PIB

Daily PIB

Daily PIB/ 21 March

General Studies- I

Topic- Role of women and women’s organizations, Population and associated issues, Poverty and developmental issues, Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

Scheme for Women Farmers

Context:

In order to familiarize women with the latest techniques in agriculture and allied sectors, trainings are being imparted to women farmers under schemes of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Ministry of Rural Development.

About it:

The guidelines of the various beneficiary-oriented schemes of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), provide that States and other Implementing Agencies to incur atleast 30% expenditure on women farmers

Following schemes have specific components for the welfare of women farmres:

  1. National Food Security Mission, 
  2. National Mission on Oilseed & Oil Palm, 
  3. National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, 
  4. Sub-Mission for Seed and Planting Material, 
  5. Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization and 
  6. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.

Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP):

The Department of Rural Development, launched a specific scheme namely ‘Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)’.

  • It is a subcomponent of DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana — National Rural Livelihoods Mission). 
  • This scheme is being implemented since 2011.
  • Objectives:  To empower women by making systematic investments to enhance their participation and productivity, as also create sustainable livelihoods of rural women. 
  • Implementation: The program is implemented in project mode through State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM) as Project Implementing Agencies.

Need for promotion of women farmer:

Agriculture support system in India strengthens the exclusion of women from their entitlements as agriculture workers and cultivators. 

  • Rural women form the most productive work force in the economy of majority of the developing nations including India. More than 80% of rural women are engaged in agriculture activities for their livelihoods. 
  • About 20 per cent of farm livelihoods are female headed due to widowhood, desertion, or male emigration. 
  • Most of the women-headed households are not able to access extension services, farmers support institutions and production assets like seed, water, credit, subsidy etc. As agricultural workers, women are paid lower wage than men.

General Studies- II

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

US India Artificial Intelligence (USIAI) Initiative 

Context:

The Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum’s U.S. India Artificial Intelligence (USIAI) Initiative was launched recently.

About USIAI:

The United States and India are making important strides in advancing AI, prioritizing public and private research and development (R&D) investments, addressing the critical challenge of developing a diverse AI workforce, and highlighting the importance of partnerships.

The IUSSTF U.S. – India Artificial Intelligence (USIAI) Initiative provides a unique opportunity to strengthen their strategic partnership by focusing on AI cooperation in critical areas that are priorities for both countries. 

Why U.S. – INDIA AI?

The Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) is uniquely positioned to proactively engage the S&T communities by identifying ‘leading-edge areas’ like AI that are high-priority for both nations, bringing together key stakeholders to help create synergies, and supporting workshops/ networking opportunities to initiate new collaborations.

The IUSSTF U.S. – INDIA AI initiative:

Aligns with the shared values of openness, transparency, and reciprocity and encourages innovation that will benefit both countries.

  • Builds on a strong foundation of S&T cooperation.
  • Leverages the complementary strengths of the S&T communities.
  • Engages the large Indian diaspora in the United States and leverages investments by leading U.S. Tech companies in India.

What is the ‘Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum’ (IUSSTF)?

The Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) established under an agreement between the Governments of India and the United States of America in March 2000.

  • IUSSTF, a bilateral organization funded by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Governments of India, and the U.S. Department of States.
  • It promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation through substantive interaction among government, academia and industry. 

Significance:

The U.S.-India AI Initiative will provide an opportunity for key stakeholder groups to share experiences, identify new R&D areas and opportunities that would benefit from synergistic activities, discuss the emerging AI landscape, and address the challenges of developing an AI workforce.

General Studies- III

Topic- Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.

Mission Innovation 

Context:

Recently, the Union Minister of Science & Technology addressed the Mission Innovation (MI) to mark the beginning of phase-2 of the mission or Mission Innovation 2.0. 

What is the Mission Innovation (MI)?

Mission Innovation is a global initiative of 24 countries and EU launched during Paris Agreement at COP21 on November 30, 2015. 

The program focuses on Clean Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) initiatives to accelerate clean energy innovations. 

Guiding Principle:

  • Commitment by all members to seek to double their clean energy innovation investments over five years in selected priority areas.
  • Each member according to its own priorities, policies, processes, and laws independently determines the best use of its funding and defines its own Research & Development priorities and path to reach the doubling goal.
  • In many cases, MI members prioritise parts of their whole energy innovation budget within their baseline.

Objectives:

  • Enhance the public sector investment to a substantial level.
  • Increased private sector engagement and investment.
  • Increase international collaboration.
  • Raising awareness of the transformational potential of innovation. 

Innovation Challenges (IC):

There are 8 innovation challenges under the mission innovation:

  1. IC1 – smart grids,
  2. IC2 – Off-grid access to electricity,
  3. IC3 – Carbon capture, 
  4. IC4 – Sustainable biofuels, 
  5. IC5 – Converting sunlight, 
  6. IC6 – Clean energy materials, 
  7. IC7 – Affordable cooling and heating of buildings,
  8. IC8 – Renewable and clean hydrogen.

 Mission Innovation 2.0:

Recently, the MI members agreed upon next steps on the road to Mission Innovation 2.0

To achieve the shared goal of accelerating innovation, all the members have agreed to develop a second phase (2.0).

This includes:

  • An enhanced Innovation Platform building on current activities to strengthen the global clean energy innovation ecosystem and to accelerate learning.
  • New public-private innovation alliances – Missions – built around ambitious and inspirational goals backed by voluntary commitments that can lead to tipping points in the cost, scale, availability, and attractiveness of clean energy solutions. 

India and MI:

India is member of MI Steering Committee and Co-lead of Analysis and Joint Research Sub-Group along with Canada. 

  • India has set up Clean Energy International Incubation Center to provide support to start up for providing the most impactful clean energy solutions for the societal good.
  • India is playing crucial role in MI Activities at global level by participating in eight Innovation Challenges and co leading three challenges (Smart Grids, Off-Grid access to Electricity and Sustainable Biofuels).

Indian Initiatives Aligned with the Mission

  • Hence, India has emerged as a key mover of global S&T partnerships in critical areas. 
  • India has established the partnerships with the key countries and is playing a key role through knowledge generation and innovations in the areas of Biotechnology and allied disciplines including, energy, water, health, which are global challenges.

Chrome facts for Prelims

Mathrubhumi

The Prime Minister inaugurated centenary year celebrations of Mathrubhumi.

  • The Prime Minister paid tribute to all the leading personalities in the journey of the newspaper.
  • He said “inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals, Mathrubhumi was born to strengthen India’s freedom struggle”. 
  • Mathrubhumi is a Malayalam newspaper that is published from Kerala, India. 
  • It was founded by K. P. Kesava Menon, an active volunteer in the Indian freedom struggle against the British.

Key Features of PM-KISAN Scheme

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme is a Central Sector Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme.

  • Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs.6000/- per annum is provided to all landholding farmer families across the country.
  • Financial assistance is subject to certain exclusion criteria relating to higher income strata, to enable them to take care of expenses related to agriculture and allied activities as well as domestic needs.
  • The amount is transferred in three 4-monthly installments of Rs. 2000/- each, directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiary farmers identified by the State/UT Governments. 
  • Payment is done on the basis of Aadhaar seeded data of beneficiaries, except for the State/UTs of Assam, Meghalaya, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, which have been given exemption in this regard upto 31st March, 2021.
  • Under the PM-KISAN Scheme, funds are not allocated and sanctioned State-wise.

Key Features of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana:

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojna (PMKMY) Scheme aims to provide social security net for the Small and Marginal Farmers (SMF) by way of pension.

  • Under this scheme, a minimum fixed pension of Rs.3,000/-per month will be provided to the eligible small and marginal farmers, subject to certain exclusion clauses, on attaining the age of 60 years. 
  • The Scheme is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme, with entry age of 18 to 40 years.
  • The beneficiary would be required to contribute Rs 100/ – per month at median entry age of 29 years.
  • The Central Government shall also contribute to the Pension Fund an equal amount.

The Scheme was implemented in 2019 and since the maximum age for enrollment limit is 40 years and minimum fixed pension of Rs. 3000/- per month will be due once the enrolled farmers attain the age of 60.

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