PIB Summary- 16th March, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

India-Finland Virtual Summit

Context: The Prime Ministers of India and Finland held virtual summits and discussed the entire gamut of bilateral issues as well as other regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.

Details

• Both leaders noted that the close relations between India and Finland were based on shared values of democracy, rule of law, equality, freedom of speech, and respect for human rights.
• They reaffirmed their strong commitment to work for multilateralism, a rules-based international order, sustainable development and combating climate change.
• The leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues, including the India-EU partnership, cooperation in the Arctic region, WTO and UN reforms.
• Both sides noted the potential for India and Finland to cooperate in undertaking developmental activities in Africa.
• Prime Minister Modi invited Finland to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP)

Context: In India, Natural farming is promoted as Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati Programme (BPKP).

About Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP)

• It is a sub scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
• It was introduced in 2020-21 for the promotion of traditional indigenous practices including natural farming.
• The scheme mainly emphasises the exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs and promotes:
  • On-farm biomass recycling with major stress on biomass mulching
  • The use of cow dung-urine formulations
  • Plant based preparations
  • Time to time working of soil for aeration
• Under BPKP, financial assistance of Rs 12200/ha for 3 years is provided for cluster formation, capacity building and continuous handholding by trained personnel, certification and residue analysis.
• BPKP is aimed at promoting traditional indigenous practices which reduces externally purchased inputs.
• Benefit of the scheme: natural farming will reduce dependency on purchased inputs and will help to ease smallholder farmers from credits burden.

India Chem-2021

Context: India Chem-2021 is scheduled to be held in March 2021 (17th – 19th).

About India Chem-2021

• It is the largest event of the chemicals and petrochemical industry in the Asia-Pacific region, and currently, it is the 11th edition going on.
• It is jointly organized by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India and FICCI.
• The event is expected to showcase tremendous potential and supportive government policy for sustainable growth in the sector and provide a platform for domestic and international investors and other stakeholders to interact and forge alliances.
• The theme for India Chem-2021 is “India: Global Manufacturing Hub for Chemicals and Petrochemicals”.

India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA)

Context: IBSA Women’s Forum meeting held.

About IBSA

• Established in June 2003, IBSA is a coordinating mechanism amongst three emerging countries, three multi-ethnic and multicultural democracies, which are determined to:
  • contribute to the construction of a new international architecture
  • bring their voice together on global issues
  • deepen their ties in various areas
• The establishment of IBSA was formalised by the Brasilia Declaration of 2003, which mentions India, Brazil and South Africa’s democratic credentials, their condition as developing nations and their capacity of acting on a global scale as the main reasons for the three countries to come together.
• The principles, norms and values underpinning the IBSA Dialogue Forum are participatory democracy, respect for human rights and the Rule of Law.
• IBSA does not have a headquarters or a permanent executive secretariat to maintain an open and flexible structure.
• At the highest level, it conducts Summits of the Heads of State or Government.
• IBSA’s activities are divided into four tracks:
  • Political coordination
  • Sector cooperation through 14 Working Groups
  • IBSA Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA Fund)
  • People-to-People fora