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General Studies- III

Topic– Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices.

‘Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture’ (MIDH)

Context:

Union Agriculture Ministry has allocated Rs 2250 Crore for realizing the huge potential of horticulture sector in 2021-22.

About MIDH:

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

• It is being implemented from 2014-15 for holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa.
• All States including North Eastern States and UTs are covered under MIDH.

Objectives:

Main objectives of Mission are to promote holistic growth of horticulture sector, including coconut through area based regionally differentiated strategies.

Mission has the following sub-schemes as its component:

1. National Horticulture Mission (NHM)
2. Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States (HMNEH)
3. National Horticulture Board (NHB)
4. Coconut Development Board (CDB)
5. Central Institute for Horticulture (CIH), Nagaland.

Implementation of MIDH scheme:

• MIDH is Centrally Sponsored Scheme wherein the implementing agencies are State Horticulture Mission (SHM).
• In the total outlay of SHM, Centre contributes 60% for general States and 90% for NE and Himalayan States whereas general States contribute 40 % and NE and Himalayan States contribute 10%.
• Government of India contributes 100% for UTs and National Level Agencies (NLAs).

Significance of MIDH:

MIDH has played a significant role in increasing the area under horticulture crops.

• Area and production during the years 2014 – 15 to 2019 – 20 has increased by 9% and 14% respectively.
• Moreover, the mission has boosted best practices to be followed in farms which have significantly improved the quality of produce and productivity of farmland.

The initiative of MIDH has not only resulted in India’s self-sufficiency in the horticulture sector but also contributed towards achieving sustainable development goals of zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, no poverty, gender equality etc.

 

General Studies- III

Topic– Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA)

Context:

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. IREDA has been conferred with “Green Urja Award” for being the Leading Public Institution in Financing Institution for Renewable Energy this year by Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

What is the IREDA?

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) is a Mini Ratna (Category – I) Government of India Enterprise.

• It works under the administrative control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• IREDA is a Public Limited Government Company established as a Non-Banking Financial Institution in 1987.
• It engaged in promoting, developing and extending financial assistance for setting up projects relating to new and renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency/conservation.
• IREDA has been notified as a “Public Financial Institution” under the Companies Act, 1956 and registered as Non-Banking Financial Company (NFBC) with Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• IREDA’s Motto is “Energy for Ever.”

The main objectives of IREDA are:

1. To give financial support to specific projects and schemes for generating electricity and / or energy through new and renewable sources and conserving energy through energy efficiency.
2. To maintain its position as a leading organisation to provide efficient and effective financing in renewable energy and energy efficiency / conservation projects.
3. To increase IREDA`s share in the renewable energy sector by way of innovative financing.
4. Improvement in the efficiency of services provided to customers through continual improvement of systems, processes and resources.
5. To strive to be competitive institution through customer satisfaction.

Role and significance:

IREDA is the only dedicated institution for financing Renewable Energy (RE) & Energy Efficiency (EE) projects in India.

• Since, its inception the company has played a catalytic role in developing market for financing RE & EE projects.
• IREDA has over the years sanctioned loans aggregating to Rs. 96,601 crores, disbursed Rs. 63,492 cores and supported more than 17,586 MW of RE capacity in the country till date.

 

 

General Studies- III

Topic– Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Business Responsibility Reporting (BRR)

Context:

A panel on Business Responsibility Reporting (BRR) has proposed in its report, a new reporting framework for companies to better reflect the intent and scope of reporting on non-financial parameters.

Highlights of the Report:

• A new reporting framework called as ‘Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR)’ is recommended.
• The Committee recommended two formats for disclosures: one ‘comprehensive format’ and the second a ‘Lite version’.
• The implementation of the reporting requirements should be done in a gradual and phased manner.
• The Committee also recommended that the BRSR be integrated with the MCA21 portal.
• To develop a Business Responsibility-Sustainability Index for companies.
• IICA is taking forward the initiative and launching a certificate course on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) from August 2020.

What is Business Responsibility Reporting?

Business Responsibility Reporting (BRR) is a disclosure of adoption of responsible business practices by a listed company to all its stakeholders. BRR is applicable to all types of companies including manufacturing, services etc.

Evolution of Business Responsibility Reporting in India:

• Corporate Voluntary Guidelines in 2009;
• Endorsement of United Nations Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights by India in 2011;
• MCA issued ‘National Voluntary Guidelines on Social, Environmental and Economical Responsibilities of Business’ which encourages reporting on environment, social and governance issues in 2011;
• SEBI mandates top 100 listed companies by market capitalization to file Business Responsibility Reports (BRR) based on NVGs in 2012;
• SEBI extends BRR reporting to top 500 companies by market capitalization in 2015;
• National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC) released in 2019.

Significance

Indian companies are aspiring to have global foothold and thus they cannot ignore the emerging trend of corporate governance, i.e. Responsible Business.

SEBI said that due to increasing trends of Social and Governance (ESG) investing, the demand for non-financial reporting is also growing and in this respect the BRSR framework will set the stage for sustainable investing.

Mains Questions:

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) makes companies more profitable and sustainable. Analyze.

Chrome facts for Prelims

National Technology Day

National Technology Day in India is celebrated every year on May 11 to commemorate the achievements of engineers and scientists in the field of science and technology.

• It was on this day in 1998 when India had its breakthrough moment when it successfully test-fired the Shakti-I nuclear missile at Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan.
• Other than the nuclear tests, India on the same day (May 11) tested its first indigenous aircraft ‘Hansa-3’ designed by National Aerospace Laboratory which took flight in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The light two-seater aircraft was built to serve pilot training, surveillance, and other reconnaissance purposes.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) also added to the day by successfully completing the test firing India’s Surface-to-Air Trishul missile.
• With all these technological advancements being accomplished on the same day, the Government of India, officially declared May 11 as National Technology Day.

The theme of this year’s National Technology Day: “Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future”.