POLITY AND GOVERNANCE                                                                     

1. Ministry of HRD announces National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT)                                                                          

2. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana Reaches One Crore Beneficiaries                                                                                    

3. Union Minister Gehlot launches MIS portal under Accessible India Campaign                                                                                        

4. Supreme Court gets four new judges, its strength reaches highest ever at 34                                                                                        

ECONOMY                                                                                                

1. 16th Session of the Joint Economic Commission between India and Belgium Luxembourg Economic Union                                              

2. Handbook on Fisheries Statistics - 2018                                            

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY                                                               

1. There’s no antidote to paraquat herbicide, ban it: Odisha docs to govt 

SECURITY                                                                                              

1. Exercise  Yudh Abhyas – 2019 : Validation Exercise                        

2. second Scorpene submarine“KHANDERI” to Indian Navy                 

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

Ministry of HRD announces National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT)

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Context :

• Ministry of Human Resource Development has announced a new PPP Scheme, National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) for using technology for better learning outcomes in Higher Education.

National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) :

• The scheme aims to use Artificial Intelligence to make learning more personalized and customized as per the requirements of the learner.

• MHRD aims to recognize the development of technologies in Adaptive Learning and bring them under a common platform so that learners can access it easily.

• It proposes to create a National Alliance with such technology developing EdTech Companies through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

• MHRD would act as a facilitator to ensure that the Adaptive Learning Solutions are freely available to a large number of economically backward students.

• Under the scheme, a National NEAT platform would be created to provide one-stop access to Adaptive Learning Solutions.

• EdTech companies would be responsible for developing solutions and manage the registration of learners through the NEAT portal.

• NEAT is aimed at taking the concept of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS) platform a step ahead.

• All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) would be the implementing agency for the NEAT programme.

• It would help to certify maximum students with highly marketable skills and would also improve the employability of students.

                                                                                                                                                                   Source :- PIB

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana Reaches One Crore Beneficiaries

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes

Context :

• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), a flagship scheme of the Government for pregnant women and lactating mothers has achieved a significant milestone by crossing one crore beneficiaries.

Pradhan Mantri matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) :

• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana  (PMMVY) is a Maternity Benefit Programme.

• It is implemented in all the districts of the country in accordance with the provision of the National Food Security Act, 2013.

 Objective :

• Providing partial compensation for the wage loss in terms of cash incentive s so that the woman can take adequate res t before and after delivery of the first living child.

• The cash incentive provided would lead to improved health seeking behaviour amongst the Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW& LM).

Target Beneficiaries :

• All Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers, excluding PW&LM who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or PSUs or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force.

• All eligible Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers who have their pregnancy on or after 01.01.2017 for first child in family.

• Case of Infant Mortality: A beneficiary is eligible to receive benefits under the scheme only once.

  • That is, in case of infant mortality, she will not be eligible for claiming benefits under the scheme, if she has already received all the instalments of the maternity benefit under PMMVY earlier.

• Pregnant and Lactating AWWs/ AWHs/ ASHA may also avail the benefits under the PMMVY subject to fulfilment of scheme conditionalities.

• Case of Miscarriage/Still Birth :

  • A beneficiary is eligible to receive benefits under the scheme only once.

  • In case of miscarriage/still birth, the beneficiary would be eligible to claim the remaining instalment(s) in event of any future pregnancy.

  • Thus, after receiving the 1st instalment, if the beneficiary has a miscarriage, she would only be eligible for receiving 2nd and 3rd instalment in event of future pregnancy subject to fulfilment of eligibility criterion and conditionalities of the scheme. Similarly, if the beneficiary has a miscarriage or still birth after receiving 1 st and 2nd instalments, she would only be eligible for receiving 3rd instalment in event of future pregnancy subject to fulfilment of eligibility criterion and conditionalities of the scheme.

Benefits :       

• Cash incentive of Rs 5000 in three instalments i.e.

  •  first instalment of Rs 1000/ - on early registration of pregnancy at the Anganwadi Centre (AWC) / approved Health facility as may be identified by the respective administering State / UT,

  • second instalment of Rs 2000/ - after six months of pregnancy on receiving at least one ante-natal check-up (ANC) and

  • third instalment of Rs 2000/ - after child birth is registered and the child has received the first cycle of BCG, OPV, DPT and Hepatitis - B, or its equivalent/ substitute.

• The eligible beneficiaries would receive the incentive given under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) for Institutional delivery and the incentive received under JSY would be accounted towards maternity benefits so that on an average a woman gets Rs 6000 / - .

More in the news:

• Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Rajasthan are the top five States/UT in the country in implementation of PMMVY.

• Odisha and Telangana are yet to start implementation of the scheme.

                                                                                                                            Source :- PIB

Union Minister Gehlot launches MIS portal under Accessible India Campaign

GS PAPER - 02 GOVERNANCE - Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes

Context :

• Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities(DEPwD) under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has developed a Management Information System(MIS) for stakeholders of Accessible India Campaign (AIC).

Management information System (MIS) :

• The MIS portal will bring all the nodal ministries and States/UTs on a single platform for monitoring the progress being made against each target of Accessible India Campaign (AIC).

• The portal will be useful in maintaining all the function on digital platform and capture data on a real-time basis.

Accessible India Campaign :

• Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities(DEPwD) has formulated the Accessible India Campaign also known as Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.

• It was launched on International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December,2015.

• The campaign is based on the principles of the Social Model of Disability, which means disability is caused by the way society is organised and not by the person’s limitations and impairments

• The aim of the Campaign is to make a barrier free and conducive environment for Persons with Disabilities all over the country.

• The campaign targets three separate verticals for achieving universal accessibility namely

  • built up environment

  • transportation ecosystem and

  • information & communication technology(ICT) ecosystem.

• The campaign is in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to which India is a signatory.

                                                                                                                                       Source :- PIB ; Business Standard

Supreme Court gets four new judges, its strength reaches highest ever at 34

GS PAPER - 02 POLITY - Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

Context :

• President has appointed four new judges to the Supreme Court taking its strength to 34 which is the highest-ever.

Background :

• On July 31, the Union Cabinet had approved increasing the number of Supreme Court judges from 30 to 33, besides the Chief Justice of India.

• The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2019 was passed in the Lok Sabha on August 7 and was signed by the President on August 10.

  • The top court will now have 33 judges, besides the CJI.

                                                                                                                     Source :- Indian Express

ECONOMY 

16th Session of the Joint Economic Commission between India and Belgium Luxembourg Economic Union

GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests

Context :

• The 16th Session of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between India and Belgium Luxembourg Economic Union (BLEU) was convened in New Delhi

16th Joint Economic commission :

• India and BLEU side reiterated the importance of the JEC towards the development of bilateral economic and trade relations through facilitating dialogue and

• Enhancing cooperation on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, such as, transportation and logistics, renewable energy, aerospace and satellites, audio and visual industry, agro and food processing industry, life sciences, ICT, traditional medicine, Ayurveda and yoga, and tourism.

• The India and BLEU sides resolved that dynamic nature of commercial exchanges seen in the last few years is reflected in the increasing number of companies interested in establishing and gaining access to respective markets, and signing of MoU among the three Countries for cooperation in multiple fields of mutual interest.

Background :

• JEC Sessions are convened based on an agreement signed in 1990 in New Delhi.

• This biennial event is organized in capital cities of the three countries alternatively, and is a main vehicle for discussing economic and commercial issues between India and BLEU.

• The focus of bilateral relations has been on trade and investment.

• India is Belgium’s second largest export destination and fourth largest trade partner outside the European Union with a significant contribution from the Indian diaspora.

                                                                                                                                                                    Source :- PIB

Handbook on Fisheries Statistics - 2018

GS PAPER - 03 ECONOMY - economics of animal-rearing.

Context :

• The Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying released the “Handbook on Fisheries Statistics - 2018”.

  • It was published by the Department of Fisheries of  Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India.  

Key Highlights :

• The Handbook on Fisheries Statistics - 2018 is the 13th edition which presents useful statistical information for various aspects of Fisheries sector.

  • The last (12th edition of) Handbook was published in 2014.

• The latest edition provides information on year wise fish production (Marine & Inland) from 1990-91 to 2017-18,

  •  trend of fisheries exports, fisheries resources, fishing craft, pattern of per capita fish consumption in different States/UTs, Grass Value Addition (GVA) from fisheries sector and

  • its contribution to total GVA of the Country, fisheries institutes, fishermen population and various schemes implemented for sustained and responsible development of fisheries sector.

•  The average growth in fish production during 2017-18 stands at 10.14% when compared to 2016-17

  • This is mainly due to 14.05% growth in Inland fisheries when compared to 2016-17

•  The percentage contribution of inland fish production in the total fish production of 29% during the year 1950-51 and has increased to 71% in the year 2017-18.

• There has been steady growth in the export of fish and fish products over the period.

• The export of Marine Fish products has registered growth of 21.35% (Quantity) and 19.11 % (Value) during the year 2017-18.

• Andhra Pradesh has recorded the highest production of inland fish (34.50 lakh tones) where as Gujarat is the leading state in Marine fish (7.01 Lakh tonnes) in the country.

                                                                                                                             Source :- PIB

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

There’s no antidote to paraquat herbicide, ban it: Odisha docs to govt

GS PAPER - 03 ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY - Issues related to Health.

Context :

• Doctors in Odisha’s has urged the Odisha government to ban the paraquat herbicide that has killed around 170 people in the last two years.

Paraquat herbicide :

• Paraquat is a toxic chemical that is widely used as an herbicide (plant killer) ,primarily for weed and grass control.

• The herbicide has been banned in 32 countries including Switzerland, where herbicide producing company Syngenta is based.

• Paraquat also figures on the list of 99 pesticides and herbicides that the Supreme Court is hearing to ban in an ongoing case.So far in India,only Kerala has banned the herbicide.

• However,Paraquat is yet to be listed in the prior informed consent (PIC) of the Rotterdam Convention.

  • India is also a party to the convention, which has 161 parties.

  • If a chemical figures in the PIC, the exporting country has to take the importing nation’s prior consent before exporting it.

Concern :

• Pesticide Action Network (PAN), a civil society group, came up with a report on paraquat usage in India in 2015.

  • It said paraquat dichloride is being used for 25 crops in India, whereas it is approved to be used on only nine crops by the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee.

  • This is a violation of the Indian Insecticides Act.

• since farmers can’t and don’t read the label on paraquat containers, retailers sell paraquat in plastic carry bags and refill bottles.

Why paraquat should be banned ?   

• There is no alternative treatment for people who have consumed this herbicide.

• The consumers who has consumed it has complained of kidney, liver and lung problems.

                                                                                                                                                         Source :- Down To Earth

SECURITY

Exercise  Yudh Abhyas – 2019 : Validation Exercise

GS PAPER - 03 SECURITY - Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Context :

• Soldiers from 5-20 Infantry Battalion of US Army and The Assam Regiment from the Indian Army concluded Exercise Yudh Abhyas – 2019.

Yudh Abhyas - 2019 :

• Yudh Abhyas - 2019 is an annual, US Army pacific sponsored Theatre Security Cooperation Program bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the US and Indian Army partnership.

• The training was focused on specialised drills and procedures involved in counter insurgency & counter terrorist operations in an urban environment.

• Helicopter based mobilisation of teams for quick response was also practiced.

• The initial days of field training comprised of platoon level training on basic manoeuvres, which then progressed towards company level operations.

• The soldiers finished their tactical procedures by incorporating various lessons learned to successfully assault and eliminate enemy threats, seize the objective and evacuate causalities, during the culminating training event.

• The two Armies have gained from each other's expertise and experience in conduct of platoon and company level operations.

• In addition the lndian contingent got a first-hand experience of operating with the 'Stryker' Infantry Combat Vehicle and the US Army gained an insight on training of an infantry unit in mountainous terrain.

                                                                                                                             Source :- PIB

second Scorpene submarine“KHANDERI” to Indian Navy

GS PAPER - 03 SECURITY - Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Context :

•  Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited delivered the second Scorpene submarine ‘KHANDERI’ to the Indian Navy.

KHANDERI - Scorpene Submarine :

• Khanderi was launched in January 2017. It was under sea trial since.

• The submarine ‘KHANDERI’ is named after the wide snouted Saw fish, a deadly sea predator of the great Indian Ocean.

  • The first Submarine Khanderi was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 06th December 1968 and decommissioned on 18th October 1989 after more than 20 years of yeoman service to the nation.

  • This now be ‘reincarnated’ by MDL to guard the vast maritime area of our nation.

• Scorpene-class submarines are diesel-electric attack submarines jointly built by DCNS France. It features diesel propulsion.

• The technology utilised in the Scorpene has ensured superior features of the submarine.

• The Scorpene class of submarines can undertake multifarious tasks typically undertaken by any modern submarine which include anti-surface as well as anti ­ submarine warfare.

​More in the news:

• The constructions of third Scorpene at MDL, KARANJ, is currently undergoing the rigorous phase of sea trials.

• The fourth Scorpene, VELA was recently launched in May 2019, and is being prepared for sea trials,

• whilst the remaining two submarines, VAGIR and VAGSHEER, are in various stages of outfitting.

                                                                                                                       Source :- PIB

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