Daily Current Affairs MCQ - September 30, 2021 - UPSC MCQ

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the doubling of the Nimach-Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh) railway line as well as of the Rajkot-Kanalus (Gujarat) railway line, with an estimated project cost of over ₹1,000 crore each.

• The total length of doubling of the line for the Nimach-Ratlam line is 132.92 km, with an estimated project cost of ₹1,095.88 crore, and the estimated length for the Rajkot-Kanalus line is 111.2 km, with an estimated cost of ₹1,080.58 crore.
• Both projects are targeted for completion by 2024-25.
• The Rajkot-Kanalus section is a part of the busy Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Viramgam-Okha section.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) in its meeting of 29 September 2021 held under the Chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for Capital Acquisitions proposals for modernization and operational needs of the Indian Armed Forces amounting to approx. Rs.13,165 cr.

• Of the total amount approved, procurement worth Rs. 11,486cr. (87%) is from the domestic sources.
• Key approvals include helicopters, guided munition and rocket ammunition.
• Looking into the need of the Indian Army for an Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Squadron, to improve its integral lift capability ensuring its operational preparedness, the DAC accorded approval of procurement of 25 ALH Mark III helicopters from M/s HAL under Buy Indian-IDDM at an approx. cost of Rs.3,850 crore.
• Giving boost to Indigenous Design and Development of ammunitions, DAC accorded approval for procurement of Terminally Guided Munition (TGM) and HEPF/RHE Rocket Ammunition under Buy(Indian-IDDM) category at an approx cost ofRs.4,962 cr.from domestic sources.
• In addition, the DAC also approved a few amendments to the DAP 2020 as a part of Business Process Re-engineering to ensure further ease of doing business for the industry as well as measures to enhance procurement efficiency and reducing timelines.
• Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Union Minister for MSMEs virtually inaugurated the India Export Initiative and IndiaXports 2021 Portal of India SME Forum in New Delhi.

• IndiaXports aims to orient MSMEs free of cost, with the objective of focussing on the untapped export potential in existing tariff lines and supporting MSMEs in order to grow the number of exporting MSMEs and increase MSME exports by 50% in 2022 and contributing to the PM’s dream of the US $5 Trillion Economy.
• This initiative features an Info Portal which serves as a knowledge base for exports by Indian MSMEs with the required information related to export potential for all the 456 tariff lines along with the potential markets as well as trends in exports, export procedures and lots more.
• Apart from an export help desk, Instructor led orientation will also be provided to MSMEs through a series of sessions for specific sectors highlighting the opportunities in specific products in international markets.
• The initiative targets 1 lakh+ MSMEs desirous of knowing more about exports and hand holding 30,000+ MSMEs to start exporting, doubling the base of active exporters.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Government of India has approved continuation of the National Export Insurance Account (NEIA) scheme and capital infusion of Rs. 1,650 crore Grant-in-Aid to NEIA over a period of five years, i.e. from FY 2021-2022 to FY 2025-2026.

• NEIA Trust was established in 2006 to promote Medium and Long-Term (MLT)/ project exports by enabling credit and political insurance.
• NEIA supports projects which are commercially viable and are strategically important.
• Since inception, NEIA has extended 213 covers, with a consolidated project value of Rs. 53,000 crores, to 52 countries as of 31st August 2021
• Its impact in enabling project exports has been most significant in Africa and South Asia.
• The capital infusion in NEIA Trust will help the Indian Project Exporters (IPE) to tap the huge potential of project exports in focus market.
• The NEIA Trust promotes Medium and Long Term (MLT) /project exports by extending (partial/full) support to covers issued by ECGC (ECGC Ltd, formerly known as Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India Ltd.) to MLT/project export and to Exim Bank for Buyer’s Credit (BC-NEIA) tied to project exports from India.

Hence both statements are correct.

On the occassion of International Day of Older Persons (1st October), Vice President of India will dedicate the Elderly Line 14567 to the Nation.

• Government of Telangana and Tata Trusts piloted the helpline in Telangana between March 2019 and September 2020.
• Based on this experience, MOSJE decided to establish state helplines at each state level and have a single call management platform and unique number (14567) that will enable services for the senior citizens through a National level structure. Thus Elder Line was conceptualised.

Features

• Elder Line will operate on all seven days of the week from 8 AM to 8 PM since it is categorised under non-emergency service and extension of working hours will be backed by findings and requirement.
• Elder Line is a National Helpline for Senior Citizens (NHSC) set up by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in collaboration with National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) and State Governments.
• National Implementing Agency (an empowered Committee) set up by MOSJE along with NISD (National Institute for Social Defence) is currently hosting the Elder Line along with the States.
• Operationally, the state agencies will be working closely with all state departments and district functionaries to deliver services.
• Elder Line 14567 is a toll-free number open 12 Hours a day (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM), that provides free information, guidance, emotional support, field intervention in cases of abuse & rescues in order to improve the quality of life of senior citizens.
• In case of emergencies like pandemic, this helpline can support senior citizens with the right and on-time information for medical needs, emotional support and other associated needs in collaboration with all the state departments.

Components

• Elder line has two key components, a ‘connect centre’ that has officers who empathise with the senior citizen and understand the problem faced by the elder supported by a strong ‘field support’ that takes care of “on the field” interventions that are required out of the service requested by the senior citizen.

Services

Services offered to senior citizens are broadly categorised into four services:

1. Information- Doctors, Hospitals, Old Age Homes, and Activity centres etc.
2. Guidance- Legal, Maintenance act related, Pension related queries
3. Support- Life, anxiety, relationship management and emotional support
4. Intervention- Direct (addressing abuse of elders and conducting rescue of homeless and abandoned elders) and Indirect (building ecosystem)

To operationalise Elder Line, following readiness conditions have been established: -

• State identifies agency to operationalise helpline through a pre-defined process
• Physical and software infrastructure is procured and installed
• Resources are identified and capacity built
• Information is collected and tabulated as Knowledge Bank for all areas which might be of use to senior citizens
• Government and non-government agreements are made with like-minded organizations to walk along with the agency to assist elders
• A dry run is conducted to identify and re work on any possible bottle necks

Elder line in numbers:

• Toll-free number: - 14567
• Work hours: - 8 AM to 8 PM
• Work days: - All 7 days

Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

• The Prime Minister POSHAN scheme or PM-POSHAN, is the Government of India's flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
  • The scheme will replace the existing national programme for mid-day meal in schools or Mid-day Meal Scheme.
• Under this scheme, the government has launched various initiatives to tackle malnutrition. For example:
  • Nutritional Gardens:
    • The government will promote nutritional gardens in schools. The gardens are being provided to offer additional micro-nutrients to students. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • Supplementary Nutrition:
    • The new scheme has a provision for supplementary nutrition for children in aspirational districts and those with a high prevalence of anaemia. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • TithiBhojan Concept:
    • The concept of TithiBhojan will be encouraged extensively.
    • Tithi Bhojan is a community participation programme in which people provide special food to children on special occasions/festivals.
    • Hence, statement 3 is correct.

• Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved capital infusion in the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) and its listing through an initial public offering.
• The government will inject Rs 4,400 crore in the ECGC over a period of five years beginning 2021-22.
• The ECGC Ltd is wholly owned by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
  • The Government of India had initially set up the Export Risks Insurance Corporation in 1957.
  • After the introduction of insurance covers to banks during the period 1962-64, the name was changed to Export Credit & Guarantee Corporation Ltd in 1964.
  • It was changed to ECGC Ltd in August 2014.
• Objectives: ECGC was established to promote exports by providing credit insurance services to exporters against non-payment risks by the overseas buyers due to commercial and political reasons.
• The Capital infusion will enable it to expand its coverage to export-oriented industries, particularly labour-intensive sectors.
  • ECGC is a market leader with around 85% market share in the export credit insurance market in India and provided support to exports worth Rs 6.02 lakh, or 28% of merchandise exports, in FY21.
  • Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) form 97% of the client base of ECGC. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • The process of listing ECGC on the stock market is also being initiated so that it can raise more funds.
• The ECGC has introduced the Export Credit Insurance Scheme (ECIS) called NIRVIK (Niryat Rin Vikas Yojana) to enhance loan availability and ease the lending process. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

• State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) has been constituted under Section 48 (1) (a) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
  • It was constituted based on the recommendations of the 13^th Finance Commission. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• SDRF is the primary fund available with the State governments for responses to notified disasters to meet expenditure for providing immediate relief.
  • It is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) every year. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The Centre contributes 75% of the SDRF allocation for general category States/UTs and 90% for special category States/UTs (northeastern States, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir). Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
  • The annual Central contribution is released in two equal installments as per the recommendation of the Finance Commission.

Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate CIPET: Institute of Petrochemicals Technology, Jaipur.

• Together with the Government of Rajasthan, the Government of India has established CIPET: Institute of Petrochemicals Technology, Jaipur.
• It is self-sustainable and dedicatedly serves the needs of the petrochemical and allied industries.
• It will provide education to youth to become skilled technical professionals.

Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the continuation of ‘National Scheme for PM POSHAN in Schools’ for the five year period 2021-22 to 2025-26 with the financial outlay of ₹ 54061.73 crores from the Central Government and ₹ 31,733.17 crore from State Governments & UT administrations.

• Central Government will also bear additional cost of about ₹ 45,000 crore on foodgrains. Therefore, the total scheme budget will amount to ₹ 1,30,794.90 crore.
• The CCEA cleared the PM POSHAN Scheme for providing one hot cooked meal in Government and Government-aided schools from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• This is a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme which covers all school children studying in Classes I-VIII of Government, Government-Aided Schools.
• The earlier name of the scheme was ‘National Scheme for Mid Day Meal in Schools’ popularly known as Mid Day Meal Scheme.
• The scheme covers about 11.80 crore children studying in 11.20 lakh schools across the country. During 2020-21, Government of India invested more than ₹ 24,400 crore in the scheme, including cost of about ₹ 11,500 crore on foodgrains.

Highlights of the decision that would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the scheme are as below:

• The scheme is proposed to be extended to students studying in pre-primary or Bal Vatikas of Government and Government-aided primary schools in addition to all the 11.80 crore children from elementary classes.
• The concept of Tithi Bhojan will be encouraged extensively. Tithi Bhojan is a community participation programme in which people provide special food to children on special occasions/festivals.
• Government is promoting development of School Nutrition Gardens in schools to give children first hand experience with nature and gardening. The harvest of these gardens is used in the scheme providing additional micro nutrients. School Nutrition Gardens have already been developed in more than 3 lakh schools.
• Social Audit of the scheme is made mandatory in all the districts.
• Special provision is made for providing supplementary nutrition items to children in aspirational districts and districts with high prevalence of Anemia.
• Cooking competitions will be encouraged at all levels right from village level to national level to promote ethnic cuisine and innovative menus based on locally available ingredients and vegetables.
• Vocal for Local for Atmanirbhar Bharat: Involvement of Farmers Producer Organizations (FPO) and Women Self Help Groups in implementation of the scheme will be encouraged. Use of locally grown traditional food items for a fillip to local economic growth will be encouraged.
• Field visits for progress monitoring and inspections will be facilitated for students of eminent Universities / Institutions and also trainee teachers of Regional Institutes of Educations (RIE) and District Institutes of Education and Training (DIET).

Hence only statement 2 is correct.