Current Affairs 4 May 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 4 May 2021  focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

1. Myanmar Refugess Can approach UNHCR
2. Production linked incentive scheme
3. Dekho Apna Desh Webinar
4. P-8I Aircraft For India
5. Women And Youth In State Assemblies

Myanmar Refugess Can approach UNHCR

Source : Indian Express
GS II : India and its neighbourhood- relations
GS III : Security challenges and their management in border areas; linkages of organized crime with terrorism

Why in News ?

The High Court of Manipur on Monday ordered safe passage to seven Myanmar nationals, stranded at a border town in Manipur, to travel to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in New Delhi.

Key Facts

• They fled the country of their origin under imminent threat to their lives and liberty.
• In such a situation, insisting that they first answer for admitted violations of our domestic laws would be palpably inhuman.
• The petitioner approached the court to pass an order for safe passage to the seven Myanmar nationals to seek protection from UNHCR.
• Concerns for protection
  • India has no clear refugee protection policy or framework.
  • But does grant asylum to a large number of refugees from the neighbouring country.
  • India usually respects UNHCR’s recognition of the status of such asylum seekers, mainly from Afghanistan and Myanmar.
• But according to Indian Laws the seven persons who admittedly entered the country illegally should first face the consequences of their unlawful acts.
• Constitutional freedoms available under Article 19 are limited to citizens
  • These seven persons cannot claim such freedoms under Articles 19(1)(d) and 19 (1)(e), with regard to moving freely or residing/settling in any part of the territory of India.

Brief Background for current unrest

• A coup in Myanmar began on the morning of February 2021
• The reason was when democratically elected members of the country’s ruling party National League for Democracy (NLD) were deposed by the Myanmar’s military
• The country made under military rule by declaring the results of the November 2020 general election invalid.
  • Military coup that ousted an elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
• Tensions between the KNU and the military increased during the unrest following the 2021 Myanmar coup.
• Most of the Myanmar people were satisfied with the election result.
• About 56,000 people have been displaced and 1000 died by conflict in Myanmar this year.
• Karen rebels and the Myanmar army have clashed near the Thai border in the most intense fighting in the area in 25 years.

Production linked incentive scheme

Source : PIB
GS II : Food processing and related industries in India- scope and significance, location, upstream and downstream requirements, supply chain management

Why in News?

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has issued detailed operational scheme guidelines and has launched an online portal for Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI). 

Key Facts

• As a part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, Government of India has approved a new Central Sector Scheme namely Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry.
• Union Ministery for Food Processing Industries launched and online portal for the beneficiaries.
• The scheme invites foreign companies to set up units in India aims
  • It also aims to encourage local companies to set up or expand existing manufacturing units
  • Also to generate more employment
  • Also cut down the country’s reliance on imports from other countries.
• Processed food can be exported that may help us in getting foreign exchange reserves.

Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry

To support creation of global food manufacturing champions with India’s natural resource endowment and support Indian brands of food products in the international markets with an outlay of Rs. 10900 crore.

• It was launched in April 2020, for the Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing sector, but later towards the end of 2020 was introduced for 10 other sectors.
• This scheme was introduced in line with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign.
• Scheme will be implemented over a six year period from 2021-22 to 2026-27.
• Objectives of the Scheme
  • Support creation of global food manufacturing champions
  • Strengthen select Indian brand of food products for global visibility and wider acceptance in the international markets
  • Increase employment opportunities of off-farm jobs
  • Ensuring remunerative prices of farm produce and higher income to farmers
• Salient features
  • The first component relates to incentivising manufacturing of four major food product segments
    1. Ready to Cook
    2. Ready to Eat (RTC/ RTE) foods
    3. Processed Fruits & Vegetables
    4. Procesed Marine Products, Mozzarella Cheese
  • Investment made in 2020-21 also to be counted for meeting the mandated investment.
  • The conditions of stipulated Minimum Sales and mandated investment will not be applicable for entities selected for making innovative/ organic products.
  • The second component relates to support for branding and marketing abroad to incentivise emergence of strong Indian brands.
  • For promotion of Indian Brand abroad, the scheme envisages grant to the applicant entities for – in store Branding, shelf space renting and marketing.
• How the scheme helps the economy?
  • The implementation of the scheme would facilitate expansion of processing capacity to generate processed food output of Rs 33,494 crore.
  • Create employment for nearly 2.5 lakh persons by the year 2026-27.

Food processing sector in India

• The food processing sector in India encompasses manufacturing enterprises in all the segments from micro to large industries.
• It accounts for 32 per cent of the country’s total food market.
  • It considered to be largest industries in India and is ranked fifth in terms.
• Food processing units acts as a link between agriculture and industries.
• International Competition
  • India ranks 1st in the production of milk, ginger, banana, guava, papaya, mango
  • 2nd in the production of rice, wheat, potato, sugarcane, cashew nut, tea

Dekho Apna Desh Webinar

Source : PIB
GS II : Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

Why in News ?

The Ministry of Tourism’s Dekho Apna Desh Webinar series held its 86th webinar titled Mountains to Mangroves A Journey of 1000 Kilometers.

Key Facts

• India marked off by the mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct geographical entity.
• Every state in India is distinct from each other in its landscapes, heritage, arts & crafts, cuisine and offers varied tourism options to travel enthusiasts.
• Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west.

Dekho Apna Desh

• Journey started from the Himalayan range of mountains from Sikkim through the Queen of the hills Darjeeling to the Gangetic Plains.
• State of Sikkim and West Bengal are one of the most preferred states on the travel lists as both offer wide range of tourism products be it adventure, spiritual, heritage, wildlife.
  • To visit Sikkim foreigners must obtain Restricted Area Permit (RAP) previously known as InnerLine Permit.

Tourism in India

• The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019 ranked India 16th out of 140 countries overall.
• The World Travel and Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated 9.2% of India’s GDP in 2018.
• India’s medical tourism sector was estimated to be worth US$3 billion.
• India has recently implemented an online method for citizens of 168 countries to apply for an e-Tourist Visa.
• There are 38 World Heritage sites in India that are recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had high impact for tourism.
• Ministry of Tourism maintains the Incredible India campaign focused on promoting the tourism in India.

P-8I Aircraft For India

Source : Hindustan Times
GS III : Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Why in News?

United States has cleared the potential sale of six additional P-8I maritime patrol aircraft for India, worth $2.42 billion.

Key Facts

• India already has a fleet of P-8I patrol aircraft with eight ordered in 2009 and four more in 2016.
• With six more now will allow the Indian Navy to expand its maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA) capability for the next 30 years.
• About the Aircraft
  • P-8I is an Indian variant of P-8s.
  • Designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
  • It carries multiple missions and comes equipped with state-of-the-art sensors, proven weapons systems, and a globally recognised platform.
  • P-8Is comes with
    • Eight Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical Radio Systems 5 (MIDS-JTRS 5)
    • 42 AN/AAR-54 Missile Warning Sensors
    • 14 LN-251 with Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigations Systems

It support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship

India US Defence Deals

• From near zero in 2008, India-US defence trade touched $20 billion in 2020
• US designating India a Major Defence Partner and then granting it same access to defence technology as NATO allies and Australia, Japan and South Korea under Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA) in 2018.
• India has signed all enabling agreements to maintain a good relation with US like
  • Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) in 2020
  • Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018
  • Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement in 2016
  • General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002

Indian Defence Partenrs

• India is the second-largest importer of arms in the world.
• France, Russia, United States, South Korea and Israel were the largest suppliers of arms to India in 2020.
• Arms exports by Russia fell by 22 per cent, which is majorly due to India’s cut in arms imports.
• Arms imports by India fell by 33 per cent between 2011-15 and 2016-20.
• India aims at cutting its import dependence and increase indigenous development for weapons.

Women And Youth In State Assemblies

Source : Indian Express
GS I : Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies 

Why in News ?

After the election in three states the share of women MLAs is unchanged in West Bengal, has grown slightly in Kerala, and fallen in Tamil Nadu.

Key Facts

• Women Representation
  • Among the three new state Assemblies being analysed here, only Kerala recorded a marginal increase in seats for women from 8 to 11.
  • Women’s representation in West Bengal remained unchanged with 40 seats (41 in 2016).
  • Tamil Nadu, notably, recorded a decline from 21 seats to 12.
  • In the 243-member Bihar legislature the number of women MLAs are with 28 women elected in 2015 and 26 in 2020.
  • In Maharashtra, 24 women were elected to the assembly in 2019 as against 20 in 2014.
• Youth Representation
  • The number of young MLAs in the 25-40 age group has risen to 14%, Except in West Bengal.
  • The number in Kerala and Tamil Nadu stands at 9% and 6%.
  • Fifteen of its incoming MLAs are 70 and above in Tamil Nadu.
  • West Bengal has more young MLAs than earlier while the other two Assemblies have less than 10% MLAs under 40.
• Representation of Political Parties
  • West Bengal Assembly with 294 seats will have fewer political parties than last time with its legislators representing 3 parties compared to 8 in 2016.
  •  In Tamil Nadu out of 234 seats the number of parties represented in the Assembly has doubled from 4 in 2016 to 8.
  • The newly elected Kerala legislature with 140 seats, will have MLAs from 16 different parties.

Challenges for Women Participation

• Discrimination
  • Discriminatory attitudes towards women as leaders.
  • Women also lack leadership experience as they are burdened with household duties.
• Illiteracy
  • India had a  largest illiterate populations. United Nations reported 25 adults in India are illiterate.
  • This illiteracy limits the ability of women to understand the political system and issues.
• Social Norms
  • Socio-economic conditions, such as poverty and illiteracy, prevent the entrance of women into running for public office
  • There is little public space for them as men have dominated the political arena for many years in India.
• Measures Taken
  • Reservation for Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions
  • Constitution of India attempts to remove gender inequalities by banning discrimination based on sex.
  • Women’s Reservation Bill 2008

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