November 2024
Download PDFEconomic Development
India highest recipient of remittances in 2018 with USD 79 billion: World Bank
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the statics of remittance ) + Mains ( GS III Economic developments)
What's the NEWS
• India was positioned as the world's top recipient of remittances with its diaspora sending USD 79 billion back home in 2018, according to the World Bank's latest Migration and Development Brief.
Know! more about the report
• India managed to retain its top spot in remittances by registering a significant flow of remittances from USD 62.7 billion in 2016 to USD 65.3 billion 2017 and to USD 79 billion in 2018, a significant growth over the last three years.
• The remittances in 2018 grew by over 14 percent in India, where natural disasters like Kerala floods likely boosted the financial help that migrants sent to their families.
• The remittances to low-and middle-income countries reached a record high of USD 529 billion in 2018, an increase of 9.6 percent from USD 483 billion in 2017.
• Global remittances, including flows to high-income countries, reached USD 689 billion in 2018, up from USD 633 billion in 2017.
• The top remittance recipients were India with USD 79 billion, followed by China (USD 67 billion), Mexico (USD 36 billion), the Philippines (USD 34 billion), and Egypt (USD 29 billion).
• In Pakistan, remittance growth was moderate at 7 percent due to significant declines in inflows from Saudi Arabia, its largest remittance source.
• In Bangladesh, remittances showed a rapid increase in 2018 with growth of 15 percent.
• Remittances to South Asia region grew 12 percent to USD 131 billion in 2018.
• Remittances to the East Asia and Pacific region grew around 7 percent to USD 143 billion in 2018.
• Remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa grew around 10 percent to USD 46 billion in 2018.
• Banks were the most expensive remittance channels, charging an average fee of 11 percent in the first quarter of 2019.
• The overall increase in remittances regionally was driven by a stronger economy and employment situation in the United States and outward flows from few Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Russian Federation.
National Affairs
Veer Parivar App
President launches mobile app for families of martyred CRPF troops
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about CRPF and Veer Parivar app)
What's the NEWS
• President Ram Nath Kovind launched ‘Veer Parivar App', a mobile application for families of CRPF personnel killed in the line of duty.
• The app was launched after the President paid his tributes to the fallen troops at the National Police Memorial in Delhi on the occasion of the CRPF's 'Valour Day'.
Know! all about the app
• The application will act as an interface between the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) authorities and the next of kin of the slain personnel.
• It will render all assistance to the families of the martyred CRPF personnel with regard to issuance of ex gratia, pensionary benefits and all information regarding the welfare schemes introduced for them by the government.
• The assistance will be provided to the families on a real-time basis. The CRPF headquarters in Delhi and various group centres across the country will respond to these issues.
• The Android-based app will be installed by the force's officials securely on the phone of the families and will not be available over the app stores.
Know! about CRPF Valour Day
• The Central Reserve Police Force observed its 54th Valour Day on April 9, 2019. The day is observed by the force every year as a remembrance of the gallant fight back by a small contingent of the 2nd Battalion of CRPF against an attack by a Pakistani Brigade at the Sardar post in Gujarat's Rann of Kutch on April 9, 1965.
• On the occasion this year, the President presented gallantry medals to six Jawans posthumously. The President also appreciated the role of CRPF in combating terrorism and separatism in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Over 34000 police personnel have laid down their lives in the line of duty for the nation after Independence.
Environment Conservation
Climate change threatens lives and futures of over 19 million children in Bangladesh
UNICEF report calls for urgent action to keep children safe and mitigate impact on vital services
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about UNICEF report findings) + Mains ( GS III environment conservation)
What's the NEWS
• UNICEF has recently released a report on situation of Children of Bangladesh that they are facing due to climate change.
• The report titled, "A Gathering Storm: Climate Change Clouds the Future of Children in Bangladesh" informs that in total, an estimated 19.4 million children, spread across 20 of Bangladesh's 64 districts, are exposed to the most detrimental and hazardous consequences of short- or longer-term climate change.
• Devastating floods, cyclones and other environmental disasters linked to climate change are threatening the lives and futures of more than 19 million children in Bangladesh
Know! the findings of the report
• The report, A Gathering Storm: Climate change clouds the future of children in Bangladesh, points out that Bangladesh's flat topography, dense population and weak infrastructure make it uniquely vulnerable to the powerful and unpredictable forces that climate change is compounding.
• The threat is felt from the flood and drought-prone lowlands in the country's north to its storm-ravaged coastline along the Bay of Bengal.
• Around 12 million of the children most affected live in and around the powerful river systems which flow through Bangladesh and regularly burst their banks.
• The most recent major flooding of the Brahmaputra River in 2017 inundated at least 480 community health clinics and damaged some 50,000 tube wells, essential for meeting communities' safe water needs.
• Another 4.5 million children live in coastal areas regularly struck by powerful cyclones, including almost half a million Rohingya refugee children living in fragile bamboo and plastic shelters.
• A further 3 million children live further inland, where farming communities suffer increasing periods of drought.
• The report says that climate change is a key factor pushing poorer Bangladeshis to abandon their homes and communities and to try and rebuild lives elsewhere. Many head to Dhaka and other major cities, where children risk being pushed into dangerous forms of labour and into early marriages.
• It cites research showing that Bangladesh has 6 million climate migrants already, a number that could more than double by 2050.
Government's initiative ( steps taken by Bangladesh)
• Shielding children from the effects of climate change The Government of Bangladesh produced its first Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan in 2009, declaring that the needs of the poor and vulnerable - "including women and children" - would be a priority in all planned activities.
• Since then, under the government's leadership and with the full involvement of civil society, the country has done much to make vulnerable communities more resilient to climatic shocks.
• One measure of its success (and of other efforts that predate the 2009 action plan) has been a dramatic reduction in mortality rates during cyclones in recent decades.
• As Bangladesh embarks on the plan's second phase in 2019, it is imperative to devote greater attention and resources to keeping children safe and ensuring that child health, education and other services are shielded from the effects of climate change.
• To that end, UNICEF calls for concerted and sustained efforts - led by the government with the active participation of the international community and other partners.
Way forward
• The report calls on the international community and other partners to support the government in implementing a range of initiatives to shield children from the effects of climate change.
• One example is a technology being promoted by UNICEF and other partners which helps coastal communities protect their vital supplies of drinking water against the intrusion of salt water from the sea.
• The system - known as Managed Aquifer Recharge - is working in around 75 communities and is ready to be taken to scale.
International Affairs
IMO's new rule on electronic information exchange between ships and ports
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about IMO and its new rules) + Mains ( GS II international relations and important international institutions)
What's the NEWS
• International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has launched new rules to introduce electronic information exchange between ships and ports for national governments.
• New rules took effect from April 8, 2019. Its objective is to make cross border trade easy and hassle free.
• The requirement, mandatory under IMO's Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention), is part of amendments under the revised Annex to the FAL Convention, adopted in 2016. It was important measure because 10 billion tonnes of goods which are traded by sea annually across the globe.
Know! about IMO's new rule and Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention)
• The Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention) was adopted in 1965.
• The main objective of the convention is to achieve the most efficient maritime transport as possible, looking for smooth transit in ports of ships, cargo, and passengers.
• The Facilitation Convention encourages the use of a "single window" for data, to enable all the information required by public authorities in connection with the arrival, stay and departure of ships, persons and cargo, to be submitted via a single portal, without duplication.
• Under the requirement for electronic data exchange, all national authorities should now have provision for electronic exchange of this information.
Steps taken by India regarding this
• India launched a Port Community System - ‘PCS1x'- at ports in December 2018.
• Port Community System (PCS1x) is a cloud-based new generation technology, with a user-friendly interface.
• This system will enable maritime trade to have improved communication with the customs.
Know! about International Maritime Organization (IMO)
• IMO - the International Maritime Organization - is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.
• IMO measures cover all aspects of international shipping - including ship design, construction, equipment, manning, operation and disposal - to ensure that this vital sector for remains safe, environmentally sound, energy efficient and secure.
• It is also involved in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international maritime traffic.
• It was established by means of a Convention adopted under the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva on 17 March 1948 and met for the first time in January 1959. It currently has 174 Member States.
Prelims Practise Questions
Consider the following statement
1. President Ram Nath Kovind launched ‘Veer Parivar App', a mobile application for families of Defence personnel killed in the line of duty.
2. The application will act as an interface between the Defence authorities and the next of kin of the slain personnel.
Find the correct statement from the options given below
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both
d. None
Consider the following statements
1. India launched a Port Community System - ‘PCS1x'- at ports in December 2018 which is a cloud-based new generation technology, with a user-friendly interface.
2. The International Maritime Organization has given the observer status by the United Nations
3. IMO has responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.
4. IMO measures cover all aspects of international shipping - including ship design, construction, equipment, manning, operation and disposal - to ensure that this vital sector for remains safe, environmentally sound, energy efficient and secure.
Find the correct statement from the option given below
a. 1 3 and 4
b. 1 and 3
c. 1 and 2
d. All
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