PIB Summary- 29th April, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Aspirational Districts Programme

Why in News?
As part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, NITI Aayog held a day-long conference on the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP).

About Aspirational Districts Programme

• Aspirational Districts are those districts in India, that are affected by poor socio-economic indicators.
• These are aspirational in the context, that improvement in these districts can lead to the overall improvement in human development in India.
• At the Government of India level, the programme is anchored by NITI Aayog. In addition, individual Ministries have assumed responsibility to drive the progress of districts.
• The objective of the program is to monitor the real-time progress of aspirational districts.
• Aspirational Districts’ programme (ADP) is based on 49 indicators from the 5 identified thematic areas, which focuses closely on improving people’s Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development, and Basic Infrastructure.
• With States as the main drivers, ADP seeks to focus on the strength of each district, identify low-hanging fruits for immediate improvement, measure progress, and rank districts.
• There are 115 districts identified from 28 states as Aspirational Districts, at least one from each state.

MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme

Why in News?
The  Union Ministry for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has launched the MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme.

MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme

• This Scheme is a multi-pronged effort to help MSMEs embrace Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) practises.
• Its goal is to encourage them to pursue ZED Certification while also encouraging them to become MSME Champions.
• MSMEs may minimise waste, increase productivity, raise environmental awareness, conserve energy, make better use of natural resources, grow their markets, and more with the ZED Certification.

Components of the scheme

• Under the Scheme, MSMEs will get subsidy as per the following structure, on the cost of ZED certification:
  (i) Micro Enterprises: 80%
  (ii) Small Enterprises: 60%
  (iii) Medium Enterprises: 50%
• There will be an additional subsidy of 10% for the MSMEs owned by Women/SC/ST Entrepreneurs OR MSMEs in NER/Himalayan/LWE/Island territories/aspirational districts.
• In addition to above, there will be an additional subsidy of 5% for MSMEs which are also a part of the SFURTI OR Micro & Small Enterprises – Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) of the Ministry.
• Further, a limited purpose joining reward of Rs. 10,000/- will be offered to each MSME once they take the ZED Pledge.

About ZED Scheme:

• ZED or Zero Defect, Zero Effect  scheme is for MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) Sector to increase the quality of products matching global standards.
• The main objective of ZED or Zero Defect, Zero Effect  scheme  is to reduce the bad effect of products on the environment. This scheme will help contribute to the environment as well.
• ZED Scheme aims to rate and handhold all MSMEs to deliver top quality products using clean technology.
• It will have sector-specific parameters for each industry.
• MSME sector is crucial for the economic progress of India and this scheme will help to match global quality control standards.
• The slogan of Zero Defect, Zero Effect (ZED) was first mentioned by PM Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech in 2014. 
• It was given for producing high quality manufacturing products with a minimal negative impact on environment.
• ZED Scheme is meant to raise quality levels in  unregulated MSME sector which is engine of growth for Indian economy.
• The scheme will be cornerstone of the Central Government’s flagship Make in India programme, which is aimed at turning India into a global manufacturing hub, generating jobs, boosting growth and increase incomes

Objectives:

• Develop an Ecosystem for Zero Defect Manufacturing in MSMEs. 
• Promote adaptation of Quality tools/systems and Energy Efficient manufacturing. 
• Enable MSMEs for manufacturing of quality products. 
• Encourage MSMEs to constantly upgrade their quality standards in products and processes. 
• Drive manufacturing with adoption of Zero Defect production processes and without impacting the environment. 
• Support ‘Make in India’ campaign. 
• Develop professionals in the area of ZED manufacturing and certification. 
• Under the scheme, the MSME companies which follow the guidelines and meet the standards set by the ZED will award ZED certification along with several benefits.