Defence

Mainamati Maitree Exercise 2019
India, Bangladesh hold joint exercise to boost confidence on Tripura border

Relevance IN - Prelims( about the exercise)

What's the NEWS

• Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) concluded a three-day Mainamati Maitree Exercise 2019 as a part of confidence-building measures between the two border guards.
  

Know! all about Mainamati Maitree Exercise 2019

• The exercise was named after Mainamati hill range situated 8 km west of Comilla Township in Bangladesh, which is home to an ancient Buddhist archaeological site in the region.
  

• The main objective of this exercise was to plan and conduct anti-smuggling and anti-criminal activity related operations with ultimate aim of achieving better joint operational efficiency and border management in the area of responsibility of respective BSF and BGB Battalions participating in the joint exercise
  

• A series of joint exercises and exchanges are being held in the Tripura-Bangla frontier since a four-day standoff between the two forces centring 31 Rohingya people who were found crossing the international border into Bangladesh in January this year.
  

International Organisations

7th RCEP Inter-Sessional Ministerial Meeting
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about RCEP) + Mains (GS II international organisations)

What's the NEWS

• Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, has reached Siem Reap in Cambodia for the Seventh Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Intersessional Ministerial Meeting (7^thRCEP ISSL MM)
  

• In this meeting, developments since the second RCEP summit held on 14^thNovember 2018 in Singapore will be reviewed
  
  
• During the term of the Singapore chair, several ministerial and experts' meetings resulted in successful conclusion of five chapters taking total number of chapters concluded so far to 7 out of 16.
  

• At the RCEP Trade Ministers' Meeting on 12-13 November 2018 Singapore deftly steered the consensus on ‘substantial progress' instead of ‘substantial conclusion'.

Know! about RCEP

• The Regional Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between sixteen countries namely 10 countries of ASEAN (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and their six FTA partners (also known as AFP's or ASEAN FTA Partners) namely Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand.
  

• The RCEP has entered the sixth year of negotiations. During the last five years 24 Rounds of negotiations at the expert level were held - the last Round was held from 18-27 October, 2018 in Auckland; six Ministerial meetings and seven inter-sessional Ministerial meetings were held so far - the 6^thMinisterial meeting held on 30-31 August, 2018 in Singapore and the 7^thinter-sessional Ministerial meeting held on 12-13 November, 2018 in Singapore; and two RCEP Leaders' Summit swere held.
  

• During the 2^ndRCEP Summit on 14 November 2018 in Singapore, Leaders acknowledged the ‘substantial progress' in the negotiations and reiterated their determination to conclude a modern, comprehensive, high quality, and mutually beneficial RCEP in 2019.
  

Infrastructure Development

Construction Technology India -2019
Relevance IN - Prelims( about the conference ) + Mains (GS III infrastructure development + Sustainable development + GS II welfare scheme for the vulnerable section of population)

What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister will inaugurate the Construction Technology India-2019 Expo-cum-Conference in New Delhi on 2^ndMarch, 2019.
  

Global Housing Technology Challenge - India

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India has conceptualized a Global Housing Technology Challenge - India (GHTC- India) which aims to identify and mainstream a basket of innovative technologies from across the globe that are sustainable and disaster-resilient.Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U) targets the construction of 1 Crore housing units by 2022, out of which 79 lakh houses have been sanctioned by MoHUA.
  

• More than 41 lakh houses have already been grounded and 16 lakh houses are completed and handed over to beneficiaries.
  

• The GHTC-India platform aspires to provide an eco-system for the adoption of innovative technologies in the housing construction sector in a holistic manner.
  

 Construction Technology India - 2019

• Construction Technology India - 2019" an Expo -cum -Conference is being organised by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs - to identify proven, innovative and globally established technologies for use in the Indian context.
  

• Technology providers, researchers, start-ups, developers, academia, public sector agencies and other domain experts are participating in the 2-day event.
  

• CTI-2019, an expo-cum-Conference will provide avenues for interaction among stakeholders that can open up new areas for collaboration
  

• Potential technology providers can benefit from the support provided by Affordable Sustainable Housing Accelerators- India (ASHA-India) initiative.
  

• GHTC-India will also contribute substantially towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as laid out by the United Nations (UN), the New Urban Agenda and the Paris Climate Accord to which India is a signatory
  

• GHTC-India will bring about a paradigm shift in the manner in which construction is not only done but also received and perceived in the country.
  

Social Justice & Empowerment

Setting up of Centre for Disability Sports at Gwalior in Madhya

What's the NEWS

• The Government has approved the proposal regarding setting up of a Centre for Disability Sports at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, to be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, which is to function under the name of Centre for Disability Sports, Gwalior.

Know! more about the centre

• The facilities so developed would be multi-functional centres with provision for training, selection, sports academics and research, medical support, spectator galleries and suitable for holding national/international events.

• Taking 1^stApril, 2019 as the zero date, the project is expected to be completed in two years time, i.e, by 31^stMarch, 2021. Thereafter, it will take another 6 months for the Centre to become operational.
  

• Once operational, this Centre will result in employment of 140 personnel. In addition, construction and allied activities will also generate considerable employment opportunities.
  

• Improved sports infrastructure created by this Centre will ensure effective participation of persons with disabilities in sports activities and also enable them to compete at national and international levels. Setting up of the Centre will develop a sense of belonging in Divyangjan to facilitate their integration in society.
  

Women and Child Development

Government to celebrate ‘Poshan Pakhwada' across the Country
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about POSHAN scheme) + Mains ( GS II Social issues, awareness in the field of social services relating to health sector + government policies interventions)

What's the NEWS

• The Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi today announced that the Government willcelebrate thefirst anniversary of POSHAN Abhiyaan on 8^thMarch, 2019 by organisingPoshanPakhwadaacross the Country.
  

• ThePoshanPakhwada will be celebrated on lines of ‘Poshan Maah' held in the month of September, 2018.
  

• The Pakhwada will be launched on International Women's Day, 8^thMarch, 2019.
  

Know! all about POSHAN Abhiyaan

• POSHAN Abhiyaan is a multi-ministerial convergence mission with the vision to ensure attainment of malnutrition free India by 2022.
  

• The objective of POSHAN Abhiyaan to reduce stunting in identified Districts of India with the highest malnutrition burden by improving utilization of key Anganwadi Services and improving the quality of Anganwadi Services delivery.
  

• Its aim to ensure holistic development and adequate nutrition for pregnant women, mothers and children.
  

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is implementing POSHAN Abhiyaan in 315 Districts in first year, 235 Districts in second year and remaining districts will be covered in the third year.
  
  
• There are a number of schemes directly/indirectly affecting the nutritional status of children (0-6 year's age) and pregnant women and lactating mothers.

• In spite of these, level of malnutrition and related problems in the country is high. There is no dearth of schemes but lack of creating synergy and linking the schemes with each other to achieve common goal.
  

• POSHAN Abhiyaan through robust convergence mechanism and other components would strive to create the synergy.

The POSHAN Abhiyaan, as an apex body, will monitor, supervise, fix targets and guide the nutrition related interventions across the Ministries.

The proposal consists of

• mapping of various Schemes contributing towards addressing malnutrition
• introducing a very robust convergence mechanism
• ICT based Real Time Monitoring system
• incentivizing States/UTs for meeting the targets
• incentivizing Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) for using IT based tools
• eliminating registers used by AWWs
• introducing measurement of height of children at the Anganwadi Centres (AWCs)
• Social Audits
• Setting-up Nutrition Resource Centres, involving masses through Jan Andolan for their participation on nutrition through various activities, among others.
• Implementation strategy would be based on intense monitoring and Convergence Action Plan right up to the grass root level.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan will be rolled out in three phases from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan targets to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively.
• Although the target to reduce Stunting is at least 2% p.a., Mission would strive to achieve reduction in Stunting from 38.4% (NFHS-4) to 25% by 2022 (Mission 25 by 2022).

National

Cabinet approves setting up of a Railway Zone at Vishakhapatnam
 Relevance IN - Prelims9 about new zone) + Mains ( GS III infrastructure development)

What's the NEWS

• The Union Cabinet, has approved setting up of a Railway Zone at Vishakhapatnam and a new division with headquarter at Rayagada by reorganizing the existing South Central Railway and East Coast Railway.

Southern Coast Railway zone

• The Southern Coast Railway zone would comprise of existing Guntakal, Guntur and Vijayawada divisions that currently fall under the South Central Railway and the South Central Railway will then consist of the Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Nanded divisions.
  

• Waltair division under the East Coast Railway Zone, covering the northern districts of Andhra Pradesh, parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha will be split into two.

• One part will be incorporated in the new zone and merged with the neighbouring Vijayawada division, the remaining portion will be converted into a new division, headquartered at Rayagada, under the East Coast Railway (ECoR)

• Setting up of the new Railway Zone will bring optimality with regard to size and scale of railway operations and also to meet the persistent demand and aspirations of the people of the area.

Energy Conservation

Cabinet approves"Pradhan Mantri Jl-VAN yojana"
Relevance In - Prelims 9 about PM JI- VAN) + Mains ( GS III energy conservation , awareness in the field of bio technology)

What's the NEWS

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the "Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana" for providing financial support to Integrated Bioethanol Projects using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstock.
  

Know! all about PM JI -VAN

• Under this Yojana, 12 Commercial Scale and 10 demonstration scale Second Generation (2G) ethanol Projects will be provided a Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support in two phases:
  

-          Phase-I  (2018-19  to  2022-23):  wherein  six  commercial  projects  and five demonstration projects will be support

-          Phase-II (2020-21 to 2023-24): wherein remaining six commercial projects and five demonstration projects will be supported.

• The scheme focuses to incentivise 2G Ethanol sector and support this nascent industry by creating a suitable ecosystem for setting up commercial projects and increasing Research & Development in this area.
  

• The ethanol produced by the scheme beneficiaries will be mandatorily supplied to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to further enhance the blending percentage under EBP Programme.
  

• Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has targeted to achieve 10% blending percentage of Ethanol in petrol by 2022.
  

• Despite efforts of the Government such as higher ethanol prices and simplification of ethanol purchase system, the highest ever ethanol procurement stands around 150 crore litres during Ethanol supply year 2017-18 which is sufficient for around 4.22% blending on Pan India basis.
  

• Therefore, an alternate route viz. Second Generation (2G) Ethanol from biomass and other wastes is being explored by MoP&NG to bridge the supply gap for EBP programme. In this direction, "Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana" is being launched as a tool to create 2G Ethanol capacity in the country and attract investments in this new sector.
  

• Centre for High Technology (CHT), a technical body under the aegis of MoP&NG, will be the implementation Agency for the scheme.

Know! about the EBP Programme

• Government of India launched Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme in 2003 for undertaking blending of ethanol in Petrol to address environmental concerns due to fossil fuel burning, provide remuneration to farmers, subsidize crude imports and achieve forex savings.
  

• Presently, EBP is being run in 21 States and 4 UTs of the country.
  

• Under EBP programme, OMCs are to blend upto 10% of ethanol in Petrol. The present policy allows procurement of ethanol produced from molasses and non-food feed stock like celluloses and lignocelluloses material including petrochemical route.

KEEP Learning KEEP Evolving

TEAM CL IAS