Bilateral Relations/GSII
India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG)

What's the NEWS

• The 19^th edition of India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was held in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on March 01-02, 2022.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) Air Marshal BR Krishna from the Indian side and Deputy Commander, US Indo-Pacific Command
• The discussions focussed on strengthening the ongoing defence engagements between the two sides and mulled on new initiatives under the ambit of existing cooperation mechanism.
• The India-US MCG is a forum established to progress defence cooperation between the countries through regular talks at the strategic and operational levels between Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff and the US Indo-Pacific Command.

United States Indo-Pacific Command

• It is a unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces responsible for the Indo-Pacific region.
• Formerly known as United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) since its inception, the command was renamed to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on 30 May 2018, in recognition of the increasing connectivity between the Indian and Pacific oceans.
• It is the oldest and largest of the unified combatant commands.
• Its commander, the senior U.S. military officer in the Pacific, is responsible for military operations in an area that encompasses more than 100 million square miles or roughly 52 percent of the Earth's surface

The Integrated Defence Staff (IDS)

• It is an organisation responsible for fostering coordination and enabling prioritisation across the different branches of the Indian Armed Forces.
• It is composed of representatives from the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Ministry of External Affairs, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Finance.
• The IDS is headed by Chief of Integrated Defence Staff along with Deputy Chiefs of Integrated Defence Staff.
• On December 24, 2019, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) established the post of Chief of Defence Staff, a four-star general, a tri-service Chief, that shall lead the defence forces as well as play the role of head of the Department of Military Affairs.
• The body advises and assists the Chief of Defence Staff.

Social Issues/GSII
Ek Yudh Nashe Ke Virudh

What's the NEWS

• National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) in collaboration with Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) conducted a National review cum Consultation on "Roll out of Joint Action Plan" in the State

Know! about the Joint Action Plan

• This Joint Action Plan is a policy document prepared based on various laws, regulations, policies and programmes that are already in place.
• It is an initiative to prepare a convergent platform for action at various levels starting from School, District to State wherein actions are indicated for various departments and authorities to implement.
• The Joint Action Plan was prepared by the NCPCR & NCB and released on 9th February, 2021.
• In first phase, the Joint Action Plan has been rolled out in 272 vulnerable districts identified by the NCB and Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• NCPCR has started monitoring the implementation from April, 2021 and District-wise review meeting was held virtually in July-August, 2021.
• NCB along with NCPCR, through social media platforms, has undertaken the task of streaming celebrity video messages on JAP - 'Ek Yudh Nashe ke Virudh'.
• 8,000 Nasha Mukt Bharat volunteers are presently working in 272 vulnerable districts alongside NCB and State Police officers in performing the stated objectives of the campaign.
• In this review meeting, States made their presentations on the progress made on different indicators provisioned under the JAP.

Information Technology/GSIII
Tech Conclave 2022

What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology will inaugurate the 3rd edition of ‘NIC Tech Conclave 2022', a two-day event being organized by the National Informatics Centre (NIC)
• National Informatics Centre(NIC) is partnering with Governments in their digital initiatives for the last four decades.
• Over the years we have built state-of-the-art PAN-India ICT infrastructure, digital platforms & solutions for the exclusive use of the Government.
• NIC has been organizing Tech Conclave focused on Emerging Technologies applicable especially in e-Governance.
• The Theme for Tech Conclave this year is "Next Gen Technologies for Digital Government".
• The speakers in this 2022 Conclave are experts from the IT industry who will share their expertise in various areas like Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Next Gen Database Solutions, Cyber Security, Future of Cloud, and various e-Governance Solutions, etc.

National Informatics Centre (NIC)

• It is an attached office under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in the Indian government.
• The NIC provides infrastructure to help support the delivery of government IT services and the delivery of some of the initiatives of Digital India.
• The National Informatics Centre (NIC) was established in 1976 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
• It is the technology partner of the Government of India and has been credited for helping the Indian government embrace IT in the 1990s

Prelims Factoids
Roorkee Water Conclave 2022

What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Jal Shakti inaugurated the 2^nd edition of the ‘Roorkee Water Conclave' today at IIT, Roorkee
• The Conclave is being jointly organised from 2^nd March to 4^th March 2022 by Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee and National Institute of Hydrology.
• Focusing on the theme, 'Water Security for Sustainable Development', this year's Conclave would focus upon understanding water security and its multiple facets underpinning sustainable water resource management as a key component of social development.
• Roorkee Water Conclave 2022 will help find solutions to the issues of water scarcity, sanitation and sustainable use of water.
• These efforts along with Integrated Ganga Rejuvenation Mission will prove to be effective in maintaining the ecological flow of river Ganga thereby ensuring the sustainable development of the environment through improving the quality of the water.

Infrastructure Development/GSIII
Khawthilangtuipui-Tuichawng river
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister of Ports Shipping & Waterways reviewed the ongoing projects, including the important Kaladan Multi Modal Transport project in Mizoram
• Plans are afoot to develop the inland water transport at Khawthilangtuipui (Karnaphuli)-Tuichawng River stretching upto 23 kms.
• The total cost of this project Rs 22.93 crore. The PSW Ministry has sanctioned a total of Rs 6.17 crore under Central Sector Scheme.
• The minister was also appraised about the Hydrographical Survey & Techno Economic Feasibility study conducted covering a stretch of 87.136 kms between River Tiawng at Khamrang village in Mizoram to Gharmura in Assam.

Kaladan Multi Modal Transport project

• It connects the eastern Indian seaport of Kolkata with Sittwe seaport in Rakhine State, Myanmar by sea.
• In Myanmar, it will then link Sittwe seaport to Paletwa in Chin State via the Kaladan river boat route, and then from Paletwa by road to Mizoram state in Northeast India.
• All components of the project, including Sittwe port and power, river dredging, Paletwa jetty, have been completed,except the under construction Zorinpui-Paletwa road.
• The route of the project around Paletwa and along the Kaladan river is troubled with Chin conflict, Rohingya conflict and militant groups such as Arakan Army and Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).
• This project will reduce distance from Kolkata to Sittwe by approximately 1,328 km (825 mi) and will reduce the need to transport goods through the narrow Siliguri corridor, also known as Chicken's Neck.

Government Schemes/GSII
Swachh Survekshan 2022

What's the NEWS

• The field assessment for seventh consecutive edition of world's largest urban cleanliness survey, Swachh Survekshan (SS), was launched on 1st March 2022 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Swachh Survekshan 2022 is curated towards capturing the initiatives of cities for the overall welfare and well-being of frontline sanitation workers.

SS 2022 survey - Highlights

• MoHUA formally kicked off the SS 2022 survey on 1^st March 2022 with around 3,000 assessors of the Assessment Agency - Ipsos Research Pvt. Ltd., ready to go on the field to assess the performance of cities.
• The scope of the survey has been expanded to now cover 100% wards for sampling, as compared to 40% in previous years.
• In order to seamlessly carry out this ambitious exercise, SS 2022 will see a greater number of assessors than deployed last year for the on-field assessment.
• Cities have been regularly filling in their data, updating their progress in the Swachhatam Portal MIS along with running several citizen centric campaigns in preparation of SS 2022.
• SS 2022 will aim to capture feedback from senior citizens as an integral part of the survey.
• SS 2022 will also reach out to young adults
• This year another new indicator ‘Swachh Technology Challenge', launched by MoHUA on 6th December 2021, has been added in SS 2022.
• As part of this challenge, individuals/organizations and start-ups submitted innovative solution under four thematic categories, viz, (i) social inclusion, (ii) zero dump (solid waste management), (iii) plastic waste management and (iv) transparency through digital enablement, across all Urban Local Bodies.
• SS 2022 is committed to creating a level playing field for smaller cities by introducing two population categories under 15K and between 15-25K.
• To further expand the Survekshan footprint, district rankings have been introduced for the first time.

Know! about Swachh Survekshan (SS)

• SS was introduced by MoHUA in 2016 as a competitive framework to encourage cities to improve the status of urban sanitation while encouraging large scale citizen participation.
• It has led to a spirit of healthy competition among cities and towns of India.
• The journey that started in 2016 with only 73 cities with million plus population, has grown manifold, with 434 cities in 2017, 4,203 cities in 2018, 4,237 cities in 2019, 4,242 cities in SS 2020 and 4,320 cities in SS 2021, including 62 Cantonment Boards.

Government Schemes/GSII
Continuation of seven existing sub-schemes under Umbrella Scheme "Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and Repatriates" for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26

What's the NEWS

• The Central Government has approved the proposal for continuation of the seven existing sub schemes under the Umbrella Scheme "Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and Repatriates" for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total outlay of Rs.1,452 crore.
• The approval will ensure that assistance under the Umbrella Scheme, continues to reach beneficiaries through the Ministry of Home Affairs led by Union Home Minister
• The scheme enables migrants and repatriates, who have suffered on account of displacement, to earn a reasonable income and to facilitate their inclusion in mainstream economic activities.

The Government, at different points of time had started different schemes. These seven schemes provide assistance for -

• Relief and Rehabilitation of displaced families of Pakistan Occupied Areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Chhamb,
• Relief assistance to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees,
• Relief assistance to Brus lodged in relief camps in Tripura,
• Enhanced relief to 1984 Anti-Sikh Riot Victims,
• Financial Assistance and other facilities to the families of affected civilian victims of terrorist violence including militancy, insurgency, communal/ Left Wing Extremism violence and cross border firing and victims of mine/IED blasts on Indian Territory,
• Grants-in-aid to Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC),
• The Government is also providing Grants-in-Aid to Government of West Bengal for infrastructure development in 51 erstwhile Bangladeshi enclaves in India, situated in Cooch Behar District and for resettlement of 922 returnees from erstwhile Indian enclaves in Bangladesh.

Governance/GSII
e-Bill processing system

What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs launched the Electronic Bill (e-Bill) processing system, announced in Union Budget 2022-23, on the occasion of 46th Civil Accounts Day
• In a phased manner, the new system will make the entire process of submission and backend processing of bills completely paperless and transparent.
• Thus, it is a major step forward in realizing the vision of "Digital India" and promoting ease of doing business.

The objectives of the system are to:

• Provide convenience to all vendors/suppliers of the government to submit their bills/claims at anytime, from anywhere.
• Eliminate physical interface between suppliers and government officers.
• Enhance efficiency in processing of bills/claims.
• Reduce discretion in processing of bills through "First-In-First-Out"(FIFO) method.

Know! more about the e bill system

• Under the newly launched e-Bill system, vendors/suppliers can upload their bills online along with supporting documents from the convenience of their homes/offices at any time through digital signature.
• For those not having a digital signature, the facility of e-sign using Aadhaar has also been provided. So, the suppliers will no longer be required to visit the offices concerned for this purpose.
• At the backend too, the electronic bill received will be processed by the authorities digitally at every stage and finally, the payments will be credited digitally to the bank account of the vendor.
• The vendor/supplier would be able to track the status of processing of their bills online.
• Thus, the new system will bring in lot of efficiency and transparency in the system and is a big citizen-centric decision of the Government of India.
• The e-Bill system has been developed by the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) Division in the office of the Controller General of Accounts in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
• The bills will be processed by First-In-First-Out (FIFO) method.

The system has been initially rolled out in the following nine Pay and Accounting Units of following nine Ministries/Departments:-
1) PAO Ministry of Food Processing Industry
2) PAO, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemical and Fertiliser
3) PAO, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology
4) PAO (CGA HQ), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
5) PAO (PFMS Division), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
6) PAO, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
7) PAO (Census), Ministry of Home Affairs
8) PAO M/o Steel
9) PAO (NIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology

KEEP Learning KEEP Evolving
TEAM CL IAS