Current Affairs 19 September 2022 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 19 September 2022 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

National Logistics Policy 2022

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

What is discussed under National Logistics Policy 2022?

1. About National Logistics Policy 2022
2. Various measures taken by the government in Logistics

Why in News ?

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched the National Logistics Policy (NLP). 

Key Facts

• The launch of the National Logistics Policy a significant step in fulfilling the Pran of India being a developed country.

  

• To ensure quick last mile delivery, end transport-related challenges, save time and money of the manufacturers, prevent wastage of the agro-products, concerted efforts were made and one of the manifestations of those efforts is today’s National Logistics Policy
• The resulting improvement in coordination will lead to the desired speed in the sector.
• National Logistics Policy sets the roadmap for developing a more interconnected and tech-driven framework for building cost and operational efficiency in the sector.

Background

• The need for a national logistics policy was felt since the logistics cost in India is high as compared to other developed economies.
• It is imperative to reduce the logistics cost in India for improving the competitiveness of Indian goods both in domestic as well as export markets.
• Reduced logistics cost improves efficiency cutting across various sectors of the economy, encouraging value addition and enterprise.
• The policy is an endeavour to improve the competitiveness of Indian goods, enhance economic growth and increase employment opportunities.

National Logistics Policy 2022

• Reduce the cost of logistics from 14-18 percent of GDP to global best practices of 8 percent by 2030.
• Develop skills among youth and create employment opportunities.
• Promote the seamless movement of goods and enhance the competitiveness of the industry across the nation

Four Major Steps Under National Logistics Policy

• Integration of Digital System (IDS): Different systems of seven different departments (such as road transport, railway, customs, aviation, foreign trade and commerce ministries) will be integrated digitally.
• Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP): It will also lead to improving shorter and smooth cargo movement. It will also enable information exchange on a real-time basis in a confidential manner.
• Ease of Logistics (ELOG): It will simplify the rules and ease the logistics business.
• System Improvement Group (SIG): monitoring all logistics-related projects regularly and tackling all obstacles.

Various measures taken by the government in Logistics

• Gati Shakti Scheme : All the existing and proposed economic zones have been mapped along with the multimodal connectivity infrastructure in a single platform. 
• Sagarmala Project : Unlocking the potential of the country’s 7,5000 Km coastline and 14,500 Km of navigable waterways
• Bharatmala Program
• National Logistics Efficiency and Advancement Predictability and Safety Act (NLEAPS)

Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana (PRANAM)

Source: Indian Express
GS II: Policies and Developmental Studies; GS III: Food and Agriculture

What is discussed under the Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana (PRANAM)?

1. What is the PM PRANAM scheme?
2. What is the Need for This Scheme?
3. Current Status of the Scheme

Why in News?

• The PM PRANAM plan is approved by the government to reduce the usage of chemical fertilisers.
• PM Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana also attempts to reduce the financial burden of subsidies for chemical fertilisers.

What is the PM PRANAM scheme?

• The government intends to introduce the PM PRANAM scheme, which will pay half of the subsidy savings to the state that saves them money, in response to the high rise in overall fertiliser use over the past five years.

  

• The state must use 70% of this to build the infrastructure necessary for the adoption of alternate fertilisers and alternate fertiliser-producing facilities at the district, block, and village levels.
• The states can utilise the remaining 30% to reward and encourage farmers, panchayats, farmer producer organisations, and self-help groups active in raising awareness and assisting to reduce the use of fertiliser.
• The state’s use of chemical fertilisers in a given year will be compared to its average use over the previous three years by government.
• To compare the data, the government will use the iFMS dashboard for the fertilisers ministry.
• The PM PRANAM plan won’t have a distinct budget.
• The “savings of existing fertiliser subsidies” provided by the department of fertilisers under various programmes would be used to pay for it.

What is the Need for This Scheme?

• The government intends to implement the PM PRANAM scheme to encourage the balanced use of fertilisers or alternative fertilisers.
• To protect farmers from excessive costs brought on by the surge in fertiliser prices globally, the government offers subsidies.
• IN 2020-2023, there will be an additional fertiliser subsidy of Rs. 1.10 lakh crore.

Current Status of the Scheme

• The PM-PRANAM scheme was proposed by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• Its top representatives reviewed the specifics with state government representatives on September 7 at the National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign.
• The Center has asked the states for input on the characteristics of the proposed system.
• The ministry has also started interministerial conversations about the suggested plan at the same time.
• The PM PRANAM scheme draught will be finalised after taking into account the opinions of all relevant departments.

Future of the Commonwealth

Source: Hindu
GS II: International Relation

What is discussed under Future of the Commonwealth?

1. What is the Commonwealth?
2. The Relevance of the Commonwealth
3. The Future of the Commonwealth

Why in News?

In addition to the end of an era for the British monarchy, Queen Elizabeth II’s demise, who ruled the United Kingdom for more than 70 years, also represents a turning point for the 14 Commonwealth states, of which she was the Head of State.

What is the Commonwealth?

• The Commonwealth emerged from the British empire.
• It was founded in 1931 and its present character came about in 1949.
• Fighting racism, gender equality, and human rights are the core agendas of the Commonwealth.
• Elizabeth became the leader of the Commonwealth in 1952 when she was crowned queen, three years after the London Declaration formally established the voluntary association in its present form.
• With 54 nations, nearly all of which were once British colonies, it is now one of the largest international organisations in the world, serving roughly 2.5 billion people, or about one-third of the world’s population.
• It offers a network to promote global trade and collaboration, emphasising advancing democracy and development and addressing problems like climate change.

Republics and Realms

• Republics and Realms are both parts of the Commonwealth.
• Except for five nations—Brunei Darussalam, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malaysia, and Tonga—each a self-governing monarchy, the realms are headed by the British monarch, while the republics are controlled by elected governments.
• Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are among the realms.

The Relevance of the Commonwealth

• Smaller members who might not normally have much influence are given a voice by the organisation.

  

• It also offers a possible plan for settling conflicts among African members.
• Smaller states can join forces through the organisation and possibly exert more influence over topics like climate change.
• They can discuss topics that are important to them on a global stage, connect with other members who have had similar experiences, and perhaps even enlist the aid of more affluent members like Australia.
• As evidenced by the fact that Fiji, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and the Maldives were either suspended from the organisation or withdrew of their own volition due to a lack of respect for human rights, the organisation is also important in conveying to the world that human rights are non-negotiable.

The Future of the Commonwealth

• People question if the late Queen’s successor, King Charles III, would exert the same kind of influence because she was such a towering personality and a powerful figurehead of the organisation.
• Climate change is one of the Commonwealth’s current top priorities, and the King is a well-known supporter of anti-climate change policies.
• In the future, it’s probable that Australia, New Zealand, and the Bahamas will all become republics.
• Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Kitts and Nevis are the other five Caribbean countries whose governments have indicated that they intend to take similar actions.
• Therefore, it is not improbable that after the passing of Queen Elizabeth, the Commonwealth states may become an anachronism and countries that experienced colonialism in the past, with all of the associated brutality and resource extraction, may advance to become republics.

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