IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-02

At BIMSTEC, Jaishankar calls for integration.

Source: Indian Express

News

• Indian External Affairs Minister underlined the importance of connectivity between members of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), which marks its silver jubilee next year.

Integration

• Robust connectivity is an essential pre-requisite for economic integration of the region with smooth cross-border movement of people and goods.
• The members have finalised the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity, is expected to be adopted.
• It would be an important step towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people of our region for better connectivity and integration, Indian External Affairs Minister said.

India pitches for early disengagement in remaining areas in eastern Ladakh

Source: Indian Express

News

• India hoped that China will work with it to ensure disengagement of troops in remaining areas of eastern Ladakh at the earliest, and asserted that de-escalation of tension alone will lead to restoration of peace and tranquility in border areas and provide conditions for progress of bilateral ties.

De-escalation of tension

• Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said the two sides continue to remain in touch through military and diplomatic channels on the issue.
• The disengagement in Pangong Lake area was a significant step forward and it has provided a good basis for resolution of other remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control in western sector.
• The two sides had detailed exchange of views on the remaining issues both at the the senior commanders’ meeting and the discussions held under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs.

IASTODAY DAILY CAPSULES -General Studies-03

With more than 6000 RKM, Railways log highest ever figures in Electrification of routes and Show astonishing 37 % jump in one year

Source: PIB INDIA

News

• Indian Railways has logged highest ever electrification of sections covering 6,015 Route Kilometer (RKM)in single year during 2020-21.

Electrification of routes

• Despite COVID pandemic, It has surpassed the previous highest of 5,276 RKM achieved in 2018-19.
• It is a proud moment for Indian Railways for achieving target of 6000 km plus electrification project completion during tough time 2020-21. Indian Railways is becoming environment friendly and energy secured.
• A lot of emphasis has been given to Railway Electrification in recent years with a view to reduce the Nation’s dependence on imported petroleum-based energy and to enhance the country’s energy security, with a vision of providing eco-friendly, faster and energy-efficient mode of transportation.
• Out of total 45,881 RKM electrified so far, 34 % has been electrified in last three years only.
• Indian Railways has also commissioned a record 56 TSSs ( Traction Sub Stations ) during 2020-21, as against previous best of 42, which is an improvement of 33% despite COVID pandemic.
• A total of 201 Traction Sub Stations have been commissioned during last seven years as well.

MoRTH Achieves Record-breaking Milestone of Constructing 37 kilometres per day of Highways in FY 2020-21

Source: PIB INDIA

News

• Tremendous progress has been achieved in building of National Highways across the country in the last few years by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• The Ministry has achieved the record-breaking milestone of constructing 37 kilometres highways per day in year 2020-21, which is unprecedented.

The major achievements

• Over the last 7 years, length of National Highways has gone up by 50% from 91,287 km (as of April 2014) to 1,37,625 km (as on 20 March 2021);
• Total budgetary outlay increased by 5.5 times, from INR 33,414 Cr in Financial Year 2015 to INR 1,83,101 Cr in Financial Year 2022;
• Sanctioned amount has increased by 126% in Financial Year 2021 over Financial Year 2020 despite Covid-19 related impact. Sanctioned length in kilometers has also increased by 9% in Financial Year 2021 over Financial Year 2020;
• Average annual project award (annual average award length) during Financial Year 2015 to Financial Year 2021 has increased by 85% compared to FY10 to FY14
• Average annual construction (average annual construction length) during FY2015 to FY2021 has increased by 83% compared to FY2010 to FY2014
• Cumulative cost of ongoing project works has increased by 54% at the end of Financial Year 2021 compared to Financial Year 2020 (as on March 31st)

Grant of Rs. 4,608 crore released for Local Bodies

Source: PIB INDIA

News

• The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance released an amount of Rs. 4,608 crore to States for providing grant-in-aid to the local bodies. 

RLBs and ULBs

• The grants are both for the Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).  Out of this, RLBs will get Rs. 2,660 crore and ULBs will get Rs. 1,948 crore. 
• The grants have been released as per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission.
• In the financial year 2020-21, the Ministry of Finance has released a total amount of Rs. 87,460 crore to 28 States as local body grants.  Out of this, Rs. 60,750 crore have been released for RLBs while Rs. 26,710 crore have been released for ULBs.
• The RLB grants are meant for all the tiers in the panchayat – village, block and district as well as for 5th and 6th Schedule areas in the States. 
• RLB grants are partly basic/untied and partly tied in nature.  The basic grants can be used by RLBs for location-specific felt needs. 
• On the other hand, tied grants can only be used for the basic services of (a) sanitation and maintenance of open-defecation free (ODF) status and (b) supply of drinking water, rain water harvesting and water recycling. 
• ULB grants have been provided in two categories (a) grants for Million Plus cities and (b) grants for Non-Million Plus cities. While Million Plus cities have been provided grant of Rs. 8,357 crore, Non-Million Plus cities have got Rs. 18,354 crore from the Ministry in 2020-21.
• Entire grant to Million Plus cities is tied in nature. To receive these grants, the Million Plus cities are required to develop city -wise and areas-wise targets on ambient air quality based on annual average concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5. 
• Bedsides ambient air quality improvement, grants to Million Plus cities have also been linked for improving conservation, supply and management of water and efficient solid waste management, which are critical for planned urbanisation.
• Water supply and solid waste management related component of the grant is to be spent exclusively for improving water and solid waste management and achieving star ratings by ULBs. 
• In case of non Million-Plus cities, an amount of Rs. 18,354 crore has been released as grant-in-aid in the year 2020-21.  50% of this is basic grant while the rest 50% is tied to (a) drinking water (including rainwater harvesting and recycling) and (b) solid waste management. 
• This amount is in addition to the funds provided under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) etc.

Armed forces get new logistics node in Mumbai for better integration

News

• Making another step towards better integration between the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)  operationalised the third Joint Logistics Node (JLN) in Mumbai.
• Under the CDS, the theaterisation of commands is being planned, and the Air Defence Command and the Maritime Command are likely to be set up later this year.

Third Joint Logistics Node

• The JLNs will provide integrated logistics cover to the armed forces for their small arms ammunition, rations, fuel, general stores, civil hired transport, aviation clothing, spares and also engineering support in an effort to synergise their operational efforts.
• Establishment and operationalisation of JLNs is a very important first step in the direction of logistics integration of our three services and acceptance of each other’s limitations and learning from each other’s strengths and best practices is essential to help improve the functioning and efficacy of these nodes.
• The initiative will accrue advantages in terms of saving of manpower, economise utilisation of resources, besides financial savings.
• Successful functioning of these three JLNs would prove to be important stepping stones for opening of more JLNs in different parts of the country.

The other two JLNs in Guwahati and tri-services, Andaman and Nicobar Command, Port Blair were operationalised on January 1.