Daily Current Capsules - 16^th December 2019

Economic Developments
Economic Census Flagged off in Delhi

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about economic census) + Mains ( GS III economic developments)

What's the NEWS

• The Seventh Economic Census was launched in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
• The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI) has tied up with Common Service Centre (CSC), an SPV under Ministry of Electronics and IT, to carry out the 7^th National Economic Census.

Know! more about the census

• For the first time the entire Census is being conducted on a digital platform by the use of an application which will ensure high accuracy and data security.
• Delhi is the 26th state where the survey has been launched, while the process is already on in 20 states and 5 UTs.
• The National Economic Survey, conducted every five years, is very crucial for framing of policies and planning for the government and other organisations
• Over 1.5 lakh trained enumerators have been deployed for the pan-India survey who will be visiting 35 crore establishments and households to carry out the Census.
• Entire survey is being conducted through an application. It will ensure that there is no data breach. As soon as any data in fed in the application, it is stored in the cloud and no one can access it without permission.
• The process of Economic Census was first held in 1978. This is the Seventh Census which will provide disaggregated information on various operational and structural aspects of all establishments in the country.
• The census will provide valuable insights into geographical spread/clusters of economic activities, ownership pattern; persons engaged etc. of the establishments engaged in economic activity.
• In the 7^th Census, an IT based digital platform is being used for data capture, validation, report generation and dissemination will be used.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change
National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management
Relevance IN - Prelims( about NCSCM ) + Mains ( GS III environment conservation)
What's the NEWS

• The Ministry set up the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai to undertake studies and research in the area of Coastal Zone Management including coastal resources and environment.

The aims and Objectives of the Center are:

• Strive for being a World Class Knowledge Institution related to coastal zones, environment, resources and processes
• To promote integrated and sustainable management of the coastal and marine areas in India for the benefit and wellbeing of the traditional coastal and island communities
• Advice the Union and State Governments and other associated stakeholder(s) on policy, and scientific matters related to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).

Know! more about the role of NCSCM

• Survey of India and NCSCM have mapped the Hazard Line for the entire coast of India, which includes vulnerability mapping of flood, erosion and sea level rise.
• The outputs will be used by all the coastal States and UTs in managing coastal vulnerability in the coming years and as a tool for preparation of disaster management plans.
• The Government of India is committed to taking all necessary steps in supporting NCSCM to achieve its goals, in its efforts to developing into a world class institution.
• NCSCM is mandated to disseminating knowledge pertaining to coastal management by capacity building at all levels for the benefit of coastal communities and stakeholders.
• For the first time, Integrated Island Management plans including holistic island development plans have been prepared by NCSCM for implementation by coastal States/ UTs.

National Afforestation Programme
Relevance IN - Prelims (about National Afforestation programme + steps taken by the government to conserve forests)
What's the NEWS

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is implementing plantation/afforestation schemes in the forest areas with participatory approach.
• The plantation species under the schemes is selected by the implementing agencies/the members of Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMC) on the basis of their needs, ecological conditions and other local factors in consultation with the Forest Department.

Know! the steps taken by the government for the conservation of forests

• The conservation and development of forest primarily involves three strategies - afforestation through natural/artificial regeneration, protection and management.
• The ministry is implementing three major schemes for development of forest areas i.e. National Afforestation Programme (NAP) scheme, National Mission for a Green India (GIM) and Forest Fire Prevention & Management Scheme (FFPM).
• While NAP is being implemented for afforestation of degraded forest lands, GIM aims at improving the quality of forest and increase in forest cover besides cross sectoral activities on landscape basis.
• The FFPM takes care of forest fire prevention and management measures.
• For scientific management of forests, the States prepare management plan called Working Plan which highlights various activities to be undertaken in a forest division for effective management of forest.
• The working plan is approved by the Ministry. Besides, the funds collected under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), as compensatory levies from states inter-alia, is also used in plantation activity including compensatory afforestation by States/UTs.
• The overall objective of the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) scheme is ecological restoration of degraded forests and to develop the forest resources with peoples' participation, with focus on improvement in livelihoods of the forest-fringe communities, especially the poor.
• The scheme is implemented by three tier institutional setup through the State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) at the state level, Forest Development Agency (FDA) at the forest division level and JFMCs at village level.

Know! about NAP

• NAP is a centrally sponsored scheme which is implemented with the fund sharing pattern of 60: 40 percent between Centre and States wherein the sharing pattern for North eastern and hilly States is 90:10.
• The central share of funds are released through State Government and state government transfers the funds to SFDA along with its state share which sometime causes delay in fund availability to SFDAs for implementation of NAP causing delay in submission of mandatory documents for subsequent release of funds.

Health and Family Welfare
Programmes to Control Anaemia Among Women
Relevance IN - Prelims (about the steps taken by the government to reduce anaemia) + Mains ( GS II issues relating to development and management of social issues relating to health )
What's the NEWS

• Considering, the slow progress i.e. less than 1% per annum in reduction of anaemia from 2005 to 2015, the Government of India has launched the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy under the Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN) Abhiyaan and the targets has been set to reduce anaemia by 3% per year.

Know! more about it

• The 6x6x6 strategy under AMB implies six age groups, six interventions and six institutional mechanisms.
• The strategy focuses on ensuring supply chain, demand generation and strong monitoring using the dashboard for addressing anemia, both due to nutritional and non-nutritional causes.

The six population groups under AMB strategy are:

• Children (6-59 months)
• Children (5-9 years)
• Adolescents girls and boys (10-19 years)
• Pregnant women
• Lactating women
• Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) group (15-49 years)

The six interventions are:

• Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation
• Deworming
• Intensified year-round Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Campaign and delayed cord clamping
• Testing of anaemia using digital methods and point of care treatment,
• Mandatory provision of Iron and Folic Acid fortified foods in Government funded health programmes
• Addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis and the six institutional mechanisms.

The six institutional mechanisms are:
• Inter-ministerial coordination
• National Anemia Mukt Bharat Unit
• National Centre of Excellence and Advanced research on Anemia Control
• Convergence with other ministries
• Strengthening supply chain and logistics
• AnemiaMukt Bharat Dashboard and Digital Portal- one-stop shop for Anemia.

Prelims Factoids
India to Host 36^th International Geological Congress in March 2020

Relevance IN - Prelims (about the 36^th International Geological Congress)
What's the NEWS

• India is gearing up to host the 36th International Geological Congress (IGC) in the capital during the first week of March next year.
• The theme of the forthcoming conference is ‘Geosciences: The Basic Science for a Sustainable Development'.

Know! more about IGC

• Popularly described as the Olympics of Geosciences, the IGCs are a prestigious global geoscientific events held once in four years and participated by around 5000-6000 geoscientists from all across the world.
• The 36^th IGC is expected to provide a platform for international cooperation in all major field of geosciences including launching of collaborative programs, provision of investment opportunities in mining, mineral exploration and environmental management and related enterprises.
• The forthcoming IGC would help us in dealing with the problems of sustainability, energy crisis, water crisis, climate change, environmental issues and resource management.
• India is the only Asian country to host the event twice. In 1964, India had hosted it for the first time, which was the 22nd IGC.
• The event was inaugurated by the then President of India Dr.SarvepalliRadhakrishnan. The IGC is making a comeback to the Indian soil after 56 long years much to the enthusiasm of the entire geoscientific community.
• The event is being funded by the Ministry of Mines (MoM) and Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) with the support of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the national Science Academies of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Geological Survey of India is the nodal agency for organizing the event

National Energy Conservation Day celebrated on 14th December 2019

What's the NEWS

• The National Energy Conservation Day is organized every year on 14th December every year by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under Ministry of Power, with an aim to showcase India's achievements in energy efficiency and conservation

Know! more about it

• In order to drive mass awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and conservation, BEE is observing National Energy Conservation Week from 9th to 14th December 2019.
• The National Energy Conservation Awards Programme recognizes the energy efficiency achievements in 56 sub sectors across industry, establishments and institutions
• As part of its awareness outreach, every year on the national conservation day, BEE recognizes and encourages endeavors of industries and other establishments in reducing energy consumption by felicitating them with National Energy Conservation Awards.
• Ministry of Power through Bureau of Energy Efficiency is implementing various policies and schemes viz PAT Scheme, Standard and Labelling, Energy Conservation Building Codes and Demand Side Management.
• These programmes are helpful in achieving significant energy savings and also, in promotion of the efficient use of energy across society.

Arms Amendment Bill 2019
Relevance IN - Prelims (about the new provisions of arms amendment bill)

What's the NEWS

• Parliament approved a legislation providing for a maximum punishment of life imprisonment for manufacturing and carrying illegal arms.
• The Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which also has a provision for imprisonment of two years or fine which may extend to Rs 1 lakh or both for those using firearms in a rash or negligent manner in celebratory gunfire, endangering human life or personal safety
• The new Arms bill proposes jail term between 7-14 years and fine for acquisition, possession or carrying of prohibited ammunition without a license.
• The bill proposes stringent punishment to those possessing illegal arms and those indulging in a rash or negligent celebratory gunfire, endangering the life and personal safety of others.

Know! more about Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019

• The bill a introduces new categories of offences.
• Forcefully taking a firearm from police or armed forces.
• Using firearms in celebratory gunfire in public gatherings such as religious places, marriages or other functions, which endangers human life or personal safety of others.
• The bill reduces the number of allowed firearms from three to one.
• The bill proposes one year's time to deposit extra firearms with the officer-in-charge at the nearest police station or with a licensed arms dealer.
• The new arms bill increases the duration of the validity of a firearm license from three years to five years.
•  Special status to a sportsperson who need firearms and ammunition for practice and participating in tournaments.

Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
ICAR and NABARD signs MoU to promote sustainable agriculture and climate resilient farming systems
Relevance IN- Prelims ( highlights about the MoU ) + Mains ( GS III farmer's welfare - Steps taken by the government for sustainable farming)
What's the NEWS

• With a view to promote sustainable agriculture and climate resilient farming systems the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Boardof Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to facilitate the action research (the research carried out with the active participation of farmers to provide solutions for the challenges) and up-scaling of the various technologies and innovative farmer models developed by the ICAR that includes the successful climate resilient practices, models and integrated and hi-tech farming practices in a participatory model through adoptive research on watershed platform
  

Know! more about the MoU

• The MoU is for taking up site-specific transfer of technologies under sustainable agriculture, integrated farming system, crop intensification, agro-forestry, plantation and horticulture, animal sciences, agri-engineering, etc., including post-harvest technologies.
• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is a premier organization in the country with the mandate of agriculture, research, extension and education leading the country's National Agricultural Research and Extension System
• ICAR with its network developed doable technologies in agriculture and allied sectors of horticulture, livestock, fisheries etc
• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) premier organization dealing with policy, planning and operations in the field of credit for agriculture and other activities in rural areas.
  
  

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