PIB Summary- 6th March, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Vibrant Village Programme

Why in News?
Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and Labour & Employment said that under the leadership of Prime Minister border villages will be developed comprehensively through the Vibrant Villages Programme and said that stronger border villages will lead to a stronger nation.

About Vibrant Village Programme

• The program’s goal is to enhance infrastructure in villages along India’s China border.
• In states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh, infrastructure will be enhanced.
• Residential and tourism centres will be built as part of the programme.
• It will also facilitate the development of decentralised renewable energy sources and increase road connectivity.
• Aside from that, there will be direct access to Doordarshan and educational channels. A source of income will be offered.

Focus areas

• It emphasises the generation of livelihoods, road connectivity, housing, rural infrastructure, renewable energy, television, and broadband connections.
• This goal will be achieved by improving infrastructure in villages near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Need for such scheme

• The programme is a rebuke to China’s model villages, but the term was picked with care to avoid causing a stir in the neighbouring country.
•  In recent years, China has created new communities along the LAC, mainly across the Arunachal Pradesh border.
• Villages on the Indian side of the border have undergone unprecedented out-migration while China has been placing new citizens in border areas.

Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID)

Why in News?
Recently, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs said that the sale of gold jewellery mandates a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) from April 1, 2023.

Hallmark Unique Identification

• The Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) is a 6-digit alphanumeric code that is given to every piece of jewellery during the hallmarking process.
• The code is unique for every piece of jewellery and is manually stamped on it at Assaying & Hallmarking centres.

Key Facts

• The HUID consists of numbers and letters.
• The previous HUID used to be 4 digits, but now both 4 and 6-digit codes are used in the market.
• Starting from April 1st, 2023, only 6-digit alphanumeric codes will be allowed.
• The BIS Hallmark has three symbols – BIS logo, Purity/Fineness Grade, and a six-digit alphanumeric code, which includes the HUID.
• The authenticity of hallmarked jewellery can be checked using the ‘verify HUID’ feature on the BIS Care App.

Bureau of Indian Standards

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the National Standards Body of India established under the BIS Act 2016.
• Its primary objective is to ensure the harmonious development of standardisation and quality assurance of goods and articles.

Key Facts

• BIS works under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
• It represents India in international standardisation bodies such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).