1. PRADHAN MANTRI JAN DHAN YOJANA (PMJDY) COMPLETES NINE YEARS

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched to enable financial inclusion, completes nine years on 28 August 2023.

EXPLANATION:

• The total number of PMJDY accounts stood at 500 million, up from 147.2 million at the end of March 2015. At the end of March 2023, the total number of PMJDY accounts stood at 486.5 million.
• Meanwhile, total deposits in these accounts combined stood at a ₹03 trillion on 16 August, up from ₹15,670 crores at the end of March 2015.
• Similarly, the number of Rupay debit cards issued for PMJDY accounts increased to 339.8 million as of 16 August, from 131.5 million at the end of March 2015.
• The PMJDY scheme is responsible for providing basic banking facilities to the underprivileged, catalysing the government’s mission for financial inclusion.
• According to data from the Ministry of Finance, of the total Jan Dhan accounts, 56% belong to women and 67% accounts have been opened in rural/semi-urban areas.
• The PMJDY scheme has been successful in changing the financial landscape of the country and has brought near saturation in bank accounts for adults.
• The success of PMJDY lies in the comprehensive nature of the scheme with an attempt to connect the last mile with the formal banking system through technology, collaboration and innovation.
• Meanwhile, a total of 6.01 lakh villages have been mapped on the Jan Dhan Darshak mobile application, which provides citizen centric platform for locating banking touch points like bank branches, ATMs, etc.

JAN DHAN YOJANA

• The Scheme was announced on 15 August 2014 to provide universal access to banking services. The scheme was launched on 28 August 2014.
• The National Mission of Financial Inclusion named as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana seeks to integrate the poorest of the poor with bank accounts.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is the National Mission for Financial Inclusion.
• It ensures access to financial services, namely, Banking/ Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension in an affordable manner.
• The scheme offers multiple advantages to account holders such as a bank account without requirement of minimum balance, free of cost RuPay debit cards with inbuilt accident insurance of ₹2 lakh and overdraft facility of up to ₹10,000.

Salient features of the scheme

• All households across the countryboth rural and urban are to be covered under the scheme. Bank accounts will be opened for 15 crore poor persons. The current focus is on opening accounts from “every household to every adult”.
• PMJDY accounts are being opened with zero balance.
• All bank accounts opened under the scheme are to have an overdraft (OD) facility of Rs 10,000 for Aadhar-linked accounts after satisfactory operation in the account for 6 months. There will not be any conditions attached for OD upto Rs 2,000. Age limit for availing OD facility is 18-65 years.
• Issuance of RuPay Debit Card with inbuilt Rs 2 lakh personal accident insurance cover. The increased coverage amount of Rs. 2 lakh is for PMJDY accounts opened after 28.08.2018.
• A minimum monthly remuneration of Rs 5,000 to business correspondents who will provide the last link between the account holders and the bank.
• PMJDY accounts are eligible for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Atal Pension Yojana (APY), Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Bank (MUDRA) scheme.

Jan Dhan Darshak App (JDD App)

• JDD App is a mobile application which provides a citizen centric platform for locating banking touch points such as bank branches, ATMs, Banking Correspondents (BCs), Indian Post Payment Banks etc. in the country.
• Over 13 lakh banking touchpoints have been mapped on the JDD App. The facilities under Jan Dhan Darshak App could be availed as per the need and convenience of common people.
• This app is also being used for identification of villages which are yet to covered by banking outlets within 5 km radius.
• These identified villages are allocated to various banks by concerned SLBCs for opening of banking outlets. The efforts have resulted in a significant decrease in number of uncovered villages.

SOURCE: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1952793

2. P75 (I) PROGRAMME

TAG: GS 3: SECURITY; SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: A combination of structural inefficiencies, budgetary changes, tendering problems, delays, and institutional ad-hocism have hindered India’s submarine manufacturing ambitions. India must ensure adequate institutional thrust on overcoming impediments and moving ahead with the P75(I) programme for submarine manufacture.

EXPLANATION:

• The original P75 proposed the domestic construction of six Scorpène-class conventional diesel-electric submarines by Mazagaon Docks Limited through a transfer of technology collaboration with France’s Naval Group.
• The project was supposed to be completed by 2017. However, far from completion, the lead boat of the P75 project, INS Kalvari, was only commissioned in 2017.
• Only recently has the country commissioned the fifth submarine out of the proposed six submarines; the final one is expected next year.
• The more recent P75(I) programme budgeted at approximately Rs 40,000 crore to build six conventional submarines with state-of-the-art sensors and weapons and, with an air-independent propulsion system (AIP) is also lagging behind schedule.
• It is now essential for India to reinvigorate the P75(I) programme and capitalise on the reported bids.
• The Navy and the ministry of defence must sort out impractical delivery schedules, stringent technology transfer requirements, detrimental liability clauses, restrictive contractual practices, and penalties that have impeded the programme.

What is Project-75 (I)?

• Project-75 (India) or P-75(I), is a military acquisition initiative by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• The initiative aims to procure diesel-electric attack submarines with fuel cells and Air-Independent Propulsion System (AIP) for the Indian Navy to build India’s naval strength and develop indigenous submarine-building capabilities.

Difference between Project 75 and Project 75I

• Project 75I is a follow-up to Project 75 and improves upon the design and technology of its predecessor.
• The conventional diesel-electric submarines such as the Scorpene, under Project 75,  come with improved stealth features such as advanced acoustic absorption techniques, low radiated noise levels, long-range guided torpedoes, tube-launched anti-ship missiles, sonars and sensor suites.
• The AIP technology will improve on this in Project 75I building six submarines that can stay submerged for up to two weeks. These submarines may even be larger in size compared to the ones under Project 75.

What is Project 75?

• Project-75 was conceived in 1997 for the construction of two indigenous Submarines known as Type 1500.
• The project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the decision-making body of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), which comes under MoD, was contracted to build the submarines in collaboration with Thomson-CSF (TCSF), France, at an estimated cost of Rs. 700 crore.
• Project 75 was aimed at building six conventional Scorpene-class attack submarines.
• 6 Submarine Names List in Project 75

1. The first submarine under Project 75 was INS Kalvari. It was delivered in 2015 and joined the service in December 2017.
2. Within only two years, in September 2019, INS Khanderi, the 2nd submarine under Project 75, was deployed.
3. The third submarine, INS Karanj, was inducted in March 2021.
4. INS Vela, the fourth submarine under Project 75, joined the fleet in November 2021.
5. The fifth submarine, INS Vagir, commenced in November 2020 and is anticipated to be appointed by the latter quarter of 2022.
6. The sixth submarine completed under the project is INS Vagsheer. It is a reincarnation of the first Vagsheer, withdrawn from service in April 1997. The vessel is titled after the name of a fatal deep sea hunter in the Indian Ocean and was launched in April 2022.

Five of these submarines have now been built, with the last one, INS Vaghsheer, being readied to commence sea trials. It will likely be inducted into the Navy by the end of this year.

SOURCE: https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/p75i-programme-indias-rocky-submarine-making-voyage/3224299/

3. THE UN COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW (UNCITRAL)

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: India and Iran drop foreign arbitration clause in Chabahar port issue. Both sides have agreed to pursue arbitration under rules framed by the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) which is favoured by India over other international trade arbitration mechanisms.

EXPLANATION:

• In a move aimed at boosting India-Iran commercial relations, Tehran and New Delhi have agreed to drop the clause for arbitration in foreign courts concerning the Chabahar port.
• The new move to pursue arbitration under rules framed by the UN Commission on International Trade Law will help firm up longer-term agreement and boost investor confidence in Chabahar.
• According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Both countries reiterated their commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation including to realise the full potential of Chabahar Port as a connectivity hub.
• A longer-term term agreement between India and Iran over Chabahar will ensure greater predictability and boost the confidence of stakeholders in the feasibility of the facility which is located in southeastern coast of Iran.

UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)

• The term United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) established in 1966, refers to a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly.
• It is the core legal body of the U.N,’s system in the field of international trade law. The official function of UNCITRAL is to modernize and harmonize the rules of international business.
• UNCITRAL is headquartered in New York, which is the same location as the U.N.’s headquarters. Annual sessions take place once each year usually in the summer and are held alternatively in New York and at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna.
• UNCITRAL aims to formulate modern, fair, and harmonized rules for such commercial transactions. The organization is responsible for helping to facilitate international trade and investment.
• Its work includes conventions, model laws, and rules which are acceptable worldwide; legal and legislative guides, and practical recommendations; updated information on case law and enactments of uniform commercial law; technical assistance in law reform projects; and regional and national seminars on uniform commercial law.
• Membership of UNCITRAL is determined by the U.N. General Assembly. The original membership comprised 29 member states of the U.N. But this number was expanded to 36 in 1973. Its membership grew again in 2002 to 60 states, and again in 2022 with a total of 70 member states.
• Member states are deliberately chosen to be globally representative. The organization aims to include 14 African states, 14 Asian states, eight Eastern European states, 10 Latin American and Caribbean states, 14 Western European states, and others.
• It was established in response to the rapid rise of global trade that took place in the 1960s. At the time, national governments recognized the need for harmonized global standards to replace the various national and regional regulations.
• The organization is also responsible for coordinating the work of other bodies active in international trade, both within and outside of the UN, to enhance cooperation, consistency, and efficiency while avoiding duplication.

Its mandate covers include:

• Dispute resolution
• International contract practices
• Transport
• Insolvency
• Electronic commerce
• International payments
• Secured transactions
• Procurement
• The sale of goods

CHABAHAR PORT

• Chabahar Port is India’s first foreign port project and is considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with Central Asian countries.
• The Chabahar port actually contains two separate ports called Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti.
• It is located in South eastern Iran in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan in the Gulf of Oman.  It is the only Iranian port with direct access to the ocean.
• The idea is that the port would enable India to bypass Pakistan and access Afghanistan, and ultimately Central Asia.
• Moreover, the port could serve as a hub for transit trade between India, Iran, and Afghanistan, and provide an alternative route to the traditional Silk Road that passes through China.
• With its strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz and the Indian Ocean, the port offers significant potential.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-and-iran-drop-foreign-court-arbitration-for-chabahar-port/article67234071.ece

4. ADITYA L1 MISSION

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Indian Space & Research Organization (ISRO) is all set to launch the Aditya L1 on 2^nd September 2023 after the successful landing of Chandrayaan 3.

WHAT IS ADITYA L1 MISSION?

• Aditya L1 shall be the first space based Indian mission to study the Sun.
• The spacecraft shall be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth.
• A satellite placed in the halo orbit around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/eclipses.
• This will provide a greater advantage of observing the solar activities and its effect on space weather in real time.
• The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle and magnetic field detectors.
• Using the special vantage point L1, four payloads directly view the Sun, and the remaining three payloads carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the Lagrange point L1.
• It will provide important scientific studies of the propagatory effect of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium.

Layers of the sun

WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF ADITYA-L1 MISSION?

The major objectives of Aditya-L1 mission are:

• Study of Solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics.
• Study of chromospheric and coronal heating, physics of the partially ionized plasma, initiation of the coronal mass ejections, and flares.
• Observe the in-situ particle and plasma environment providing data for the study of particle dynamics from the Sun.
• Physics of solar corona and its heating mechanism.
• Diagnostics of the coronal and coronal loops plasma’s temperature, velocity, and density.
• Development, dynamics, and origin of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs).
• Identify the sequence of processes that occur at multiple layers (chromosphere, base, and extended corona) which eventually leads to solar eruptive events.
• Magnetic field topology and magnetic field measurements in the solar corona.
• Drivers for space weather (origin, composition, and dynamics of solar wind.

ADITYA-L1 PAYLOADS:

• The instruments of Aditya-L1 are tuned to observe the solar atmosphere mainly the chromosphere and corona.
• In-situ instruments will observe the local environment at L1.
• There are total seven payloads on-board with four of them carrying out remote sensing of the Sun and three of them carrying in-situ observation.

Type	Sl. No.	Payload	Capability
Remote Sensing Payloads	1	Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)	Corona/Imaging & Spectroscopy
	2	Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)	Photosphere and Chromosphere Imaging- Narrow & Broadband
	3	Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)	Soft X-ray spectrometer: Sun-as-a-star observation
	4	High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS)	Hard X-ray spectrometer: Sun-as-a-star observation
In-situ Payloads
	5	Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX)	Solar wind/Particle Analyzer Protons & Heavier Ions with directions
	6	Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA)	Solar wind/Particle Analyzer Electrons & Heavier Ions with directions
	7	Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers	In-situ magnetic field (Bx, By and Bz).

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/after-moon-mission-space-physics-lab-at-vssc-preparing-to-study-the-solar-wind/article67241668.ece

5. XV BRICS SUMMIT

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have been invited to become full members of BRICS from 1 January 2024.

EXPLANATION:

• The 15th BRICS Summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 22-24 August 2023.
• Its theme was “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism”.
• Terrorism, multilateral reform, digital economy, trade and food security issues were discussed during the summit.

EXPANSION OF BRICS:

• In a landmark decision, members of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in August 2023 declared expansion of the grouping by welcoming six new countries into the fold.
• Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have been invited to become full members of BRICS from 1 January 2024.
• BRICS would be able to have new dynamism and energy in its actions.
• Addition of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE is of special significance as the three will represent both flanks of the energy-rich Gulf in the BRICS.
• Joining the BRICS is also the first time that Iran and Saudi Arabia took a common diplomatic decision months after they normalised relation in April 2023.

BRICS Nations and prospective countries

Blue colour represent members.

Orange colour represent new members.

Green colour represent Prospective members.

BRICS:

• The term “BRIC” was coined by the British Economist Jim O’Neill in 2001 to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
• The leaders of BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries met for the first time in St. Petersburg, Russia, on the margins of G8 Outreach Summit in July 2006.
• In September 2006, the group was formalised as BRIC during the 1st BRIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which met on the sidelines of the General Debate of the UN Assembly in New York City.
• After a series of high-level meetings, the 1st BRIC summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia on 16 June 2009.
• BRIC group was renamed as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) after South Africa was accepted as a full member at the BRIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York in September 2010.
• South Africa attended the 3rd BRICS Summit in Sanya, China on 14 April 2011.
• BRICS is an important grouping bringing together the major emerging economies from the world, comprising 41% of the world population, having 24% of the world GDP and over 16% share in the world trade.
• BRICS countries have been the main engines of global economic growth over the years.
• Over a period, BRICS countries have come together to deliberate on important issues under the three pillars of political and security, economic and financial and cultural and people to people exchanges.
• The chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S. South Africa is the chair for 2023.
• Initiatives of BRICS:

1. New Development Bank (NDB)
2. Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA)
3. BRICS Payment System
4. Customs Agreements
5. Remote Sensing Satellite
6. BRICS is planning to launch its own “new currency” system, a major step towards de-dollarization (reducing dependence on the US dollar for trade)

For comprehensive analysis of the BRICS Summit 2023 please watch the editorial discussion class to be held on 5^th September 2023 at 6 PM. Classes available in offline and online (youtube also) mode.

SOURCE: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/brics-plus-6-the-outcome-of-the-jo-burg-summit-11693156184114.html

1. GREEN OPEN ACCESS RULES 2022

TAGS: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Union New and Renewable Energy Minister has directed the industry to set targets under the Green Open Access Rules 2022, in a bid to accelerate the country’s renewable energy programmes.

EXPLANATION:

• Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022 has been notified by Ministry of Power.
• The Ministry of Power notified Power System Operation Corporation (POSOCO) as Central Nodal Agency to set up and operate a single window green energy open access system for renewable energy under these Rules.
• It was launched in order to further accelerate our ambitious renewable energy programmes, with the objective of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and green energy for all.
• As per the Electricity Act 2003, the tariff is determined by the Appropriate Commission. Accordingly, the tariff for the green energy shall be determined by Appropriate Commission and shall comprise of the average pooled power purchase cost of the renewable energy, cross-subsidy charges, if any, and service charges covering the prudent cost of the distribution licensee for providing green energy to the consumers.
• It is a major step towards achieving India’s aims to cut emissions in India to net zero by 2070 and aims to achieve 500 GW renewable power capacity, reduce emissions by one billion tonnes and an emissions intensity of the GDP by 45 percent by 2030.

Key Features:

• There will be a uniform Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO), on all obligated entities in area of a distribution licensees. Green hydrogen/green ammonia has also been included for fulfillment of its RPO. The consumers will be given green certificate beyond their RPO obligation.
• It will provide certainty on open access charges to be levied on Green Energy Open Access consumers which includes transmission charges, wheeling charges, cross-subsidy surcharge and standby charges.
• It also enables a simplified procedure for the open access to green power. Open access permits a consumer to purchase power from a source of his/her choice.
• The transaction limit would be minimum 100 KW for non-captive consumers. No limit has been kept for captive consumers.
• These rules are notified for promoting generation, purchase and consumption of green energy including the energy from Waste-to-Energy plants.
• Consumers are entitled to demand supply of Green Power from Discoms. Discoms would be obligated to procure and supply green power to eligible consumers.
• Commercial and Industrial consumers are allowed to purchase green power on voluntarily basis.

Green Open Access Registry:

• It is a transparent platform through which long term, medium term and short-term open access transactions will be managed and performed to interstate transmission system and intra state transmission system.
• The Power Ministry has notified the Grid Controller of India Limited as the central nodal agency to operate the Green Open Access Registry (GOAR) portal which is the single window portal to register and apply for the green energy open access.
• This platform will be accessible to all the stakeholders present in the Indian Power Market.
• This platform will provide automated transaction workflows to ease the turnaround time of transaction for all open access consumers.

Green energy open access portal:

• It will allow consumers with a 100 KW-sanctioned load to get a supply of renewables. The government rules mandate approval for green energy open access to be granted to consumers in a time-bound manner within 15 days.

Power System Operation Corporation Limited (POSOCO)

• It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL). It was formed in March 2010 to handle the power management functions of PGCIL.
• It is responsible to ensure the integrated operation of the Grid in a reliable, efficient and secure manner.
• It consists of 5 Regional Load Despatch Centres and a National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC).

2. 25 YEARS OF KUDUMBASHREE

TAGS:  GS 1: SOCIETY

THE CONTEXT: In her maiden visit to Kerala, President of India inaugurated the silver jubilee celebrations of Kudumbashree, the largest self-help group network in the country. The president had also released a handbook titled chuvadu (footsteps) that codified ideas for the movement’s future and the achievements it has gained so far.

EXPLANATION:

• Kudumbashree means “prosperity of the family” in the local Malayalam language is the Kerala government’s ongoing participatory “poverty eradication and women empowerment” mission.
• It began in 1998 as a cluster of microcredit neighbourhood groups with thrift and credit activities, creating many crisis managers and entrepreneurs of humble origins over the years.
• The collective transformed ordinary women from poverty-ridden families into agents of change and recovery in critical times like the flood and the pandemic.
• Now, Kudumbashree is Kerala’s biggest social capital. Its members have risen to become elected members of the three-tier local bodies after enforcing the 33 per cent women reservation (in Kerala local bodies, the percentage of reservations is 50).

Background:

The two immediate contexts for Kudumbashree are the following:

• First, in 1997, a three-member task force constituted by the Kerala Government recommended setting up a State Poverty Eradication Mission (SPEM). However, it became fully operational only in April 1999 with the name Kudumbashree Mission.
• The second immediate context was the 73^rdand 74^th Constitution Amendment Acts. The Kerala government used the amendment as an opportunity to deliver poverty alleviation programmes through local participation and self-government institutions.
• From the beginning, it has been functioning under the local self-government department by accepting financial support from the union government and NABARD.

Membership:

• The Mission conceives women empowerment and community development as central to poverty eradication.
• Thus, the membership of the Mission’s community network is limited to women.
• During the initial phase, the membership consisted of women from below-poverty-line households but currently all adult women are eligible for membership to the Neighbourhood Groups the basic units of Kudumbashree’s community network.
• The membership follows a “one family, one member” rule. However, any women irrespective of this rule can participate in the discussion and activities of the Kudumbashree.

Organization:

• A three-tiered community network or self-help groups of women implements this mission.
• At the primary level, Kudumbasree is the collective of Neighbourhood Groups (NHG). Area Development Societies (ADS) at the ward level and Community Development Societies (CDS) at the local government level.
• The first and the lowest tier of Kudumbashree’s community network is Neighbourhood Groups (or Ayalkootamin Malayalam) consisting of ten to twenty women. The second level consisting of two or more Neighbourhood Groups is Area Development Societies. All Area Development Societies in an area are affiliated to the local self-government level Community Development Society.

Aims:

• The mission aims to eradicate poverty through women empowerment.
• economic empowerment such as through collective farming, livestock farming, market development
• social empowerment such as destitute identification and rehabilitation, and rehabilitation of mentally challenged persons
• women empowerment consisting of educational programmes and programmes for the elimination of violence against women.
• It also plans income-generating activities involving agriculture or micro-enterprises to be run jointly by members of the network.
• It also helps the local self-government institutions (Panchayats in rural areas and Municipalities in urban areas) in the preparation and implementation of the local bodies’ anti-poverty plan, women component plan, and other local development schemes.
• It also assists the local self-government institutions in the identification of beneficiaries of central (federal) and state (provincial) government’s welfare programmes.
• Community Development Society of the network acts as a liasing body with banks for loans for the network’s activities.
• It also facilitates capacity building activities by training and providing information to women in particular to assume leadership roles.
• It also helps in creating awareness around gender related government initiatives such as prevention of violence against women and legal literacy.

3. ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

TAGS: GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: The World Health Organisation recommended against using artificial sweeteners to achieve weight loss and prevent lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. The report emphasized that while there was a need to cut intake of sugar, it should not be replaced by artificial sweeteners.

EXPLANATION:

Artificial sweeteners or non-sugar sweeteners (NSS):

• Non-sugar sweeteners or artificial sweeteners are intensely sweet chemicals up to several hundred times sweeter than sugar that are used for sweeten food while only adding very little or no calories.
• It provides the sweet taste with very little to no calories. Many diabetics use the sweeteners in their tea and coffee, but there is a growing market for packaged foods and beverages using these sweeteners to offer low-calorie options.
• Common NSS include acesulfame K(Ace-K), aspartame, advantame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia and stevia derivatives. Erythritol, a popular artificial sweetener that is widely available in India and abroad under various brand name was associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

WHO recommendations:

• The WHO guideline on NSS is part of a suite of existing and forthcoming guidelines on healthy diets that aim to establish lifelong healthy eating habits, improve dietary quality and decrease the risk of NCDs worldwide.
• While there could be some weight-lossand reduction in Body Mass Index in the short term as the artificial sweeteners bring down the calories consumed, but in the long run they have been linked to weight gain.
• The sweeteners have also linked to an increased risk of Type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in the long run. It is also linked to bladder cancer and preterm birth when consumed by pregnant women.
• Long-term adverse effects in the form of increased risk of death and disease offset any potential short-term health benefit resulting from the relatively small reduction in body weight and BMI observed in randomized controlled trials.
• The recommendation applies to all people except individuals with pre-existing diabetes and includes all synthetic and naturally occurring or modified non-nutritive sweeteners that are not classified as sugars found in manufactured foods and beverages or sold on their own to be added to foods and beverages by consumers.
• The recommendation does not apply to personal care and hygiene products containing NSS, such as toothpaste, skin cream, and medications, or to low-calorie sugars and sugar alcohols (polyols), which are sugars or sugar derivatives containing calories and are therefore not considered NSS.

4. SUSTAINABILITY AND RELATED INITIATIVES

TAGS: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: There are a number of traditional conservationists who dismiss the works covered under the broader sustainability/nature-based solutions framing it as deceptive. On the other hand, there are hardcore business folks who almost always feel a false sense of piety towards the sustainability agenda.

EXPLANATION:

• Sustainability is the ability to maintain or support a process over time. There is need of the strengthening of a better understanding and a space for deeper engagement and collaboration.
• While conservation is more action-focused on specific areas (landscape, theme, species), sustainability remains a bit more overarching. It is a strategic process of convening multiple stakeholders around a policy objective and programme strategies that would augment the work being done through conservation approaches.

Environment, Social and Governance:

• It is a framework that helps stakeholders understand how an organization is managing risks and opportunities related to environmental, social, and governance criteria (sometimes called ESG factors).
• It typically includes managing and avoiding the depletion of natural resources to maintain global ecological balance.
• It takes the holistic view that sustainability extends beyond just environmental issues.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):

• It is a management concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business  operations and interactions with their stakeholders.
• CSR is generally understood as being the way through which a company achieves a balance of economic, environmental and social imperatives (“Triple-Bottom-Line-  Approach”), while at the same time addressing the expectations of  shareholders and stakeholders.

ESG vs CSR:

CSR may be used as an internal framework, while ESG provides a measure of assessment for investors. Corporate social responsibility is a business model by which companies make a concerted effort to operate in ways that enhance rather than degrade society and the environment whereas ESG provides a more quantitative measure of sustainability.

European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR):

• It is an initiative to limit deforestation caused by forestry and agricultural activities all over the world.
• EU deforestation-free regulation is part of the EU Green Deal and a broader EU strategy to protect the world’s forests.
• While these regulations focus on deforestation caused by illegal timber logging, the new EU deforestation-free regulation covers a broader set of commodities.
• The regulation affects seven specific commodities (cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, wood, rubber, and cattle) and their derivatives, as well as products made using these commodities (e.g. leather, cosmetics, chocolate etc.).
• The new Regulation will require any companyimporting or exporting these commodities from the EU to prove the products are deforestation-free. This applies to any company, regardless of whether they are EU-based or not, and for legal and illegal sources of deforestation in Europe and overseas.
• The Regulation defines a product as deforestation-free when the product itself, its ingredients or its derivatives were not produced on land subject to deforestation or forest degradation after the cut-off date of 31 December 2020. This cut-off date has been suggested to minimize disruption to international supply chains.

Greenwashing:

• It is typically corporate action to be perceived as environmentally conscious for marketing purposes without any notable sustainability efforts.
• It happens when a company makes an environmental claim about something the organization is doing that is intended to promote a sense of environmental impact that doesn’t exist. The green claim is typically about some form of positive effect on the environment.
• Greenwashing is when an organization spends more time and money on marketing itself as environmentally friendly than on actually minimizing its environmental impact.
• It’s a deceitful marketing gimmick intended to mislead consumers who prefer to buy goods and services from environmentally conscious brands Whilst some greenwashing is unintentional and results from a lack of knowledge about what sustainability truly is, it is often intentionally carried out through a wide range of marketing and PR efforts. But the common denominator among all greenwashing is that it is not only misleading, but it’s also really not helping to further sustainable design or circular economy.

As the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s common but differentiated responsibilities says:

The aim is minimum disruption and destruction — not to destroy the planet, the environment and the existing human life and ensure that this life remains available to future generations in its totality. With this understanding, countries and companies are building sustainability reporting into everyday action and attempting to turn theoretical issues into concrete actions.

5. MISSION DefSpace AND 100^TH SPRINT (NAVY) CONTRACT

TAGS: GS 3: SECURITY

THE CONTEXT: Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of Ministry of Defence, has reached a milestone with the signing of its 250^th contract – first under Mission DefSpace and 100^th SPRINT (Navy) contract.

EXPLANATION:

Mission DefSpace:

• Recognising the strategic significance of the space domain, Mission DefSpace was launched with 75 Defence Space Challenges to be addressed by the private sector in 2022.
• It aims to nurture the Indian Private Space industry through challenges addressing every stage of a space mission from mission planning to satellite data analytics.

Mission DefSpace contract

• The first iDEX contract of Mission DefSpace was exchanged where one of the winners of the challenge ‘Micropropulsion system for cubesats’. This challenge is being led by the Defence Space Agency.
• Cubesats are a class of smallsats, which are modular; low-cost; easy to manufacture, integrate, and launch; and form a critical component for launch-on-demand capabilities. For imagery/Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance/communication purposes, cubesats need to be precisely aligned, hence there is a requirement of a compact micropropulsion system for precise manoeuvring and orbit correction.
• InspeCity is developing a gas-based system for this purpose. This technology, once developed, can be integrated with other satellites, including the cubesat swarm being developed under Mission DefSpace.

100^th SPRINT (Navy) contract

‘SPRINT’ initiative:

• The initiative aims at inducting at least 75 technologies/products into the Indian Navy by August 2023 as part of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
• The 100^thSPRINT (Navy) contract was exchanged where the winner of the Challenge was development of a prototype that is a lightweight ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) based communication system using software defined antenna for Low Earth Orbit, Medium Earth Orbit and Geostationary satellite communication.

About iDEX

• iDEX is being implemented by Defence Innovation Organisation(DIO), established under the Department of Defence Production, MoD.
• It will help India become the biggest defence innovation ecosystem in the world in the times to come.
• Its objective is to provide the platform of co-creation & co-development in the defence sector. It aims to engage start-ups to contribute to the defence sector and develop defence and aerospace setup in the country.
• iDEX has also been able to generate thousands of jobs and attract India’s talent back to the country.
• iDEX is working at a path-breaking pace to ensure that its agreements with the start-ups and innovators reach logical conclusions timely, eventually opening a myriad of options for the budding, soon to be unicorns and at the same time addressing the requirement of Services.

1. SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AT WORKPLACE (PREVENTION, PROHIBITION AND REDRESSAL) ACT, 2013 (POSH)

TAGS: GS 1: SOCIETY

THE CONTEXT: Ten years after the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH) came into force, the Supreme Court Bench of India has said there are “serious lapses” and “uncertainty” regarding its implementation, issuing directions to the Union, States, and Union Territories to verify if all government bodies had formed Internal Complaint Committees and to ensure that the composition of such panels is in strict adherence with the Act.

EXPLANATION:

How was the PoSH Act formed?

• Supreme Court noting the absence of any law “enacted to provide for effective enforcement of the basic human right of gender equality” guarantee against “sexual harassment at workplaces”, laid down a set of guidelines in 1997, christened the Vishakha Guidelines, to fill the statutory vacuum till a law could be enacted.
• These were to be “strictly observed in all workplaces” and were binding and enforceable in law.
• The Court drew its strength from several provisions of the Constitution including Article 15 (against discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, and place of birth), also drawing from relevant International Conventions and norms such as the General Recommendations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which India ratified in 1993.
• National Commission for Women submitted drafts of a Code of Conduct for the Workplace in 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2010.
• After this, the Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill was introduced by then Women and Child Development Minister in 2007. The amended Bill came into force on December 9, 2013, as the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) or PoSh Act.

How are sexual harassment, the workplace, and an employee defined under the PoSh Act?

• The PoSH Act defines sexual harassment to include unwelcome acts such as physical contact and sexual advances, a demand or request for sexual favours, making sexually coloured remarks, showing pornography, and any other unwelcome physical, verbal, or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.
• It also lists down five circumstances that would constitute sexual harassment if they are connected to the above-mentioned acts- (i) Implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment in employment (ii) Implied or explicit threat of detrimental treatment in employment (iii) Implied or explicit threat about present or future employment status (iv) Interference with work or creating an intimidating or offensive or hostile work environment and (v) Humiliating treatment likely to affect health or safety.
• Under the Act, an employee is defined not just in accordance with the company law. All women employees, whether employed regularly, temporarily, contractually, on an ad hoc or daily wage basis, as apprentices or interns or even employed without the knowledge of the principal employer, can seek redressal to sexual harassment in the workplace.
• The law expands the definition of ‘workplace’ beyond traditional offices to include all kinds of organisations across sectors, even non-traditional workplaces (for example those that involve telecommuting) and places visited by employees for work. It applies to all public and private sector organisations throughout India.

Internal Complaints Committee (ICC):

• The law requires any employer with more than 10 employees to form an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) which can be approached by any woman employee to file a formal sexual harassment complaint.
• It has to be headed by a woman, have at least two women employees, another employee, and, to pre-empt any undue pressure from senior levels, to include a third party such as an NGO worker with five years of experience, familiar with the challenges of sexual harassment.
• Besides, the Act mandates every district in the country to create a local committee (LC) to receive complaints from women working in firms with less than 10 employees and from the informal sector, including domestic workers, home-based workers, voluntary government social workers and so on.
• These two bodies have to conduct inquiries in line with the POSH Act and comply with the “principles of natural justice” stated in the Rules of the Act.
• A woman can file a written complaint either to the internal or local complaints committee within three to six months of the sexual harassment incident.
• There are two ways to resolve the issue by the committee- “through conciliation” between the complainant and the respondent (which cannot be a financial settlement), or committees could initiate an inquiry, taking appropriate action based on what it finds.
• The employer has to file an annual audit report with the district officer about the number of sexual harassment complaints filed and actions taken at the end of the year. It also makes the employer duty-bound to organise regular workshops and awareness programmes to educate employees about the Act, and conduct orientation and programmes for ICC members. If the employer fails to constitute an ICC or does not abide by any other provision, they must pay a fine of up to ₹50,000, which increases for a repeat offence.

2. INDO-PACIFIC ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR PROSPERITY (IPEF)

TAGS: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATION

THE CONTEXT: In November 2019, India walked out from the trade pact called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Fast forward to 2023, and now India along with many of the same countries, but with China replaced by the United States, is getting into the U.S.-driven Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).

EXPLANATION:

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF):

• It is launched by United States in May 2022.
• IPEF is about developing a strategic-economic bloc an integrated economic system centered on the U.S., and, as importantly, excluding China.
• Members: India, USA, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• This framework will offer tangible benefits that fuel economic activity and investment, promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and benefit workers and consumers across the region.
• The 14 IPEF partners represent 40 percent of global GDP and 28 percent of global goods and services trade.
• The IPEF is designed to be flexible, meaning that IPEF partners are not required to join all four pillars.
• Aim: Its purpose is to “advance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness for our economies. Through this initiative, we aim to contribute to cooperation, stability, prosperity, development, and peace within the region”.

What is different in IPEF from other trade deals?

• Traditionally, trade deals used to be mostly about tariffs. The U.S.’s IPEF completely removes the tariff element of typical trade deals.
• IPEF is not a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Comprehensive and Progressive Transpacific Partnership (CPTPP).
• IPEF as “a 21st century economic arrangement designed to tackle 21st century economic challenges, ranging from setting the rules of the road for the digital economy; to ensuring secure and resilient supply chains; to helping make the kind of major investments necessary in clean energy infrastructure and the clean energy transition; to raising standards for transparency, fair taxation, and anti-corruption”.
• It also seeks commitments to labour and environmental standards, which are highly unpopular in the region.
• Unlike other regional FTAs such as the RCEP or CPTPP, the IPEF does not offer increased market access (especially to the US market) through tariff liberalisation and non-tariff concessions.

The IPEF consists of the following four negotiating pillars:

1. Trade: The IPEF seeks to build “high-standard, inclusive, free, and fair trade commitments and develop new and creative approaches in trade and technology policy that advance a broad set of objectives that fuels economic activity and investment, promotes sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and benefits workers and consumers”.
2. Supply Chains:The IPEF will seek “first-of-their-kind supply chain commitments that better anticipate and prevent disruptions in supply chains to create a more resilient economy”. It also intends to establish an early warning system and coordinate crisis response actions.
3. Clean Energy, Decarbonisation, and Infrastructure: The framework will seek first-of-their-kind commitments on clean energy, decarbonisation, and infrastructure that promote good-paying jobs.
4. Tax and Anti-Corruption:The IPEF will seek new commitments to enact and enforce effective and robust tax, anti-money laundering, and anti-bribery regimes in line with existing multilateral obligations, standards, and agreements to curb tax evasion and corruption in the Indo-Pacific region.

India’s Stand:

• India has joined the other three pillars of supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy but not trade. But there is great pressure on it to join trade too. Joining the trade pillar is the worst, but the other pillars too contribute to developing hard new economic architectures and structures that are not tariff-based.

The rise of the ‘Indo-Pacific’:

• With the shift of the centre of gravity from the Atlantic to Asia, the new concept of the ‘Indo-Pacific’ has entered the geopolitical discourse, replacing the hitherto dominant ‘Asia-Pacific’ construct, even though its geographic boundaries are not well defined.
• Based on maritime geography, the Indo-Pacific refers to a contiguous zone encompassing the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The geographic boundaries of the Indo-Pacific could stretch from East Africa to the west coast of the US and encompass a large number of countries at varying stages of development, with distinct policy agendas and divergent interests.
• Bringing together highly heterogeneous countries with high-standard commitments on the digital economy, green infrastructure, clean energy, and social and environmental standards under the rubric of IPEF is a herculean effort.
• In the economic realm, the Indo-Pacific is one of the world’s most dynamic regions. The region accounts for more than 60% of the global GDP, and almost 50% of the global merchandise trade passes through its waters.
• The region includes the world’s four big economies: the USA, China, Japan, and India. With the engine of global economic growth shifting eastwards, the Indo-Pacific region will gain greater importance in coming years.

3. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND FACIAL RECOGNITION POWERED SOLUTION FOR TELECOM SIM SUBSCRIBER VERIFICATION (ASTR)

TAGS: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has developed an artificial-intelligence-based facial recognition tool that it claims has the capability of running checks on subscriber databases of telecom operators to deduce whether it contains multiple connections associated with the same person.

EXPLANATION:

Origin of ASTR:

• In 2012, DoT had issued an order to all telecom operators that they would have to share their subscriber database including users’ pictures with the department.
• These images constitute the core database on which authorities are running their facial recognition algorithm using ASTR.
• The ASTR project was conceptualised and designed between April 2021 and July 2021 by the DoT’s unit in Haryana.

How ASTR works:

• Human faces in subscribers’ images are encoded using convolutional neural network (CNN) models in order to account for the tilt and angle of the face, opaqueness and dark colour of the images.
• After that, a face comparison is carried out for each face against all faces in the database, and similar faces are grouped under one directory. Two faces are concluded to be identical by ASTR if they match to the extent of at least 97.5 per cent.
• Once the faces are matched, ASTR’s algorithm uses what it describes as “fuzzy logic” to find similarity or approximate matches for the subscriber names.

Benefits of ASTR:

• It can potentially bring down cyber frauds by detecting and blocking possible fraudulent mobile connections.
• ASTR is capable of detecting all SIMs against a suspected face in less than 10 seconds from a database of 1 crore images.
• It also accounts for any typographical errors that might have occurred while the subscriber acquisition form was being filled.

Convolutional neural network (CNN) model:

• It is a type of Deep Learning neural network architecture commonly used in Computer Vision. Computer vision is a field of Artificial Intelligence that enables a computer to understand and interpret the image or visual data.

In a regular Neural Network there are three types of layers:

1. Input Layers: It’s the layer in which we give input to our model. The number of neurons in this layer is equal to the total number of features in our data (number of pixels in the case of an image).
2. Hidden Layer: The input from the Input layer is then feed into the hidden layer. There can be many hidden layers depending upon our model and data size.
3. Output Layer: The output from the hidden layer is then fed into a logistic function like sigmoid or softmax which converts the output of each class into the probability score of each class.

Artificial Intelligence (AI):

• Artificial Intelligence(AI) is a vast subset of computer science revolving around the development of smart machines that can perform tasks that typically need some semblance of human intelligence.
• It is a multi-faceted, interdisciplinary science, but modern advancements in deep learning and machine learning are bringing it into nearly every area of the tech industry.

Facial recognition:

• Facial recognition is a category of biometricsoftware that maps an individual’s facial features mathematically and stores the data as a faceprint. The software uses deep learning algorithms to compare a live capture or digital image to the stored faceprint in order to verify an individual’s identity.

AI face recognition software has the following advantages:

• Real-time identification
• Anti-spoofing measures
• Lessened racial or gender bias due to model training across millions of faces
• Can be used across multiple cameras.

4. 4^th POSITIVE INDIGENISATION LIST

TAGS: GS 3: SECURITY

THE CONTEXT: Defence Ministry Releases Fourth Positive Indigenisation List under make in India to reduce dependence on foreign weapon suppliers.

EXPLANATION:

Positive Indigenisation List:

• In pursuit of atmanirbhartain defence, the Ministry of Defence has approved a “positive-indigenisation list” (PIL) of 928 items which will reduce imports worth Rs 715 crore.
• The list ranges from line replacement units (LRUs) and subsystems to components, high-end materials, and spares.
• The aim of the move is in sync with the government’s overall aim to promote ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence production and to minimise imports by the defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs).
• Gaining self-sufficiency in Defence production would not only guarantee long-term security of our country but also give significant boost to the domestic industry engaged in design, development and manufacturing of weapons and platforms.
• This will also augment the design capabilities of the domestic defence industry by involving academia and research institutions.

4th Positive Indigenisation List:

• It is the fourth such “positive indigenisation list (PIL)” comprising line replacement units, sub-systems and components used for various military platforms, equipment and weapons.
• 4th Positive Indigenisation List released during Def Expo 2022 and This list is in continuation to the three similar PILs that were brought out in December 2021, March 2022 and August 2022.
• 101 more Defence Items will now be procured from indigenous sources. Highly complex systems, sensors, weapons and ammunitions have been included in this list.
• As per preliminary estimates, more than 1,75,000 Cr worth orders would be placed on Indian Industry in the next 5-10 years.
• This would further stimulate the potential of Domestic Research & Development by attracting fresh investment into technology and manufacturing capabilities.
• The items which were already indigenised comprised 262 from the first PIL, 11 from the second list and 37 from the third PIL.
• The ministry said DPSUs will soon initiate procurement action for these notified items.

How will this take place?

• The defence ministry has set specific timelines for import ban of the items, spanning the period from December 2023 to December 2028.
• The DPSUs will undertake indigenisation of these items through different routes under ‘Make’ category and in-house development through the capabilities of MSMEs and private Indian industry, thereby providing impetus to the growth in economy, enhanced investment in defence and reduction in import dependence of DPSUs.
• In addition, this will augment the design capabilities of the domestic defence industry by involving academia and research institutions.
• These lists contain 2,500 items which are already indigenised and 1,238 (351+107+780) items which will be indigenised within the given timelines.

Reasons for the move:

• India is one of the largest importers of arms globally.
• According to estimates, Indian armed forces are projected to spend around USD 130 billion in capital procurement over the next five years.
• This will reduce dependence on imported military platforms and has decided to support domestic defence manufacturing.

5. DATA GOVERNANCE QUALITY INDEX (DGQI)

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has been ranked second among 66 ministries in the Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI) assessment for the December quarter (Q3) of FY23.

EXPLANATION:

• It is conducted by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog
• It aims to measure the maturity level of administrative data systems and their use in decision-making of various ministries and departments on the implementation of central sector schemes and centrally-sponsored schemes.
• It also identifies reforms to reach the frontier of seamless data exchange and its synergistic use within the ministry, while defining clear pathways to achieve these goals.

Under the realm of the overall approach, six key themes have been identified under data systems pillar covered by the Data Governance Quality Index:

• Data Generation: Data generation measures the ability of the respective ministries/departments to efficiently generate useful data in the course of their programme implementation. It covers areas related to the level of digitization, frequency and granularity of data generation. It also assesses if mobile phones, location tracking and GIS mapping is used to authenticate the generated data.
• Data Quality:Data Quality covers processes of scientifically and statistically evaluating data in order to determine whether they meet quality benchmarks. The key areas covered under this theme relate to profiling of data, data quality assessment processes (for e.g. data pipeline design, well defined data schema etc.), data cleaning, use of latest technologies and mobile phones in the process.
• Use of Technology:This theme assesses if emerging technologies are being utilized to improve data robustness. It assesses if MIS of ministries/departments have linkages with PFMS for ensuring transparency and Jan-Dhan, Aadhar and Mobile [JAM-trinity (if applicable)] for delivering last mile services. It also measures if emerging technologies like block chain, big data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, IoT are being used to collect data or to draw analytical insights from it.
• Data Analysis, Use and Dissemination:One of the core themes, it covers if the collected data is being analyzed and used for evidence creation and decision making. It gauges whether ministries/departments are undertaking basic cross-sectional analyses only or regression and predictive analysis as well.
• Data Security and HR Capacity:While data security requires an in-depth analysis in itself, the same is briefly captured in the index also to reflect its importance. These were identified to be the minimum requirements expected to be met and are not meant to be exhaustive in nature.

Several existing data maturity models were studied to develop DGQI’s methodology. Three key steps of data preparedness were identified:

(a)Data Strategy to lay down systemic guidelines

(b) Data Systems to ensure smooth processes of data generation, management and its use

(c) Data driven Outcomes where data is utilized and widely shared by institutions to drive decision making.

The objectives are as follows:

• To enable review and assessment of data preparedness of the data/ MIS systems of the Ministries/Departments on objective parameters of a standardized framework.
• To prepare a self-assessment diagnostic tool that will enable the M/Ds to internally contemplate the need for improving data systems.
• To enable the commissioning agencies to conduct a comparative assessment of data preparedness and source best practices in IT systems which can enable improved cross-learning between the participating agencies.
• It iwill help in laying the foundation of more integrated monitoring systems, for e.g., a single, online, API-integrable ‘Overarching Dashboard’ kind of monitoring system of all the CS/ CSS schemes of all M/Ds, ultimately leading to a state-of-the-art data-driven decision making.

1. CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICERS (CISO) DEEP-DIVE TRAINING PROGRAMME

TAGS: GS 3: SECURITY

CONTEXT:  National e-Governance Division (NeGD), under its Capacity Building scheme, organised 36^th CISO Deep-Dive training programme from 8^th-12^th May 2023 with 24 participants from Central Line Ministries and States/UTs at Indian Institute of Public Administration.

EXPLANATION:

• The five-day intensive training programme is designed for designated CISOs from Central and State/UT Governments, subordinate agencies/PSUs, including public sector banks and insurance companies, technical wings of police and security forces, CTOs and members of technical/PMU teams; also, officers responsible to observe security of IT systems in their respective organisations.
• It is training which aims for partnership between the Government and industry consortium under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
• The deep-dive training specifically aims at educating and enabling CISOs to understand cyber-attacks comprehensively and thoroughly, get necessary exposure in latest technologies of safeguard, and translate the benefits of a resilient e-infrastructure to individual organisations and citizens at large.
• The training also focuses on providing a holistic view of legal provisions, enabling CISOs to formulate policies in the domain of cyber security and build concrete cyber crisis management plans.
• The training programme is bringing together an array of subject matter experts from the industry, the academia and the government to speak on key issues of cyber security: Governance Risk and Compliance, Landscape of Cyber Security Products in India, End Point & Digital Workplace Security, Network Security, Application and Data security.

Cyber Surakshit Bharat:

• It is the initiative of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which was conceptualised with the mission to spread awareness about cyber-crime and build capacities of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and frontline IT officials, across all government departments.
• It is for ensuring adequate safety measures to combat the growing menace – Organisations need to defend their digital infrastructures and become future-ready in tackling cyber-attacks.

Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) roles and responsibilities:

• Establishing a cyber security program and business continuity programme and for drafting of various security policies e.g., Information security policy, Data governance and classification policy, Access control policy, Acceptable use of assets and asset management, Risk assessment and risk treatment methodology, Statement of Applicability, Risk management framework including third parties, Cryptography, Communications security, Information Security awareness programs for all personnel in the organisation and Incident management.
• Interacting with regulatory bodies and external agencies that could be of help to maintain information security for the organization, e.g. CERT-In
• It aims to protect Critical Information Infrastructure as a computer resource, the incapacitation or destruction of which shall have debilitating impact on national security, economy, public health or safety.

2. RAISING AND ACCELERATING MSME PERFORMANCE (RAMP)

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE: SCHEME

CONTEXT:  The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India organised the first meeting of the National MSME Council with emphasis on RAISING AND ACCELERATING MSME PERFORMANCE (RAMP).

EXPLANATION:

• It is a new scheme of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) for addressing the generic and COVID related challenges in the MSME sector by way of impact enhancement of existing MSME schemes, especially, on the competitiveness front.
• This is World Bank assisted Central Sector Scheme commenced in FY 2022-23. The total outlay for the scheme is Rs.6,062.45 crore or USD 808 Million, out of which Rs. 3750 crore or USD 500 Million would be a loan from the World Bank and the remaining Rs.2312.45 crore or USD 308 Million would be funded by the Government of India (GoI).
• The programme aims at improving access to market and credit, strengthening institutions and governance at the Centre and State, improving Centre-State linkages and partnerships, addressing issues of delayed payments and greening of MSMEs.
• In addition to building the MoMSME’s capacity at the national level, the RAMP program will seek to scale up implementation capacity and MSME coverage in State.
• Further, the programme will bolster the inadequately addressed blocks of capacity building, handholding, skill development, quality enrichment, technological upgradation, digitization, outreach and marketing promotion, amongst other things.
• RAMP will complement the Atma Nirbhar Bharat mission by fostering innovation and enhancement in industry standards, practices and provide the necessary technological inputs to the MSMEs to make them competitive and self-reliant, enhancing exports, substituting imports, and promoting domestic manufacturing.

RAMP targets:

• ‘’Policy Provider’’ through the enhanced capacity for evidence-based policy and program design, to enable the delivery of more effective and cost-efficient MSME interventions to improve competitiveness and business sustainability.
• “Knowledge Provider” through bench-marking, sharing and demonstrating best practices/success stories by leveraging international experiences, and
• “Technology Provider” providing access to high-end technology resulting in the digital and technological transformation of MSMEs through state of art Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Internet of things (IoT), Machine Learning etc.

Funding

Funds would flow through RAMP into the Ministry’s budget against Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) to support ongoing MoMSME programmes, focusing on improving market access and competitiveness.

The disbursement of funds from World Bank towards RAMP would be made on fulfilling the following Disbursement Linked Indicators:

• Implementing the National MSME Reform Agenda
• Accelerating MSME Sector Centre-State collaboration
• Enhancing effectiveness of Technology Upgradation Scheme (CLCS-TUS)
• Strengthening Receivable Financing Market for MSMEs
• Enhancing Effectiveness of Credit Guarantee Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) and “Greening and Gender” delivery
• Reducing the incidence of delayed payments

Implementation Strategy

• The overall monitoring and policy overview of RAMP would be done by an apex National MSME Council.
• A RAMP programme committee headed by the Secretary of MoMSME to monitor the specific deliverables under RAMP.
• Further, for day to day implementation there would be programme management units at the National level and in States, comprising professionals and experts competitively selected from the industry to support MoMSME and States, to implement, monitor and evaluate RAMP programme.

The National MSME Council

• It is headed by Minister for MSME, including representation from various Ministries and supported by a secretariat.
• It has been set up to work as an administrative and functional body to oversee inter-Central Ministerial/Departmental co-ordination, Centre State synergies and advise / monitor progress on the reforms mandated in the MSME sector including the RAMP programme.

3. POSHAN BHI, PADHAI BHI

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE: SCHEME

CONTEXT:  Union Minister for Women and Child Development launched the Centre’s flagship programme ‘Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi’, which will focus on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) at anganwadis across the country. 600 crores has been allocated for the training of anganwadi workers to implement the ECCE. The National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) has been roped in for the training of Anganwadi workers.

EXPLANATION:

• As per the guidelines of the National Education Policy 2020, with ‘Poshan bhi Padhai bhi, Government has taken up the goal of strengthening the foundations of the country’s future generations.
• It is not only to make anganwadi centres nutrition hubs but also education-imparting centres.
• It is a pathbreaking ECCE program to ensure that India has the world’s largest, universal, high-quality pre-school network and will focus on education in the mother tongue, as per the New Education Policy.
• Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) which is an important component of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) and envisaged under the National Education Policy.
• Government will target children’s development in every domain mentioned in the National Curriculum Framework, viz., physical and motor development, cognitive development, socio-emotional-ethical development, cultural/artistic development, and the development of communication and early language, literacy, and numeracy.
• All States will follow the national ECCE taskforce recommendations for a play-based, activity-based learning pedagogy, targeted specifically at developmental milestones of 0-3-year olds as well as 3-6-year olds, including special support for Divyang children.
• Through ECCE policy, every child would be provided with at least two hours of high-quality pre-school instruction on a daily basis.
• As stated in the NEP, Anganwadi Centres will be strengthened with high-quality infrastructure, play equipment, and well-trained Anganwadi workers/teachers.
• Poshan bhi Padhai bhi will focus on promoting holistic and quality early stimulation and pre-primary education for children, ensuring the use of developmentally appropriate pedagogies and emphasizing the links with primary education as well as early childhood health and nutrition services.
• Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi program will provide for mother tongue as primary teacher instruction medium, different types of teaching-learning material (visual aids, audio aids, audio-visual and bodily-kinesthetic aids) to Anganwadi Sewikas, and help build a Jan Andolan, to involve communities in strengthening the foundations of the country’s future generation.

Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0)

• It is an Integrated Nutrition Support Programme. It seeks to address the challenges of malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery and by creation of a convergent ecosystem to develop and promote practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity.
• Poshan 2.0 shall focus on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding Norms, Treatment of MAM/SAM and Wellness through AYUSH. It will rest on the pillars of Convergence, Governance, and Capacity-building. Poshan Abhiyan will be the pillar for Outreach and will cover innovations related to nutritional support, ICT interventions, Media Advocacy and Research, Community Outreach and Jan Andolan.

With a view to address various gaps and shortcomings in the on-going nutrition programme and to improve implementation as well as to accelerate improvement in nutrition and child development outcomes, the existing scheme components have been re-organized under Poshan 2.0 into the primary verticals given below:

• Nutrition Support for POSHAN through Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) for children of the age group of 06 months to 6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers (PWLM); and for Adolescent Girls in the age group of 14 to 18 years in Aspirational Districts and North Eastern Region (NER);
• Early Childhood Care and Education [3-6 years] and early stimulation for (0-3 years)
• Anganwadi Infrastructure including modern, upgraded Saksham Anganwadi; and
• Poshan Abhiyaan

The objectives of Poshan 2.0 are as follows:

• To contribute to human capital development of the country
• Address challenges of malnutrition
• Promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for sustainable health and wellbeing
• Address nutrition related deficiencies through key strategies.

4. PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN

TAGS: GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

CONTEXT: World Health Organisation (WHO) said that Covid-19 was no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and that the focus would now be on the long-term management of the infection.

EXPLANATION:

• SARS-CoV-2 was a novel virus which discovered that the infection put the immune system into overdrive, leading to a cytokine storm when immune cells started attacking the patient’s own organs. This tended to happen more in the elderly, and in those with existing comorbidities like diabetes.
• COVID-19 was raised as its highest level of alert and termed as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, a designation that remained in place for over three years.

Three conditions for declaring a disease a public health emergency:

• It is spreading across several countries.
• It is leading to serious illness, hospitalisations, and deaths.
• Serious stress on health systems because of the disease.

Why WHO removed the designation?

• Methods of transmission reduced
• better, cheaper, and point-of-care diagnostics
• a treatment protocol that works
• medicines to prevent viral replication that can help in reducing severity of the diseases
• vaccines that can prevent severe disease.

Public Health Emergency of International Concern

• A PHEIC is a formal declaration by WHO of ‘an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response’, formulated when a situation arises that is ‘serious, sudden, unusual or unexpected’, which ‘carries implications for public health beyond the affected state’s national border’ and ‘may require immediate international action’.
• PHEIC are not confined to only infectious diseases and may cover events caused by chemical agents or radioactive materials. However, to date, all PHEIC declarations have been for viral emerging infectious diseases, not for bacterial diseases, nor for chemical or radioactive materials.
• States have a legal duty to respond promptly to a PHEIC.
• International Health Regulations (IHR) have been the governing framework for global health security since 2007. Declaring public health emergencies of international concern (PHEIC) is a cornerstone of the IHR.
• Six events were declared PHEIC between 2007 and 2020: the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, Ebola (West African outbreak 2013–2015, outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo 2018–2020), poliomyelitis (2014 to present), Zika (2016) and COVID-19 (2020 to present).

The International Health Regulations (IHR):

• It is governing framework for global health security for the past decade and are a nearly universally recognized World Health Organization (WHO) treaty, with 196 States Parties.
• The IHR is one of the six leadership priorities of the WHO programme of work, the purpose of which is to promote health and well-being. Declaring public health emergencies of international concern (PHEIC) is a cornerstone of the IHR.
• The IHR provide an overarching legal framework that defines countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies that have the potential to cross borders.
• It is legally binding on 196 countries, including the 194 WHO Member States.

5. DEEP OCEAN MISSION

TAGS: GS 1: GEOGRAPHY

CONTEXT: India has identified 11 potential sites for exploration of hydrogen sulfide and a dedicated multi-purpose vessel was being acquired to carry out detailed surveys as part of the Deep Ocean Mission. Addressing the first meeting of the Mission Steering Committee it was stated that the technologies developed under the Deep Ocean Mission would help in exploration of the oceans and possible harnessing of non-living resources such as energy, fresh water and strategic minerals.

EXPLANATION:

• It is a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India under Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to explore deep ocean for resources and develop deep sea technologies for sustainable use of ocean resources.
• The deep-sea mining industry is developing specialized underwater mining technology to harvest remotely-located mineral resource from thousands of square kilometers of seafloor, which will involve collecting the nodules at the seabed and bringing them up to a ship for transport to land.

Major Objectives of Deep Ocean Mission:

• To address issues arising from long term changes in the ocean due to climate change
• To develop technologies for deep-sea mission of living (biodiversity) and non-living (minerals) resources
• To develop underwater vehicles and underwater robotics
• To provide ocean climate change advisory services
• To identify technological innovations and conservation methods for sustainable utilization of marine bioresources
• To develop offshore based desalination techniques
• To develop renewable energy generation techniques
• To provide clean drinking water and explore the avenues of desalination of water as well as extracting minerals from the ocean belt.

Components of Deep Ocean Mission:

• Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining, and Manned Submersible: A manned submersible will be developed to carry three people to a depth of 6000 metres in the ocean with a suite of scientific sensors and tools.
• Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services: A suite of observations and models will be developed to understand and provide future projections of important climate variables on seasonal to decadal time scales under this proof-of-concept component.
• Create awareness amongst the public, students, academicians and user communities about the various fields of Earth system science as well as on the achievements and services rendered by MoES.
• Technological innovations for exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity: Bio- prospecting of deep-sea flora and fauna including microbes and studies on sustainable utilization of deep-sea bio-resources will be the main focus. This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of Marine Fisheries and allied services.
• Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration: The primary objective of this component is to explore and identify potential sites of multi-metal hydrothermal sulphides mineralization along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges. This component will additionally support the Blue Economy priority area of deep-sea exploration of ocean resources.
• Energy and freshwater from the Ocean: Studies and detailed engineering design for offshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plant are envisaged in this proof-of-concept proposal. This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of off-shore energy development.
• Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology: This component is aimed as development of human capacity and enterprise in ocean biology and engineering. This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of Marine Biology, Blue trade and Blue manufacturing.

India’s First and Unique Manned Ocean Mission, Samudrayan

• It was launched in 2021 from Chennai. With this step India joined the elite club of nations such as USA, Russia, Japan, France and China in having such underwater vehicles for carrying out subsea activities.
• The Samudrayaan Mission’s manned submersible vehicle MATSYA 6000 will help conduct deep-ocean exploration for resources such as gas hydrates, polymetallic manganese nodules, hydro-thermal sulphides, and cobalt crusts, which are found at depths of 1000 to 5500 metres.
• Under the Deep Ocean Mission, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) constructed the manned submersible with a depth capacity of 6000 metres.
• It will facilitate MoES in carrying out deep ocean exploration of the nonliving resources such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydro-thermal sulphides and cobalt crusts, located at a depth between 1000 and 5500 metres.

What are Polymetallic nodules?

• It primarily consists of precipitated iron oxyhydroxides and manganese oxides, onto which metals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, titanium and rare earth elements absorb.
• Mining of polymetallic nodules has been spurred by the need for critical metals to support growing populations, urbanization, high-technology applications and the development of a green-energy economy.
• These nodules are found in various deep ocean regions, including the deep Pacific and Indian Oceans.
• They are used in making electronics like rechargeable batteries and touch screens, among other things.