Contents
- AI-based ASEEM digital platform
- Aids to Navigation Bill 2020
- Cycles4Change Challenge
- National Fish Farmers Day 2020: Fish Cryobanks
- Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power project
AI-BASED ASEEM DIGITAL PLATFORM
Focus: GS-II Social Justice
Why in news?
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched ‘Aatamanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping (ASEEM)’ portal to help skilled people find sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Details
- Launch of ASEEM platform was done to improve the information flow and bridge the demand-supply gap in the skilled workforce market.
- The initiative aims to accelerate India’s journey towards recovery by mapping skilled workforce and connecting them with relevant livelihood opportunities in their local communities especially in the post COVID era.
- This addresses the responsibility of mapping the dispersed migrant population around the country and providing them the means to re-build their livelihood by matching their skill-sets to available employment opportunities.
ASEEM digital platform
- ‘Atma Nirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping (ASEEM)’ portal is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based platform to help in recruiting a skilled workforce that spurs business competitiveness and economic growth.
- ASEEM is developed and managed by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in collaboration with the Bangalore based company
- ASEEM will refer to all the trends, data, and analytics describing the workforce market and map demand of skilled workforce to supply.
- Through ASEEM, agencies, employers, and job aggregators who are looking for a skilled workforce in the specific sectors will have access to the required details of the availability of skilled workforce and formulate their hiring plans.
- It will be used as a matchmaking engine to map skilled workers with the jobs available.
AIDS TO NAVIGATION BILL 2020
Focus: GS-III Industry and Infrastructure
Why in news?
Ministry of Shipping has issued the draft of Aids to Navigation Bill, 2020 for suggestions from the stakeholders and general public.
Aids to Navigation Bill 2020
- The draft bill Aids to Navigation Bill, 2020, is proposed to replace the almost nine decades old Lighthouse Act, 1927, to incorporate the global best practices, technological developments and India’s International obligations in the field of Aids to Marine Navigation.
- The bill aims to regulate state-of-the-art technologies of marine navigation which was earlier used to tangle in statutory provisions of Lighthouse Act, 1927.
- The draft bill provides for empowering Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) with additional power and functions such as Vessel Traffic Service, Wreck flagging etc.
- The DGLL also takes up the function of implementation of other obligations under International Conventions, where India is a signatory.
- It also provides for identification and development of heritage lighthouses.
- The draft bill comprises a new schedule of offences, along with commensurate penalties for obstructing and damaging the aids to navigation, and non-compliance with directives issued.
- Therefore, the new law encompasses a major shift from lighthouses to modern aids of navigation.
CYCLES4CHANGE CHALLENGE
Focus: GS-III Environment and Ecology
Why in news?
The Smart Cities Mission opened the registration for India Cycles4Change Challenge.
India Cycles4Change Challenge
- India Cycles4change Challenge is an initiative of Smart Cities Missionto inspire and support Indian cities to quickly implement cycling-friendly initiatives in response to COVID-19.
- Cities are encouraged to collaborate with CSOs, experts, and volunteers as they develop and implement their plans.
- The need for personalized forms of transport is expected to increase as a response to COVID-19.
- A recent survey by the (Institute for Transportation and Development Policy) ITDP India Programme shows that cycling would increase by 50-65% as cities come out of lockdown.
- Cities around the world are leveraging the opportunity to expand their cycling networks and public bicycle-sharing systems.
- As per ITDP, increasing cycling can help cities in a green economic recovery.
- Cycling for short distances can result in an annual benefit of INR 1.8 trillion to the Indian economy.
Smart Cities Mission
- National Smart Cities Mission is an urban renewal and retrofitting program by the Government of India with the mission to develop smart cities across the country, making them citizen friendly and sustainable.
- The Union Ministry of Urban Development is responsible for implementing the mission in collaboration with the state governments of the respective cities.
- While the mission initially included only 100 cities, the government later announced to expand the mission to all 4,000 cities in India.
- Smart Cities Mission is supporting interested cities in raising finance through Municipal Bonds.
- The Urban Learning Internship Program (TULIP) is designed for all ULBs (Urban Local Bodies) and Smart City SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) to engage fresh graduates as interns.
- Climate Smart Cities and Data Smart Cities are two important programs under Smart Cities Mission.
Definition of “Smart Cities” according to Smart Cities Mission
- Some definitional boundaries are required to guide cities in the Mission.
- In the imagination of any city dweller in India, the picture of a smart city contains a wish list of infrastructure and services that describes his or her level of aspiration.
- To provide for the aspirations and needs of the citizens, urban planners ideally aim at developing the entire urban eco-system, which is represented by the four pillars of comprehensive development-institutional, physical, social and economic infrastructure.
- This can be a long-term goal and cities can work towards developing such comprehensive infrastructure incrementally, adding on layers of ‘smartness’.
NATIONAL FISH FARMERS DAY 2020: FISH CRYOBANKS
Focus: GS-III Agriculture
Why in news?
On the occasion of National Fish Farmers Day, a webinar was hosted by the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in association with the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).
National Fish Farmers day
- National Fish Farmers Day is celebrated on 10th July every year in remembrance of scientists Dr. K. H. Alikunhi and Dr. H.L. Chaudhury who successfully demonstrated the technology of induced breeding (Hypophysation) in Indian Major Carps, in 1957.
- The event aims to draw attention to changing the way the country manages fisheries resources to ensure sustainable stocks and healthy ecosystems.
- Every year, the event is celebrated by felicitating outstanding fish farmers, aquapreneurs & fisher folks in recognition of their accomplishments.
- Fishermen and fish farmers across the nation participate in the event apart from officials, scientists, professionals, entrepreneurs and stakeholders.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
- PMMSY is a scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India under two components namely, Central Sector Scheme (CS) and Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
- The Scheme will be implemented during a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 established under the Department of Fisheries
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. – The new ministry was formed on May 2019 in order to promote the allied farm sector that has huge potential to help achieve the government’s target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.
Major Benefits of PMMSY
- Address the critical gaps in the fisheries sector and realize its potential.
- Augmenting fish production and productivity at a sustained average annual growth rate.
- Improving availability of certified quality fish seed and feed, traceability in fish and including effective aquatic health management.
- Creation of critical infrastructure including modernisation and strengthening of value chain.
- Creation of direct gainful employment opportunities to about 15 lakh fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, fish vendors and other rural/urban populations in fishing and allied activities.
- Boost to investments in fisheries sector and increase of competitiveness of fish and fisheries products.
- Social, physical and economic security for fishers and fish workers.
Details of Implementation
- Central Sector Scheme (CS) – The entire project/unit cost will be borne by the Central government (i.e. 100% central funding).
- The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) Component is further segregated into Non-beneficiary oriented and Beneficiary orientated subcomponents/activities under the following three broad heads: Enhancement of Production and Productivity, Infrastructure and Post-Harvest Management and Fisheries Management and Regulatory Framework.
- For the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS): cost will be shared between Centre and State.
World’s first Fish Cryobank
- NFDB in collaboration with the NBFGR will take up the work to establish “Fish Cryobanks” (first time int h world) in different parts of the country, which will facilitate all time availability of ‘fish sperms’ of desired species to fish farmers.
- This can bring a revolutionary change in the fisheries sector in the country for enhancing fish production and productivity and thereby increasing prosperity among the fish farmers.
- The “Cryomilt” technology developed by the NBFGR in support with NFDB may be helpful in establishment of “Fish Cryobanks”, which will provide good quality of fish sperms in hatcheries at any time.
REWA ULTRA MEGA SOLAR POWER PROJECT
Focus: GS-III Industry and Infrastructure
Why in news?
The Prime Minister dedicated to the Nation the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power project.
Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power project
- The Prime Minister has inaugurated the 750 MW (Mega Watt) solar project set up in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh.
- It is Asia’s largest power project.
- It is in line with India’s commitment to attain the target of 175 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2022 including 100 GW of solar installed capacity.
- It is the first solar project in the country to break the grid parity barrier.
(Grid parity occurs when an alternative energy source can generate power at a cost of electricity that is less than or equal to the price of power from the electricity grid.)
- It is India’s first solar project to get funding from Clean Technology Fund (CTF), which is available at a very low rate (0.25%) for a 40-year period from the World Bank.
- It will help in reducing the carbon emission equivalent to 15 lakh ton of CO2 per year.
- It has also received the World Bank Group President’s Award for innovation and excellence
- It is the first renewable energy project to supply an institutional customer outside the state where it is produced. (In this case, power is supplied from Madhya Pradesh to the Delhi Metro)
- Its payment security mechanism for reducing risks to power developers has been recommended as a model to other states by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
