Cabinet approves the MoU amongst various National and International Entities

Why is it in news?

Cabinet has approved of the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) amongst the NIRD&PR (National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj) and the UoR (University of Reading). The MoU has also been signed by the UK.

All of the entities specified here are to collaborate for further development in rural areas in the third world. Besides, specific attention would be paid to various perspectives for scientific methods of raising the crops in the countries where a considerable share of the national economies is based upon agriculture.

Highlights

·       Signed in March, 2022, the MoU would play a prominent role in facilitating the NIRD&PR in order to widen a practically factual knowledge concerning various areas. Besides, the Memorandum of Understanding would also focus upon development of a highly professional network NIRD&PR not only to acquire advanced agricultural knowledge, but also to widen it further. The same rule applies to rural development and nutrition as well.

·        It should be noted that both NIRD&PR and the University of Reading have been known to have played considerably important role in the fields of:   

ü nutrition assessment based upon the energy expenditure

ü wearable accelerometric and sensor based devices during the farming activities

ü Women and Child Development

The Ministry of Earth Sciences finalizes the Indian Blue Economy

Why is it in news?

The draft policy framework for the Indian Blue Economy has been prepared. It encompasses maximum benefits for various sectors for an all round sustainable development of the Indian coasts.

Highlights

ü The draft for the Blue Economy focuses upon the following areas for further development in the coastal India:

·       maritime domain,        

·       various living, and non-living aquatic resources,

·       tourism,

·       ocean energy, etc.

ü The framework for the Blue Economy specifically caters to various issues dealing with:

·       Ocean Governance,

·       Coastal Marine Spatial Planning and Tourism Priority,

·       Marine Fisheries,

·       Aquaculture and Fish Processing.

·       Manufacturing,

·       Emerging Industries,

·       Trade,

·       Technology,

·       Services and Skill Development,

·       Logistics,

·       Infrastructure and Shipping,

·       Coastal and Deep-Sea Mining,

·       Offshore Energy and Security,

·       Strategic Dimensions, and

·       International Engagement etc.

ü BEAC i.e., the National Blue Economy Advisory Council would include the Secretaries of relevant Ministries/ Deptts. as members, apart from the Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries of Coastal States and representatives from industry. 

ü The Blue Economy draft would implement the Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar Programme. The coastal cleaning campaign spanning for 75 days aims at cleaning 75 beaches, apart from various coastal districts. The programme beginning on 5^th July would be culminating on the International Coastal Clean Up Day i.e., 17^th  September. The entire activity is being undertaken by:

·       MoES

·       Indian Coast Guard,

·       MoEF& CC,

·       MoYAS,

·       NDMA,

·       Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi, and

·       Several Government Departments, volunteer organizations, public and students.

Vice President stresses upon the need for a greater awareness for Hepatitis

Why is it in news?

Addressing the awareness session on the World Hepatitis Day in the Parliament House, the Vice President stressed upon the requirement for an enhanced awareness concerning Hepatitis. He insisted that both the public and the policy makers ought to realize the potential risks to human health because of Hepatitis.

Highlights

·        The Vice President urged the policy makers, apart from the public representatives at various levels, to create and spread awareness about preventable Hepatitis in their respective constituencies.

·        The Vice President’s keynote address in the Parliament emphasized upon the need for transforming the campaign for a complete eradication of Hepatitis by 2030 into a ‘people’s movement’. He also said that the movement might draw a considerable motivation from the TB Free India Campaign and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

·        Advising the lawmakers, Shri Naidu said that the campaign for eliminating Hepatitis should be conducted in the local languages for the optimum effect. He also advised the policy makers to see to it that the government messages to the people should not only be innovative, but also easily accessible and understandable to the common man.

The UN declares 2023 as the International Year of Millets at the initiative of the Indian PM

Why is it in news?

The Government of India plans to implement several programmes and schemes in order to make various nutri-cereals and millets popular, not only in India, but also abroad.

Highlights

·        All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, along with the State Governments, will promote the nutri-cereals in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) and Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE).

·        Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, chaired the meeting of Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on the subject ‘International Year of Millets’.

·        Indian PM’s proposal to the UN in order to declare 2023 as the IYoM (International Year of Millets) was favoured by 72 countries. The UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) had declared 2023 as IYoM in March, 2021 itself.

·        The IYoM would be based upon Seven Sutras that  would be implemented by:

ü Enhancement of Production/Productivity (DA&FW/DARE),

ü Nutrition & Health benefits (Ministry of Health/FSSAI),

ü Value Addition,

ü Processing & Recipe Development (Ministries of Food Processing Industries & Tourism),

ü Entrepreneurship/Startup/Collective Development (Commerce and DA&FW),

ü Awareness creation including Branding Labelling & Promotion (All Ministries),

ü International Outreach (Commerce & Ministry of External Affairs), and

ü Policy Interventions for Mainstreaming (Dept of Food & Public Distribution and DA&FW).

FIFA to hold Women's World Cup in India in 2022

Why is it in news?

The Cabinet has approved  FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) to host World Cup for women, U-17 (under 17) in India.

The PM, Shri Narendra Modi chaired the Union Cabinet’s meeting, approving the Signing of Guarantees for hosting the  FIFA Women World Cup.

Highlights

FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022 is to take place between 11^th -30^th October, 2022.

It should be noted that the FIFA U-17 is not only the seventh edition of the biennial youth tournament, but also the first-ever FIFA women competition to be hosted in India. The women’s World Cup also carries the legacy from the FIFA U-17, men’s World Cup, 2017.

Remarkably, the nation would be watching the world’s best footballers  competing at their best to claim one of the most coveted trophies in the world of football.

NSFs, i.e., the Scheme of Assistance to National Sports Federations has sanctioned a fund Rs. 10 crores to AIFF (All India Football Federation) for the sake of field maintenance.

Major Objectives behind FIFA U-17

To motivate the Indian women footballers to perform well in the most competent manner leaving the international footballers

To motivate greater numbers of young Indian women to get inclined towards playing football, apart from other sports

To include more of the women in the sports decision making bodies including football