November 2024

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Social Issues

Welfare and Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers

Relevance IN - Prelims( about the rehabilitation scheme + Mains GS II welfare schemes for vulnerable section)

What's the NEWS

  • In order to assist the State Governments in the task of rehabilitation of identified and released bonded labourers, a Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labour has been in operation since May, 1978.
  • The Central Government has revamped the Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers with effect from 17thMay, 2016.

Know! the  salient features of the ‘Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer, 2016

  • Financial assistance is provided for rehabilitation of a rescued bonded labourer at the rate of rupees one lakh for adult male beneficiary, Rs. 2 lakh for special category beneficiaries such as children including orphans or those rescued from organized & forced begging rings or other forms of forced child labour, and women and Rs. 3 lakh in cases of bonded or forced labour involving extreme cases of deprivation or marginalization such as trans-genders, or women or children rescued from ostensible sexual exploitation or trafficking, or in cases of differently abled persons, or in situations where the District Magistrate deems fit.
  • The financial assistance for rehabilitation is 100% funded by the Central Government.
  • Central Government will give 50% of the amount required for conducting Survey, Awareness Generation and Evaluatory Studies in advance.
  • A State may conduct survey once in every three years per sensitive district. A State may conduct five Evaluatory Studies per year.
  • The Scheme provides for creation of a Bonded Labour Rehabilitation Fund at District level by each State with a permanent corpus of at least Rs. 10 lakh at the disposal of the District Magistrate for extending immediate help to the released bonded labourers.

 

Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises

NFDC Declared Winner Under Miniratna Category by Ministry of MSME 

Relevance in - Prelims(about NFDC and public sector enterprises + Mains (GS II social issues + GS III infrastructure development)

What's the NEWS

  • National Film Development Corporation of India has been declared winner under the Miniratna   Category (Category II) by Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
  • This is part of endeavour by Ministry of MSME to felicitate select CPSEs in recognition of their exemplary work for the promotion of SC/ST entrepreneurs.
  • The performance parameters were procurement from SC/ST entrepreneurs, number of vendor development programmes for SC/ST and number of SC/ST entrepreneurs benefitted as per data uploaded on Sambandh Portal.

Know! about NFDC

  • National Film Development Corporation Ltd. (NFDC), incorporated in the year 1975, (100% owned Central Public Sector Undertaking) was formed by the Government of India with the primary objective of planning and promoting an organized, efficient and integrated development of the Indian film industry.
  • NFDC has so far funded and produced over 300 films. These films, in various Indian languages, have been widely acclaimed and have won many national and international awards.
  • The primary activities of NFDC are Film production - 100% finance for debutant directors&co-production with foreign & Indian film makers, promoting Indian films at various international film festivals and markets in India and abroad.

Know! how  Maharatna, Navaratna and Miniratna status granted to CPSEs

  • In May, 1990, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) was made a full-fledged Department known as the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE). Currently; DPE is the part of the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises.
  • The Department of Public Enterprises is the nodal department for all the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
  • DPE; makes policies and guidelines for the performance evaluation and improvement of the PSUs/ CPSEs.
  • The Central Government has set eligibility criteria for granting Maharatna, Navaratna and Miniratna status to Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).

Criteria to become Maharatna company

          

  • Average annual profit more than Rs 5000 crore for 3 years or average annual net worth more than Rs 15000 crore for 3 years or Average annual turnover more than Rs 25000 crore for 3 years.
  • Invest up to 15% of net worth or Rs 1000 crore to 5000 crore.

Criteria to become Navratna company

  • Need a score of 60 out of 100 on the following parameters like net profit, net worth, total manpower cost, total cost of production etc.
  • Invest up to 15% of net worth or upto Rs 1000 crore.

Eligibility and Benefits of Miniratna Category -I:

  • profit of Rs 30 crore or more for consecutive 3 years.
  • Invest up to Rs 500 crore or equal to net worth whichever is lower.

Eligibility and Benefits of Miniratna Category -II:

  • profit for consecutive 3 years.
  • Invest up to Rs 300 crore or 50% of net worth whichever is lower.

 

Government Schemes

The central government has launched the following schemes to improve the research ecosystem in India

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about these schemes ) + Mains ( GS II issues relating to development and management of sectors like Education and human resource )

Prime Minister's Research Fellowship

  • To attract the bright and meritorious students into research within the country, the Prime Minister's Research Fellowship has been initiated.
  • Students selected for the fellowship are given fellowship for 5 years - Rs.70,000/- per month for the first two years, Rs. 75,000/- per month in the third year and Rs.80,000 per month in 4th and 5th year with an annual research grant of Rs. 2 lakh.

Setting up of Research Parks

  • The Government has approved setting up of Research Parks at IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Gandhinagar and IISc Banglore.

Impacting research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT)

  • IMPRINT India scheme aims to provide solutions to the most relevant engineering challenges and translating knowledge into viable technology (products or processes) in ten selected technology domains.

Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY)

  • Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana has been launched to promote innovation of a higher order that directly impacts the needs of the Industry and thereby improves the competitive edge of Indian manufacturing.

Smart India Hackathons

  • Smart India Hackathons are organized on yearly basis since 2017 to find out digital solutions to various problems faced by the people and gives hands-on working and research opportunity for engineering students.

Institution's Innovation Council (IIC)

  • Institution's Innovation Council (IIC) have been established in 960 Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) for promoting the innovation ecosystem within their campuses.

Trainee Teacher Scheme

  • A Trainee Teacher Scheme has been initiated in NITs with the objective to attract, motivate and sponsor best graduate engineers for part-time M.Tech and PhD programmes.

 

State Specific

Subarnarekha port in Odisha

Relevance IN - Prelims( about the port)

What's the NEWS

  • Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone of the Subarnarekha port in Balasore district of Odisha.

Know! about the port

  • The proposed port is being developed by Tata Steel and Creative Port Development Pvt. Ltd., which would own 51% and 49% stakes in the project respectively.
  • The Odisha government has already handed over 692 acres of land for the port project and the construction work would start after some more land is handed over in the near future.
  • The all-weather port on the Subarnarekha river mouth on the Bay of Bengal, with 12 berths, would have an initial capacity of 25 million tonnes per annum, which is to be raised to 55 MTPA in phases.
  • Tata Steel will use the port for its steel plant at Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, apart from other steel plants in Odisha and West Bengal.

Kerala takes the lead in the fight against trans fat

What's the NEWS

  • The Health Department has drawn up an action plan to generate public awareness on the harmful effects of trans fatty acids (TFA) in commercially available food items and to encourage the local food industry to meet the current statutory limits set for TFA.
  • The initiative has been launched after the Health Department's various studies suggest that an unhealthy diet with a high TFA content is a significant factor that pushes up metabolic syndrome and the burden of its associated complications.

Know! about the proposed action plan

  • The year-long action plan has specific components on building awareness on trans fat among food business operators and giving them scientific sessions and training on how they can keep their food TFA-free.
  • The Health Department is being supported in this initiative by Vital Strategies, the nutrition wing of the World Bank; the WHO; the FSSAI; and the State Food Safety wing, which will be in charge of enforcement.


Environment Conservation 

99.82% projects in forests got nod

Relevance IN - Prelims(about NBWL) + Mains ( GS III environment conservation)

What's the NEWS

  • India's apex National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) - charged with allowing forest land in Protected Areas to be diverted for industry - cleared 682 of the 687 projects (99.82%) that came up for scrutiny

Know! about NBWL

  • National Board for Wild Life is a "Statutory Organization" constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
  • Theoretically, the board is "advisory" in nature and advises the Central Government on framing policies and measures for conservation of wildlife in the country.
  • However, it is a very important body because it serves as apex body to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries.
  • The NBWL, formally headed by the Prime Minister, adjudicates on industrial projects, road diversions or the like that could encroach into Protected Areas or eco-sensitive zones of forests.
  • A smaller Standing Committee of the NBWL is charged with deliberating on the merits of projects that come to it for scrutiny; the committee comprises scientists and government officials and is chaired by Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan.

 

Social Justice

Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM- SYM) to be Implemented from February 15

Relevance IN - Prelims( about PM-SYM) + Mains GS II welfare schemes for vulnerable section)

What's the NEWS

  • Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) will be rolled out by the Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • The scheme announced in the Interim Budget was notified by the Ministry recently. As many as 42 crore workers are estimated to be engaged in the unorganized sector of the country.
  • The unorganised workers whose monthly income is Rs 15,000/ per month or less and belong to the entry age group of 18-40 years are eligible for the scheme.
  • They should not be covered under New Pension Scheme (NPS), Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme or Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Further, he/she should not be an income tax payer.

 

Know! the salient Features of PM-SYM

Minimum Assured Pension

  • Each subscriber under the PM-SYM, shall receive minimum assured pension of Rs 3000/- per month after attaining the age of 60 years.

Family Pension

  • During the receipt of pension, if the subscriber dies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the beneficiary as family pension. Family pension is applicable only to spouse.
  • If a beneficiary has given regular contribution and died due to any cause (before age of 60 years), his/her spouse will be entitled to join and continue the scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution or exit the scheme as per provisions of exit and withdrawal.

Contribution by the Subscriber 

  • The subscriber's contributions to PM-SYM shall be made through ‘auto-debit' facility from his/ her savings bank account/ Jan- Dhan account.
  • The subscriber is required to contribute the prescribed contribution amount from the age of joining PM-SYM till the age of 60 years.

Matching contribution by the Central Government:  

  • PM-SYM is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme on a 50:50 basis where prescribed age-specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary and the matching contribution by the Central Government

Enrolment Process under PM-SYM: 

  • The eligible subscriber may visit the nearest CSCs and get enrolled for PM-SYM using Aadhaar number and savings bank account/ Jan-Dhan account number on self-certification basis.
  • The enrolment will be carried out by all the Community Service Centers (CSCs).
  • The unorganised workers may visit their nearest CSCs along with their Aadhar Card and Savings Bank account passbook/Jandhan account and get registered themselves for the Scheme.

 

Fund Management

  • PM-SYM will be a Central Sector Scheme administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and implemented through Life Insurance Corporation of India and CSCs.
  • LIC will be the Pension Fund Manager and responsible for Pension pay out. The amount collected under PM-SYM pension scheme shall be invested as per the investment pattern specified by Government of India.

 

Prelims Practise Question

Consider the following statements

1.     Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) will be rolled out by the Ministry of Finance for the unorganised workers whose monthly income is Rs 15,000/ per month or less and belong to the entry age group of 18-40 years are eligible for the scheme.

2.     National Board for Wild Life is a "Statutory Organization" constituted under the Environment protection act  which advises the Central Government on framing policies and measures for conservation of wildlife in the country.

3.     National Film Development Corporation of India which is a Navratna company  was incorporated in the year 1975 and is 100% owned Central Public Sector Undertaking

Find the correct statement from the option given below

a.     1 and 3

b.     2 and 3

c.      1 2 and 3

d.     None

 

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