Current Affairs 30 June 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 30 June 2021 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

World Bank Support India’s Informal Working Class

Source : Indian Express
International Relation

What we discuss under World Bank Support India’s Informal Working Class ?

1. Details of Funding
2. About World Bank Group

Why in News ?

World Bank has approved a USD 500 million (about Rs 3,717.28 crore) loan programme to support India’s informal working class to overcome the current pandemic distress.

Key Facts

• The loan will create greater flexibility for states to cope with the ongoing pandemic, future climate and disaster shocks.

  

• The funds will be utilised in social protection programme for urban informal workers, gig-workers, and migrants.
• Social protection is aimed at building the resilience of economies and livelihoods of communities.
• Of the USD 500 million commitment USD 112.50 million will be financed by its concessionary lending arm International Development Association and USD 387.50 million will be a loan from International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
• The loan has a maturity period of 18.5 years including a grace period of five years.
• Its total funding towards strengthening India’s social protection programmes to help the poor and vulnerable households since the start of the pandemic stands at USD 1.65 billion (about Rs 12,264.54 crore).
  • First two operations approved last year provided immediate emergency relief cash transfers to about 320 million individual bank accounts identified through pre-existing national social protection schemes and additional food rations for about 800 million (80 crore) individuals.
• Support for Street Vendors
  • Street vendors are an integral part of India’s urban informal economy.
  • The programme will give street vendors access to affordable working capital loans of up to Rs 10,000.
  • Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will identify them through an IT-based platform.
  • Five million urban street vendors could benefit from the new credit programme

Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme

Source : PIB
Economy

What we discuss under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme ?

1. About the Revamped Scheme

Why in News ?

Union Cabinet has approved a Reforms-based and Results-linked, Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme.

Key Facts

• The Scheme seeks to improve the operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of all DISCOMs/ Power Departments excluding Private Sector DISCOMs by providing conditional financial assistance to DISCOMs for strengthening of supply infrastructure.
• The assistance will be based on meeting pre-qualifying criteria as well as upon achievement of basic minimum benchmarks by the DISCOM evaluated on the basis of agreed evaluation framework tied to financial improvements.
• Implementation of the Scheme would be based on the action plan worked out for each state rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

About the Scheme

• The Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme aims to improve operational efficiencies and financial sustainability by providing result-linked financial assistance to DISCOMs for strengthening of supply infrastructure based on meeting pre-qualifying criteria and achieving basic minimum benchmarks.
• The Scheme would be available till the year 2025-26.
• REC and PFC have been nominated as nodal agencies for facilitating implementation of the Scheme.
• Scheme will have an outlay of Rs.3,03,758 crore with an estimated Gross Budgetary Support from Central Government of Rs.97,631 crore.
• It is proposed that the currently ongoing approved projects under the Schemes of IPDS, DDUGJY along with PMDP-2015 for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh would be subsumed in this Scheme.
• The savings of their GBS (approx. Rs. 17000 crore) would be part of the total outlay of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme under the existing terms and conditions till their sunset on 31″ March, 2022.
• The funds under these Schemes would be available for the identified projects under IPDS and for the approved ongoing projects under Prime Minister’s Development Program (PMDP) for the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh under IPDS and DDUGJY till 31 March, 2023.
• Scheme Objectives
  • Reduction of AT&C losses to pan-India levels of 12-15% by 2024-25
  • Reduction of ACS-ARR gap to zero by 2024-25
  • Developing Institutional Capabilities for Modern DISCOMs
  • Improvement in the quality, reliability, and affordability of power supply to consumers through a financially
  • Sustainable and operationally efficient Distribution Sector

Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020

Source : Indian Express
Internal Security

What we discuss under  Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020 ?

1. India in the Report
2. Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI)

Why in News ?

India has made it to the top 10 in Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020 by ITU moving up 37 places to rank as the tenth best country in the world on key cybersafety parameters.

Key Facts

• India is emerging as a global IT superpower, asserting its digital sovereignty with firm measures to safeguard data privacy and online rights of citizens.

  

• India has moved up by 37 places to rank as the tenth best country in the world in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020 launched by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• India has also secured the fourth position in the Asia Pacific region, underlining its commitment to cybersecurity.
• GCI results for India show substantial overall improvement and strengthening under all parameters of the cybersecurity domain.
• India scored a total of 97.5 points from a possible maximum of 100 points, to make it to the tenth position worldwide in the GCI 2020.
• US topped the chart, followed by the UK and Saudi Arabia tied on the second position, while Estonia was ranked third in the index.

Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI)

• GCI assessment is done on the basis of performance on five parameters of cybersecurity including legal measures, technical measures, organisational measures, capacity development, and cooperation.
• The performance is then aggregated into an overall score.
• For each of the five aspects, all the countries’ performance and commitment were assessed through a question-based online survey, which further allowed for the collection of the supporting evidence.

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY)

Source : PIB
Human Resource

What we discuss in Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) ?

1. About the Order
2. How it helps

Why in News ?

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for extending the terminal date for registration of beneficiaries for availing the benefit under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) for another nine months i.e. from 30th June, 2021 to 31st March, 2022.

Key Facts

• It is expected that 71.8 lakh employment will be generated in the formal sector as against the earlier projection of 58.5 lakh.
• As on 18.06.2021 benefit amounting to Rs.902 crore has been given to 21.42 Lakh beneficiaries through 79,577 establishments under ABRY.
• Estimated expenditure of the scheme including the expenditure for the proposed extended period of registration upto 31.03.2020 will be Rs.22,098 crore.
• About the Scheme
  • This scheme is being implemented through Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO).

    

  • To reduce financial burden of the employers of various sectors/industries and to encourage them to hire more workers.
  • ABRY was announced as one of the measures under Aatmanirbhar Bharat 3.0 package.
  • Aims to boost the economy and increase employment generation in formal sector during post Covid recovery phase.
  • This scheme will minimize the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s economy and will ameliorate the hardship faced by low paid workers, provide incentive to employers for restarting and expanding business activities.
  • Under ABRY, establishments registered with EPFO and their new employees drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15,000/- are being benefited if the establishment recruits new employees or those who lost their job between 01.03.2020 to 30.09.2020.
  • Government of India is crediting for a period of two years both the employees’ and employers share’ (24% of wages) or only the employees’ share (12% of wages), depending on the strength of EPFO registered establishments.

MoU Between India and Republic of The Gambia

Source : Indian Express
International Relation

What is we discuss under MoU Between India and Republic of The Gambia ?

1. Facts About News
2. How does this MoU helpful ?
3. India and Gambia Relation

Why in News ?

Union Cabinet has approved the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Government of India and the Public Service Commission, Office of the President, Republic of The Gambia on Refurbishing Personnel Administration and Governance Reforms.

Key Facts

• The major areas of cooperation under this MoU would include
  • Improving Performance Management System in Government
  • Implementation of contributory Pension Scheme
  • E-recruitment in Government
• To strengthen and promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries in Personnel Administration and Governance Reforms.
• This will facilitate a dialogue between Indian Government agencies and the agencies of the Republic of the Gambia.
• Gambia is keen to engage with India to promote cooperation in areas such as Improving Performance Management System in Government, Implementation of contributory Pension Scheme and, e-Recruitment in Government.
• MoU with the Republic of the Gambia will provide a legal framework to the cooperation between the two countries in Refurbishing Personnel Administration and Governance Reforms.
• This will improve upon the existing system of governance by learning, sharing and exchanging administrative experiences in the area of Personnel Administration and Governance Reforms and instill a greater sense of responsiveness, accountability and transparency.
• Need For MoU
  • Government of India has taken up a goal of quantum shift in delivery of Government Services across the country.
  • Also aims to further Government’s efforts at revamping of Personnel Administration and Governance Reforms which is relevant in the context of the goal of ‘Minimum Government with Maximum Governance’.
• How does this helpful ?
  • The MoU will help in understanding the personnel administration of both the countries.
  • Enable in improving the system of governance through replicating, adapting and innovating some of the best practices and processes.
  • Each country will be responsible for its expenditure in connection with the implementation of this MoU.
  • Actual amount of expenditure will depend on the activities that may be undertaken under the MoU.

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