‘Make-II’: Major Steps towards ‘Make in India’ in Defence Production
(Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation)
As a major boost to ‘Make in India’ in Defence, the Defence Acquisition Council has cleared a simplified ‘Make-II’ procedure which will enable greater participation of industry in acquisition of defence equipment. This process will greatly help import substitution and promote innovative solutions. This simplified ‘Make-II’ procedure will amend the existing ‘Make Procedure’ in Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP)-2016.
India-Israel Business Summit
(Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations)
India-Israel Industrial R&D and Technological Innovation Fund (i4F): To combine the talent pool of the two countries in pursuit of path-breaking technological solutions that can be commercially exploited.
India-Israel Innovation Bridge will act as a link between the Start-ups of the two sides:
What: Gigabit connectivity between the National Knowledge Network of India and LEARN network of Sri Lanka
This dedicated high speed internet connectivity will boost the collaboration among the academic institutions of India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Minister for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure
Both countries signed MoU for enhancing cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in the IT sector, cyber security and eGovernance.
International Solar Alliance Forum
(Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests)
On receipt of 15 ratifications, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement entered into force on the 6th December, 2017 thereby making ISA a de jure treaty based international intergovernmental organisation. So far 19 countries have ratified and 48 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement.
About ISA
The Paris Declaration establishes ISA as an alliance dedicated to the promotion of solar energy among its member countries.
The ISA’s major objectives include global deployment of over 1,000GW of solar generation capacity and mobilisation of investment of over US$ 1000 billion into solar energy by 2030.
As an action-oriented organisation, the ISA brings together countries with rich solar potential to aggregate global demand, thereby reducing prices through bulk purchase, facilitating the deployment of existing solar technologies at scale, and promoting collaborative solar R&D and capacity building.
When the ISA Framework Agreement entered into force on December 6th, 2017, ISA formally became a de-jure treaty based International Intergovernmental Organization, headquartered at Gurugram, India.
ISA promotes actual on ground rolling out of solar projects
India’s First agri-Options by National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX)
(Topic: Indian economy; Agriculture)
Aim: To provide farmers better engagement in the commodity markets.
The country’s First Agri-commodity Options in Guar Seed is the unique first-of-its-kind hedging tool which will prove to be a game changer for the farmers.
By: Uniquely designed by NCDEX and approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
Expected to deepen trade in that commodity
Benefit farmers in reaping improved price realizations for their produce, with limited downside risk – a powerful tool to empower farmers by allowing them to lock in the prices of their produce at a minimum cost
Will give a strong impetus towards systematic development and transformation of commodity derivatives market in India, which will make the agri-economy more efficient and bring huge amount of value for the farmers of India
About the Trading:
A large number of informal trading centres in some communities of Rajasthan already practice some form of informal options trading while the guar seed is one of the most liquid contracts on the NCDEX platform.
NCDEX is the second exchange after MCX to launch option trading in commodities following markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) approval for such trade last year. In October 2017, MCX had launched gold options. Guarseed is the first agri-commodity options. Options are derivatives which give a buyer the right but not the obligation to buy or sell an underlying asset or instrument at a specific price on or before a certain date.
There are already 59 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) trading on the NCDEX
NCDEX
National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) is an online commodity exchange based in India.
It has an independent board of directors and provides a commodity exchange platform for market participants to trade in commodity derivatives.
It is a public limited company, incorporated on 23 April 2003 under the Companies Act 1956 and obtained its Certificate of Commencement of Business on 9 May 2003. It commenced operations on 15 December 2003.
Successful Fifth Flight Test of Agni-5 Ballistic Missile
(Topic: Awareness in the field of Space)
Long Range Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile, Agni-5, was successfully flight tested for its full range
Please note:
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): The PMSMA programme was launched in 2016 to ensure comprehensive and quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women across India.
Results of Ease of Doing Business in India
In the last three years, India has moved up 42 places in the index of Ease of Doing Business of World Bank;
We have moved up 21 places on the Global Innovation Index of WIPO in two years.
We have also moved up 32 places in last two years in the Global Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum – the highest for any country;
We moved 19 places on the Logistics Performance Index of 2016 of World Bank;
We are among the top 10 FDI destinations listed by UNCTAD But we will not stop.
3. Ministry of Minority Affairs
Is working with commitment to welfare of Minorities through “3E – Education, Employment, Empowerment”
Thousands of educational institutions of all minority communities including madarsas, have been included in the mainstream education system by connecting them with “3T-Teacher, Tiffin, Toilet”.
4. Rise of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): One of the types of fatty liver which occurs when fat is deposited (steatosis) in the liver due to causes other than excessive alcohol use. Avoiding consumption of junk food and alcohol, eating a balanced diet, ending sedentary lifestyles and doing regular exercises or Yoga-Asanas are essential for people, particularly the youth, to remain healthy and not fall prey to various other diseases.
Quotes by Vice President
On Governance
Reforms in the style and substance of governance should be the constant endeavor
Fruits of democracy will reach the citizens if we can combine a resolute political will with robust administrative skill. Effective service delivery deepens the roots of democracy because it ensures that all citizens, especially those whose voices are not adequately heard, participate actively in nation building.
Any policy is only as good as its implementation. The positive impact of policies has to be felt by the citizens. This will happen only if the administration is responsive, the decisions are judicious, the execution is swift and there is a culture of continuous monitoring and evaluation.
With an efficient civil administration, India can leverage every challenge that comes its way in transforming itself into a world leader in various spheres in the years to come. As we expand globally and open our doors to the entry of multinational corporations to participate in nation’s progress, there needs to be more emphasis on efficiency, transparency and ethical compliance.
Public administration is no longer concerned with just implementation and monitoring of government policies. In a rapidly changing world, the administrative apparatus must be more agile than earlier. It must be innovative, humble, emphatic and objective.
On Education
Education is the key lever for transforming India.
Education is a powerful tool that empowers individuals and transforms communities. It can break the vicious cycles of poverty. It can enable a country like India with a large youth population, to grow. But only if it can capitalize on its demographic advantage
True education gives us the humility that makes us realize as to how much more there is to learn. This humility makes us lifelong learners and we grow as individuals.
Without a good human resource development strategy, country cannot achieve sustainable development. Without equipping our children, youth and adults with the required knowledge, skills and attitudes, we cannot be a developed nation.
Humanistic, inclusive, harmonious vision given to us by ancestors must be integrated into our education system. We must now get down to making our schools, colleges and universities great places of learning. The new resurgent India can be built on excellence and equity in education
India requires a curriculum that makes learners knowledgeable, skillful and responsible. We should make put the children at the centre of schooling. We should make the system respond to the learning needs of youth and adults. The higher education system must focus on research and extending the frontiers of knowledge
Education system must have essential guiding principles to help students become good human beings. Education is for employment. Education is for enlightenment. Education is for empowerment. Education is for evolution into a competent and caring individual. Education is for transformation of societal norms
