PIB Summary- 21th November, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

CITIIS 2.0 Program

Context
Recently, the Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas launched the CITIIS 2.0 Challenge.

About CITIIS Program

• The CITIIS (Cities Investments to Innovate Integrate and Sustain) Challenge was launched in partnership with French Development Agency (AFD), Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the European Union (EU), and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
• It aimed to extend a loan of EUR 100 million for the implementation of innovative projects selected through an All-India Challenge in sectors like sustainable mobility, public open spaces, urban governance & ICT, and social and organizational innovation in low-income settlements.
• The program was launched on July 9, 2018, and completed activities such as preparatory workshops, proposal submission by cities, evaluation of proposals, and selection of 12 projects in a record time.
• Currently, the 12 projects are being implemented in cities like Agartala, Amaravati, Amritsar, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Dehradun, Hubbali-Dharwad, Kochi, Puducherry, Surat, Ujjain, and Visakhapatnam.

CITIIS 2.0 Program

• The program aims to support selected projects that promote circular economy, integrated waste management at the city level, climate-oriented reform actions at the state level, and institutional strengthening and knowledge dissemination at the national level.

Duration and Partnerships:

• The program will span over four years, from 2023 to 2027.
• It is conceived and will be implemented in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the European Union (EU), and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).

Funding:

• The funding for CITIIS 2.0 includes a loan of ₹1,760 crore split equally between AFD and KfW.
• Additionally, there is a technical assistance grant of ₹106 crore from the European Union.

Components of CITIIS 2.0:
CITIIS 2.0 comprises three major components:

• Financial and technical support for developing projects focused on building climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation in up to 18 smart cities.
• Interventions at the central, state, and city levels to further climate governance.
• Promoting circular economy with a focus on integrated waste management at the city level.

What is the Smart Cities Mission?

• The Smart Cities Mission is an initiative of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry that was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 25, 2015.
• Cities across the country were asked to submit proposals for projects to improve municipal services and to make their jurisdictions more liveable.
• Between January 2016 and June 2018 (when the last city, Shillong, was chosen), the Ministry selected 100 cities for the Mission over five rounds.
• The projects were supposed to be completed within five years of the selection of the city, but in 2021 the Ministry changed the deadline for all cities to June 2023, which was earlier the deadline for Shillong alone.

What kinds of projects were proposed?

• After the Ministry gave broad guidelines to the participating cities, the project proposals ranged from making certain stretches of roads more accessible and pedestrian-friendly to more capital-intensive ones like laying water pipelines and constructing sewage treatment plants.
• All 100 cities have also constructed Integrated Command and Control Centres to monitor all security, emergency and civic services.
•  During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, these centres were converted into emergency response units by many of the cities.

ADMM-Plus Meeting

Context
Recently, the Defence Minister of India has participated in the 10th Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Key Points from Indian Address in ADMM-Plus Meeting

• India acknowledged ASEAN’s central role in the region and commended its efforts in promoting dialogue and consensus.

Commitment to International Laws:

• India reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of navigation, overflight, and lawful commerce in international waters.
• Emphasized alignment with international laws, including UNCLOS 1982.

Security Initiatives:

• Advocated for consultative and development-oriented security initiatives within ADMM-Plus.
• Aimed for consensus-driven cooperation to enhance Maritime Security in the region.

Dialogue for Global Stability:

• Stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for lasting peace and global stability.
• Urged moving away from an “us versus them” mindset, highlighting the contemporary era’s avoidance of war.

Appreciation for Joint Initiatives:

• Appreciated ASEAN Member States’ active participation in joint initiatives, including peacekeeping operations and maritime exercises.

Counter-Terrorism Co-Chair Proposal:

• India proposed to co-chair the Expert Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, addressing the serious threat of terrorism in the ASEAN region.

Current Co-Chair Responsibilities:

• Highlighted India’s ongoing co-chairing of the Expert Working Group on Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) with Indonesia in the 2021-2024 cycle.

ADMM-Plus: Strengthening Regional Security and Defence Cooperation

Overview

• The ADMM-Plus serves as a collaborative platform between ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners.
• Dialogue Partners include Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States.

Significance of ADMM:

• The ADMM (ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting) stands as the paramount defence consultative and cooperative mechanism within ASEAN.

Establishment:

• Inaugural ADMM-Plus convened in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, in 2010.
• Since 2017, annual meetings aim to enhance dialogue and cooperation amid rising regional security challenges.

Objectives:

• Build capacity among ASEAN Member States to collectively address shared security challenges.
• Foster mutual trust and transparency among defence establishments through increased dialogue.
• Enhance regional peace and stability by addressing transnational security challenges.
• Facilitate the implementation of the Vientiane Action Programme for a peaceful, secure, and prosperous ASEAN.

Annual Meetings:

• The ADMM-Plus meets annually to promote dialogue and cooperation, considering the evolving regional security landscape.

Cooperation Focus:

• Emphasis on varying capacities among ASEAN Member States.
• Collaboration to address transnational security challenges in the region.

Implementation of Vientiane Action Programme:

• Focus on realizing the Vientiane Action Programme’s goals, advocating for a peaceful, secure, and prosperous ASEAN.
• Adoption of outward-looking external relation strategies with Dialogue Partners.