Current Affairs 16 June 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 16 June 2021 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

1. Deep Ocean Mission In India
2. Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS)
3. VivaTech 2021 UPSC
4. Development of Sea Plane Services in India

Deep Ocean Mission In India

Source : The Hindu 
GS III : Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment

Why in News ?

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on Deep Ocean Mission with a view to explore deep ocean for resources and develop deep sea technologies for sustainable use of ocean resources.

Key Facts

• The estimated cost of the Mission will be Rs. 4077 crore for a period of 5 years to be implemented in a phase-wise manner.
• The estimated cost for the first phase for the 3 years (2021-2024) would be Rs.2823.4 crore.
• Deep Ocean Mission with be a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India.
• Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) will be the nodal Ministry implementing this multi-institutional ambitious mission.
• Integrated Mining System will be also developed for mining Polymetallic Nodules.
  • Commercial exploitation code is evolved by the International Seabed Authority an UN organization.
  • It allotted India 75000 sq. kilometers in Central Indian Ocean Basin(CIOB) for the exploration of these polymetallic nodules.

Polymetallic Nodules (PMN)?
Polymetallic nodules are Fe-Mn oxide deposits are of a black earthy colour. Rare earth minerals are considered as a great source of valuable minerals 

Major Components of Deep Ocean Mission

• Development of Technologies for Deep Sea Mining and Manned Submersible
  • A manned submersible will be developed.

    

  • To carry three people to a depth of 6000 metres in the ocean with suite of scientific sensors and tools.
  • Integrated Mining System will be also developed for mining Polymetallic Nodules from 6000 m depth in the central Indian Ocean.
• Development of Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services
  • A suite of observations and models will be developed
  • Aims to understand and provide future projections of important climate variables on seasonal to decadal time scales under this proof of concept component.
  • This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of coastal tourism.
• Technological innovations for exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity
  • Bio-prospecting of deep sea flora and fauna including microbes.
  • Studies on sustainable utilisation of deep sea bio-resources will be the main focus.
  • This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of Marine Fisheries and allied services.
• Deep Ocean Survey and Exploration
  • To explore and identify potential sites of multi-metal Hydrothermal Sulphides mineralisation along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges.
  • This component will additionally support the Blue Economy priority area of deep sea exploration of ocean resources.
• Energy and freshwater from the Ocean
  • Studies and detailed engineering design for offshore Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) powered desalination plant.
  • This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of off-shore energy development.
• Advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology
  • Aimed as development of human capacity and enterprise in ocean biology and engineering.
  • This component will translate research into industrial application and product development through on-site business incubator facilities.
  • This component will support the Blue Economy priority area of Marine Biology, Blue trade and Blue manufacturing.

Advantages For India in Deep Ocean Mission In India

• Research vessel for deep ocean exploration would be built in an Indian shipyard which would create employment opportunities.
• Directed towards capacity development in Marine Biology.
• Design, development and fabrication of specialised equipment, ships and setting up of required infrastructure are expected to spur the growth of the Indian industry.
• Three sides surrounded by the oceans and around 30 per cent of the country’s population living in coastal areas, ocean is a major economic factor supporting fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, livelihoods and blue trade.
• Its 7517 km long coastline is home to nine coastal states and 1382 islands.

Challenges for Deep Sea Mining

• Technologies required for deep sea mining have strategic implications and are not commercially available.
• Initially indigenise technologies by collaborating with leading institutes and private industries.

Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS)

Source : PIB
GS III : Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.

Why in News ?

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for fixation of Nutrient Based Subsidy Rates for P&K Fertilizers for the year 2021-22.

P&K : Phosphatic and Potassic

Key Facts

• Government of India is making available fertilizers namely Urea and 22 grades of P&K fertilizers (including DAP) to farmers at subsidized prices through fertilizer manufacturers/ importers.
• The subsidy on P&K fertilizers is being governed by NBS Scheme.
• The subsidy is released to fertilizer companies as per NBS rates so that they can make available fertilizers to farmers at affordable price.

Diammonium phosphate (DAP) is the world’s most widely used phosphorus fertilizer

What is Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) ?

• The fertilizers are provided to the farmers at the subsidized rates based on the nutrients (N, P, K & S) contained in these fertilizers initiated in the year 2010. 
• The scheme allows the manufacturers, marketers, and importers to fix the MRP of the Phosphatic and Potash fertilizers at reasonable level.
• MRP will be decided considering the domestic and international prices of P&K fertilizers, inventory level in the country and the exchange rates.
• The subsidy on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers is announced by the Government on an annual basis for each nutrient on a per kg basis.
• This would improve soil health and as a result the yield from the crops would increase resulting in enhanced income to the farmers.
• Also aims to increase the consumption of P&K fertilizers which will result in balanced fertilization.

The MRP of urea is statutorily fixed by the Government of India. That meas urea is outside NBS.

Need for NBS On P&K ?

• International prices of raw materials of DAP and other P&K fertilizers have increased sharply.
• Prices of finished DAP etc. in international market have also increased.

  

• DAP prices in India were initially not increased by the companies however, some companies increased the DAP price in the beginning of this financial year.
• Government has already asked all the fertilizer companies to sell their old stocks of DAP etc. at the old prices only.
• Gol has increased the subsidy rates under NBS Scheme as a special package for farmers in such a way that MRP of DAP (including other P&K fertilisers) can be kept at the last year’s level till the present Kharif season.

Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) Policy

• Under the NBS Policy a fixed rate of subsidy is announced on nutrients namely Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P), Potash (K) and Sulphur (S) by the Government on annual basis.
• The per Kg subsidy rates on the nutrient N, P, K, S is converted into per Tonne subsidy on the various P&K fertilizers covered under NBS Policy.
• Any variant of the fertilizers covered under the subsidy scheme with micronutrients namely Boron and Zinc, is eligible for a separate per tonne subsidy to encourage their application along with primary nutrients.
• At present 22 grades of P&K fertilizers namely DAP, MAP, TSP, MOP, Ammonium Sulphate, SSP and 16 grades of NPKS complex fertilizers are covered under the NBS Policy.

VivaTech 2021 UPSC

Source : PIB
GS III : Effects of liberalisation on the economy, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth

Why in News ?

Prime Minister delivered the keynote address at the 5th edition of VivaTech 2021. Invited as a Guest of Honour to deliver the keynote address at VivaTech 2021.

What is VivaTech 2021 UPSC perspective ?

• One of the largest digital and startup events in Europe, held in Paris every year since 2016.
• This bring together the best innovation actors to ignite positive change in business and for society and act as a global catalyst for digital transformation and startup growth.
• Partnering with NGOs and not-for-profit organizations to present special initiatives to promote diversity in tech and digital access for all.
• Program tracks dedicated to Tech for the Environment, Tech for Society, Future of Work and Democracy & Ethics zoom in on how technology is helping us to address the most pressing global challenges.
• It remains committed to becoming a carbon-neutral event.

Indian Digitial And Startups

• India is home to one of the world’s largest start-up eco systems.
• By 2022, India’s digital economy is likely to cross $1 trillion.
• Several unicorns have come up in the recent years.

  

• world can invest in India based on the five pillars of : Talent, Market, Capital, Eco-system and, Culture of openness.
• India have strengths like
  • Indian talent pool
  • Mobile phone penetration and Seven Seventy-Five million internet users
  • Highest and cheap data consumption in the world
  • Highest use of social media to invite investors to India.
• Initiatives like
  • State-of-the-art public digital infrastructure, five hundred and twenty three thousand kilometres of fibre optic network linking One hundred and fifty six thousand village councils, public wi-fi networks across the country.
  • There are state-of-the-art innovation labs in Seven Thousand Five Hundred schools under the Atal Innovation Mission.

Digital India Programmes In India

• The major focus of digital India mission are on digital empowerment of citizens by providing governance and services on demand.
• In order to make citizen digitally literate Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan is introduced.
• Overall 12000 rural post office branches have been linked electronically.
• Common Service Center (CSC) access point created under the National e-Governance Project.
• For digital payments BHIM app can be used
• DigiGaon or Digital Village place where the citizen can avail various e-services.
• Digital locker service operated by the Government of India that enables Indian citizens to store certain official documents on the cloud.
• India’s e-commerce market is set to grow three times to surpass USD 100 billion by 2022 as a result of digital penetration in India.
• Where India Lags in digitisation ?
  • Lack of user education and manpower. 
  • Cost of smartphones are not affordable by poor.
  • Low Budget Industries cannot be able to adopt as they lack funding.
  • The internet speed is less as compared to advanced nations.
  • Rural regions are still lagging as compared to urban regions. 

Start Up Missions in India

• India now has more than 38,000 officially recognised start-ups and is the third-largest tech start-up hub globally.
• Half of the country’s population are below the age of 25 years that makes a favourable ecosystem to startup.
• Government of India launched the flagship initiative Startup India  in 2016.
• As a result of population technically educated people are more than that of advanced countries.
• Challenges for Start Up
  • For running a startup, a significant amount of working capital is required.
  • The diversity in language is seen as an imbalance for advancement. 
  • The regulatory system is still complicated. 
  • Job seekers joining startup will leave once they become experienced. 

Development of Sea Plane Services in India

Source : PIB
GS III : Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc

Why in News ?

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ministry of Civil Aviation for development of Sea Plane services in India was signed.

Key Facts

• For making seaplanes project a reality very soon.
• MoU envisages development of Non Scheduled/Scheduled operation of seaplane services within territorial jurisdiction of India under RCS-UDAN scheme of government of India.
• As per MoU a Co-ordination Committee with officials of Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is to be set up for timely completion of operationalisation of Seaplane services at various locations.
• MoCA, MoPSW, SDCL (Sagarmala Development Company Limited) will consider operationalising of Seaplane operating routes as identified/suggested by all agencies.
• Benefits
  • It will enhance seamless connectivity across the nation by promoting eco-friendly transportation through Seaplanes.
  • Also give a boost to the tourism industry.
  • Operationalization of new seaplane routes in India.
  • Will help in expediting the development of new water aerodromes

How this MoU Works ?

• MoPSW would identify and develop water front infrastructure of Aerodromes/locations and obtain required statutory clearances /approvals in coordination with MoCA, DGCA and AAI by defining the timelines for all activities involved in the development of facilities for starting seaplanes operations.
• MoCA would carry out bidding and select potential airlines operators based on their commercial consideration through bidding process, incorporate the locations/routes as identified by MoPSW & routes identified through bidding process in UDAN scheme document.
• Funding
  • MoCA is obliged to provide funds/financial support in respect of water aerodromes awarded under RCS-UDAN scheme and coordinate with Chief Secretaries of all States for the Seaplanes operations.

Daily Current Affairs : Click Here