Blog
PIB
Daily PIB
Daily PIB/ 15 March
General Studies- II
Topic– Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Chrome Ias
Share
Trending
Latest Courses
India-UK Free Trade Agreement
Context:
India has been talking free trade agreements with several partners – both bilateral and regional – over the past two years in a bid to boost export-oriented domestic manufacturing.
- New Delhi has set an ambitious export shipment target of US$450-$500 billion by FY23, against US$291 billion in FY21.
- This explains why early harvest deals and full free trade agreements (FTAs) have assumed newfound importance to an otherwise trade conservative regime.
- Indian exports touched US$197.89 billion in the period from April to September 2021, up 57 percent from the same period in the previous year.
India-UK FTA negotiations:
India-UK FTA negotiations formally launched on January 13, 2022 during the UK International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan’s two-day visit to India for the 15th UK-India Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO).
Highlights of JETCO:
- The ambition of both countries is to negotiate a broad agreement that will deliver for businesses and consumers.
- The FTA is expected to facilitate the target of doubling bilateral trade between India and United Kingdom by 2030, set by the Prime Ministers of both the nations in May 2021.
- The FTA with UK is expected to provide certainty, predictability and transparency and will create a more liberal, facilitative and competitive services regime.
India-UK bilateral trading relationship:
- A India-UK Free Trade Agreement would be a substantial opportunity for both of countries’ economies and a significant moment in the India-UK bilateral relationship.
- The India-UK bilateral trading relationship is already significant, and both sides have agreed to double that bilateral trade by 2030, as part of Roadmap 2030 announced in May 2021.
- India and the UK will seek to agree a mutually beneficial agreement supporting jobs, businesses and communities in both countries.
Significance for India:
- The FTA negotiations with the UK is expected to increase our exports in Leather, Textile, Jewellery and processed Agri products.
- India is also expected to register a quantum jump in the export of Marine Products through the recognition of 56 marine units of India.
- The Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) on Pharma could provide additional market access.
- There is also great potential for increasing exports in service sectors like IT/ITES, Nursing, education, healthcare, including AYUSH and audio-visual services.
- India would also be seeking special arrangements for movement of its people.
Significance for Britain:
By 2050, India will be the world’s third-largest economy with a middle class of almost 250 million shoppers.
- The UK wants to unlock this huge new market for the great British producers and manufacturers across numerous industries from food and drinks to services and automotive.
- It has the potential to boost bilateral trade by up to GBP 28 billion a year by 2035 and increase wages by up to GBP 3 billion across the UK.
- A deal with India is also pegged as a “big step forward” in the UK’s post-Brexit strategy to refocus trade on the Indo-Pacific, home to half of the world’s population and 50 per cent of global economic growth.
What Is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?
A free trade agreement is a pact between two or more nations to reduce barriers to imports and exports among them.
- Under a free trade policy, goods and services can be bought and sold across international borders with little or no government tariffs, quotas, subsidies, or prohibitions to inhibit their exchange.
- The concept of free trade is the opposite of trade protectionism or economic isolationism.
What Is a Free Trade Area?
- A free trade area is a group of countries who have mutually agreed to limit or eliminate trade barriers among them.
- Free trade areas tend to promote free trade and the international division of labor, though the provisions of the agreement and the resulting scope of free trade is subject to politics and international relations.
- Free trade areas have benefits and costs, and corresponding boosters and opponents.
General Studies- II
Topic- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
OTPRMS certificates
Context:
Union Education Minister announces linking of OTPRMS certificates with DigiLocker with complete waiver of registration fees.
What is the OTPRMS?
Online Teacher Pupil Registration Management System (OPTRMS) is a portal launched by NCTE to allow students who have successfully cleared the teacher education degree or courses including B.El.Ed, D.El.Ed, B.Ed, M.Ed etc to get their certificates online.
- With the launch of the portal, the candidates can obtain their certificates in the online mode within 3-5 days.
- Earlier candidates needed to get their documents verified before applying for a teaching job, the process had to be done manually.
National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE)
The National Council for Teacher Education as a statutory body came into existence in pursuance of the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 on the 17th August, 1995.
- NCTE, in its previous status since 1973, was an advisory body for the Central and State Governments on all matters pertaining to teacher education.
- The National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986 and the Programme of Action thereunder, provided NCTE a statutory status and necessary resources for overhauling the system of teacher education.
Objective
The main objective of the NCTE are:
- To achieve planned and coordinated development of the teacher education system throughout the country,
- The regulation and proper maintenance of Norms and Standards in the teacher education system and for matters connected therewith.
General Studies- I
Topic- Important Geophysical phenomena such as Earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, Cyclone etc., geographical features and their location.
Earthquake Early Warning System
Context:
Minister of Earth Sciences told in Loksabha-
NDMA has been conducting regular awareness campaigns every year through print, electronic as well as social media from time to time, on earthquakes that include precautions for building safety from earthquakes.
- Presently, no proven system exists in the country to provide the early warning of earthquakes.
- Moreover, there is no scientific technique available anywhere in the world to predict an earthquake precisely in terms of time, location and its magnitude.
Seismic zone in the country:
Considering the recorded history of earthquakes in the country, a total of ~59% of the land mass of India is prone to earthquakes of different intensities.
- Based on the past seismic history, Bureau of Indian Standards grouped the country into four seismic zones namely Zone-II, Zone-III, Zone-IV and Zone-V.
- Zone V is seismically the most active region, while zone II is the least.
Regions that fall under the Earthquake (seismic) Zones in India:
- Zone-V: covers entire northeastern India, some parts of Jammu and Kashmir, some parts of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, some parts of North Bihar and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- Zone-IV: covers remaining parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, Union Territory of Delhi, Sikkim, northern parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, parts of Gujarat and small portions of Maharashtra near the west coast and Rajasthan.
- Zone-III: comprises of Kerala, Goa, Lakshadweep islands, remaining parts of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal, parts of Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
- Zone-II: covers remaining parts of the country.
What is the Earthquake?
An earthquake is a vibration of the surface of the earth that is caused due to the elasticity or the isostatic adjustment of the rocks under the surface of the earth.
It may be caused via human as well as natural activities.
- The point where the seismic (earthquake) waves originate is called the ‘focus’ of the earthquake, it takes place below the surface of the earth.
- Whereas, the place which perpendicularly above the focus, on the surface of the earth where the tremors of the earthquake are felt for the first time is called the ‘epicentre’.
- The energy that is dissipated from the focus is known as the ‘Elastic Energy’.
What are Seismic Waves?
The waves, generated during an earthquake are known as seismic waves.
They are classified into 3 types:
- P-Waves (Primary or Longitudinal waves): These are longitudinal waves analogous to the sound waves.
- S-Waves (Secondary or Transverse Waves): These are transversal waves analogous to the light waves.
- L-Waves (Surface or Long-period Waves): They originate when ‘P’ wave hits the surface.
P Waves, S Waves, and Earthquake Warning:
Earthquake advance warning systems detect the nondestructive primary waves (P waves) that travel quickly through the earth’s crust, in advance of the destructive secondary waves (S waves).
- The delay between the arrival of P waves and S waves controls the amount of advance warning that can be given.
- The interval increases the farther a location is from the epicenter of the earthquake.
- This interval generally ranges between 60 and 90 seconds for deep, distant, large earthquakes.
- An interval of one second for every two kilometers (km) from the quake’s origin is the rule of thumb.
The effectiveness of advance warning depends on the accurate detection of P waves and the rejection of false-positive ground vibrations caused by local activity.
Chrome facts for Prelims
PM-DevINE for North East
A new scheme, Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East (or PM-DevINE) has been announced in Union Budget 2022-23.
- It will fund infrastructure in the spirit of PM Gati Shakti, and social development projects based on felt needs of the North-East.
- PM-DevINE will enable livelihood activities for youth and women by filling the gaps in various sectors, but it will not be a substitute for existing Central or State schemes.
Sikh New Year
The Sikh New Year, first day of the Chet month of Nanakshahi Sammat 546, is on March 14.
- Nanakshahi calendar is used in Sikhism.
- The year begins with the month of Chet, with 1 Chet corresponding to March 14.
Environment day:
March 14, first day of the new month of Chet, also Gurta Gaddi Divas (coronation day) of Guru Har Rai, seventh Sikh Guru, will be marked as environment day.
Chrome Ias
Trending
Latest Courses
For Daily Updates
Sign up for daily emails to get the latest Chrome IAS news.
