PERIYAR IAS CURRENT AFFAIRS 16-MAY-2018
Topic: Welfare
schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and
the performance of these schemes.
Atal Pension Yojana
Context: Atal
Pension Yojana has added over 1 crore subscribers since its launch in May 2015,
the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) said recently.
Atal Pension Yojana (APY) was launched in May 2015 and current number of
subscriber stands at 1.10 crore.
About APY:
What is it?
The Atal
Pension Yojana became operational from June 1, 2015 and is available to all the
citizens of India in the age group of 18-40 years.
Features:
§ Under the
scheme, a subscriber would receive a minimum guaranteed pension of Rs 1,000 to
Rs 5,000 per month, depending upon his contribution, from the age of 60 years.
§ The same
pension would be paid to the spouse of the subscriber and on the demise of both
the subscriber and the spouse, the accumulated pension wealth is returned to
the nominee.
§ The
Central Government would also co-contribute 50% of the total contribution or
Rs. 1000 per annum, whichever is lower, to each eligible subscriber account,
for a period of 5 years, that is, from 2015-16 to 2019-20, to those who join
the NPS before 31st December, 2015 and who are not members of any statutory
social security scheme and who are not Income Tax payers.
What’s important?
§ For
Prelims: Key features of APY.
§ For Mains:
Significance and the need for inclusive growth.
Sources:
pib.
Topic:
Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs,
various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other
stakeholders.
‘Bharat Inclusion Seed Fund’
Context: Indian
Institute of Management Ahmedabad’s (IIMA’s) centre for innovation, incubation,
and entrepreneurship (CIIE) has launched ‘Bharat Inclusion Initiative’.
About Bharat Inclusion Initiative:
§ The Bharat
Inclusion Initiative aims to provide a continuum of solutions to
inclusion-focused tech entrepreneurs across the pre-incubation, seed and
scale-up stage and help them jump to the next orbit.
§ It is a
$25 million initiative that will look to mentor and invest in start-ups in the
early stage and seed segment over the next three-four years.
§ The fund
will look at start-ups in areas such as financial inclusion, livelihood,
education, agriculture, and health.
§ The
initiative received an initial pledge of $12.5 million from the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and Omidyar
Network.
What’s important?
§ For
Prelims: Bharat Inclusive initiative.
§ For Mains:
Startups in India- Need, significance, challenges and solutions.
Sources:
toi.
Topic: Effect
of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s
interests, Indian diaspora.
Trade facilitation pact in services
Context: India
has pitched for inclusion of the trade facilitation pact on services in the
World Trade Organisation (WTO) saying it would help promote growth of the
global economy.
Background:
On the
lines of the trade facilitation pact in goods, India has submitted a detailed
proposal to the WTO to negotiate a trade facilitation agreement in services
(TFS). India is pitching for this pact as the sector contributes over 60% to
the GDP and 28% to total employment.
About Trade Facilitation agreement in
services:
§ The TFS
proposal aims at liberalising rules for movement of professionals and other
steps to reduce transaction costs with a view to boost growth of the services
sector.
§ It will
focus on issues like liberalised visa regime, long-term visas for business
community and freer movement of professionals for the greater benefit of both
India and the world, among others.
Key proposals:
§ The
proposed agreement would set provisions on all four modes of services supply of
the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).
§ For
services supplied through “mode 3” (a foreign company setting up subsidiaries
or branches to provide services in another country), it suggests streamlining
the setting up of businesses through a “single window”.
§ For the
cross-border movement of services suppliers (known as “mode 4”), it suggests
simplifying work permit and visa procedures and ensuring that measures relating
to taxation, fees and social security contributions do not unfairly disadvantage
foreign service suppliers.
§ Other
suggestions include enhancing cooperation among authorities, facilitating
cross-border data flows, and allowing WTO members to comment on measures before
their entry into force. The proposal also foresees special and differential
treatment for developing countries.
Need for Trade Facilitation in Services:
The TFS
Agreement, in conjunction with enhanced liberalization commitments, would help
realize the fuller potential for trade in services. Global trade in services represents
a contradiction in the macroeconomic sphere. It has about 70.5% of share in
world GDP and 50.9% share in employment. However, relative to this, its share
in global exports is lower than that of trade in goods, despite having a higher
share in GDP. This dichotomy suggests that there are more barriers existing for
trade in services as compared to trade in goods.
Way ahead:
Given this
context, and India’s ever-growing global services footprint, it is not
surprising that the country has taken the initiative in moving for a TFS
Agreement. It is expected that the TFS Agreement, in conjunction with enhanced
liberalization commitments, would help realize the fuller potential for trade
in services. It would both complement and supplement the progressive liberalization
of this. By moving the proposal for a TFS Agreement, India has opened the floor
for negotiation for more interactive trade in services at the multilateral
level.
What’s important?
§ For
Prelims: Trade Facilitation agreement.
§ For Mains:
TFS- need, challenges and significance.
Sources:
the hindu.
Paper 3:
Topic:
e-technology in the aid of farmers.
GM mustard
Context: Genetic
Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has asked the developer of GM Mustard to
undertake “field demonstration” to generate additional data to check whether
the transgenic oilseed affects honey bees and other pollinators and also
whether it negatively impacts soil health.
Background:
GEAC had
last year given its nod to this indigenously developed transgenic oilseed and
recommended it to the environment ministry for final clearance. However, the
government later asked it to re-examine the entire issue after receiving
several representations both in support and against GM mustard.
What next?
The
developer – Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants of the Delhi
University – will now have to undertake field demonstrations on GM mustard in
an area of five acres at two or three different locations to generate relevant
data before approaching the regulator again for its consideration of commercial
release.
Opposition:
The GEAC’s
latest move of asking the applicant to undertake “field demonstration” has
drawn flak from farm activists. They have been opposing environmental release
of any genetically engineered crops on the ground of its adverse impact on
human health and biodiversity even as a sub-committee of the central regulator
had concluded in 2016 that the GM mustard would be safe for human consumption
and environment.
About GEAC:
§ The
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the apex body constituted in
the Ministry of Environment and Forests under ‘Rules for Manufacture, Use,
Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered
Organisms or Cells 1989’, under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
§ The GEAC
is responsible for approval of proposals relating to release of genetically
engineered organisms and products into the environment including experimental
field trials (Biosafety Research Level trial-I and II known as BRL-I and
BRL-II).
What’s important?
§ For
Prelims: GM foods, GEAC and Environment Protection Act.
§ For Mains:
GM crops- Need, concerns, benefits and challenges.
Sources:
the hindu.
Topic:
indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Startup Ranking Framework
Context: 30
States and Union Territories have participated in the State Startup Ranking
Framework 2018 launched by DIPP.
What next?
§ The
participating States and UTs shall now be evaluated on a score of 100, against
38 action points categorized into 7 areas of intervention such as Startup
Policy and implementation, Incubation support, Seed Funding, Angel and Venture
Funding, Simplification of Regulations, Easing Public Procurement and Awareness
& Outreach.
§ In order
to evaluate States/UTs in a balanced and transparent manner, the assessment
will be based on the aggregate score of the documentary proofs substantiating
the implementation of action points by the State/ UT Government and also
feedback from Startup ecosystem beneficiaries/components.
§ DIPP has
appointed seven dedicated evaluation committees involving members from all
relevant departments and reputed players in the ecosystem, for evaluating
States’ responses in each area of intervention.
About the Ranking Framework:
§ The key
objective of the Startup States and UTs Ranking Framework is to encourage
States and UTs to take proactive steps towards strengthening the Startup
ecosystems at the local level.
§ The
Ranking Framework will measure the impact of each step initiated at the local
level for building a strong Startup ecosystem. The Ranking Framework will also
enable contnuous learning through the dissemination of good practices.
§ The
Ranking Framework is based on the feedback collected from Startup ecosystem
stakeholders, which include startups, mentors, investors, accelerators,
incubators and the government bodies. Areas which should be given greater
thrust like seed funding support, women entrepreneurship are given more score.
Significance of Startups:
India is
home to about 20,000 startups, with about 1,400 beginning operations every
year. They are not only driving economic growth but also leading to
technological innovations and employment generation in every state.
Entrepreneurs are introducing new solutions everyday and also improving
existing processes. To encourage and help statrups the Govt of India has taken
the lead in creating policies and a framework. Many States and UTs have a
startup focussed environment with ease of doing business for startups.
Way ahead:
The Govt
has to align its strategies to tap into the infinite potential of young
entrepreneurial minds. Startups need help in the journey from idea to business
and business to success. States will also have to take proactive steps to
enable startup ecosystems at the local level.
Sources:
pib.
Facts for Prelims:
First all- woman Post Office Passport Seva
Kendra:
Context:
The 192nd Post Office Passport Seva Kendra, opened recently in Phagwara in
Punjab, will be the first in the country to have all-women staff.
Mt. Bhagirathi 2:
Context:
Indian Army Women Officers’ Mountaineering Expedition to Mt. Bhagirathi-II
(6512 metres) consisting of nine women officers, was recently flagged off.
Key facts:
Mt.
Bhagirathi-II is located in the Garhwal Himalayas in Gangotri National Park.
The peak rises right above the Gangotri glacier which sets new challenges for
the climbers. The summit is challenging owing to its technical requirements,
vertical ascents, inclement and unpredictable weather conditions.
National Dengue Day 2018:
National
Dengue Day is observed on May 16 in order to create awareness regarding the
viral disease.
§ Spread of
the disease: It is contagious and can easily be spread from one person to
another. The disease is mainly caused by 1 of the 4 closely related dengue
viruses. The fever is transmitted when Aedes mosquito infected with dengue
virus bites a person.
§ Symptoms:
High fever, severe headaches, nausea, joint and muscle pain are some of the
symptoms of the disease, which typically starts after 6 days of being infected
with it. Those with weak immune system are at the higher risk of dengue.
§ Prevention:
The best way to prevent the disease is to try the best not to get bit by
mosquitoes. Keep your surrounding clean and increase the usage of mosquito
repellents. Avoid roaming in grassy areas in night. Don’t forget to close door
and windows of your house. To prevent breeding of mosquitoes, avoid still water
near your surroundings.
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