PIB 26th March 2021

PRADHAN MANTRI KRISHI SINCHAYEE YOJANA

Focus:  GS II- Welfare Schemes

About Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY):-

Nodal: Ministry of Jal Shakti.

• PMKSY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (Core Scheme) launched in 2015 with implementation share of Centre- States in 75:25 per cent and in the case of the north-eastern region and hilly states it will be 90:10.
• This scheme has an outlay of Rs.50,000 crores for a period of 5 years (2015-16 to 2019-20)  and it has been formulated by amalgamating 4 different schemes namely Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation; Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) of Department of Land Resources; and On-Farm Water Management (OFWM) component of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) of Department  of Agriculture and Cooperation.
• PMKSY is to be implemented in an area development approach, adopting decentralized state-level planning and execution. 
• PMKSY is strategize by focusing on end-to end solution in irrigation supply chain, viz. water sources, distribution network, efficient farm level applications, extension services on new technologies & information etc. 

PMKSY focuses on irrigation techniques by:

• Promoting efficient water conveyance and field application devices within the farm viz, underground piping system, Drip & Sprinklers, pivots, rain-guns and other application devices etc.;
• Promotion of scientific moisture conservation and run off control measures to improve ground water recharge so as to create opportunities for farmer to access recharged water through shallow tube/dug wells,
• Creation of new water sources; repair, restoration and renovation of defunct water sources; construction of water harvesting structures, secondary & micro storage, groundwater development, enhancing potentials of traditional water bodies at village level.
• Use of Underground Pipelines (UGPL) in the Distribution Network of the projects has been actively promoted for increasing the water conveyance efficiency and overcoming the issues related to Land Acquisition, evaporative/ percolation losses etc.

About Per Drop More Crop

The Per Drop More Crop of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana focuses on water use efficiency through the sprinkler and drip irrigation. It also aims at reducing fertilizer use, labour expenses and input costs.

What is Micro Irrigation? 

• Micro-irrigation is a low-pressure, low-flow-rate type of irrigation that can reduce the likelihood of overwatering a landscape. This form of irrigation delivers water directly to where it is needed most-the root zone of plants and also delivers the water slowly and over a longer period of time, preventing runoff and reducing evaporation. 
• The main elements generally used in Micro Irrigation are water source, pumping devices, ball valves, fertigation equipment, filters, control valves, accessories for connecting PVC and emitters.

JAL JEEVAN MISSION

Focus: GS II- Government policies and Interventions

Why in news?

• 7.19 Crore tap water connections provided to rural households under Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Every rural home in Andaman & Nicobar Island, Goa and Telangana provided clean tap water supply since start of Jal Jeevan Mission.
• A total of 48,169 rural habitations have been reported by States to be quality-affected.
• Since the start of JJM, about 10,650 Arsenic/ Fluoride affected habitations have been provided potable water.

About Jal Jeevan Mission:

Nodal: Ministry of Jal Shakti

• Jal Jeevan Mission, a central government initiative under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, aims to ensure access of piped water for every household in India.
• National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) was restructured and subsumed into Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) – to provide Functional Household Tap Water (FHTC) to every rural household with service level at the rate of 55 lpcd i.e., Har Ghar Nal Se Jal (HGNSJ) by 2024.

Implications 

• Supply of water to all households is a basic necessity
• Reduction in water borne diseases which was due to due to consumption of substandard water

Challenges

• Critical situation of Decrease in ground water table.
• Water demand and supply is a miss match
• Contamination of local ground level sources of water like, ponds lakes and wells.
• Sustaining the provision of water to all households is a challenge, not just starting it.

NATIONAL AQUIFER MAPPING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

Focus: Facts for prelims

About NAQUIM:

Nodal: Ministry of Jal Shakthi

• The National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM) is being implemented by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).
• NAQUIM envisages mapping of aquifers (water bearing formations), their characterization and development of Aquifer Management Plans to facilitate sustainable management of groundwater resources.
• NAQUIM was initiated in 2012 as a part of the ‘Ground Water Management and Regulation’ scheme with the objectives to delineate and characterize the aquifers and develop plans for sustainable ground water management in the country.

MEASURES TO ACHIEVE ENERGY TRANSITION TOWARDS CLEAN ENERGY

Focus: GS III- Indian Economy, Energy

Why in news?

Government of India has set a target for installing 175 GW of Renewable Energy capacity (excluding large hydro) by the end of 2021-22 which includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from Biomass and 5 GW from Small Hydro.

Measures taken by the government are as follows:

•  The renewable energy capacity to go up to 450 GW.
•  Phase-wise retirement of old polluting coal based power plants.
•  Setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks to provide land and transmission to RE developers on a plug and play basis.
•  Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Surakshaevam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), Solar Rooftop Phase II, 12000 MW CPSU Scheme Phase II, etc.
•  Laying of new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable power.
•  Notifying Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar PV and Wind Projects.
•  Declaring Large Hydro Power (LHPs) (>25 MW projects) as Renewable Energy source.
•  Hydro Purchase Obligation (HPO) as a separate entity within Non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO).
•  Tariff rationalization measures for bringing down hydro power tariff.

MISSION KARMAYOGI AND NPCSCB

Focus: GS-II Social Justice, Governance

Introduction

• Capacity of Civil Services plays a vital role in rendering a wide variety of services, implementing welfare programs and performing core governance functions.
• A transformational change in Civil Service Capacity is proposed to be affected by organically linking the transformation of work culture, strengthening public institutions and adopting modern technology to build civil service capacity with the overall aim of ensuring efficient delivery of services to citizens.

About Mission Karmayogi – National Program for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB)

• The NPCSCB will use scale & state of the art infrastructure to augment the capacity of Civil Servants to improve the Human Resource management practices in the Government.
• Mission Karmayogi aims to prepare the Indian Civil Servant for the future by making him more creative, constructive, imaginative, innovative, proactive, professional, progressive, energetic, enabling, transparent and technology-enabled.
• A Public Human Resources Council comprising of select Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, eminent public HR practitioners, thinkers, global thought leaders and Public Service functionaries under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister will serve as the apex body for providing strategic direction to the task of Civil Services Reform and capacity building.

The Framework of NPCSCB

1. Prime Minister’s Public Human Resources (HR) Council
2. Capacity Building Commission
3. Special Purpose Vehicle for owning and operating the digital assets and the technological platform for online training
4. Coordination Unit headed by the Cabinet Secretary

Salient Features

• NPCSCB has been carefully designed to lay the foundations for capacity building for Civil Servants so that they remain entrenched in Indian Culture and sensibilities and remain connected, with their roots, while they learn from the best institutions and practices across the world.
• The Programme will be delivered by setting up an Integrated Government Online Training – iGOT Karmayogi Platform.
• It is also proposed to set up a Capacity Building Commission, with a view to ensure a uniform approach in managing and regulating the capacity building ecosystem on collaborative and co-sharing basis.

Core Guiding Principles

1. Supporting Transition from ‘Rules based’ to ‘Roles based’ HR Management.
2. To calibrate all Civil Service positions to a Framework of Roles, Activities and Competencies (FRACs).
3. To emphasize on ‘on-site learning’ to complement the ‘off-site’ learning.
4. To create an ecosystem of shared training infrastructure including that of learning materials, institutions and personnel.

iGOT – Karmayogi

• iGOT-Karmayogi platform brings the scale and state-of-the-art infrastructure to augment the capacities of over two crore officials in India.
• The platform is expected to evolve into a vibrant and world-class market place for content where carefully curated and vetted digital e-learning material will be made available.
• Besides capacity building, service matters like confirmation after probation period, deployment, work assignment and notification of vacancies etc., would eventually be integrated with the proposed competency framework.

MICE ROADSHOW-MEET IN INDIA

Focus: GS I- Art and culture

Why in news?

Chhatrasal Convention Centre’ was also launched at Khajuraho which has been developed under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism.

• The event will mark Keynote sessions and Panel discussions on Responsible Tourism, Iconic Destination and India as a MICE Destination industry experts and senior Government officials.

MICE Roadshow- Meet in India

Nodal: Ministry of Tourism

• ​MICE Roadshow-Meet in India will be organised at Chhatrasal Convention Centre, Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh from March 25 to March 27, 2021.
• This event is being organised with the objective of promoting India as MICE Destination (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions).
• It is being organised by Ministry of Tourism in association with Madhya Pradesh Tourism and India Convention Promotion Bureau.
• This event is an effort under Aatmanirbhar Bharat to realize MICE potential of India.
• It provides an opportunity to focus on Government’s initiatives for developing India as MICE destination.
• ‘Meet in India’ is the distinct sub-brand under ‘Incredible India’ in achieving the objective of event.

Significance of event

• Event will deliberate a draft Master Plan which was prepared by Ministry of Tourism to develop Khajuraho as Iconic Destination.
• Several hard and soft interventions have been proposed to develop Khajuraho.
• This event will provide a huge boost to Khajuraho as an iconic tourist destination.
• It will help in promoting MICE potential of Khajuraho.

NATIONAL CRECHE SCHEME

Focus: GS II- Welfare Schemes

Why in news?

Creches under the ‘National Creche Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers’ are not functional in the country, including in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, at present for the purpose of preventing spread of Covid 19 pandemic.

About National Creche Scheme:

Nodal: Ministry of Women and Child Development.

• It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
• It aims at providing a safe place for mothers to leave their children while they are at work, and thus, is a measure for empowering women as it enables them to take up employment.
• Coverage: It is an intervention towards protection and development of children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years.
• Provides for day care facilities to the children of working mothers.
• Provides supplementary nutrition, health care inputs like immunization, polio drops, basic health monitoring, sleeping facilities, early stimulation (for children below 3 years), pre-school education for children aged between 3-6 yrs.
• The fund sharing pattern under National Creche Scheme amongst Centre, States/UTs & Non Governmental Organisations/Voluntary Organisations for all recurring components of the scheme is in the ratio of 60:30:10 for States, 80:10:10 for North Eastern States and Himalayan States and 90:0:10 for UTs.

Significance:

• This scheme facility enables the parents to leave their children while they are at work and where the children are provided with a stimulating environment for their holistic development.
• This scheme ensures to improve the health and nutrition status of the children.
• It promotes physical, social, cognitive and emotional/holistic development of the children.
• It also educates and empowers parents/caretakers for the better childcare.
• The scheme is being structurally revised with the enhanced financial norms, stringent monitoring and sharing pattern between the Government of India and the implementing agencies and NGOs.

Eligibility Criteria:

The State Government, Voluntary Institutions, Mahila Mandals with the know report of service in the field of child welfare department and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or registered as a Public Trust at least for the period for last 2 years are eligible for applying for the financial assistance from the fund.