NITI Aayog
National Program and Project Management Policy Framework Initiative

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NPMPF + InBoK + QCI ) + Mains ( GS III infrastructure development)
What's the NEWS

• NITI Aayog and Quality Council of India launched the ‘National Program and Project Management Policy Framework' (NPMPF), envisaged to bring radical reforms in the way infrastructure projects are executed in India.
• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways unveiled the Indian Infrastructure Body of Knowledge (InBoK), a book on the practice of program and project management in India, and launched the framework
• InBoK to serve as a common reference for all practitioners of the industry.

Know! about NPMPF

• NPMPF will help in realizing the need to reduce costs and waste material, without compromising on the environment and ecology.
• This initiative is most opportune to bring about more transparency in procurement, enabling public-private partnerships through appropriate risk-sharing and establishing robust project governance.'
• The adoption of these practices will help achieve economic objectives through the coordination of multiple projects.

Know! the benefit of this initiative

• India will require an investment of around $4.5 trillion by 2040 to develop the infrastructure for sustaining its economic growth.
• However, the challenges in infrastructure development that often obstruct the smooth execution of projects can be a detriment.
• Therefore, along with numerous initiatives by the Government and guidelines advocated by NITI Aayog towards improving performance of infrastructure projects, a task force was also constituted to lay down a national program and project management policy framework.
• This framework aims to formulate radical reforms in the way large and mega infrastructure projects are managed in India

Know! about QCI

• The Quality Council of India (QCI) is a pioneering experiment of the Government of India in setting up organizations in partnership with the Indian industry.
• The Cabinet Committee decided to set up Quality Council of India as a non-profit autonomous society registered under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 to establish an accreditation structure in the country and to spread quality movement in India by undertaking a National Quality Campaign.
• Key industry associations, i.e. Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) became the promoters of the organizers and QCI
• The Council is independent and works under the directions of its Governing Body (GB) having equal representation of government, industry and industry associations.
• It does not get funded by the government and is a self-sustaining non-profit organization with its own Memorandum of Association (MOA) and Rules.
• Chairman of QCI is nominated by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India and is a non-executive post

Economy/Bilateral Relations
NTPC Ltd. enters into foreign currency loan agreement with Japanese Government's financial institution
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the agreement between NTPC and JBIC + about GREEN facility + about FGD) + Mains ( GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• In the first funding for NTPC Ltd under Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC)'s GREEN or Global Action for Reconciling Economic growth and Environment preservation initiative, India's largest power producer today entered into foreign currency loan agreement with Japanese Government's financial institution for JPY 50 billion

Know! more about the loan agreement

• JBIC will provide 60% of the facility amount and the balance will be given by commercial banks
• The facility is extended under JBIC's outreach for projects, which ensure conservation of global environment.
• The loan proceeds will be utilized by NTPC Ltd, the PSU under Ministry of Power, for funding its capex for Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) & Renewable Energy projects.
• FGD, substantially reduces the SOx emission in the flue gases of thermal power plants and is a critical step towards environmental sustainability.

Know! about GREEN facility

• BIC conducts environmental operations called Global action for Reconciling Economic growth and ENvironmental preservation ("GREEN").
• Under the GREEN operations, JBIC provides enhanced support for environmental projects in developing countries in the form of loans, guarantees and equity financing, while mobilizing private-sector funds.
• GREEN projects include development of photovoltaic generation facilities using advanced environmental technologies and highly energy-efficient power plants, as well as installation of energy-saving equipment which are intended to help protect the global environment.

Science & Technology
DrTulsi Das Chugh Award-2020
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the award + about Malaria parasite's life cycle )
What's the NEWS

• The Orations & Awards Committee of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (India), has selected Dr Satish Mishra, for "Dr.Tulsi Das Chugh Award" for the year 2020 in recognition of his research work on Malaria parasite's life cycle which is a complex process involving two hosts and three invasive stages.

Malaria parasite's life cycle

• Invasion in both mammals and mosquitoes requires a coordinated sequence of events to be played out successfully.
• His research focused on "Secreted Protein with Altered Thrombospondin Repeat (SPATR) which is Essential for Asexual Blood Stages but not Required for Hepatocyte Invasion by the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium Berghei".
• This study focuses on the dispensability of SPATR in P. berghei sporozoites and its importance for the establishment of blood stage infection, further investigation is needed to unravel its precise role during this process.

Know! about the Academy and the Award

• National Academy of Medical Sciences (India) is a unique institution which fosters and utilizes academic excellence as its resource to meet medical and social goals.
• It was registered as the 'Indian Academy of Medical Sciences' on 21st April, 1961 under Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.
• The Academy was re-named National Academy of Medical Sciences (India) on 16th November, 1976 on the recommendations of a Working Group set up by the Govt. of India.
• A number of prestigious Orations and Awards have been instituted by the Academy and are bestowed upon eminent bio-medical scientists in recognition of their outstanding contributions.
• The Academy encourages and sponsors nation-wide CME programmes, Symposia, Workshops etc.
• Over the years the Academy has recognized the outstanding achievements made by the Indian scientists in the field of medicine and allied sciences and conferred Fellowship as well as Membership to the selected persons through a peer reviewed process and finally voting by all the Fellows.
• Dr.Tulsi Das Chugh Award carries a Scroll, a Commemorative Medal and Cash Incentive.

NITI Aayog
Electricity Access & Utility Benchmarking Report

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Electricity Access in India and Benchmarking Distribution Utilities - report highlights) + Mains ( GS III infrastructure development - Energy sector)
What's the NEWS

• NITI Aayog, Ministry of Power, Rockefeller Foundation, and Smart Power India launched the ‘Electricity Access in India and Benchmarking Distribution Utilities'
• Based on a primary survey conducted across 10 states--representing about 65% of the total rural population of India and with a sample size of more than 25,000, including households, commercial enterprises and institutions--the report assesses 25 distribution utilities.
  
  
•  Aimed at capturing insights from both the demand (electricity customers) as well as supply side (electricity distribution utilities), the report seeks to:
• Evaluate the status of electricity access in India across these states and distribution utilities along all dimensions that constitute meaningful access
• Benchmark utilities' capacity to provide electricity access and identify the drivers of sustainable access
• Develop recommendations for enhancing sustainable electricity access

Key findings of the report:

• As much as 92% of customers reported the overall availability of electricity infrastructure within 50 metres of their premises; however, not all have connections, the primary reason being the distance of households from the nearest pole.
• Overall, 87% of the surveyed customers have access to grid-based electricity. The remaining 13% either use non-grid sources or don't use any electricity at all.
• The hours of supply have improved significantly across the customer categories to nearly 17 hours per day.
• Nearly 85% of customers reported to have a metered electricity connection.
• Access to electricity is observed in 83% of household customers.
• A satisfaction index was created to assess the overall satisfaction level of customers with utility services. The study suggested that a total of 66% of those surveyed were satisfied--74% of customers in urban areas and 60% in rural areas.
• The report highlights the benefits of government-led schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, which have been well received in rural as well as urban areas.'
  
  

Recommendations

• prioritizing the release of new connections for non-household customers;
• transfer of subsidies or other benefits directly into a customer's account;
• enhanced technology-driven customer service;
• ensuring 100% metering of customers;
• segregation of feeder lines

Smart Power India Initiative

• The Smart Power India Initiative of The Rockefeller Foundation aims to extend productive power to those without sufficient access to reliable and quality electricity
• Smart Power India (SPI) was established by the Rockefeller Foundation as its subsidiary and acts as the key agency in implementing the foundation's Smart Power for Rural Development program.
• SPI works on building and nurturing ecosystems to promote sustainable and scalable models to provide electricity access.

KEEP Learning KEEP Evolving
TEAM CL IAS