PIB Analysis Date: 21/12/2018

PIB ANALYSIS FOR UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAM

1. National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB)
2. National Pension Scheme
3. Lawful interception or monitoring or decryption of information through computer resource
4. Samagra Shiksha Scheme
5. National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC)
6. SDG India Index
7. Bibek Debroy Committee
8. Based on the questions asked in the Parliament

1 . National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB)

NABCB Accreditation Secures Recognition in Asia- Pacific Region

About NABCB

• NABCB, a constituent Board of the Quality Council of India, is responsible for accreditation of Certification/inspection bodies as per applicable international standards under an international system of equivalence.

About the Release

• The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), India’s national accreditation body, has secured equivalence for its accreditation programme for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) Certification Bodies in Asia- Pacific region.
• It has signed the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) of the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC)
• Any industry carrying ISO 45001 certificate with NABCB logo will be recognized in the Asia Pacific region.
• The NABCB accreditation programme is based on international standards, ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO 45001, applicable for OHSMS.
  
• NABCB is the third accreditation body in the Asia Pacific Region to become internationally equivalent in the region, the other two being the accreditation bodies of Hong Kong and Mexico.

Benefits of Arrangement

• The immediate beneficiary of this equivalence is the Indian Industry which is exporting products to various countries specially in the Asia Pacific region.
• It can also be used by regulators for establishing confidence in certified units as Goa Government has done by accepting OHSMS certification under NABCB accreditation in lieu of annual audits under Factories’ Act.
• Now, NABCB can facilitate export of Indian goods into the world market by attesting that these are certified as per international standards by competent certifying bodies.

Importance of Accreditation

• Accreditation reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring that accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) are competent to carry out the work they undertake within their scope of accreditation. 
• Accreditation has become an essential tool for getting acceptance of inspection, testing and certification done in India internationally and it is referenced in many bilateral Free Trade Agreements like the India – Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement in which NABCB accreditation is a requirement for certification of electrical/electronic and telecom products. Thus, accreditation eliminates technical barriers to trade and facilitates export of Indian products in world market.

2 . National Pension Scheme

NPS Withdrawal Norms

What is National Pension Scheme

• National Pension Scheme (NPS) is a government-sponsored pension scheme. It was launched in January 2004 for government employees. However, in 2009, it was opened to all sections. The scheme allows subscribers to contribute regularly in a pension account during their working life. On retirement, subscribers can withdraw a part of the corpus in a lumpsum and use the remaining corpus to buy an annuity to secure a regular income after retirement.

Who can join NPS

• Any Indian citizen between 18 and 60 years can join NPS. The only condition is that the person must comply with know your customer (KYC) norms
• NRI can join NPS. However, the account will be closed if there is a change in the citizenship status of the NRI

Tier 1 and Tier 2 Account

• Tier-I is a mandatory account and Tier-II is voluntary.
• The big difference between the two is on withdrawal of money invested in them. You cannot withdraw the entire money from Tier-I account till your retirement. Even on retirement, there are restrictions on withdrawal on the Tier-I account.
• The subscriber is free to withdraw the entire money from the Tier-II account.

Minimum Contribution

• Minimum of Rs 6,000 every year in your Tier-I account in a financial year

3 . Lawful interception or monitoring or decryption of information through computer resource

Some points on Lawful interception or monitoring or decryption of information through computer resource

• Rule 4 of the IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Decryption of Information) Rules 2009 provides that ‘the competent authority may authorise an agency of the Government to intercept, monitor or decrypt information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer resource for the purposespecified in sub-section (1) of Section 69 of the Act’.
• Each case of interception, monitoring, decryption is to be approved by the competent authority i.e. Union Home secretary. These powers are also available to the competent authority in the State governments as per IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Decryption of Information) Rules 2009.
  
• As per rule 22 of the IT (Procedure and Safeguards for Interception, Monitoring and Decryption of Information) Rules 2009, all such cases of interception or monitoring or decryption are to be placed before the review committee headed by Cabinet Secretary, which shall meet at least once in two months to review such cases. In case of State governments, such cases are reviewed by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary concerned.

4 . Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan

Samagra Shiksha Scheme running successfully to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education

About Samagr Shiksha Abhiyaan

• Samagra Shiksha – an Integrated Scheme for School Education has been launched throughout the country as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
• This programme subsumes the three erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).
• It is an overarching programme for the school education sector extending from pre-school to class XII and aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education.  
• It envisages the ‘school’ as a continuum from pre-school, primary, upper primary, secondary to senior secondary levels. The States/ UTs are assisted by the central government to implement the Samagra Shiksha as a programme for providing universal access and retention, bridging of gender and social category gaps in education and enhancement of learning level of children at all levels of school education.
• The major interventions under the scheme are: (i) Universal Access including Infrastructure Development and Retention; (ii) Gender and Equity; (iii) Inclusive Education; (iv) Quality; (v) Financial support for Teacher Salary;  (vi) Digital initiatives; (vii) Entitlements under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 including uniforms, textbooks etc.;(viii) Pre-school Education; (ix) Vocational Education; (x) Sports and Physical Education; and (xi) Strengthening of Teacher Education and Training. 
• The main emphasis of the Scheme is on improving quality of school education and the strategy of all interventions would be to enhance the Learning Outcomes at all levels of schooling.

5 . National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC)

About NBCFDC

• National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC) is a Govt. of India Undertaking under the aegis of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• NBCFDC was incorporated under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 on 13th January 1992 as a Company not for profit with an objective to promote economic and developmental activities for the benefit of Backward Classes and to assist the poorer section of these classes in skill development and self employment ventures.
• NBCFDC provides financial assistance through State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) nominated by the State Governments/ UTs.
• NBCFDC also provides Micro Financing through SCAs/ Self Help Groups (SHGs). The Corporation can assist a wide range of income generating activities to assist the poorer section of these classes in skill development and self-employment ventures under following broad sectors :

• Agriculture and Allied Activities
• Small Business / Artisan and Traditional Occupation
• Service / Transport Sector etc.
• Technical and Professional Trades/Courses

About the Release

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC), an autonomous corporation under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and BSE Institute Ltd. for facilitating Skill Development Training to the target group of NBCFDC

6 . Sustainable Development Goals India Index

NITI Aayog Releases SDG India Index: Baseline Report 2018. A single measurable Index to map progress of States & UTs towards 2030 SDGs

About SDG India Index

• NITI Aayog has the twin mandate to oversee the implementation of SDGs in the country, and also promote Competitive and Cooperative Federalism among States and UTs.
• SDG India Index is a single measurable Index to map progress of States & UTs towards 2030 SDGs.
• SDG India Index, was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Global Green Growth Institute and United Nations in India

About Sustainable Development Goals

• The SDGs are ambitious global development goals that address key aspects of universal wellbeing across different socio-economic, cultural, geographical divisions and integrate the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development.

India and SDG’s

• India’s National Development Agenda is mirrored in the SDGs.
• India’s progress in SDGs is crucial for the world as the country is home to about 17% of the world population.
• The SDG India Index tracks progress of all States and UTs on 62 Priority Indicators selected by NITI Aayog, which in turn is guided by MoSPI’s National Indicator Framework comprising 306 indicators and based on multiple-round consultations with Union Ministries/Departments and States/UTs.

Details about the Index

• The Index spans 13 out of 17 SDGs.
• Progress on SDGs 12, 13 & 14 could not be measured as relevant State/UT level data were not available and SDG 17 was left out as it focuses on international partnerships.
• A composite score was computed between the range of 0-100 for each State and UT based on their aggregate performance across 13 SDGs, which indicates average performance of State/UT towards achieving 13 SDGs & their respective targets.
• If a State/UT achieves a score of 100, it signifies that it has achieved the 2030 national targets.The higher the score of a State/UT, the greater the distance to target achieved.
• Classification Criteria based on SDG India Index Score is as follows:

1. Aspirant: 0-49
2. Performer: 50-64
3. Front Runner: 65-99
4. Achiever: 100

Results

• Aspirant – Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
• Performer – Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur,
  Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Delhi and Lakshadweep
• Front Runner – Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh and Puducherry
• Achiever – None

Overall Finding

• Himachal Pradesh ranks high on providing clean water & sanitation, in reducing inequalities & preserving mountain ecosystem
• Kerala’s top rank is attributed to its superior performance in providing good health, reducing hunger, achieving gender equality & providing quality education
• Chandigarh leads because of its exemplary performance in providing clean water & sanitation, affordable & clean energy, generating decent work & economic growth, & providing quality education

Benefits

• The Index is designed to function as a tool for focussed policy dialogue, formulation and implementation, moving towards development action pegged to globally recognisable metrics of SDG framework.  
• The Index also supplements NITI Aayog’s continuous efforts towards encouraging evidence-based policy making by supporting States/UTs to benchmark their progress, identifying priority areas and share best practices.
• The SDG India Index will also help highlight crucial gaps related to tracking SDGs and the need for India to develop its statistical systems at National & State/UT levels.

7 . Bibek Debroy Committee

• Logistics Development Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. BibekDebroy, Chairman EAC-PM was tasked to assess key challenges in logistics development and associated commerce and suggest policy reforms for ease of doing trade in India.

8 . Based on the Questions asked in the Parliament

POSHAN Abhiyaan

• POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to reduce malnutrition from the country in a phased manner, through the life cycle concept, by adopting a synergised and result oriented approach.
• The Abhiyaan will ensure mechanisms for timely service delivery and a robust monitoring as well as intervention infrastructure.
• The POSHAN Abhiyaan through the targets will strive to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia and low birth weight babies. It will create synergy, ensure better monitoring, issue alerts for timely action, and encourage States/UTs to perform, guide and supervise the line Ministries and States/UTs to achieve the targeted goals. Convergance, organising Community Based Events, IEC and Advocacy, Jan Andolan, Incremental Learning training, ICDS-CAS etc. are core components of POSHAN Abhiyaan which will also help to bring down stunting in children.

About Study in India Programme

• Study in India Programme aims to make India an education hub for foreign students by way of increasing the inflow of inbound International Students through systematic brand building, marketing, social media and digital marketing campaigns.
• The programme focuses on attracting foreign students from select 30 plus countries.
• The programme envisages participation of select reputed Indian institutes/universities by way of offering seats for the International students at affordable rates, along with fee waivers to meritorious foreign students ranging from 100% to 25%