Press Information Bureau (PIB) IAS UPSC – 24th Feb to 2nd March – 2019

ARCHIVES

GS-2

PM-KISAN scheme

(Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population)

About Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM KISAN)

• The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) was announced in the interim Budget 2019-20.
• PM KISAN is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India.
• Under the Scheme, Rs 6,000 will be given per year to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of upto 2 hectares.
• The amount will be given in three installments of Rs.2000 each.
• The amount will be transferred directly to the bank account of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer. DBT will ensure transparency in the entire process and will save time for the farmers.
• The Scheme was introduced to augment the income of the Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs). It is estimated to benefit more than 12 crore small and marginal farmers.

Eligibility criteria

• In the database, the land owner’s name, gender,
• Social Classification (Scheduled Tribes / Scheduled Tribes)
• Aadhaar number, bank account number and mobile number etc.
• Imitation of agricultural land Khatuani imitation
• Janshan Bank Account Number, Aadhaar and Mobile Number will help in identifying eligible beneficiaries and incompetent claimants
• The farmers having cultivated land of two hectare or less than this will be understood eligible for this scheme.
• The scheme is sponsored by the Central Government. Therefore, the farmers have to be citizens of the country.

Significance

• The PM-KISAN scheme aims to supplement the financial needs of the SMFs in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm income at the end of the each crop cycle.
• This would also protect them from falling in the clutches of moneylenders for meeting such expenses and ensure their continuance in the farming activities.

National Youth Parliament Festival 2019

(Topic: Important aspects of- governance, transparency and accountability)

National Youth Parliament Festival 2019 has been jointly organised by National Service Scheme and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan under the aegis of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on the theme of ‘Be the Voice of New India and Find solutions and Contribute to Policy’.

Objectives of organising Youth Parliament.

• • To hear the voice of youth between 18 and less than 25 years of age, who are allowed to vote but cannot stand as a candidate for election, through deliberations in Youth Parliaments at district level and above.
  • To encourage the youth to engage with public issues, understand the common man’s point of view, form their opinions and express it in an articulate manner.
  • To develop and enhance decision making abilities.

• To develop in them a respect and tolerance for the views of others.

• To develop in them an understanding that respect for rules is essential for conducting any discussion systematically and effectively.
• To obtain and document their opinions on Vision of New India in 2022.
• To make available their views to policy makers and implementers to take it forward.

About Nehru Yuva Kendras

• Nehru Yuva Kendras were established in the year 1972 with the objective of providing rural youth avenues to take part in the process of nation building as well providing opportunities for the development of their personality and skills.

About National Service Scheme (NSS)

• The National Service Scheme (NSS) is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. It provides opportunity to the student youth of 11th & 12th Class of schools at +2 Board level and student youth of Technical Institution, Graduate & Post Graduate at colleges and University level of India to take part in various government led community service activities & programmes.
• The sole aim of the NSS is to provide hands on experience to young students in delivering community service. Since inception of the NSS in the year 1969, the number of students strength increased from 40,000 to over 3.8 million up to the end of March 2018 students in various universities, colleges and Institutions of higher learning have volunteered to take part in various community service programmes.

Skill Saathi Youth Conclave in Bhubaneswar.

(Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.)

Skill Saathi is a career counselling initiative of the National Skill Development Corporation, under the aegis of MSDE, to create awareness about the Skill India Mission and guide candidates by providing them with information on career paths and opportunities.

The initiative provides information on vocational training programs under Skill India mission, conduct psychometric test and provide face-to-face counselling interventions to guide aspirants to make the right choice of based on their interest and aptitude. The program aims to create a mass movement around skill development in the state and inspire youth to make the most of various skill development opportunities in the country.

Objectives

• The Skill Saathi initiative, it said, has so far mobilised and counselled over 1 lakh candidate in Odisha and over 10 lakh youth across the country in the past three months.
• The Skill Saathi model was created to impart information on vocational education and available market opportunities to the youth. With the potential Odisha has and with the right intent, together Odisha soon becomes the skill capital of India.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)

(Topic: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population)

The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Programme launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA), in Mission mode envisions provision of Housing for All by 2022, when the Nation completes 75 years of its Independence. The Mission seeks to address the housing requirement of urban poor including slum dwellers through following programme verticals:

• Slum rehabilitation of Slum Dwellers with participation of private developers using land as a resource
• Promotion of Affordable Housing for weaker section through credit linked subsidy
• Affordable Housing in Partnership with Public & Private sectors
• Subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction /enhancement

Beneficiaries

• The mission seeks to address the housing requirement of urban poor including slum dwellers. A slum is defined as a compact area of at least 300 people or about 60 – 70 households of poorly built congested tenements in unhygienic environment usually with inadequate infrastructure and lacking in proper sanitary and drinking water facilities.
• Beneficiaries include Economically weaker section (EWS), low-income groups (LIGs) and Middle Income Groups (MIGs). The annual income cap is up to Rs 3 lakh for EWS, Rs 3-6 lakh for LIG and Rs 6 + -18 lakhs for MIG. EWS category of beneficiaries is eligible for assistance in all four verticals of the Missions whereas LIG and MIG categories are eligible under only Credit linked subsidy scheme (CLSS) component of the Mission.
• For identification as a EWS or LIG beneficiary under the scheme, an individual loan applicant will submit self-certificate/ affidavit as proof of income.
• A beneficiary family will comprise husband, wife, unmarried sons and/or unmarried daughters.
• The beneficiary family should not own a pucca house either in his/her name or in the name of any member of his/her family in any part of India to be eligible to receive central assistance under the mission.
• States/UTs, at their discretion, may decide a cut-off date on which beneficiaries need to be resident of that urban area for being eligible to take benefits under the scheme.

Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL)

(Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.)

NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Adobe today signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) to collectively drive the charter of developing creative skills and spreading digital literacy across all Atal Tinkering Labs in India.

About the agreement

• Adobe shall be adopting 100 schools under Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) initiative.
• Adobe shall be implementing its Digital Disha Program in ATLs , under which free licenses of Adobe Spark premium shall be offered to ATLs. Launched in 2018, the Adobe Digital Disha Programme is aimed at driving synergies in creative thinking and technology-based learning.
• Under this collaboration with AIM, children and teachers across these schools and communities shall benefit from creative learning resources, thereby empowering them with new age skills to thrive in the current digital era and preparing them for long term success.

About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

• • AIM is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
  • As a part of AIM, ATLs are being established in more than 5,000 schools in India where students of class 6th to class 12th acquire problem solving and innovation skills, developing innovative solutions leveraging Tinkering technologies like 3D printers, robotics, miniaturised electronics, IOT and programming, do it yourself kits with support from teachers.
  • The Atal Tinkering Lab is based on the philosophy to identify and nurture innovation in young students across the country.

• The Atal Innovation Mission proactively seeks to promote scientific temper and the spirit of entrepreneurship.

• Through various initiatives such as the ATL Community Day, Teacher Training Sessions, ATL Marathon, Student Innovator Program, Tinkerfest etc AIM has successfully integrated students, teachers, mentors, parents and even the governments at the state and local level within a larger fabric of encouraging science skills, digital literacy and creativity.

Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS)  

(Topic: Role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations)

Ministry of Human Resource Development launched the Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS) for providing industry apprenticeship opportunities to the general graduates exiting in April 2019 through the National Apprenticeship Promotional Scheme (NAPS).The program aims to enhance the employability of Indian youth by providing ‘on the job work exposure’ and earning of stipend.

Importance of SHREYAS

• SHREYAS will be a major effort in this direction to make degree students more skilled, capable and employable and aligned to the needs of our economy so that they contribute to country’s progress and also obtain gainful employment.
• SHREYAS portal will enable educational institutions and industry to log in and provide their respective demand and supply of apprenticeship. The matching of students with apprenticeship avenues will take place as per pre-specified eligibility criteria.
• The State Governments are expected to play a major role in securing apprenticeship opportunities, apart from the Sector Skill Councils, so that general degree students passing out in April 2019, gain the option of industry & service sector apprenticeship.

Objectives of SHREYAS

• To improve employability of students by introducing employment relevance into the learning process of the higher education system
• To forge a close functional link  between education and industry/service sectors on a sustainable basis
• To provide skills which are in demand, to the students in a dynamic manner
• To establish an ‘earn while you learn’ system into higher education
• To help business/industry in securing good quality manpower
• To link student community with employment facilitating efforts of the Government

Operation of the Scheme

• The primary scheme will be operated in conjunction with National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) which provides for placing of apprentices upto 10% of the total work force in every business/industry.  
• The scheme will be implemented by the Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) , initially the Banking Finance Insurance Services (BFSI), Retail, Health care, Telecom, Logistics, Media, Management services, ITeS and Apparel.  
• More sectors would be added over time with emerging apprenticeship demand and curriculum adjustments.

GS-3

IPrism

(Topic: Issues related to Intellectual Property)

The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, in collaboration with ASSOCHAM and ERICSSON India, has launched the second edition of ‘IPrism’, an Intellectual Property (IP) competition for students of schools, polytechnic institutes, colleges and universities.

Objective

• Aiming to foster a culture of innovation and creativity in the younger generation, the competition will provide young creators an opportunity to see their creations recognized on a national platform.
• Creating IPR Awareness through outreach and promotional activities is a key objective of the Policy. The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management, set up under the aegis of the DPIIT to fulfil the policy objectives, has been actively involved in many outreach activities including a nation-wide IPR awareness campaign.

About CIPAM

• CIPAM is a professional body under the aegis of the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• Its mandate is to effectively implement National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy adopted in May 2016 with slogan – “Creative India; Innovative India”.
• It has undertaken several measures to strengthen IP ecosystem in the country.

Heat wave risk reduction

(Topic: Disaster management)

Heat wave has emerged as one of the major severe weather events around the globe in recent years. Climate change is driving temperatures higher as well as increasing the frequency and severity of heat waves. India too is experiencing increased instances of heat waves every year. NDMA has been closely working with vulnerable States to reduce the adverse impacts of heat wave.

India too is feeling the impact of climate change in terms of increased instances of heat waves which are more intense in nature with each passing year, and have a devastating impact on human health thereby increasing the number of heat wave casualties.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has given the following criteria for Heat Waves:

• Heat Wave need not be considered till maximum temperature of a station reaches atleast 40*C for Plains and atleast 30*C for Hilly regions
• When normal maximum temperature of a station is less than or equal to 40*C Heat Wave Departure from normal is 5*C to 6*C Severe Heat Wave Departure from normal is 7*C or more
• When normal maximum temperature of a station is more than 40*C Heat Wave Departure from normal is 4*C to 5*C Severe Heat Wave Departure from normal is 6*C or more
• When actual maximum temperature remains 45*C or more irrespective of normal maximum temperature, heat waves should be declared

Health Impacts of Heat Waves

The health impacts of Heat Waves typically involve dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke. The signs and symptoms are as follows:

• Heat Cramps: Ederna (swelling) and Syncope (Fainting) generally accompanied by fever below 39*C i.e.102*F.
• Heat Exhaustion: Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and sweating.
• Heat Stoke: Body temperatures of 40*C i.e. 104*F or more along with delirium, seizures or coma. This is a potential fatal condition

Sustained efforts

• Timely release and effective implementation of the national Guidelines on heat wave, preparation of Heat Action Plans by 13 vulnerable States.
• Regular follow-up and monitoring by NDMA, extensive awareness generation campaigns through print, electronic and social media, preparedness workshops in 2017 and 2018 – have significantly brought down the number of heat-related deaths in the past few years.  From more than 2,000 deaths in 2015, the number came down to 25 in 2018.

IEA Bioenergy TCP

(Topic: Infrastructure-Energy security)

International Energy Agency’s Technology Collaboration Programme on Bioenergy (IEA Bioenergy TCP) is an international platform for co-operation among countries with the aim of improving cooperation and information exchange between countries that have national programmes in bioenergy research, development and deployment.

IEA Bioenergy TCP works under the framework of International Energy Agency (IEA) to which India has “Association” status since 30th March, 2017.

Goals and benefits of IEA Bioenergy TCP

• It facilitate the market introduction of advanced biofuels with an aim to bring down emissions and reduce crude imports.
• IEA Bioenergy TCP also provides a platform for international collaboration and information exchange in bioenergy research, technology development, demonstration, and policy analysis with a focus on overcoming the environmental, institutional, technological, social, ‘and market barriers to the near-and long-term deployment of bioenergy technologies.
• Engagement with International Agencies will also apprise the Ministry of the developments taking place Worldwide in Biofuel sector, provide opportunity of personal interaction with innovators/ Researchers and help in bringing suitable policy ecosystem.

SATAT scheme

(Topic: Infrastructure-Energy security)

Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has launched Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) aimed at providing sustainable alternative towards affordable transportation. The initiative was launched with PSU Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs i.e. IOC, BPCL and HPCL).

SATAT was launched with a four-pronged agenda

• Utilising more than 62 million metric tonnes of waste generated every year in India,
• Cutting down import dependence
• Supplementing job creation in the country
• Reducing vehicular emissions and pollution from burning of agricultural / organic waste.

Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG)

• Bio-gas is produced naturally through a process of anaerobic decomposition from waste / bio-mass sources like agriculture residue, cattle dung, sugarcane press mud, municipal solid waste, sewage treatment plant waste, etc. After purification, it is compressed and called CBG, which has pure methane content of over 90%.
• Compressed Bio-Gas is exactly similar to the commercially available natural gas in its composition and energy potential.
• CBG can be used as an alternative, renewable automotive fuel. Given the abundance of biomass in the country, CBG has the potential to replace CNG in automotive, industrial and commercial uses in the coming years.

Benefits from converting agricultural residue

• Responsible waste management, reduction in carbon emissions and pollution
• Additional revenue source for farmers
• Boost to entrepreneurship, rural economy and employment
• Support to national commitments in achieving climate change goals
• Reduction in import of natural gas and crude oil
• Buffer against crude oil/gas price fluctuations

Please Note:

India hosts ‘4th Global Digital Health Partnership Summit’: The Global Digital Health Partnership (GDHP) is an international collaboration of governments, government agencies and multinational organisations dedicated to improving the health and well-being of their citizens through the best use of evidence-based digital technologies.

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prizes for Science and Technology : The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, named after the founder Director of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, is given annually to recognize outstanding Indian work in various disciplines of Science and Technology.

Gandhi Peace Prize: The Gandhi Peace Prize was presented to the Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari for 2015, jointly to the Akshaya Patra Foundation and the Sulabh International for 2016, to the Ekal Abhiyan Trust for 2017, and to Shri Yohei Sasakawa for 2018.

Quotes:

President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind

During Gandhi Peace Price

• In his advocacy of sustainability, ecological sensitivity and living in harmony with nature, he anticipated some of the pressing challenges of our times. The Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations are Gandhian philosophy in action.

Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu

On health care sector

• From the Surakshit Mathritva Abhiyan to secure maternal health to Mission Indradhanush that aims to achieve 100 percent child vaccination by 2022 to the opening of more than 3000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras to provide affordable medicines, efforts are being made to envision and deploy out of the box, inclusive healthcare solutions.
• To crystallize Universal Healthcare (UHC) or Universal Health Assurance (UHA), we must focus upon safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the vulnerable sections of our population, the women, the children, the poor and the differently abled.
• Mental wellbeing is crucial and complementary to physical wellbeing, especially in the high stress environment that we live and work in.
• To crystallize Universal Healthcare (UHC) or Universal Health Assurance (UHA), we must focus upon safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the vulnerable sections of our population, the women, the children, the poor and the differently abled.

On operations of Indian Air Force

• Peace loving pacifist India not weak; can strike against disruptive terror designs.

On education

• Education we impart must lead to self-discovery, enlightenment and awakening of an individual.

Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi

During Gandhi Peace Price

• Mahatma Gandhi had merged the streams of Jan Bhagidari (public participation) and Jan Andolan (mass movement).