UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 10-03-2021
iasparliament
March 10, 2021
SDG India Index & Dashboard
NITI Aayog will launch 3rd edition of “Sustainable Development Goals India Index & Dashboard, 2020-21: Partnerships in the Decade of Action”. It covers 17 Goals, 70 targets, and 115 indicators.
Launched in 2018, the index has been monitoring progress on the SDGs in the country at the national and sub-national level.
The index estimation is based on data on indicators for the first 16 goals, with a qualitative assessment for Goal 17.
The selection of indicators is preceded by a consultative process undertaken in close coordination with MoSPI, Union Ministries and stakeholders from States and Union Territories.
The index supports the States and UTs in identifying areas which require more attention; and promoting healthy competition among them.
It has been successful as an advocacy tool to propagate the messages of sustainability, resilience, and partnerships.
Agriculture Voltage Technology
An Agri-voltaic system with a capacity of 105 KW was developed by ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur.
This technology can increase the income of farmers by generation of electricity and growing of cash crops simultaneously on the same land.
Under the Kisan Urja Suraksha Utthan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) scheme, there is a provision for installation of agri-voltaic system in farmers’ fields with a capacity of 500 KW-2 MW.
Moreover, National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) has documented 13 operational agri-voltaic systems in the country managed by different solar PV functionaries and public Institutes.
Bodo Peace Accord
A Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed in January, 2020 with factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), etc.
This MoS seeks to,
Increase the scope and power of Bodoland Territorial Council and to streamline its functioning;
Resolve issues related to Bodo people residing outside Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD);
Protect Bodo’s social, cultural, linguistic and ethnic identities;
Provide legislative protection for the land rights of tribals;
Ensure quick development of tribal areas and rehabilitate members of NDFB factions;
Notify Bodo language as an associate official language in the State.
MoS provides for establishing a Bodo-Kachari Welfare Council and to set up a separate directorate for Bodo medium schools.
A provision is also there for a special Development package of Rs.1500 crores to undertake specific projects for the development of Bodo areas.
Rural Circuit
Recognizing the potential of Village tourism in the country, the Ministry of Tourism has identified Rural Circuit as one of 15 thematic circuits identified for development under Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
[Swadesh Darshan Scheme was launched for Integrated Development of theme-based Tourist Circuits for development of tourism infrastructure.]
Ministry of Rural Development provides a list of leading sub districts to each State for selection of Non-Tribal clusters under SPMRM, within which the clusters could be identified.
One of the parameters in the selection of these sub districts by the Ministry of Rural Development is “Presence of places of Tourism and Pilgrimage significance”.
As part of its marketing activities, the Tourism Ministry produces publicity material in potential markets under “Incredible India” brand.
Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission
It is one of the rural development schemes being implemented under the Ministry of Rural Development.
It focuses on integrated development of rural clusters by stimulating local economic development, enhancing basic services, and creating well planned Rurban clusters.
It develops a cluster of villages that preserve and nurture the essence of rural community life with focus on equity and inclusiveness without compromising with the facilities perceived to be urban in nature.
Under SPMRM, 300 clusters are developed across 28 States and 6 UTs.
Tourism related activities are among the 21 component categories under SPMRM and works are undertaken in clusters with tourism potential.
Under SPMRM, there are 105 clusters in 30 States/ UTs where tourism related activities have been proposed.
OBC Reservation
The Supreme Court ruled that the reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) is only ‘statutory’, unlike the ‘constitutional’ reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
It also said that if the reservation for SCs and STs were to consume the entire 50% of seats of SCs/STs/OBCs in the concerned local bodies, the question of providing further reservation to OBCs would not arise.
The quantum of reservation for OBCs ought to be local body specific.
A dedicated Commission has to be set up to conduct empirical inquiry into the nature and implications of the backwardness qua local bodies, within the State.
The proportion of reservation required to be provisioned local body wise would be specified in light of recommendations of the Commission.
Nifty50 PE Ratio
The National Stock Exchange announced a change to the Nifty50’s Price-Earnings (PE) ratio calculation that promises to reduce the Nifty PE.
Seasoned investors and professional fund managers use the Nifty 50’s PE number to quickly gauge if markets are expensive or cheap.
Nifty PE will drop from 40 times to about 35 times on March 31, 2021.
So far, Nifty PE ratio has been calculated based on standalone earnings of the 50 companies that make up the index for the trailing 4 quarters.
Now, it plans to use consolidated earnings - A more accurate representation of the true profitability and valuation of Nifty companies.
But, standalone earnings of a company reflect only the profits made by it alone, without considering the operations of its subsidiaries.
