International Monetary and Financial Committee
- Indian Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs attended the Plenary Meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) Board of Governors.
- IMFC usually meets twice a year at the Fund-Bank Spring Meetings (April), and the Annual Meetings (October).
- Chairperson - Magdalena Andersson, Sweden's Finance Minister (The first woman to hold this position). Holds office for 3 years.
- Members - IMFC has 24 members who are central bank governors, ministers, or others of comparable rank. These members are drawn from the governors of the 190 member countries of the IMF.
- Each member country and each group of member countries that elects an Executive Director appoints a member of the IMFC.
- Role - It discusses matters of common concern affecting the global economy and advises the IMF on the direction of its work and policies.
- It advises and reports to the IMF Board of Governors on the supervision and management of the international monetary and financial system.
- It considers proposals by the Executive Board to amend the Articles of Agreement and advises on matters referred to it by Board of Governors.
- Observers in the IMFC’s meetings - International institutions.
E9 Initiative
- Meeting of Education Ministers of E9 countries on ‘E9 initiative: Scaling up digital learning to accelerate progress towards SDG4’ was held.
- E9 meeting is the first of a 3-phased process to co-create an initiative on digital learning and skills, targeting marginalised children and youth.
- E9 initiative aims to accelerate recovery and advance the Sustainable Development Goal 4 agenda by driving rapid change in education systems in three of the 2020 Global Education Meeting priorities,
- Support to teachers;
- Investment in skills;
- Narrowing of the digital divide.
- It is spearheaded by the United Nations, the E9 countries - Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Indian Initiatives
- One Nation-One Digital Platform - DIKSHA.
- One Nation-One Channel programme - SWAYAM PRABHA, SWAYAM MOOCS and radio broadcasting.
- PM e-VIDYA - To provide multi-modal access to education to school-going children across India.
Campaign on COVID-19 Vaccination
- A multipronged nationwide mass awareness campaign on Covid-19 vaccination is organized by the Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS).
- This campaign will be carried out through an android-based mobile app COVACNEWS made by INYAS for ensuring information at the fingertips.
- A pan-India info-graphic video and audio competition is being organised along with the GYAN TEEKA webinar series on COVID-19 vaccination.
Indian National Young Academy of Sciences
- This academy of young scientists was constituted by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) in 2014 based on the recommendations of the INSA-constituted committee with Rajesh Gopakumar as chair.
- This academy came into existence as an activity of INSA in 2015.
- Members - 100 members, not exceeding the age of 40 years at the time of induction (20 new members shall be inducted as members each year.)
- Each person may remain a member for a fixed period of 5 years.
- Advisory Board for INYAS - INSA President, 6 Vice-Presidents and Executive Director.
Indian National Science Academy
- Formerly known as National Institute of Sciences of India (NISI), the INSA was established in 1935. The name was changed to INSA in 1970.
- Objective - To promote science in India and harness scientific knowledge for the cause of humanity and national welfare.
- In 1945, the institute was recognized by the Government of India as the premier scientific society of India, representing all branches of science.
- In 1968, it was designated as the adhering organization in India to the International Council for Science (ICSU) on behalf of the Government.
Ghaziabad Green Municipal Bonds
- Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam (GNN) or Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation, a civic body in Uttar Pradesh, has successfully listed India’s first-ever Green Municipal bond issue on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
- It has raised Rs. 150 crore by issuing this bond at a coupon rate of 8.10% with over-subscription (One of the lowest in municipal bonds in India).
- The Urban Development Ministry has provided a 2% interest subvention, which means effectively Ghaziabad has raised funds at 6%.
- The funds will be utilised for an environmentally sustainable projects,
- Tertiary water treatment plant to benefit industries in Ghaziabad,
- Supply piped water through water-meters to places like Sahibabad.
- According to India Ratings, Ghaziabad bond is debt-free and has maintained a revenue surplus position in the last few years.
- Other Cities - Apart from Ghaziabad, municipal bonds have been raised by 9 cities - Ahmedabad, Surat, Visakhapatnam, Amravati, Indore, Bhopal, Pune, Hyderabad and Lucknow.
PM-FME Scheme for SHG Entrepreneurs
- To implement Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) Scheme to support Self Help Group (SHG) entrepreneurs in food processing, the following are working together,
- Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and
- Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
- This will provide financial, technical and business support for upgradation of existing micro food processing enterprises.
- Both the Ministries decided to work closely on the component of providing seed capital support to SHG members.
- This involves working capital and purchase of small tools with the maximum permissible amount of Rs. 40,000/- per SHG member based on their existing business turnover and requirement.
- The State Rural Livelihood Missions in the States/UTs and the State Nodal Agencies appointed by MoFPI are executing the program closely.
- This involves identification of targeted eligible beneficiaries, capturing their aspirations & growth plans in the form of applications, digitize, review, recommend and approve them.
- The States will release funds to respective SHGs and SHG members through the network of community organizations - Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) and Village Organizations (VOs).
Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme
- Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched by the MoFPI is being implemented for a period of 5 years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
- This All India Scheme is for the Unorganized Sector.
- The expenditure will be shared by GoI and the States in ratio of 60:40.
Integrated Health Information Platform
- The Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), the world's biggest online disease surveillance platform, was launched.
- India is the first country in the world to adopt such an Advanced Digital Surveillance System.
- IHIP is the next generation highly refined version of the presently used Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) digital platform.
- It is in sync with the National Digital Health Mission and fully compatible with the other digital information systems presently in use.
- It can easily be integrated with other ongoing surveillance program, while having the feature of addition of special surveillance modules.
- It will track 33 diseases now as compared to the earlier 18 diseases.
- It will provide health information system developed for real time, case-based information, integrated analytics, advanced visualization capability that will enable evidence-based policy making.
- Data will be provided in real time through the,
- Grassroots healthcare workers through their gadgets (tablets);
- Doctors at the PHC/CHC/SHD/DH when the citizens seek healthcare;
- Diagnostic labs which will provide data on the tests carried out.
- It will provide analyzed reports on electronic devices. Outbreak investigation activities can be initiated and monitored electronically.
- India’s information system for precision public health will deliver the right intervention at the right time, every time to the right population.
- This refined digital surveillance platform will help to provide and connect data and move towards ‘One Health’ approach.
Source: PIB, The Hindu, The Indian Express, Down To Earth, Business Line, Economic Times
