Contents
- India Global Week 2020
- Affordable rental housing Complexes under PMAY-U
- Indian Navy Completes “Operation Samudra Setu”
INDIA GLOBAL WEEK 2020
Focus: GS-III Indian Economy
Why in news?
Prime Minister will deliver the inaugural address on Day 1 of India Global Week 2020.
India Global Week 2020
- India Global week 2020 brings together 5000 global participants from 30 nations being addressed by 250 global speakers for incisive global discussion over a period of 3 days.
- The aim is to explore business, strategic and cultural opportunities, understand the challenges and make informed decisions.
- Theme of the event is ‘#BeTheRevival: India and a Better New World’.
- India Inc. group, a United Kingdom-based media house, is organising the annual event.
- India Global Week 2020 will also cover business, geopolitics, banking and finance, technology, defence and security, arts and culture, and pharma.
- Apart from the discussion on India’s bilateral ties with the UK in a post-Brexit world, there will be series of country-specific sessions that will cover India’s relationships with countries such as Australia, the US, Japan, and Singapore.
- Numerous investment opportunities that India will offer as the world emerges for the effect of COVID-19 pandemic, will be highlighted to invite investments.
AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING COMPLEXES UNDER PMAY-U
Focus: GS-II Social Justice, GS-III Indian Economy
Why in news?
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for developing of Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (AHRCs) for urban migrants / poor as a sub-scheme under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY – U).
Details of how the sub-scheme will be accomplished
- Existing vacant government funded housing complexes will be converted in ARHCs through Concession Agreements which are awarded by States and UTs through transparent bidding.
- Special incentives, like reduced loan rates, will be offered to private/ public entities to develop ARHCs on their own available vacant land.
AHRC sub-scheme
- Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has initiated an Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) for urban migrants/poor as a sub-scheme under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).
- A large part of workforce in manufacturing industries, service providers in hospitality, health, domestic/commercial establishments, and construction or other sectors, labourers, students etc. who come from rural areas or small towns seeking better opportunities will be the target beneficiary under ARHCs.
- ARHCs will create new ecosystem in urban areas making housing available at affordable rent close to the place of work.
- Investment under ARHCs is expected to create new job opportunities.
- ARHCs will cut down unnecessary travel, congestion and pollution.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U)
- PMAY-U was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA).
- It envisions provision of Housing for All by 2022, when the Nation completes 75 years of its Independence.
- Beneficiaries include Economically weaker section (EWS), low-income groups (LIGs) and Middle-Income Groups (MIGs).
- “Housing for All” Mission for urban area is being implemented during 2015-2022 and this Mission will provide central assistance to implementing agencies through States and UTs for providing houses to all eligible families/beneficiaries by 2022.
- Mission will be implemented as Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) except for the component of credit linked subsidy which will be implemented as a Central Sector Scheme.
The Mission seeks to address the housing requirement of urban poor including slum dwellers through following programme verticals:
- Slum rehabilitation of Slum Dwellers with participation of private developers using land as a resource
- Promotion of Affordable Housing for weaker section through credit linked subsidy
- Affordable Housing in Partnership with Public & Private sectors
- Subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction /enhancement.
CLSS (Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme) is a component of PMAY under which, not only economically weaker sections, but also middle-income groups can avail of home loans at reduced EMIs.
INDIAN NAVY COMPLETES “OPERATION SAMUDRA SETU”
Focus: GS-III Disaster Management
Why in news?
Operation Samudra Setu, which was launched in May 2020 as part of the national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic has culminated after successfully.
The Success story of Operation Samudra Setu
- The Samudra Setu operation has successfully brought almost 4,000 Indian Citizens back to their homeland by Sea.
- Naval Ships Jalashwa (Landing Platform Dock), and Airavat, Shardul and Magar (Landing Ship Tanks) participated in this operation which lasted over 55 days and involved traversing more than 23,000 kilometres by sea.
- The greatest challenge for the Indian Navy was to avoid any incident of outbreak of infection onboard the ships during the evacuation operation.
- Rigorous measures were planned and medical/ safety protocols unique to the operating environment of ships were implemented to prevent cases of outbreak onboard.
Operation Samudra Setu
- The Indian Navy has launched ‘Operation Samudra Setu’ as a part of national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas.
- This operation is being progressed in close coordination with Ministries of Defence, External Affairs, Home Affairs, Health and various other agencies of the Government of India and State governments.
- INS Jalashwa and INS Magar are being operated as part of efforts to repatriate Indian nationals from foreign shores.
- INS Jalashwa is the largest amphibious platform in the Navy.
Indian Naval Ship: INS Jalashwa
Formerly USS Trenton, the INS Jalashwa – along with six Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King Helicopters were procured by India from the U.S. in 2005.
Indian Naval Ship: INS Magar
INS Magar ship was Made in India and it is the lead ship of Magar-class of the Indian Navy.
Vande Bharat Mission
- Vande Bharat Mission became the biggest evacuation exercise to bring back Indian citizens stranded abroad amidst the coronavirus-induced travel restrictions.
- ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ will see 64 flights being operated to bring back around 15,000 Indian nationals stranded abroad.
- Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express will operate 64 flights to bring back stranded Indians from 12 countries.
- The mission has given priority to Indian citizens with “compelling reasons to return” – like those whose employment have been terminated, those whose visas have expired and not expected to be renewed under the present circumstances and those who have lost family members in recent times.
- The entire cost of travel will be borne by the passengers under the mission.
