Context: India to conduct the first BIMSTEC Disaster management Exercise-2017

Transcription

1 Context: India to conduct the first BIMSTEC Disaster management Exercise-2017 BIMSTEC: (Bay of Bengal initiative for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperatiom) BIMSTEC comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Srilanka, Thailand brings together 1.5 billion people 21% of world population and a combined GDP of over 25 trillion dollars. Evolution of BIMSTEC: BIST-CC(Bangladesh, India, Srilanka, Thailand economic cooperation was found at a meeting in June 1998 in Bangkok. Myanmar was admitted in December 1997 and the organize was renamed BIMST-CC. The grouping expanded then Nepal and Bhutan were admitted 2004 the grouping name was changed as BIMSTEC. Objectives of BIMSTEC: To create an enabling environment for rapid economic development through identification and implementation of specific cooperation projects in the sectors of 1) Trade 2) Investments & Industry 3) Technology 4) Human research development 5) Tourism 6) Agriculture

2 7) Energy 8) Infrastructure & Transportation. To accelerate the economic growth. To promote active collaboration of mutual assistance in the field of social, economical & technical and educational. To maintain class and beneficial cooperation with existing international & regional organization with similar aims purpose. To cooperate in projects that can be deal with most productivity on a subregional basis & made best use of available synergy among BIMSTEC number country. Area of Cooperation: BIMSTEC has been steadily expanding its agenda the grouping has identified 14 priority was 1) Transport & Communication 2) Climate change 3) Tourism 4) Environment & Disaster management 5) Fisheries 6) Agriculture 7) Public health 8) Poverty 9) Adlevi action 10) Culture and Counter terrorism 11) Transnational crime

3 BIMSTEC cooperation in Disaster management: The first phase of the first BIMSTEC Disaster management Exercise-2017 being organized by The national Disaster Response Force(NDRF) Key Facts: The Disaster management Exercise of BIMSTEC will help in the augmentation of capacities especially response capacity besides promoting cooperation & coordination in Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) Regional & International cooperation in DRR is critical to Disaster management. India has been at the free font of DRR efforts by hosting the South Asia Annual Disaster management Exercise(SAADME) and the Asian mini stand conference for Disaster Risk Reduction(AMCDRR) India has also offered its expertise and capabilities in DRR such as the South Asia satellite, GSAT-9, and the Tsunami early warning center to other countries. Majority of the BIMSTEC countries are situated in the South Asian region, more to natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, avalanches and droughts. NDRF (National Disaster Response Force): The Disaster management Act has made the statutory provision for constitution of National Disaster Response Force for the purpose of specialized response to natural & man made disasters.

4 e-nam Context: Significant progress has been made by most of the states with regards to implementation of e-nam. e-nam: The department of agriculture and cooperation has formulated a central scheme for promotion of National Agriculture Market through Agri-Tech infrastructure Fund(ATIF). NAM is an online platform with a market or mandi(physical). It is not a parallel marketing structure but rather as instrument to credit a national network of physical mandis which can be accessed online. It seeks to use the physical infrastructure of mandis through online portal, by which buyers can participate in trading who are outside of states. Need of e-nam: Because the Indian agricultural marketing & thus NAM is the step to unify national agriculture market. What on APMCs? It is a marketing bond established by state government of India. It s a main function basically to provide a platform for farmers to sell their produce. In other words, APMC act like, it forces the farmers to sell their produce only to middlemen approved by government in authorized mandis.

5 There are many disadvantages of APMC, some of which are disadvantages of APMC. It divides the state into multiple market areas, each area is administered by APMCs. Separate license are needed for trades to trade in different market area within the state. This indicates that it has limited to sale for the farmers. What will NAM do? NAM will not replace the mandis rather it extends the markets network nationwide. It provides more option to framers to sell their produce. Benefits of NAM: 1) Transparency: Electronic auction platform to be installed in which prices and market rates can be viewed by which transparency will be increased. 2) Farmers Income: It will increase formers income as e NAM extends their market. 3) NAM will address all the issues which were concern earlier like Division of state into multiple market areas. For quality of infrastructure and low use of technology. In the earlier method, farmers were produced less money due to intermediaries at the physical market place.

6 Disadvantages of NAM: 1) Still there are plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are yet to be included in NAM at present only Channa, Paddy, wheat and 4 other are included. 2) Country s 2 biggest mandis/market Azadpur(Delhi) and Vashi(Mumbai) have not agreed to join. 3) NAM is providing statewide network but failed to address issues of interstate tax etc. Way forward: As e-nam is creating a clear platform to increase the framers income is may be a indication doubling the income of formers by But lack of awareness and lack of technological skills of formers is the reasons still it is not a great success in most of the states. Creating awareness to formers about the benefits of e-nam by various means like Separate help groups to guide formers. Providing DD Kisan channel to services/programs nationwide by increase mok number of language. Context: 1) A time of strategic partnerships. 2) Alliances are parse and only a few continue gingerly form cold war era. India-Japan special strategic and global partnership is a designation and status New Delhi accords to no other partner.

7 India-Japan synergy has two elements. One is Japan investing in infrastructure to enhance its economic and potential defense capabilities. Two on defense matters, Japan and India have agreed to establish regular consultation in 2+2 format of their defense and foreign ministries. We live in a world today driven by strategic partnerships, US-China, Japan- China, India-China have strategic tension too. Strategic partnership features falling short of alliance, 1) Unlike alliances, they don t demand commitments to a parties disputes with other countries. 2) Both countries return the flexibility to continue political engagement and economic cooperatin. 3) They avoid entrapment into a partner disputes. 4) India-Japan also cooperating on civil nuclear energy and security council reform. Context: Cabinet approves revamped Khelo India program Khelo India Scheme: National program for development of sports. Government under Khelo India provides for conduct of sports competition in two age groups of i) under 14 and ii) under 17 to encourage mass participation of both boys and girls in sports infrastructure facilities. Need? Until now, sports scheme were focused on building infrastructure such as stadium but new scheme will focus on nurturing talent and connecting rural India to global games.

8 Salient features: 1) An unprecedented pan Indian sports scholarship scheme which cover 1000 talented young athletes each year. 2) Each athlete receives an annual scholarship worth Rs.5lakhs for 8 consecutive years. 3) First time ever that long term athlete development pathway who can complete t win at the world stage. 4) Program aims to promote 20 universities across country as hubs of sporting excellence. 5) Scheme covers about 200 million children in age group of under massive national physical fitness drive and also filters related activities. Impact: 1) Power of sport promotes gender equity and social inclusiveness. 2) Engages youth living in disturbed and deprived areas, in sporting activities and main stream them in nation building. 3) Program promotes sports for all as well as sports for excellence. 4) Use of mobile apps for dissemination (broadcasting to public) of sports training, talent search portals, GIS based information system for locating and using sports infrastructure. Challenges: 1) Need to minimize the corruption in all sporting activities. 2) Due to very poorly payments to athletes and professional athletes have a limited shelf life shortened due to injury, financial support is needed.

9 3) Major problem is whom to select coaches due to they fail to provide finer technical nuances which makes difference from world class coaching expertise. Way forward: The program is expected to impact the entire sports eco system, including infrastructure, community sports, talent identification, coaching for excellence, competition structure and sports economy which is great movement in history of Indian sports. Call to wipe out Modern Slavery Context: A group of activists and academics from different parts of the world have released a statement urging India to implement labor laws protections more effectively to eliminate modern slavery. What is Modern Slavery : It refers to the institutions of slavery that continue to exists in the present day like human trafficking, forced labor, slavery, involuntary service etc. Labor Rights under India constitution: 1) Article 14: Equal law should be applied to all in the same situation and there should be no discrimination between one person and another. 2) Article 19(1): It speaks the fundamental right of citizen to form on association and unions.

10 3) Article 21: The right to life is linked to means of livelihood as no person can be live without the means of living. 4) Article 23: It prohibits traffic in human being and beggar and similar forms of forced labor. Impact of Slavery : Social Impact: 1) Ethnic Divisions: Slave people were treated separately with minimum rights. 2) Conflicts within communities: Due to insecurity the slave people do not have any option for defense other than through weapons. 3) Human trafficking: Slave people are migrated from location to other. Economic Impact: 1) Under Utilization of Human Resource: Slave people works forcibly, they cannot utilize their capabilities to the full extent. 2) Loss to Economy: Since people work without salary, their effort is not accounted in the overall economy. Slavery in India and Western Countries: India: All forms of modern slavery exists in India including bonded labor forced child labor, forced begging, forced marriage, commercial sexual exploitation. India has the highest number of slaves globally.

11 Western Countries: Europe remains a destination and to some extant source for exploitation of men, women and children in forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Government initiatives to reduce Slavery: 1) Anti Human Trafficking law(draft) : Aimed to strengthen investigation and prosecution, while taking into account a victims needs and perspective to address the issue through prevention, protection and rehabilitation. 2) Child labor (prohibition and regulation) Amendment Act, 2016, to curb the rampart spread of child labor across the country. Attaining new Heights in Biotechnology: Context: Department of Bio-Technology has established a dedicated North Eastern Region Bio-Technology progrmme management cell (NERBPMC), to evolve, implement and foster bio technology research in the North East states. What is Bio-Technology: It is technology based on biology which harnesses cell war and bio molecular process to develop technologies and products that help improve our lines and health of our planet.

12 Applications/Types: 1) Red Bio-Technology: It deals with human and animal medicine like bio pharmaceutical drug development drug delivery cell and gene therapies, tissue engineering/regenerative medicine, system biology and diagnosis using molecular medicine. 2) Green Bio-Technology: It is the application of biotechnology process in agriculture and food production, it is hoped that Green Bio-technology products are more environment friendly than traditional industrial agriculture. 3) Grey/White Bio-Technology: It is applied to industrial process, it consumes less resources than traditional resources. 4) Blue Bio-Technology: It deals with marine and aquatic applications. Initiatives of Department of Bio-Technology in NER: 1) Phyto-Pharma Plant Mission: Aimed at conservation and cultivation of endangered and threatened endemic medicinal plants. Discovery of new botanical drugs for unmet medical needs using the rich traditional ethno-botanical knowledge of biodiversity of these states. Improve availability of authentic and quality, botanical raw material on sustainable basis. 2) Brahmaputra Bio diversity and Biology Boat(B4): B4 will establish a large barge on the river Brahmaputra with a will equipped laboratory for analysis of all components of the entire eco system.

13 3) Frugal Microscopy through the foldscope: A frugal microscope assembled with simple components acts as a tail connecting students and science from the region with the rest of the country. 4) Skilling Human Resources: Various schemes started under this are, a) R&D program. b) Overseas associate for North East Region. c) Biotechnology labs in senior secondary schools. d) Biotech industrial training programs. e) E-library consortium. 5) Infrastructure and Resource building: Various infrastructure development projects are, a) Biotech hubs. b) North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences. c) DBT-AAU center of Excellence on Agriculture Biotechnology. d) Center of Excellence on Fisheries & Aquaculture Biotechnology. e) Advance Animal Disease Diagnostic & Management consortium. f) Network program on chemical ecology.

14 Context: India joins Quantum Computing race: Quantum Computer: It is a next generation model Experts say it is still a theory and planning to build one. Quantum computer uses Qubits, whereas traditional computers is using bit. Qubit: It is a unit of information in a Quantum computer. Bit: It is a unit of information in present generation computer. What does a Quantum computer do: It will store information in qubits instead of bits. Qubits works faster because of the way they are designed. Quantum computer would require 3.5 million power steps than a traditional machine. It can find solution in 81,263 steps. Where is it present now: Canada s D-wave systems, is a pioneer in developing quantum computers and has sold machines to google and Lockheed Martin(advanced technology company) Experts say: However experts say that true Quantum computers are still year away and the present existing systems are credit by the principles of Quantum computers.

15 India and Quantum computers: At present India is planning to get one of its own. Experts across the country are expected to gather in September-October 2017 in Allahabad for a workshop to develop Quantum computer and also discuss the cost and time to build it. The process of bringing it to India will also create the next generation of technology jobs in India. Quantum computer-application: 1) When data sets are very large, it is a new way to kept large financial data it implies in removing risk factors to make better investment. 2) Artificial Intelligence: As the large data can be stored it implies on feature of artificial intelligence such as machine learning it will become much more powerful. 3) Medicine and Material: Reducing the complexity of chemical interactions which leads to discovery of new medicines and materials. High powered panel lists out reforms in higher education: Need for reforms: To address the cascading effects of poor early education outcomes on later education.

16 Recognizing the lack of employability of graduates, need for better teaching, training and quality in system Addressing governance problems at system level. Ex. Appointing Vice Chairman and academic freedom and regulatory issues. Integration of vocational and higher education. Addressing disparities in access and provision of higher education for females, minorities. Exploring financing models to help students get access to loans with P-P-P model. Reforms suggested by Government: Autonomy to the Universities. Removing UGC & AICTE and replacing with one higher education regulator. i.e HEERA(Higher Education Empowerment Regulation Agency). Previously Yashpal committee and National knowledge commission suggested the same, A new legislation would come forward with short and clean outline standards which will focus on outcomes. Challenges to implement reform: Bringing in new legislation and replacing AICTE & UGC may be time taking process. Only better institutions should be given autonomy as few institutions may not manage it properly. Instead of aiming to be worlds position it should focus at base root level. Autonomy is a good option but not a permanent solution.

17 Tax payers rights and obligations: Context: Shifting tax administration from an enforcement model to a service based model will develop an equilibrium between tax payer and tax collector. The paradigm shift in the domain of direct and indirect taxes seen by the tax administration. Steps taken by the Government: 1) The Tax payers expecting greater certainty and fairness in the levy, assessment and collection of taxes. 2) The central government has development strategies in the forms of campaigns like Make in India and start up India. 3) The recent introduction of goods and services tax also significant in providing certainty to tax payers with the aim of One nation one Tax. 4) To transform India into a manufacturing, investment and research and development hub, there should be a fair balance tax payer s rights and obligations. 5) This will ensure a higher degree of trust between the tax collector and tax payer and will lead to increase in revenue generation. Epicenter of tax disputes: India has seen key tax disputes ever since similar growth-oriented road map as adopted by government in the early ) To attract investments the government signed Double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) with Singapore and Cyprus.

18 2) These agreements provide to be determined in the long run for India. 3) The multiple disputes are related to capital gains are surfaced due to exploitation of loopholes in DTAA. 4) Transfer pricing mechanism also lead to tax dispute as it curtailed the determination of arm s length price in international transactions. 5) After the Vodafone capital gains dispute case government had made amendments in the income tax act to supersede adverse judgment. 6) Another step was the implementation of general Ark avoidance rules in India. 7) As for the GST, the government apparently achieved a balanced model of fiscal federalism through dual GST system. Service based Strategies: The whole economic perception of India is at stake due to some fault lines in its fiscal administration. The government s constructive approach which aimed to improve tax administration and resulted in ensuring better tax compliance. The Administration reform committee in its recommendations tried to reintroduce fair balance between rights and obligations of tax payers. The recommendations made progress in the improvement of services and enhanced use of information and communication technology. Taking everything into account the attempts were made to increase rights and to provide better service for genuine tax payers. The rights equilibrium will be achieved only when there is a balance between the rights and obligations of a tax payers.