PIB Analysis Date : 10/12/2018

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PIB ANALYSIS FOR UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAM

Topics Covered

  1. Agni V
  2. National Pension Scheme
  3. Directorate of Revenue intelligence
  4. RMNCH+A
  5. National Human Rights Commission

1 . Agni V 

Successful Test Firing of Long-Range Missile Agni V

About AGNI V

  • Agni-V is long-range surface-to-surface Nuclear Capable Ballistic missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India.
  • Agni V is part of the Agni series of missiles, one of the missile systems under the original Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.
  • Range of Missile is above 5000km
  • Agni-5’ is most advanced missile in the Agni series with new technologies incorporated in it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine. It has a range of over 5000 km.
  • The redundant Navigation systems, very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and the most modern and accurate Micro Navigation System (MINS) had ensured the missile reached the target point within few metres of accuracy.

2 . National Pension Scheme

About the Release

  • The Union Cabinet in its Meeting on 6th December, 2018 has approved the following proposal for streamlining the National Pension System (NPS).
  1. Enhancement of the mandatory contribution by the Central Government for its employees covered under NPS Tier-I from the existing 10% to 14%.
  2. Providing freedom of choice for selection of Pension Funds and pattern of investment to central government employees.
  3. Payment of compensation for non-deposit or delayed deposit of NPS contributions during 2004-2012.
  4. Tax exemption limit for lump sum withdrawal on exit has been enhanced to 60%. With this, the entire withdrawal will now be exempt from income tax. (At present, 40% of the total accumulated corpus utilized for purchase of annuity is already tax exempted. Out of 60% of the accumulated corpus withdrawn by the NPS subscriber at the time of retirement, 40% is tax exempt and balance 20% is taxable.)
  5. Contribution by the Government employees under Tier-II of NPS will now be covered under Section 80 C for deduction up to Rs. 1.50 lakh for the purpose of income tax at par with the other schemes such as General Provident Fund, Contributory Provident Fund, Employees Provident Fund and Public Provident Fund provided that there is a lock-in period of 3 years.

Background

  • The new entrants to the central government service on or after 01.01.2004 are covered under the National Pension System (NPS).
  • The Seventh Pay Commission (7th CPC), during its deliberations, examined certain concerns regarding NPS and made recommendations in the year 2015.
  • The 7th CPC recommended for setting up of a Committee of Secretaries in this regard. Accordingly, a Committee of Secretaries was constituted by the Government to suggest measures for streamlining the implementation of NPS in the year 2016. The Committee submitted its report in the year 2018. Accordingly, based on the recommendations of the Committee, draft Cabinet Note was placed before the Cabinet for its approval.

Implementation strategy and targets

  • The proposed changes to NPS would be made applicable immediately once time critical decisions are taken in consultation with the other concerned Ministries / Departments.

Major impact

  • Increase in the eventual accumulated corpus of all central government employees covered under NPS.
  • Greater pension payouts after retirement without any additional burden on the employee.
  • Freedom of choice for selection of Pension Funds and investment pattern to central government employees.
  • Benefit to approximately 18 lakh central government employees covered under NPS.
  • Augmenting old-age security in a time of rising life expectancy.
  • By making NPS more attractive, government will be facilitated in attracting and retaining the best talent.

States/districts covered

  • Pan India.

Details and progress of scheme if already running

  • Presently, the new entrants to the central government service on or after 01.01.2004 are covered under the NPS. NPS is being implemented and regulated by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority in the country.

3 . Directorate of Revenue intelligence

DRI continues to crackdown on Gold Smuggling – 66 KGof smuggled gold valued at about Rs. 21 crore seized

  • The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence is the apex intelligence and investigative agency for matters relating to violation of the Customs Act 

4 . Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn,Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A)

India Day inaugurated as Partners ‘Forum 2018 takes Centre stage
Health Ministry brings together partners and youth to share best practices from states

About the Release

  • India Day event is aimed to reflect on the journey of the RMNCH+A programme and to share and learn from the good practices and innovations implemented by different States/UTs and organisations to address various health challenges around maternal and child health in order to sustain progress on global goals

About RMNCH+A

  • RMNCH+A approach has been launched in 2013 and it essentially looks to address the major causes of mortality among women and children as well as the delays in accessing and utilizing health care and services.
  • The RMNCH+A strategic approach has been developed to provide an understanding of ‘continuum of care’ to ensure equal focus on various life stages.
  • Priority interventions for each thematic area have been included in this to ensure that the linkages between them are contextualized to the same and consecutive life stage.
  • It also introduces new initiatives like the use of Score Card to track the performance, National Iron + Initiative to address the issue of anemia across all age groups and the Comprehensive Screening and Early interventions for defects at birth , diseases and deficiencies among children and adolescents.
  • The RMNCH+A appropriately directs the States to focus their efforts on the most vulnerable population and disadvantaged groups in the country. It also emphasizes on the need to reinforce efforts in those poor performing districts that have already been identified as the high focus districts.
  • In India, maternal, child, neonatal and adolescent health gained tremendous momentum since RMNCH+A was rolled out. India’s maternal mortality rate (MMR) has fallen from 556 in the year 1990 to 130 in 2014–16 (SRS data). The country’s progress can be gauged from the 77% decline in MMR that it achieved during 1990­–2015, compared to global decline of 44% during this period. In child health also, India’s achievements have been strong. Under-five mortality rate (U5MR) in India has fallen significantly, from 126 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 39 per 1,000 live births in 2016.

5 . National Human Rights Commission

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi chairs the Human Rights Day Function, organised by National Human Rights Commission

About National Human Rights Commission

  • The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India was established on 12 October, 1993. The statute under which it is established is the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 as amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006.
  • It is in conformity with the Paris Principles, adopted at the first international workshop on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights held in Paris in October 1991, and endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations by its Regulations 48/134 of 20 December, 1993.
  • The NHRC is an embodiment of India’s concern for the promotion and protection of human rights.
  • Section 2(1)(d) of the PHRA defines Human Rights as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.

Composition of the Commission

The NHRC consists of:

  • A Chairperson, should be retired [Chief Justice of India
  • One member who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India
  • One member who is, or has been, the Chief Justice of a High Court
  • Two members to be appointed from among persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights
  • In addition, the Chairpersons of four National Commissions (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Women and Minorities) serve as ex officio members.

SCA Accreditation

  • The National Human Rights Commission, India has retained its ‘A’ status of accreditation with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, (GANHRI )for the fourth consecutive term of five years.
  • It is given to those NHRIs, which, after a rigorous process of review every five years, are found fully compliant with the UN mandated Paris Principles. 
  • The Accreditation confers international recognition and protection of the NHRI. ‘A’ status accreditation also grants participation in the work and decision-making of the GANHRI, as well as the work of the Human Rights Council and other UN mechanisms.
  • he accreditation is given after a rigorous process of review of the NHRI by the GANHRI through its Sub Committee on Accreditation (SCA).
  • The United Nations’ Paris Principles provide the international benchmarks against which national human rights institutions (NHRIs) can be accredited. Adopted in 1993 by the United Nations General Assembly, the Paris Principles require NHRIs to protect human rights, including by receiving, investigating and resolving complaints, mediating conflicts and monitoring activities; and promote human rights, through education, outreach, the media, publications, training and capacity building, as well as advising and assisting the Government.
  • The Paris Principles set out six main criteria that NHRIs require to meet. These are: Mandate and competence, Autonomy from Government, Independence guaranteed by a Statute or Constitution, Pluralism, Adequate resources; and adequate powers of investigation.

6 . Year End Review

You should read the year end reviews of the various ministries from the following links as it summarizes the activities of the ministry undertaken throughout the year

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