PIB Summary- 22th March, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)

Context
India participated in the IPEF negotiating round in Bali, Indonesia.

Details

• An inter-ministerial delegation headed by the Department of Commerce participated in the IPEF negotiating round in Bali, Indonesia.
• Twelve other countries also participated in the negotiating round – Australia, USA, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines, and Brunei Darussalam.
• The framework is structured around four pillars relating to trade, supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy (issues like tax and anti-corruption). The member countries have the option to decide the pillar in which they wish to participate. India has opted out of the trade pillar, while it has joined the remaining three.
  • India participated in the discussions related to Pillars II–IV.
  • The chief negotiator of India reiterated India’s belief that IPEF will deepen the economic engagement and promote inclusive development through enhancement in trade and investment in the region.
  • A detailed presentation on UPI and the digital public infrastructure of India was given.
• IPEF Partners have committed to a robust negotiating schedule throughout 2023 with the aim of realising concrete benefits to enhance a shared vision for economic competitiveness and prosperity in their respective economies.

Padma Awards, 2023

Context
The President of India presented the Padma Awards, 2023

Details 

• The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu presented the Padma Awards at the Civil Investiture Ceremony 1 held at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
• The president presented 3 Padma Vibhushan, 4 Padma Bhushan and 47 Padma Shri Awards for the year 2023.
• A total of 106 Padma Awards were announced of which 6 are Padma Vibhushan, 9 are Padma Bhushan and 91 are Padma Shri. 19 of the awardees are women.

Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP)

Context
India aims to become a ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030 with the launch of GTTP.

Details

• The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal announced the ‘Green Tug Transition Programme’.
• The programme will start with “Green Hybrid Tugs”, which will be powered by green hybrid propulsion systems, and subsequently adopt non-fossil fuel solutions – methanol, ammonia and hydrogen.
  • A Major Port is one which is under the administrative control of the Union Shipping Ministry while a Tug (also called Tugboat) is a vessel used to manoeuvre ships into port berths.
• At least, 50% of all the tugs are likely to be converted into ‘Green Tugs’ by 2030 which will reduce emissions as the country is moving towards net zero by 2070.
• The minister inaugurated India’s first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port and Shipping (NCoEGPS) in Gurugram, Haryana. The centre is a result of collaboration between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and TERI (The Energy & Resources Institute).
• The NCoEGPS will be the nodal entity for the industry with a goal to make India the Global hub for building Green Ships by 2030.
• The NCoEGPS will work on 10 crucial projects, including ones on developing a regulatory framework for the usage of wind energy for marine applications, and identifying a suitable biofuel for blending with conventional marine fuels. It will also work towards identifying a fuel cell technology for long-haul shipping as well as developing a regulatory framework for the transportation of hydrogen upto 700 bar pressure.
• The NCoEGPS will prepare detailed project reports on low energy consumption ports, and on an offshore platform for tapping solar energy, production, storage and usage of green hydrogen.

Nomadic and Denotified Tribes

Context
SEED launched in 2022 for the economic development of denotified tribes.

Details 

• A National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT) was constituted by the GoI in February 2014 to prepare a state-wise list of castes belonging to De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes. NCDNT submitted its report in 2018. As per the report, a total of 1235 communities have been identified as De-notified and Nomadic Communities across the country.
• The scheme ‘SEED’- Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNT Communities was launched in February 2022 with a total outlay of Rs 200 cr. for the next five years.
• Objectives of SEED –
  • To provide coaching of good quality for DNT candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations,
  •  To facilitate livelihood initiative at the community level, 
  • To provide health insurance to them, &
  • To provide financial assistance for construction of houses for members of these communities.
• The term ‘De-notified’ stands for all those communities which were once notified under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871. These Acts were repealed by the Independent Indian Government in l952, and these communities were “De-Notified”. A few of these communities which were listed were also nomadic.

AIS for Taxpayer

Context
Income Tax Department launched ‘AIS for Taxpayer’- a mobile application.

Details

• ‘AIS for Taxpayer’ is a mobile application introduced by the Income Tax Department and is available on Google Play and App Store.
• Taxpayers can use the mobile app to view their information related to TDS/TCS, interest, dividends, share transactions, tax payments, Income Tax refunds, and Other Information (GST Data, Foreign Remittances, etc.) as available in AIS (Annual Information Statement)/TIS (Taxpayer Information Summary). 
• The taxpayer also has the option to provide feedback on the information displayed in the app.