PIB – August 24 , 2019


GS –  3  Paper

Topic coveredConservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Composite Water Management Index 2.0 (CWMI)

Context

NITI Aayog releases Report on the Composite Water Management Index 2.0.

About CWMI

  • NITI Aayog first launched and conceptualized the Composite Water Management Index in 2018 as a tool to instill the sense of cooperative and competitive federalism among the states.
  • It aims to enable effective water management in Indian states in the face of extreme water stress.
  • It comprises 9 broad sectors with 28 different indicators covering various aspects of ground water, restoration of water bodies, irrigation, farm practices, drinking water, policy and governance.
  • CWMI 2.0 ranks various states for the reference year 2017-18 as against the base year 2016-17.

Objectives

The Index and this associated report are expected to-

  1. Establish a clear baseline and benchmark for state-level performance on key water indicators;
  2. Uncover and explain how states have progressed on water issues over time, including identifying high-performers and under-performers, thereby inculcating a culture of constructive competition among states;
  3. Identify areas for deeper engagement and investment on the part of the states.

Ranking of Different States in CWMI 2.0

  • Gujarat is ranked one in the reference year (2017-18).
  • Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are on the 2nd, 3rd 4th and 5th position respectively
  • In North Eastern and Himalayan States, Himachal Pradesh has been adjudged number 1 in 2017-18.
  • Uttarakhand, Tripura and Assam are on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th position respectively.
  • The Union Territories have first time submitted their data and Puducherry has been given the top rank.
  • In terms of incremental change in index (over 2016-17 level), Haryana holds number one position in general States and Uttarakhand ranks at first position amongst North Eastern and Himalayan States.
  • On an average, 80% of the states assessed on the Index over the last three years have improved their water management scores, with an average improvement of +5.2 points.

 Significance of CWMI

  • The CWMI is an important tool to assess and improve the performance of States/ Union Territories in efficient management of water resources.
  • This has been done through a first of its kind water data collection exercise in partnership with Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Rural Development andall the States/ Union Territories.
  • The index would provide useful information for the States and also for the concerned Central Ministries/Departments enabling them to formulate and implement suitable strategies for better management of water resources.

Concerns

  • India is suffering from the worst water crisis in its history and millions of lives and livelihoods are under threat. Currently, 600 million Indians face high to extreme water stress and about two lakh people die every year due to inadequate access to safe water.
  • The states are making progress in water management but still they are below in performances to tackle the India’s water challenges.
  • CWMI has assessed Of the 25 states and two union territories. In that 80 per cent have improved their water management scores, with an average improvement of more than 5.2 points.
  • But, 16 states still score less than 50 points on the index (out of 100) and fall in the low-performing category.
  • Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Delhi, Rajasthan, Nagaland and Meghalaya are in the low-performing category.
  • These states are collectively accounts for around 48 per cent of the population, 40 per cent of agricultural produce and 35 per cent of economic output of India.
  • The report also cautioned about severe water shortages in the future in the urban areas. This could risk growth and reduce quality of life for citizens in urban areas.

Way forward

  • Water scarcity is one of the biggest problems the country is facing today, it is an imperative to address the issue of management of water resources immediately.
  • Centre-state and inter-state cooperation can help address the issue. The states must improve water management practices so that the country can provide its citizens with better quality of life, support economic growth and sustain its ecosystem.
  • A reward to the states which are doing well in managing their water resources would encourage the states to perform well.
  • It may be effective to bring the names of those states in the public domain, which are not managing their resources properly.

GS- 2 Paper

Topic coveredBilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Context

Stakeholders have been consulted by Department of Commerce on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations.

About RCEP

  • The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
  • The member countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  • Its six FTA partners are China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
  • RCEP negotiations were formally launched in November 2012 at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia.
  • RCEP is the world’s largest economic bloc, covering nearly half of the global economy.

Objectives

  • RCEP aims to boost goods trade by eliminating most tariff and non-tariff barriers.
  • To provide the region’s consumers greater choice of quality products at affordable rates.
  • It also seeks to liberalise investment norms and do away with services trade restrictions.

Significance of RCEP for India

  • RCEP is considered as an alternative to the other important multilateral treaty named Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
  • The TPP agreement excludes two of the important Asian powers – China and India.
  • The RCEP provides an opportunity to establish greater economic stature of India among the other South Asian countries.
  • It can play an important role in the success of India’s Act East policy.
  • RCEP agreement would complement India’s existing free trade agreements with ASEAN nations and some of its member countries.
  • India will have access to vast regional markets of these countries thereby helping its economy.

Importance of RCEP

  • In 2017, prospective RCEP member states accounted for a population of 3.4 billion people with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP, PPP) of 49.5 trillion USD, approximately 39 percent of the world’s GDP.
  • It is combined GDPs of India and China making up more than half that amount.
  • RCEP is the world’s largest economic bloc, covering nearly half of the global economy.
  • It is estimated that by 2050 the GDP of RCEP member states is likely to amount to nearly 250 trillion USD with the combined GDPs of India and China making up more than 75 percent of the amount.

Concerns of India

  • India’s main concern is that agreeing to eliminate tariffs altogether will mainly help China.
  • India is worried that China would dump its low-cost steel and other products and thus it will cause serious harm to its domestic industries.
  • India has got massive trade deficit with China. Under these circumstances, India proposed differential market access strategy for China.
  • There are demands by other RCEP countries for lowering customs duties on a number of products and greater access to the market than India has been willing to provide.

For prelims-

WorldSkills Kazan 2019

Context

Indian Team wins hearts with culture and talent display in the World Skills Kazan 2019.

About WorldSkills

WorldSkills organises the world championships of vocational skills and is held every two years in different parts of the world.

  • WorldSkills brings together young people, industry, government, education, and institutions, to promote the benefits of and need for skilled trade professionals.
  • The aims of the competition include demonstrating the advantages of learning a vocational skill and encouraging ‘parity of esteem’ between vocational and academic qualifications.
  • The last WorldSkills event aws held in Abu Dhabi 2017.
  • WorldSkills currently has 79 Member countries and regions, most of which organise national skills competitions that help to prepare the workforce and talent of today for the jobs of the future.
  • WorldSkills International, formerly known as the International Vocation Training Organisation (IVTO), was founded in the 1940s and emerged from a desire to create new employment opportunities for young people in some of the economies that were devastated by the Second World War.

Highlights

  • The world’s biggest international vocational skills competition, WorldSkills Kazan 2019 got underway with a grand ceremony at Kazan, Russia.
  • The 48-member Indian team is participating along with 62 other participating countries.
  • It is an initiative of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
  • WorldSkills India is integral to the vision of building a Skilled India, exposing young talent to the best-in-class technology, techniques and skills amongst different trades.
  • An international conference, WorldSkills Conference 2019, will also be held alongside the skills competitions, for government representatives, experts and thought-leaders to interact on an array of topics on future of skills to maximize economic and social impact.
  • Two new initiatives — WorldSkills Juniors and ‘Future Skills — are also being introduced in this edition.
  • WorldSkills Junior aims at inspiring schoolchildren aged 14-16 years to join vocational and skill training and participate alongside the national teams.
  • The focus of ‘Future Skills’ is to lay emphasis on relevant fields of activity in the era of high-tech production and digital economy.

 

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