significantly intensified under the Newton-Bhabha programme.
Salient features of the progress: •
Following are the progress of the initiatives and programs taken so far:
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Based on the shared principles of co-funding, co-development and co-creation multiple agencies both in India and UK are seamlessly contributing to the multifaceted cooperation which covers the three strands of people, project and translational research partnerships. Both the Ministers reiterated the spirit and essence of the Newton-Bhabha program:
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The program underlines that the scientific knowledge creation and its application is directed for the welfare of both the nations. Several major initiatives have been recently launched as a part of the multifaceted collaboration in STI between India and the UK: o projects on Energy Efficient Building Materials o Indo-UK Clean Energy Virtual Centre Release of the scoping Indo-UK report on Antimicrobial Resistance which has been prepared to launch a virtual research centre to address the increasingly serious threat to public and animal health in both countries. To study the impact of atmospheric pollution on Human Health a programme has been launched Under Industrial R&D programme India and UK have made visible progress with support to 10 joint projects o
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India is committed to partner Bhutan in its socio-economic development
India is committed to partner Bhutan in its socio-economic development, and to support in its XII Five Year Plan.
India-Bhutan socio-economic relationship so far: • • • • • •
India has been happy to share its knowledge, experience and resources with Bhutan and thus contribute to Bhutan’s socio-economic development. The development cooperation has been guided by the priorities set by the Government and people of Bhutan. India remains committed to consolidate existing hydro-power cooperation with Bhutan. Timely implementation of the ongoing hydro-power projects with minimum cost overrun, is important for both governments. This is the flagship area of our bilateral cooperation and has high visibility. The security concerns of India and Bhutan are indivisible, intertwined and mutual.
EONOMICAL ISSUES Combine Agricultural Technology with Information Technology to improve Agricultural Sector: Vice President Context: •
Agricultural Technology with Information Technology can improve Agricultural Sector in the country.
What are the crucial areas where infrastructure can be a boon for agriculture? Making a major shift: •
A major shift in Indian agriculture moving it from a low-productivity stage to a high productive level is required ensuring that it is sustainable and equitable by: o Forecasting the seasonal conditions in advance, testing the soil and water availability scientists must work with the government’s extension machinery. o Advising the farmers on the cropping patterns and post-harvest processes and food processing technologies. o Focusing on intensification and diversification of farming in order to increase productivity and farmers’ incomes. o Use of high yielding varieties of seeds and efficient use of land and water.
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Infrastructure like rural roads, dependable quality power, godowns, cold storage facilities, refrigerated vans and market yards is to be focused. Technology plays a very important role in encouraging farmers to take up entrepreneurial ventures and agro-based industries.
Marketing: Area in which technology can support the transformation is marketing. The farmers will gain if they are enabled to tap into the export markets as well. • Technologies can help in making this transition from mere sellers in the domestic market to exporters of surplus produce. •
Timely credit facilities at reasonable interest rates and farmer-friendly insurance policies: • •
The fourth and the fifth important building blocks of a robust ecosystem are timely credit facilities at reasonable interest rates and farmer-friendly insurance policies. The insurance cover shields the farmers against unforeseen climatic and natural disasters while the kisan credit cards and the Pradhan Mantri FasalBimaYojana (PMFBY) are steps in the right direction and need to be universalized.
NATIONAL ISSUE Water Storage Level of 91 Major Reservoirs of the country goes down by two per cent Context: • •
The water storage available in 91 major reservoirs of the country for the week ending on November 09, 2017 was 105.984 BCM, which is 67% of total storage capacity of these reservoirs. This percentage was at 69 for the week ending on November 02, 2017.
Region wise storage status: •
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The northern region includes States of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan: storage during current year is better than the corresponding period of last year but is less than the average storage of last ten years during the corresponding period. The Eastern region includes States of Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Tripura: storage during current year is less than the corresponding period of last year but is better than the average storage of last ten years during the corresponding period. The Western region includes States of Gujarat and Maharashtra: storage during current year is less than the storage of last year and is also less than the average storage of last ten years during the corresponding period. The Central region includes States of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh: storage during current year is less than the storage of last year and is also less than the average storage of last ten years during the corresponding period.
DEFENCE ISSUES Joint Indo-Russia Tri-Services Exercise Indra-2017 successfully conducted Context: •
The Joint Indo-Russia Tri-Services Exercise INDRA-2017 was successfully conducted from 19 to 29 Oct 2017 at Vladivostok in Russia.
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The name of the exercise INDRA has been derived from INDia and RussiA. Exercise INDRA-2017 is the first Joint Tri-Services Exercise between Russia and India. The theme of Exercise INDRA-2017 was ‘Preparation and Conduct of Operations by a Joint Force for Suppression of International Terror Activity at the request of a host country under UN mandate’. The Exercise has been a combination of training and cross training in field conditions on land, sea and air, to achieve seamless integration.
What are the implications of these Joint Tri-Services excessive? • • •
The validation of the exercise tasks is a testimony of the contingents of both countries having integrated and synergised seamlessly to achieve the laid down objectives. The exercise also provided an opportunity to all personnel for cultural exchange and for friendly sports competitions. The espirit de corps and goodwill generated during the exercise will facilitate further strengthening of bonds between the defence forces of India and Russia enabling them to understand each other’s organisations and the methodology of executing joint counter terrorist operations.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Air Quality Improving: People Need not Panic Context: •
To improve the air quality in the national capital of the country, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change has taken several steps to mitigate air pollution.
What are the measures taken? • • • •
Focussed attention at the highest level has been ensured through committees headed by the Union Minister, Minister of State, MoEF&CC and Secretary, MoEF&CC. A Task Force has been set up to review the air quality in Delhi-NCR. 40 monitoring teams of CPCB have been deployed since September 1, 2017 to give feedback on the ground situation and air polluting activities in Delhi. Specific interventions have been suggested from time to time, as well as various directions have also been issued to implementation agencies such as state governments, district administration, police authorities, municipal corporations and industries for effective actions to curb air pollution.
What are the short-termmeasures be taken by the government? • • • • • • • • •
Ban on diesel gen-sets, brick kilns, stone crushers, hot mix plants as per GRAP is being effectively enforced; Ban on entry of trucks with non-essential supplies to Delhi is being strictly enforced; The government has enhanced parking fee and capacity augmentation of public transport. Also metro has increased its frequency and number of coaches by 25%. Civil construction activities have been stopped for the moment. Watering over unpaved roads to contain road dust is being carried out on a large scale. Regulated emission from industries in NCR region advised the State governments to issue directions to the concerned authorities. The government has also imposed fines on defaulters through Municipal Corporations/State Pollution Control Boards and other organisations. Strict ban on garbage burning has also been imposed. Created with by ForumIAS.com – The Knowledge Network for Civil Services. Visit http//forumias.com New! http://forumiasacademy – Prelims & Mains Test Series
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