17TH MARCH 2021 - PIB SUMMARIES - Shiksha IAS
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Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore 17th March 2021 – PIB Summaries
Shiksha IAS https://iasshiksha.com/pib-summaries/17th-march-2021-pib-summaries/
17TH MARCH 2021 – PIB SUMMARIES
Posted on March 18, 2021 by admin
Page: 1Best IAS Coaching in Bangalore 17th March 2021 – PIB Summaries
Shiksha IAS https://iasshiksha.com/pib-summaries/17th-march-2021-pib-summaries/
National Steel Policy
Context:
The Union Minister for Steel stated in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that the per capita
consumption of steel in India is 74.7 kg against the world average of 229 kg for the time period
2019-20.
What is the National Steel Policy?
The National Steel Policy which was released in 2017 aims to attain a steel production capacity in
India of 300 MT by 2030. It has a long-term vision to enhance domestic consumption, produce high-
quality steel and make the sector globally competitive.
NSP, 2017 Vision
To create a globally competitive steel industry that promotes inter-sectoral growth.
The policy’s mission is to create an environment that enables:
1. Self-sufficiency in the production of steel by giving policy support and guidance to MSME
producers of steel, the private sector, central public sector enterprises and boost sufficient
capacity additions.
2. Development of internationally competitive manufacturing capabilities.
3. Increase in the domestic demand for steel.
4. Cost-efficient production and domestic availability of iron ore, coking coal and natural gas.
5. Investment in overseas asset acquisitions of raw materials.
National Steel Policy Objectives
The stated objectives of the NSP, 2017 are mentioned under this section.
Increase the crude steel capacity to 300 MT by 2030-31.
Increase per capita consumption of steel to 160 kg by 2030-31. (Current consumption (2017) is
only 69 kg).
Meet through domestic production the whole demand for high-grade automotive steel, special
steels and alloys, and electrical steel for strategic applications by 2030-31.
Become a net steel exporter by 2025-26.
Increase domestic availability of washed coking coal so as to reduce import dependence on
coking coal to 50% by 2030-31.
Develop & implement quality standards for domestic steel products.
Assist the industry to a global leader on energy and raw material-efficient steel production by
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2030-31.
National Steel Policy Background
The steel industry is a very important one for the economy as a whole. It is the backbone of any
industrial economy. Steel finds widespread applications in many sectors such as construction,
power, infrastructure, aerospace, consumer products, industrial machinery and so on. The steel
industry has strong forward and backward linkages in terms of material flows and income
generation.
The Indian steel sector has grown dramatically over the past few years to be the third-largest
producer of steel globally, contributing to about 2% of the country’s GDP and employing about 5
lakh people directly and about 20 lakh people indirectly.
A flourishing steel industry is crucial for a country’s rapid economic growth and industrial
development.
Prior to deregulation in 1991-92, the steel capacity of the country was only 22 MT. From there,
currently, the country has grown to be the second-largest producer of steel with a production
of 91 MT and a production capacity of 122 MT in 2015-16.
India’s competitive advantage in steel production is driven, to a large extent, by the
indigenous availability of high-grade iron ore and non-coking coal – the two critical inputs of
steel production. Additional factors are a large consumer market for steel, a young workforce
with competitive labour costs, and a strong MSME sector.
The sector is a big contributor to the growth of the manufacturing sector.
A few facts related to steel production
China is the world’s largest producer of crude steel accounting for more than 51 per cent of
production.
In 2019, India replaced Japan as the second-largest producer of crude steel which was at 106.5
MT (a hike by 4.9 % from 101.5 MT in 2017).
Other countries in the top ten steel producers include the USA, Russia, South Korea, Germany,
Brazil, etc.
The above facts are as published by the World Steel Association.
International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
Context:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the opening ceremony of the International Conference on
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Disaster Resilient Infrastructure through a video conference.
Details:
Prime Minister of Fiji, Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom were
present on the occasion.
Participants from national governments, experts from international organisations, academic
institutions and the private sector also participated in the conference.
What is the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure?
The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure is a partnership between national
governments, United Nations programmes and agencies, development banks, academic institutions
and the private sector.
The objective of the coalition is to address challenges related to building resilience into
infrastructure systems and associated developments.
It promotes the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster
risks in support of sustainable development.
Developed through consultations with more than 35 countries, CDRI targets a measurable
reduction in infrastructure losses from disasters.
CDRI supports the expeditious development of resilient infrastructure in response to the
Sustainable Development Goals’ necessities of extending universal access to basic services,
facilitating prosperity and decent work.
It will work towards standardisation of designs, processes and regulations relating to
infrastructure creation and management.
The CDRI is a partnership between national governments and other agencies and not based
on rights and obligations. It may be noted that the decisions, policies and standards of the
coalition are not binding on the members.
The CDRI was launched by Prime Minister Modi in September 2019 at the UN Climate Action
Summit.
The idea behind the CDRI was announced by Mr Modi in 2016 at the Asian Ministerial
Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR).
There, he declared India’s intention to work with partner countries and important
stakeholders to create a coalition to work towards the ambition of improving the disaster
resilience of infrastructure.
Its Secretariat is in New Delhi.
It is a platform for knowledge generation and exchange and will also develop country-specific
as well as global plans.
CDRI will give member countries technical support and capacity development, research and
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knowledge management, and advocacy and partnerships to enable and boost investment in
disaster-resilient infrastructure systems.
Need for CDRI
Infrastructure is a key driver of economic growth. With the growing demands of a burgeoning global
population and unpredictable hazard patterns, the extant infrastructure will be put under additional
stress and new infrastructure will be constructed in hazard-prone areas.
According to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), upgraded disaster
resilience of infrastructure is a foundation for sustainable development.
One of the targets of the Sendai Framework focuses on infrastructure as an important
prerequisite for achieving the other targets of disaster loss reduction under the framework.
Thus, building an infrastructure system that is resilient to disasters is vital for economic growth
with sustainable development.
While India has been hailed for its reduction in the number of human casualties in disasters, the
country lags behind in protecting property and infrastructure during natural disasters or
extreme weather events.
The World Bank calculated that the economic losses due to disasters during the late 90s and
early 2000s were close to 2% of the GDP.
Objectives of CDRI
The objectives of the CDRI are as follows:
1. To promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks ensuring
sustainable development.
2. To rapidly expand the development and retrofit of resilient infrastructure to respond to the
Sustainable Development Goals imperatives of expanding universal access to basic services,
enabling prosperity and decent work.
Har Medh Par Ped
Context:
Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (Har Medh Par Ped) Scheme was launched in 2016-17.
About Sub-Mission on Agroforestry:
The scheme was launched to encourage tree plantation on farmlands along with
crops/cropping system to help the farmers get additional income and make their farming
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systems more climate-resilient and adaptive.
It is being implemented with a funding pattern of 60:40 between Centre and State Govt. for all
States excepting NE & Hilly states, where it is 90:10 and 100% in case of UTs & National Level
Agencies.
Under the scheme, assistance to farmers is given through the state governments for nursery
development, boundary plantation and block plantation of prominent tree species to promote,
inter-alia, fruits bearing tree-borne oilseeds, medicinal & aromatic plants, silk & lac rearing host
plants, in addition to timber species, so that farmers get early returns.
Stop TB Partnership
Context:
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan appointed as Chairman of ‘Stop TB Partnership’ Board.
Details:
The Union Health Minister will serve a three-year term, commencing July 2021, as the Chair of
the Board of Stop TB Partnership.
About Stop TB Partnership:
Founded in 2001, the Stop TB Partnership’s mission is to serve every person who is vulnerable
to TB and ensure that high-quality diagnosis, treatment and care is available to all who need it.
Its partners include international and technical organizations, government programmes,
research and funding agencies, foundations, NGOs, civil society and community groups and
the private sector.
Its Secretariat is hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Geneva,
Switzerland.
Kumbh Mela
Context:
Special Trains for Kumbh Mela.
Concerns:
Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic situation, crowds, or even the prospect of one, may be
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anathema everywhere.
The Maha Kumbh Mela is organised once in 12 years, and the last time the event was held in
2010, about 10 million reportedly congregated in the city.
Kumbh Mela:
Kumbh Mela comes under the UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity.
It was added to the list in 2017.
Kumbh Mela is celebrated four times over a course of 12 years.
Kumbh Mela locations in India:
Haridwar on the Ganges in Uttarakhand.
Ujjain on the Shipra in Madhya Pradesh.
Nashik on the Godavari in Maharashtra.
Prayagraj at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati in
Uttar Pradesh.
The Mela site keeps rotating between one of the four pilgrimage places on four sacred rivers.
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