PIB Summary- 4th October, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

One District, One Product (ODOP)

About One District, One Product (ODOP) Initiative

• The objective of the concept is to convert each district of the country into an export hub.

One District One Product (ODOP)

• The objective of the concept is to convert each district of the country into an export hub by:
  • Identifying products with export potential in the district
  • Addressing bottlenecks for exporting these products
  • Supporting local exporters, manufacturers to scale up manufacturing, and find potential buyers outside India.
• The aim is to promote exports, promote the manufacturing & services industry in the district and generate employment in the district.
• Towards this end, District Export Promotion Committees (DEPCs) are being set up in each district.
  • These committees are likely to be headed by the DM/Collector/DC/District Development Officer of the District and co-chaired by the designated Regional Authority of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
  • The primary function of the DEPC will be to prepare and act on district-specific Export Action Plans in collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders from the Centre, State and the District levels.

About Kashmiri Walnuts

• Kashmir accounts for 90% of India’s walnut production.
• With their superior quality and taste, the Kashmiri walnuts are a great source of nutrients and hence widely in demand across the globe.
• There is immense potential for this product to make its place in the local and global markets.

DRDO Awards

Dare to Dream 2.0

• Dare to Dream is DRDO’s pan-India contest to promote Indian academicians, individuals and start-ups to develop emerging defence and aerospace technologies/systems.
• DRDO provides technical and financial support to the winners for realisation of their ideas under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme.
  • The TDF Scheme extends financial support and expertise to upgrade existing products/systems, processes and its applications by reducing production costs, improving functionality and quality by promoting Make in India, and the development of futuristic technologies with defence applications.
  • The Scheme enlists requirements of Service Headquarters of upgrading products/systems and futuristic defence technologies as Projects for which eligible stakeholders can apply through this platform.

Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB)

Details

• TIWB launched its programme in Seychelles with India as the chosen Partner Administration.
• India has provided Tax Expert for the programme.
• This programme is expected to be of 12 months duration during which India, in collaboration with the TIWB Secretariat and support of the UNDP Country Office in Mauritius and Seychelles, aims to aid Seychelles in strengthening its tax administration by transferring technical know-how and skills to its tax auditors through sharing of best audit practices.
• The focus of the programme will be on Transfer Pricing cases of tourism and financial services sectors.
• This programme is the sixth TIWB programme which India has supported by providing Tax Expert.

About the TIWB Programme

• It is a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
• The programme has been launched in Bhutan with India as the Partner Jurisdiction.
  • India has provided the Tax Expert for this programme.
  • This programme is expected to be of about 24 months’ duration through which India in collaboration with the UNDP and the TIWB Secretariat aims to aid Bhutan in strengthening its tax administration by transferring technical know-how and skills to its tax auditors, and through sharing of best audit practices.
  • The focus of the programme will be in the area of International Taxation and Transfer Pricing.
• The objective of the TIWB Initiative is to enable sharing of tax audit knowledge and skills with tax administrations in developing countries through a targeted, real time “learning by doing” approach.
• Selected experts will work with local tax officials directly on current audits and audit-related issues concerning international tax matters and general audit practices relevant for specific cases.

World Animal Day

About World Animal Day

• 4th October is celebrated globally as World Animal Day.
• The Day is celebrated every year on 4 October internationally, on the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, to educate humans about how their actions impact animals and create awareness about the protection of animals all over the world.
• The first celebration of World Animal Day was observed in March 1925.
• This Day is observed globally to raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards.
• The celebration of World Animal Day unites the animal welfare movement, mobilizing it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals.
• The theme for World Animal Day 2021 is “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.”

About Animal Welfare Board of India

• The Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory advisory body on Animal Welfare laws and promotes animal welfare in the country.
• It was established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
• The Board was started under the stewardship of Late Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, well-known humanitarian.
• Headquartered at Ballabhgarh, Haryana, AWBI ensures that animal welfare laws in the country are diligently followed.
• It also provides grants to Animal Welfare Organizations and advises the Government of India on animal welfare issues.

Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt

About CGSSD

• The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt was launched by the Government in June 2020 to provide credit facility through lending institutions to the promoters of stressed MSMEs viz. SMA-2 and NPA accounts who are eligible for restructuring as per RBI guidelines on the books of the lending institutions.
• The scheme was to remain open till end of March 2021 but the government had decided to extend it till September 2021. Now, it has been extended for six more months.
• Objectives of the scheme
  • To provide guarantee coverage to scheduled commercial banks for providing personal loan through banks to the promoters of stressed MSMEs for infusion as equity/quasi-equity, sub-debt in the business eligible for restructuring as per RBI guidelines.
    • 90% guarantee coverage from Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE).
    • 10% from the promoter(s) concerned.
  • Credit facility is offered to the promoters of MSMEs up to 15% of the promoter’s stake or Rs. 75 lakh or outstanding debt availed by the MSME unit, whichever is lower.
  • Note:- The Scheme is named as ‘Distressed Assets Fund – Subordinate Debt for Stressed MSMEs’ and the credit product for which guarantee would be provided under the Scheme shall be named as ‘Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt (CGSSD).
  • Under the scheme, all Scheduled Commercial Banks are eligible as Member Lending Institutions (MLIs).
  • Scheme duration: The Scheme would be applicable to sub-debt sanctioned under CGSSD for a maximum period of 10 years from the guarantee availment date or March 31, 2021 whichever is earlier, or till an amount of Rs 20,000 crore of guarantee amount is approved.

Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize

About the prize

• Prizes awarded annually for notable and outstanding research, applied or fundamental, in the following disciplines: (i) Biological Sciences, (ii) Chemical Sciences, (iii) Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, (iv) Engineering Sciences, (v) Mathematical Sciences, (vi) Medical Sciences and (vii) Physical Sciences.
• Any citizen of India engaged in research in any field of science and technology up to the age of 45 years and Overseas citizen of India (OCI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) working in India are eligible.

About Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar

• Dr Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar was the Founder Director (and later first Director General) of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) who is credited with establishing twelve national laboratories in as many years.
• Dr Bhatnagar played a significant role in building of post-independent S & T infrastructure and in the formulation of India’s S & T policies.
• Dr Bhatnagar concurrently held number of important position in the Government. He was the first Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• He was Secretary, Ministry of Education and Educational Adviser of Government. He was the first Secretary to Ministry of Natural Resource & Scientific Research and also Secretary of Atomic Energy Commission. He played an instrument role in the establishment of the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) of India.