PIB Analysis : 17th July

PIB Analysis for UPSC CSE

Topics Covered

1. Dibang Multipurpose Project
2. Various measures to bring transparency in administration (Mains Focus)
3. Steps Taken to Deal with Cyber Crime and Cyber Security (Mains Focus)
4. Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana
5. Look East Agenda (Mains Focus

1 . Dibang Multipurpose Project

Context : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the expenditure on pre-investment activities and various clearances for Dibang Multipurpose Project (MPP) in Arunachal Pradesh for an amount of Rs. 1600 crore.

About the Project

• Dibang Multipurpose Project (Dibang MPP) is envisaged as a storage based hydro-electric project with flood moderation as the key objective.
• The construction of Dibang MPP shall prevent the sizeable downstream area from floods. After implementation of master plan of Brahmaputra Board for flood moderation of all rivers contributing to river Brahmaputra, of which Dibang MPP is one of the component, sizable area will be protected from flooding and help in mitigating the perennial damage due to floods in Assam.
• The project shall generate 2880MW (12x240MW) power to produce 11223MU of energy in a 90% dependable year.
• This is the largest ever Hydro Electric Projects to be constructed in India.
• The dam is 278 metres high and will be the highest dam in India once completed.

2 . Various measures to bring transparency in administration

Initiatives undertaken by the Govt to bring Transparency in administration

The Government of India has implemented various measures bringing technological intervention to bring transparency in the day to day administration, such as, implementation of e-Office, e-Leave management system, Employee Information System, Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW), Aadhar enabled Bio-metric Attendance System (AEBAS), Pension Sanction and Payment tracking System (Bhavishya), Public Financial Management System (PFMS), Government e-Market (GeM), Central Public Procurement Portal (CPPP), Foreign Visit Management System (FVMS), Web Responsive Pensioner’s Service for pensioners etc.

• AEBAS– Aadhar Enabled Biometric Attendance enables real time and flawless monitoring of employee attendance thereby ensuring punctuality among employee,
• e-Office aims to usher in more efficient, effective and transparent inter-government and intra-government transactions and processes. It enhances transparency, assure data security and data.
• GeM: – Government e-Market (GeM) provided rich listing products for individual categories of Goods Services, transparent and ease of buying and user-friendly dash board for buying and monitoring supplies and payment.
• Currently, approximately 46.4 lakh tenders with estimated value of Rs.66.00 lakh crores are processed through Central Public Procurement Portal (CPPP) since inception till 30th June, 2019. During the month of June, 2019 around 1.12 lakh tenders worth Rs.1.02 lakh crores were processed on CPPP. Apart from this, procurement of more than Rs.18700.00 crore has been taken place through Government e-Marketplace (GeM) till its inception in 2016.
• The Web Responsive Pensioner’s Service is providing single point web solution for pensioners to obtain comprehensive information relating to status of the pensions processing and payment.
• Foreign Visit Management System (FVMS) has been operational for regulating and ensuring efficient and effective foreign travel of officers of Government of India from the rank of Additional Secretary and above for obtaining the approval of the Screening Committee of Secretaries. All the Ministries / Departments are required to submit their proposal online on this website.
• The CAG’s Audit reports after they are tabled in the Parliament/Legislature, are uploaded on the website of CAG. Information related to the status of pension, GPF and Gazetted Entitlement cases are available on the websites of respective Account General’s Office. This enables the concerned stakeholders and other visitors to view information relating to audit and accounts activities of the department.

4. Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana

About the Scheme

• The ESI Corporation has launched a scheme named ‘Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana’ (ABVKY) which, in case the Insured Person (IP) is rendered unemployed, provides relief to the extent of 25% of the average per day earning during the previous four contribution periods (total earning during the four contribution period/730) to be paid up to maximum 90 days of unemployment once in lifetime of the IP on submission of claim in form of an Affidavit.

Eligibility Criteria

• The scheme is implemented on pilot basis for a period of two years initially. The eligibility conditions and other features of the scheme are as under:-
  • The Insured Person should have been rendered unemployed during the period the relief is claimed.
  • The Insured Person should have been in insurable employment for a minimum period of two years.
  • The Insured Person should have contributed not less than 78 days during each of the preceding four contribution periods.
  • The contribution in respect of him should have been paid or payable by the employer.
  • The contingency of the unemployment should not have been as a result of any punishment for misconduct or superannuation or voluntary retirement.
  • Aadhar and Bank Account of the Insured Person should be linked with insured person data base.
  • In case the IP is working for more than one employers and is covered under the ESI scheme he will be considered unemployed only in case he is rendered unemployed with all employers.
  • As specified in Section 65 of the ESI Act, an IP shall not be entitled to any other cash compensation and the Relief under ABVKY simultaneously for the same period. However, periodical payments of Permanent Disability Benefit (PDB) under ESI Act and Regulations shall continue.
  • As specified under Section 61 of the ESI Act, an IP who is in receipt of Relief under ABVKY shall not be entitled to receive any similar benefit admissible under the provisions of any other enactment.
  • The IP will be eligible for Medical benefit as provided under the Act for the period he is availing this relief.
  • The claim for Relief under ABVKY may be submitted by the claimant any time after rendering unemployed, but not later than one year from the date of unemployment to the appropriate Branch Office in form of affidavit in prescribed Form. No prospective claim i.e. claim for relief under ABVKY for any future period will be allowed.
  • The IP will submit his claim online through the ESIC Portal.

5 . Look East Agenda

About Act East Policy

• India’s Act East Policy focusses on the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region. The policy which was originally conceived as an economic initiative, has gained political, strategic and cultural dimensions including establishment of institutional mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation
• The Objective of ”Act East Policy” is to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationship with countries in the Asia-Pacific region through continuous engagement at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels thereby providing enhanced connectivity to the States of North Eastern Region including Arunanchal Pradesh with other countries in our neighbourhood. The North East of India has been a priority in our Act East Policy (AEP).
• The focus has been on the development and prosperity of the North Eastern states by improving connectivity, access and facilities to the region through various initiatives including improving connectivity of North East Region with Bangladesh, improving access to North East from Myanmar to facilitate tourism and cross border connectivity, promotion of Land Border Crossing Agreement and Integrated Check Post at Moreh and infrastructure projects like India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar.

Initiatives undertaken by the Govt

• ASEAN-India Plan of Action (2016-20) adopted at the 13^th ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur in 2015 and endorsed by Leaders at the 13^th ASEAN-India Summit held in Kuala Lumpur in 2015, provides for a road map for cooperation between ASEAN and India across three pillars
  • Political security
  • Economic and
  • Socio-cultural.
• A number of activities are held under the Plan of Action (2016-20) in all three spheres to promote ASEAN-India relations.
• Various projects are undertaken from Indo-Pacific Division’s budget, and ASEAN-India Fund (AIF), ASEAN-India Green Fund (AIGF) and ASEAN-India Science & Technology Development Fund (AISTDF) which have been set up by Government of India for undertaking joint projects with ASEAN Member States. These Funds are rolling funds and are replenished on need basis. 
• Under the 3 Lines of Credit worth about USD 8 billion extended by India to Bangladesh, GoI has undertaken several projects to enhance connectivity with our North East Region through Bangladesh.
• India has disbursed around US $ 1.04 billion in grant projects, and has extended concessional loans of US $ 478.9 million from India’s LOC amount of around US $750 million to Myanmar.
• Projects on grant funding include connectivity infrastructure projects like Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project, upgradation of 69 bridges and building the Kalewa Yargi road segment on the Trilateral Highway.
• On the Civilizational front, Buddhist and Hindu links could be energized to develop new contacts and connectivity between people.