PIB Summary- 1st March, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

International Big Cat Alliance

Why in News?
The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) with headquarters in India.
The initiative is supported with a one-time budgetary support of Rs.150 crore for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28.

About International Big Cat Alliance:

Aim:

• It aims to strengthen global cooperation and efforts for conservation of seven big cat species and their habitats.

Objective:

• IBCA aims for mutual cooperation among countries for mutual benefit in furthering the conservation agenda.
•  IBCA would have a multipronged approach in broad basing and establishing linkages manifold in several areas and help in knowledge sharing, capacity building, networking, advocacy, finance and resources support, research and technical support, education and awareness.

Members:

• The International Big Cat Alliance has been conceived as a multi-country, multi-agency coalition of 96 big cat range countries,
• Non-range countries interested in big cat conservation
• Conservation partners and scientific organizations working in the field of big cat conservation
• Business groups and corporates willing to contribute to the cause of big cats

Seven big cats include Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar and the Cheetah out of these five big cats viz. Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard and Cheetah are found in India.

India Semiconductor Mission

Why in News?
The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of three semiconductor units under ‘Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystems in India. 

• All three units will start construction within next 100 days.

What are Semiconductors?

• Any of a class of crystalline solids intermediate in electrical conductivity between a conductor and an insulator.
• Semiconductors are employed in the manufacture of various kinds of electronic devices, including diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits. Such devices have found wide application because of their compactness, reliability, power efficiency, and low cost.
• As discrete components, they have found use in power devices, optical sensors, and light emitters, including solid-state lasers.

About India Semiconductor Mission

• Under the administration of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, the ISM was launched in 2021 with a total budgetary commitment of Rs76,000 crore.
• It’s part of the country’s overall strategy for developing a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem.
• The program’s goal is to help companies invest in semiconductors, display production, and the design ecosystem.
• ISM will serve as the nodal agency for effective, coherent, and easy implementation of the schemes, and will be led by worldwide professionals in the Semiconductor and Display industry.

Vision:

• To build a vibrant semiconductor and display design and innovation ecosystem to enable India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.

Significance:

• ISM is critical for organising efforts to promote the semiconductor and display industries in a more systematic, focused, and comprehensive way.
• It will develop a long-term strategy for developing the country’s semiconductor and display production capabilities, as well as the semiconductor design ecosystem.
• Secure semiconductors and display supply chains, including raw materials, speciality chemicals, gases, and manufacturing equipment, will help to accelerate the adoption of trusted electronics.
• It will help the Indian semiconductor design sector flourish in multiple ways by providing necessary support in the form of EDA tools, foundry services, and other appropriate methods for early-stage businesses.
• It will also promote and facilitate indigenous Intellectual Property (IP) generation and encourage, enable and incentivize Transfer of Technologies (ToT).
• ISM will enable collaborations and partnership programs with national and international agencies, industries and institutions for catalyzing collaborative research, commercialization and skill development.