Monthly Pib December 2019

Easy to PICK51 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Future Skills Syllabus subtopic: Issues relating to students keep pace with the emerging development and management of Social technologies — artificial intelligence, big Sector/Services relating to Health, data, cloud computing, cybersecurity and Education, Human Resources. internet of things (IoT) – to make them future-ready. Prelims and Mains focus: Future Skills platform: key features and significance Significance: The platform enables learning the skills News: required in emerging technologies. More Context: Wipro has partnered with importantly, it helps individuals develop NASSCOM (National Association of an aptitude for learning. Software and Services Companies) to launch a skilling platform called ‘Future Why is it needed? Skills’ for 10,000 students from over 20 As a host of emerging technologies change engineering colleges in India. the future of work, a massive disruption is facing the IT-ITES industry today. Of the Other details 4.5 m people employed in the industry  This is a part of Wipro’s Corporate today, 1.5 -2 m are expected to require reskilling in the next 4-5 years. A Social Responsibility programme, decoupling of revenue and headcount TalentNext. growth is visible even today and employers and employees need to adapt  TalentNext aims to enhance the themselves to the changing job quality of engineering education by environment of technological shifts and preparing faculty and academic leaders changing stakeholder expectations. The to train students. problem is too large to be handled alone. It needs a collaborative industry level  The programme has now been response. With NASSCOM as the enabler, extended to students directly IT-ITeS Industry has stepped up to the through Future Skills. challenge with the FutureSkills Initiative – a truly industry driven learning ecosystem. What is Future Skills? It is a new age platform built to bridge the industry-academia skill gap and help

Easy to PICK52 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” National Population Register (NPR). Syllabus subtopic: Issues relating to Components: development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health,  The NPR database would contain Education, Human Resources. demographic as well as biometric Context: Following the footsteps of West details. Bengal, the Kerala Government has decided to put on hold all proceedings for  As per the provisions of the NPR, a updating the National Population resident identity card (RIC) will be Register (NPR). issued to individuals over the age of 18. Why? Because of the apprehensions among the  This will be a chip-embedded smart general public about the conduct of NPR card containing the demographic and related activities would lead to national biometric attributes of each individual. register of citizens (NRC) in the wake of citizenship amendment act 2019.  The UID number will also be printed on the card. What is National Population Register What is the controversy around it? (NPR)?  Comes in the backdrop of the NRC  It is a Register of usual residents of excluding lakhs of people in Assam.  It intends to collect a much larger the country. amount of personal data on residents of  It is being prepared at the local India.  There is yet no clarity on the (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, mechanism for protection of this vast amount of data. District, State and National level What is its requirement? under provisions of the Citizenship Act  Every country must have a 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration comprehensive identity database of its residents with relevant demographic of Citizens and issue of National details. It will help the government formulate its policies better and also Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. aid national security.  It will ease the life of those residing in  It is mandatory for every usual India by cutting red tape. Not only will it help target government beneficiaries resident of India to register in the NPR. in a better way, but also further cut down paperwork and red tape in a Objectives: To create a comprehensive similar manner that Aadhaar has done. identity database of every usual resident in  With NPR data, residents will not have the country. to furnish various proofs of age, address and other details in official Who is a usual resident? work. A usual resident is defined for the  It would also eliminate duplication in purposes of NPR as a person who has voter lists, government insists. resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more.

Easy to PICK53 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” ‘Nagpur Resolution: A holistic approach for empowering citizens’ Syllabus subtopic: Population and  To adopt a holistic approach of associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their systemic public grievance reforms problems and their remedies. Prelims and Mains focus: About the through improved mapping, Nagpur resolution and its significance Context: The ‘Nagpur Resolution – A formulation of monitoring matrix, data holistic approach for empowering citizens’ has been adopted at the end of the collection and evaluation in quality of Regional Conference on ‘Improving Public Service Delivery – Role of Governments’, grievance redressal; held recently in Nagpur, Maharashtra.  To provide an enabling environment Other details for States and Ministries/Departments  The conference was organised by the of the Government of India for creating web portals and to adopt a holistic Department of Administrative approach for improved service delivery Reforms and Public Grievances through digital platforms; (DARPG), Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of  To focus on dynamic policy-making Maharashtra and the Maharashtra State and strategic decisions, monitoring of Commission for Right to Public implementation, appointment of key Services. personnel, coordination and evaluation;  Previously, the Shillong Declaration and the Jammu Resolution have been  To achieve a sense of common identity adopted for good governance. by exchange of technical expertise in Overview of the resolution: As per the resolution, the GOI, the the areas of Improved Service Delivery Government of Maharashtra and other participating States shall collaborate to: between the paired States under the Ek  To empower the citizens by policy Bharat – Shreshth Bharat Program; interventions for better service delivery  To ensure timely publication of Good through timely updation of citizens Governance Index to identify the charters, implementation of enactments quality of governance in 10 sectors and benchmarking standards for especially those pertaining to welfare continuous improvement; and infrastructure at the Union, State and District levels.  To empower citizens by adopting a bottom-up approach to bring massive improvements in quality of grievance redressal and reduction in timelines of grievance redressal;

Easy to PICK54 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile successfully flight-tested off Odisha coast Syllabus subtopic: Science and  The QRSAM weapon system, which Technology- developments and their operates on the move, comprises of applications and effects in everyday life fully automated Command and Control Achievements of Indians in science & System, Active Array Battery technology; indigenization of technology Surveillance Radar, Active Array and developing new technology. Battery Multifunction Radar and Launcher. Prelims and Mains focus: about QRSAM weapon system and its significance  Both radars are four-walled having 360-degree coverage with search on Context: Quick Reaction Surface to Air move and track on move capability. Missile (QRSAM) system developed by The system is compact with minimum Defence Research and Development number of vehicles for a firing unit. Organisation (DRDO) was successfully Single stage solid propelled missile has flight-tested from Integrated Test Range, midcourse inertial navigation system Chandipur off the Odisha coast at 1145 hrs with two-way data link and terminal today. active seeker developed indigenously by DRDO.  The missile was flight-tested with full configuration in deployment mode  The missile successfully engaged the intercepting the target mid-air, meeting aerial target establishing its capability. the mission objectives. Way ahead  The entire event was monitored by With this mission, the developmental trials Ground Telemetry Systems, Range of the weapon system are successfully Radar Systems, Electro Optical completed and the weapon system is Tracking System etc. expected to be ready for induction by 2021. About the weapon system

Easy to PICK55 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” National Green Corps ‘Ecoclub’ Syllabus subtopic: Conservation,  To motivate and stimulate young environmental pollution and degradation, minds by involving them in action environmental impact assessment. projects related to environmental conservation. Prelims and Mains focus: about NGP and its objectives; Eco cluns and their Methodology: significance  The scheme is being operated through Context: Launched under the Eco-clubs of 50-60 students having Environment Education Awareness and interest in environment related issues, Training (EEAT), the National Green formed in member schools. Corps (NGC) popularly known as “a programme of Ecoclubs” is a nationwide  Eco clubs are supervised by a Teacher initiative of the Ministry of Environment In-charge, who is selected from among & Forests, Government of India (now the teachers of the member school. Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change).  There is District Implementation and Monitoring Committee to supervise, What are its objectives? organise training for In-charge  To impart knowledge to school teachers, and monitor periodically the implementation of scheme at the children, through hands-on experience, District level. about their immediate environment, interactions within it and the problems  There is a State Steering Committee therein. for guidance, direction and to oversee the implementation of the scheme.  To develop requisite skills of observation, experimentation, survey,  The State Nodal Agency coordinates recording, analysis and reasoning for the implementation of the scheme in conserving the environment through the State and organize related activities various activities. like training to Master Trainers.  To inculcate the proper attitude  The National Steering Committee will towards the environment and its give overall direction to the conservation through community programme and ensure linkages at all interactions. levels.  To sensitize children to issues related to environment and development through field visits and demonstrations.  To promote logical and independent thinking among children so that they are able to make the right choices in a spirit of scientific inquiry.

Easy to PICK56 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” NITI Aayog to Launch SDG India Index & Dashboard 2019–20 Syllabus subtopic: Statutory, regulatory of 17 SDGs and a qualitative and various quasi-judicial bodies assessment on Goal 17. This marks an improvement over the 2018 Index, Prelims and Mains focus: About the which covered only 13 goals. SDG India Index and its significance; NITI Aayog About NITI Aayog  Government of India replaced the old Context: NITI Aayog will launch the second edition of the Sustainable planning commission started in 1950 Development Goals (SDG) India Index. with a new institution called NITI Aayog on 1 January 2015. What is SDG India Index?  It documents the progress made by  It works under the chairmanship of Prime Minister. India’s States and Union Territories towards implementing the 2030 SDG  NITI Aayog (National Institution for targets. Transforming India) seeks to provide a  The SDG India Index and Dashboard critical directional and strategic input 2019–20 have been developed in into the development process. It collaboration with the Ministry of focuses on co-operative federalism. Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the United Nations in India, and the Global Green Growth Institute.  NITI Aayog has the mandate of overseeing the adoption and monitoring of SDGs in the country, at the national and sub-national level.  The SDG India Index, whose first edition was launched in December 2018, was the first tool developed by any large country to monitor the progress towards achieving SDGs at the sub-national level.  The SDG India Index and Dashboard 2019 tracks the progress of and ranks all States and UTs on 100 indicators drawn from MoSPI’s National Indicator Framework, comprising 306 indicators. It indicates where the country and its States and UTs currently are on SDG implementation, and charts the distance to be travelled to reach the SDG targets. The Index covers 16 out

Easy to PICK57 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Universal Postal Union (UPU) Syllabus subtopic: Important channels along with the approval of other Acts of the Union. International institutions, agencies and  It will also enable the Department of fora, their structure, mandate. Posts to bring out any administrative orders to implement the provisions of Prelims and Mains focus: About UPU: the UPU Convention in India. objectives, functions and significance Context: The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the ratification of the Tenth Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). About UPU  It was established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874.  It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).  Its headquarters are located in Bern, Switzerland.  The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration (CA), the Postal Operations Council (POC) and the International Bureau (IB). Functions:  It also oversees the Telematics and Express Mail Service (EMS) cooperatives. Each member agrees to the same terms for conducting international postal duties.  It coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. Benefits of ratification for India:  The approval enables the Postal Administration of India to have the Instrument of Ratification signed with the Director-General of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union through diplomatic

Easy to PICK58 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Atal Bhujal Yojana (AJY) Syllabus subtopic: Welfare schemes for Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar vulnerable sections of the population by Pradesh. the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws,  These States represent about 25% of institutions and bodies constituted for the the total number of over-exploited, protection and betterment of these critical and semi-critical blocks in vulnerable sections terms of ground water in India. Prelims and Mains focus: About Atal  They also cover two major types of Bhujal Yojana- Objectives, funding and groundwater systems found in India – implementation, CGWA. alluvial and hard rock aquifers- and have varying degrees of institutional Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi readiness and experience in on December 25, 2019 launched a scheme groundwater management. to conserve ground water in regions with low water tables. Implementation of the scheme: Funds under the scheme will be provided About Atal Bhujal Yojana: to the states for strengthening the  It is a Rs.6000 crore World Bank institutions responsible for ground water governance, as well as for encouraging approved Central Sector Scheme of community involvement for improving the Ministry of Jal Shakti. ground water management to foster behavioural changes that promote  The funding pattern is 50:50 between conservation and efficient use of water. Government of India and World Bank. The scheme will also facilitate convergence of ongoing Government  Aims to improve ground water schemes in the states by incentivizing their management in priority areas in the focussed implementation in identified country through community priority areas. participation. The scheme “envisages”:  Community participation eg, “formation of Water User Associations”.  Monitoring and dissemination of data.  Water budgeting.  Panchayat-level plans.  Information, Education & Communication (IEC) activities. Priority areas:  The priority areas identified under the scheme fall in the states of Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh,

Easy to PICK59 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Recycling of Ships Act Syllabus subtopic: Government policies Restriction or prohibition on use of and interventions for development in hazardous material would not be applied to various sectors and issues arising out of warships and non-commercial ships their design and implementation. operated by Government. Prelims and Mains focus: About the Ships shall be surveyed and certified on Recycling of Ships Bill and HKC- features the inventory of hazardous material used in and significance. ships. Context: The Recycling of Ships Act has Under the Bill, ship recycling facilities are come into force with President Ram Nath required to be authorized and ships shall Kovind giving assent to the law which be recycled only in such authorized ship provides for safe and environmentally recycling facilities. sound recycling of ships. It also provides that ships shall be recycled The government has also decided to in accordance with a ship-specific accede to the Hong Kong International recycling plan. Convention for safe and environmentally Ships to be recycled in India shall be sound recycling of Ships, 2009. required to obtain a Ready for Recycling Background: Certificate in accordance with the HKC- The Union Cabinet had approved the Hong Kong International Convention for proposal for enactment of Recycling of the safe and environmentally sound Ships Bill, 2019 and accession to the Hong recycling of ships. Kong International Convention for Safe What is Hong Kong convention? and Environmentally Sound Recycling of The Hong Kong International Convention Ships, 2009. for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Need for legislation: Recycling of Ships, 2009 (the Hong Kong India is the leader in the global ship Convention), was adopted at a diplomatic recycling industry, with a share of over conference held in Hong Kong, China in 30% of the market. 2009. As per UNCTAD report on Review of It was adopted by the International Maritime Transport, 2018, India had Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2009. demolished 6323 tonnes in 2017, of known The Convention is aimed at ensuring that ship scrapping across the world. ships, when being recycled after reaching The ship-recycling industry is a labour- the end of their operational lives, do not intensive sector, but it is susceptible to pose any unnecessary risks to human concerns on environmental safety health, safety and to the environment. Key features of the bill: It also addresses concerns raised about the It restricts and prohibits the use or working and environmental conditions at installation of hazardous material, which many of the world’s ship recycling applies irrespective of whether a ship is locations. meant for recycling or not. The Convention is yet to come into force For new ships, such restriction or because it has not been ratified by 15 prohibition on use of hazardous material nations, representing 40 per cent of the will be immediate,that is, from the date the world merchant shipping by gross tonnage legislation comes into force, while existing (capacity) and a maximum annual ship ships shall have a period of five years for recycling volume of not less than 3 per compliance. cent of the combined tonnage of the countries.

Easy to PICK60 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Good Governance Index Syllabus subtopic: Important aspects of  These 10 governance sectors are further measured on a total of 50 governance, transparency and indicators. These indicators are given different weightage under one accountability, e-governance- applications, governance sector to calculate the value. models, successes, limitations, and  The states and UTs are divided into potential. three groups — big states, north-east and hill states, and Union territories. Prelims and Mains focus: About Good Key Findings of the first GGI Report: governance index and its significance:  Top performers among the big states: performance of various states Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Context: Latest edition of the ‘Good Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Governance Index’ has been launched on Gujarat. The bottom six states are the occasion of ‘Good Governance Day’. Odisha, Bihar, Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. Background:  Among the North-East & Hill States: Good Governance Day is observed on the Top 3 states are Himachal Pradesh, birth anniversary of former Prime Uttarakhand and Tripura. The bottom 3 Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee states are Meghalaya, Nagaland and (25th December). It was observed for the Arunachal Pradesh. first time in 2014.  Pondicherry leads among the UTs followed closely by Chandigarh with About the Good Governance Index Delhi bagging the third spot. (GGI)? Lakshadweep is at the bottom among  It is a tool to assess the status of the UTs. governance and the impact of various Sector-wise ranking of states: interventions taken up by the State  In the environment sector: The top Government and UTs. three states are West Bengal, Kerala The objectives of GGI are: and Tamil Nadu. The bottom 3 states  To provide quantifiable data to are Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Goa. compare the state of governance in all  Judicial and public security ranking: states and UTs. West Bengal is at the bottom two in  To enable states and UTs to formulate the judicial and public security and implement suitable strategies for ranking. Tamil Nadu tops the chart improving governance. here.  To shift to result-oriented approaches  Economic governance: Karnataka is and administration. at the top under the economic governance category. How is the GGI calculated?  Health: Kerala is at the top in the  The GGI takes into consideration 10 public health sector. sectors — agriculture and allied sectors, commerce and industries, human resource development, public health, public infrastructure and utilities, economic governance, social welfare & development, judicial and public security, environment and citizen-centric governance.

Easy to PICK61 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Three Technology Development Projects Inaugurated Syllabus subtopic: Science and machines smart through deployment Technology- developments and their of function specific sensor specially applications and effects in everyday life designed for data extraction. Another Achievements of Indians in science & Facility for Nano technology is also technology; indigenization of technology coming up in CMTI that will provide and developing new technology. better alternative route for precision manufacturing in strategic sectors. Prelims and Mains focus: About the initiatives launched and their 4. Department of Heavy Industry in the significance Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises had launched a pilot Context: Three Technology Development scheme in November 2014 for Projects at IIScBangalore and Central enhancement of competitiveness in the Manufacturing Technology Institute Indian capital goods sector. The (CMTI) Bengaluru were inaugurated scheme is focused on making the recently. Two Technology Development Indian capital goods sector globally Projects at PSG College of Technology competitive and give a boost to the and Scientific and Industrial Testing and Indian economy. The scheme Research Centre(SiTARC), Coimbatore addresses the issue of technological were also inaugurated. depth creation in the capital goods sector besides creating common 1. IIScBangalore has developed a industrial facility centers. technology for metal additive printing machine with DHI support. 5. The scheme consists of five This is niche technology and the components which are Advanced development is being done for the first Centres of Excellence, Integrated time in India. Industrial Infrastructure Facilities (IIFC), Common Engineering Facility 2. An Industry 4.0 SAMARTH Centre (CEFC), Testing & UDYOG Centre is also coming up at Certification Centre (T&CC) and IIScBangalore in order to support Technology Acquisition Fund Indian manufacturing to adopt and Programme (TAFP). assimilate Industry 4.0 technology such as Data Analytics, 3 D Printing, Advanced Centres of Excellence (CoEs): Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality,  Eight Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for roboties machine to Machine Communication, Smarting of Legacy Technology Development have been machine. established at IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, IISc, CMTI, HEC/PSG 3. A Sensor Technology manufacturing College of Technology etc. / Fabrication facility is also coming Technologies have been developed up at CMTI, Bengaluru with the help with industry partners in sectors like of the DHI. Sensor Technology will machine tools, textile machinery, earth help in making products and moving machinery, metallurgical

Easy to PICK62 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” machinery and welding, submersible pumps.  CoEs at IIT Madras, IISc, Bengaluru, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Sitarc, Coimbatore and HEC Ranchi have already been completed. Shuttle less rapier looms of 450 RPM developed by CMTI are under testing at the facility of the industry partner at Surat. Development of the rest of the Centres of Excellence at IIT Kharagpur and IIT Delhi is at an advanced stage.  A 500-acre world class machine tool park has been established in Tumkuru, Karnataka in partnership with Government of Karnataka. The Park is in the centre of machine tools cluster and will strengthen the output of the machine tools sector. 108 acres of land has already been allotted to 12 companies.  R&D capabilities in Institutions of Eminence are being leveraged to develop cutting edge industrial technologies so that challenges of manufacturing sector emerging from huge imports of high tech products can be dealt with. India also lags behind in manufacturing technologies. These challenges are being addressed through this scheme of DHI that will soon be scaled up and is specifically designed to tackle these challenges.  The manufacturing sector is crucial for the development of the country’s economy as the Capital Goods industry contributes about 12% to the total manufacturing activity in India that is about 2% of the GDP. The Government of India has set a target of USD one trillion manufacturing economy in the next five years and to achieve this the sector has to grow at double digits

Easy to PICK63 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” More than 1 Cr Houses Sanctioned Under PMAY(U) Syllabus subtopic: Welfare schemes for The implementation of PMAY (U), has vulnerable sections of the population by induced a remarkable investment in the Centre and States and the performance housing sector especially in the affordable of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, housing segment. The houses sanctioned institutions and bodies constituted for the so far under the Mission involve an protection and betterment of these investment of about Rs. 5.70 Lakh Cr with vulnerable sections Central Assistance of Rs. 1.6 Lakh Cr. The Central Government is contributing Prelims and Mains focus: about Rs.1.00 Lakh to Rs.2.67 Lakh for each PMAY(U); significance, challeneges in house under different verticals of the implementation and its achievements; scheme. As on date, nearly Rs. 60,000 Cr about angikaar campaign of Central Assistance has already been released. Presently, works of about Rs. 3 Context: Out of a validated demand of Lakh Cr is ongoing and by the time 1.12 Cr houses in urban areas, 1 Cr houses Mission accomplishes its target of 1.12 Cr have already been sanctioned. Further, a houses, the entire activity will trigger an total of 57 Lakh houses are in various investment of more than Rs. 7 Lakh Cr. stages of construction of which, nearly 30 Lakh houses have been completed. The scheme promotes a synergetic Compared to the earlier JNNURM partnership of the people and the scheme, PMAY (U) has achieved 10 Governments. In consonance of the times more in a span of 4.5 years, whereas Mission Guidelines, States/ UTs are also the earlier scheme had taken 10 years to contributing a substantial amount of Rs 1- achieve a significantly less number. 2 Lakh on an average which can go upto Rs 6 Lakh per house. Beneficiaries are also About PMAY(U) contributing their share in the range ofRs. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), 2 Lakh to Rs. 5 Lakhper house. [PMAY (U)], is one of the largest affordable housing programmes in the In order to supplement the additional world. requirement of providing the Central The Mission has covered a range of Assistance, over and above the budgetary social groups which comprises of around support, Government has made a provision 5.8 Lakh senior citizens, 2 Lakh for raising Extra Budgetary Resources construction workers, 1.5 Lakh domestic (EBR) to the tune of Rs. 60,000 Cr of workers, 1.5 Lakh artisans, 0.63 Lakh which, Rs. 38,000 Cr have already been differently-abled (Divyang), 770 raised and disbursed. Government has also transgender and 500 leprosy patients as created an Affordable Housing Fund of now. (AHF) in the National Housing Bank Empowerment of women is an inbuilt (NHB) with an initial corpus of Rs. 10,000 design of the scheme where the ownership Cr using priority sector lending shortfall of of the house is in the name of female head banks/financial institutions for micro of household or in the joint name. financing of the HFCs

Easy to PICK64 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” CLS-MIG paradigm shift in the construction The Credit Linked Subsidy for the technology in India and will propel in a Middle Income Group (MIG) was host of economic activities. 6 Light House introduced for the first time in the housing Projects are being executed in six states sector with effect from 1 January 2017. across the country which will act as live The MIG beneficiaries with annual income laboratories demonstrating innovative, upto Rs. 18 Lakh are eligible for claiming proven construction technologies for interest subsidy on their housing loans. speedier and cost-effective construction of For the MIG, the Government has houses which are sustainable green, eco- increased the area of house up to 200 sq. friendly and disaster resilient. m. This in turn has a significant impact on banking sector and in enhancing the About Angikaar investment in the housing sector. The Ministry has launched angikaar- a Government has developed a web based campaign for change management. The real time monitoring system called “CLSS campaign address and enables Awas Portal (CLAP)” to ensure people’s beneficiaries to adapt to life transformation participation and transparency leading to that comes with shifting to a newly efficient delivery and minimising constructed house. grievances. The campaign has also converged with other government schemes like Ayushman In addition to this, the construction Bharat and Ujjawala so that beneficiaries activity under the scheme has had a huge can avail the benefits of these schemes. impact on the other sectors of the economy Currently more than 12 Lakh households with a multiplier effect in employment have been covered through this campaign generation. Approximately around 1.20 Cr which is ongoing and will conclude on employment has been generated through January 26th 2020. forward and backward linkages with about 250 auxiliary industries like, steel, brick kilns, cement, paint, hardware, sanitary etc. Due to investment being made in the scheme, around 568 Lakh metric tonne of cement would be required for sanctioned houses; out of which 178 Lakh Metric Ton of cement has already been consumed through completed houses. Around 130Lakh tonne of steel is required for the sanctioned houses; around 40LakhMetric Tonof steel has already been consumed in the completed houses. It also has an impact on livelihood, transport sector, skill development, horticulture, landscape development sector etc. Government has identified many alternative and innovative technologies through a Global Housing Technology Challenge- India. This will usher a

Easy to PICK65 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” eB’krey (eB’krey) Portal Syllabus subtopic: Government policies 2. It is framework for promoting online and interventions for development in auction of assets attached by the banks. various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 3. It is equipped with the property search features and contains navigational links Prelims and Mains focus: about the e- to all PSBs e-auction sites. auction portal and its significance 4. The framework aims to provide single- Context: Union Finance Ministry has window access to information on recently launched the eB’krey e-auction properties. portal. 5. eB’krey also contains photographs and About the e-auction Portal videos of the properties uploaded on 1. To enable online auction by banks of the platform. attached assets transparently and cleanly for the improved realization of value, eB’krey is launched.

Easy to PICK66 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Biometric enabled Centralised Access Control System (CACS) &Training Module of e-BCAS Project launched Syllabus subtopic: Important aspects of human intervention systematically as until governance, transparency and now employees were issued laminated paper based Aerodrome Entry Permit. accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and Airports Authority of India successfully potential; citizens charters, transparency & conducted SAT (Site Acceptance Test) at accountability and institutional and other various airport i.e. Ahmedabad, Chennai & measures. Kolkata recently. All 29 Aviation Security Prelims and Mains focus: about the Training Institutes (ASTIs) have been CACS and e-BACS project: their registered as User Entities and now they significance can make nominations for various courses Context: Minister of State (I/C) for Civil online. Moreover, the system will also Aviation launched the Biometric enabled allow its users to check the approvals by BCAS, declaration of results and QR Centralised Access Control System coded online certificate generation will (CACS) and ‘e-BCAS Project Training also be done through this project only. Module today. The two projects launched are important milestones to enhance This would result in making the entire security and ease of doing business at airports. training ecosystem of BCAS transparent as About the CACS project Covering 43 Airports of AAI and 5 Joint well as efficient. Venture airports at present, the CACS About the e-BCAS Project The ‘e-BCAS’ project envisaged to achieve a “paperless office” under e- project is aimed to digitize the employee Governance initiative of GoI. Its aimed at movement process at the airports. facilitating external stakeholders to This multi-layered security system access BCAS system by digital encompasses the uniqueness of the Airport automation of all internal office Entry Permit (AEP) users, biometric procedures in 2016, the project was authentication in addition to PIN-based approved by Ministry of Civil Aviation identity verification through contactless (MoCA) at an estimated cost of Rs.21.69 smart card technology, which manages crore. The e-BCAS project included access of personnel along with RFID based Training module, Quality Control and automated vehicle access control system Operational module and Administration according to the region, terminal, zone, etc. After modifications, the current and gate access privileges. The cost of the training module part has been completed card is Rs. 225, which shall be valid for at an estimated cost of Rs.30.00 lakhs three years. Biometric ID (Biometric approx. only. In due course of time, with enabled Centralised Access Control the integration of all three modules into the System having chip embedded smart platform of e-BCAS, the processing time AEPs) thus issued, is non-duplicable. An in giving clearances and approvals will be MoU was signed between ECIL and reduced considerably. These steps will BCAS on 17th December 2015 with an ease the process of training, overall investment of Rs.34.92 crore. The audit/inspections, enhance the throughput project aimed to digitize the existing as well as a lot of time, energy and mechanism at the airports and reduce precious man hours of all stakeholders.

Easy to PICK67 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Total Forest and Tree Cover rises to 24.56 percent of the total geographical area of the Country Syllabus subtopic: Conservation, million hectare which is 24.56 percent of environmental pollution and degradation, the geographical area of the country. environmental impact assessment As compared to the assessment of 2017, there is an increase of 5,188 sq. km in the Prelims and Mains focus: about the ISFR total forest and tree cover of the country. 2019 report: its key findings Out of this, the increase in the forest cover has been observed as 3,976 sq km and that Context: The Union Minister for in tree cover is 1,212 sq. km. range. Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Increase in forest cover has been observed today released the biennial “India State in open forest followed by very dense of Forest Report (ISFR)”, in New Delhi. forest and moderately dense forest and the top three states showing increase in forest  The report is published by the Forest cover are Karnataka (1,025 sq. km) Survey of India (FSI) which has been followed by Andhra Pradesh (990 sq km) mandated to assess the forest and and Kerala (823 sq km).” tree resources of the country including wall-to-wall forest cover Area-wise Madhya Pradesh has the mapping in a biennial cycle. largest forest cover in the country followed by Arunachal Pradesh,  Starting 1987, 16 assessment have Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra. In been completed so far. ISFR 2019 is terms of forest cover as percentage of total the 16th report in the series. geographical area, the top five States are Mizoram (85.41%), Arunachal Pradesh Key findings of the report (79.63%), Meghalaya (76.33%), Manipur In the present assessment, the total forest (75.46%) and Nagaland (75.31%). and tree cover of the country is 80.73

Easy to PICK68 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” The Mangrove ecosystems are unique & 2017. Under the current assessment the rich in biodiversity and they provide total carbon stock in country’s forest is numerous ecological services. Mangrove estimated 7,124.6 million tonnes and there cover has been separately reported in the an increase of 42.6 million tonnes in the ISFR 2019 and the total mangrove cover in carbon stock of country as compared to the the country is 4,975 sq km. An increase of last assessment of 2017. The annual 54 sq Km in mangrove cover has been increase in the carbon stock is 21.3 million observed as compared to the previous tonnes, which is 78.2 million tonnes CO2 assessment of 2017. Top three states eq. Wetlands within forest areas form showing mangrove cover increase are important ecosystems and add richness to Gujarat (37 sq km) followed by the biodiversity in forest areas, both of Maharashtra (16 sq km) and Odisha (8 sq faunal and floral species. Due to km). importance of wetlands, FSI has carried out an exercise at the national level to identify wetlands of more than 1 ha within RFA. There are 62,466 wetlands covering 3.8% of the area within the RFA/GW of the country. The total growing stock of India’s forest and TOF is estimated 5,915.76 million cum of which 4,273.47 million cum is inside the forests and 1,642.29 million cum outside. There is an increase of 93.38 million cum of total growing stock, as compared to the previous assessment. Out of this the increase in growing stock, there is an increase of 55.08 million cum inside the forests and 38.30 million cum outside the forest areas. The extent of bamboo bearing area of the country has been estimated 16.00 million hectare. There is an increase of 0.32 million hectare in bamboo bearing area as compared to the last assessment of ISFR 2017. The total estimated green weight of bamboo culms is 278 million tonnes, slowly an increase of 88 million tonnes as compared to ISFR

Easy to PICK69 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC) Syllabus subtopic: Science and Volunteers in districts lend it great Technology- developments and their strength and capability for implementing applications and effects in everyday life projects that reach the common man and Achievements of Indians in science & woman. technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology. Prelims and Mains focus: About NCSC and its significance Context: The latest edition of National Children’s Science Congress was held in Thiruvananthapuram. Theme: “Science, Technology and Innovation for a Clean, Green and Healthy Nation”. About National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC): It is a nationwide Science Communication programme started in the year 1993. It is a programme of National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi. It is a forum children of the age-group of 10-17 years, both from formal school system as well as from out of school, to exhibit their creativity and innovativeness and more particularly their ability to solve a societal problem experienced locally using by method of science. About National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC): It is mandated to communicate science & technology to masses. It is a registered body guided by a Board of Governors with headquarters at Delhi. It has about eighty members spread in all states and union territories.

Easy to PICK70 - “UPSC Monthly Magazine” Chief of Defence Staff Syllabus subtopic: Various Security It will ensure integration of land-air-sea forces and agencies and their mandate. operations through the eventual setting up of theatre commands. Prelims and Mains focus: About the post The CDS will also function as the military of CDS and its significance for India’s advisor to the PM-led Nuclear Command defence sector Authority,as also have direct command of tri-Service organizations to handle the new Context: The outgoing Army chief, Gen. warfare domains of space and cyberspace. Bipin Rawat, has been appointed as the He will function as the Principal Military country’s first Chief of Defence Staff Adviser to the Defence Minister and also (CDS). as the Permanent Chairman, Chiefs of As per the notification by the government, Staff Committee (COSC). the upper age limit for the CDS has been The CDS will be member of Defence fixed at 65 years. However, the tenure of Acquisition Council and Defence Planning CDS has not been fixed. Committee. About CDS: Significance: He will be the single-point military adviser The charter of the CDS, if implemented to the government as suggested by the properly, will prepare the 15-lakh strong Kargil Review Committee in 1999. armed forces for the wars of the future. CDS oversees and coordinates the working The CDS is mandated to ensure the Army, of the three Services. Navy and IAF, which often pull in different directions, truly integrate to slash Conditions: wasteful expenditure amidst the ongoing He will be a Four-star General. severe fund crunch for military Not eligible to hold any Government office modernization because of the ballooning after demitting the office of CDS. pay and pension bills. No private employment without prior approval for a period of five years after demitting the office of CDS. Roles and functions: CDS will provide “single-point military advice”to the government, inject synergy in planning, procurements and logistics in the armed forces.