10 July 2024 PIB
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Durand Cup 2. India-Austria Partnership 3. MRA between India and Taiwan 4. PLI Scheme Update 5. GAINS 2024 6. Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (May 2024) 7. IMO Council 8. National Gopal Ratna Awards 2024
1. Durand Cup
Syllabus: Miscellaneous, Sports
Prelims: Durand Cup
Context:
The President of India unveiled the trophies of the Durand Cup Tournament.
About the Durand Cup:
- It is an annual domestic football tournament held in India and named after its founder Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, a foreign secretary of British India (1884 – 1894).
- The first competition was held in 1888.
- Domestic football clubs play it.
- It is India’s oldest club football tournament and the world’s third-oldest.
- The Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) organise the event.
- Initially open to the armed forces of British India, civilian clubs were allowed to take part after the Second World War.
2. India-Austria Partnership
Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations
Mains: India – Austria relationship
Context:
Prime Minister’s visit to Austria.
Details:
- PM Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Austria from 9-10 July 2024.
- This was the Prime Minister’s first visit to Austria and that of an Indian Prime Minister after 41 years.
- 2024 marks the 75th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
- The Prime Minister and the Austrian Chancellor emphasised that the shared values of democracy, freedom, international peace and security, a rules-based international order with the UN Charter at its core, the shared historical linkages, and the long-standing ties between the two countries are at the centre of the growing enhanced partnership.
Political and Security Cooperation:
- The two leaders exchanged in-depth assessments of recent developments in Europe and West Asia.
- Concerning the war in Ukraine, both leaders supported any collective effort to facilitate a peaceful resolution consistent with international law and the UN Charter.
- The two leaders reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border and cyber-terrorism and emphasised that no country should provide safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts.
- The two leaders emphasised that India and the European Union have the largest and most vibrant free-market space in the world, and noted that deeper EU-India ties will be mutually beneficial.
Sustainable Economic Partnership:
- Both leaders welcomed the convening of the first-ever high-level bilateral Business Forum with the participation of the CEOs of several companies in Vienna during the visit.
- The two leaders recognised the vital importance of research, scientific tie-ups, technology partnerships and innovation in driving forward the bilateral partnership and called for all such opportunities to be explored in mutual interest.
- The leaders welcomed initiatives to link the innovation and start-up ecosystems of the two countries through the Start-Up Bridge.
- This bridge was set up during the visit of the Austrian Minister of Labour and Economy to India in February 2024.
- They noted the scope for engagement in the context of the Austrian government’s Hydrogen Strategy and the National Green Hydrogen Mission launched by India to address the energy transition challenges.
- They also identified a range of environmental technologies for targeted cooperation in areas such as clean transportation, water and wastewater management, waste management, renewable energy and other clean technologies.
Skill Development:
- The leaders welcomed the operationalisation of the bilateral Migration and Mobility Agreement, which provides an institutional framework to facilitate such exchanges, while at the same time combating irregular migration.
People-to-people Ties:
- The leaders welcomed efforts to promote further bilateral cultural ties in music, dance, opera, theatre, films, literature, sports and other fields.
- They also recognised the role played by tourism in generating economic, sustainable and inclusive growth as well as greater understanding between the people of both countries.
Multilateral Cooperation:
- The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and the principles of the United Nations Charter. They agreed to work together to safeguard and promote these fundamental principles through regular bilateral consultations and coordination at multilateral forums.
- India reiterated its support for Austria’s UNSC candidature for the term 2027-28, while Austria expressed its support for India’s candidature for the period 2028-29.
3. MRA between India and Taiwan
Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations
Prelims: MRA between India and Taiwan
Mains: Relations between India and Taiwan
Context:
The Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for organic products between India and Taiwan has been implemented w.e.f. 8th July 2024.
Details:
- This was implemented during the 9th Working Group on Trade Meeting with Taiwan in New Delhi.
- This is the first bilateral agreement between India and Taiwan for organic products.
- The implementing agencies for the MRA are the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India and the Agriculture and Food Agency, Ministry of Agriculture (AFA), Taiwan.
- Features under the MRA:
- Under this agreement, agricultural products produced and handled organically in conformity with the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and accompanied by an organic demonstration document (transaction certificate, etc.) issued by an accredited certification body under NPOP are allowed for sale in Taiwan as organically produced including the display of the “India Organic” logo.
- Similarly, agricultural products produced and handled organically in conformity with the Organic Agriculture Promotion Act and accompanied by an organic demonstration document (transaction certificate etc) issued by an accredited certification body under the Taiwanese regulation are allowed for sale in India as organically produced including display of the “Taiwan Organic” logo.
- Significance:
- The mutual recognition will ease the export of organic products by avoiding dual certifications; thus, reducing compliance costs, simplifying compliance requirements by adhering to only one regulation and enhancing trade opportunities in the organic sector.
- This will pave the way for the export of major Indian organic products such as Rice, Processed Food, Green/Black and Herbal Tea, Medicinal plant products, etc. to Taiwan.
4. PLI Scheme Update
Syllabus: GS-3, Economy
Prelims/Mains: PLI scheme, Telecom sector in India
Context:
Telecom equipment manufacturing sales cross the Rs 50,000 crore milestone under the PLI Scheme.
Details:
- The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Telecom and Networking Products and for Large Scale Electronic Manufacturing of Electronics have led to a significant increase in production, employment generation, economic growth, and exports in the country.
- The PLI scheme aims to enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities and make India a global hub for telecom equipment production.
- The scheme also offers financial incentives to manufacturers based on their incremental sales from products manufactured in India.
- The Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Large Scale Electronic Manufacturing of Electronics covers the manufacture of mobile phones and their components.
Developments under the Telecom PLI Scheme:
- Within three years of the Telecom PLI scheme, the scheme has attracted an investment of Rs 3,400 crore.
- Telecom equipment production has exceeded the milestone of Rs 50,000 crore with exports totalling approximately Rs 10,500 crore.
- This has created more than 17,800 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs.
- Increase in production of mobile phones:
- In 2014-15, only 5.8 crore units were produced in the country, while 21 crore units were imported.
- In 2023-24, 33 crore units were produced in India, only 0.3 crore units were imported and close to 5 crore units were exported.
- The value of exports of mobile phones has gone up from Rs 1,556 crore in 2014-15 and just Rs 1,367 crore in 2017-18, to Rs 1,28,982 crore in 2023-24.
5. GAINS 2024
Syllabus: GS-3, Infrastructure, Shipping
Prelims: GAINS 2024
Mains: Shipping industry in India
Context:
Union Minister launched the GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme (GAINS 2024) of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata.
Details:
- The scheme seeks solutions to problems related to shipyards and promotes technology development using start-ups created and nurtured in the country.
- It encourages and enables MSMEs and Start-Ups to develop innovative solutions for further technological advancement.
- The aim is to leverage the vast ecosystem of MSMEs and Start-Ups to address present and emerging challenges in the ship design and construction industry while achieving the objectives of Atmanirbharta.
6. Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (May 2024)
Syllabus: GS-3, Economy
Prelims: Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers
Context:
The Labour Bureau has released the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers for May 2024.
Details:
- The Labour Bureau (under the Ministry of Labour & Employment) has been compiling the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers every month based on retail prices collected from 317 markets spread over 88 industrially important centres in the country.
- The All-India CPI-IW for May 2024 increased by 0.5 points and stood at 139.9.
- Year-on-year inflation for May 2024 moderated to 3.86% as compared to 4.42% in May 2023.
Read more on the Consumer Price Index in the linked article.
7. IMO Council
Syllabus: GS-2, International Relations
Prelims: IMO Council
Context:
India led the global maritime discourse at the IMO Council session in London.
Details:
- A delegation from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is participating in the 132nd session of the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London.
- At the session, India called for effective measures to resolve the issue of seafarer abandonment and ensure the safety of the maritime workforce.
- In recognition of its continued commitment to address seafarers’ issues, India secured its position as one of the eight governments representing IMO in the joint tripartite working group.
- The delegation pointed out that despite efforts, there are 44 active cases involving 292 Indian seafarers.
- At the session, India reiterated its proposal for the South Asian Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (SACE-SMarT).
- The working group is dedicated to identifying and tackling seafarers’ issues and the human element in maritime operations. Other proposed members include the Philippines, Thailand, Liberia, Panama, Greece, the US, and France.
- India’s participation in the IMO Council session underscores dedication to international maritime cooperation and innovation.
8. National Gopal Ratna Awards 2024
Syllabus: GS-3, Economy, Agriculture
Prelims: National Gopal Ratna Awards
Context:
The National Gopal Ratna Awards are given under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM).
Details:
- The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been giving out these awards since 2021 to encourage milk-producing farmers, dairy cooperative societies/MPC/FPOs and Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs).
- The awards are given in the following categories:
- Best Dairy farmer rearing indigenous cattle/buffalo breeds.
- Best Dairy Cooperative Society (DCS)/Milk Producer Company (MPC)/Dairy Farmer Producer Organization (FPO).
- Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT)
- From this year onward, the Department has incorporated a Special award for North Eastern Region (NER) States to encourage and boost the dairy development activities in North Eastern Region.
- So, under each category, four awards will be given (1st, 2nd, 3rd ranks and one special award for NE region).
- Rank 1: Rs 5 lakh cash award
- Rank 2: Rs 3 lakh cash award
- Rank 3 and NE Region: Rs 2 lakh cash award
- For the AITs, only a certificate of merit and a memento are given (no cash award).
Read previous PIB articles here.
| Related Links | |||
| Finance Commission of India | PM Gati Shakti | ||
| Food Corporation of India | Tele-MANAS | ||
| Index of Industrial Production | Agnipath Scheme | ||
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