Daily Current Capsules 14^th April 2022
NITI Aayog/International Organisations/GSIII
GoI-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-27

What's the NEWS

• NITI Aayog and United Nations organized a day-long national validation workshop on the upcoming Government of India-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-27.

• This was the first such congregation that saw the participation of officials from 30 Union ministries, heads of 26 UN agencies, and representatives from all states and union territories.
• The previous GoI-UNSDF 2018-22 was an agenda of cooperation, results and strategies to achieve national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The framework is the single most important instrument capturing the entirety of 26 UN entities' plans and programmes in India.
• As the 2018-22 framework entered its final year of implementation, GoI and UN committed to renewing it for another five years, 2023-27.
• The 2023-27 cooperation framework will be signed as India completes 75 years of independence.
• The workshop was ‘an opportunity to revisit and revitalize the various contours of partnerships between the GoI and UN to make them more robust and relevant to meet the exigencies of the New India'.

• The 2018-22 framework is guided by the joint steering committee, chaired by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman and UN Resident Coordinator India, with members from the Department of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs.
• One of the main accomplishments of the 2018-22 framework has been the partnering of the UN agencies with GoI to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Accordingly, a key objective of the 2023-27 framework will be to utilize the India-UN collaboration to find new ways of addressing the country's pressing developmental challenges.
• The preparation for the 2023-27 framework, led by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman and the UN Resident Coordinator, was a highly participative process, which included consultations with the Central and state governments, civil society, academics, private sector, think tanks, and economic enterprises, among others.
• The 2023-27 framework aims to align the four pillars of the 2030 Agenda-People, Prosperity, Planet and Participation-with India's national priorities and provide direction to the efforts of all the UN entities working across the country.

1. The new framework has identified six outcome areas:
2. health and well-being
3. nutrition and food
4. quality education
5. economic growth and decent work
6. environment, climate, wash and resilience
7. empowering people, communities, and institutions.
8. Subsequently, six working groups were set up under the chairmanship of the secretaries of respective Government ministries, with officials from other related ministries, UN entities, and NITI Aayog as members.
9. Each group worked under the guidance of the respective member from NITI Aayog.

• It's that time of the year again when people can catch a glimpse of India's diverse cultures.
• The Eastern, Northern & Southern parts of the country celebrate their first harvest festival of the year - Baisakhi, Bihu, Vishu, Poila Boishak & Puthandu - with vigour and fervour.
• Every year, the festivals fall on April 13 or April 14, based on the Hindu or Sikh Calendar.

• On this day, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhs, asked people to follow Sikhism in 1699, and the Khalsa community was formed.
• The northern states of Punjab, Haryana and parts of Delhi celebrate this day with much fanfare.
• The Sikh community also observes it as the day of thanksgiving for abundant harvest, and pray for future prosperity.

• This year, Vishu falls on April 14.
• The festival of lights and fireworks is celebrated in Kerala, and parts of Karnataka.
• The traditions of Vishu include the first auspicious view of the festive day (called Vishukkani Kazhcha)
• The ritual arrangement (called Vishukkani) made on this auspicious day in the prayer room of the house includes a list of items that bring prosperity

• Bohag Bihu is the widely celebrated across Assam, and parts of Manipur and Bengal.
• The Assamese celebrate Bihu thrice a year, which signify the distinct cycles of farming - Bhogali/Magh Bihu (January), Bohag/Rongali Bihu (April), and Kongali Bihu (October).
• On the day of Bohag Bihu, various delicacies like Mangsho, Chira and Pitha are made.
• Puthandu: Tamil New Year
• This year, Puthandu is being celebrated on April 14 in Tamil Nadu, and Tamil-dominated countries Sri Lanka and Mauritius.
• According to the Tamil Calendar Varusha Pirappu, Puthandu marks the first day of the first month (Chithirai).
• The celebrations of Puthandu resonate to that of Vishu.

• This year, Poila Boishakh will be celebrated on April 14 in West Bengal, and parts of Tripura.
• According to the Bengali calendar, it is the first day of first month (called Baishakh), and people thank the divine forces for the harvest of the previous year and that to follow.
• People decorate their houses with rangoli in their courtyards made with a paste of rice and water (called alpona).

Prelims Factoids
Mwalimu Nyerere

What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tributes to the great leader, former Tanzania President and friend of India, Mwalimu Nyerere on his 100th Birth Anniversary.

• First prime minister of independent Tanganyika (1961), who later became the first president of the new state of Tanzania (1964).
• Nyerere was also the major force behind the Organization of African Unity (OAU; now the African Union).
• The principles of unity and equality that he advocated are as relevant today as ever.

Bilateral Relations/GSII
Johkasou technology

What's the NEWS

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has given its ex-post facto approval for a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD&GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti and The Ministry of the Environment of Japan in the areas of Decentralized Domestic Waste Water Management.

• A Management Council (MC) will be formed which will be responsible for the implementation of this MoC by formulating detailed activities of collaboration and the monitoring of its progress.

• The collaboration with Japan through the MoC shall prove to very fruitful in areas such as Decentralized Domestic Wastewater Management and Effective reuse of treated wastewater using Johkasou technology.
• The decentralized Johkasou systems towards management of wastewater can have greater implications for management of grey/ black water from settlements with coverage under Jal Jeevan Mission as well as the sustainability of sources of fresh water under the mission, besides similar situation under Namami Gange Program.
• It will help ULBs to plan better for the complex issue of treating waste water.

Government Schemes/GSII
Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)

What's the NEWS

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved continuation of revamped Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) for implementation during the period from 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2026 (co-terminus with XV Finance Commission period) to develop governance capabilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

• The total financial outlay of the scheme is Rs.5911 crore with the Central Share of Rs.3700 crore and that of State Share of Rs.2211 crore.

• It was approved by the Union Cabinet on 21.04.2018 for implementation from Financial Year 2018-19 to 2021-22.
• The main Central Components were Incentiviasation of Panchayats and Mission Mode Project on e-Panchayat including other activities at Central level.
• The State component primarily includes CB&T activities, institutional mechanism for CB&T along with other activities at limited scale.
• The implementation and monitoring of the activities of the scheme will broadly be aligned for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Major impact including employment generation potential:
• Objective - to develop governance capabilities to deliver on SDGs through inclusive local governance with focus on optimum utilisation of available resources.
• Priority will be given to subjects of national importance principally under themes, namely: (i) Poverty free and enhanced livelihood in villages, (ii) Healthy Village, (iii) Child Friendly Village, (iv) Water Sufficient Village, (v) Clean and Green Village, (vi) Self-Sufficient Infrastructure in Village, (vii) Socially Secured Village, (viii) Village with Good Governance, and (ix) Engendered Development in Village.
• The scheme will strengthen Gram Sabhas to function as effective institutions with social inclusion of citizens particularly the vulnerable groups.
• No permanent post will be created under the scheme but need based contractual human resources may be provisioned for overseeing the implementation of the scheme and providing technical support to States/UTs for achieving goals under the scheme.

• The revamped RGSA will comprise Central and State components.
• The Central Components of the scheme will be fully funded by the Government of India.
• The funding pattern for State Components will be in the ratio of 60:40 among Centre and States respectively, except NE, Hilly States and Union Territory (UT) of J&K where Central and State share will be 90:10. However, for other UTs, Central share will be 100%.
• Ministry under revamped RGSA will shift its focus towards capacitating the elected representatives of PRIs for Leadership Roles to develop effective third tier of Government to enable them to deliver on localization of SDGs principally for nine themes (mentioned above)

• The Central Government and the State Governments will take action for completing the activities approved for their respective roles.
• The State Government will formulate their Annual Action Plans for seeking assistance from the Central Government as per their priorities and requirement.
• The scheme will be implemented in a demand driven mode.

• This scheme will extend to all States and UTs of the country and will also include institutions of rural local government in non-Part IX areas, where Panchayats do not exist.
• Background:
• The new restructured scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), for developing governance capabilities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was announced in the budget speech for 2016-17

Economy/GSIII
Expert Committee on Longevity Finance recommends setting up of Longevity Hub at GIFT-IFSC 

What's the NEWS

• International Finance Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) constituted Expert Committee on Longevity Finance submitted its final report to Chairperson, IFSCA

• The committee examined emerging trends in Longevity Economy globally and observed that people over 60 years are still very much a highly productive demographic group in terms of purchasing power and make up the wealthiest part of financial system with a global spending power of $15 trillion.
• The Committee recommended the setting up of first Global Longevity Hub (GLH) in GIFT-IFSC
• The hub should focus on developing the longevity economy by offering various longevity finance solutions in coordination with leading corporates and financial institutions such as Banks, Pension Funds, Asset Management Funds, Insurance Companies, etc.
• The Hub will focus on skill development, entrepreneurial development and also address the demand of financial and insurance products for silver generation.
• Longevity Finance as one of the priorities in GIFT IFSC under the overall framework of Sustainable Finance.
• The committee members comprised of leaders from the entire longevity finance ecosystem including from areas such as banking, insurance, wealth management, FinTech, legal, compliance and management consultancy.

• It has been established as a unified regulator to develop and regulate financial products, financial services, and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) in India.

• ‘Longevity Finance Hub' will cater to the investment and wealth management needs of the ‘silver generation' comprising individuals aged 60 years and older.
• Global estimates suggest that there are one billion people in the silver generation.
• Their combined spending power is worth $15 trillion and the size is ever expanding.
• Development in medicinal science and technology will support extending lifespan and longevity of the silver generation.
• It is estimated that by 2040, there will be more members of the silver generation than people under 20.
• This demographic change will throw open new challenges and opportunities especially in the areas of wealth management, health, insurance, and other investment products, thus necessitating the dedicated Longevity Finance Hub.