• NITI Aayog in partnership with the Institute of Competitiveness released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020
• Objective - To examine export preparedness and performance of Indian states
• EPI intends to identify challenges and opportunities; enhance the effectiveness of government policies; and encourage a facilitative regulatory framework.

• The Export Preparedness Index is a data-driven effort to identify the core areas crucial for export promotion at the sub-national level.
• The final framework of the EPI was based on essential feedback from states, UTs and organizations like EXIM Bank, IIFT and DGCIS.
• The data has been primarily provided by state governments.
• For some of the indicators, RBI, DGCIS and Central ministries were consulted.

• Policy; Business Ecosystem; Export Ecosystem; Export Performance - and 11 sub-pillars -

• Export Promotion Policy; Institutional Framework; Business Environment; Infrastructure; Transport Connectivity; Access to Finance; Export Infrastructure; Trade Support; R&D Infrastructure; Export Diversification; and Growth Orientation.

• The Indian economy holds immense potential to become a strong exporter on the world stage.
• To realize this potential, it is crucial that India turns to its states and union territories and makes them active participants in the country's export efforts.
• The Export Preparedness Index 2020 evaluates states' potentials and capacities.

• Most Indian states performed well on average across the sub-pillars of Exports Diversification, Transport Connectivity, and Infrastructure.
• The average score of Indian states in these three sub-pillars was above 50%.
• Most of the Coastal States are the best performers.
• Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu occupy the top three ranks, respectively.
• In the landlocked states, Rajasthan has performed the best, followed by Telangana and Haryana.
• Among the Himalayan states, Uttarakhand is the highest, followed by Tripura and Himachal Pradesh.
• Across the Union Territories, Delhi has performed the best, followed by Goa and Chandigarh.
• Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are two landlocked states that had initiated several measures to promote exports.
• Many northeastern states under the Growth Orientation sub-pillar were able to export more by focusing on their indigenous product baskets.

• intra- and inter-regional disparities in export infrastructure
• poor trade support and growth orientation among states
• poor R&D infrastructure to promote complex and unique exports.

• a joint development of export infrastructure
• strengthening industry-academia linkages
• creating state-level engagements for economic diplomacy.
• revamped designs and standards for local products

• Over 700 districts have participated in the prime minister's awards for excellence in public administration which will be conferred on October 31 at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat

• Government of India has instituted a scheme in 2006 namely, "The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration" - to acknowledge, recognize and reward the extraordinary and innovative work done by Districts/ Organizations of the Central and State Governments.
• The Scheme was restructured in 2014 for recognizing the performance of District Collectors in Priority Programs, Innovations and Aspirational Districts.

• The Scheme has been restructured again in 2020, to recognize the performance of District Collectors towards economic development of the District.
• It shall be conferred by the Hon'ble Prime Minister on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas - October 31, 2020 at the Statue of Unity, Kevadia, Gujarat.

For the year 2020, has been comprehensively restructured to recognize the contribution of civil servants in strengthening of:

• Inclusive Development through Credit Flow to the Priority Sector
• Promoting people's movements - "Jan Bhagidari" through Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban and Gramin) in the District

• Improving Service Delivery and Redressal of Public Grievances

Social Issues
Status of Sex Ratio at Birth in India
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about IAPPD)
What's the NEWS

• The Vice President recently released a report- ‘Status of Sex Ratio at Birth in India' which mentioned that there has not been any change in the sex ratio at birth in India from 2001-2017--the number of girl children born is much less than what is the general or natural norm.
• It was brought out by the Indian Association of Parliamentarians for Population and Development (IAPPD).

Know! about IAPPD

• The Indian Association of Parliamentariants on Population and Development (IAPPD) is a national level Organization established in the year 1978.
• The organization was formed with an imperative of moderating the pace of population growth for a smoother course of development so as to ensure an overall improvement in the quality of life of the people and maintain a proper balance between population and development.
• Board of Trustees comprising the Chairman, Executive Secretary, Treasurer and Members look after the smooth running and functioning of the IAPPD.
• The IAPPD has also a Standing Committee consisting of 37 Members of Parliament (MPs), Ex. MPs and Legislators belonging to different political parties of India.

IAPPD is an affiliated body of the following fora and associations:

• The Global Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, New York, USA. The Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development, AFPPD Bangkok, Tailand.
• The Asian Population and Development Association, APDA Tokyo, Japan.
• International Medical Parliamentarians Organization (IMPO) .

Prelims Factoids
India's longest river ropeway inaugurated in Guwahati

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the ropeway)
What's the NEWS

• India's longest passenger ropeway over the Brahmaputra river was formally inaugurated in Assam's Guwahati city

• The 1.82 km bi-cable ropeway connects Guwahati and North Guwahati and has been constructed at a cost of Rs 56 crore.
• The ropeway will operate from Kachari Ghat in Panbazar up to the Dol Govinda temple in North Guwahati
• The ropeway ride will facilitate the passengers to look out for the Urvashi island and catch a glimpse of the Umananda temple which was built by Ahom King Gadadhar Singha.

 
Defence
INS Viraat to be dismantled at Alang in Gujarat


Relevance IN - Prelims ( about INS Viraat + about Alang)
What's the NEWS

• INS Viraat, the aircraft carrier that served the Indian Navy for 30 years before being decommissioned three years ago, is likely to be towed from Mumbai to Alang in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district next month to be dismantled and sold as scrap
• It will likely be towed from the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai to ship breaking yard at Alang
• It will take around three days for the ship to be towed from Mumbai to Alang.
• It will be scrapped at the country's first certified eco-friendly ship recycling yard in nine to 12 months

Know! about INS Viraat

• INS Viraat, the second Centaur-class aircraft carrier, was in service for 30 years before being decommissioned in March 2017.
• It is the longest serving warship (30 years), inducted into the Indian Navy in 1987
• The aircraft carrier, in its earlier avatar, had won the Falklands War against Argentina in 1982 for the Royal British Navy.
• It weighs about 27,800 tonnes and served in the British Navy as HMS Hermes from November 1959 to April 1984 and after refurbishment, was commissioned into the Indian Navy.
• In late 80s, the Indian Navy purchased it at a cost of $65 million and it was re-commissioned on May 12, 1987.
• INS Viraat is the second aircraft carrier to be broken down in India.
• In 2014, INS Vikrant was dismantled in Mumbai.

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