GS-3rd Paper
Topic- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Cartosat-3 satellite
Context
ISRO successful launched PSLV-C47 carrying indigenous Cartosat-3 satellite and over a dozen Nano- satellites of USA.
PSLV-C47 / Cartosat-3 Mission
- India’s PSLV-C47 successfully launched Cartosat-3 and 13 commercial nanosatellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.
- PSLV-C46 was the 74th launch vehicle mission from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota.
- The mission life of the Cartosat-3 is 5 years.
- This is the 21st flight of PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration (with 6 solid strap-on motors).
- Cartosat-3 satellite is a third generation agile advanced satellite having high resolution imaging capability.
- 13 Commercial Nanosatellites from USA were also successfully injected into designated orbit.
- These satellites were launched under commercial arrangement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Applications of Cartosat-3
- It will address the increased user’s demands for large scale urban planning, rural resource and infrastructure development, coastal land use and land cover etc.
- Cartosat-3’s optical imaging will also help to detect precise cartographic or mapping activities.
- An existing policy allows only government and government authorised agencies to access ISRO’s high-resolution imageries below a resolution of 1 metre.
- Though, Data from most of the Cartosat satellites are exclusively used by the armed forces.
New Space India Limited (NSIL)
- New Space India Limited (NSIL) is a wholly owned Government of India undertaking/ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).
- It is under the administrative control of Department of Space (DOS).
- It is aimed to commercially exploit the research and development work of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Centres and constituent units of DOS.
Functions of NSIL
- Act as an aggregator for all space related activities in industry.
- It will also develop private entrepreneurship in space related technologies.
- It will be responsible for production and manufacturing of commercially successful Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) spacecraft launchers via technology transfer mechanisms.
- It will cater to emerging global market demand of commercial SSLV.
- It will provide satellite building and satellite-based services which includes outsource assembly of small satellites and upcoming SSLV, supply of sub-systems for various domestic and international application needs.
- It will enable space technology spin-offs via Indian industry interface.
GS-2 paper
Topic- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Mandatory packaging in jute materials
Context
Cabinet committee on Economic Affairs approved extension of norms for mandatory packaging in jute material.
About
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, has accorded its approval for mandatory packaging of foodgrains and sugar in jute material for the Jute Year 2019-20.
- The Government has retained the scope of mandatory packaging norms under the Jute Packaging Material (JPM) Act, 1987 as per last year.
- The decision of the Cabinet mandates that 100% of the food grains and 20% of the sugar shall be mandatorily packed in diversified jute bags.
Benefits
- Packing sugar in diversified jute bags will give an impetus to the diversification of the jute industry.
- It is also mandated that initially 10% of the indents of jute bags for packing foodgrains would be placed through reverse auction on the GeM portal.
- This will gradually usher in a regime of price discovery.
- It will benefit farmers and workers located in the Eastern and North Eastern regions of the country particularly in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura.
Background
- Nearly 3.7 lakh workers and several lakh farm families are dependent for their livelihood on the jute sectors.
- The government has been making concerted efforts for the development of jute sector–
- Increasing the quality and productivity of raw jute,
- Diversification of jute sector,
- Boosting and sustaining demand for jute products.
- The jute industry is predominantly dependent on Government sector which purchases jute bags of value of more than Rs. 7,500 crore every year for packing foodgrains.
- This is done in order to sustain the core demand for the jute sector and to support the livelihood of the workers and farmers dependent on the sector.
Other Support provided to the Jute Sector
- Approximately two lakh jute farmers are being assisted with improved agronomic practices such as line sowing using seed drills, weed management by using wheel-hoeing and nail-weeders, distribution of quality certified seeds and also providing microbial assisted retting.
- These interventions have resulted in enhancing the quality and productivity of raw jute and increasing income of jute farmers by Rs. 10,000 per hectare.
- To support jute farmers, a grant of subsidy of Rs. 100 crore for two years starting from 2018-19 has been approved.
- With a view to support diversification of jute sector, the National Jute Board has collaborated with National Institute of Design and a Jute Design Cell has been opened at Gandhinagar.
- With a view to boost demand in the jute sector, Government of India has imposed Definitive Anti-Dumping Duty on import of jute goods from Bangladesh and Nepal with effect from 5th January, 2017.
- With a view to promoting transparency in jute sector, Jute SMART, an e-govt initiative was launched in December, 2016.
- Further, the JCI is transferring 100% funds to jute farmers online for jute procurement under MSP and commercial operations.
GS-2 paper
Topic- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT)
Context
NICDIT has accorded approval for extension of Chennai – Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC).
About
- NICDIT has accorded approval for extension of Chennai – Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) to Kochi and Coimbatore.
- Inclusion of Integrated Manufacturing Clusters (IMCs) identified in the States of Kerala and Tamil Nadu will also be done.
- The responsibility of making land available for the project is with the concerned State Government.
About NICDIT
- NICDIT is an apex body under the administrative control of Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).
- It is mandated for coordinated and unified development of the following industrial corridors-
- Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC)
- Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC)
- Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC)
- Bengaluru Mumbai Industrial Corridor (BMIC)
- Vizag Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC).
Key Features
- NICDIT will coordinate all efforts of Union Government for the development of industrial corridor projects and will monitor their implementation.
- It will help in bringing in holistic planning and development approach and sharing the learning from development of industrial corridors.
- An Apex Monitoring Authority will be constituted under the chairpersonship of the Finance Minister to periodically review the activities of NICDIT and progress of the projects.
- It will consist of Minister of Commerce & Industry, Minister of Railways, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Minister of Shipping, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog and Chief Ministers of states concerned as members.
GS-3rd Paper
Topic- Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
The Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019
Context
Lok Sabha passed the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
About
- Under the Special Protections Group Act, 1988, the SPG provides security to the Prime Minister and his immediate family members.
- It also provides security to former Prime Ministers and their immediate family members for a period of one year from the date on which they cease to hold the office.
- Beyond this period, the SPG security is provided based on the level of threat as decided by the central government.
- The threat must: (i) emanate from a military or terrorist organisation, and (ii) be of a grave and continuing nature.
Key features of the bill
- The Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019 amends the Special Protections Group Act, 1988.
- The Act provides for the constitution and regulation of the Special Protection Group (SPG) to provide security to the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers, and their immediate family members
- The Bill amends this provision to state that the SPG will provide security to the Prime Minister, and members of his immediate family residing with him at his official residence.
- It will also provide security to any former Prime Ministers, and his immediate family members residing with him at the residence allotted to him.
- This security will be provided for a period of five years from the date on which he ceases to hold the office of Prime Minister.
- The Bill removes this condition to state that if the SPG security is withdrawn from a former Prime Minister, it will also be withdrawn from his immediate family members.
For Prelims
Global Competitiveness Index 2019
Highlights
- The GCI brought out by the World Economic Forum involved performance review of 141 countries.
- The Global Competitiveness Index integrates the macroeconomic and the micro/business aspects of competitiveness into a single index.
- The Global Competitiveness Index measures the set of institutions, policies, and factors that set the sustainable current and medium-term levels of economic prosperity.
Top five countries in GCI 2019
- Singapore
- United States
- Hong Kong
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
India in GCI 2019
- India is on 68th position in GCI among 141 countries.
- India’s ranking in the Global Competitiveness Index has fallen by 10 ranks.
- It’s partly as a consequence of a relatively small decline in score but more significantly due to faster improvements of several countries earlier ranked close to India.
- India ranked high on innovation (35th), financial sector (40th), and macro-economic stability (43rd).
- On innovation, India was well ahead of most emerging economies and on par with several advanced economies.
Strategic Partnership Council
Highlights
- Cabinet approves Post Facto the Agreement on establishment of Strategic Partnership Council between India and Saudi Arabia.
- The Agreement will enable the leadership at the highest-level in both countries to meet regularly and monitor progress in the ongoing initiatives/projects under the strategic partnership.
- It will help identify new areas for forging strategic engagement and will define the goals to be achieved and benefits to be derived.
Benefits
- The proposal aims to benefit the citizens with improved economic and commercial linkages with Saudi Arabia irrespective of any gender, class or income bias.
- This Agreement with Saudi Arabia will open new avenues of partnership in strategic areas like defence, security counter-terrorism, energy security and renewable energy.
National Organic Festival of Women Entrepreneurs
Highlights
- Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) jointly will organise “National Organic Festival of Women Entrepreneurs”.
- The event will be planned and organized through NIFTEM, Kundli, Sonepat, Haryana.
- NIFTEM is an academic institution under the administrative control of Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India.
- The festival aims to encourage Indian women entrepreneurs and farmers to connect with buyers and thus, empower them through financial inclusion, while also promoting organic food produce in India.
