01 JUNE 2021 CURRENT AFFAIRS 

1.GDP GROWTH

India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by 7.3% in 2020-21, as per provisional National Income estimates released by the National Statistical Office. GDP growth in 2019-20, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, was 4%.

About:

• The Gross Value Added (GVA) in the economy shrank 6.2% in 2020-21, compared to a 4.1% rise in the previous year.
• Only two sectors bucked the trend of negative GVA growth — agriculture, forestry and fishing, which rose 3.6%, and electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services (up 1.9%).
• GVA for trade, hotels, transport, communication and broadcasting-related services saw the sharpest decline of 18.2%, followed by construction (-8.6%), mining and quarrying (-8.5%) and manufacturing (-7.2%).

Important Info :

Comment

• Though this is the bleakest performance on record for the economy, the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2020-21 helped moderate the damage, with a higher-than-expected growth of 1.6% in GDP.
• This marked the second quarter of positive growth after the country entered a technical recession in the first half of the year.
• GDP had contracted 24.4% in April-June 2020, followed by a 7.4% shrinkage in the second quarter. It had returned to positive territory in the September to December quarter with a marginal 0.5% growth.

Source : The Hindu

2.MARATHA RESERVATION

Maratha community brought under Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota in Maharashtra.

About:

• In a bid to extend relief to the Maratha community in the State, the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra extended the benefits of reservation for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) to the Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC).
• Previously, the government had decided that the Maratha community could not take advantage of the 10% EWS category as Maratha reservation was in force in the State.
• The Supreme Court, however, scrapped the SEBC reservation in jobs and education, making it possible for the State government to extend the benefit of the EWS quota to the Marathas.
• As per the government resolution, a person fulfilling the criterion for EWS would be eligible for 10% reservation in educational institutes, barring minority institutes.
• This would also be applied for State government recruitment. The resolution said the reservation would be above the existing reservation.
• It also stated that the benefit would be available from September 9, 2020, when the apex court brought an interim stay on the reservation, to May 5, 2021, when the final verdict was announced. 

Source : The Hindu

3. SECOND POSITIVE INDIGENISATION LIST

Ministry of Defence (MoD) has notified ‘Second Positive Indigenisation List’ of 108 items to promote indigenisation in the Defence sector and defence exports.

About:

• This will give further boost to indigenisation with active participation of public and private sector for fulfilling the twin objectives of achieving self-reliance and promoting defence exports.
• All the 108 items will now be procured from indigenous sources as per provisions given in Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.
• The second list (enclosed) lays special focus on weapons/systems which are currently under development/trials and are likely to translate into firm orders in the future.
• The ‘Second Positive Indigenisation List’ comprises complex systems, sensors, simulator, weapons and ammunitions like Helicopters, Next Generation Corvettes, Air Borne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) systems, Tank Engines, Medium Power Radar for Mountains, MRSAM Weapon Systems etc.
• This second list is planned to be implemented progressively with effect from December 2021 to December 2025. 

Important Info :

Do you know?

• In August 2020, the ‘First Positive Indigenisation’ List comprising 101 items was notified.
• At that time, it was also highlighted that more such equipment would be identified progressively to facilitate and encourage defence manufacturing in the country. 

Source : PIB

4.CENTRAL VISTA PROJECT

The Delhi High Court dismissed a petition seeking to halt the construction activities at the Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment Project in view of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.

About:

• It remarked that there was no reason for the court to suspend the construction activities as the workers were staying at the project site, and “COVID-19 protocols are adhered to and COVID-19 appropriate behaviour is being followed”.
• The petitioners had argued that the project was not an essential activity and hence, it could be put on hold for now during the pandemic.
• The court noted that the work at the Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment was part of the Central Vista Project and of vital public importance and the legality of the project had been upheld by Supreme Court.
• Important Info :

Do you know?

• What is Central Vista? The Central Vista is a 3 km stretch in the heart of New Delhi that runs from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate. It is flanked by large green spaces and significant structures such as Parliament, the Secretariat buildings and the National Archives.
• What is the redevelopment project? The Central government is redeveloping the three-km-long Central Vista and Parliament. A common Central secretariat will be constructed for all ministries that are currently spread over many buildings across Delhi.

Source : Indian Express

5.AmbiTAG

Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar (IIT Ropar) in Punjab has developed "AmbiTAG"- India's first indigenous temperature data logger for the cold chain management.

About:

• AmbiTag is a first-of-its-kind IoT device that records real-time ambient temperature during the transportation of perishable products, vaccines and even body organs and blood.
• That recorded temperature further helps to know whether that particular item transported from anywhere in the world is still usable or perished because of temperature variation.
• This information is particularly critical for vaccines including Covid-19 vaccine, organs and blood transportation.
• Shaped as USB device, AmbiTag continuously records the temperature of its immediate surroundings “from -40 to +80 degrees in any time zone for a full 90 days on a single charge.
• The device has been developed under Technology Innovation Hub – AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub) and its Startup ScratchNest. AWaDH is a Govt of India project. 

Source : DD News

6. PLI SCHEME FOR PROMOTION OF DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING OF CRITICAL KSMs AND APIs

The Department of Pharmaceuticals has accorded approvals under Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Promotion of Domestic Manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).

About:

• The Department of Pharmaceuticals has launched this scheme with an objective to attain self-reliance and reduce import dependence in critical Bulk Drugs - Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).
• This will be achieved by promotion of their domestic manufacturing by setting up greenfield plants with minimum domestic value addition in four different Target Segments with a total outlay of Rs.6,940 cr. for the period 2020-21 to 2029-30.
• Setting up of these plants will make the country self-reliant to a large extent in respect of these Bulk drugs. The disbursal of production linked incentive by the Government over the six years period would be up to a maximum of about Rs.6,000 cr.

Source : PIB

7.TOBACCO

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare today chaired an event to mark the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ on May 31, 2021. Theme for 2021 is “Commit to Quit.”

Impact of Tobacco:

• In India, over 1.3 million deaths are attributable to tobacco use every year amounting to 3500 deaths per day, imposing a lot of avoidable socio-economic burden.
• Smokers face a 40-50% higher risk of developing severe disease deaths from COVID-19.
• As per the WHO study titled “Economic Costs of Diseases and Deaths Attributable to Tobacco Use in India”, the economic burden of diseases and deaths attributable to tobacco use of tobacco in India was as high as Rs. 1.77 lakh crores, amounting to approx 1% of GDP.

Important Info :

Steps taken in India:

• Tobacco control legislation in India dates back to ‘Cigarettes Act, 1975’ which mandates display of statutory health warnings in advertisement and on cartons and cigarette packages.
• A Central Legislation banned smoking in public places in 2002, on the directions of Supreme Court.
• This was followed by comprehensive tobacco control legislation in 2003 [Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act –COTPA, 2003] which aims to provide smoke free public places and also places restrictions on tobacco advertisement and promotion.
• The ‘Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019’ prohibits Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement of e-Cigarettes.
• The National Health Policy 2017 has set an ambitious target of reducing tobacco use by 30% by 2025.
• Tobacco Quitline service -1800-112-356 was initiated in 2016, that was expanded in September, 2018.

Source : Times of India

8.INDEX OF EIGHT CORE INDUSTRIES (ICI)

The Office of Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade released the Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) for the Month of April, 2021.

About:

• ICI measures combined and individual performance of production in selected eight core industries viz. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity.
• The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 percent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• The combined ICI stood at 126.7 in April 2021, which increased by 56.1 per cent (provisional) as compared to the Index of April 2020. This high growth rate in April 2021 is largely due to low Index base in April 2020 consequent to the low industrial production across all sectors caused by nationwide lockdown imposed to contain spread of Covid-19 last year.
• The growth rate of ICI during April-March 2020-21was (-)6.5% (P) as compared to the corresponding period of last FY.

Source : PIB

9. CRAFTSMEN TRAINING SCHEME (CTS)

The Directorate General of Training (DGT) announced results of the All India Trade Test (AITT) held in December 2020, for Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) Academic session 2020-2021.

About:

• The Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) was introduced by the Government of India in year 1950 by establishing about 50 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) for imparting skills in various vocational trades
• It is implemented by the Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
• It’s objective is to ensure a steady flow of skilled workers in different trades for the domestic industry. 

Important Info :

• Vocational Training is a concurrent subject of both Central and State Governments.
• The development of training schemes at National level, evolution of policy, laying of training standards, norms, conducting of examinations, certification, etc. are the responsibilities of the Central Government, whereas the implementation of the training schemes largely rests with the State Govts./UT Administrators. 

Source : PIB

10. HORTICULTURE CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (CDP)

To ensure holistic growth of horticulture, Union Minister of Agriculture launched the Horticulture Cluster Development Programme (CDP).

About:

• In a pilot phase, the programme will be implemented in 12 horticulture clusters covering 11 States/UTs out of the total 53 clusters selected for the programme.
• It is a central sector programme.
• It will be implemented by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
• The programme aims at growing and developing identified horticulture clusters to make them globally competitive.
• The programme will benefit about 10 lakh farmers and is expected to attract an investment of Rs. 10,000 crore when implemented in all the 53 clusters
• The programme will address all major issues related to the Indian horticulture sector including pre-production, production, post-harvest management, logistics, marketing and branding.

Source : PIB