PIB Summary- 1st June, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

IPEF Ministerial Meeting

Why in News?
Recently, the second Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Ministerial Meeting took place, showcasing the significant strides made in fostering economic engagement among partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

Key Highlights of the Meeting

• The meeting announced the successful conclusion of negotiations for an innovative international agreement under Pillar II of the framework.
• This groundbreaking agreement aims to enhance the resilience, efficiency, sustainability, transparency, and inclusivity of global supply chains.
• It will contribute to increased productivity, diversification, security, fairness, and inclusivity within supply chains.

Progress in Other Pillars of IPEF

• The meeting reported positive advancements in the remaining pillars of the framework.
• Under Pillar I, Fair and Resilient Trade, notable progress was made. Similarly, Pillar III, focused on Infrastructure, Clean Energy, and Decarbonization, showcased encouraging developments.
• Pillar IV, which focuses on Tax and Anti-Corruption, also witnessed significant strides.

Introduction of Regional Hydrogen Initiative

• During the meeting, certain IPEF partners introduced a regional hydrogen initiative under Pillar III.
• The initiative aims to promote the widespread deployment of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, along with its derivatives, in the region.
• This initiative aligns with the overarching goal of decarbonization and clean energy transition.

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)

• The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) is an economic initiative that was launched by United States President Joe Biden on May 23, 2022. Here are some key facts about IPEF:
• Member States: IPEF has fourteen member states, including Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.
• Pillars: The IPEF has four pillars that form the basis of its economic framework. These are Trade (Pillar I), Supply Chains (Pillar II), Clean Economy (Pillar III), and Fair Economy (Taxation & Anticorruption) – (Pillar IV).
• Bali Round: The Bali Round was a meeting held as part of the IPEF initiative, where member states discussed various aspects of the framework. During this meeting, discussions were held on all four pillars of the IPEF. India participated in the discussions related to Pillars II to IV, which covered Supply Chains, Clean Economy, and Fair Economy (Taxation & Anticorruption).

Tele-Law Programme

Why in News?
Recently, The Ministry of Law informed that the Tele-Law programme achieved a new milestone with 40 lakh beneficiaries across the country empowered with pre-litigation advice.

Tele-Law Programme

• The Tele-Law programme was launched in 2017 and falls under the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice.
• It serves as an e-interface mechanism for seeking legal advice and consultation at the pre-litigation stage, aiming to provide assistance to underprivileged individuals.

Connectivity and Access

• The programme connects individuals in need of legal aid with Panel Lawyers through video conferencing/telephonic facilities available at Common Service Centres (CSCs) located at the panchayat level.
• The Tele-Law Mobile App also provides access to the services offered.

Panel Lawyers

• Panel Lawyers are practicing advocates selected by the Department of Justice and CSC-eGovernance Services or registered on the Panel of State/District Legal Services Authority.

Eligibility and Cost

• Legal advice is available to everyone through the Tele-Law service.
• Free legal aid under Section 12 of the LSA Act, 1987 is provided to eligible individuals, including women, children, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe members, victims of trafficking, mentally ill and differently-abled people, victims of natural disasters/ethnic violence, workers in the unorganized sector/industrial workers, undertrials, and people from low-income groups.
• For others, a nominal fee of Rs. 30/- is charged for each consultation.

Covered Legal Matters

• The Tele-Law service offers legal advice on various matters, including dowry, family disputes, divorce, protection from domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, eve-teasing in the workplace, maintenance for women, children, and senior citizens, property and land rights, equal wages for males and females, maternity benefits, prevention of foeticide, and atrocities against scheduled castes/scheduled tribes and their rehabilitation.