World Bamboo Conference-2016

8th April, 2016

World Bamboo Conference-2016

Bamboo

Trade of 20 billion US dollar in World Bamboo Market by the end of 2015.

Uses:

The plants have been set up for rayon /cellulose fibers for the production and exports of more quality bamboo fabrics like bath robs, baby wears, T- shirts, jackets, as well as suits.

Geography:

13% forest area is comprised of bamboo. More than 137 species of bamboo is grown in the country which are used for 1500 diversified utilities.

Scheme:

National Bamboo Mission commenced in 2006 has been renamed as National Agriculture Forest and Bamboo Mission.

1436 nurseries have been established to supply the quality saplings of bamboo.

The programmes address four major areas of bamboo development as follows: Research and Development, Plantation and Development, Handicrafts Development and Marketing

India Water Week -2016

8th April, 2016

India Water Week -2016

Theme: 

“Water for All: Striving Together”

Partner country: 

Israel

Our Geography:

India represents 17% of world population, contains only 4% of renewable water resources

Govt programs:

National Water Mission

Launched in 2011,  objective of conservation, minimization of wastage and equitable distribution of water. 

Interlinking of Rivers

To address regional imbalances in water availability. 

Expected to provide water for the irrigation of 35 million hectares of land and also facilitate 34,000 MW of hydropower. 

Namami Gange

Ganga Rejuvenation by consolidating ongoing works and preparing a comprehensive 5-year action plan. 

The programme has been supported by a budgetary allocation of Rs. 20,000 crores. 

Ganga Basin is the largest river basin in India in terms of catchment area which is spread over 11 states that constitutes 26% of the country’s land mass and supports about 43% of its population.

National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme

To identify and map aquifers at the micro level, to quantify the available groundwater resources, and to propose plans appropriate to the scale of demand and aquifer characteristics, and institutional arrangements for participatory management.

Stand Up India

6th April, 2016

Stand Up India

Ref Also: Previous Post dated 8th January, 2016

Aims to boost entrepreneurship among the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Women.

The loan shall be in the ten Lakhs to one crore rupee range.

The scheme is launched on the occassion of Babu Jagjivan Ram birth anniversary.

The government will also develop the credit histories of these under-banked sections of society and will open a refinance window through the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) with an initial amount of Rs. 10,000 crore.

The scheme will also facilitate the creation of a corpus of Rs. 5,000 crore for credit guarantee via the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company. 

National Geoscience Awards

5th April, 2016

National Geoscience Awards

Also known as the National Mineral Awards.

It was instituted by the Ministry of Mines in 1966

It honors individuals and teams of scientists for their extraordinary achievements and outstanding contributions in fundamental and applied geosciences and mining and allied fields. 

The National Geoscience Awards carries a cash prize and a certificate. 

Till date (i.e. up to NGA-2013), seven hundred twenty one geoscientists have been honoured with the National Geoscience Awards. 

NGA-2014

Thirty-three geoscientists will receive the National Geoscience Awards (NGA-2014)

Prof. A.K. Singhvi, Honorary Professor, PRL Ahmadabad will receive the Award for Excellence for his outstanding contributions in the field of Quaternary Geology

Dr. Indra Kumar Sen, Assistant professor, IIT, Kanpur will receive the Young Scientist Award for his contributions in the field of geochemical evolution of earth. 

Futures:

36th International Geological Congress to be held at Delhi, India. The event is held every four years. 

ARIES Telescope

31st March, 2016

ARIES Telescope

Installed in the Uttarakhand, Himalayas.

Under the collaboration between ARIES (Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences) in India, and AMOS (Advanced Mechanical and Optical Systems) in Belgium. 

Belgium funded 7 per cent of the project whose total cost is estimated to be more than Rs. 120 crore.

It will contribute to observations for several front line scientific applications. 

The optical telescope's mirror has a 3.6 m diameter and it will further research of star structures and magnetic field structures of stars. It is based on Ritchey-Chrétien design

Previously, the Vainu Bappu observatory in Kavalur, Tamil Nadu is home to Asia's largest optical telescope.

Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) 

ARIES

It specializes in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Atmospheric Sciences. An autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology(DST), Government of India, the institute is situated at Manora Peak, Nainital. 

The institute was started on 20 April 1954.

Bharat Bill Payment System

30th March, 2016

Bharat Bill Payment System

Bharat Bill Payment System

It is an integrated bill payment system which will offer interoperable bill payment service to customers online as well as through a network of agents on the ground. 

The system will provide multiple payment modes and instant confirmation of payment.

Nodal Agency:

National Payment Corporation (NPCI) will be an authorized entity under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.

Structure:

Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit (NPCI)  - will set necessary operational, technical and business standards for the entire system and its participants, and also undertake clearing and settlement activities.

Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit - authorised operational entities, adhering to the standards set by the BBPCU for facilitating bill payments online as well as through a network of agents

Scope:

It will cover repetitive payments for everyday utility services such as electricity, water, gas, telephone and Direct-to-Home (DTH). Gradually, the scope would be expanded to include other types of repetitive payments, like school / university fees, municipal taxes etc.

Eligibility:

Banks and non-bank entities presently engaged in any of the above bill payment activities falling under the scope of BBPS and desirous of continuing the activity.

Additional Criteria for non-bank entities:

• The entity should be a company incorporated in India and registered under the Companies Act 1956 / Companies Act 2013
• The Memorandum of Association (MOA) of the applicant entity must cover the proposed activity of operating as a BBPOU
• The applicant entity should have a net worth of at least Rs.100 crore as per the last audited balance sheet and the same has to be maintained at all times.
• In case of any Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the applicant entity, necessary approval from the competent authority as required under the policy notified by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) 
• The company must have domain experience in the field of bill collection/services to the billers, and relevant experience in transaction processing for a minimum period of one year.

Based on:

Based on the Feasibility of Implementation of GIRO based Payment Systems.

Gender Gap in Science

63rd National Film Awards

National Film Awards

29th March, 2016

63rd National Film Awards

The 63^rd National Film Awards 2015 were announced by the Chairpersons of the three juries on Feature Films, Non Feature Films and Best Writing on Cinema.

1. Bahubali in the best Feature Film category.
2. Amdavad Ma Famous in the best Non-Feature Film Category. 
3. Amitabh Bachchan was given the best actor award for the film Piku 
4. Kangana Ranaut was given the best actress award for her movie Tanu Weds Manu Returns. 
5. Samuthirakan was given the Best Supporting Actor award for the film Visaranaai. 
6. The award for best supporting actress was given to Tanvi Azmi for her role in Bajirao Mastani. 
7. Sanjay Leela Bhansali was given the Best Direction Award for his Film Bajirao Mastani.
8. Dr. Rajakumar Samagra Charithre was given the Best Book on cinema award. 
9. The best film critic award was given to Meghachandra Kongbam who interprets the world of Indian cinema for his readers in Manipuri. 
10. This year National Film Awards included a special award given to the state of Gujarat for being the most film friendly state in the Country.

Four new vaccines under UIP

27th March, 2016

Universal Immunization Program

Universal Immunization Program

It is a vaccine launched by Govt. of India in 1985. It provides solution to children from Vaccine Preventable Diseases.

Presently, Four new vaccines are being introduced as part of Universal Immunization Program including 

1. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), 
2. Rotavirus vaccine, Measles, 
3. Rubella (MR) vaccine, and 
4. Adult Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine.

With these new vaccines, India’s UIP will provide free vaccines against 12 life threatening diseases, to 27 million children annually, the largest birth cohort in the world. 

IPV has been introduced in six states from 30 Nov 2015 for provide double protection against Polio.

‘Mission Indradhanush’ launched in December 2014 to fully immunize more than 89 lakh children who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.

Siliguri Corridor

26th March, 2016

Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's Neck)

It  is a narrow stretch of land, located in the Indian state of West Bengal, that connects India's northeastern states to the rest of India, with the countries of Nepal and Bangladesh lying on either side of the corridor.

The Siliguri Corridor was created in 1947 after the partition of Bengal between India and Pakistan.

Siliguri Corridor

Siliguir Corridor

Ashgabat Agreement

25th March, 2016

Ashgabat Agreement 

Ashgabat Agreement

It is an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. 

The Ashgabat Agreement has Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as founding members. 

Kazakhstan has also joined this arrangement subsequently. 

Accession to the Agreement would enable India to utilize this existing transport and transit corridor to facilitate trade and commercial interaction with the Eurasian region. It would also facilitate International North South Transport Corridor for enhanced connectivity.

Eurasian Region:

Eurasian

International North South Transport Corridor

The objective of the corridor is to increase trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai, Moscow, Tehran, Baku, Bandar Abbas, Astrakhan, Bandar Anzali and etc.

The partner countries are India, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Ukraine and Bulgaria.

International North South Transport Corridor

MoU between India & UAE to mobilize long term Investment

25th March, 2016

MoU between India & UAE to mobilize long term investment

The MoU will help establish a transparent and high-level framework and collaboration platform under which both countries intend to explore ways to facilitate and expand the participation of UAE's investment institutions in appropriate infrastructure projects and institutions in India including NIIF, in a manner consistent with the established investment criteria and standards in a mutually agreed manner.

The Cabinet approved the creation of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) in July, 2015. 

The NIIF has already been established as a Category II Alternate Investment Funds (AIF) as per the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana

25th March, 2016

Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana

For the implementation of the rural housing scheme.

Financial assistance is provided for construction of pucca house to all houseless and households living in dilapidated houses. 

The expenditure involved in implementing the project in a span of 3 years from 2016-17 to 2018-19 is Rs.81975 crore.

Setting up of National Technical Support Agency at national level to provide technical support in achieving the target set under the project

The cost of unit assistance to be shared between Central and State Governments in the ratio 60:40 in plain areas and 90:10 for North Eastern and hilly states.

The beneficiary would be facilitated to avail loan of up to Rs.70,000/- for construction of the house which is optional.

 The unit size is to be enhanced from the existing 20 sq.m to up to 25 sq.m including a dedicated area for hygienic cooking.

Economic Impact:

Construction sector generates the second largest employment opportunities in India. The sector has strong backward and forward linkages to over 250 ancillary industries. 

E-Waste Management Rules, 2016

23rd March, 2016

E-Waste Management Rules, 2016 

E-waste

It will bring the producers under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to collect e-waste and hand it over to recyclers. 

The new rules also bring under their ambit Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) 

About 17 Lakhs tonnes of E-waste is generated every year, with an annual increase of 5 per cent of generation of E-waste. 

The role of State Governments has been also introduced to ensure safety, health and skill development of the workers involved in dismantling and recycling operations. 

Liability for damages caused to the environment or third party due to improper management of e-waste including provision for levying financial penalty for violation of provisions of the Rules has also been introduced. 

Urban Local Bodies (Municipal Committee/Council/Corporation) has been assign the duty to collect and hand over the orphan products to authorized dismantler or recycler. 

Longitudinal Ageing Study of India

23rd March, 2016

Longitudinal Ageing Study of India

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), here today. 

Need:

Ageing Scenario

On the concern of increasing portion of elderly population in the country. The study will provide valuable data on their health needs, and issues faced by them given the changing social structures, and help us to draw policy tools to address their issues. 

It will survey more than 60,000 elderly over 25 years plan

Conducted by:

The International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai in collaboration with Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and University of Southern California (USC), USA

Facts behind:

The global share of older people aged 60 years or over increased from 9.2 percent in 1990 to 11.7 percent in 2013 and will continue to grow as a proportion of the world population, reaching 21.1 percent by 2050. 

Presently, about two thirds of the world’s older persons live in developing countries. 

By 2050, nearly 8 in 10 of the world’s older population will live in the less developed regions. 

Population ageing threatens to topple existing insurance and pension systems and create health system overload; therefore calls for review of existing models of healthcare, familial and social support.

According to the 2011 census, the 60+ population accounted for 8.6% of India’s total population or 103.84 million elderly.

India’s life expectancy at birth nearly will reach to 76 years, by 2050. As a result, India’s population will rise from 1.3 billion today to an estimated 1.7 billion by 2050, with a much larger elderly share of around 340 million.

Including the pre-retirement phase (i.e., population age 45+), the proportion will rise to over 30%, or almost 600 million persons. Between 2011 and 2050, the number of oldest old people of age 75 and above is expected to increase by 340%. 

BRICS Logo

23rd March, 2016

BRICS Logo

India assumed BRICS Chairmanship from the Russian Federation for the year 2016.

BRICS

8th BRICS Summit will be hosted in Goa on 15-16 October 2016. Last happened at Ufa in July 2015.

This logo is painted in BRICS country’s colors and symbolizing India’s national flower.

India will comprise of Institution Building, Implementation, Integration, Innovation, and Continuity with Consolidation in the coming summit.

BRICS:

Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa

The BRICS members are all developing or newly industrialized countries, but they are distinguished by their large, fast-growing economies and significant influence on regional and global affairs.

Bilateral relations among BRICS nations have mainly been conducted on the basis of non-interference, equality, and mutual benefit (win-win).

New Development Bank (BRICS Bank)

The bank's primary focus of lending will be infrastructure projects with authorized lending of up to $34 billion annually. 

Headquarter at Shanghai, China. South Africa will be the African Headquarters of the Bank named the "New Development Bank Africa Regional Center". The bank will have starting capital of $50 billion, with capital increased to $100 billion over time.

BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement

It is a framework for providing protection against global liquidity pressures. 

This includes currency issues where members' national currencies are being adversely affected by global financial pressures.

Audit on RTE Act, 2009

21st March, 2016

Audit on RTE Act, 2009

RTE act, 2009

Background:

The Constitution (86th Amendment) Act 2002, which made elementary education a Fundamental Right

Consequential legislation- the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, is the main vehicle for the Act’s implementation

The cornerstone of Right to Education is provision of free and compulsory primary education, though the aim is also to provide increasing access to learning opportunities at secondary, technical and higher levels.

Analysis:

1. 3.5 Lakhs schools have been opened in the last decade.
2. 99% of India’s rural population now has a primary school within a one kilometer radius. 
3. 84.4% schools now served the mid-day meals
4. 48.2% schools had proper and functioning toilets for girls 
5. 73% schools had available drinking water
6. The enrollment of girls has increased slightly from 48.12% in 2009-10 to 48.19% in 2014-15 at the elementary level. 
7. For boys, the enrollment at primary level is now 52%. 
8. A 55% decline in dropouts was also reported in the age group 6–14 years, from 13.46 million in 2005 to 6.06 million in 2014
9. Annual average primary school dropout rate declining from 6.8% in 2009-10 to 4.3% in 2013-14.

Improvement Required:

1. Global Monitoring Report 2012 ranked India a low 102 out of the 120 countries on the Education for All (EFA) Development Index, based on progress in universal primary education, adult literacy, gender parity and the quality of education.
2. There has been a decline in the education outcomes, with abilities in reading, writing and other comprehensive skills deteriorating among children between the ages of 6 and 14.
3. The flow of public funds has so far been focused on developing school infrastructure. Teacher training has been a neglected area.
4. An Oxfam India policy report in March 2015 indicated that over 5 lakh sanctioned teacher’s post were lying vacant and more than 6.6 lakh in-service teachers were un-trained. 
5. Around 37% of primary schools were found to be non-conformant with the prescribed national pupil – teacher ratio (PTR) norm of 30:1. 
6. Around 10% of schools across the country remained single teacher schools.
7. The UNESCO EFA Monitoring Report for 2014, noted that teacher absenteeism in India varied from 15% in Maharashtra to 42% in Jharkhand.
8. Less than 10% schools comply with all the RTE norms.
9. Total public expenditure for education, at less than 3.5% of GDP, is well below the 6% commitment made in the National Education Policies.
10. While school education is primarily the responsibility of states, the central government directly finances 60% of education, through programmes such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. 
11. As many as 66% of India’s primary school students attend government schools or government-aided schools.