Current Affairs 31 May 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 31 May 2021  focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

1. BRICS High Performance Computing
2. Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme
3. Bal Swaraj Covid Care
4. YUVA : Young Upcoming and Versatile Authors
5. No Permission No Takeoff Policy UPSC
6. Aid For Families lost Earning Member
7. PM-CARES for Children Scheme

Prelims

• Fibre & protein rice village rice
• Operation Sagar Aaraksha 2

BRICS High Performance Computing

Source : PIB
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Why in News ?

BRICS countries in the areas such as High Performance Computing (HPC) and its weather climate environment applications.

Key Facts

• Science, Technology, and Innovation track the Fifth BRICS Working Group meeting on High Performance Computing (HPC) and Information Communication Technologies (ICT) was hosted and organized.
• Each nation shared their country’s progress in building an HPC infrastructures network and areas of interest for advancing BRICS collaboration.
• BRICS HPC & ICT Working Group provides a platform for researchers from BRICS member countries to discuss and deliberate on mutual interest areas to forge partnerships and develop deep technology-based solutions.
• Meeting is part of BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Calendar of Activities 2020-21 adopted by all BRICS countries.

What is High Performance Computing ?

• High Performance Computing generally refers to the practice of aggregating computing power in a way that delivers much higher performance than one could get out of a typical desktop computer or workstation
• It will helps in order to solve large problems in science, engineering, or business.
• Application of supercomputers to drug design, artificial intelligence, and HPC based precision medicine and public health, particularly for fighting pandemics as well as geoinformatics for sustainable development.

About BRICS

• The acronym for five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• The grouping has held annual summits since 2009.
• New Development Bank (NDB) is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states.

Headquarters	Shanghai, China
Membership	Brazil  Russia  India  China  South Africa
Official language	English

• BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) is a framework for providing protection against global liquidity pressures.
• Bangladesh has been formally invited to join the organization in 2020.
• BRICS countries signed a letter of intent to cooperate in the Information and Communication Technology sector.

Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme

Source : PIB
GS IiI : Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment

Why in News ?

Government has further enlarged the scope of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme as under as  a result of this COVID pandemic.

• This incorporates ECLGS 1.0, ECLGS 2.0, ECLGS 3.0 and ECLGS 4.0

What is Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme ?

• Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) aims to provide 100 percent guaranteed coverage to the banks, non-banking financial institutions (NBFCs) and other lending institutions
• Thus these banks can enable emergency credit to business entities that have suffered due to the Covid-19 pandemic
  • Also for those who are struggling to meet their working capital requirements.
• ECLGS was launched as part of the Rs 20 lakh crore Covid-19 relief package called the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

What is ECLGS 1.0, ECLGS 2.0, ECLGS 3.0, ECLGS 4.0 ?

• ECLGS 1.0 : Had a 1-year moratorium period and a 4-year repayment period.
  • Under the scheme, borrowers could avail of additional credit of up to 20 percent of their overall outstanding credit.
  • Aimed to provide Rs 3 lakh crore worth of collateral-free, government-guaranteed loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)
• ECLGS 2.0 : Launch of ECLGS 2.0 by extending the Rs 3 lakh crore scheme to support 26 stressed sectors identified by the Kamath Committee and the healthcare sector.
  • The scheme was valid till March 31, 2021.
  • The tenor of the credit under ECLGS 2.0 was five years.
  • Companies with dues of Rs 50-500 crore as on February 29, 2020 were eligible.
• ECLGS 3.0 : to support the Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, Leisure, and Sporting sectors, which are among those most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • It also extended ECLGS 1.0 and ECLGS 2.0 by another 3 months, along with ECLGS 3.0, to June 30, 2021.
  • Extension of credit of up to 40 percent of the total credit outstanding across all lending institutions as of February 29, 2020, from 20 percent earlier.
  • The tenor of loans granted under ECLGS 3.0 is six years.
• ECLGS 4.0 : It is recently announced.
  • 100% guarantee cover to loans up to Rs.2 crore to hospitals/nursing homes/clinics/medical colleges for setting up on-site oxygen generation plants, interest rate capped at 7.5%.
  • Ceiling of Rs. 500 Cr. of loan outstanding for eligibility under ECLGS 3.0 to be removed.
  • Civil Aviation sector to be eligible under ECLGS 3.0.
  • Validity of ECLGS extended to 30.09.2021 or till guarantees for an amount of Rs.3 lakh crore are issued.

Bal Swaraj Covid Care

Source : PIB
GS II : Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections

Why in News ?

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) under section 109 of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and in view of the growing problem related to children affected by COVID-19 has introduced an online tracking portal Bal Swaraj COVID Care link for child in need of care and protection.

Key Facts

• Portal created with the purpose for online tracking and digital real time monitoring mechanism of children who are in need of care and protection.
• The Commission has extended the use of this portal for tracking children who have lost both its parents or either of the parent during COVID-19.
• It provided a link under the name of COVID-Care or uploading of data of such children by the concerned officer/department on the portal.
• Section 2(14) of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 children in need of care and protection to ensure the well-being and best interest of children.

Bal Swaraj-COVID-Care

• Aims to Protect right from the production of children before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to the restoration of the children to their parent/guardian/relative and its subsequent follow-up.
• Commission will be able to get information about whether the child is being able to get his/her entitlements, benefits and monetary gains for which the child is entitled to.
• Also come to know whether the child has been produced before the CWC and the orders are being passed for him/her.
• The Commission can also identify if the State is needing financial assistance in getting more funds for giving benefit under implemented schemes to the children.

Need for the Portal

• Many children left orphaned during COVID 19 after the death of parents.
• The report shows some instances from various region
  • Ganjam district in Odisha, a 45 day old girl was found next to her mother’s body.
  • A mother left two daughters, a 15 year old and a seven year old, lost battle against COVID 19.
  • Four members of a family died over 12 days leaving behind two daughters aged six and 10.
• Child rights activist after messages on social media and WhatsApp groups began circulating containing adoption appeals for children who had recently been orphaned by COVID19.
• Response from Ministry
  • Ministry flag such adoption requests as illegal.
  • Reason : Urged people to prevent trafficking in the garb of adoption.
• The Supreme Court order directed all district officers across theStates/UTs to fill data on the Commission’s portal related to children who have become orphan on Bal Swaraj portal under the COVID-Care link.

YUVA : Young Upcoming and Versatile Authors

Source : PIB
GS II : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

Why in News ?

The Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education launched YUVA : Young Upcoming and Versatile Authors.

Key Facts

• Prime Minister’s Scheme For Mentoring Young Authors.
• It is an Author Mentorship programme to train young and budding authors below 30 years of age.
• Also aims to promote reading, writing and book culture in the country, and project India and Indian writings globally.
• In the view of PM’s vision to encourage young writers to write about India’s freedom struggle.
• India is going to celebrate celebrate 75 years of Indian Independence.

About YUVA : Young Upcoming and Versatile Authors UPSC perspective

• YUVA is a part of India@75 Project (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav)
• It has to bring the perspectives of the young generation of writers on themes in an innovative and creative manner for
  • Unsung Heroes
  • Freedom Fighters
  • Unknown and Forgotten Places and their role in National Movement
  • Other related themes
• This scheme will thus help to develop a stream of writers who can write on a spectrum of subjects to promote Indian heritage, culture and knowledge system.
• Implementing agency : The National Book Trust, India under the Ministry of Education
• It will be executed phase-wise under mentorship. ​
• The books prepared under this scheme will be published by National Book Trust, India.
• In order to promote Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat the books will  be translated into other Indian languages
  • It will ensure the exchange of culture and literature, thereby promoting.

Features of the YUVA : Young Upcoming and Versatile Authors Scheme

• A total of 75 authors will be selected through an All India Contest.
• Selected young authors will be trained by eminent authors/mentors.
• The published books will be launched on 12 January 2022 on the occasion of National Youth Day (Yuva Diwas).
• A consolidated scholarship of Rs.50,000 per month for a period of six months per author will be paid under the Mentorship Scheme

No Permission No Takeoff Policy UPSC

Source : PIB
GS II : Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance- applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential; citizens charters, transparency & accountability and institutional and other measures

Why in News ?

Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted permission of No-Permission-No-Takeoff (NPNT) compliant drone operations at 166 additional green zones to facilitate, smoothen, and promote drone operations in the country.

Key Facts

• The approved sites allow drone usage up to 400 ft Above Ground Level (AGL).
• These zones are in addition to the Sixty-Six green zone sites approved earlier.
• The list of the approved green zone sites can be accessed from the Digital Sky Platform.
• Drone flights in the green zone sites shall be compliant with the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2021 dated 12th March 2021 and other relevant orders/ guidelines issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

No-Permission-No-Takeoff

• Every UAS / RPAS (Unmanned Aircraft / Remote Piloted Aircraft System) sold in India are under the regulations published by DGCA for UAS / RPAS must have a secure mechanism built on to the equipment to self-authenticate its permission to take-off.
  • This technology framework is referred to as NPNT (No Permission No Take-off).
• Under NPNT or ‘No Permission – No Take-off compliance every Remotely Piloted Aircraft (except Nano) has to obtain valid permission through the Digital Sky platform before operating in India.
• The framework mandates users to register on the online portal that acts as the national unmanned traffic management system for remotely piloted aircraft.
• Flying in these approved green-zones will require only intimation of the time and location of the flights via the Digital Sky portal or the app.
• What happen if not register ?
  • If a NPNT compliant drone tries to breach or go beyond the permissible boundary in the airspace the in-built software will compel the drone to return to home.
• What is the need of Frame Work ?
  • The framework plays an important role in ensuring various measure of safety and security of a flight by enforcing UAS / RPAS not to take-off without a digitally signed permission from DigitalSky.
• Recently Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have granted conditional exemption to the Government of Telangana for conducting experimental Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights for delivery of vaccines.

Digital Sky portal or the App

• DigitalSky is a Ministry of Civil Aviation initiative.
• It is a highly secure and scalable platform which supports technology framework such as NPNT (No permission no take-off) designed for enabling flights permission digitally and managing Unmanned Aircraft operations and traffic efficiently.
• The DigitalSky platform offers various services and workflows though a host of applications available on the web and mobile platforms.
• In short the permission is made possible through a digitally signed document called a Permission Artefact (machine-readable) which when read by the equipment establishes its authenticity and permission to fly.

Aid For Families lost Earning Member

Source : PIB
GS II : Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate

Why in News ?

Government of India has announced further measures to help families who have lost the earning member due to Covid.

Key Facts

• Will provide pension to families of those who died due to Covid and an enhanced & liberalised insurance compensation.
• Efforts are being made to mitigate financial difficulties that may be faced by them.

Measure Taken

Family Pension under Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)

• Benefit of ESIC pension scheme for employment related death cases is being extended.
• This is extended to the family those who have died due to Covid.
• What is the benefits ?
  • Dependent family members of have the benefit of pension equivalent to 90% of average daily wage drawn by the worker.

Employees Provident Fund Organization- Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI)

• Amount of maximum insurance benefit has been increased from Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 7 lakh.
• To benefit families of contractual/ casual workers
  • The condition of continuous employment in only one establishment has been liberalized.
  • Benefit made available to families of even those employees who may have changed jobs in the last 12 months preceding his death.

PM-CARES for Children Scheme

Source : PIB
GS II : Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

Why in News ?

Steps taken to support children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19 was announced. 

Key Facts

• What is the aim ?
  • Children represent the future of the country and the country will do everything possible to support and protect the children so that they develop as strong citizens and have a bright future.
• All children who have lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian/adoptive parents due to Covid 19 will be supported under PM-CARES for Children Scheme.
• The measures being announced have only been possible due to the generous contributions to the PM CARES Fund which will support India’s fight against COVID-19.

What are the schemes under PM-CARES for Children Scheme ?

Fixed Deposit in the name of the child

• PM CARES will contribute through a specially designed scheme to create a corpus of Rs 10 lakh for each child when he or she reaches 18 years of age.
• Will be used to give a monthly financial support/ stipend from 18 years of age for the next five years.
  • To take care of his or her personal requirements during the period of higher education and
• On reaching the age of 23 years he or she will get the corpus amount as one lump-sum for personal and professional use.

School Education: For children under 10 years

• The child will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.
• If the child is admitted in a private school the fees as per the RTE norms will be given from the PM CARES.
• Also pay for expenditure on uniform, text books and notebooks.

School Education: for children between 11-18 years

• The child will be given admission in any Central Government residential school such as Sainik School, Navodaya Vidyalaya.
• In case the child is to be continued under the care of Guardian/ grandparents/ extended family, then he or she will be given admission in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.
• If the child is admitted in a private school, the fees as per the RTE norms will be given from the PM CARES.
• PM CARES will also pay for expenditure on uniform, text books and notebooks.

Support for Higher Education

• The child will be assisted in obtaining education loan for Professional courses / Higher Education in India as per the existing Education Loan norms.
• The interest on this loan will be paid by the PM CARES.
• For children who are not eligible under the existing scholarship schemes, PM CARES will provide an equivalent scholarship.

Health Insurance

• All children will be enrolled as a beneficiary under Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY) with a health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs.
• The premium amount for these children till the age of 18 years will be paid by PM CARES.

Prelims

Fibre & protein rice village rice

• Patented ‘village rice’ sourced from Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu was exported today to Ghana & Yemen via air & sea routes.
• Enriched with protein, fibre, and a variety of minerals, ‘village rice’ is sourced directly from farmers of Thanjavur, also known as rice bowl of Tamil Nadu.
• The exports of non-Basmati have witnessed a growth of 146 % in Rupee terms and 137 % Dollar terms in 2020-2021.
• APEDA is working with various stakeholders such as farmers, entrepreneurs, exporters and importers across the globe to harness India’s non-basmati rice exports potential.

Operation Sagar Aaraksha 2

• Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is working to extinguish the massive fire onboard container vessel MV X-Press Pearl off Colombo, Sri Lanka named as Operation Sagar Aaraksha 2.
• The challenging fire-fighting operation underway since May 25, 2021 jointly with Sri Lankan authorities, has been symbolises growing maritime cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
• A similar joint operation between the two countries was named Sagar Aaraksha in September 2020
  • It happened when ICG Ships and Sri Lankan authorities were involved in a fire-fighting operation onboard MT New Diamondoff the East Coast of Sri Lanka.

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