GS- 3rd Paper
Topic covered– Disaster and disaster management
National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC)
Context
NCMC meeting to review flood situation in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
About NCMC
- National Crisis Management Committee is a committee set up by the Government of India in the wake of a natural calamity for effective coordination and implementation of relief measures and operations.
- It is headed by Cabinet Secretary.
- NCMC has been constituted in the Cabinet Secretariat.
- At the national level, Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) are the key committees involved in the top-level decision-making for Disaster Management (DM).
Key functions
- It deals with major crisis which have serious or national ramifications.
- It oversees the Command, Control and Coordination of the disaster response.
- Give direction to the Crisis Management Group (CMG) as deemed necessary.
Composition
- It is headed by Cabinet Secretary.
Other members include–
- Secretary to Prime Minister Member,
- Secretary (MHA) Member, Secretary (MCD) Member,
- Director (IB) Member,
- Secretary (R&AW) Member,
- Secretary (Agri & Coopn.) Co-opted Member,
- An officer of Cabinet Secretariat.
GS- 3rd Paper
Topic covered– Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.
NIRVIK scheme
Context
Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) has introduced a new Export Credit Insurance Scheme (ECIS) called NIRVIK
About NIRVIK
- Ministry of Commerce & Industry through Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) has introduced a new Export Credit Insurance Scheme (ECIS) called NIRVIK.
- The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) provides credit guarantee of up to 60 percent loss.
- Under the new ‘NIRVIK’ scheme, the insurance cover guaranteed will cover up to 90 percent of the principal and interest.
- The insurance cover will include both pre and post-shipment credit.
Key features of NIRVIK scheme
- The Finance Ministry has increased the insurance cover for banks up to 90 percent for working capital loans and moderation in premium incidence for the MSME sector.
- It is to provide additional support to the banks in the wake of a global slowdown and rising NPAs.
- It will catalyze the banks to enhance the volume of export credit lending, especially to the MSME Sector with optimal pricing due to capital and risk optimization.
- All standard accounts covered under ECGC on the date of transition shall be eligible for the insurance cover under the ECIS.
- The scheme will be in force for a period of 5-years and on the conclusion, the standard ECGC covers will be made available to the Banks with its regular features.
- Enhanced cover will ensure that Foreign and Rupee export credit interest rates will be below 4%and 8% respectively for exporters.
- Under ECIS, insurance cover percentage has also been enhanced to 90% from the present average of 60% for both Principal and Interest.
- Further, the scheme will mandate inspection of bank documents and records by ECGC officials for losses exceeding Rs.10 crore as against the present Rs 1crore.
Objectives
- It aims to enhance loan availability and ease the lending process.
- The scheme also aims to simplify the procedure for settlement of claims and provisional payment of up to 50 percent within 30 days on production of proof of end-use of the advances in default by the Insured Bank.
Benefits
- It will enhance accessibility and affordability of credit for exporters.
- It will help make Indian exports competitive and make ECGC procedures exporter friendly.
- Benefit MSME exporters with a new scheme for reimbursing taxes, reduced insurance cost and ease of doing business.
Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC)
- The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) is a fully government-owned company.
- It was established in 1957 to promote exports by providing credit insurance services.
- The ECGC provides Export Credit Insurance to Banks (ECIB).
- ECIB protect the banks from losses on account of export credit at the Pre and Post-Shipment stage given to exporters due to the risks of insolvency or protracted default of the exporter borrower.
GS-2 Paper
Topic covered- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP) – 2019
Context
Union Human Resource Development Minister launched Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP) – 2019 under Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching (PMMMNMTT).
About Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP) – 2019
- A National Initiative “Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP)” was launched to design and deliver a structured scheme of leadership development for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
- LEAP is a three weeks leadership development training programme.
- 2 weeks domestic and one week foreign training for second level academic functionaries in public funded higher education institutions.
Objectives
- It aims to build higher managerial capabilities of existing higher education leaders and administrators and to draw fresh talent into the management of higher education systems,
- The main objective is to prepare second tier academic heads that are potentially likely to assume leadership roles in the future.
LEAP is being implemented through the following 15 institutions-
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
- Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
- Banaras Hindu University
- Jamia Miliia Islamia
- Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Kolkata
- University of Hyderabad
- NIT Trichy
- University of Delhi
- Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
- Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Indian Institute of Technology BHU
- TISS Mumbai (CALEM)
- AMU (CALEM)
- NIEPA (CALEM)
Eligibility
The mandatory eligibility conditions are-
- Minimum 8 years of experience as Professor;
- 3 years administrative experience;
- Impeccable Integrity;
- High academic standing preferably 30 publications in ‘SCOPUS’ indexed international journals or UGC approved journals;
- Age below 58 years.
GS-2 Paper
Topic covered– Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT)-2019
Context
Union Human Resource Development Minister launched Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT)-2019 under Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching (PMMMNMTT).
About ARPIT
- Ministry of Human Resource Development launched Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT) in November, 2018.
- ARPIT is a major and unique initiative of online professional development of 1.5 million higher education faculty using the MOOCs platform SWAYAM.
- For implementing ARPIT, discipline-specific National Resource Centers (NRCs) are identified.
- These are tasked to prepare online training material with focus on latest developments in the discipline, new & emerging trends, pedagogical improvements and methodologies for transacting revised curriculum.
- ARPIT course of 40 hours/duration is treated as equivalent to one Refresher Course for Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) for promotion.
- The course is a 40 hour module with 20 hours of video content and 20 hours of non-video content.
- They are offered in a highly flexible format and can be done at one’s own pace and time.
- There are built-in assessment exercises and activities as part of the academic progression in the course.
- At the end of the course, there will be a terminal assessment which can be either online or a written examination.
- All faculties who have successfully completed the online refresher course will be certified.
- For ARPIT 2019, 51 discipline specific NRCs have been notified covering 46 disciplines.
Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching (PMMMNMTT)
About
- The Scheme of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching is the culmination of the Government of India efforts in launching a comprehensive umbrella scheme.
- It aimed at improving the quality of education at all levels by infusing quality and excellence in our teachers and teaching. Teachers are the backbone and the core of the education system.
For Prelims-
INS Tarkash
Context
In continuation of the Indian Navy’s overseas deployment to Africa, Europe and Russia, Indian Naval Ship Tarkash made a port call at Walvis Bay, Namibi.
Highlights
- INS Tarkash (F50) is the second Talwar-class frigate constructed for the Indian Navy.
- She is part of the second batch of Teg-class frigates ordered by the Indian Navy.
- These are modified Krivak III-class frigates built by Russia.
- These ships use stealth technologies and a special hull design to ensure a reduced radar cross section.
- The main difference between Tarkash and the earlier Talwar-class ships is the use of BrahMos missiles in place of the Klub-N missiles in the earlier ships.
- She was built at the Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia.
IN-RSN-RTN Trilateral Exercise
Context
Maiden IN-RSN-RTN Trilateral Exercise Commences
Highlights
- A maiden trilateral exercise, involving Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Royal Thailand Navy (RTN) and Indian Navy (IN) has commenced at Port Blair.
- This is five-day-long exercise.
- It is aimed at bolstering the maritime inter-relationships amongst Singapore Thailand and India.
- It also aims to contribute significantly to enhancing the overall maritime security in the region.
‘Jaldoot’ Exhibition
Context
Unique Travelling Exhibition ‘JALDOOT’ flagged off by I & B Minister will encourage people’s participation for Water Conservation.
Highlights
JALDOOT is a travelling exhibition arranged by Regional Outreach Bureau, Pune under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
It is a Travelling Exhibition on Jalshakti Abhiyan.
The Regional Outreach Bureau, ROB, in association with MSRTC (Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation) is launching the Jaldoot campaign.
The ROB has redesigned the bus, to create the Jaldoot : Travelling Exhibition on Jalshakti Abhiyan.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a collaborative effort of various Ministries of the Government of India and State Governments, being coordinated by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
It is a time-bound, mission-mode campaign that would focus on 1,592 “water-stressed” blocks in 257 districts.
The campaign will run through citizen participation during the monsoon season, from 1st July, 2019 to 15th September, 2019.
The JALSHAKTI ABHIYAN focus on five key aspects-
- Water Conservation and Rain Water Harvesting
- Renovation of Traditional and other Water Bodies
- Reuse of Water and Recharging of structures
- Watershed Development
- Intensive Afforestation
