Daily Current Capsules 02^nd March 2021

Science & Technology
Global Bio India 2021

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Global Bio-India-2021 + about BIRAC + about ABLE)
What's the NEWS

• The Union Minister for Science & Technology inaugurated the second edition of Global Bio-India-2021 in New Delhi through virtual mode.

Know! about Global Bio-India-2021

• The 3-day event will showcase the strength and opportunities of the India's biotechnology sector at national level and to the global community.
• The second edition has over 6,000 delegates from over 50 countries and will be hosting around 24 knowledge sessions across different segments that will be held over these 3 days
• The three day event being held from 1^st to 3^rd March 2021 has been organized on a digital platform.
• The theme for this year is "Transforming lives" with the tag line "Biosciences to Bio-economy".
• Being one of the largest biotechnology stakeholder conglomerates, this event is being co-organised by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India along with its Public Sector Undertaking, and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) in partnership with industry association Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) and Invest India.
• The Biotechnology sector has emerged as an integral part of the Indian economy over the past few decades, and the Government of India is playing a transformative and catalytic role in building a USD 150 billion bio-economy by 2025.
• The sector is recognized as one of the key drivers for India to achieve its USD 5 trillion target.

Biotechnology sector ( Steps taken by India)

• DBT - BIRAC supporting technology -driven 3500+ Entrepreneurs, Startups and SMEs; through various operational models of cooperation and also building up a network of 55 Bio-incubators with more than 5,50,000+ sq.ft of incubation space.
• These initiatives have helped innovators to create a pool of intellectual wealth (260+ IP filed) and has supported the launch of 200+ products and technologies in the market
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan unveiled the "National Biotech Strategy" and also inaugurated the Virtual Exhibition of Global Bio-India.

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

• It is a not-for-profit Section 8, Schedule B, Public Sector Enterprise, set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India as an Interface Agency to strengthen and empower the emerging Biotech enterprise to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs.
• BIRAC is a industry-academia interface and implements its mandate through a wide range of impact initiatives, be it providing access to risk capital through targeted funding, technology transfer, IP management and handholding schemes that help bring innovation excellence to the biotech firms and make them globally competitive.
• In its Eight years of existence, BIRAC has initiated several schemes, networks and platforms that help to bridge the existing gaps in the industry-academia Innovation research and facilitate novel, high quality affordable products development through cutting edge technologies.
• BIRAC has initiated partnerships with several national and global partners to collaborate and deliver the salient features of its mandate.

Know! about ABLE

• Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises - ABLE is a not-for-profit pan-India forum that represents the Indian Biotechnology Sector.
• It was launched in April 2003, after industry leaders felt a need to form an exclusive forum to represent the Indian Biotechnology Sector.

Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
First anniversary of the Central Sector Scheme on "Formation & Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)"

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about 'Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs) + Mains ( GS III Farmer's welfare)
What's the NEWS

• Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare inaugurated professional training programmes designed and developed for CEOs, Board of Directors, Accountants of FPOs on the occasion of the anniversary of the Central Sector Scheme titled 'Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs)'.

Know! more about the scheme

• The scheme was launched by Prime Minister on 29.02.2020 at Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh) with a budgetary provision of Rs 6865 crore.
• The P.M also distributed certificates of registration issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to new FPOs.

Training institutes for capacity development & training of FPOs

• There are well-defined training structures in the scheme and the institutions like Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD), Lucknow and Laxmanrao Inamdar National Academy for Co-operative Research & Development (LINAC), Gurugram have been chosen as the lead training institutes for capacity development & training of FPOs.
• Training & skill development modules have been developed to further strengthen FPOs.
• FPOS will make farming more viable by aggregating land.
• The formation of FPOs is not just a scheme but it is a plan to give a new dimension to Indian Agriculture in a new India.

Know! about FPO

• In each block there should be an FPO which acts as catalyst for institutional infrastructure.
• More than 2200 FPOs produce clusters have been allocated for the formation of FPOs in the current year, of which 100 FPOs for specialized Organic produce, 100 FPOs from Oilseeds & 50 commodity-specific FPOs with value chain development will be formed.
• In addition to SFAC, NABARD & NCDC, 06 more implementing agencies have been approved for the formation and promotion of FPOs.
• Implementing Agencies (IAs) are engaging Cluster-Based Business Organizations (CBBOs) to aggregate, register & provide professional handholding support to each FPO for a period of 5 years.
• CBBOs will be the platform for an end to end knowledge for all issues related to FPO promotion.
• FPOs are already being registered in the UT of Kashmir, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and also in North Eastern State of Arunachal Pradesh. In other states, it is in progress.
• Registered FPOs are dealing with Apple, almond, honey, tea, groundnut, cotton, soybean, Linseed, sugarcane, vegetables etc.
• FPOs will be provided financial assistance up to Rs 18.00 lakh per FPO for a period of 03 years.
• In addition to this, provision has been made for matching equity grant up to Rs. 2,000 per farmer member of FPO with a limit of Rs. 15.00 lakh per FPO and a credit guarantee facility up to Rs. 2 crores of project loan per FPO from the eligible lending institution to ensure institutional credit accessibility to FPOs.
• At the National level, National Project Management Agency (NPMA) as a professional organization has been engaged for providing overall project guidance, coordination, compilation of information relating to FPOs, maintenance of MIS and monitoring purpose.
• FPOs are to be developed in produce clusters, wherein agricultural and horticultural produces are grown/cultivated for leveraging economies of scale and improving market access for members.
• "One District One Product" cluster will promote specialization and better processing, marketing, branding & export.
• Further Agriculture value chain organizations are forming FPOs and are facilitating 60% of market linkages for members produce.

Way Forward

• This formation of 10,000 FPOs scheme will promote the selling of farmers produce from the farm gate of farmers thereby enhanced farmers' income.
• This will shorten the supply chain and accordingly marketing cost will get reduced resulting in better income for farmers.
• It will accelerate more investment in marketing and value addition infrastructure near to farm gate creating more employment opportunities for rural youth.

Farmers Producers Organisation

• FPO stands for Farmers Producers Organisation.
• It is an organisation of farmer-producers that provide support to small farmers with end-to-end services covering almost all aspects of cultivation from inputs, technical services to processing and marketing.

National
Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) Celebrates its 9th Foundation Day

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about LAPI) + Mains ( GS III Security challenges and their management in border areas
What's the NEWS

• The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) celebrated its 9th Foundation Day at its Headquarter in New Delhi.

Know! about Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI)

• LAPI work done by the organisation in building infrastructure for facilitation of India's land borders.
• LPAI for the crucial role taken in facilitating safe and seamless cross-border movement of trade and passengers through land ports during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
• The LPAI website, Newsletter and News Journal were also launched during the Foundation Day event.
• The event concluded with a virtual panel discussion on the subject "Facilitating Regional Trade and Connectivity through Land Route", which was attended by various eminent scholars and persons from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.
• The Land Ports Authority of India or LPAI is a statutory body (created through the Land Ports Authority of India Act, 2010) working under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing border infrastructure in India.
• It manages several Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) all across Borders of India.
• LPAI was setup by Land Ports Authority of India Act, 2010 of Parliament of India on 1 March 2012.

Know! what's the need of LAPI and its objective

• India has an over 15000 KM long international land border with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.
• There are several designated entry and exit points for cross border movement of persons, goods and vehicles.
• No single agency is responsible for coordination of various Government functions including those of Security, Immigration, Customs, Plant & Animal Quarantine etc.
• Concerned at inadequate infrastructure for cross border movement of persons, vehicles and goods, Committee of Secretaries in 2003 recommended setting up of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at major entry points on India's land borders which would house all the regulatory agencies like Immigration, Customs, Border Security etc. together with support facilities in a single complex equipped with all modern amenities and serve as a single window facility as is prevalent at Airports and Seaports.
• The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the setting up of LPAI, in its meeting held on 23.11.2006.
• It also approved setting up of ICPs at 13 locations in two phases and an Empowered Steering Committee (ESC) in Department of Border Management as an interim arrangement till the LPAI came into being.

Health
3^rd Janaushadhi Diwas 2021
Relevance IN - Prelims( about Janaushadhi Diwas 2021+ about PMBJP + about BPPI) + Mains ( GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.)
What's the NEWS

• The 3^rd Janaushadhi Diwas 2021 celebrations commenced today.
• It will be a weeklong celebrations starting today ie from 1^st March to 7^th March 2021.
• Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is celebrating 3^rd Janaushadhi Diwas on 7^th March, 2021 with the theme of "Seva bhi - Rozgar bhi".
• Prime Minister announced celebrating 07^th March every year as "Janaushadhi Diwas" across India.
• Last year, on 2^nd Janaushadhi Diwas, 5695 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras participated in the celebration with the active participation of over 15 lakh citizens of India.
• Jan Aushadhi Diwas week celebrations are held from 1^st March to 7^th March by conducting various activities like Health Checkup Camps, Jan Aushadhi Paricharcha, Teach Them Young, Jan Aushadhi ka sath, etc. across the country.

Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana

• "Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana" is a noble initiative by Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India which is now making an impact on masses in its endeavour to provide quality medicines at an affordable price.
• The number of stores has grown to more than 7400 and all 734 districts of the country are covered.
• Further, during the financial year 2019-20, PMBJP has achieved sales of Rs. 433.61 crores (at MRP).
• This has led to savings of approximately Rs. 2500 crores of the common citizens of the country as these medicines are cheaper by 50% to 90% of average market price.
• In the current financial year 2020-21, sale of Rs. 586.50 Crore is made till 28.02.2021, which has led to savings of about Rs. 3500 Crore to the citizens as compared to the branded medicines.
• This scheme is also providing a good source of self-employment with sustainable and regular earnings.

Education
Rashtriya Ucchtar Shiksha Abhiyan

Relevance IN - Prelims( about Rashtriya Ucchtar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) + Mains ( GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
What's the NEWS

• Union Education Minister chaired a review meeting on Rashtriya Ucchtar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)
• During the meeting the Minister asked the officials to strengthen the RUSA Scheme and to draw plans on educating additional 3.5 crore students to increase GER to 50% by 2035.
• A total of 7 crore students with employable skills that suits local conditions should pass out from our colleges and Universities, he added.
• The Minister stressed that education should lead to local employment. Education in Degree College should be aligned with "One district one product" plan.
• University Grants Commission will monitor the progress of work done by Institutions which received funding under RUSA Scheme.
• The Minister will review the RUSA Scheme in every three months.

Rashtriya Uchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)

• It is a holistic scheme of development for higher education in India initiated in 2013 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.
• The centrally sponsored scheme aims at providing strategic funding to higher educational institutions throughout the country.
• Funding is provided by the central ministry through the state governments and union territories (UT), which in coordination with the central Project Appraisal Board will monitor the academic, administrative and financial advancements taken under the scheme.
• A total of 316 state public universities and 13,024 colleges will be covered under it.

Innovative educational policies

• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) launched in 2001 for elementary education and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) launched in 2009 for secondary education produced great results in the educational developments.
• For higher education University Grants Commission (UGC) has a provision for routine innovation and development fundings.
• UGC funds are quite adequate for centrally funded universities and colleges, which are recognised under sections 12B and 2(f) of UGC Act.

KEEP Learning KEEP Evolving
TEAM CL IAS