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Current Affairs 15/12/23

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  1. Indian Heritage
  • Culture
  • Modern Indian history
  • The Freedom Struggle
  • Post-independence
  • Indian Society

A. population and associated issues

B. poverty and developmental issues

C.urbanization

   7. Geographical features

8.Indian Constitution

9. Polity

10. Governance

A. institutions

B. regulatory

Central Electricity Authority

The functions and duties of CEA are delineated under Section 73 of the Electricity Act, 2003. Besides, CEA has to discharge various other functions as well under Section 3 (National Electricity Policy & Plan), Section 8 (Hydro Electric Generation), Section 34 (Grid Standards), Section 53 (Provision relating to Safety and Electric Supply), Section 55 (Use of Meters) and Section 177 (Making of Regulations) of the Electricity Act, 2003. The Authority shall perform such functions and duties as the Central Government may prescribe or direct, and in particular to –

  1. advise the Central Government on the matters relating to the national electricity policy, formulate short-term and perspective plans for development of the electricity system and co-ordinate the activities of the planning agencies for the optimal utilisation of resources to subserve the interests of the national economy and to provide reliable and affordable electricity for all consumers;
  2. specify the technical standards for construction of electrical plants, electric lines and connectivity to the grid;
  3. specify the safety requirements for construction, operation and maintenance of electrical plants and electric lines;
  4. specify the Grid Standards for operation and maintenance of transmission lines;
  5. specify the conditions for installation of meters for transmission and supply of electricity;
  6. promote and assist in the timely completion of schemes and projects for improving and augmenting the electricity system;
  7. promote measures for advancing the skill of persons engaged in the electricity industry;
  8. advise the Central Government on any matter on which its advice is sought or make recommendation to that Government on any matter if, in the opinion of the Authority, the recommendation would help in improving the generation, transmission, trading, distribution and utilisation of electricity;
  9. collect and record the data concerning the generation, transmission, trading, distribution and utilisation of electricity and carry out studies relating to cost, efficiency, competitiveness and such like matters;
  10. make public from time to time the information secured under this Act, and provide for the publication of reports and investigations;
  11. promote research in matters affecting the generation, transmission, distribution and trading of electricity;
  12. carry out, or cause to be carried out , any investigation for the purposes of generating or transmitting or distributing electricity;
  13. advise any State Government, licensees or the generating companies on such matters which shall enable them to operate and maintain the electricity system under their ownership or control in an improved manner and where necessary, in co-ordination with any other Government, licensee or the generating company owning or having the control of another electricity system;
  14. advise the Appropriate Government and the Appropriate Commission on all technical matters relating to generation, transmission and distribution of electricity; and
  15. discharge such other functions as may be provided under this Act

C. Government policies

D. role of NGOs

E. measures

11. Social Justice

A. Welfare schemes

DAY-NRLM

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) is the flagship program of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) for promoting poverty reduction through building strong institutions for the poor, particularly women, and enabling these institutions to access a range of financial services and livelihoods. DAY-NRLM adopts a demand-driven approach, enabling the States to formulate their own State-specific poverty reduction action plans. The blocks and districts in which all the components of DAY-NRLM would be implemented, either through the SRLMs or partner institutions or NGOs, would be the intensive blocks and districts, whereas the remaining would be non-intensive blocks and districts. National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) is a restructured version of restructuring Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY). NRLM was renamed as DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission) w.e.f. March 29, 2016.

NRLM has set out with an agenda to cover 7 Crore rural poor households, across 600 districts, 6000 blocks, 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats and 6 lakh villages in the country through self-managed Self Help Groups (SHGs) and federated institutions and support them for livelihoods collectives in a period of 8-10 years. In addition, the poor would be facilitated to achieve increased access to their rights, entitlements, and public services, diversified risk, and better social indicators of empowerment. NRLM believes in harnessing the innate capabilities of the poor and complements them with capacities (information, knowledge, skills, tools, finance, and collectivization) to participate in the growing economy of the country.

PM-JANMAN Mission

  • PM JANMAN is a government scheme that aims to bring tribal communities into the mainstream.
  • The scheme (comprising Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes) will be implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with the State governments and the PVTG communities.
  • The scheme will concentrate on 11 critical interventions overseen by 9 line Ministries, ensuring the implementation of existing schemes in villages inhabited by PVTGs.
    • It encompasses various sectors, including safe housing under the PM-AWAS Scheme, access to clean drinking water, improved healthcare, education, nutrition, road and telecommunications connectivity, as well as opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
  • The plan also includes the establishment of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras for trading in forest produce, off-grid solar power systems for 1 lakh households, and solar street lights.
  • The scheme is expected to enhance the quality of life and well-being of the PVTGs, by addressing their multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and exclusion, and by recognizing and valuing their unique and valuable contribution to national and global development.

B Health

C. Education

D. Human Resources

E. poverty and hunger

Food Corporation of India 

The Food Corporation of India is a massive corporation initiated by the Indian government and is considered one of the largest supply chain management in India. Initially, the headquarters was situated in Chennai, but later it was shifted to New Delhi.

The FCI purchases approximately 15 to 20% of India’s total wheat output and 12 to 15% of the total rice output. The procurement is made at the Minimum Support Price and there is no limit to procurement as long as the Fair Average Quality criteria are met.

In recent years, the Food Corporation of India has also started procuring pulses from different regions from the crop year 2015–16. Unlike traditional procurement, pulses are procured at market rates.

The following table provides additional details about the Food Corporation of India:

Key Facts about Food Corporation of India

IndustryFood Security
Established on14 January 1965
Chairman and Managing DirectorShri Sanjiv Kumar, IAS
Main ProductsWheat and Rice
Parent DepartmentDepartment of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Services ProvidedEnsuring Food security of India

The Aims of the FCI

The Food Corporation of India has the following objectives:

  • Providing adequate price support to protect the interests of the farmers
  • Efficient distribution of food grains through the Public Distribution Systems (PDS)
  • Maintaining operational and buffer stocks of food grains to ensure a steady supply of essential food items
  • Regulating market price for food grains to ensure affordability for the general populatio

Recent Developments in the Food Corporation of India

Due to several shortcomings of the FCI, a High Level Committee (HLC) under Shanta Kumar made numerous recommendations on restructuring the corporation based on factors such as procurement, storage, and distribution. Some of these recommendations include:

  • Procurement: The committee proposed that all procurement operations of the FCI should be transferred to the states that have necessary experience and infrastructure.
  • Negotiable warehouse receipt system : The HLC suggested that a warehouse receipt system should be made negotiable to allow farmers to deposit their produce at registered warehouses, sell it at their preferred price, and simultaneously reduce the government’s storage cost.
  • Revision of the MSP Policy: The committee recommended including pulses and oilseeds in the MSP category. At present, MSP is announced for 23 commodities, with wheat and rice given priority, but it is applicable only in selected states. This arrangement creates a distorted price structure favoring wheat and rice.
  • The HLC also recommended a reevaluation of the coverage (67% of the population) under the NFSA as it is deemed to be on the ‘higher’ side.

In the Union Budget 2021, it was proposed that the food subsidy allocated to the Food Corporation of India be revised to Rs 3,44,077 crore from the original subsidy amount of Rs 77,983 crore allocated in the 2020 Union Budget. The revised allocation was made to pay off the increasing loans of the FCI and return to budgetary transfers to fund the food subsidy bill.

12. International relations

A. India and its neighbourhood

B. groupings and agreements

Cabinet approves Memorandum of Understanding between India and Italy on Cooperation in the field of Industrial Property Rights

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today has given its approval for signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry of the Republic of India and the Directorate General for the Protection of Industrial Property-Italian Patent and Trademark Office of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy of the Italian Republic on Cooperation in the field of Industrial Property Rights. 

Benefits:

          The MoU will promote between the Participants the establishment of a mechanism that allows them to develop cooperation activities in the field of IP and information technology services related to this field.    

Background:

          The purpose of the MoU is to support enterprises, especially start-ups and SMEs in accessing to and participating in the national and international IPR systems.  The MoU also seeks to streamline the procedures related to processing of IPR applications, fostering IP awareness, encouraging IPR commercialization and enforcement.

          The activities under the MoU will provide an opportunity for exchange and dissemination of best practices, experiences and knowledge in the field of IPRs through the participation in programs and events, organized singly or jointly by the Participants.

Union Cabinet approves the memorandum of understanding between the United States of America and the Republic of India

The Union Cabinet chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, approved the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States of America and the Republic of India to enhance innovation ecosystems through an innovation handshake.

The 5th India-U.S. Commercial Dialogue was held on 10th March 2023 during the visit of U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo between 8-10 March. At the meeting the Commercial Dialogue was re-launched with strategic focus on supply chain resiliency, climate and clean technology cooperation, advancing inclusive digital economy, and facilitating post-pandemic economic recovery especially for SMEs and start-ups. It included launch of a new Working Group on Talent, Innovation and Inclusive Growth (TIIG) under the Commercial Dialogue. It was noted that this Working Group would also support efforts of Start-ups working towards goals of iCET, particularly in identifying specific regulatory hurdles to cooperation and fostering greater connectivity between our innovation ecosystems with focus on start-ups through specific ideas for joint activities.

The Joint Statement released by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi in June 2023 welcomed focused efforts to establish an “Innovation Handshake” that shall connect the two sides’ dynamic startup ecosystems, address specific regulatory hurdles to cooperation, and promote innovation and job growth, particularly in critical and emerging technologies (CET). To formalize the cooperation under the Innovation handshake and implement the guidance, a G2G MoU has been signed between India and the US on Innovation Handshake on 14th November, 2023 at San Francisco, USA.

The scope of cooperation would include a series of India- U.S. Innovation Handshake events, round tables with private sector, including hackathon and “Open Innovation” programs, information sharing and other activities. The MoU laid the groundwork for two future Innovation Handshake events scheduled to take place in India and the United States in early 2024, which include an investment forum aimed toward helping U.S. and Indian startup companies take their innovative ideas and products to market and a “hackathon” in Silicon Valley where U.S. and Indian startups will pitch ideas and technologies to help address global economic challenges.

Cabinet approves Memorandum of Cooperation signed between India and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on cooperation in the field of Digitization and Electronic manufacturing

he Cabinet chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Cooperation(MoC) signed on 18th August, 2023 between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Communications and information Technology of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia on cooperation in the field of Digitization and Electronic Manufacturing.         

The Memorandum of Cooperation intends to strengthen collaboration in the field of Digitization, Electronic Manufacturing, e-Governance, smart infrastructure, e-Health and e-Education, promote partnership in research in digital innovation and the use of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Robots, Cloud Computing and Blockchain, etc. This MoC would establish a framework for cooperation in the area of digitization and electronic manufacturing and establish partnerships between India and Saudi Arabia.

The MoC aims to promote ways of innovative training and development through e-Teaching, e-learning and exchange programs in the digitization and electronics manufacturing and to develop joint training programs for capacity building and access to highly skilled Information and Communication Technologies professionals, strengthen SME and start-up ecosystem by sharing information on business accelerators, venture capital and incubators of technology start-ups which would indirectly generate employment opportunities for both parties.

Cabinet approves Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Tanzania on Cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital Solutions implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformations

The Union Cabinet chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a MoU signed on 09th October, 2023 between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology of the United Republic of Tanzania on cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital Solutions implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformation.

The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation and exchange of experiences, digital technologies-based solutions in the implementation of digital transformational initiative of both the countries.

Both G2G and B2B bilateral Cooperation in the field of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) will be enhanced. The activities contemplated in this MoU would be financed through their administration’s regular operating allocations.

MoU envisages improved collaboration leading to employment opportunities in the field of IT.

Background:

MeitY is collaborating with a number of countries and multilateral agencies for fostering bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the ICT domain. Over the period, MeitY has entered into MoUs/MoCs/Agreements with its counterpart organizations/ agencies from various countries to promote cooperation and exchange of information in the ICT domain. This is in consonance with the various initiatives taken by Government of India such as Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, make in India etc. to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. In this changing paradigm, there is an imminent need for exploring business opportunities, sharing of best practices and attracting investments in the digital sector with the objective of enhancing mutual cooperation.

Over the last few years, India has demonstrated its leadership in implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and has successfully provided delivery of services to public even during COVID pandemic. As a result, many countries have evinced interest in learning from India’s experiences and entering into MoUs with India for learning from India’s experiences.

India Stack Solutions are DPls developed & implemented by India at population scale to provide access & delivery of public services. It aims to provide meaningful connectivity, promote digital inclusion, and enable seamless access to public services. These are built on open technologies, are interoperable and are designed to harness industry and community participation which foster innovation. However, each country has unique needs and challenges in building DPI, although the basic functionality is similar, allowing for global cooperation.

Tax Inspectors without Borders (TIWB) programme launched in partnership with India

Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB), a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), launched a programme in Saint Lucia on 14th December, 2023. India has been chosen as the Partner Administration and will provide Tax Experts for this programme.

This programme is expected to be of 12-18 months’ duration in which India, in collaboration with the TIWB Secretariat and support of the UNDP Country Office, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, aims to aid Saint Lucia in strengthening its tax administration by transferring technical knowledge and skills to its tax administration, and through sharing of best practices. The focus of the programme will be on effective use of automatic exchange of information under the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) framework.

Smt. Pragya Sahay Saksena, Member (Legislation) of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, attended the launch through video conferencing along with Mr. Francis Fontenelle, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Saint Lucia; Mr. Ben Dickinson, Head of Global Relations and Development Division of the Centre for Tax Policy and Administration at the OECD; Ms. Rusudan Kemularia, Head of the TIWB Secretariat; and other senior officers of Saint Lucia, UNDP, OECD, TIWB Secretariat and Foreign Tax & Tax Research Division of CBDT.

C.Indian diaspora

13. Economic Development

A. Government Budgeting

B. industrial

E.issues

14. Technology

15. Environment

As fireworks light up night sky, air pollution spikes to 120 times WHO limit

16. Security

17. Disaster Management