Daily PIB Analysis For UPSC/IAS | 2nd Feb 19

Table of Contents

Ministry of Commerce & Industry Index of Eight Core Industries (Base: 2011-12=100)

The summary of the Index of Eight Core Industries (base: 2011-12) is given at the Annexure.
The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The combined Index of Eight Core Industries stood at 132.1 in December, 2018, which was 2.6 per cent higher as compared to the index of December, 2017. Its cumulative growth during April to December, 201819 was 4.8per cent.

Coal

Coal production (weight: 10.33per cent)increased by 0.9 per cent in December, 2018 over December, 2017. Its cumulative index increased by 7.8 per cent during April to December, 2018-19 over corresponding period of the previous year.

Crude Oil

Crude Oil production (weight: 8.98 per cent) declinedby 4.3 per cent in December, 2018 over December, 2017. Its cumulative index declined by 3.7 per cent during April to December, 2018-19over the corresponding period of previous year.

Natural Gas

The Natural Gas production (weight: 6.88 per cent) increased by 4.2per cent in December, 2018 over December, 2017. Its cumulative index declined by 0.1 per cent during April to December, 2018-19 over the corresponding period of previous year.

Refinery Products

Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04per cent) declined by 4.8 per cent in December, 2018 over December, 2017. Its cumulative index increased by 4.1 per centduring April to December, 2018-19over the corresponding period of previous year.

Fertilizers

Fertilizers production (weight: 2.63 per cent) declined by 2.4 per cent in December, 2018 over December, 2017. Its cumulative index declined by 1.4 per centduring April to December, 2018-19 over the corresponding period of previous year.

Steel

Steel production (weight: 17.92 per cent)increased by 13.2 per cent in December, 2018 over December, 2017. Its cumulative index increased by 4.7per centduring April to December, 2018-19 over the corresponding period of previous year.

Cement

Cement production (weight: 5.37 per cent) increased by 11.6per cent in December, 2018over December, 2017. Its cumulative index increased by 13.9per centduring April to December, 2018-19over the corresponding period of previous year.

Electricity

Electricity generation (weight: 19.85 per cent) increased by4.0 percent in December, 2018over December, 2017. Its cumulative index increased by6.3per cent duringApril to December, 2018-19over the corresponding period of previous year.

Ministry of Defence

DAC approval for Indigenous construction of Six Project 75(I) submarines under strategic partnership model
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), in a landmark decision, also approved indigenous construction of six submarines for the Indian Navy at a cost of over Rs. 40,000 crores.
This is the second project under the MoD’s ambitious Strategic Partnership (SP) model that aims at providing a significant fillip to the Government’s ‘Make in India’ programme. SP model envisages indigenous manufacturing of major defence platforms by an Indian Strategic Partner, who will collaborate with foreign OEM to set up production facilities in the country.
The model has a long term vision of promoting India as a manufacturing hub for defence equipment through transfer of niche technologies and higher Indigenous Content thereby enhancing self-sufficiency for meeting the future requirements of the Armed Forces. Today’s DAC approval would be second such project following indigenous production of 111 Naval Utility Helicopters that was approved in August 2018. Construction of six submarines under Project 75(I) will provide a major boost to the existing submarine design and manufacturing eco-system in India through transfer of design and equipment technology as well as necessary skill sets.
The DAC also approved the acquisition of approximately 5000 Milan Anti Tank Guided Missiles for the Army.

Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation

Swachh Bharat Mission Scales up Waste Management in Rural India
Forty six New Projects Committed Countrywide
The Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBMG) of Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, held a National Workshop on Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) on 30thand 31st January 2019 in New Delhi.
The workshop was attended by District Collectors, CEOs, CDOs, Executive Engineers and other officers, from across the country.
Mission is on track to deliver an Open Defecation Free (ODF) India well before the set deadline of October 2019 and is focusing increasingly on sustaining the ODF outcomes and ODF-plus activities including SLWM.
The workshop emphasized the importance of Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) for rural census towns and large dense villages and Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resource–dhan (GOBAR-DHAN) in rural areas.
It also covered Plastic Waste Management, Grey Water Management and featured case studies from across the country.
the district representatives prepared action plans and roadmap towards implementing 46 FSM and GOBAR-DHAN projects in their districts in coordination with the technical experts at the central and State levels.
Innovative Solid Waste Management initiatives from across the country were shared by the States.
This included transforming waste into construction bricks and fuel during the harsh winters in Leh district in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kerala showcased the “Green Protocol” being implemented in Thiruvananthapuram district using the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) to minimize waste generation.
Rajgarh district from Madhya Pradesh presented the experience of successfully implementing the GOBAR-DHAN project.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
PETROTECH-2019, the 13th International Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition, to be organised from 10th to 12th February, 2019
India’s flagship hydrocarbon international conference is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister of India. Over 95 Energy Ministers from partner countries have been invited by the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas to participate in the Conference. The three-day mega event will showcase the recent market and investor friendly developments that have taken place in the India’s oil and gas sector.
It is expected to see participation of over 86 eminent speakers and 7000 delegates from around 70 countries, including technologists, scientists, planners, policy-makers, management experts, entrepreneurs, service-providers and vendors.

Ministry of Science & Technology

An Inter-Ministerial Empowered Committee to Incentivise Quality of Research in the Country
The Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Environment, Forests & Climate Change Dr. Harsh Vardhan in a statement released today expressed happiness that for the first time, the Government has also recommended a set of strong financial and academic incentives to enhance and recognize the performance of our research fellows. Science & Technology is a fast moving area in which a dynamic and holistic vision is required to secure the future of the nation and this will be a performance based addition to the enhanced fellowship, the minister added.
An Empowered Inter-Ministerial committee is to examine all the fellowship matters that have a bearing on enhancing the value, quality and experience of doctoral research, including the quantum of fellowship, which will not only widen the scope of training but also enhance the career prospects of research fellows.
The current hike announced yesterday will also be reviewed periodically, possibly annually, which is to be decided, by the empowered group that is being set up, added the Secretary. He said there are various schemes to promote global exchange of researchers, including the Scheme called ‘VAJRA’-Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty Scheme. VAJRA is a dedicated program exclusively for overseas scientists and academicians with emphasis on Non-resident Indians (NRI) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) / Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) to work as adjunct / visiting faculty for a specific period of time in Indian Public funded academic and research institutions. The Scheme recognizes the value of collaborative research as a crucial element for information sharing among researchers for updating and acquiring knowledge and skills, and also to draw different perspectives to solve a shared problem.

Ministry of Finance

Highest Ever Growth Of 42% Recorded in Minimum Wages of Labours during last 5 years
While presenting the Interim Budget 2019-20 in Parliament , the Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs, Railways and Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal said that the high growth and formalization of the economy has led to the expansion of employment opportunities as shown in EPFO membership, which has increased by nearly 2 crore in 2 years reflecting formalisation of the economy and job creations.
Shri Goyal said that the 7th Pay Commission recommendations were implemented and New Pension Scheme (NPS) has been liberalized. The Government’s contribution in NPS had been increased 10% to 14%.
The limit of gratuity payment has been increased from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh.
The limit of eligibility cover of ESIC has been increased from Rs. 15,000 per month to Rs. 21,000 per month.
The minimum pension for all labours has been fixed at Rs. 1,000 per month.
In case of the death of a labour during the service, the EPFO contribution has been increased from Rs. 2.5 lakh to Rs. 6 lakh. The honorarium of all classes of labours under Anganwadi and Asha scheme has been increased by about 50%.

Ministry of Finance

Government Unveils vision for the Next Decade
The Government has unveiled its vision for the next decade, listing thereby ten most important dimensions in 2030. “With this comprehensive ten-dimensional Vision, we will create an India where poverty, malnutrition, littering and illiteracy would be a matter of the past. India would be a modern, technology driven, high growth, equitable and transparent society.” said Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs, Railways & Coal, Shri Piyush Goyal while presenting the Interim Budget 2019-20 in Parliament .
The Minister further said, “India is poised to become a five trillion dollar economy in the next five years and aspires to become 10 trillion dollar economy thereafter.”
The dimensions of Vision-2030 outlined by Shri Goyal are as follows
To create physical and social infrastructure for ten trillion dollar economy and to provide ease of living.
Digital India led by the youths with innumberable start-ups and million of jobs.
To make India pollution free by focusing on Electrical Vehicles and renewables.
Rural industrailisation using modern technologies to generate massive employment.
Clean rivers, with safe drinking water to all Indians and efficient use of water in irrigation using micro-irrigation techniques.
Besides scaling up Sagarmala, India’s coastline and ocean waters will power development
Through our space programme – Gaganyaan, India becoming the launch-pad of satellites for the World
Self sufficiency in food production and producing food in the most organic way.
A healthy India by 2030 and a distress free health care and wellness system for all. Ayushman Bharat and women participation would be an important component in it.
Employees working with elected Government, transforming India into Minimum Government Maximum Governance nation.

Ministry of Finance

FM: India now 6th largest economy in the world with high growth Fiscal deficit down to 3.4%; average inflation 4.6% FDI of USD 239 BN in five years Banks recover Rs 3 Lakh Crores in outstanding loans Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the country has witnessed its best phase of macro-economic stability, becoming the sixth largest economy in the world from being the 11th in the World in 2013-14. Presenting the Interim Budget for the year 2019-20 in Parliament today, the Union Minister “India is the fastest growing major economy in the world” with an average GDP growth of 7.3% per annum, the highest ever achieved by any Government since economic reforms began in 1991. Shri Goyal said under the leadership of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, a clean, decisive and stable Government reversed the policy paralysis, laid foundation for sustainable growth and restored the image of the country.

Ministry of Culture

20th Bharat Rang Mahotsav inaugurated in New Delhi, yesterday
The Minister of State for Culture (I/C), Govt. of India, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, inaugurated the 21-day-long nationwide theatre spectacle at Kamani Auditorium in a program presided over by Dr. Arjun Deo Charan, Acting Chairman, NSD Society and other senior officers of Culture Ministry, in New Delhi yesterday.
The 20th edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM), the international theatre festival of India, is organized by National School of Drama (NSD), one of the prominent training institutions in the world. The National School of Drama (NSD) is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. The 20th BRM comes with 111 national and international acts in its basket that includes folk and other traditional theatre forms, invitee plays, and productions by the students of the National School of Drama.