PIB Analysis : 21st and 22nd October

PIB Analysis for UPSC CSE

Topics Covered

1. Ex EKUVERIN–2019
2. TIDE Scheme
3. KUSUM Scheme
4. Pulse Polio Programme
5. Electronic interlocking System

1 . Ex EKUVERIN–2019

About Ex EKUVERIN–2019

• Indo-Maldives joint exercise is called as Ex EKUVERIN–2019
• The exercise included joint training of the contingents in counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations in semi urban environment under the UN mandate, developing interoperability and cohesion between both the contingents.

2 . TIDE Scheme

About TIDE Scheme

• Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY) is implementing a scheme titled “Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs (TIDE)”.
• As per the scheme provision, 27 centres are being supported at academic institutions across India.
• TIDE has a multipronged approach in diverse areas of Electronics, ICT and Management.
• It aims to assist institutions of higher learning to strengthen their Technology Incubation Centers and enable young entrepreneurs to initiate technology startup companies for commercial exploitation of technologies developed by them.
• TIDE Incubation Centers provide a gamut of services to new enterprises and facilitate linkages congenial for their survival and growth. The centres network with Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists who provide mentoring and financial support to the startups and enable tenant companies to mature over a period of 2-3 years and ultimately graduate to a commercial place to transact actual business.

The major objectives of the scheme are:

• Setting up and strengthening Technology Incubation Centres in institutions of higher learning,
• Nurture Technology Entrepreneurship Development for commercial exploitation of technologies developed by them,
• Promoting product oriented research and development,
• Encourage development of indigenous products and packages and bridging the gap between R&D and commercialization.

3 . KUSUN Scheme

About the Scheme

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme for farmers for installation of solar pumps and grid connected solar and other renewable power plants in the country.
• The scheme aims to add solar and other renewable capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022 with total central financial support of Rs. 34,422 Crore including service charges to the implementing agencies.

Scheme Components

The Scheme consists of three components:

1. Component A: 10,000 MW of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants of individual plant size up to 2 MW.
2. Component B: Installation of 17.50 lakh standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.
3. Component C: Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps of individual pump capacity up to 7.5 HP.

KUSUM, have provisions for mandatory use of domestically manufactured solar PV cells. However it was seen that some manufacturers have been importing semi –processed solar PV cells (generally called blue wafer) and making final Solar PV cells with little value addition in India. The Ministry has clarified that if diffused silicon wafer (generally called ‘Blue Wafer’) is imported and the same is used as raw material for the manufacture of solar PV cells in India, such solar PV cells shall not qualify as domestically manufactured solar PV cells, for the purpose of MNRE’s Schemes / Programmes. A solar PV cell shall be considered to be domestically manufactured only if the same has been manufactured in India, using undiffused silicon wafer (generally called ‘Black Wafer’).

Blue & Black wafer

• Semi –processed solar PV cells / difused silicon wafer are called blue wafer
• Undiffused silicon wafer are called as black wafer

4 . Pulse Polio Programme

Background

• In 1988, the World Health Assembly (WHA) passed a resolution to launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
• The Government of Delhi piloted the first ever large scale supplementary immunization campaign with OPV in 1994 giving birth to the “Pulse Polio” immunization campaign with the iconic ‘Do Boond Zindagi Ki’ tagline, on 2^nd October 1994, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday.
• The campaign in Delhi reached nearly one million children up to the age of three years with two doses of OPV being administered on 02 October and 04 December through exclusive booth-based strategy.
• This strategy was later adopted and implemented by Government of India as Pulse Polio Campaigns.
• India’s attainment of polio-free status in 2014 was coined by the World Health Organization as “one of the most significant achievements in public health,” and marked not just India but the entire South East Asia Region being declared polio-free.

Objective

• The Pulse Polio Initiative was started with an objective of achieving hundred per cent coverage under Oral Polio Vaccine.
• It aimed to immunize children through improved social mobilization, plan mop-up operations in areas where poliovirus has almost disappeared and maintain high level of morale among the public.

Progress

• South-East Asia Region of WHO has been certified polio free. The Regional  Certification  Commission  (RCC)  on  27th  March  2014  issued certificate  which  states  that  “The  Commission  concludes,  from  the evidence  provided  by  the  National  Certificate  Committees  of  the  11 Member  States,  that  the  transmission  of  indigenous  wild  poliovirus  has been interrupted in all countries of the Region.”
• India has achieved the goal of polio eradication as no polio case has been reported  for  more  than  3  years  after  last  case  reported  on  13th  January, 2011.
• WHO on 24^th February 2012 removed India from the list of countries with active endemic wild polio virus transmission

5 . Electronic interlocking System

Context : Most advanced Electronic Interlocking System installed on the Grand Chord route. This new Electronic system replaces outdated 65-year old mechanical signaling system at Tundla Jn. in Uttar Pradesh on the route

Benefits

• Train handling time to be reduced from existing 05-07 minutes to 30-60 seconds through centralized power cabin enhancing handling capacity of Jn. to 250 per day from existing 200 maximum, thus less detention of trains outside Tundla and improved Punctuality of Trains.
• Train operation towards Agra will be immensely benefitted with two additional platforms and extension of three existing platforms no. 3,4&5 to cater full length trains on main line.
• All UP-direction yard lines are now fit for passenger train movement thus efficient handling of more coaching train.
• Length of Yard lines increased to handle longer freight and passenger trains.
• Double exit facility provided to Medical Relief Train (ARME) for immediate movement in both sides during accidents etc.
• Centralized fail-safe operation through power cabin by just click of the mouse button replacing cumbersome, inefficient and manual operation spread across 05 cabins.
• Substantial saving on manpower requirement.