Government Initiatives
Quality of Life for Elderly Index

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the index highlights ) + Mains ( Government initiatives + Social issues)
What's the NEWS

• Quality of Life for Elderly Index was released by Dr Bibek Debroy,Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM).
• The Index has been created by the Institute for Competitiveness at the request of EAC-PM and it sheds light on an issue often not mentioned- problems faced by the elderly.

Know! about the Index highlights

• The report identifies the regional patterns of ageing across Indian States and assesses the overall ageing situation in India.
• The report presents a deeper insight into how well India is doing to support the well-being of its ageing population.

The Index framework includes four pillars:

1. Financial Well-being
2. Social Well-being
3. Health System
4. Income Security

Eight sub-pillars:

1. Economic Empowerment
2. Educational Attainment & Employment
3. Social Status
4. Physical Security
5. Basic Health
6. Psychological Wellbeing
7. Social Security
8. Enabling Environment.

• This index broadens the way we understand the needs and opportunities of the elderly population in India.
• It goes far beyond the adequacy of pensions and other forms of income support, which, though critical, often narrows policy thinking and debate about the needs of this age group.
• The index highlights that the best way to improve the lives of the current and future generations of older people is by investing in health, education and employment for young people today.

Key Highlights from the Report:

• The Health System pillar observes the highest national average, 66.97 at an all-India level, followed by 62.34 in Social Well-being.
• Financial Well-being observes a score of 44.7, which is lowered by the low performance of 21 States across the Education Attainment & Employment pillar, which showcases scope for improvement
• States have performed particularly worse in the Income Security pillar because over half of the States have a score below the national average, i.e., 33.03 in Income Security, which is the lowest across all pillars.
• These pillar-wise analyses help States assess the state of the elderly population and identify existing gaps that obstruct their growth
• Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh are top-scoring regions in Aged and Relatively Aged States, respectively.
• Chandigarh and Mizoram are top-scoring regions in Union Territory and North-East States category.
• The Aged States refer to States with an elderly population of more than 5 million, whereas Relatively Aged States refer to States with an Elderly population of less than 5 million.

Quality of Life for Elderly Index (Why it is the need of the hour)

• India is often portrayed as a young society, with a consequent demographic dividend. But, as with every country that goes through a fast process of demographic transition, India also has greying cum aging problem.
• Without a proper diagnostic tool to understand the implications of its ageing population, planning for the elderly can become a challenge for policymakers.
• The Quality of Life for Elderly Index has been released to broaden the way we understand the needs and the opportunities of the elderly population in India.
• This index measures the core domains of Economic, health, and social well-being of older people and provides the in-depth situation of elderly people in India.
• The index can thus help the nation identify areas that need improvement and grab the current opportunity to start putting positive changes in motion for the next decades.
• The index also promotes healthy competition among States through fair rankings and highlights the pillars and indicators they can improve.
• Using this index as a tool, the State governments and the stakeholders can identify the areas they need to work upon to provide their older generation with a comfortable life

Space Awareness
Earth observation satellite (EOS) - GISAT-1
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about EOS -GISAT -1 highlights) + Mains ( GS III awareness in the field of space)
What's the NEWS

• Indian Space Research Organisation will launch the GSLV-F10 EOS-03 mission.
• The geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV) will launch the Earth observation satellite (EOS) - GISAT-1 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
• The launch is, however, subject to weather conditions, the national space agency has warned.

Know! about the mission

• The GSLV-F10 mission carries a geo-imaging satellite GISAT-1.
• Once in orbit around the Earth, it is expected to essentially be India's "eye in the sky", monitoring locations of interest while appearing motionless in space (since it will travel at the rate of rotation of the planet).
• The geosynchronous satellite will also help India monitor and respond to natural disasters and any other short-term events at an alarming pace,
• ISRO launched EOS 3 aboard GSLV Mk III in its first flight since Chandrayaan-2
• The GISAT-1 satellite will also obtain spectral signatures for agriculture, forestry, mineralogy, cloud properties, snow and glaciers, and oceanography
• This is the fourteenth flight of the geosynchronous satellite launch vehicle.
• In a first, ISRO is sending an Ogive-shaped payload measuring a diameter of 4 metres
• EOS-03, the 2,268-kg state-of-the-art agile Earth observation satellite, will be placed by the launch vehicle in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. Subsequently, the satellite will reach the final geostationary orbit using its onboard propulsion system
• PSLV-C52 is also scheduled to launch EOS-04, another Earth observation satellite, in the third quarter of 2021.

Update -

• ISRO's second mission of the year to place an earth observation satellite by a GSLV rocket could not be accomplished fully due to performance anomaly in the cryogenic stage of the rocket.

ISRO official statement

• GSLV-F10 launch took place today at 0543 Hrs IST as scheduled. Performance of first and second stages was normal. However, Cryogenic Upper Stage ignition did not happen due to technical anomaly. The mission couldn't be accomplished as intended.

Defence
Nirbhay cruise missile test-fired

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Nirbhay cruise missile)
What's the NEWS

• This was the first successful test-firing with the indigenous booster engine after the previous one had to be aborted in October last year after eight minutes flying time.

Know! about the test fire

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) fired the 1,000-km range Nirbhay cruise missile from Chandipur testing facility in Odisha.
• The sub-sonic cruise missile was fired and tested for 100 km in flight and 15 minutes in time.
• The indigenous engine was successfully tested but the delivery platform came down due to inexplicable reasons but the engine worked well.
• Next test firing will be done in mission mode before user trial for air force and navy
• This was the first successful test-firing with the indigenous booster engine after the previous one had to be aborted after eight minutes flying time.

Know! about Nirbhay

• Nirbhay is a subsonic missile, flying at a speed of 0.7 to 0.9 Mach, with sea-skimming and terrain-hugging capability that helps the missile stay under enemy radar to avoid detection.
• It is a two-stage missile with first stage using solid fuel and the second using liquid fuel.
• It carries a convention warhead of 300 kilograms weight and can hit targets upto 1500 km range.
• The missile is capable of flying between 50 metres to four km from ground and pick up the target before engaging and destroying it.
• The missile also has a loitering capability that allows the delivery platform to manoeuvre mid-flight and at the end to hit the target by doing inflight course corrections.
• It can be fired from sea, land and through mobile launchers.
• The missile is now going to be handed over to the army, which will conduct three more tests before inducting it.
• After induction, Nirbhay is expected to be deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) amid the stand-off with China at multiple points in East Ladakh.

Governance
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) organizes 5th edition of National Public Procurement Conclave

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about GeM and role of NPCC) + Mains ( GS II governance - transparency and accountability)
What's the NEWS

• The 5^th edition of the National Public Procurement Conclave (NPPC) was organized by Government e-Marketplace (GeM) in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry [CII] on August 9th&10th, 2021 on the theme "Technology enabled Government Procurement - Towards Efficiency, Transparency, and Inclusiveness".

National Public Procurement Conclave (NPPC) - highlights

• This year's Conclave provided an excellent opportunity for Government buyers, sellers, industry, and academia to interact with each other, and served as an online platform for sellers to showcase their products and services through the CII's HIVE Digital Platform.
• Digital Exhibition of various products and services by sellers that are available on the GeM platform will be showcased during the Conclave for 30 days from August 9- September 9, 2021.
• The top performing buyers and sellers were awarded for leading the procurement efforts through GeM in financial year 2020-21.
• For Central Govt. Buyers, the winner was Ministry of Defence while the runner up in this category was Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• For State Govt. Buyers, Uttar Pradesh was adjudged the winner, while the runner up in this category was Gujarat.
• For CPSEs the winner was GAIL India Limited followed by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation. Ltd.
• On the seller's front, the award was presented to TATA Motors Ltd. for best sales performance with Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. being the runner up in this category.

Government e-Marketplace (GeM) system

• The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) system has resulted in a 10% savings in public procurement costs in five years, but has still tapped only 5% of India's total government purchases of about ₹20 lakh crore a year

Know! all about GeM

• Government e-Market Place hosted by Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D) where common user goods and services can be procured.
• GeM is dynamic, self sustaining and user friendly portal for making procurement by Government officers.
• Government e-Marketplace (GeM - gem.gov.in) aims to transform the way in which procurement of goods and services is done by the Government Ministries and Departments, Public Sector Undertakings and other apex autonomous bodies of the Central Government.
• It is owned by GeM SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) which is a 100 per cent Government-owned, non-profit company under the Ministry of Commerce and Industries
• DGS&D with technical support of National eGovernance Division (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) has developed GeM portal for procurement of both Products & Services.
• The portal was launched on 9th August 2016 by the Commerce & Industry Minister.
• Procurement on GeM has been authorized by General Financial Rules by making necessary changes in government rules.
• Presently more than 7400 products in about 150 product categories and hiring of transport service are available on GeM POC portal.
• GeM aims to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement
• It provides the tools of e-bidding, reverse e-auction and demand aggregation to facilitate the government users achieve the best value for their money.

International Relations
Prime Minister proposes 5 principles for maritime security cooperation

Relevance IN - Mains ( GS II regional and global grouping + international relations)
What's the NEWS

• The Prime Minister proposed five principles to ensure global maritime security,as he chaired a UN Security Council debate that was joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin and US secretary of state Antony Blinken.
• The rotating presidency of the Security Council is held by India for August and this was the first standalone discussion on maritime security by the UN's highest body.
• The incumbent P.M of India became the first Indian premier to chair a meeting of the Security Council
• The debate on maritime security was one of three signature events being organised by India during its presidency of the Security Council - the other two will focus on counter-terrorism and peacekeeping

The principles are

1. removing barriers from legitimate maritime trade
2. encouraging responsible maritime connectivity
3. settling maritime disputes through peaceful means and on the basis of international law
4. jointly facing natural disasters and maritime threats created by non-state actors
5. preserving the maritime environment and resources.

Adoption of "presidential statement" highlights major diplomatic achievement for India

• The presidential statement was the first outcome document by the UN body on maritime security.
• The presidential statement has to be adopted unanimously, but the process was not smooth as China held out till the very end because of language related to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
• The presidential statement focused on the primacy of international law, noting UNCLOS is the legal framework for all activities in the oceans, including countering illicit activities at sea.
• It also highlighted the importance of enhancing global and regional cooperation to counter threats to maritime safety and security.
• The statement promotes safe and secure shipping while ensuring freedom of navigation in line with international laws, and welcomes mutual legal assistance and other types of law enforcement cooperation on transnational organised crime.
• It calls for strengthening cooperation for maritime security, including against piracy and terrorist activities, as well as against transnational organised crimes.
• It also seeks enhanced cooperation to protect critical infrastructure, including cross-border infrastructure

Government Schemes
Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana) + Mains ( GS II government policies and interventions)
What's the NEWS

• 976 Gram Panchayats have been adopted by Members of Parliament for the development under Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, SAGY till 3rd of this month since 2018.
• The Gram Panchayats identified under SAGY are to prepare a Village Development Plan which is a roadmap for the holistic development of the Gram Panchayats.
• The Ministry of Rural Development has taken several measures for the successful implementation of the Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) Gram Panchayats.

Know! all about SAGY

• SAGY is a village development project launched in October 2014, under which each Member of Parliament will take the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in three villages by 2019.
• SAGY aims at instilling certain values in the villages and their people so that they get transformed into models for others.

These values include:

• Adopting people's participation as an end in itself - ensuring the involvement of all sections of society in all aspects related to the life of village, especially in decision- making related to governance
• Adhering to Antyodaya - enabling the "poorest and the weakest person" in the village to achieve well being
• Affirming gender equality and ensuring respect for women
• Guaranteeing social justice
• Instilling dignity of labour and the spirit of community service and voluntarism
• Promoting a culture of cleanliness
• Living in consonance with nature - ensuring a balance between development and ecology
• Preserving and promoting local cultural heritage
• Inculcating mutual cooperation, self-help and self-reliance
• Fostering peace and harmony in the village community
• Bringing about transparency, accountability and probity in public life
• Nurturing local self-governance
• Adhering to the values enshrined in the Fundamental Rights and Fundamental Duties of the Indian Constitution

Identification of an Adarsh Gram

• A Gram Panchayat would be the basic unit.
• It will have a population of 3000-5000 in plain areas and 1000-3000 in hilly, tribal and difficult areas.
• In districts where this unit size is not available, Gram Panchayats approximating the desirable population size may be chosen.
• The MP would be free to identify a suitable Gram Panchayat for being developed as Adarsh Gram, other than his/her own village or that of his/her spouse.
• Lok Sabha MP has to choose a Gram Panchayat from within his/her constituency and Rajya Sabha MP a from the rural area of a district of his/her choice in the State from which he/she is elected.
• Nominated MPs may choose a Gram Panchayat from the rural area of any district in the country.
• In the case of urban constituencies, (where there are no Gram Panchayats), the MP will identify a Gram Panchayat from a nearby rural constituency.
• The newly elected MPs will have the option to select the GP of their choice.

Government Schemes/Missions
National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NMEO-OP -highlights) + Mains ( GS II government policies and initiatives + GS III farmers welfare)
What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a new national initiative on palm oil production on Monday to help increase farm incomes.

National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) -key highlights

• The scheme, called National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), for self-reliance in edible oil involves investment of over Rs 11,000 crore.
• Other key aims of the move is to harness domestic edible oil prices that are dictated by expensive palm oil imports.
• The scheme is expected to incentivise production of palm oil to reduce dependence on imports and help farmers cash in on the huge market.
• The Centre plans to raise the domestic production of palm oil by three times to 11 lakh MT by 2025-26.
• This will involve raising the area under oil palm cultivation to 10 lakh hectares by 2025-26 and 16.7 lakh hectares by 2029-30.
• The special emphasis of the scheme will be in India's north-eastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to the conducive weather conditions in the regions.
• Under the scheme, oil palm farmers will be provided financial assistance and will get remuneration under a price and viability formula.
• Palm oil is currently the world's most consumed vegetable oil.
• Top consumers of the commodity are India, China, and the European Union (EU).
• Palm oil is used extensively in the production of detergents, plastics, cosmetics, and biofuels.
• India is the largest consumer of vegetable oil in the world.
• India produces domestically only 1.027 per cent of its requirement.
• In 2016- 2017, the total domestic consumption of palm oil by India was 9.3 million MT, with 98.97 per cent of it imported from Malaysia and Indonesia.
• In India, 94.1 per cent of its palm oil is used in food products, especially for cooking purposes.
• India's palm oil imports are almost 60% of its total vegetable oil imports.
• India has been trying to expand its domestic production by investing in domestic oil palm.
• Government schemes between 2011-14, like the Oil Palm Area Expansion (OPAE) and National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP 2014), were launched to increase domestic cultivation of oil palm.

Prelims Factoids
Vruksha Bandhan Project
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about seed rakhi and about Vrushka Bandhan Project)

• In a unique initiative Ministry of Tribal Affairs in partnership with The Art of Living Foundation, Aurangabad, Maharashtra launched Vrushka Bandhan Project where 1100 tribal women are creating Rakhis for Raksha Bandhan with seeds of indigenous trees, which is a unique contribution to increasing forest cover & combating climate change.
• The initiative was part of project sanctioned by Ministry of Tribal Affairs to the Art of Living in October 2020 under which 10000 tribal farmers of 10 tribal villages in Aurangabad are being trained on sustainable natural farming based on Go-Adharith farming techniques.
• The 1100 members of the MahilaKissanManch germinated the idea of creating Rakhis with indigenous seeds.
• The project based on Gauadharit paramparagat kheti seeks to preserve and revive the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of tribal communities and protect them from the negative effects of chemical agriculture.
• The Rakhis are made of indigenous seeds stuck on naturally dyed, soft indigenous, non-toxic, biodegradable cotton.
• Once used, the seeds can be sown in soil, thereby benefiting the environment.
• It is expected that thousands of trees would be planted under this project and project will provide employment to tribal women associated with the project.

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