PERIYAR IAS CURRENT AFFAIRS 21-12-2017
Topic:
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
India’s
first National Rail and Transportation University at Vadodara
Context:
The Union Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Railways’ transformative
initiative to set up the first ever National Rail and Transport University
(NRTU) in Vadodara to skill its human resources and build capability. This
innovative idea will be a catalyst for transformation of rail and transport
sector towards New India.
Key
facts:
§ The
University will be set up as a Deemed to Be University under de novo category
as per the UGC [Institutions Deemed to be Universities] Regulations, 2016.
§ A
not-for-profit Company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 will be
created by the Ministry of Railways which shall be the Managing Company of the
proposed university.
§ The
company will provide financial and infrastructural support to the university,
and appoint Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor of the university.
§ Board
of Management, comprising professionals and academics, shall be independent of
the Managing Company with full autonomy to perform its academic and
administrative responsibilities.
§ The
funding of the new University/Institute is to entirely come from Ministry of
Railways.
Significance
of this move:
The
university plans to use latest pedagogy and technology applications (satellite
based tracking, Radio Frequency Identification and Artificial Intelligence) to
improve on-the-job performance and productivity. Close collaboration with the
Indian Railways will ensure that the stakeholders have access to Railways’
facilities, which will work as ‘live labs’ and they will be able to work on
solving real life problems. It will have ‘Centres of Excellence’ showcasing
high-end, niche technology like High Speed Train.
Sources:
pib.
Topic:
Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs,
various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other
stakeholders.
Strive
Project
Context: A
Financing Agreement for IDA Credit of USD 125 million (equivalent) for the
“Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement Operation (STRIVE)
Project” was recently signed by the Government of India with the World Bank.
The
Objective of the operation is to improve access to
quality and market-driven vocational training provided in it is and
apprenticeships.
About
the Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) project:
What
is it? STRIVE is an outcome focused scheme marking shift in government’s
implementation strategy in vocational education and training from inputs to
results. STRIVE will focus to improve on the quality and the market relevance
of vocational training provided in ITIs and strengthen the apprenticeship
programme through industry-cluster approach.
The
result areas for the project include
Improved Performance of Industrial Training Institutes; Increased Capacities of
State Governments to Support Industrial Training Institutes and Apprenticeship
Training; Improved Teaching and Learning; and Improved and Broadened
Apprenticeship Training.
Sources:
pib.
Topic:
Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and
issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Immovable
Property (Amendment) Bill
Context: Lok
Sabha has passed the Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill. The Bill amends the
regulations governing compensation payable for acquisition of immovable
property by the Centre for defence and security purposes.
Highlights
of the Bill:
§ The
Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill 2017
amends the original 1952 Act to allow the Centre to reissue the acquisition
notice in case the property’s owner wants to be given a hearing.
§ As
per the amendment, the compensation rates that will be payable will be fixed at
the date of publication of the first notice in addition to an interest.
§ The
amended bill provides that the government need not pay compensation at the
current market rate as is applicable on the date of issuing the fresh notice.
§ The
amended bill is aimed at addressing cases where the property owner is able,
after prolonged litigation, to get the acquisition notice quashed in the court
so as to be given a hearing.
Background:
The
Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property Act empowers the central
government to requisition any immovable property and also to acquire them under
certain specified conditions. The Act came into force in March 1952.
Sources:
the hindu.
Topic:
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or
affecting India’s interests
Kimberley
Process
Context: The
KP Plenary Session is being held at Brisbane, Australia. In one of the
landmark decisions favoring India’s leading position in Diamonds globally,
India was appointed as the Kimberly Process (KP) Vice Chair for 2018 &
Chair for 2019 in the last plenary held in Dubai in November, 2016. The EU will
be KP Chair for 2018.
About
Kimberley process:
What
is the Kimberley Process?
The
Kimberley Process is an international certification scheme that regulates trade
in rough diamonds. It aims to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds, while
helping to protect legitimate trade in rough diamonds. The Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme (KPCS) outlines the rules that govern the trade in rough
diamonds. The KPCS has developed a set of minimum requirements that each
participant must meet. The KP is not, strictly speaking, an international
organisation: it has no permanent offices or permanent staff. It relies on the
contributions – under the principle of ‘burden-sharing’ – of participants,
supported by industry and civil society observers. Neither can the KP be
considered as an international agreement from a legal perspective, as it is
implemented through the national legislations of its participants.
What
are Conflict diamonds? “Conflict Diamonds” means rough diamonds used by rebel
movements or their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate
governments. It is also described in the United Nations Security Council
(UNSC) resolutions.
Who
is involved?
The
Kimberley Process (KP) is open to all countries that are willing and able to
implement its requirements. The KP has 54 participants, representing 81
countries, with the European Union and its Member States counting as a single
participant. KP members account for approximately 99.8% of the global
production of rough diamonds. In addition, the World Diamond Council,
representing the international diamond industry, and civil society
organisations, such as Partnership-Africa Canada, participate in the KP and
have played a major role since its outset.
How
does the Kimberley Process work?
The
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on
its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as
‘conflict-free’ and prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate
trade. Under the terms of the KPCS, participating states must meet ‘minimum
requirements’ and must put in place national legislation and institutions;
export, import and internal controls; and also commit to transparency and the
exchange of statistical data. Participants can only legally trade with other
participants who have also met the minimum requirements of the scheme, and
international shipments of rough diamonds must be accompanied by a KP
certificate guaranteeing that they are conflict-free.
Sources:
pib.
Paper
3:
Topic:
Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes in industrial policy and
their effects on industrial growth.
Scheme
for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector (SCBTS)
Context:
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for a new
skill development scheme covering the entire value chain of the textile sector
excluding Spinning & Weaving in organized Sector, titled “Scheme for
Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SCBTS)” from 2017-18 to 2019-20 with an
outlay of Rs. 1300 crore.
Key
facts:
§ The
scheme will have National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) compliant
training courses with funding norms as per the Common Norms notified by
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
§ The
scheme will be implemented for the benefit of all sections of the society
across the country including rural, remote, LWE affected, North East, J&K
by imparting skills in the identified job roles. Preference will be given to
various social groups, SC, ST, differently abled, minorities and other vulnerable
groups.
§ The
skilling programmes would be implemented through textile Industry /Units,
reputed training institutions and Institutions of Ministry of Textiles /State
Governments having placement tie-ups with textile industry/units.
§ The
objectives of the scheme are to provide demand driven, placement oriented
skilling programme to incentivize the efforts of the industry in creating jobs
in the organized textile and related sectors; to promote skilling and skill
up-gradation in the traditional sectors through respective Sectoral
Divisions/organizations of Ministry of Textiles; and to provide livelihood to
all sections of the society across the country.
Sources:
pib.
Topic:
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Pare
Hydroelectric Plant
Context:
A Loan agreement and a Guarantee agreement for providing additional funding of
Euro 20 million has been signed for the project ‘Pare Hydroelectric Plant’
under Indo-German Bilateral Development Cooperation.
About
the Pare Hydroelectric project:
What
is it? The Pare Hydro Electric Project (2 x 55 MW) is planned as a
run-of-the-river scheme on the Dikrong River in the Papumpare District of
Arunachal Pradesh.
The
broad objective of the project is generation of
hydroelectric power for socio-economic development of the North Eastern Region.
The
purpose of the project is efficient and
ecological friendly generation of electric power. This will contribute to the
economic efficient generation of power, growth in the North East region and
protection of global climate.
Facts
for Prelims:
The
Dikrong is one of the major north bank tributaries of the river Brahmaputra,
which originates from the lesser Himalayan ranges in Arunachal Pradesh. The
total length of river Dikrong is 145 kilometer. It flows through the hilly
region of Arunachal Pradesh for a distance of about 113 kilometer and remaining
32 kilometers it flows through the plains of Assam.
Sources:
pib.
Facts
for Prelims:
Naseem-Al-Bahr:
What
is it? It is a bilateral exercise between Indian Navy and Oman Navy. The
exercise is also called as “Sea Breeze”. The 11th edition of this exercise was
held in Muscat. The first exercise Indian Navy with Royal Navy of Oman was
conducted in 1993 and this year marks 24 years of Indian Navy -Royal Navy of
Oman bilateral exercises.
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