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

World Wildlife Day

Context: World Wildlife Day observed on 3 March.

About World Wildlife Day

• In December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly had proclaimed March 3 as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness about animals and plants.
• 3 March was chosen as the day since on this day in 1973, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was adopted.
• The theme for the 2021 celebrations is ‘Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet’.
  • The theme highlights the role of forests, forest species and ecosystems services in sustaining the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people globally, and particularly of indigenous and local communities with historic ties to forested and forest-adjacent areas.
• The idea behind the World Wildlife Day is to celebrate diversity and raise awareness about animals and plants going extinct.
• The idea behind the decision to observe this day was proposed by Thailand.

MoU between India and France

Context: Cabinet approves Memorandum of Understanding between India and France on Renewable Energy Cooperation.

Details

• The MoU was signed in January 2021.
• The objective of the MoU is to establish the basis for promotion of bilateral cooperation in the field of new and renewable energy on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity.
• It covers technologies relating to solar, wind, hydrogen and biomass energy.
• The MoU entails exchange and training of scientific and technical personnel, exchange of scientific and technological information and data, organization of workshops and seminars, transfer of equipment, know-how and technology; and development of joint research and technological projects.

MoU between India and Fiji

Context: Cabinet approves Memorandum of Understanding between India and Fiji for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors.

Details

• The MoU entails the exchange of scientists, experts, transfer of technology, infrastructure development for agriculture development, conduct of workshops and seminars, having joint ventures, investment promotion in marketing and value addition of agricultural commodities, promotion of direct trade of agricultural products, research programmes, etc.
• The MoU will remain in force for a period of five years.

India Telecom 2021

Context: Union Minister inaugurates India Telecom 2021.

About India Telecom 2021

• Organised by TEPC (Telecom Equipment Export Promotion Council).
• It is an Exclusive International Business Expo being held virtually under Market Access Initiative Scheme (MAI) of the Department of Commerce, supported by the Department of Telecommunications & the Ministry of External Affairs.
• More than 1,000 delegates, out of which more than 200 are foreign delegates from more than 45 countries, are attending the event.
• More than 40 Indian telecom companies are showcasing their state of the art products and capabilities at the exhibition.
• India Telecom 2021 is a platform for convergence of technologies and business exchange.

About Telecom Equipment Export Promotion Council (TEPC)

• TEPC was set up by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Communications to promote and develop of export of telecom equipment and services.
• The council undertakes several activities aimed at exports promotion such as commissioning of studies to find potential markets, holding of national/international seminars and facilitating participation of exporters in various overseas exhibitions.
• The council also disseminates trade related data to its members.
• The council makes various recommendations to the Government for making necessary changes in various policies and procedures for promotion of exports and services.

World Hearing Day

Context: World Hearing Day falls on 3 March.

About World Hearing Day

• World Hearing Day is held on 3 March each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world.
• World Hearing Day 2021 Theme: Hearing Care for ALL! Screen, Rehabilitate, Communicate.
• The first event was held in 2007. Before 2016 it was known as International Ear Care Day.
• World Hearing Day 2021 will mark the launch of the first-ever World Report on Hearing.
• The World Report on Hearing (WRH) has been developed in response to a World Health Assembly resolution adopted in 2017, as a means of providing guidance for Member States to integrate ear and hearing care into their national health plans.
• Based on the best available evidence, this report presents epidemiological and financial data on hearing loss; outlines available cost-effective solutions and sets the way forward through ‘Integrated people-centred ear and hearing care’ (IPC-EHC).
• The report is global in its reach while keeping a special focus on low- and middle-income countries, where the number of people with hearing loss is not matched by the availability of services and resources.

Additional information

National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD)

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India launched the pilot phase of NPPCD (from 2006 to 2008) in 10 States and 1 Union Territory in an effort to tackle the high incidence of deafness in the country.
• Initially, the programme was 100% centrally sponsored. However, now the states and the centre pool in funds.
• Objectives:
  • To prevent the avoidable hearing loss on account of disease or injury.
  • Early identification, diagnosis and treatment of ear problems responsible for hearing loss and deafness.
  • To medically rehabilitate persons of all age groups, suffering with deafness.
  • To strengthen the existing inter-sectoral linkages for continuity of the rehabilitation program for persons with deafness.
  • To develop institutional capacity for ear care services by providing support for equipment and material and training personnel.

Background

• Hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit in humans today.
• As per WHO estimates in India, there are approximately 63 million people, who are suffering from significant auditory impairment; this places the estimated prevalence at 6.3% in the Indian population.

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)

Context: India and Norway agree to conduct marine spatial planning in Lakshadweep and Puducherry.

Details

• India and Norway have agreed to jointly work in the area of marine spatial planning in the oceanic space for the next five years.
• This is a part of the Indo-Norway Integrated Ocean Initiative under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in 2019.
• Lakshadweep and Puducherry have been identified as pilot sites for the project.
• The two countries have decided to extend support for sustainable ocean resources utilisation to advance economic and social development in coastal areas.
• The initiative known as Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) will be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) for India and the Norwegian Environment Agency through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway.
• Notably, the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have expressed interest in supporting MoES in conducting MSP.

Why Lakshadweep and Puducherry?

• In its primary phase, NCCR will develop a marine spatial planning framework for Puducherry and Lakshadweep.
• These sites have been chosen for the pilot project in view of their set-ups with unique opportunities for multiple sectors (such as industries, fisheries, and tourism) to flourish.
• In future, the MSP framework of these two environmentally critical areas can be replicated in other coastal areas.