PIB Summary- 16th June, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF)

Why in News?
The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM has approved a Memorandum of Association (MoA) by India for the establishment of the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF).

About BIMSTEC

• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• India
• Nepal
• Sri Lanka
• Myanmar (South-east Asia)
• Thailand (South-east Asia)

• Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are the member states dependent on the Bay of Bengal.
• Fourteen priority sectors of cooperation have been identified and several BIMSTEC centres have been established to focus on those sectors.
• The permanent secretariat of the BIMSTEC is in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

History of Formation

• In 1997, a new sub-regional grouping was formed in Bangkok under the name BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand Economic Cooperation).
• Following the inclusion of Myanmar on 22 December 1997 during a special Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, the Group was renamed ‘BIMST-EC’ (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation).
• In 2004, at the first Summit the grouping was renamed as BIMSTEC or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
• There are 14 main sectors of BIMSTEC along technological and economic cooperation among south Asian and southeast Asian countries along the coast of the Bay of Bengal.
  • Trade & Investment
  • Transport & Communication
  • Energy
  • Tourism
  • Technology
  • Fisheries
  • Agriculture
  • Public Health
  • Poverty Alleviation
  • Counter-Terrorism & Transnational Crime
  • Environment & Disaster Management
  • People-to-People Contact
  • Cultural Cooperation
  • Climate Change
• The BIMSTEC uses the alphabetical order for the Chairmanship which has been taken in rotation commencing with Bangladesh (1997–1999).

What is BIMSTEC TTF?

• Recently, the BIMSTEC member countries signed the agreement at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
• The BIMSTEC TTF’s main goals are to organise, facilitate, and expand cooperation in technology transfer among BIMSTEC Member States, as well as to encourage technology transfer, experience exchange, and capacity building.
• The TTF will have a Governing Board, with the Governing Board having overall control over the TTF’s activities.
• Each Member State will send one nominee to the Governing Board.

Expected outcomes

• Databank of technologies available in BIMSTEC Countries,
• Repository of information on good practices in the areas of technology transfer management, standards, accreditation, metrology, testing and calibration facilities,
• Capacity building, sharing of experiences and good practices in development, and
• Transfer and use of technologies among BIMSTEC countries.

Scheme for Residential Education For Students in High schools in Targeted Areas

Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the scheme ‘SHRESHTA.’

About SHRESHTA

• Under this, each year a specified number of meritorious SC students (Approx 3000) in States / UTs are selected through a transparent mechanism of a National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS) , conducted by the National Testing Agency ( NTA ) .
• Selected students are admitted in the Best Private Residential Schools, affiliated by CBSE, in classes 9th and 11th for completion of education till 12th standard.
• Thereafter, the students may be connected to Post Metric Scholarship Scheme or Top – Class Education Scheme of the
• Ministry to continue their further studies with adequate financial aid from the Government of India.

Selection of Schools:
For selection of Schools , the Ministry through a committee with the representative of Ministry of Education and CBSE and Finance Division of the Department , has selected the best performing private residential schools affiliated with the CBSE , based on certain parameters such as

• Schools is in existence for at least for last 5 years
• Boards results of the schools were more than 75 % in Class 10 and 12 for the last 3 years
• the Schools have adequate infrastructure for admitting additional at SC students in classes 9th and 11th.

Quality of Education:

• For ensuring the quality of students in the scheme , the Department has decided to seek the students based on All India Entrance Examination from the National Testing Agency ( NTA ) , which conducts all major exams including JEE / NEET and selection of employee for the Government through SSC and others . 
• The Ministry intends to provide level playing field to the poor and meritorious SC students, by providing facilities for providing High Quality Education in the CBSE based Private Schools having Residential Facility ( Hostel ) from class 9th to 12th .
• Entire cost of school fee and hostel fee including food charges shall be borne by the Government of India. The Students under the Scheme may select any school across the country for their academics.

Objectives of the Scheme:

• To enhance the reach of the development initiative of the government.
• To fill the gap in service-deprived Scheduled Castes (SCs) dominant areas in the sector of education by collaborating with voluntary organizations.
• To provide an environment for socio-economic upliftment and overall development of the Scheduled Castes (SCs).
• To provide access to high-quality education to bright Scheduled Caste (SC) students so that they can explore future opportunities.