GS- 2nd Paper
Topic- Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures.
PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation)
Context
Prime Minister chaired the 31st interaction through PRAGATI — the ICT based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.
About
- PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation) is a unique integrating and interactive platform.
- The PRAGATI platform uniquely bundles three latest technologies:-
- Digital data management,
- Video-conferencing,
- Geo-spatial technology.
- It also offers a unique combination in the direction of cooperative federalism.
- It brings on one stage the Secretaries of Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of the States.
- With this, the Prime Minister is able to discuss the issues with the concerned Central and State officials with full information and latest visuals of the ground level situation.
Aim
- The platform is aimed at addressing common man’s grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by State Governments.
Key features
- It is a three-tier system (PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States).
- Issues to be flagged before the PM are picked up from the available database regarding Public Grievances, on-going Programmes and pending Projects.
- Prime Minister interacts with the Government of India Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries through Video-conferencing enabled by data and geo-informatics visuals.
- The system will ride on, strengthen and re-engineer the data bases of the CPGRAMS for grievances, Project Monitoring Group (PMG) and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- These issues can be viewed by the Union Government Secretaries and Chief Secretaries after entering into the application.
- With this, the Prime Minister is able to discuss the issues with the concerned Central and State officials with full information and latest visuals of the ground level situation.
- It is also an innovative project in e-governance and good governance.
- The programme will be held once in every month on Fourth Wednesday at 3.30 PM-to be known as PRAGATI Day.
GS- Ist Paper
Topic– Indian culture: will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
International Film Festival of India (IFFI)
Context
The 50th International Film Festival of India is scheduled to be held from 20th to 28th November at Goa.
Key features
- IFFI is an annually event.
- 50th IFFI is being held in the state of Goa.
- John Bailey, Cinematographer and Ex. President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will chair the International Jury of 50th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
- The Golden Jubilee edition of International Film Festival of India has the best lot of 15 films representing 20 countries competing for the coveted Golden Peacock Award.
- Marathi film Mai Ghat: Crime No. 103/2005and Malayalam film Jallikattuare the two Indian films competing at 50th IFFI.
- Opening Film of the Festival is “Despite the Fog (Nonostante La Nebbia)”, directed by GoranPaskaljevic, one of Europe’s most respected filmmakers.
About IFFI
- International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was started way back in 1952.
- The first ever IFFI was organized by the Films Division, Government of India, with the patronage of the first Prime Minister of India – Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.
Objective
- The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) aims atproviding a common platform to the cinemas across the world to project the excellence of the art of film making.
- This India’s most prestigious festival is also the first International Film Festival held anywhere in Asia.
GS-2nd Paper
Topic- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
HS Code for Khadi
Context
Khadi gets separate unique HS code, export to get a boost.
About
- The ministry of commerce and industries has allocated separate HS code for this signature fabric of India.
Significance of HS code for Khadi
- Earlier, Khadi did not have its exclusive HS code.
- As a result, all the data regarding export of this signature fabric used to come as a normal fabric under the textile head.
- Now, HS code will help to keep a constant eye not only on our export figures, but it will also help in planning our export strategies.
- Khadi and Village Industries products are eco-friendly and natural, and are in great demand in the International Markets.
- Recognizing its potential to generate exports and its eco-friendly importance, the Ministry of Commerce had accorded deemed Export Promotional Council Status (EPCS) to KVIC in 2006, to boost the export of Khadi products.
- However in the absence of separate HS code, the export of Khadi products was difficult to categorize and calculate.
What is an HS Code?
- HS stands for Harmonized System.
- It was developed by the WCO (World Customs Organization) as a multipurpose international product nomenclature that describes the type of good that is shipped.
- Today, customs officers must use HS code to clear every commodity that enters or crosses any international borders.
HS Code Structure
The HS code can be described as follows-
- It is a six-digit identification code.
- It has 5000 commodity groups.
- Those groups have 99 chapters.
- Those chapters have 21 sections.
- It’s arranged in a legal and logical structure.
- Well-defined rules support it to realize uniform classification worldwide.
- The code follows from the Kyoto Convention of 1974 and facilitates the simplification and harmonization of Customs procedures.
- The Kyoto Convention details the application of efficient procedures, as well as new and obligatory rules for their implementation.
- As of January 2017, this convention has about 106 Contracting Signatories/Parties.
HS Code Usage
- The HS system is used by over 200 countries and other economies around the world for the collection of international trade statistics, and as a basis for customs tariffs.
- Over 98% of the goods involved in international trade are classified in terms of the HS Code.
- In addition to governments, the code is also used by private-sector firms and international organizations.
- It is utilized to monitor, update, and optimize controlled goods, internal taxes, rules of origin, trade policies, transport statistics, freight tariffs, compilation of national accounts, quota controls, price monitoring, traffic statistics, and economic research as well as analysis.
- Thus, the HS code is regarded as an indispensable tool for international trade, universal economic language, and coding for commodities.
- Today, HS codes are used extensively in electronic messages like the EDIFACT.
- This has made it easier for the system to become a worldwide standard for describing a good across various platforms.
- Its nearly universal usage allows authorities such as Port and Customs departments to identify the products.
For Prelims
National School of Drama (NSD)
Context
National School of Drama’s 11th edition of Bal Sangam commenced.
About NSD
- National School of Drama Established in 1959 is the only one of its kind in India.
- It is an autonomous organization and fully financed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
- NSD was incepted under the aegis of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and became an independent entity in 1975.
- It offers a 3-year, full-time, residential training program in every aspect of theatre with a special focus on the practical implementation of theories.
There are two performing wings of NSD –
- The Repertory Company that started in 1964.
- Theatre-in- Education Company (TiE) that started in 1989.
- National School of Drama had been declared as deemed university by University Grant Commission in 2005.
‘Uttam Rake’
Context
Indian Railway’s Introduces ‘Uttam Rake’ on 69th Foundation Day of Western Railway.
Highlights
- Indian Railways celebrates 69th Foundation Day of Western Railway on 5th November, 2019.
- ‘Uttam Rake’ is the Latest Addition To Make Travelling In Mumbai Local Trains More Comfortable & Safe.
Salient Features of Uttam rake:
- Provision of CCTV Surveillance System in all coaches.
- Anti-dent partitions in coaches to prevent thefts.
- Modular Luggage rack.
- High backrest seats in First Class coaches.
- Provision of Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) seats in Second Class coaches with wooden finishing for better aesthetics.
- Improved Dual Lock Stopper with dual slot handles windows in all coaches.
- Wider and improved grab handles for better grip.
- Latest Brushless DC (BLDC) fans in all coaches which consumes 30% less energy than conventional fans.
- Provision of modular type diffused LED lights.
- Electrically operated Passenger Alarm System in place of traditional emergency chains.
- Smooth finished corrugated FRP ceiling and Wooden finished Roof Ventilation Duct Area to enhance the aesthetic appeal of coach interior.
- Provision of camouflaged aluminium moulded strips on floor to discourage theft.
- Stainless steel protective plate near all passenger seats to avoid colour fading due to footwear friction.
- Red Emergency Buttons
