Pre + Mains Focus

 

Recent Reforms in Defence Sector

Part of: GS Prelims and GS -III – Security

In news

Recently, the Defence Minister released an E-booklet titled ‘20 Reforms in 2020’ highlighting the major reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2020.

  • Structural Reforms: The post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was created to increase efficiency & coordination among the Armed Forces and reduce duplication, while Department of Military affairs (DMA) was established to ensure improved civil-military integration.
  • Boost to Indigenisation: To promote ‘Make in India’ in the defence sector, a list of 101 defence items for which there would be an embargo on the import was notified in August 2020, while Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020 was unveiled in September 2020. The increased partnership with the private sector has led to a substantial rise in defence exports.
  • Funding: There was a 10% budget increase in 2020-21 over the previous year.
  • Promoting Innovation: To promote innovation by young minds, five Young Scientists Laboratories of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) were launched in 2020.
  • Digitising Tribunals: The Armed Forces Tribunal began digital hearing for the first time in August 2020.
  • Strategic Connectivity: World’s longest Atal tunnel above 10,000 feet, at Rohtang on the Leh-Manali Highway was inaugurated.
  • Women Participation: Ten streams of Indian Army were opened for giving Permanent Commission to Short Service Commission (SSC) Women officers. All Sainik Schools were thrown open for girl students from academic session 2020-21.
  • NCC: Expanding the reach of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) to remote locations was a major announcement.

Related Articles

Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase-II

Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II – Governance 

In news

  • Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) [SBM (G)] Phase-II is making steady progress amidst Covid-19 with 1249 villages declared ODF(Open Defecation Free) Plus.

About SBM(G) Phase-II:

  • SBM (G) Phase-II was approved in February 2020 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and will be implemented from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with total outlay of Rs. 1,40,881 crores.
  • It emphasizes the sustainability of achievements under phase I and to provide adequate facilities for Solid/Liquid & plastic Waste Management (SLWM) in rural India.
  • The fund sharing pattern between Centre and States will be 90:10 for North-Eastern States and Himalayan States and UT of J&K; 60:40 for other States; and 100% for other Union Territories.

Other Schemes as part of SBM:

  • Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) initiative whereby individuals get around 15,000 Rs for the construction of toilets.
  • GOBAR-DHAN (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) Scheme launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2018.The scheme aims to augment income of farmers by converting biodegradable waste into compressed biogas (CBG).
  • Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan launched by the Ministry of Education with an objective to provide separate toilets for boys and girls in all government schools.

World Food Safety Day

Part of: GS Prelims and GS -II – Health; International

In news

  • The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare virtually attended the World Food Safety Day (7th June) celebrations organized by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
  • Access to sufficient amounts of safe food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health
  • Global food waste accounts for 6.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, directly leading to climate change.

About World Food Safety Day

  • WHO and FAO jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day.
  • It was first celebrated in 2019, to strengthen the commitment to scale up food safety made by the Addis Ababa Conference and the Geneva Forum in 2019 under the umbrella of “The Future of Food Safety”.
  • Aim: To draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development.
  • 2021 Theme: Safe Food for a Healthy Tomorrow.

Value Addition

Indian Initiatives for Food Safety:

  • State Food Safety Index, released by FSSAI to measure the performance of States on five parameters of food safety namely  Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment. 
  • Eat Right India Movement: Initiative of the Government of India and FSSAI to transform the country’s food system in order to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians.
  • Eat Right Awards: Instituted by FSSAI to recognize the contribution of food companies and individuals to empower citizens to choose safe and healthy food options,
  • Eat Right Mela: Organised by FSSAI, it is an outreach activity for citizens to nudge them towards eating right

Also Read: COVID-19 and Food Security

I-Familia: Global Database to Identify Missing Persons

Part of: GS Prelims and GS –II- International

In news

  • Recently, the Interpol has launched a new global database named “I-Familia” to identify missing persons through family DNA and help the police solve cold cases in member countries

About I-Familia:

  • There is growing international concern about the number of missing persons and unidentified victims around the world due to increased international travel, the prevalence of organized crime and human trafficking, the rise in global migration, conflicts and natural disasters.
  • The first of its kind, I-Familia is a global database for identifying missing persons based on international DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) kinship matching.
  • The database seeks to identify missing persons or unidentified human remains when direct comparison is not possible, by using DNA samples from family members instead.
  • Family members must give their consent for their data to be used for international searching.

Value Addition

International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) 

  • Interpol is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Lyon, France that helps coordinate the police force of 194 member countries.
  • Each of the member countries hosts an Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) which connects their national law enforcement with other countries and with the General Secretariat.
  • The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is designated as the National Central Bureau of India.
  • Interpol Notices are international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.

RBI’s Bimonthly Monetary Policy – June 2021

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Economy; Monetary policy

Various decisions were announced by RBI while unveiling Bimonthly Monetary Policy

  • Policy Rate Unchanged: The Policy rate was unchanged at 4% for the sixth time in a row and reverse repo rate at 3.35%
  • Growth Prospects downsized: India’s GDP growth rate projection was slashed to 9.5% due to uncertainties caused by second wave of COVID-19
  • Liquidity Boost: Rs. 15,000-crore liquidity window to be launched by banks for contact intensive sectors like Hotel and tourism. Also, fresh Rs 16000-crore liquidity line to Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for on-lending/ refinancing through novel models and structures.
  • Upper limit for MSMEs revised: The maximum limit for borrowers is enhanced from Rs. 25 crore to Rs. 50 crore for MSMEs, small businesses and business loans to individuals

Value Addition

Monetary Policy Committee

  • Urjit Patel committee in 2014 recommended the establishment of the Monetary Policy Committee.
  • It is a statutory and institutionalized framework under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, for maintaining price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth.
  • Composition: Six members (including the Chairman) – three officials of the RBI and three external members nominated by the Government of India. The Governor of RBI is ex-officio Chairman of the committee
  • Functions: The MPC determines the policy interest rate (repo rate) required to achieve the inflation target (presently 4%). Decisions are taken by majority with the RBI Governor having the casting vote in case of a tie.

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