UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 09-04-2021

International Monetary and Financial Committee

• Indian Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs attended the Plenary Meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) Board of Governors.
• IMFC usually meets twice a year at the Fund-Bank Spring Meetings (April), and the Annual Meetings (October).
• Chairperson - Magdalena Andersson, Sweden's Finance Minister (The first woman to hold this position). Holds office for 3 years.
• Members - IMFC has 24 members who are central bank governors, ministers, or others of comparable rank. These members are drawn from the governors of the 190 member countries of the IMF.
• Each member country and each group of member countries that elects an Executive Director appoints a member of the IMFC.
• Role - It discusses matters of common concern affecting the global economy and advises the IMF on the direction of its work and policies.
• It advises and reports to the IMF Board of Governors on the supervision and management of the international monetary and financial system.
• It considers proposals by the Executive Board to amend the Articles of Agreement and advises on matters referred to it by Board of Governors.
• Observers in the IMFC’s meetings - International institutions.

E9 Initiative

• Meeting of Education Ministers of E9 countries on ‘E9 initiative: Scaling up digital learning to accelerate progress towards SDG4’ was held.
• E9 meeting is the first of a 3-phased process to co-create an initiative on digital learning and skills, targeting marginalised children and youth.
• E9 initiative aims to accelerate recovery and advance the Sustainable Development Goal 4 agenda by driving rapid change in education systems in three of the 2020 Global Education Meeting priorities,
  1. Support to teachers;
  2. Investment in skills;
  3. Narrowing of the digital divide.
• It is spearheaded by the United Nations, the E9 countries - Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Indian Initiatives

• One Nation-One Digital Platform - DIKSHA.
• One Nation-One Channel programme - SWAYAM PRABHA, SWAYAM MOOCS and radio broadcasting.
• PM e-VIDYA - To provide multi-modal access to education to school-going children across India.

Campaign on COVID-19 Vaccination

• A multipronged nationwide mass awareness campaign on Covid-19 vaccination is organized by the Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS).
• This campaign will be carried out through an android-based mobile app COVACNEWS made by INYAS for ensuring information at the fingertips.
• A pan-India info-graphic video and audio competition is being organised along with the GYAN TEEKA webinar series on COVID-19 vaccination.

Indian National Young Academy of Sciences

• This academy of young scientists was constituted by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) in 2014 based on the recommendations of the INSA-constituted committee with Rajesh Gopakumar as chair.
• This academy came into existence as an activity of INSA in 2015.
• Members - 100 members, not exceeding the age of 40 years at the time of induction (20 new members shall be inducted as members each year.)
• Each person may remain a member for a fixed period of 5 years.
• Advisory Board for INYAS - INSA President, 6 Vice-Presidents and Executive Director.

Indian National Science Academy

• Formerly known as National Institute of Sciences of India (NISI), the INSA was established in 1935. The name was changed to INSA in 1970.
• Objective - To promote science in India and harness scientific knowledge for the cause of humanity and national welfare.
• In 1945, the institute was recognized by the Government of India as the premier scientific society of India, representing all branches of science.
• In 1968, it was designated as the adhering organization in India to the International Council for Science (ICSU) on behalf of the Government.

Ghaziabad Green Municipal Bonds

• Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam (GNN) or Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation, a civic body in Uttar Pradesh, has successfully listed India’s first-ever Green Municipal bond issue on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
• It has raised Rs. 150 crore by issuing this bond at a coupon rate of 8.10% with over-subscription (One of the lowest in municipal bonds in India).
• The Urban Development Ministry has provided a 2% interest subvention, which means effectively Ghaziabad has raised funds at 6%.
• The funds will be utilised for an environmentally sustainable projects,
  1. Tertiary water treatment plant to benefit industries in Ghaziabad,
  2. Supply piped water through water-meters to places like Sahibabad.
• According to India Ratings, Ghaziabad bond is debt-free and has maintained a revenue surplus position in the last few years.
• Other Cities - Apart from Ghaziabad, municipal bonds have been raised by 9 cities - Ahmedabad, Surat, Visakhapatnam, Amravati, Indore, Bhopal, Pune, Hyderabad and Lucknow.

PM-FME Scheme for SHG Entrepreneurs

• To implement Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) Scheme to support Self Help Group (SHG) entrepreneurs in food processing, the following are working together,
  1. Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and
  2. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
• This will provide financial, technical and business support for upgradation of existing micro food processing enterprises.
• Both the Ministries decided to work closely on the component of providing seed capital support to SHG members.
• This involves working capital and purchase of small tools with the maximum permissible amount of Rs. 40,000/- per SHG member based on their existing business turnover and requirement.
• The State Rural Livelihood Missions in the States/UTs and the State Nodal Agencies appointed by MoFPI are executing the program closely.
• This involves identification of targeted eligible beneficiaries, capturing their aspirations & growth plans in the form of applications, digitize, review, recommend and approve them.
• The States will release funds to respective SHGs and SHG members through the network of community organizations - Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) and Village Organizations (VOs).

Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme

• Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched by the MoFPI is being implemented for a period of 5 years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
• This All India Scheme is for the Unorganized Sector.
• The expenditure will be shared by GoI and the States in ratio of 60:40.

Integrated Health Information Platform

• The Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), the world's biggest online disease surveillance platform, was launched.
• India is the first country in the world to adopt such an Advanced Digital Surveillance System.
• IHIP is the next generation highly refined version of the presently used Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) digital platform.
• It is in sync with the National Digital Health Mission and fully compatible with the other digital information systems presently in use.
• It can easily be integrated with other ongoing surveillance program, while having the feature of addition of special surveillance modules.
• It will track 33 diseases now as compared to the earlier 18 diseases.
• It will provide health information system developed for real time, case-based information, integrated analytics, advanced visualization capability that will enable evidence-based policy making.  

• Data will be provided in real time through the,
  1. Grassroots healthcare workers through their gadgets (tablets);
  2. Doctors at the PHC/CHC/SHD/DH when the citizens seek healthcare;
  3. Diagnostic labs which will provide data on the tests carried out.
• It will provide analyzed reports on electronic devices. Outbreak investigation activities can be initiated and monitored electronically.
• India’s information system for precision public health will deliver the right intervention at the right time, every time to the right population.
• This refined digital surveillance platform will help to provide and connect data and move towards ‘One Health’ approach.

Source: PIB, The Hindu, The Indian Express, Down To Earth, Business Line, Economic Times