14 May 2019: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

Read the daily PIB update and stay up-to-date on current affairs for the UPSC exam

May 14th 2019 PIB:-Download PDF Here

Outcome of the WTO Ministerial Meeting of Developing Countries

Context

• The WTO Ministerial Meeting of Developing Countries concluded in New Delhi.

Significance of the meeting

• India, along with 16 other key World Trade Organization (WTO) economies, on Tuesday called for the urgent appointment of judges to the appellate body of the WTO.
• The issue threatens to derail dispute settlement between nations.
• The mini-ministerial held by India also saw nations commit to multilateralism, and bat for special trade rule provisions for developing and least developed countries (LDCs), that have been under attack from richer nations.
• The logjam in the appellate body, whereby the US has consistently blocked the appointment of judges to the body, will remain the first priority of the talks.
• The lack of judges on the seven-member body has become a serious concern, since it is the principal body tasked with arbitration between nations on trade disputes.
• Currently, only three judges are on the board, and one of them is set to retire later this year. This will render the body useless — each case requires at least three members.

India to co-chair Consultative Group (CG)

Context

• India is unanimously chosen as co-chair of the Consultative Group (CG) of Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) for the fiscal year 2020

GFDRR

• GFDRR is a global partnership that helps developing countries better understand and reduce their vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change.
• GFDRR is a grant-funding mechanism, managed by the World Bank that supports disaster risk management projects worldwide.
• It is presently working on the ground with over 400 local, national, regional, and international partners and provides knowledge, funding, and technical assistance.

Significance to India

• India became member of CG of GFDRR in 2015
• India’s candidature was backed by its consistent progress in disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the country and its initiative to form a coalition on disaster resilient infrastructure.
• This will give the country an opportunity to work with the member countries and organizations of GFDRR with a focused contribution towards advancing the disaster risk reduction agenda during the course of the year.
• India would like to pursue a focused agenda and develop synergies with ongoing work streams of GFDRR.
• Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (DRI) will be a central theme of engagement with the GFDRR partners and stakeholders.

POWERGRID helps in restoration of power in Fani affected areas

Context

• Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (POWERGRID), a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, Government of India is playing a major role in quick restoration of power supply in the state of Odisha.

POWERGRID

• Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), is an Indian state-owned electric utility company headquartered in Gurugram, India.
• POWERGRID transmits about 50% of the total power generated in India on its transmission network.

Evolution of National Grid

• Grid management on regional basis started in sixties.
• Initially, State grids were inter-connected to form regional grid and India was demarcated into 5 regions namely Northern, Eastern, Western, North Eastern and Southern region.
• First the North Eastern and Eastern grids were connected.
• Next the western Grid and the northern grid was interconnected with the former grid.
• In 2013 Southern Region was connected to Central Grid in Synchronous mode with the commissioning of Raichur-Solapur Transmission line thereby achieving ‘ONE NATION’-‘ONE GRID’-‘ONE FREQUENCY’.

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