Daily Current Affairs for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, BPSC, MPPSC, RPSC and All State PCS Examinations (10 September 2020)

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

Why in NEWS?

  • PM Shri Narendra Modi will digitally launch the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) on 10 th September, 2020. Prime Minister will also launch e-Gopala App.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

  • It is a flagship scheme for focused and sustainable development of fisheries sector in the country with an estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crores for its implementation during a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories, as a part of Aatma-Nirbhar Bharat Package.
  • The investment of Rs. 20,050 crores under PMMSY is the highest ever in the fisheries sector. Out of this, an investment of about Rs 12340 crores is proposed for beneficiary-oriented activities in Marine, Inland fisheries and Aquaculture and about Rs 7710 crores investment for Fisheries Infrastructure.
  • PMMSY aims at enhancing fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonne by 2024- 25, increasing fisheries export earnings to Rs.1,00,000 crore by 2024-25, doubling of incomes of fishers and fish farmers, reducing post-harvest losses from 20-25% to about 10% and generation of additional 55 lakhs direct and indirect gainful employment opportunities in fisheries sector and allied activities.
  • PMMSY is designed to address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernization and strengthening of value chain, traceability, establishing a robust fisheries management framework and fishers’ welfare.
  • PMMSY envisages many new interventions such as fishing vessel insurance, support for new/up-gradation of fishing vessels/boats, Bio-toilets, Aquaculture in saline/alkaline areas, Sagar Mitras, FFPOs/Cs, Nucleus Breeding Centres, Fisheries and Aquaculture start-ups, Incubators, Integrated Aqua parks, Integrated coastal fishing villages development, Aquatic Laboratories Network and Extension Services, Traceability, Certification and Accreditation, RAS, Biofloc & Cage Culture, E- Trading/Marketing, Fisheries Management Plans, etc.
  • It primarily focuses on adopting ‘Cluster or Area based approaches’ and creation of Fisheries clusters through backward and forward linkages. Special focus will be given for employment generation activities such as seaweed and ornamental fish cultivation. It emphasizes on interventions for quality brood, seed and feed, special focus on species diversification, critical infrastructure, marketing networks etc. As of now, under PMMSY the Department of Fisheries has approved Rs 1723 crores worth of proposals for 21 States/UTs in phase-I. Priority has been accorded for income generating activities under PMMSY.

e-Gopala App

  • It is a comprehensive breed improvement marketplace and information portal for direct use of farmers.
  • At present no digital platform is available in the country for farmers managing livestock including buying and selling of disease-free germplasm in all forms (semen, embryos, etc); availability of quality breeding services (Artificial Insemination, veterinary first aid, vaccination, treatment etc) and guiding farmers for animal nutrition, treatment of animals using appropriate ayurvedic medicine/ethno veterinary medicine.
  • There is no mechanism to send alerts (on due date for vaccination, pregnancy diagnosis, calving etc) and inform farmers about various government schemes and campaigns in the area.
  • The e-Gopala App will provide solutions to farmers on all these aspects.

Ease 2.0 Index Results

IN NEWS

  • Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated Doorstep Banking Services by PSBs felicitated best performing banks on EASE Banking Reforms Index.

DOORSTEP BANKING SERVICES BY PSBS

  • As part of the EASE Reforms, Doorstep Banking Services is envisaged to provide convenience of banking services to the customers at their door step through the universal touch points of Call Centre, Web Portal or Mobile App.

PERFORMANCE OF PSB ON EASE 2.0 INDEX

  • A common reform agenda for PSBs, EASE Agenda is aimed at institutionalizing clean and smart banking. It was launched in January 2018, and the subsequent edition of the program ― EASE 2.0 built on the foundation laid in EASE 1.0 and furthered the progress on reforms.
  • Reform Action Points in EASE 2.0 aimed at making the reforms journey irreversible, strengthening processes and systems, and driving outcomes.
  • Bank of Baroda, State Bank of India, and erstwhile Oriental Bank of Commerce were felicitated for being the top three (in that order) in the ‘Top Performing Banks’ category according to the EASE 2.0 Index Results

MAJOR REFORM ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Most PSB customers now have access to 35+ services such as IMPS, NEFT, RTGS etc
  • Nearly 4cr active customers on mobile and internet banking
  • Call centers now offer services in 13regional language
  • Most PSBs have deployed IT-based EWS systems
  • Slippage into NPA has reduced from 3.90 lakh crore in 12-months ending March-18 to 1.45 lakh crore in 11-months ending February-20.
  • 88% of one-time settlement (OTS) cases are now tracked through dedicated IT systems. PSBS HAVE STEPPED UP TO SUPPORT THE COUNTRY DURING COVID-19
  • PSBs have massively stepped up to support the nation during the COVID-19 crisis. From different modes of staffing to remote working, 80,000+ bank branches were operational during COVID-19.
  • Additionally, there has been 90% uptime of self-service machines during the COVID times and around three times increase in Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) transactions through micro ATMs, and enhanced doorstep banking support by 75,000+Bank Mitras.

Action Plan 2020-21 of All Schemes of Department of Social Justice & Empowerment

IN NEWS

  • Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot released a book containing 33 Action Plans 2020-21 of all the schemes of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment.

ABOUT

  • Action Plans for all the Schemes of Social Justice and Empowerment Department has been prepared for economic, educational development and social empowerment of the people belonging to Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Senior Citizens, victim of Drug Abuse, Transgender, De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Tribes (DNTs).
  • Government of India is committed to achieve the vision of building the inclusive society wherein members of the poor and marginalized groups are empowered by carrying out educational, economic, social development and rehabilitative programmes under the Annual Action Plan 2020-21.

SCHEMES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT

  1. FREE COACHING FOR SCHEDULED CASTES AND OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES,NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP FOR SCHEDULED CASTES &TOP CLASS EDUCATION FOR SCHEDULES CASTES
  2. PRADHAN MANTRI ADARSH GRAM YOJNA
  3. NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION
  4. INTEGRATED PROGRAMME FOR REHABILITATION OF BEGGARS
  5. NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
  6. NATIONAL SAFAI KARAMCHARIS FINANCE & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (NSKFDC)
  7. STRENGTHENING OF MACHINARY FOR ENFORCEMENT OF PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACT 1955 AND PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES ACT 1989
  8. POST MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP FOR SCS
  9. POST MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP FOR OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES
  10. Vanchit Ikai Samooh aur Vargon ki Aarthik Sahayta Yojana (VISVAS Yojana)

Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-ANIC Initiative

Why in NEWS?

  • Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, launched one of its most awaited programmes, the Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE-Atal New India Challenges (ANIC), to spur applied research and innovation in Indian MSMEs and startups.

About

  • The programme will be driven by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), four ministries—Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Food Processing Industries; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs—and associated industries to facilitate innovative solutions to sectoral problems.
  • The initiative will help promote techno-preneurs who deserve to be supported because of their immense potential of taking India forward.
  • The Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE–ANIC programme will support deserving applied research–based innovations by providing funding support of up to Rs 50 lakh for speedy development of the proposed technology solution and/or product.
  • The fifteen Aatmanirbhar Bharat ARISE challenges are a pioneering initiative to stimulate Make-in-India innovations in the associated MSME startups’ sector and a unique opportunity to make advanced research and development ideas market viable, and field deployable MSME products that can be procured by the government.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

  • It is a flagship initiative launched to promote the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
  • The AIM, in partnership with the Railway Board, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, has launched the Atal New India Challenge.
  • The AIM, under the initiative, would invite potential innovators, start-ups and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises to innovate, create and design market-ready products with the help of cutting-edge technologies in 17 pre-identified focus areas.