Daily Current Capsules - 12^th JULY 2019

Social Issues
World Population Day 2019

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about world population day and the facts related to it) + Mains ( GS II government policies and intervention + welfare scheme for the vulnerable section of population and social justice)
What's the NEWS

• World Population Day observed with an aim to bring people's attention towards population related issues and to sort them out with various development plans.

Know! more about it

• World Population Day observed on July 11 every year with aims and objectives to spread knowledge about population related issues across the world.
• It has been observed since 30 years and issues are still growing. When first world population was observed it was 5.25 billion people were sharing planet earth but today population is near to cross the mark of 7.7 billion.
• According to data provided by Pew Research Center India will try to accommodate 1450 million people in year 2100.
• Projecting comparison between year 1950 and 2100 Pew Research Center claims that India will surpass China by 2100. Also, five of the world's 10 largest countries are projected to be in Africa.
• No specific theme has declared for World Population Day 2019 but this year's World Population Day calls for global attention to the unfinished business of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development.
• Twenty-five years ago during a landmark conference, 179 country's governments recognized that reproductive health and gender equality are essential for achieving sustainable development.

Know! more about World Population Day

• As per the data provided by United Nations, every year approximately 83 million people are added to the world's population and by 2030, the world population is expected to reach the 8.6 billion mark.
• India shares just two percent of world's land but accommodating 16% of world population.
• India's 35% population is living in three states that are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Know! about the inception of world population day 2019

• This day of World Population Day seeks to bring attention on the urgency and importance of population related issues.
• It was established by the then-Governing Council of the UNDP in 1989. It was an outgrowth of the interest generated by the Day of Five Billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.
• United Nations General Assembly decided to continue observing World Population Day, by resolution 45/216 of December 1990, to enhance awareness of population issues, including their relations to the environment and development.

Infrastructure Development
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) 3.0 (2019-20 to 2024-25.)
CCEA approves PMGSY-III to improve road linkages with rural markets, schools, hospitals

Relevance IN - Prelims ( all about PMGSY ) + Mains ( GS III infrastructure development + GS II government policies and intervention + welfare scheme for the vulnerable section of population
What's the NEWS

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the launch of the third phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana to improve road linkages in rural areas for faster movement to facilities such as Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), schools and hospitals at an estimated cost of Rs 80,250 crore.
• It entails consolidation of 1,25,000 km of roads in six years.
• As per the report given by the ministry 97 per cent of work had been completed in the PMGSY first phase launched in 2000 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and more than 50 per cent in the second phase

Know! the key Features of PMGSY-III Scheme

• The 3rd phase of PMGSY (or PMGSY-III) involves consolidation of through routes and major rural linksthat connects habitations to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs), hospitals as well as Higher Secondary Schools. An estimated cost of PMGSY-III would be Rs 80,250 crore over next five years out of which Central Share-Rs 53800 crore and State Share- Rs 26450 crore.
• The fund will be shared in ratio of 60:40 between Centre and State for all States except for 8 North Eastern and 3 Himalayan States (Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand) for which it is 90:10.
• The states have been instructed to make maximum use of plastic waste in road construction and the scheme will be implemented with immediate effect in some states including Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana.
• The first phase should have been completed by 2008 but there was a delay and work picked up pace after Narendra Modi government came to power
• The selection of roads will be made on parameters such as population served and connections to market, educational and medical facilities.
• The project entails construction of bridges up to 150m in plain areas and 200m in Himalayan and northeastern states as against the existing provisions of 75m and 100m, respectively.
• The states shall be asked to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) so as to ensure adequate funds for maintenance of roads constructed for five years.
• The release said that 5,99,090 km of roads have been constructed under the scheme since inception till April 2019 (inclusive of PMGSY-I, PMGSY-II, and RCPLWEA (road construction project on Left-wing extremism area) scheme.
• The government launched RCPLWEA in 2016 as a separate vertical under PMGSY to provide all-weather road connectivity with necessary culverts and cross-drainage structures in 44 districts (35 worst LWE affected district

State Specific/Economic development
Non-resident Keralite investment company to be formed
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the objective of NRK investment company ) + Mains ( GS III infrastructure development)
What's the NEWS

• To channel investments from overseas Keralites for major infrastructure development in the state, the Kerala Government has decided to form an NRK investment company, with NRKs holding 74 percent stake, the state government will hold the remaining 26 per cent stake.

Know! more about the NRK investment company

• The Chief Executive Officer of Norka Roots will be the Special Officer of the new company.
• The decision comes following a recommendation in this regard from the Loka Kerala Sabha's standing committee.
• The Loka Kerala Sabha is an event hosted by state government to bring Keralites living across the world under one platform and utilising NRK expertise for developing state.
• Objective - To capitalise on the huge investments from overseas Keralites for various development initiatives across the state.
• The company can set up a special purpose vehicle or subsidiary company for the purpose.
• Construction of NRI townships and other projects related to basic infrastructure development will be taken up by the new company.

Economic Development
BCC signs MoU with BRICS chamber to promote trade
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about BRICS, BCC ) + Mains ( GS III economic development)
What's the NEWS

• The Bharat Chamber of Commerce, (BCC) and the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry, New Delhi, signed an MoU for promoting trade and investments between the BRICS countries and the eastern part of India
• Members of the BRICS are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Know! more about the MoU

• The BCC is looking forward to working closely with the BRICS Chamber of Commerce to foster trade, technological and industrial cooperation between West Bengal and BRICS countries
• The MoU will enable both the BCC and the BRICS chamber to share trade related information and exchange trade delegations among the five countries of the group.

Know! about Bharat Chamber of Commerce

• BCC was initially established in 1900 as the "Marwari Chamber of Commerce" at Calcutt, following Indian Independence, in 1949 Chamber re-christened itself as Bharat Chamber Commerce.
• It works towards expanding economic and commercial activity via enhancement of efficiency and competition at all levels
• Economic empowerment of society in rural areas via guidance on application of appropriate technology and evolving marketing strategies
• Promoting Bilateral Trade using Business Delegation as engine for exploring opportunities

Know! about BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry

• BRICS CCI is a parent organization which promotes commerce and industry in BRICS nations. It was founded in 2012 with efforts of eminent professionals and entrepreneur.
• It is a not-for-profit and non-governmental organization (NGO).
• Its objective is to create an enabling support system especially for MSME (Micro Small and Medium Enterprises) segment of businesses and young entrepreneurs from across all geographies.
  
  

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