04 Apr 2018: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

Special Package for Leather and Footwear Sector

• Government has approved special package for employment generation in leather and footwear sector.
• The package involves implementation of Central Sector Scheme ‘Indian Footwear, Leather & Accessories Development Programme (IFLADP)’.
• Government has approved an expenditure of Rs. 2,600 crores over the three financial years from 2017-18 to 2019-20.

There are seven sub-schemes:

• Human Resource Development (HRD) sub-scheme provides Skill development.
• Integrated Development of Leather Sector (IDLS) sub-scheme provides backend investment grant/subsidy @ 30% of the cost of new Plant and Machinery to MSME.
• Establishment of Institutional Facilities sub-scheme provides assistance to Footwear Design & Development Institute (FDDI) for upgradation of some of the existing campuses of FDDI into “Centers of Excellence”.
• Mega Leather, Footwear and Accessories Cluster (MLFAC) sub-scheme provides infrastructure support.
• Leather Technology, Innovation and Environmental sub-scheme, assistance is provided for upgradation/installation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) @ 70% of the project cost. 
• Promotion of Indian Brands in Leather, Footwear and Accessories sub-scheme, eligible units approved for Brand Promotion are assisted.
• Additional Employment Incentive for Leather, Footwear and Accessories Sector scheme, employers’ contribution of 3.67% to Employees’ Provident Fund for all new employees in Leather, Footwear and Accessories sector are provided for enrolling in EPFO for first 3 years of their employment.

High Powered Committee to examine the system of conducting Class X and Class XII examination

• The Ministry of Human Resource Development has constituted a High Powered Committee to examine the entire system of conducting Class X and Class XII examination conducted by the CBSE with a view to prevent leakages.
• Vinay Sheel Oberoi will be the Chairperson of the 7 member High Power Committee.

The terms of reference of the Committee are as under:

• To revisit all aspects related to the security checks built into the system for ensuring that the Question papers reach the examinees without tampering.
• To examine and assess all areas of potential weakness in the present system of transporting question papers from the printing presses to the examinees.
• To suggest ways in which the system can be made more secure with the use of technology and minimization of human intervention.

To ace UPSC current affairs section, read more PIB articles here.