Bilateral Relations
Lalandar Shatoot Dam in Afghanistan

Relevance IN - Prelims (about Lalandar Shatoot dam) + Mains (GS II bilateral relations)
What's the NEWS

• A signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] for the construction of the Lalandar [Shatoot] Dam in Afghanistan took place
• The MoU was signed by EAM Dr. Jaishankar and Foreign Minister Mr. Hanif Atmar, in the presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President of Afghanistan H.E. Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.

Lalander [Shatoot] Dam

• The project is a part of the New Development Partnership between India and Afghanistan.
• The Lalander [Shatoot] Dam would meet the safe drinking water needs of Kabul City, provide irrigation water to nearby areas, rehabilitate the existing irrigation and drainage network, aid in flood protection and management efforts in the area, and also provide electricity to the region.
• This is the second major dam being built by India in Afghanistan, after the India- Afghanistan Friendship Dam [Salma Dam], which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister and the President in June 2016.
• Signing of the MoU on Lalandar [Shatoot] Dam is a reflection of India's strong and long-term commitment towards the socio-economic development of Afghanistan and the enduring partnership between our two countries.
• India has completed more than 400 projects covering all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

Miscellaneous
Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority signs MoU with IGNOU for utilising tele lecturing facility of Gyan Darshan channel

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about IEPFA + about the MoU + about Gyan Darshan channel + about SWAYAM PRABHA
What's the NEWS

• The Investor Education and Protection fund Authority (IEPFA) and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration in utilising the tele-lecturing facility of Gyan Darshan Channel (EPMC) for telecast of Investor Awareness Programmes (IAPs) through distance learning mode.
• This is for the first time that the IEPF Authority is venturing into an association for utilising the electronic and digital platforms for conduction of IAPs.
• So far, IEPFA has conducted around 50 thousand IAPs by collaborating with various organisations like the CSDC e-Gov, IPPB, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan etc.

Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority

• For administration of Investor Education and Protection Fund Government of India has on 7th September, 2016 established Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority under the provisions of section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013.
• The Authority is entrusted with the responsibility of administration of the Investor Education Protection Fund (IEPF), make refunds of shares, unclaimed dividends, matured deposits/debentures etc. to investors and to promote awareness among investors.

The IEPF is to be utilized for

• The refund in respect of unclaimed dividends, matured deposits, matured debentures, the application money due for refund and interest thereon
• Promotion of investors' education, awareness and protection
• Distribution of any disgorged amount among eligible and identifiable applicants for shares or debentures, shareholders, debenture-holders or depositors who have suffered losses due to wrong actions by any person

Gyan Darshan (GD) channel

• It is a major milestone in the field of Educational Television in India.
• It is a joint venture of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I & B Ministry), Prasar Bharati and IGNOU serving as the nodal agency.
• Launched in the year 2000, GD is a 24-hour educational channel which offers the best of educational programmes covering a variety of subjects and catering to a wide range of viewers.
• These include pre-school, primary, secondary and higher secondary students, college/university students, youth seeking career opportunities, homemakers and working professionals.
• The software is pooled from various educational Institutions and Development Organisations.
• Teachers/Resource persons and IGNOU Regional Center functionaries interact for academic and administrative matters with students.
• Induction Programmes for new students and convocations for graduating students are also conducted live through Teleconferencing every year.
• Gyan Darshan is now part of Swayam Prabha and can be watched on MHRD Channel no.25.

SWAYAM PRABHA

• The SWAYAM PRABHA is a group of 34 DTH channels devoted to telecasting of high-quality educational programmes on 24X7 basis using the GSAT-15 satellite.
• Every day, there will be new content for at least (4) hours which would be repeated 5 more times in a day, allowing the students to choose the time of their convenience.
• The channels are uplinked from BISAG, Gandhinagar.
• The contents are provided by NPTEL, IITs, UGC, CEC, IGNOU, NCERT and NIOS. The INFLIBNET Centre maintains the web portal.

The DTH Channels shall cover the following:

• Higher Education: Curriculum-based course contents at post-graduate and under-graduate level covering diverse disciplines such as arts, science, commerce, performing arts, social sciences and humanities, engineering, technology, law, medicine, agriculture, etc.
• All courses would be certification-ready in their detailed offering through SWAYAM, the platform being developed for offering MOOCs courses.
• School education (9-12 levels): modules for teacher's training as well as teaching and learning aids for children of India to help them understand the subjects better and also help them in preparing for competitive examinations for admissions to professional degree programmes.
• Curriculum-based courses that can meet the needs of life-long learners of Indian citizens in India and abroad.
• Assist students (class 11th & 12th) prepare for competitive exams.

International Organisations
International Road Federation
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the International Road Federation) + Mains ( GS II International organisations)
What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for Road Transport, has called for all-round efforts by all stakeholders to ensure that deaths due to road accidents are reduced by 50% by 2025.
• The Minister inaugurated the Webinar series being launched by the International Road Federation, India Chapter, on theme of "Road Safety Challenges in India & Preparation of an Action Plan" .
• Some 1.5 lakh people die, and more than 4.5 lakh people are injured in road accidents every year in the country - 415 deaths per day in road accidents. 3.14 per cent of national GDP is the socio-economic loss from these accidents, and 70% of the deaths are in the age group of 18 to 45 years old.

Know! the efforts taken by the Ministry

• Improved engineering, education, enforcement, emergency care services are some of the steps taken to combat the problem.
• The Ministry is working on correcting the more than 5,000 accident black spots identified on the highway network, and more than 40,000 kms of roadway are being audited for safety.
• The central government has proposed a state support programme to incentivise the states with Rs. 14,000 crores of funds, to improve road safety.
• Pointing out that road safety in mostly a behavioural issue, it requires co-operative federalism to boost co-ordination right from block to taluka level
• India is observing the Road Safety Month currently, to build awareness on road safety issues.

The International Road Federation (IRF)

• The International Road Federation is a global not-for-profit organization, headquartered in Washington, DC since 1948 and supported by regional offices throughout the world to serve a network of IRF Members in more than 70 countries.
• The International Road Federation does not recognize any legal affiliation, or programmatic collaboration, with the IRF Geneva Programme Centre or its chapter in India
• IRF is a membership-based organisation which represents businesses and organisations in the road and mobility sectors.
• Its mission is to promote the development of roads and road networks that enable access and sustainable mobility for all.
• Its approach is centred on key strategic components of knowledge transfer & information sharing, connecting people, businesses and organisations and policy & advocacy.
• Through its Expert Groups and Committees that address key economic, environmental and social issues, IRF is qualified and able to make a decisive global contribution to the transport sector.
• As a not-for-profit organisation, based in Switzerland, IRF provides a neutral and global platform for the road and mobility sectors.
• IRF has four working groups that each deal with a different aspect of road infrastructure.
• The working groups are road safety, environment, road financing and intelligent transport systems.
• World Road Statistics IRF has 56 years of experience in data collection and capacity-building all over the world.
• Since 1964, the IRF World Road Statistics (WRS) has been an invaluable reference tool for anyone wanting to analyze, understand, and report on worldwide, regional and national trends and developments.

Miscellaneous
Status of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about ILIMS + DILRMP + NGDRS + ULPIN) + Mains ( GS III land reforms in India)
What's the NEWS

• Government of India, in 2008-09, had launched Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) - erstwhile National Land Records Modernization Programme to digitize and modernize land records and develop a transparent and Integrated Land Information Management System (ILIMS) in the country.

The status of the schemes and the opportunities for the ministry are as follows:
Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP)

• The Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP), a Central Sector scheme has been extended up to 2020-21 at a total cost of Rs. 950 crores.
• It attempts to build upon the commonalities that exist in the arena of land records in various States to develop an appropriate Integrated Land Information Management System (ILIMS) across the country, on which different States can also add State-specific needs as they may deem relevant and appropriate.

Other initiatives undertaken by the Department are as below:
I) National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS)

• To provide, one Nation one software for registration of documents & properties to 'empower citizens', Department developed and field-tested a National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) through NIC/NICSI under the broad aegis of Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) a central sector scheme to include requirements of all the States and the same has been launched/under implementation in 10 states/Union Territories
• The benefits are the reduction of land disputes, check on fraudulent transactions; Reduced process
• NGDRS software is expected to improve the ranking of the country in ease of doing business in a world level forum and provide ease of living to the people.

II) Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN):

• The Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) System will have 14 digits - Alpha-numeric unique ID for each land parcel.
• The Unique IDs based on Geo reference coordinate of vertices of the parcel would be of international standard and compliance of the Electronic Commerce Code Management Association (ECCMA) standard and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards and it will provide compatibility so that all states can adopt it easily.
• Proper land statistics and land accounting through ULPIN will help develop land bank and lead towards Integrated Land Information Management System (ILIMS).

Government Initiatives
Ministry of Jal shakti briefs - budgetary allocations, latest initiatives, progress updates, future goals and achievement strategies

Know! the Budget allocation made in Union Budget 2021-22 for the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) and Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti

• Latest initiatives, progress & achievements on the ongoing projects undertaken by the two departments i.e. DoWR, RD & GR and DDWS and the roadmap for future achievements.

Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and NamamiGange:

• The budget outlay for the Department has been increased to Rs.9,022 crore in FY 2021-22 from Rs.7,262 crore (RE) in FY 2020-21.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister in December 2019 with the principal objective of strengthening the institutional framework for participatory groundwater management and bringing about behavioral changes at the community level for sustainable groundwater resource management.

Two flagship schemes of the department, NamamiGange and PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna), have shown significant progress during the last 5 years:
NamamiGange:

• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the nodal authority for prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution in the river Ganga.
• The NMCG has transformed the Ganga Rejuvenation strategy by implementing few model schemes like One City One Operator, Hybrid Annuity PPP mode (HAM) and Aviral Ganga scheme to ensure sufficient flow of water always to have a healthy ecosystem and ensure pollution abatement.
• NMCG has impacted substantial improvement in quality of water in most of the stretches in river Ganga.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)

• Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) - Additional irrigation potential of 34.63 lakh hectare through 99 prioritized projects and 7 phases, using surface water).
• Its main features include Central Assistance (CA) and State Share through NABARD under Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF).
• Har Khet Ko Paani (HKKP) scheme focuses on Command Area Development (CAD), Repair, Renovation & Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies, Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) schemes, and Ground Water Development

Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation:
Swachh Bharat Mission - Grameen (SBM-G)

• After Phase 1 which was successful in achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) India in 2019, Phase 2 of the SBM (G) has been launched in early 2020, aimed at ODF Plus & hence focuses on ODF sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) focusing on comprehensive cleanliness in villages.
• SLWM focuses on key initiatives like Plastic Waste Management through collection, storage at Material Recovery Facilities for further processing, Gobardhan scheme for managing organic waste into resources like compost and Biogas, Grey Water Management and Faecal Sludge Management.

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

• An important flagship programme of DDWS aims to provide tap water connection to every rural household by 2024.
• Safe access to potable water in household premises under JJM will improve the lives of rural people especially removing ‘drudgery' of women and girls.
• Launched by Hon'ble Prime Minister on 15th August, 2019, JJM has reached over 3.41 crore families living in rural areas with tap water connection in their homes increasing the coverage of rural households with tap water connections from 17% in the launch year to more than 1/3rd (34.63%)
• JJM has launched a nationwide 100 day campaign on 2nd Oct, 2020 to provide assured tap water supply to every anganwadi centre, residential tribal school (ashramshala) and schools aiming to reduce vulnerability of children from water-borne diseases and prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
• Also, efforts are being made to ensure safe drinking water to all quality-affected villages especially Arsenic and Fluoride affected rural habitations under JJM.
• For sustaining the JJM, Village Water Sanitation Committee/ Pani Samiti are being constituted for planning, designing, implementing and operating & maintaining in-village water supply system.
• Key Resource Centres (KRCs) will be constituted to impart training to the local people for regular operation & maintenance of water supply systems, to ensure water quality through field test kits (FTKs), to reorient Public Health Engineers and village level functionaries for public utilities.

Government Schemes
A provision of Rs.200 crores has been made for a new scheme-SVAMITVA Under Panchayati Raj Ministry

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about RGSA + about SVAMITVA + about CORS network)
What's the NEWS

• A total of Rs.913.43 crore has been provided to Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) in budget 2021-22 which marks 32% increase over the revised estimate of 2020-21.

Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)

• The major part of it of Rs.593 crores is provided under the Scheme Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that aims to strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with main focus on convergence with Mission Antyodaya through capacity building of the rural local governments.
• The infrastructure facilities like Panchayat Bhawans, computer & broadband connectivity, trained manpower etc. and providing quality training to the elected representatives and other functionaries of the PRIs are the principal components of RGSA.

SVAMITVA

• A provision of Rs.200 crores has been made for a new scheme-SVAMITVA to provide the ‘record of rights' to village household owners possessing houses in inhabited rural areas in villages and issuance of property cards to the property owners through survey of village areas with help of drone technology by Survey of India.
• The Pilot phase of SVAMITVA had been approved with Budget Outlay of Rs.79.65 crore. During the Pilot Phase, the scheme is being implemented in 9 States viz. Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.
• Till 31st January, 2021 Drone Survey has been completed in about 23,300 villages.
• Property Cards have been prepared and distributed/under distribution to about 2.30 lakh property holders of about 1,432 villages.
• Survey of India has deployed about 130 Drone Teams in the States and these are being slowly augmented with supply of ‘Made in India' drones by suppliers.
• It is expected that about 250 Drone Teams will be in place by March 2021.
• The scheme covers multifarious aspects viz. facilitating monetisation of properties and enabling bank loan; reducing property related disputes; comprehensive village level planning

Continuous Operating Reference System (CORS) network

• By 2022, SVAMITVA Scheme would ensure CORS network coverage across the Country. The Continuous Operating Reference System (CORS) network, once established, are usable by any State agency/ Department viz Revenue Department, Gram Panchayat (GP), Public Works Department, Rural Development Department, Agriculture, Drainage & Canal, Education, Electricity, Water, Health etc. for survey works and implementation of schemes using GIS based applications.
• The CORS overhauls the Jarib / or traditional survey system in the rural abadi area and provides accuracy upto 5 centimetre-level horizontal positioning in real-time. The future update of the records can be easily done with the use of the ROVERs.
  
  

KEEP Learning KEEP Evolving
TEAM CL IAS