Daily PIB Analysis For UPSC/IAS | 7th Feb 19

Table of Contents

Department of Space

Human Space Mission After the approval of Gaganyaan Programme by the Government of India:
A new centre in ISRO, namely Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) has been formed to carry out the activities for human spaceflight demonstration. Gaganyaan programme is made a part of HSFC.
The Gaganyaan programme team has been constituted.
System concept review of various systems for Gaganyaan is nearing completion. Design verification for human rating of GSLV-MkIII is completed and external configuration of crew module is finalized.
Gaganyaan programme envisages sending a maximum of three Indian astronauts to space. The astronaut selection procedure is being finalized and thereafter astronauts will be shortlisted. Total fund approved for Gaganyaan programme is within ₹ 10000 crores.
ISRO undertook the development of critical technologies before formal programme approval such as Crew Module (CM) systems, Environmental Control & Life Support System (ECLSS), and Crew Escape System (CES). The Crew module configuration was flight tested in the experimental mission of GSLV Mk lll on December 18, 2014 and, the re-entry characteristics and the recovery of the Crew Module were successfully demonstrated. Pad Abort Test was carried out successfully on July 5, 2018 to demonstrate the Crew Escape System during any exigency at launch pad. Remote Sensing, Communication and Science satellites will be the other programmes of ISRO in the current year.

Department of Space Chandrayaan – II

Lander (Vikram) is undergoing final integration tests. Rover (Pragyan) has completed all tests and waiting for the Vikram readiness to undergo further tests. Orbiter of Chandrayaan-2 is ready for integration with the Lander.
Vikram is totally a new and complicated design. Several tests are to be conducted in order to prove the design. These tests have taken more time than expected. There is no cost escalation due to this delay.
They are 17 launch vehicle missions, 18 satellite missions and one technology demonstration.

Department of Atomic Energy

Nuclear Waste Disposal The solid wastes generated from nuclear facilities, depending upon their radioactivity content are stored/ disposed of in engineered structures such as stone lined trenches, reinforced concrete trenches and tile holes. These structures are designed on multi-barrier principle for ensuring effective containment of radioactivity. These structures are located within plant/facility premises in access-controlled areas.
The areas where the waste disposal structures are located are provided with bore-wells in a planned manner. These bore wells are routinely monitored to confirm effective confinement of radioactivity present in the disposed waste. The regular monitoring is done as per the requirements which are in line with the guidelines of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The monitoring of various environmental matrices such as air, water, soil etc., in and around the waste disposal facilities is carried out by independent Environmental Survey Laboratories (ESL) of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) which are stationed at all the nuclear sites.

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

Effect of Angel Tax on Indian Startup Ecosystem
The Government of India has continuously engaged with all stakeholders to address relevant issues related to the Indian Startup eco-system. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) issued notification in April 2018 for easing the norms for providing tax exemption to the Startup companies and further amended the notification on 4th February 2019. As per the notification, an entity is considered as a Startup:
Upto a period of seven years from the date of incorporation/registration, if it is incorporated as a private limited company (as defined in the Companies Act, 2013) or registered as a partnership firm (registered under section 59 of the Partnership Act, 1932) or a limited liability partnership (under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008) in India.
In the case of Startups in the biotechnology sector, the period shall be upto ten years from the date of its incorporation and registration.
Turnover of the entity for any of the financial years since incorporation/ registration has not exceeded Rs. 25 crore
Entity is working towards innovation, development or improvement of products or processes or services, or if it is a scalable business model with a high potential of employment generation or wealth creation.

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Jurisdiction of CBI
In exercise of powers under Section 2 (1) of Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, the Central Government constitutes a Special Police Force for investigation in any Union Territory of offences notified under Section 3 of DSPE Act, 1946. The power and jurisdiction of this Special Force can be extended by virtue of Section 5 of DSPE Act, 1946 to any other areas/State not being Union Territory for investigation of any offences or classes of offences notified under Section 3 of DSPE Act, 1946 with the consent of the Government of that State. Further, Constitutional courts can also entrust any case or class of case for investigation in exercise of inherent jurisdiction even without the consent of the respective State Government.
Once general or specific consent is granted under Section 6 of DSPE Act, 1946 by the State Government where the case is registered; or when the case is entrusted by the Constitutional courts, the powers and jurisdiction of members of the DSPE (CBI) may extend for investigation as stipulated under Section 5 of DSPE Act, 1946.
Withdrawal of consent, if any, by a State Government can be effected prospectively and not retrospectively.
Further, in the cases which are referred by the Constitutional Courts, the entry of CBI cannot be denied by that State as these do not require the consent of the State.

Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation

Atal Bhujal Yojana

The World Bank has approved Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY), a Rs.6000 Crore scheme, for sustainable management of ground water with community participation. The funding pattern is 50:50 between Government of India and World Bank. The identified over-exploited (OE) and water stressed areas for the implementation of the scheme fall in the States of Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Nine blocks of Bundelkhand region in Madhya Pradesh viz. Chhatarpur (Chhatarpur district), Naugaon (Chhatarpur district), Rajnagar (Chhatarpur district), Sagar (Sagar district), Niwari (Tikamgarh district), Baldeogarh (Tikamgarh district), Palera (Tikamgarh district), Patheria (Damoh district) and Ajeygarh (Panna district) have been identified in the scheme.
ABHY envisages active participation of the communities in various activities such as formation of ‘Water User Associations’, monitoring and disseminating ground water data, water budgeting, preparation & implementation of Gram-panchayat-wise water security plans and IEC activities related to sustainable ground water management.

Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation

Water Conservation Fee
Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) under Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation had notified revised guidelines vide Gazette notification S.O. 6140(E) dated 12.12.2018 to regulate and control ground water extraction in India, which was proposed to be effective from 01.06.2019.
As per these revised guidelines, Water Conservation Fee (WCF) would be levied for use of ground water depending on the category of area, type of industry and quantum of ground water withdrawal.
There was no provision for exemption from WCF to Government infrastructure, water supply agencies and mining projects. However, National Green Tribunal (NGT) vide order dated 3rd January 2019 has directed that the notification may not be given effect and has ordered Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF & CC) to constitute an expert committee by including representatives from IIT Delhi, IIT Roorkee, IIM Ahmedabad, CPCB, Niti Aayog and any other concerned agency or department to examine the issue of appropriate policy for conservation of ground water. Water being a State subject, initiatives on water management including conservation and artificial recharge to ground water in the Country is primarily States’ responsibility

Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation

Management of Ground Water Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has been entrusted with the responsibilities of developing & disseminating technologies, monitoring national policies for the scientific and substainable development and management of India’s ground water resources. CGWB periodically takes up various studies which include ground water management studies, exploratory drilling programmes, monitoring ground water level and water quality through a network of ground water observation wells etc and the result collected is shared with the concerned States for taking up suitable ground water specific interventions.
The National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) was initiated as a part of the Ground Water Management and Regulation scheme to delineate and characterize the aquifers to develop plans for ground water management. Aquifer maps and management plans are being regularly shared with State Governments through the State Ground Water Coordination Committees, chaired by the concerned Principal Secretaries of the respective States and also with the respective District Authorities for their suitable ground water specific demand side and supply side interventions. To facilitate participation at grassroots levels, public interaction programmes (PIP) are being regularly organized by the CGWB in which aquifer maps and management plans are discussed in detail.

Cabinet

Cabinet approves introduction of National Institutes of Food Technology, Enterpreneurship and Management Bill, 2019 in the Parliament
The objective of the bill is to confer the status of Institutions of National Importance to National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) at Kundli, Haryana, and the Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT) at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.

Cabinet

Cabinet approves establishment of a unified authority for regulating all financial services in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) in India through International Financial Srvices Centres Authority Bill, 2019
The first IFSC in India has been set up at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. An IFSC enables bringing back the financial services and transactions that are currently carried out in offshore financial centers by Indian corporate entities and overseas branches / subsidiaries of financial institutions (FIs)to India by offering business and regulatory environment that is comparable to other leading international financial centers in the world like London and Singapore. It would provide Indian corporates easier access to global financial markets. IFSC would also compliment and promote further development of financial markets in India.
Currently, the banking, capital markets and insurance sectors in IFSC are regulated by multiple regulators, i.e. RBI, SEBI and IRDAI.
The dynamic nature of business in the IFSCs necessitates a high degree of inter-regulatory coordination. It also requires regular clarifications and frequent amendments in the existing regulations governing financial activities in IFSCs. The development of financial services and products in IFSCs would require focussed and dedicated regulatory interventions. Hence, a need is felt for having a unified financial regulator for IFSCs in India to provide world class regulatory environment to financial market participants. Further, this would also be essential from an ease of doing business perspective. The unified authority would also provide the much needed impetus to further development of IFSC in India in-sync with the global best practices.

Management of the Authority:

The Authority shall consist of a Chairperson, one Member each to be nominated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority(PFRDA), two members to be dominated by the Central Government and two other whole-time or fulltime or part-time members.

Powers of the Authority

All powers exercisable by the respective financial sector regulatory (viz. RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, and PFRDA etc.) under the respective Acts shall be solely exercised by the Authority in the IFSCs in so far as the regulation of financial products, financial services and FIs that are permitted in the IFSC are concerned.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs

(CCEA) CCEA approves proposal for setting up 12,000 MW grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Projects
approved the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy’s proposal for implementation of the Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme Phase-ll for setting up 12,000 MW grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Power Projects, by the Government Producers with Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support of Rs. 8,580 crore for self-use or use by Government or Government entities, both Central and State Governments.
The 12,000 MW or more capacity of grid connected solar power projects will be set up by the Government Producers in 4 years period, i.e. 2019-20 to 2022-23, as per the terms and conditions specified in Government Producer Scheme.
The Scheme will mandate use of both solar photovoltaic (SPV) cells and modules manufactured domestically as per specifications and testing requirements fixed by MNRE.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs

(CCEA) CCEA approves “Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development” scheme of Prasar Bharti
Rs. 1054.52 Crores provided for 3 year period till 2020
DD ArunPrabha Channel for North East to be launched
FM Radio expansion at 206 places
Six 10 KW FM transmitters along Indo Nepal and J&K Border to be set up Provisions have been kept for modernization of existing equipment/facilities in studios which are essential to sustain the ongoing activities and also for High Definition Television (HDTV) transmitters at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Setting up of Digital Terrestrial Transmitters (DTTs) at 19 locations and Digitization of Studios at 39 locations, DSNG (Digital Satellite News Gathering) Vans at 15 locations and Upgradation of Earth Stations at 12 locations have also been approved. In addition to this, 1,50,000 DTH sets have been approved for distribution in different states in the country which will help people in the border, remote, tribal and LWE areas to watch Doordarshan’s DTH programmes.