PIB Summary- 3rd June, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Govt e-Marketplace (GeM) Portal

Details:

• The dedicated window on GeM portal for marketing of bamboo goods was launched by the Union Agriculture Minister.
• The dedicated bamboo page was worked on together by the National Bamboo Mission and the GeM.
• The dedicated window will provide an electronic platform for the small manufacturers and niche sellers thereby vastly increasing their reach to attract buyers and at the same time will provide niche products from trusted sources to the buyers.
• The page is named the “Green Gold Collection” and showcases a range of exquisitely handcrafted bamboo and bamboo products, handicrafts, disposals and office utility products on the GeM portal.
• It aims to provide bamboo artisans, weavers and entrepreneurs in rural areas with market access to Government buyers.

What is Government e-Marketplace?

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is a dedicated online platform where goods and services can be procured by various organizations and departments under the Government of India, and by the PSUs also.

• GeM is aimed at enhancing the efficiency, speed and transparency in public procurement of goods and services. It also serves the objective of eliminating corruption.
• It is administered by the Ministry of Commerce and Industries under the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D).
• It is a completely paperless, cashless and system-driven e-marketplace that enables the procurement of common use goods and services with a minimal human interface.
• It is an online marketplace for government officers and others for procurement.

GeM 4.0

GeM 4.0 is the latest version of the e-marketplace. It adds on to the features that were already in place in the third edition of GeM. Some of the new features include the following:

1. Sellers will get timely payment.
2. Natural Language Processing (NLP) based advanced search engine.
3. Demand aggregation wherein buyers can collate several orders of the same product for different consignees across many organisations within one ministry.
4. The user interface has been revamped and made more user-friendly.
5. Staggered or flexible delivery is allowed.
6. The bidding module has been redesigned and now consignee-wise and item-wise bidding is permitted.
7. Advanced analytics, machine learning, deep learning and AI are integrated into the portal.
8. The grievance redressal mechanism has been improved.
9. Cataloguing has been made simpler for sellers by introducing price variance.
10. Ease of Payment options with integration with many banks and ERPs.
11. Seller rating is now introduced making it easier for buyers to make their decisions, and also incentivising sellers to upgrade.
12. Many new services and categories have been included.
13. Now, sellers and buyers can interact with each other thus offering scope for improvement and a better understanding of the market.
14. This version has dedicated pages for CPSUs (central PSUs).

GeM 3.0

The third version of the marketplace, GeM 3.0 has been envisaged as the National Procurement Portal of India by the Government. In August 2016, the earlier version of GeM 3.0, GeM 2.0 was launched as a pilot project.

• GeM 3.0 offers advanced Management Information System (MIS), user rating, e-Performance Bank Guarantee (e-PBG), e-Earnest Money Deposit (e-EMD), demand aggregation, template-based bidding and RA creation, powerful search engine and standardized and enriched catalogue management, analytics and more. 
• It has a powerful search engine and price comparison tool using third party sites which are real-time and multisource. 
• Online vendor assessment and Performance-based User Rating are also available. It has market based-bundling and bunching of products and services. 
• It offers more services, RA Facility & with a bid, and at the same time has Multi-Cart Functionality.

Benefits of GeM 3.0  

GeM 3.0 offers many benefits like the following:

• Providing transparent transactions for all ranges.
• Market-based generic requirements across all government agencies.
• Open and dynamic marketplace.
• Rating based on the performance of users on the website.
• Generic standards are established through universal service levels.
• Cost comparison enabled.
• Standardisation of specifications of both products and services enabling empirical price comparability.
• The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has signed an MoU with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to benefit MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Women Self Help Groups and various loan beneficiaries under MUDRA and Stand-up India scheme.

Details:

• This will enable the promotion of special initiatives of GeM like Womaniya and Start-up Runway with SIDBI stakeholders.
• Both parties will take steps to ensure payments within a guaranteed timeframe to sellers, enhance working capital availability through bill discounting and control NPAs through control of end-use.

Start-up Runway

This scheme was launched in February 2019.

• It was initiated by GeM to promote entrepreneurship through innovation.
• It is an opportunity for agile and lean Startups to reach out to the universe of Government Buyers by offering products and services that are unique in concept, design, process and functionality through the StartUp Runway corner.
• This scheme will help startups to:
  • Introduce their unique innovations to government and PSU buyers.
  • Assess utility and market acceptability of startup products/services.
  • Spur hyper-local job-creation and wealth generation to achieve inclusive growth by way of helping startups.

Womaniya

It is an initiative to enable women entrepreneurs and women self-help groups (WSHGs) to sell handicrafts and handloom, accessories, jute and coir products, home décor and office furnishings, directly to various Government ministries, departments and institutions.

The initiative seeks to develop women entrepreneurship on the margins of society to achieve gender-inclusive economic growth.

PLI Scheme for Telecom & Networking Equipment

Details:

• PLI scheme for telecom was notified by the Department of Telecommunications in February 2021.
• Now, the operational guidelines have been announced.
• The scheme envisages creating global champions out of India who have the potential to grow in size and scale using cutting edge technology and thereby penetrate the global value chains.
• The PLI Scheme will be implemented within the overall financial limits of ₹ 12,195 Crores for implementation of the Scheme over a period of 5 years. For MSME category, financial allocation will be ₹1000 Crores.
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has been appointed as the Project Management Agency (PMA) for the PLI scheme.
• The Scheme is open to both MSME and Non-MSME Companies including Domestic and Global Companies. Also, manufacturers with products with Indian technology are encouraged to apply.
• The Scheme stipulates a minimum investment threshold of ₹ 10 Crores for MSME and ₹ 100 Crores for non MSME applicants. Eligibility shall be further subject to Incremental Sales of Manufactured Goods (covered under Scheme Target Segments) over the base year (FY2019-20).

Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme

Production Linked Incentive or PLI scheme is a scheme that aims to give companies incentives on incremental sales from products manufactured in domestic units. The scheme invites foreign companies to set up units in India, however, it also aims to encourage local companies to set up or expand existing manufacturing units and also to generate more employment and cut down the country’s reliance on imports from other countries.

It was launched in April 2020, for the Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing sector, but later towards the end of 2020 was introduced for 10 other sectors. This scheme was introduced in line with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign. 

PLI Scheme – A Brief Background

• It was introduced as a part of the National Policy on Electronics by the IT Ministry to give incentives of 4-6% to electronic companies, manufacturing electronic components like mobile phones, transistors, diodes, etc. 
• The main aim of this scheme was to invite foreign investors to set up their manufacturing units in India and also promote the local manufacturers to expand their units and generate employment
• The first sector which the PLI scheme had targeted was the Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing in April 2020, and by the end of the year (November 2020), 10 more sectors including food processing, telecom, electronics, textiles, speciality steel, automobiles and auto components, solar photovoltaic modules and white goods such as air conditioners and LEDs were also expanded under the PLI scheme
• As far as the eligibility is concerned, all electronic manufacturing companies which are either Indian or have a registered unit in India will be eligible to apply for the scheme
• In the Union Budget 2021, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned the inclusion of thirteen more sectors under the PLI Scheme for a period of five years and Rs. 1.97 lakh crores have been allocated for this scheme from Financial Year 2022

Expansion of Production Linked Incentive Scheme

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on November 11, 2020, approved the introduction of the PLI scheme for the 10 key sectors which can enhance India’s Manufacturing Capabilities and improve exports. 

Given below are the 10 new sectors to which the scheme has been expanded along with the approved financial outlay:

Based on the ten sectors to which the Production Linked Incentive scheme was expanded to, the government aims at achieving the following targets:

• The government aims to make India an integral part of the global supply chain and enhance exports
• India is expected to have a USD 1 trillion digital economy by 2025 as it expects the demand for electronics to increase under its projects like Smart City and Digital India
• The PLI scheme will make the Indian automotive Industry more competitive and will enhance the globalisation of the Indian automotive sector
• The Indian Textile Industry is one of the largest in the world and with this scheme, it shall attract large investment in the sector to further boost domestic manufacturing, especially in the manmade fibre (MMF) segment and technical textiles
• India, being the second-largest producer of steel in the world, introducing it under the PLI scheme will benefit the country as it may expand export opportunities
• Similarly, telecom, solar panels, pharmaceuticals, white goods, and all the other sectors introduced can contribute to the economic growth of the country and make India a manufacturing hub globally

Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing

• The first phase of the PLI scheme was dedicated to the Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing sector and the scheme proposed to increase the manufacturing of mobile phones in India along with setting up their Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) units
• The total cost proposed for the scheme was INR 40,995 crore
• It was set up to benefit a few global investors and mainly the domestic manufacturers in India
• With high potential for employment generation, the scheme can help employee over 2 lakh people in 5 years in the electronics manufacturing sector
• Till date, in the case of electronics, the assembling of objects was done in India, while the production was done outside. With the PLI scheme and Make in India campaign, the electronics can be made ad assembled in the domestic industries itself
• The production of mobile phones in the country has gone up significantly from around INR 18,900 crore in 2014-15 to INR 1,70,000 crore in 2018-19 and the domestic demand is almost completely being met out of domestic production. With PLI, this can be increased even further

The table given below shows the financial outlay as per the first phase of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme:

Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Pharmaceuticals

• PLI scheme for Pharmaceuticals was introduced for a period of five years between FY 2020-21 to 2028-29. Total incremental sales of Rs.2,94,000 crore and total incremental exports of Rs.1,96,000 crore are estimated during six years from 2022-23 to 2027-28
• The scheme is expected to generate employment for both skilled and unskilled personnel, estimated at 20,000 direct and 80,000 indirect jobs as a result of growth in the sector
• The duration of the scheme will be from FY 2020-21 to FY 2028-29. This will include the period for processing of applications (FY 2020-21), an optional gestation period of one year (FY 2021-22), an incentive for 6 years and FY 2028-29 for disbursal of incentive for sales of FY 2027-28

Expert Group on Fixation of Minimum Wages and National Floor Wages

Details:

• The Ministry of Labour & Employment issued an order and has constituted the Expert Group to provide technical inputs and recommendations on fixation of Minimum Wages and National Floor Minimum Wages.
• The Group has been constituted for a period of three years from the date of notification.
• To arrive at the wage rates, the group will look into the international best practices on wages and evolve a scientific criteria and methodology for fixation of wages.
• The Group is chaired by Prof Ajit Mishra, Director, Institute of Economic Growth.

Children in distress during COVID pandemic

Details:

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development has asked the States/UTs to ensure care and protection of children adversely impacted by COVID, following the protocol as mandated under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

The following measures have been enlisted:

• Identification and Profiling of children
  • Identify children in distress through surveys and outreach, etc.
  • Create a database with profile of each child along with the details of their specific needs and requirements maintaining required confidentiality.
  • Ensure that the data of every child is uploaded on the Track Child Portal of Government of India.
• Vigilance and Protection
  • Publicize contact details of Child Welfare Committees and Childline (1098) at hospital receptions and other prominent places.
  • Police to be alerted to track and monitor the evolving situation carefully, to prevent crimes against children including child labour, child marriage, trafficking and illegal adoptions.
  • Database of children at risk to be maintained to ensure follow-up and regular monitoring.
  • Suitable measures to be put in place to ensure that financial assistance offered to children is not adjusted against pending loans/other liabilities of their parents.
• Emergency Care and Rehabilitation
  • Hospitals to take information about persons who can take care of the children in case of any eventuality concerned with the parents.
  • Provisions for paediatric and neo-natal care to be ensured.
• Institutional support through Child Care Institutions (CCIs)
  • Assessment of quality care in all CCIs to ensure clean and hygienic living conditions, basic amenities, etc.
  • Proper isolation facilities for children affected by COVID, and other relevant facilities.
• Role of District Magistrate and District Administration Guardianship
  • District Magistrate shall be the Guardian of vulnerable children impacted adversely by COVID.
  • The DM shall make efforts that such children are rehabilitated in the following order of preference, in the manner as prescribed under the JJ Act, 2015:
    • Restored to/rehabilitated with extended family, kith and kin of the child.
    • Adoption (in case children are found legally free for adoption by Child Welfare Committee) through CARINGS portal maintained by Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).
    • Under Government approved Child Care Institutions.
  • DMs need to secure the rights of the children on family assets/ancestral properties, to ensure that it is not sold or encroached.
• Institutional Support through CCIs
• District Police team to stay alert and vigilant to prevent trafficking of children, illegal adoption, child marriage, child labour or any other kind of abuse. All cases of children offered for adoption on social media to be traced and action may be taken against the perpetrator if found guilty.
• Panchayat Raj Institutions/Urban local bodies
  • The child protection committees at Panchayat level to identify and inform District Administration/District Child protection Unit about children in distress.
• Education
  • Orphaned children to be given free education in government schools.
  • Based on the special needs of the child, he/she can be enrolled in the nearest private school under RTE.
  • Vocational training to be given if necessary under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
• Medical facilities
  • Health Insurance may be secured for eligible children under PM Jan Arogya Yojana.