UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis Aug 29

UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis Aug 29 for IAS Exam Preparation.

Formulation of a new Industrial Policy

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry initiated the process of formulation of a new Industrial Policy in May 2017.

Since the last Industrial Policy announced in 1991, India has transformed into one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

With strong macro-economic fundamentals and several path breaking reforms in the last three years, India is equipped to deploy a different set of ideas and strategies to build a globally competitive Indian industry. 

The new Industrial Policy will subsume the National Manufacturing Policy.

The six thematic areas include

Manufacturing and MSME;

Technology and Innovation;

Ease of Doing Business;

Infrastructure, Investment, Trade and Fiscal policy;

and Skills and employability for the future.

A Task Force on Artificial Intelligence for India’s Economic Transformation has also been constituted which will provide inputs for the policy.

It is proposed that the new Industrial Policy will aim at making India a manufacturing hub by promoting ‘Make in India’. 

It will also suitably incorporate the use of modern smart technologies such as IOT, artificial intelligence and robotics for advanced manufacturing.

Centre allows States/UTs to take control measures to ensure adequate
 availability of onion at reasonable prices

As part of its efforts to ensure that the prices of essential commodities are kept under control, Government has taken a decision to enable the States/UTs to impose control measures on traders/dealers of onion to ensure adequate availability of essential commodity at reasonable prices.

States may now impose stock limits on onions and undertake various measures like de-hoarding operations, action against speculators and profiteers.

This has been necessitated due to the abnormal rise in prices of onions in recent weeks particularly from July end of this year onwards, though the production and supply of onions in the market is better than last year during the same period.

After examination of all the circumstances, Government has inferred that there are some other reasons than shortage of onions, contributing to the abnormal price rise of onions like hoarding, speculation etc.

Therefore the States/UTs were required to be enabled to take action against those traders who are engaged in speculative trading, hoarding and profiteering in onions. The measure is expected to bring the prices of onions down to a reasonable level to give an immediate relief to the consumers.

Environment Ministry asks CPCB to issue Directions to Rajasthan SPCB 
to ensure proper Segregation and Collection of Industrial Effluent and 
Sewage in Bhiwadi

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to issue directions under Section 18 (1) (b) of the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974 to Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, following the drowning of two children in a pond with industrial effluents and domestic sewage at Village Saeedpur, Dharuhera, in April 2017.

The Union Government, through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is providing funds to urban local bodies for proper collection, treatment and disposal of sewage under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) through concerned State Governments Including Government of Rajasthan, in the instance case.

First hybrid clone species 205 was developed for sub-tropical climate 
and it was launched in 1918 for commercial farming: Shri Radha Mohan 
Singh

Shri Radha Mohan Singh address a gathering at “100 years of Excellence In Sugarcane Research and “New India Manthan – Sankal Se Siddhi” events organise by ICAR.

With the help of Sir Dr Venkatraman, for the first time, hybrid clone variety 205 (Saccharum officinarum and Saccharum spontaneum) was developed for sub-tropical climate, which was launched in 1918 for commercial farming.

The hybrid clone led to 50% increase in sugarcane production in North India and popular species like Saccharum Barberi and Saccharum Sinensis were left far behind.

After developing species 205, Sugarcane Breeding Institute developed several other hybrid clones for sub-tropical condition and they remained sought after for a long time. After that, the institute developed species 312, first amazing cane variety for the subtropical climate in 1928 and in 1933, it developed species 419 for tropical climate.

Sugarcane farmers can make the best of intercropping technique and increase their income by growing oilseeds, pulses, potatoes, and cucumber with cane.

In the end, Shri Radha Mohan Singh urged people to make a pledge to build a New India by 2022 when we celebrate 75th anniversary of Independence and take honesty to the highest level.

Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurates YUVA – a skill development programme

YUVA is Delhi Police initiative under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

These kind of initiatives improve the image of the police among common man. It is a big task that Delhi Police has opened skill development training centres in the police stations.

The 21st Century India will also like to see Indian police in this form only.

Core policing is important for any police, but at the same time the police should also adopt people-friendly measures and increase their social interaction.

The Police should engage with the youth who are prone to drug addiction and other crimes. Efforts are being made that about 70-80% youth under this project get employment.

It is the collective responsibility of the police and the society to bring the youth of the country on right path. Delhi Police has started this project with the same objective in mind.

The youth coming for skill training in a police station building will be a huge step in building up their confidence and faith in police organization and will go a long way in building a positive image of police in the long run.

Union Home Minister chairs Consultative Committee Meeting of MHA

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Home Affairs on “LWE related issues”.

There are 106 districts in 10 states affected by LWE and 35 districts are identified as most affected districts in seven states.

A new initiative SAMADHAN (S-Smart Policing and Leadership; A –Aggressive Strategy, M-Motivation and Training, A-Actionable Intelligence;  D-Dashboard for Development and Key Performance Indicators,  H-Harnessing Technology for Development and Security, A-Action Plan for each Theatre and  N-No access to Financing) has also been introduced to control the situation in the LWE affected states.  

LWE problem is not a ‘law and order’ problem alone but is also a socio-economic problem. There is a need for adopting a sustained policy and intelligence sharing in the LWE affected States.

The police should be further strengthened with the use of better communication and connectivity facilities.

Dr Jitendra Singh addresses the “Wellness India 2017 Expo”

“Wellness” is not mere absence of disease, but a much more wholesome concept or state of existence, which may sometimes not thrive despite the absence of disease or, on the contrary, may sometimes survive despite the presence of disease.

Dwelling upon the healthcare challenges faced by India of 2017, even though we can claim credit and satisfaction for having overcome the communicable diseases, but the point not to be missed is that the management of non-communicable diseases is prolonged and involves both social support as well as economic sustenance.

To that extent, government alone cannot do enough and therefore, other stakeholders including the social agencies and the civil society in general will have to take up the responsibility.

A country with more than 70% of population below 40 years of age cannot afford to allow its youth energy and youth power getting drained out through diabetes, heart disease or other metabolic diseases afflicting at a younger age. Prevention, therefore, will have to be the keynote of any successful future health strategy for the 21st century India, he added.

Shri Ashwani Lohani, Chairman, Railway Board pens down a letter for
Indian Railwaymen across the country

The Chairman Railway Board Shri Ashwani Lohani has called upon the railwaymen across the country to always be on guard to ensure the highest level of safety in train operations and instill a renewed sense of confidence in railway passengers. He emphasized that safety should always remain principle focused area.

Sincerity, dedication and professional capability of the railway employees, both officers and staff is indeed unparalleled. It is the men on the field who, regardless of their personal inconveniences and hardships, ensure that the wheels of the Nation keep moving surely and safely.  This is what makes the Indian Railways the most visible symbol of dynamic delivery in our country.

There is need to deal with the evils of corruption, sexual harassment at work places and alcohol abuse while on duty. These are social evils and need to  be dealt firmly with an iron hand.