• To celebrate Sewa Diwas, which marks the birthday of the Prime Minister Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) distributed 6 innovative cycle-mounted Tea/Coffee Selling units under Project DigniTEA in New Delhi

• The cycle-mounted tea/coffee selling units have been distributed to 6 unemployed local youths
• These units will enable tea-sellers to earn a respectable livelihood while selling the beverages hygienically.
• KVIC also distributed 17 such units in different cities like Varanasi, Jaipur and Chandigarh.

• It is a statutory body formed in April 1957 by the Government of India, under the Act of Parliament, 'Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956'.
• It is an apex organisation under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with regard to khadi and village industries which seeks to - "plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of khadi and village industries in the rural areas
• In April 1957, it took over the work of former All India Khadi and Village Industries Board.
• Its head office is in Mumbai , whereas its six zonal offices in Delhi, Bhopal, Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai and Guwahati.

• The Minister of State for Communications, participated in the meeting on behalf of India during the sixth BRICS Communication Ministers Meeting

• In the meeting a broad consensus was built to continue cooperation among BRICS Countries on important areas such as, the role of Information and Communication Technologies in the fight against COVID-19, building trust and security in the use of ICTs, and the role of the digital economy in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
• BRICS countries continue to cooperate in Telecom/ ICT activities on International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Forum"
• The BRICS Communications Ministers' Meetings are held annually under the rotating Chair of member countries, i.e. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. India will take over the Chairship of the next BRICS Communications Ministers' Meeting to be hosted in 2021 by India.

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for all matters related to information and communication technologies.
• Established in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, it is one of the oldest international organizations in operation.
• On 15 November 1947, the ITU entered into an agreement with the newly created United Nations to become a specialized agency within the UN system, which formally entered into force on 1 January 1949.
• The ITU promotes the shared global use of the radio spectrum, facilities international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, assists in developing and coordinating worldwide technical standards, and works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world.

• It is also active in the areas of broadband Internet, wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, satellite-based meteorology, TV broadcasting, and next-generation networks.
• Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the ITU's global membership includes 193 countries and around 900 business, academic institutions, and international and regional organizations.

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the provisions of these two bills) + Mains ( GS III farmers welfare- steps taken by the government)
What's the NEWS

• These two bills were introduced in Lok Sabha to replace the ordinances promulgated on 5th June 2020.

Know! about these bills
The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020

• An ecosystem where the farmers and traders enjoy the freedom of choice relating to sale and purchase of farmers' produce
• It will facilitates remunerative prices through competitive alternative trading channels to promote efficient, transparent and barrier-free inter-State and intra-State trade and commerce of farmers' produce outside physical premises of markets or deemed markets notified under various State agricultural produce market legislations

• Farmers in India suffered from various restrictions in marketing their produce.
• There were restrictions for farmers in selling agri-produce outside the notified APMC market yards.
• The farmers were also restricted to sell the produce only to registered licensees of the State Governments.
• Further, barriers existed in free flow of agriculture produce between various States owing to the prevalence of various APMC legislations enacted by the State Governments.

Know! the Benefits

• The new legislation will create an ecosystem where the farmers and traders will enjoy freedom of choice of sale and purchase of agri-produce.
• It will also promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce outside the physical premises of markets notified under State Agricultural Produce Marketing legislations.
• It will open more choices for the farmer, reduce marketing costs for the farmers and help them in getting better prices.
• It will also help farmers of regions with surplus produce to get better prices and consumers of regions with shortages, lower prices.
• The Bill also proposes an electronic trading in transaction platform for ensuring a seamless trade electronically.
• The farmers will not be charged any cess or levy for sale of their produce under this Act.
• Further there will be a separate dispute resolution mechanism for the farmers.

One India, One Agriculture Market

• It aims at creating additional trading opportunities outside the APMC market yards to help farmers get remunerative prices due to additional competition.
• This will supplement the existing MSP procurement system which is providing stable income to farmers.
• It will certainly pave the way for creating One India, One Agriculture Market

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020

• It seeks to provide for a national framework on farming agreements that protects and empowers farmers to engage with agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for farm services and sale of future farming produce at a mutually agreed remunerative price framework in a fair and transparent manner

Why it was needed

• Indian Agriculture is characterized by fragmentation due to small holding sizes and has certain weaknesses such as weather dependence, production uncertainties and market unpredictability.

• This makes agriculture risky and inefficient in respect of both input & output management.

Benefits

• The new legislation will empower farmers for engaging with processors, wholesalers, aggregators, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters etc., on a level playing field without any fear of exploitation.
• It will transfer the risk of market unpredictability from the farmer to the sponsor and also enable the farmer to access modern technology and better inputs.
• It will reduce cost of marketing and improve income of farmers.
• This legislation will act as a catalyst to attract private sector investment for building supply chains for supply of Indian farm produce to national and global markets, and in agricultural infrastructure.
• Farmers will get access to technology and advice for high value agriculture and get ready market for such produce.
• Farmers will engage in direct marketing thereby eliminating intermediaries resulting in full realization of price.
• Farmers have been provided adequate protection. Sale, lease or mortgage of farmers' land is totally prohibited and farmers' land is also protected against any recovery.
• Effective dispute resolution mechanism has been provided for with clear time lines for redressal.

Economy
Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill passed in Lok Sabha to bring cooperative banks under RBI

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020 -highlights + about cooperative banks) + Mains ( GS III financial inclusion)
What's the NEWS

• Lok Sabha passed the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
• The Bill proposes amendments to the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

Know! the highlights of the bill

• With this new Bill, the central government aims to bring cooperative banks under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• In June, the union cabinet approved the ordinance to bring 1,482 urban and 58 multi-state cooperative banks under the supervision of the central bank.
• This Bill does not regulate cooperative banks. The amendment is not for central govt to take over the cooperative banks
• The bill aims to bring co-operative banks under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• The bill will also permit the RBI to initiate a scheme for reconstruction or amalgamation of a stressed lender without imposing a moratorium.
• Prior to this amendment, if a lender was put under the moratorium, it not only capped the withdrawals by depositors, but also barred a bank's lending operations.
• The amendments do not apply to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) or co-operative societies whose primary object and principal business is long-term finance for agricultural development, and which do not use the words "bank", "banker" or "banking".
• The bill also states that if a co-operative bank is registered with the Registrar of Co-operative Societies of a state, the central bank may supersede the lender's board after consultation with the concerned state government.

Other Highlights

• A co-operative bank may issue equity, preference, or special shares on face value or at a premium to its members, via a public issue or private placement
• The RBI has the authority to exempt a co-operative bank or a class of operative banks from certain provisions of the Act.
• The RBI may supersede the board of a multi-state co-operative bank for up to five years under certain conditions.

Know! about Cooperative Banks (earlier provisions)

• Cooperative Banks are registered under the state Cooperative Societies Act.
• The Co-operative banks are also regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and governed by the Banking Regulations Act 1949 and Banking Laws (Co-operative Societies) Act, 1955.
• Banking laws were made applicable to cooperative societies in 1966 through an amendment to the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• Since then banking related functions are regulated by RBI, management related functions are looked at by the respective State Governments/ Central Government.
• Powers have also been delegated to NABARD to conduct inspection of State and Central Cooperative banks.
• Many of the regulatory norms applicable to a commercial bank also apply to cooperative banks.
• Cooperative banks also have to set aside 4% as CRR and 18.75% under SLR.
• RBI has put in place a Supervisory Action Framework (SAF) in 2012. This is much like Prompt Corrective Action for commercial banks.

• Based on certain financial parameters such as capital adequacy, Gross NPAs, profitability etc., certain trigger points will be activated for corrective action.
• Co-operative banks are owned and controlled by the members, who democratically elect a board of directors. Members usually have equal voting rights, according to the cooperative principle of "one person, one vote".

Cooperative Banks (Problems)

• Weak Corporate Governance
• Lack of Professionalism
• Reluctance in technology adoption
• Dual control
• Not much capital to scale up
• Political connections

Social Justice
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about PMJVK) + Mains ( GS II Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the
performance of these schemes)
What's the NEWS

• Out of various schemes being implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, only one scheme namely Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) is Centrally Sponsored Scheme, under which funds are released to the State Governments.

• The Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) has been restructured in 2018 and is now being implemented in 1300 identified Minority Concentration Areas (MCAs), with an objective of developing socio-economic infrastructure and basic amenities in the said areas.
• For larger coverage of the scheme, the areas under PMJVK have been increased from 90 Districts originally to 308 Districts of the country, which include 870 Blocks, 321 Towns and 109 District Headquarters

• It seeks to provide better socio economic infrastructure facilities to the minority communities particularly in the field of education, health & skill development which would further lead to lessening of the gap between the national average and the minority communities with regard to backwardness parameters.
• The erstwhile Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) has been restructured and renamed as Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram for effective implementation since 2018.

• MsDP is a special area development scheme designed to address the 'development deficits' seen in Minority Concentration Districts.
• The programme was launched in the year 2008-09 in 90 identified Minority Concentration Districts (MCDs) having at least 25% minority population and below national average with respect to one or both of the backwardness parameters with the objective of developing assets for socio-economic and basic amenities.
• The MCDs were identified on the basis of census 2001 data. The programme continued during 11th Five Year Plan.
• The MsDP was restructured in June 2013 for implementation during 12th Five Year Plan and the area of implementation was replaced by Minority Concentration Blocks (MCB), Minority Concentration Towns (MCT) and Clusters of Villages.
• At present 6 (six) communities namely Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains have been notified as Minority Communities under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.

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