1. law, govt and politics
2. government

Gist of
The PIB
⇒ OUTCOME OF BRICS SUMMIT-2014
Major outcomes of the 6th BRICS Summit
include signing of an Agreement setting up a New
Development Bank and signing of a Treaty
setting up the Contingent Reserve Arrangement
(CRA), which will work as a multilateral currency
swap amongst BRICS Central Banks. MoS (IC) for
Commerce and Industry signed these documents
on behalf of India.
An MoU on technical cooperation amongst
Export Credit Guarantee Agencies of BRICS
countries aimed at improving environment for
increasing trade opportunities among BRICS
countries and an Inter-Bank Cooperation
Agreement on Innovation to support financing of
innovation projects of mutual interest were also
signed at the Summit.
The Fortaleza Declaration issued at the
conclusion of the Summit captures the
discussions and consensus among the BRICS
countries on a wide range of issues covering
reform of global governance – both political and
economic, trade, finance, regional political issues
as well as global issues including WTO, terrorism,
transnational organized crime, climate change,
post-2015 development agenda, etc.
At the Summit India expressed support for
an open, inclusive, efficient and rule-based global
trading regime under the WTO that would
address the aspirations of the developing
countries and the special needs of the poor
countries particularly in the area of food security.
The Fortaleza Declaration has endorsed
that the work programme to be established after
the 9th WTO Ministerial Meeting held in Bali
must prioritise issues where legally binding
outcomes could not be achieved including in
public stockholding for food security purposes. A
reference has also been made to the
implementation of the Agreement on Trade
Facilitation in the work programme. This clearly
shows the balance and equity that been sought by
BRICS Leaders in the implementation of the Bali
Trade deal which in itself is a positive gain for
developing countries. Relevant portion of
Paragraph 21 of the Fortaleza Declaration which
captures this position is reproduced below:
“…..we reaffirm our commitment to establish by
the end of this year a post-Bali work program for
concluding the Doha Round, based on the
progress already made and in keeping with the
mandate established in the Doha Development
Agenda. We affirm that this wor k program
should prioritize the issues where legally
binding outcomes could not be achieved at
MC9, including Public Stock-Holding for Food
Security Purposes.”
⇒
MONITORING OF
CENTRAL
PROJECTS
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for
Statistics & Programme Implementation Shri Rao
Inderjit Singh has said that Ministry of Statistics
and Programme Implementation monitors the
on-going Central Sector Infrastructure Projects
costing Rs. 150 crore and above on time and cost
overruns, after the projects are approved by the
competent authority.
As on 1st May 2014, 727 on-going Central
Sector Projects were on the monitor of this
Ministry. 282 projects were delayed as against
their original dates of commissioning. He said, as
reported by the project implementing agencies,
the main reasons for delay in implementation are
law and order problems, delay in land acquisition,
rehabilitation and resettlement problems, fund
constraints, delay in forest and environment
clearances, right of way/right of use issues, delay
in supply of material, contractual issues, etc.
The Minister said, major steps undertaken
to ensure timely completion of Central Sector
Infrastructure Projects include rigorous project
appraisal; On-line Computerized Monitoring
System (OCMS) for regular integrated
monitoring; setting up of Standing Committees
in the Ministries for fixation of responsibility for
time and cost overruns; regular review of
infrastructure projects by the concerned
administrative Ministries; and setting up of
Central Sector Projects Coordination Committees
(CSPCCs) in the States under the Chief
Secretaries for removal of bottlenecks and for
facilitating the speedy implementation of major
projects.
⇒ DEVELOPMENT
AND
REJUVENATION OF GANGA
During 12th Plan, outlay for Rs. 2200 crore
has been provisioned for National Ganga River
BasinAuthority (NGRBA), which has been
entrusted with the work of controlling pollution
in the river Ganga.Further, Government is giving
special emphasis on rejuvenation of River Ganga.
Consultation with different stakeholders viz.,
Ministries such as Ministry of Environment &
Forests; Water Resources, Ganga Rejuvenation and
River Development; Urban Development; Tourism;
Shipping; Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation;
Rural Development, etc., as well as academics,
technical experts and NGOs associated with
cleaning of Ganga, is in progress. Crystallisation
of action plan, including framing of its salient
features, time line and likely expenditure would
be known only after the finalisation of the action
plan for cleaning of River Ganga. This would
include issues of ecological flow in River Ganga
as also curbing of pollution.
Ministry of Environment & Forests have
informed that the State Pollution Control Boards
(SPCBs) are required to implement the effluent
discharge standards by the industries. Action is to
be taken against the defaulting industries by the
SPCBs under powers delegated to them by the
Central Government under relevant provisions of
Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act,
1974 and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Further, efforts made by the Government
for management of Industrial Pollution affecting
Rivers includes notifying industry specifi c
effluent standards. The Ministry of Environment
& Forests has identified 764 Grossly Polluting
Industries (GPIs) discharging 501 million litres
per day (mld) of wastewater into Ganga and its
major tributaries. 704 industries have been
inspected Under NGRBA programme by the
NGRBA Cell, CPCB till May, 2014. Directions have
been issued to 165 industries, of which 48 are the
closure directions under Section -5 of E(P)
Act,1986.
Government is also promoting setting up of
Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs),
Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and
En vironmental Surveillance of industries by
C PCB, Stat e Polluti on Con trol Boards and
Pollution Control Committees.
⇒ NEW PROGRAM OF
FINANCIAL INCLUSION
The Union Finance Minster Shri Arun
Jaitley said that the Government is going to
launch a new program of Financial Inclusion in
Mission Mode which will provide households
with facilities of savings, credit, remittances,
insurance and pension among others. He said
that this is a marked shift from earlier effort
where only opening of account was the focus of
the financial inclusion drive.
The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley further
said that this time the Government is targeting
the individual households rather than the village.
He said that there are 7.5 crore households in the
country who do not have bank account so far.
The Finance Minister said that the Government
is targ eting that every village should get a
banking facility within a reasonable distance and
that every household should have at least one
bank account within the time frame of one year.
This is a big challenge and there are several
difficulties like lack of connectivity and
infrastructure facilities etc, the Minister added.
The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley said that
in our country where we have very low levels
offinanci al literacy, it is essenti al that people
understand the importance of availing financial
services which will enable them to participate in
the growth story. Therefore, financial literacy will
receive a special emphasis in this new programme
of financial inclusion, the Minister added.
The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley said that
technology has made rapid strides in recent times
and, therefore, the Government must use
technology, especially mobile based services in a
big way to achieve the desired results. The
Government has integrated provisions of access
to banking facilities, account opening, financial
literacy, credit availment, micro insurance and
pension, the Minister added.
The Financial Inclusion Mission has two
phases starting from 15thAugust this year. The
first phase will get over by 14thAugust, 2015 and
the second Phase by 14thAugust, 2018. Most of
the activities will be done in Phase – I and
insurance and pension would be covered in Phase
– II. The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley said that
the primary method of branchless banking has
been that of the Business Correspondents. It is
therefore important to ensure that the Business
Correspondents have a viable business model and
for this purpose Government has decided to
encourage transfer of subsidies directly to bank
accounts of the beneficiaries.
⇒ GSLV
PROJECT
The GSLV project has successfully launched
GSLV-D5 fligh t wi th indig enou s Cr yog enic
engine and stage on 5th January 2014 from Satish
Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota and is
currently pr eparing for the next flig ht GSLV
namely, GSLV-D6.
The GSLV-F02, GSLV-D3 and GSLV-F06
f lig hts could not accomplish the mission
object ives. Subsequentl y, failure analy sis
committees were formed to (a) carry out in-depth
analysis of the flight performance and identify
causes for the failure, and (b) recommend
corrective measures and future course of action
on the GSLV Vehicle. The failure analy sis
committees
have
submitted
their
recommendations. Based on the suggestions
made by the failure analysis committees, ISRO has
implemented
the
modifications
and
improvement s in GSLV, which include
independent inspection and quality checks for all
critical components and sub-assemblies, change
of bearing housing material, revision of tolerances
and seal clearances of Fuel Booster Turbo Pump
of Cr yogenic Engine, redesign of the Cr yogenic
Stage Lower Shroud, revision of connector
mounting scheme and wire tunnel configuration.
⇒ HINDI AS
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
IN
UN
The Government has been actively taking
necessary measures for the introduction of Hindi
as one of the Official Languages of the UN. A
High level Committee under the Chairmanship of
the External Affairs Minister was constituted on
26 February, 2003 followed by a sub-Committee
under the Chairmanship of the Minister of State
for External Affairs in August, 2003 to look into
the matter and take necessary measures. Keeping
in view this obje ctive, the 8th World Hindi
Conference was organized in New York on 13 July
2007 and its inaugural session was held at the UN
Headquarters, which was attended by the UN
Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-moon (9 World
Hindi Conferences have been held till date all
over the world). In additi on, a World Hindi
Secretariat has been set up in Mauritius since 11
Febr uary 2008 to promote Hindi as an
international language.
On several occasions, Indian leaders have
delivered statements at the UN in Hindi.
Necessary arr angements were made for
simultaneous interpretation of these statements
in English by the Permanent Mission of India in
New York. The Government of India’s sustained
efforts have also ensured that the United Nations
offers its programmes on the UN Radio Website in
Hindi also.
The question of addition of any language
including Hindi in the list of official languages of
the United Nations has procedural, financial and
legal aspects. As a first step, a formal resolution
needs to be adopted by a majority of the 193
member states of the UN General Assembly.
No resolution has been introduced in this
regard as yet. The total cost provisioned by UN
on provi ding services in all the curr ent UN
official languages (6 Languages) is approximately
US$ 492 million for the current biennium 20142015. Given that this cost is for six official
languages for two years, the cost for provision of
services in one UN language is approximately US$
41 million per annum. This cost is for provision
of overall services including documentation,
translation, interpretation, verbatim reporting,
printing etc. in all the four UN Offices viz. New
York, Geneva , Vienna and Nairobi. In case of
including Hindi as an official language, there
would be additional cost for providing
infrastructure/equipment and space for additional
interpreters. Expenditure incurred towards
introduction of a new official language is borne by
Member States based on the scale of assessment.
⇒
BILATERAL
ISSUES
WITH
CHINA
China disputes the international boundary
between India and China. In the Eastern Sector,
China claims approximately 90,000 square
kilome ters of Indian terri tor y in the State of
Arunachal Pradesh. Indian territor y under the
occupation of China in Jammu & Kashmir is
approximately 38,000 sq. kms. In addition, under
the so-called China-Pakistan “Boundary
Agreement” signed between China and Pakistan
on 2 March 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180
sq. kms. of Indian territor y in Pakistan Occupied
Kashmir to China. The fact that Arunachal
Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are integral and
inalienable parts of India has been clearly
conveyed to the Chinese side on several
occasions, including at the highest level.
Government has seen reports with regard to
China constructing a rail link through Pakistan
Occupied Kashmir (POK). Government has
conveyed its concerns to China about their
activities in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, and
asked them to cease such activities. China regards
Kashmir as a bilateral matter to be settled
between India and Pakistan.
Th e Chinese For eig n Minister Wang Yi
visited India on June 8-9, 2014 as the Special
Envoy of the President of China. The External
Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj held
extensive discussions with him. The discussions
were comprehensive and substantive and various
issues of significance were raised and discussed
in a frank and candid manner.
At the invitation of the Vice President of
China, the Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid
Ansari, paid an official visit to China from June
26 to 30, 2014. The Vice President held bilateral
discussions at Beijing on June 30, 2014 with his
counterpart, Vice President Li Yuanchao of China
and called on President Xi Jinping. He attended
event s to mark the 60th anniversary of
‘Panchsheel’ at Beijing on June 28-29, 2014. MoU
on Cooperation on Industrial Parks in India, MoU
concerning communication and cooperation of
training in the area of Capacity Building of Public
Officials and the Implementation Plan for
Provision of Hydrological Information of the
Yarlung Zangbu/ Brahmaputra River in Flood
Season by China to India were signed during the
visit. The Encyclopaedia of India- China Cultural
Contacts was also released in the presence of two
Vice Presidents. There are regular meetings
between India and China at various levels,
including at the highest level. During these
meetings entire gamut of bilateral, regional and
global issues are discussed. Both sides are
committed to resolving bilateral issues through
dialogue and peaceful negotiations and in a fair,
reasonable and mutually acceptable manner.
INTER-LINKING
OF
RIVERS
Out of 46 proposals of intra-state links
received by National Water Development Agency
(NWDA) from nine States, the Burhi GandakNoon-Baya-Ganga Link of Bihar, Kosi-Mechi Link
of Bihar, Ponnair-Palar Link of Tamil Nadu,
Wainganga-Nalganga Link of Maharashtra and
Barakar-Damodar-Subernarekha Link of
Jharkhand have been taken up for the
preparation of DPR by NWDA on the request
made by the concerned States. The DPRs of two
intra-state links i.e. Burhi Gandak- Noon-BayaGanga Link Project and Kosi-Mechi Link Project
have been completed and sent to Government of
Bihar in December, 2013 and March, 2014
respectively.
Based on the concurrence of the concerned
States, three links namely Ken-Betwa Link,
Damanganga - Pinjal link and Par-Tapi-Narmada
link have been taken up for the preparation of
Detailed Project Report (DPR) by the National
Water Development Agency (NWDA) out of 30
interstate links identified under National
Perspective Plan (NPP). The DPR for Ken-Betwa
Link Project and Damanganga - Pinjal link have
been completed by NWDA, and submitted to the
concerned States. DPR of Par-Tapi-Narmada link
is in various stages of completion. Further, the
Hon’ble Supreme Court in its order dated
27.02.2012 has inter-alia directed to take up KenBetwa Link Project for implementation at the first
instance itself.
Approximately 35 million hectare of
additional irrigation potential and 34000 mega
watts (MW) hydro power generation are the likely
benefits envisaged under NPP apart from the
incidental benefi ts of f lood moderat ion,
naviga tion, drinking wat er supply, fisheri es,
salinity and pollution control etc.
⇒
MALABAR-2014
Exercise Malabar is a complex, high-end
operational exercise that has grown in scope and
complexity over the years. Malabar 2014 is the
latest in a continuing series of exercises
conducted to enhance multinational maritime
relationships and mutual security issues. he
exercise will feature both ashore and at-sea
training. Whilst ashor e at Port Sasebo, Japan
from 24 to 26 Jul, the interactions will include
subject matter expert and professional exchanges
on Carrier trike Group operations, maritime patrol
and reconnaissance operations, anti piracy
operations and vsit, Board, Search and Seizure
(VBSS) operations.
Three ships of Indian Navy viz. INS
Ranvijay (guided missile destroyer), INS Shivalik
(stealth frig ate) and INS Shakti (f leet tanker)
have already entered Port Sasebo, Japan on 23 Jul
14 for participating in the exercise. The sea phase
of the exercise is scheduled from 27 to 30 Jul 14
and will be conduct ed in the Western Pa cifi c
Ocean. Exercises planned during this phase
include search and rescue exercises, helicopter
cross-deck landings, underway replenishments,
gunnery and anti-submarine warfare exercises,
Visit, Board, Search and Seize operations (VBSS)
and Liaison officer exchange and embarkation.
Designed to enhance maritime cooperation
among the navies of the participating nations,
these exercises further hone individual capacity to
conduct operations in a multi-national
environment.
The Indian, Japanese and U.S. navies have a
common understanding and knowledge of a
shared working environment at sea. This exercise
would further help advance the level of
understanding among the navies. Two destroyers
along with a P3C Or ion and a sea-plane (US-2) are
participating from the Japanese Navy. From the
US Navy one submarine (SSN), two destroyers,
one tanker along with one MR aircraft would be
participating. One US Carrier Strike group (CSG)
is likely to join for the sea phase of the exercise.
Ruling on Maritime boundary
between India and Bangladesh
The Arbitration Tribunal for Delimitation
of Mari time Boundary between India and
Bangladesh, established under Annex VII of the
UN Convention of Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),
rendered its award on July 7, 2014, keeping in
mind the competing claims of the two countries.
The Award is final and binding on both the
Parties. The award puts an end to a long standing
issue between India and Bangladesh which has
impeded the ability of both countries to fully
exploit the resources in that part of the Bay of
Bengal. The peaceful settlement of this issue on
the basis of international law symbolizes
friendship, mutual understanding and goodwill
between the two countries.
⇒ EVALUATION
OF
MPLAD
SCHEME
Members of Parliament Local Area
Development Scheme (MPLADS) has be en in
operation since 1993-94. Programme Evaluation
Organization of Planning Commission had
conducted an evaluation of the Scheme, largely
based on data and information gathered for the
reference period 1994-95 to 1998-99 from a
sample of MPs, State nodal Departments, other
development functionaries and local people. Its
report was submitted in November 2001, in
which findings in respect of choice of districts,
nature and status of works, recommendation of
works and locally felt needs, allocation of funds
and quality of assets, execution of works,
monitoring and supervision, maintenance of
assets, awareness amongst people and perceived
impact, etc. and suggestions were given.
The impact of the scheme as felt by the
knowledgeable persons and local people indicate
that about 65% of the created assets have been
rated as good and overwhelming majority of them
have opined that the created assets are as per the
felt needs and has improved their quality of life.
However, their opinion about the
implementation and maintenance of assets points
out to the inadequate arrangements and a need for
large scale involvement
strengthening the scheme.
of
PRIs
for
Iplementation of the Members of
Parliament Local Area Development
Scheme(MPLADS) in the field is undertaken by
the District Authorities as per the State
Government ’s technical, administra tive and
financial rules. Monitoring mechanisms, wherein
the roles of the Central Government, State
Governments, District Authorities and
Implementing Agencies are laid down, have been
prescr ibed in the Guidelines on MPLADS.
The Minister said, the Ministry of
Statistics and Programme Implementation
regularly reviews the implementation of the
MPLADS through national-level review meetings
with State Government/District officers and
visits to Stat es/Districts. The Ministry also
undertakes third party physical monitoring of the
MPLADS works in select ed districts through
independent agencies. In addition, the
Comptroller and Auditor General (C & AG) of
India conduct ed Perform ance Au dit of the
MPLADS for the period 2004-05 to 2008-09, and
submitted its report in 2010-11.
Th e observati ons in the third party
physical monitoring reports and in the C & AG’s
Performance Audit Repor t rela ting to
implementation in the field have been/are
communicated to the concerned State
Governments/District Authorities for taking
appropriate action, including penal /departmental
action and recoupment of MPLADS funds with
interest in case of irregularities.
MyGov: A portal for Citizen
Engagement towards governance
launched
The portal MyGov, a platform that serves as
a medium for the people, specially the youth, to
connect with the Government actively and
facilitates their enga gement towards nation’s
development was launched today. Briefing about
the initiative, Shri R.S. Sharma, Secretary of the
Department of Electronics and IT said that
‘MyGov’ empowers people to contribute towards
good governance through various tasks and
discussions.
MyGov presents an opportunity to the
citizens to participate in multiple theme-based
discussions and to share their thoughts and ideas
with a wide range of people. Citizens can upload
documents, case studies, pictures, videos, other
work plans etc. on the platform. They can
volunteer for various tasks and submit their
entries. These tasks would then be reviewed by
other members and experts. Once approved, these
tasks can be shared by those who completed the
task and by other members on MyGov. Every
approved task would earn credit points for
completed the task. National Informatics Centre
(NIC), Department of Electronics and
Infor mat ion Technol ogy would mana ge the
poratal .
Groups and corners are an important part of
MyGov. The platfor m ha s be en divide d into
various groups namely Clean Ganga, Girl Child
Education, Clean India, Skilled India, Digital
India, Job Creation. Each group consists of online
and on ground tasks that can be taken up the
contributors. The objective of each group is to
bring about a qualitative change in that sphere
through people’s participation. Shri Sharma, the
Secre tary Electronics and IT said that the
platforms launched today – “Discuss” and “Do” –
will take feedback from the community and
improve on a continuous basis. He said that his
department has plan to have a mobile app for
my gov.in, wherein while on the move, the
citizens will have the flexibility to take pictures
from mobile and upload on the forum, report in-
context problems and issues etc. He said that this
platform may even be extended to act like public
audit platform for government projects. For
example, citizens giving feedback on status of
completed infrastructure projects, on availability
of various social sector programs etc, he added.
http://mygov.nic.in
⇒ NATIONAL SKILL
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
(NSDA)
The National Skill Development Agency
(NSDA) was notified on 6 June 2013 and has been
functional ever since. The NSDA is an
autonomous body, with functions which inter alia
include taking all possible steps to meet skilling
targets as envisaged in the 12th Five Year Plan
and beyond; coordinating and harmonizing the
approach to skill development in the country;
anchoring and operationalizing the National
Skills Qualification Framework to ensure that
quality and standards meet sector specific
requirements; being the nodal agency for State
Skill Development Missions; evaluating existing
skill development schemes with a view to
assessing their efficacy and suggesting corrective
action to make them more effective; creating and
maintaining a national database relating to skill
development including development of a dynamic
labour market information system; and ensuring
that the skilling needs of the disadvantaged and
the marginalized groups like SCs, STs, OBCs,
minorities, women and differently abled persons
are taken care of.
NSDA is an agency that is mandated to
coordinate the skilling effort of the Government
of India. It is not mandated to skill a targeted
number of people. However, as per details
provided by NSDA.
⇒ NATIONAL
WATER
POLICY
The objective of the National Water Policy,
2012 is to assess the existing situation and to
propose a framework for a plan of action with a
unified national perspective. In order to achieve
the obj ective of the Policy, a number of
recommendations have been made therein for
conservati on, development and improve d
management of water resources of the country.
The salient features of the National Water Policy,
2012 are annexed.
Implementation of these recommendations
involves coordinated and continuing efforts on
the part of the concerned Ministries /
Departments of Central Government and the
State Governments. Copies of the National Water
Policy, 2012 have been forwarded to all State
Governments / Union Terr itor ies and the
concerned Ministries / Departments of the
Central Government for appropriate action.
The salient features of national water
policy (2012) are as follows:
1. Emphasis on the need for a national water
framework law, comprehensive legislation
for optimum development of inter-State
rivers and river valleys.
2. Water, after meeting the pre-emptive needs
for safe drinking water and sanitation,
achieving food security, suppor ting poor
people dependent on agriculture for their
livelihood and high priority allocation for
minimum eco-system needs, be treated as
economic good so as to promote its
conservation and efficient use.
3. Ecological needs of the river should be
determined recognizing that river flows are
characterized by low or no flows, small
floods (freshets), larg e floods and flow
variability and should accommodate
development needs. A portion of river flows
should be kept aside to meet ecological needs
ensuring that the proportional low and high
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
flow releases correspond in time closely to
the natural flow regime.
Adaptation strategies in view of climate
change for designing and management of
water resources structures and review of
acceptability criteria has been emphasized.
A system to evolve benchmarks for water
uses for different purposes, i.e., water
footprints, and water auditing be developed
to ensure efficient use of water. Project
financing has been suggested as a tool to
incentivize efficient & economic use of
water.
Setting up of Water Regulatory Authority has
been recommended. Incentivization of
recycle and reuse has been recommended.
Water Users Associations should be given
statutor y powers to collect and retain a
portion of water charges, manage the
volumetric quantum of water allotted to
them and maintain the distribution system
in their jurisdiction.
Removal of large disparity in stipulations for
water supply in urban areas and in rural areas
has been recommended.
Water resources projects and services should
be managed with community participation.
Wherever the State Governments or local
governing bodies so decide, the private
sector can be encouraged to become a service
provider in public private partnership model
to meet agreed terms of service delivery,
including penalties for failure.
Adequate grants to the States to update
technolog y, design practices, planning and
management practices, preparation of annual
water balances and accounts for the site and
basin, preparation of hydrologic balances for
water systems, and benchmarking and
performance evaluation etc.
⇒ MEASURES TO
ADDRESS POST HARVEST
LOSSES
Government has taken several measures to
address the issue of post harvest losses which
include
(i) incentivizat ion
of
post-harvest
infrastructures including construction/
renovation of cold storages through credit
linked back ended subsidy scheme of
Mission on integrated Development of
Horticulture (MIDH),
(ii) provision of subsidy for construction of cold
storages as part of Integrated Value Chain
(IVC) under Agriculture Marketing
Infrastructure (AMI) sub-scheme of
Integrated Scheme of Agricultural Marketing
(ISAM),
(iii) Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium
(SFAC) also sanctions projects for cold
storage units under its scheme of Venture
Capital Assistance (VCA) and Project
Development Facility (PDF) and has
sanctioned VCA to 234 units across the
country,
(iv) Ministry of Food Processing Industries
(MoFPI) is also implementing a scheme of
cold chain, value addition and preservation
infrastructure to provide integrated cold
chain and processing facilities from farm
gate to consumers,
(v) Ministry of Commerce through APEDA
provides assistance to private companies for
setting up infrastructure including
specialized cold stores,
(vi) CIPHET has established tomato pilot plant
facility for providing hands on training to
farmers/entrepreneurs/youth to take up
value addition at rural catchment area as food
processing venture and also provides
trainees with incubation facility to start
their own ventures. CIPHET has also been
instrumental in design and development of
ventilated train wagons for transportation,
safe handling and storage of potatoes and
in development of evaporatively cooled
chambers which can be established at
production catchment for short duration
storage of these commodities. And
(vii) Government has established the National
Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD)
which provides cold-chain technical
guidance,
conducts
knowledge
dissemination activities and addresses
industry concerns on development matters.
⇒ THIRD
INDIA-AFRICA
FORUM
SUMMIT
India will host the Third India-Africa Forum
Summit (IAFS-III) in 2014 as per the decision
taken at the Second Summit in Addis Ababa in
2011. Hon’ble Prime Minister has approved 4th
December 2014 as the date for the Third IndiaAfrica Forum Summit (IAFS-III). Implementation
of the decisions taken at IAFS summits in 2008
and 2011 is an ongoing process. Our
development cooperation with Africa under the
rubric of IAFS entails various projects and
programmes. Some of these include short term
capacity building training programmes in variety
of areas such as agriculture, food processing &
quality control, cl ean energ y & sustainable
development,information & communication
technolog y etc.; long-t erm scholarships for
higher studies and research; expertise sharing
through civil society organizations, corporate
sector, media; organization of academic seminars,
conferences and strategic dialogues;
enhancement of people-to-people contacts
through innovative public diplomacy
programmes; setting up of capacity building
institutions in Africa; provision of concessional
lines of credit etc. Our capacity building training
programmes and academic fellowships have been
immensely popular and our African partners have
demanded more slots than were made available
during the two Summits. Expertise sharing
programmes have been successfully completed.
Seminars, conferences and strategic dialogues
have witnessed enthusiastic participation. Our
people-to-people contact programmes, which are
conducted through the External Publicity &
Public Diplomacy Division of MEA, have resulted
in increased interaction between our students,
journalists, parliamentarians etc.
Africa accounts for over 60% of the total
concessional lines of credit (LOCs) extended by
the EXIM Bank of India. From April 2009 till June
this year, LOCs over US$ 4.2 billion have been
extended to African countries. The progress in
setting up of capacity building institutions has
been slower than what we would have liked. It is
so primarily due to delays in response from the
African Union or the countries selected, and lack
of adequate funds and manpower to implement
the projects offered under IAFS mechanism. As
we beg in pr epara tions for IAFS-III, we shall
continue implementation of the decisions taken
in 2008 and 2011, and expand those programmes,
which have already been successfully
implemented.
⇒ UNIFORM REGULATORY
FRAMEWORK FOR UNIVERSITIES
The National Policy on Education 1986, as
amended in 1992, has been the guiding document
for the policies of the Central Government in the
education sector. The Government has been
following National Policy on Education 1986, as
modified in 1992, which provides for National
System of Education implying that up to a given
level, all students, irrespective of caste, creed,
location or sex, have access to education of a
comparable qualit y. The Nation al System of
Education envisages a common educational
structure. The 10+2+3 structure has now been
accepted in most parts of the country. However,
in the last twenty years, the education scenario
has seen a monumental change with the
emergence of several new paradigms like rights
based approach to elementary education, the
endeavour to extend universalization to
secondar y educati on, reshape the high er
education scenario and its impact on the
innovation environment and providing an
impetus to skill development through vocational
education in the context of the emergence of new
technologies in a rapidly expanding economy
placed in a globalised environment.
The Government proposes to formulate a
New Educat ion Policy aimed at meet ing the
challenges posed by lack of quality, research and
innovation in our educational institutions.
In accordance with the National Policy on
Education (NPE), the National System of
Education envisages a common educational
structure. It is based on the National Curriculum
Framework which contains a common core along
with other components that are flexible. Further,
the Universities have the necessary autonomy,
subject to NPE and University Grants
Commission (UGC) Regulations, in the matter of
framing of syllabi and curriculum as per their
Acts, Statutes and Ordinances.
⇒
SECURITY
FOR WHISTLE
BLOWERS
The Government of India had authorized
the Central Vigilance Commission as the
Designated Agency to receive written complaints
for disclosure on any allegation of corruption or
misuse of office and recommend appropriate
action.
The Government has now also authorized
the Chief Vigilance Officers of the Ministries/
Departments of the Central Government as the
Designated Authority to receive written
complaint or disclosure on any allegation of
corruption or misuse of office in respect of any
employee of that Ministry/ Department or any
organization falling under their jurisdiction. If
the Designated Authority in the Ministries/
Departments, either on the application of the
complainant, or on the basis of the information
gathered, is of the opinion that the complainant
needs protection, the Designated Authority shall
take up the matter with the Central Vigilance
Commission, for issuing appropriate directions to
the authorities concerned.
The Commission, after receipt of such
reference from the Designated Authority, takes
up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs,
the Nodal Agency, to undertake the responsibility
of providing security cover to the genuine
Whistle Blowers.
The Home Ministry, in turn, asks individual
State Governments to examine the threat and
provide security cover, if needed. On the advice of
Ministry of Home Affairs, State Governments
have appointed Nodal officers in respective states
and detail about Nodal officers nominated by
various State Governments has been
communicated to the Commission for referring
the matters to them.