Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Ratle Hydro Electric (HE) Project -location and features)
What's the NEWS

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, has given its approval for the investment of Rs.5281.94 crore for 850 MW Ratle Hydro Electric (HE) Project located on river Chenab, in Kishtwar district of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, by a new Joint Venture Company (JVC) to be incorporated between National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC) with equity contribution of 51% and 49% respectively.

• Government of India is also supporting the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by providing grant of Rs. 776.44 crore for Equity contribution of JKSPDC in the JVC to be set up for construction of Ratle HE Project (850 MW).
• The Ratle Hydro Electric Project shall be commissioned within a span of 60 months.
• The Power generated from the Project will help in providing balancing of Grid and will
• The construction activities of the Project will result in direct and indirect employment to around 4000 persons and will contribute in overall socio-economic development of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The Ratle Hydroelectric Plant is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station currently under construction on the Chenab River, downstream of the village near Drabshalla in Kishtwar district of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The project includes a 133 m (436 ft) tall gravity dam and two power stations adjacent to one another.

• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been directed by Cabinet Secretary to act as the nodal department for coordinating the exercise of minimizing regulatory compliance burden for citizens and businesses.
• A systematic exercise across Central Ministries/Departments and States/UTs is being undertaken by DPIIT to eliminate/reduce compliances which have an adverse impact on time and cost of businesses.
• A major initiative in this regard is the launch of Regulatory Compliance Portal by DPIIT on 1^st January 2021.

• The objective of this portal is to act as a bridge between citizens, industries and the Government in order to minimize burdensome compliances.
• It will also act as a first-of-its-kind central online repository of all Central and State-level compliances.
• All Central Ministries/Departments and States/UTs would examine laws/regulations/rules under their purview and implement an Action Plan to rationalize and simplify all the processes and remove burdensome compliances, decriminalize laws and repeal redundant Acts.
• These details would be captured and tracked on the Regulatory Compliance Portal. Industry stakeholders from Trade bodies such as CII, FICCI and ASSOCHAM would also be able to submit compliances and proposed recommendations.
• This will be assessed by concerned Government authorities and suitable action would be undertaken to minimize the regulatory compliance burden.
• Performance of activities on this portal would be closely reviewed by the senior Government officers.
• Cabinet Secretary would have real-time comprehensive view of all compliances and status of all requests raised across Central Ministries/Departments and States/UTs.
• Customized reports of action taken by each Ministry/Department and State/UT also gets generated for monitoring and evaluation.

Infrastructure Development
National Conference with States on Logistics
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the National conference on logistics -takeouts ) + Mains ( GS III Infrastructure development + GS II Centre-state relations + good governance)
What's the NEWS

• The National Conference with States on Logistics was organized on Tuesday 19th January, 2021 by the Department of Commerce, with the objective to initiate a consultative and collaborative framework for the Central and State Governments to work in a coordinated manner in the logistic sector.
• The Conference was attended by more than 175 participants from the States and UTs, Central Ministries and Industry bodies.
• The Conference emphasized that States have a key role to play in improving the country's logistics performance.

Know! the conference highlights

• A comprehensive 18 Point Agenda was presented to the States to improve the logistics.
• Thrust areas for logistics improvements in the States were identified as city logistics, simplification of approvals for warehouses, facilitation for warehousing development, reducing burden on truck movement and addressing shortage of truck drivers.
• It was decided that Ministry of Commerce & Industry will work with Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to focus on 50 cities for logistics planning initially.
• A plan for facilitation to reduce enforcement burden on truck drivers will be developed.
• Many States have already appointed senior officers as nodal officers for logistics and others will do the same in a short period of time.
• State Level Coordination Committees on Logistics will be formed. Central Ministries looking after the transportation will appoint State Nodal Officers to coordinate with the States.
• The Logistics Division of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry will embark on things on survey to assess and rank States on logistics performance.
• The State ranking will focus on data in addition to perspective on logistics performance.
• Support will be provided to the States to improve the capacity for logistics coordination.
• A City Conference will also be organized to take forward the initiatives of the Conference.

Steps taken by the government

• National Logistic Policy which is under consultation, will work as a template for better coordination and integrated development in logistics sector.
• The logistic team in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry is trying to integrate various means of transport, documentation and stakeholders through technology platforms, into a much-simplified way of working, which will enhance the Ease of Doing Business.

Strengthening the logistic ecosystem, as it is the backbone of the country (Way Forward)

• Emphasis should be on reducing the logistics costs from the present 13% to 8% which will help Indian trade become competitive, create jobs, improve India's ranking and make it a logistics hub for global supply chain.
• Each State must have a logistics policy and State should focus and develop the infrastructure.
• It is vital to realize the importance to have institutional mechanism to synergize all stakeholders concerning city logistics.
• Emphasis should be on rapid increase in urban space and assimilation and analysis of data to identify data flow in life city growth aspirations and infrastructure plans.
• The Logistics Division of the Commerce Ministry and the Smart City Mission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will collaborate with identified cities to assist them, wherever required, in setting up a mechanism for coordination with Central Government agencies.
• Cities need to develop supply chain awareness and plan for infrastructure and its efficient use in existing and future scenarios.

Economy
First Consultative meeting held on Asset Monetization

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about DIPAM + asset monetisation) + Mains ( GS III economic development)
What's the NEWS

• The first consultative meeting on asset monetization was organized by Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) in partnership with World Bank.
• The meeting also had a large representation of State Governments and CPSEs.

Asset monetization

• Asset monetization is a stated objective of the Government and DIPAM is mandated to facilitate monetization of non-core public assets.
• The monetization process is complex and requires close cooperation and collaboration with all stakeholders.
• The meeting provided a platform for such an engagement.
• Several key issues were discussed in the meeting in the presence of all stakeholders.
• Both global and domestic perspective, best practice and experience was shared.
• The meeting ended with a set of key takeaways which will assist in developing capacity and guidance on asset monetization and accelerating the process.

Know! about DIPAM

• Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) deals with all matters relating to management of Central Government investments in equity including disinvestment of equity in Central Public Sector Undertakings.
• The Four major areas of its work relates to Strategic Disinvestment, Minority Stake Sales, Asset Monetisation and Capital Restructuring.
• It also deals with all matters relating to sale of Central Government equity through offer for sale or private placement or any other mode in the erstwhile Central Public Sector Undertakings. DIPAM is working as one of the Departments under the Ministry of Finance.

Connect to the Past

• Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has signed an agreement with World Bank today (16 Nov 2020). Under the agreement, World Bank is to provide advisory services to DIPAM for asset monetization.
• DIPAM is mandated with facilitating monetization of non-core assets of government CPSEs under strategic disinvestment or closure and enemy property of value of INR 100 crores and above. DIPAM has a framework for monetizing non-core assets.
• The World Bank advisory project, approved by the Finance Minister, is aimed at analyzing public asset monetization in India and benchmarking its institutional and business models against international best practices.
• It is expected that this project would facilitate and accelerate the non-core asset monetization process and help unlock the value of these un-used/ marginally used assets which has the potential to substantially augment financial resources for further investments and growth.

Know! about Asset Monetization

• It involves creation of new sources of revenue by unlocking of value of hitherto unutilized or underutilized public assets. Internationally, it is recognized that public assets are a significant resource for all economies.

Prelims Factoids
DRI seizes 55.61 kg of foreign gold worth Rs 28 crore

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Golden Triangle + about DRI)
What's the NEWS

• In a spectacular bust of the Myanmar-India gold smuggling network, the Delhi Zonal Unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 55.61 kg of foreign origin gold valued at Rs. 28 crore from eight persons at two locations, i.e. Delhi and Lucknow on 21st January, 2021.
• The operation, codenamed "Golden Triangle", was a coordinated effort by the officers of Delhi Zonal Unit and Lucknow Zonal Unit of DRI
• The modus of human concealment has been busted where the carriers were found to have been concealing the gold bars in belts worn around their waists.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)

• It is an Indian intelligence agency. It is India's apex anti-smuggling intelligence, investigations and operations agency.
• The Directorate is run by officers from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) who are posted in its various Zonal Units as well as in Indian embassies abroad as part of the Customs Overseas Intelligence Network.
• It is headed by a Director General of the rank of Special Secretary to the Government of India.
• The Agency works to secure India's national and economic security by preventing the outright smuggling of contraband such as firearms, gold, narcotics, Fake Indian Currency notes, antiques, wildlife and environmental products.
• It also works to prevent the proliferation of black money, trade based money laundering and commercial frauds.

Defence
Indian Army Signs MoU with SIDM on Indigenisation and Innovation Partnership

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the MoU + about SIDM) + Mains ( GS III indigenisation of technology)
What's the NEWS

• An MoU between the Indian Army & Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) was signed to provide further impetus to indigenisation and to achieve strategic independence by reducing dependence on foreign origin equipment.
• This MoU was signed on the occasion of 25 Years of Army-Industry Partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
• With the signing of MoU with SIDM, Indian Army has reiterated it's firm resolve towards achieving self-reliance by supporting and handholding indigenous defence industry.

Know! all about the Indian Army and industry collaboration

• Collaboration between the Indian Army and industry started in 1995 with the indigenisation of spares and has progressed to major defence platforms and a wide range of weapons and equipment.
• In order to optimise capability building and single contact with the industry, Indian Army has reorganised itself by aligning both the revenue and capital routes of procurement under Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development & Sustenance).
• Army Design Bureau (ADB) has been established to act as a direct facilitator with the industry and thereby connect the defence manufacturers directly with the user.
• These changes have resulted in a collaborative engagement between the technology provider, the equipment manufacturer and the user.
• The Government has made necessary policy changes to support indigenisation and achieving self-reliance in defence sector with the active support from the Army.
• Industry associations have provided a common platform for industry to interact with Indian Army to showcase their expertise.

Know! about SIDM

• The Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) is a not-for-profit association formed to be the apex body of the Indian defence industry.
• SIDM plays a proactive role as an advocate, catalyst, and facilitator for the growth and capability building of the defence industry in India.

Disaster Management
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrated its 16th Foundation Day
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about NDRF) + Mains ( GS III disaster management)
What's the NEWS

• The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrated its 16th Foundation Day
• Union Minister of State for Home Affairs was the Chief Guest at the programme.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

• India faced some of its most severe natural calamities like Orissa Super Cyclone (1999), Gujarat Earthquake (2001) and Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004).
• This succession of events and the International environment brought to fore, the need of comprehensive disaster management plan.
• This led to the enactment of the Disaster Management Act on December 26^th, 2005.
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was constituted to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management.
• The Disaster Management Act has statutory provisions for constitution of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the purpose of specialized response to natural and man-made disasters. Accordingly, in 2006 NDRF was constituted with 8 Battalions.
• The Apex Body for Disaster Management in India is the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The Chairman of the NDMA is the Prime Minister.
• The responsibility of managing disasters in India is that of the State Government. The ‘Nodal Ministry' in the central government for management of natural disasters is the Ministry of Home Affairs
• When 'calamities of severe nature' occur, the Central Government is responsible for providing aid and assistance to the affected state, including deploying, at the State's request, of Armed Forces, Central Paramilitary Forces, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and such communication, air and other assets, as are available and needed.
• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is under the National Disaster Management Authority.
• The head of the NDRF is designated as Director General.
• The Director Generals of NDRF are IPS officers on deputation from Indian police organisations. Director General wears the uniform and badges of rank of an army three-star general.
• In a meeting of the NDMA with the Prime Minister on October 25, 2007, the need of NDRF being made a dedicated force was highlighted and accepted.
• This led to the notification of NDRF Rules on February 14^th, 2008, making NDRF a dedicated force for disaster response related duties, under the unified command of DG NDRF.

NDRF (other highlights)

• The NDRF also included women who were playing an important role in every disaster, shoulder to shoulder with male colleagues.
• The NDRF conducted international disaster management exercises such as the SCO Joint Exercise 2019 and BIMSTEC 2020, to deal with any kind of disaster with mutual support.
• The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) participated for the first time in the Republic Day Tableau 2020 and secured the first place.

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