Daily Current Capsules - 08^th November 2019

Good Governance
PM interacts through PRAGATI

Relevance IN - Prelims (about PRAGATI) + Mains (GS II important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability)

What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister chaired the 31^st interaction through PRAGATI - the ICT based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.
• In the previous PRAGATI meetings, a total of 265 projects with a total investment of Rs. 12.15 lakh crore, 47 programmes/ schemes and grievances related to 17 sectors (22 subjects) had been reviewed.
• PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation), as the name suggests, is aimed at starting a culture of Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation. It is also a robust system for bringing e-transparency and e-accountability with real-time presence and exchange among the key stakeholders. The platform was launched on March 25, 2015.

Know! more about PRAGATI

• It is a multi-purpose and multi-modal platform that is aimed at addressing common man's grievances, and simultaneously monitoring and reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India as well as projects flagged by State Governments.
• The PRAGATI platform uniquely bundles three latest technologies: Digital data management, video-conferencing and geo-spatial technology.
• It also offers a unique combination in the direction of cooperative federalism since it brings on one stage the Secretaries of Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of the States.
• With this, the Prime Minister is able to discuss the issues with the concerned Central and State officials with full information and latest visuals of the ground level situation.
• It is a three-tier system (PMO, Union Government Secretaries, and Chief Secretaries of the States)

Defence
19^th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) meeting

Relevance IN - Prelims (about IRIGC-M&MTC outcome) + Mains (GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• The 19^th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) meeting, co-chaired by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence Minister General Sergey Shoigu was held in Moscow .

Know! the important outcome of this meeting

• The special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries was further strengthened following the Vladivostok Summit in September 2019.
• Discussion were made on Inter-Governmental Agreement on manufacturing of spares, components and aggregates in India through joint ventures that would reduce cost, timelines of supply and result in progressive indigenisation. This agreement is expected to provide a major boost to the ‘Make in India' initiative.
• Russian will participate in DefExpo 2020, to be held in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow between February 5-8, 2020.
• The Russian side affirmed its readiness to operationalise the joint venture lndo-Russia Rifles Private Limited for the manufacture of world class Kalashnikov AK 203 rifles in India at the earliest.
• It was agreed that the forthcoming Tri¬Service Indra Exercises will be a major milestone in Military Cooperation between the two countries.
• The Russian side affirmed its readiness to further deepen exchanges between the respective Military Training Institutions and informed that they would be deputing an officer for the prestigious National Defence College (NDC)course in New Delhi commencing 2020.

Bilateral Relations
Cabinet approves MoU signed between India and Bangladesh on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec of water from Feni River by India

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Feni River) + Mains (GS II Bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has given ex-post facto approval for the MoU between India and Bangladesh on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec of water from Feni River by India for drinking water supply scheme for Sabroom town Tripura, India.

Benefits

• As on date, there is no water sharing agreement on Feni river between India and Bangladesh.
• The present supply of drinking water to Sabroom town is inadequate. The ground water in this region has high iron content. Implementation of this scheme would benefit over 7000 population of Sabroom town .

Know! about Feni River

• Feni River is a river in south eastern Bangladesh. It is a trans-boundary river with an ongoing dispute about water rights.
• The Feni River originates in South Tripura district and flows through Sabroom town and then enters Bangladesh.
• Muhuri River, also called Little Feni, from Noakhali District joins it near its mouth.

Prelims Factoids
Indian Railway's Introduces'Uttam Rake'
Relevance IN - Prelims (about Uttam Rake)
What's the NEWS

• Indian Railways, on the auspicious occasion of 69th Foundation Day of Western Railway on 5th November, 2019, introduced the state-of-the-art "UTTAM RAKE" in its inaugural run as Ladies Special local train from Churchgate to Virar.
• Uttam rake has improved interiors and advanced features to bring more comfort for Mumbaikars.
• The new rake will run on its normal services from 6^th November, 2019 with 10 services a day. The Uttam rake while saving energy, will feature posters about Western Railway's journey as an effective transport medium.
• Western Railways introduced world's first ever Ladies Special local train on 5^th May, 1992 and India's first ever Air-Conditioned EMU train on 25^th December, 2017 on Mumbai Suburban section.
• Only two Uttam rakes have been built at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai so far, out of which the other has been given to South Central Railway.

Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
Khadi gets separate unique HS code
Relevance IN - Prelims (about HS code) + Mains (GS II government policies and interventions for development in various sectors)
What's the NEWS

• Khadi has once again come out of its customary veil, marking its presence in the exclusive HS code bracket, issued by the central government to categorize its products in export.

Know! the benefits of HS code

• In a long awaited move to make export of Khadi, exclusively categorized from the general league of textile products, the ministry of commerce and industries has allocated separate HS code for this signature fabric of India this week.
• This decision of government will open a new chapter in the field of Khadi export. Earlier, Khadi did not have its exclusive HS code.
• As a result, all the data regarding export of this signature fabric used to come as a normal fabric under the textile head.

Know! about HS Code

• HS Stands for Harmonized System and it is a six digit identification code. It was developed by the WCO (World Customs Organization) and custom officers use HS Code to clear every commodity that enters or crosses any international border.

EPCS status to KVIC

• Khadi and Village Industries products are eco-friendly and natural, and are in great demand in the International Markets.
• Recognizing its potential to generate exports and its eco-friendly importance, the Ministry of Commerce had accorded deemed Export Promotional Council Status (EPCS) to KVIC in 2006, to boost the export of Khadi products. However in the absence of separate HS code, the export of Khadi products was difficult to categorize and calculate.

Know! about EPC

• Export promotional Councils (EPC) are authorities which are basically promoting, supporting and assisting firms in entering the International markets and realising their optimum potential from given resources. They also provide guidance and assistance to the exporters.
• Presently, there are fourteen Export Promotion Councils under the administrative control of the Department of Commerce
• These Councils are registered as non-profit organizations under the Companies Act/ Societies Registration Act.
• The Councils perform both advisory and executive functions. The role and functions of these Councils are guided by the Foreign Trade Policy, 2009-14. These Councils are also the registering authorities for exporters under the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-14.

Human Resource Development
ShalaDarpan Portal launched for NavodayaVidyalayas
Relevance IN - Prelims (about Shaala Darpan portal)
What's the NEWS

• The Human Resource Development ministry has launched Shaala Darpan portal, an E-Governance school automation and management system for Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS)

Know! about the portal

• This single integrated platform has been developed for information sharing and knowledge dissemination for the 22000 employees and over 2 lakh students across schools and offices of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.
• Shaala Darpan is an end to end e-Governance school automation and management system.
• It has been implemented at Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti as the first major initiative to enable automation of all activities of the country's largest residential schooling system through a single umbrella - 636 schools, 8 Regional Offices, 8 NLIs and Head Quarter.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Switzerland on Technical Cooperation in the field of Climate Change and Environment

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the MoU signed) + Mains (GS III Environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• The Union Cabinet has given ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Switzerland on Technical Cooperation in the field of Climate Change and Environment.

Know! the impact

• Environmental degradation falls on the socially and economically disadvantaged, more heavily than the better of sections of the society.
• Any effort at thwarting environmental degradation would lead to environmental equity in the sense of availability of sound environmental resources to all sections of the society.

Benefits:

• The MoU will enable establishment and promotion of closer and long-term cooperation between the two countries in the field of environmental protection and management of natural resources
• It will enhance public accountability by way of exchange of information and technology between the two countries.

Salient features:
a. Capacity-building on Climate Change and Sustainable Water management;
b. Sustainable Forest Management;
c. Sustainable development of mountainous regions;
d. Environmentally sustainable and resilient urban development;
e. Addressing issues of Air, land and water pollution;
f. Focussing on Clean and Renewable Energy; and
g. Climate change risk management.

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