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PIB – January 14 , 2020

General Studies- II

Topic- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Island Development Agency (IDA)

Context

The Union Home Minister chaired the sixth meeting of the Island Development Agency (IDA).

About

  • The programme ‘Holistic development of islands’ was reviewed by Island Development Agency (IDA).
  • For the first time in the country, an initiative of sustainable development in the identified Islands within scientifically-assessed carrying capacity has been taken-up.
  • Development Plans with focus on creation of jobs for the islanders.
  • Plans for Tourism promotions as well as export of seafood and coconut-based products made in the Islands have been prepared.
  • Four islands of Andaman & Nicobar and five islands of Lakshadweep have been identified.
  • In the second phase, suitable sites in 12 more islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and 5 islands in Lakshadweep have been covered.

 About Island Development Agency (IDA)

  • Island Development agency (IDA) was constituted in 2017 for the holistic development of islands.
  • The meetings of the agency are chaired by the Union Home Minister.
  • Members of IDA include –cabinet secretary, the home secretary, secretary (environment, forests and climate change), secretary (tourism) and secretary (tribal welfare).

Why IDA is established?

  • A number of offshore-identified islands of India hold immense unexploited potential.
  • These islands have prospects for fostering growth and achieving cohesive socio-economic development of the region in particular and also, the nation as a whole.
  • They can significantly contribute to the GDP by leveraging the gains from promoting infrastructure and tourism on a large scale.

Significance of IDA

Strategic

  • Location of Andaman & Nicobar (A&N Islands) and the Lakshadweep Islands and China’s assertive expansionist policy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) make it crucial.
  • Development of critical infrastructure and upgrade the military base in these regions.
  • Illicit activities such as Pirates and territorial violations can be curbed if the Islands such as Lakshadweep are strategically developed.

Economic

  • The Islands host an unexplored Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with clearly demarcated boundaries that can be capitalized on in numerous ways.
  • The varied ecosystem can be exploited for its medicinal plants and exotic plant species, sustainable agriculture and horticulture practices conducive to the agro-climatic conditions of the regions can be propagated.
  • Fisheries, the main occupation of the larger population of these regions, can be given a thrust to develop modernized and sustainable inland fisheries.
  • The Islands can be developed as prime Tourist Hotspots.
  • Indian Ocean Region handles most of the sea trade in the world.
  • The shallow coastline of mainland India has severe impact on trade capacity.
  • Deep water ports can be developed on these Islands thereby paving way for creation of additional service and refueling stations.

General Studies- II

Topic- – Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

Context

UNESCO has designated Mumbai as a member of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of FILM and Hyderabad in the field of GASTRONOMY.

About

  • UNESCO has designated Mumbai as a member of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of FILM.
  • Hyderabad as a member of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of GASTRONOMY.
  • Ministry of Culture is the nodal Ministry of Government of India for all matters in UNESCO relating to culture.

About UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)

  • UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004.
  • It is a network of cities which are thriving, active centers of cultural activities in their respective countries.
  • The UNESCO Creative Cities Network now counts a total of 246 cities.
  • The member cities that form part of the Network come from all continents and regions with different income levels and populations.

Vision

  • They work together towards a common mission of placing creativity and the creative economy at the core of their urban development plans to make cities safe, resilient, inclusive and sustainable, in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Aims

  • The UNESCO Creative Cities aims to achieve Sustainable Development Goals through innovative thinking and action.
  • Also, cities are championing sustainable development actions that directly benefit communities at the urban level.

Creative fields of UCCN

  • The network covers seven creative fields: crafts and folk arts, media arts, film, design, gastronomy, literature and music.
  • The 7 categories for recognition under UCCN are as follows-
  1. Crafts and Folk Arts
  2. Design
  3. Film
  4. Gastronomy
  5. Music
  6. Media Arts
  7. Literature

Indian cities in UCNN list

Previously, 3 Indian cities were recognized as members of UCCN,namely-

  1. Jaipur-Crafts and Folk Arts(2015)
  2. Varanasi-Creative city of Music (2015)
  3. Chennai-Creative city of Music(2017)

Two new inducted cites in the UCCN list-

  1. Mumbai- Creative city of FILM (2019)
  2. Hyderabad – Creative city of GASTRONOMY (2019)

World Cities Day 2019

  • The United Nations General Assembly has designated the 31st of October as World Cities Day.
  • The theme for World Cities Day, 2019 is, “Changing the world: innovations and a better life for future generations”.

For Prelims

Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT)

Highlights

  • Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) celebrated its 150th anniversary.
  • It has been renamed after Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.

The Port has two distinct dock systems

  1. Kolkata Docks at Kolkata and
  2. A deep water dock at Haldia Dock Complex, Haldia. 
  • It is the oldest operating port in India, and was constructed by the British East India Company.
  • After independence, the port’s importance decreased because of factors including the Partition of Bengal (1947), reduction in size of the port hinterland, and economic stagnation in eastern India.
  • Kolkata Port is the only riverine Major Port in India, situated 232 kms up-stream from the Sandheads.
  • Its navigational channel is one of the longest in the world.

India has 13 major ports

  1. Kolkata Port,
  2. Paradip Port,
  3. New Mangalore Port,
  4. Cochin Port,
  5. Jawaharlal Nehru Port,
  6. Mumbai Port,
  7. Kandla Port,
  8. Visakhapatnam Port,
  9. Chennai Port,
  10. Tuticorin port,
  11. Ennore Port,
  12. Mormugao Port, and
  13. Port Blair Port.

National Youth Day 2020

Highlights

  • National Youth Day (NYD) is observed on Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary on January 12 every year.
  • The main objective of NYD is to promote rational thinking among the youth.
  • Youth is expected to rise to the values, principles and beliefs that Vivekananda lived by.
  • 23rd National Youth Festival (NYF) 2020 is being organized by The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Uttar Pradesh government jointly.
  • The objective of NYF– is to provide an arena where youth can interact and exchange their social and cultural uniqueness.
  • The theme of the NYF 2020: ‘FIT YOUTH FIT INDIA’.

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