PIB Summary for UPSC, RBI Grade B: 3rd Dec 2021

Daily PIB Summary & Analysis for RBI Grade B 2022, NABARD Grade A 2021, UPSC Civil Services, and SEBI Grade A Exam. In this Article we will discuss Press Information Bureau (PIB) Programs and their Summary for RBI Grade B Economics and Social Issue Section.

Press Information Bureau (PIB) releases news related to the policies, programmes, initiatives and achievements of the Government of India. PIB releases are important to be read for the RBI Grade B, NABARD Grade A, UPSC Civil Services however, it is also equally important is to know which PIB Article should be read and which to be left.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) is the nodal agency of the government of India to broadcast and publicize information on government policies, initiatives, achievements and working of every ministry and department within the government through its official website using various articles, images and photographs.

Digitalization of Agricultural Sector

Government has finalized an India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture (IDEA) framework which would lay down the architecture for the federated farmers’ database is being built by taking the publicly available data as existing in various schemes and linking them with the digitized land records.

• The IDEA would serve as a foundation to build innovative agri-focused solutions leveraging emerging technologies to contribute effectively in creating a better Ecosystem for Agriculture in India. 
• Under plan scheme viz. National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A) wherein, funds are released to the State(s)/UT(s) for project involving use of modern technologies viz. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Robotics, Drones, Data Analytics, Block Chain etc.

Government of India has launched National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) Scheme with the objective of creating online transparent competitive bidding system to facilitate farmers with remunerative prices for their produce.

To make provisions of subsidy for farm machinery more transparent Government has developed Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) portal, Centralized Farm Machinery Performance Testing Portal and FARMS Mobile App.

A Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’ for investment in digital Connectivity and optic fibre infrastructure is an eligible activity for the projects covered under the scheme

Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal (ICAR-CIAE) under Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR) has developed Krishi Yantra App to augment research, operations and technology dissemination process in the field of agricultural engineering.

Besides, ICAR-CIAE has also developed the following Mobile Apps:

• ‘Farm mech’ App: The App is related to decision support for selection of suitable farm machineries for five major crops of Tamil Nadu. It also has dynamic Networking of 2250 Custom hiring service operators in Android platform.
• ‘Farm Safety’: Provides information about Safety Guidelines and Safety Gadgets to avoid accidents while using different type of agricultural machinery.
• Water Balance Simulation Model for Roof Water Harvesting (Mobile App): It is helpful to decision makers to make recommendations for design requirements where roof water harvesting system adoption may lead to water saving and water security.

Promoting Start Ups in Agriculture Sector

• Ministry has launched a component called “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY-RAFTAAR) in 2018-19 with objective to promote innovation and agri-entrepreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem.
• In this connection, this Ministry of Agriculture has appointed five Knowledge Partners (KPs) as Centre of Excellence and twenty four RKVY-RAFTAAR Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) from across the country for implementation of this programme
• Besides, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has been supporting Agri-based startups under the project called National Agriculture Innovation Fund (NAIF) initiated in year 2016-2017.

It has two components viz. I. Innovation Fund; II. Incubation Fund and National Coordinating Unit (NCU).

• Component I : Zonal Technology Management Units (10) and Institute Technology Management Units (ITMUs)(89) established in 99 ICAR institutes provide a single-window mechanism to manage the innovations, showcase the intellectual assets, and pursue matters related to intellectual property (IP) management and transfer/commercialization of technologies in the institutes.
• Component II of setting up Agri-business Incubator Centres are designed to speed up the delivery of the new technologies to the stake holders.  So far, 50 Agri-Business Incubation Centers (ABICs) have been established and are operational in ICAR network under NAIF scheme.

SHARE OF AGRI-EXPORTS IN GDP

• 2020-21: Value of India's Agri - Exports (in Rs. Crore) - 309,939 (Around $41.25 billion), % Growth in agri-exports (22.8%) and % Share of Agri-Exports to GDP (1.6%)
• Maximum Share of of Product in Agri Exports: Marine Products

Government has taken several measures to boost exports, including agri-exports, such as:

• A comprehensive “Agriculture Export Policy” has been introduced to harness export potential of Indian agriculture and raise farmers’ income.  Twenty One States have finalized the State specific Action Plans. Twenty-Nine Cluster Level Committees have been formed in cluster districts of different clusters. Country and product-specific action plans have also been formulated to promote exports.
• Products Specific Export Promotion Forums give impetus to the export of potential products as well as to remove the bottlenecks in the supply chain, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has formed Export Promotion Forums (EPFs) under the Chairmanship of Chairman, APEDA and having representatives of Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture, State Governments, National Referral Laboratories and top 10 leading exporters of each product for the products, viz., Grapes, Onions, Mango, Banana, Pomegranate, Floriculture, Rice, Dairy Products and Nutri cereals.
• 13 Agri-Cells in Vietnam, USA, Bangladesh, Nepal, UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Japan and Argentina were created in Indian embassies abroad to provide inputs on real time basis to enable us to improve Indian exports.
• Further, In order to boost honey exports, India has made NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) testing mandatory for honey exported to USA.
• Buyer-Seller Meets (BSMs) have been organized in the clusters to provide export-market linkages. Country specific BSMs, through Indian Missions, have also been organized.
• Assistance provided through several other schemes to promote exports, including food export, viz. Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES), Market Access Initiatives (MAI) Scheme, etc
• Government has also introduced a Central Sector Scheme –‘Transport and Marketing Assistance for Specified Agriculture Products’ – for providing assistance for the international component of freight to mitigate the freight disadvantage for the export of agriculture products.

Q. Discuss the role of Agriculture export in Doubling farmer's income.

SHARE OF EXPORTS IN ANNUAL GDP

• The share of export of goods and services in GDP has increased to 18.7% during 2020-21 over 18.4% in 2019-20 and 21.7% in 2021-22 (April-September) over 19.4% in 2020-21 (April-September).

Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund

In the year 2018-19, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has launched Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) with a total fund size of Rs 7522.48 crore with the aims to achieve a sustainable growth of 8-9 per cent, in a move to augment the country’s fish production to the level of about 20 million tonnes by 2022-23.

The objectives of FIDF includes 

• Creation and modernization of capture & culture fisheries infrastructure, 
• Creation of Marine Aquaculture Infrastructure, 
• Creation and modernization of Inland Fisheries Infrastructure, 
• Reduce post-harvest losses and improve domestic marketing facilities through infrastructure support, 
• To bridge the resource gap and facilitate completion of ongoing infrastructure projects.

The project proposals with a total outlay of Rs. 3783.46 crore have been approved under FIDF

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing a flagship scheme namely “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)” with highest ever estimate investment of ₹20050 crore in fisheries sector for a period of 5 years with effect from the financial year 2020-21.

The objectives of the PMMSY are: 

(i) Harnessing of fisheries potential in a sustainable, responsible, inclusive and equitable manner, 

(ii) Enhancing of fish production and productivity through expansion, intensification, diversification and productive utilization of land and water, 

(iii) Modernizing and strengthening of value chain - post-harvest management and quality improvement, 

(iv) Doubling fishers and fish farmers incomes and generation of employment, 

(v) Enhancing contribution to Agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA) and exports,

(vi) Social, physical and economic security for fishers and fish farmers and 

(vii) Robust fisheries management and regulatory framework.

Component Champion Incentive scheme to identify and incentivize Auto component champions

Government has initiated the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components Industry in India for enhancing India’s Manufacturing Capabilities for Advanced Automotive Products with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 25,938 crores over a period of five years. 

The Scheme has two components namely, Champion OEM Incentive Scheme & Component Champion Incentive Scheme.

• The ‘Component Champion’ Incentive scheme is aimed at identifying and incentivizing Auto component champions that can achieve global scale of operations and become ‘Automotive Champions’ for the auto-component manufacturing sector related to Advanced Automotive Technology.
• The Component Champion Incentive scheme is a ‘sales value linked’ scheme, applicable on preapproved Advanced Automotive Technology components of all vehicles, CKD/SKD kits, Vehicle aggregates of 2-Wheelers, 3-Wheelers, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and tractors including automobile meant for military use and any other Advanced Automotive Technology components prescribed by MHI depending upon technical developments.

Centre take various steps for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles,

• GST on electric vehicles has been reduced from 12% to 5%; GST on chargers/ charging stations for electric vehicles has been reduced from 18% to 5%.
• Ministry of Power released a notification on charging infrastructure standards permitting private charging at residences and offices.
• Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) announced that battery-operated vehicles will be given green license plates and be exempted from permit requirements.
• MoRTH issued a notification advising states to waive road tax on EVs, which in turn will help reduce the initial cost of EVs.
• Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) amended the Model Building Bye laws 2016 to establish charging stations and infrastructure in private and commercial buildings.

Ministry of Heavy Industries formulated a Scheme namely Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme in 2015 to promote adoption of electric/ hybrid vehicles (xEVs) in the country. 

• At present, Phase-II of FAME India Scheme is being implemented for a period of 5 years w.e.f.01st April, 2019 with a total budgetary support of Rs. 10,000 crores. 
• This phase focusses on supporting electrification of public & shared transportation and aims to support, through subsidies, 7090 e-Buses, 5 lakh e-3 Wheelers, 55000 e-4 Wheeler Passenger Cars and 10 lakhe-2Wheelers.
• Under FAME-India Scheme, incentives are provided to buyers of electric vehicles in the form of an upfront reduction in the purchase price of electric vehicles.
• The incentive is linked to battery capacity i.e. Rs. 10,000/KWh for e-3W and e-4W with a cap 20% of the cost of vehicle. 
• Further, the incentive/ subsidies for e-2W has been increased to Rs. 15,000/KWh from Rs. 10,000/KWh with an increase in cap from 20% to 40% of the cost of vehicle w.e.f. 11th June, 2021.

Essay Topic : Electric Vehicles: The Future Transport. Is India Ready for It?

Govt celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities today

• On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities i.e. 3rd December, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment confers National Awards on Individuals, Institutions, Organizations, State/District etc for their outstanding achievements and work done towards empowerment of Persons with Disabilities every year.
• Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) was launched by the Government on 03.12.2015 to provide universal accessibility to persons with disabilities so that they can live a meaningful life with dignity.
• The Government is also establishing a Centre for Disability Sports Centre at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, which will be completed by mid-2022.
• Government is implementing a unique Disability Identity Card project with the objective of creating a National Database for Persons with Disabilities. So far, over 64 lakh UDID cards have been prepared in 713 districts of all states/UTs.
• The Government has set up Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre to promote the empowerment of hearing-impaired persons and to create sign language in India. The Institute, among other functions, is continuously preparing sign language dictionaries that have so far included more than 10,000 words.

PRADHAN MANTRI MATRU VANDANA YOJANA

• As per recently conducted National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-V (2019-21), 57 percent of the women (15-49 years) are estimated to be anaemic.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development implements Centrally Sponsored Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) w.e.f. 01.01.2017. 
• The eligible beneficiaries receive cash incentive totalling to ₹5,000/- directly in their Bank/Post Office accounts linked to their Aadhaar numbers in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode in three installments.
• The Ministry also celebrates ‘Matru Vandana Saptah’ every year to intensify implementation of the scheme and create a healthy competition amongst States/UTs.

SWADHAR GREH SCHEME

• Government implements the Swadhar Greh Scheme that caters to primary needs of women in difficult circumstances – women and girls rendered homeless due to family discord, crime, violence, mental stress, social ostracism or are being forced into prostitution and are in moral danger.
• The scheme provides institutional support for rehabilitation of these women so that they could lead their life with dignity.
• The funding pattern for the release of funds is 60:40 between the Central Government and States except for North-Eastern and Himalayan States where the applicable sharing ratio is 90:10.
• Funds to the States/UTs are released in two installments every year. First installment amounting to 50% of allocated grant is released in the beginning of the Financial Year and Second installment is released after 60%of the first installment has been utilized

PROMOTION OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Pradhan Mantri YUVA (PM YUVA) Yojana implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has been a pilot scheme for creating an enabling ecosystem through entrepreneurship education, training, advocacy and easy access to entrepreneurship network.

Ministry of MSME is implementing the following schemes for promoting entrepreneurship among Women:

‘Skill Upgradation & Mahila Coir Yojana’ under Coir Vikas Yojana, which is as an exclusive training programme aimed at skill development of women artisans engaged in the coir industry. Two months training in coir spinning is imparted through this programme. The candidates who undergo this training are given a stipend of Rs. 3000/- per month. The trained artisans under the scheme are encouraged to avail assistance through Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) scheme to set up coir units.

Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), which is a major credit-linked subsidy programme aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector by helping traditional artisans and rural/ urban unemployed youth. For beneficiaries belonging to special categories such as Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/ OBC / minorities/ women, ex-serviceman, physically handicapped, North Eastern Region (NER), Hill and Border areas, etc., higher subsidy is given.

Under the Public Procurement Policy, all Central Ministries/ Departments/ Public Sector Undertakings are mandated to procure at least 3% of their annual procurement from women owned micro & small enterprises.

The Government also implements several other schemes for promotion and development of MSMEs, including women owned MSMEs, namely, Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP), Tool Rooms & Technology Centres, Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI), A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE), Procurement and marketing Support Scheme, Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP), Credit Linked Capital Subsidy and Technology Upgradation Scheme (CLCS-TUS) etc. Increased incentives/subsidy is provided to women entrepreneurs participating in Trade Fairs.

In addition, to encourage women entrepreneurship in the country, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaftfür Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Germany has launched a pilot project, ‘Economic Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs and Startups by Women’ to support aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs.

• The project pilots incubation and acceleration programmes for women micro entrepreneurs to start new businesses and scale up existing enterprises in Rajasthan, Telangana, Maharashtra., Uttar Pradesh and North Eastern Region.

MAHILA SHAKTI KENDRA

• The Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) Scheme was approved in November, 2017 as a centrally sponsored scheme to empower rural women through community participation. 
• The scheme aims to facilitate inter-sectoral convergence of schemes and programs meant for women. 
• The scheme is implemented through State Governments and UT Administrations with a cost sharing ratio of 60:40 between Centre and States except for North East & Special Category States where the funding ratio is 90:10. For Union Territories 100% central funding is provided.
• Women candidates are given preference as per Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme Implementation Guidelines for for working as Women Welfare Officers and District Coordinators in District Level Centres for Women.
• During the last years, the amount of budget allocated by Government under the scheme is Rs. 267.30 crore for FY 2018-19, Rs.150.00 crore for FY 2019-20 and Rs.100.00 crore for FY 2020-21.

NATIONAL SURVEY ON CHILD NUTRITION

• The data on nutritional indicators is captured under the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) conducted periodically by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• In NFHS-5 survey conducted in 2019-21 nutrition indicators for children under 5 years have shown improvement. Stunting has reduced from 38.4% to 35.5%, Wasting has reduced from 21.0% to 19.3% and Underweight prevalence has reduced from 35.8% to 32.1% as compared with NFHS-4 conducted in 2015-16
• Steps have also been taken to improve nutritional quality and testing, strengthen delivery and leverage technology under Poshan Tracker to improve governance.

News Source : Multiple PIB Articles

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