GS PAPER: III

P.M Vishwakarma Scheme

Why in the news?

• According to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship,21.15 lakh applications has been received under PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
• The highest number of applications had come from Karnataka (6.28 lakh), followed by West Bengal (4.04 lakh), Assam (1.83 lakh), Uttar Pradesh (1.53 lakh) and Andhra Pradesh (1.21 lakh). In contrast, 15 States including Haryana, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and northeastern States have sent fewer than 10,000 applications each.

About the scheme

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 77th Independence Day announced the launch of a new scheme that will benefit individuals skilled in traditional craftsmanship. Named the ‘PM VishwakarmaYojana’, the scheme was launched on the occasion of Vishwakarma Jayanti on September 17, 2023, at the India International Convention and Expo Centre in Dwarka, New Delhi.
• The programme was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by PM Modi approved the programme on August 16, 2023.
• The objective of the scheme is to support the people engaged in traditional crafts. This objective is driven by the desire to support the artisans and craftspeople financially as well as to keep the age-old traditions and diverse heritage alive through local products, art and crafts.
• A significant section of the workforce of the Indian economy consists of artisans and craftspeople, people who work with their hands and tools, are usually self-employed and are generally considered to be a part of the informal or unorganised sector of the economy. These traditional artisans and craftspeople are referred to as ‘Vishwakarma’ and are engaged in occupations like blacksmiths, goldsmiths, potters, carpenters, sculptors, etc. These skills or occupations are passed from generation to generation following a guru-shishya model of traditional training, both within the families and other informal groups of artisans and craftspeople.
• PM VishwakarmaYojana aims to strengthen the Guru-ShishyaParampara or family-based practice of traditional skills by artisans and craftspeople working with their hands and tools. The scheme also aims at improving the quality as well as the reach of products and services of artisans and craftspeople. The scheme is tasked with ensuring that the Vishwakarmas of India are integrated with the domestic and global value chains.

Highlights of the scheme

• PM VishwakarmaYojana will be fully funded by the Union Government with a financial outlay of Rs.13,000 crore for a period of five years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2027- 28).
• The Vishwakarmas will be registered free of charge through Common Services Centres using a biometric-based PM Vishwakarma Portal.
• The artisans and craftspeople will be provided recognition through a PM Vishwakarma Certificate and an ID Card.
• They will receive collateral-free credit support of up to Rs.1 lakh (first tranche) and Rs.2 lakh (second tranche) with a concessional interest rate of 5%.
• The scheme will further provide craftsmen with methods of skill upgradation involving basic and advanced training, a toolkit incentive of Rs.15,000 and incentives for digital transactions and marketing support.
• PM VishwakarmaYojana is expected to reach and bring prosperity to 30 lakh families. Eighteen traditional trades will be covered initially under PM VishwakarmaYojana.

• PM VishwakarmaYojana is an endeavour to uplift the Vishwakarmas of India who work tirelessly with their hands and tools, connecting them to the mainstream of development and making them self-reliant.
• The scheme will provide support to artisans and craftspeople in rural and urban areas across India and will aid the poverty-alleviation efforts of the Government.

GS PAPER – III

COP28 draft document

Why in the news?

According to a draft of key climate document by 2025, all countries must have in place a detailed plan to adapt to the current and future impacts of climate change in their countries, and must demonstrate progress in implementing such a plan by 2030.

Adaptation framework

• ‘Adaptation’ refers to the adjustments in ecological, social or economic systems that countries must make in response to these, and other anticipated climate effects. These actions are country-specific and can range from building flood defences, setting up early warning systems for cyclones, switching to drought-resistant crops, and redesigning communication systems, business operations, and government policies, according to the UN climate division.
• At COP 21 in Paris, negotiators decided that the GGA was necessary to get all countries on board a common framework for adaptation. Eight workshops were held after the last COP in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt where country representatives proposed concrete targets that could be used to quantitatively define whether the world was indeed becoming more adaptable vis-a-vis climate change.
• For instance, they framed targets such as: “Enhance the adaptive capacity and resilience of the global population to adverse impacts of climate change by at least 50% by 2030 and by at least 90% by 2050”, or “…achieving100% coverage of multi-hazard early warning systems, climate information services and response systems by 2027”.

The cost of adaptation

• Just as billions and trillions of dollars are needed for mitigation, adaptation too is expected to require developed countries to invest trillions of dollars in developing countries and island states, which are most at risk from climate hazards. Again, only a fraction of what is required has made its way to where it is required.
• India had formally conveyed to the United Nations that it was meeting most of its adaptation expenses with its own money. “The total adaptation relevant expenditure was 5.6% of the GDP in 2021-2022, growing from a share of 3.7% in 2015-16… There is significant gap in adaptation resources which cannot be met only through governmental resources.
• Considering the increase in the adverse impacts of climate change as well as costs of resilience measures, significant contributions need to be channelized through bilateral and multilateral public finance and private investments,” India’s statement said.

‘Disappointment with draft of the adaptation document ‘

• Several experts have expressed disappointment with the latest draft of the adaptation document, given the scale of the issue it aims to address. There are no clearly defined targets, no clear definition of a framework, lots of very general exhortations, no outcome targets… This doesn’t do anything for the adaptation agenda for developing countries and is disappointing.
• “Strengthening adaptive capacity is a multi-faceted endeavour that requires sustained and significant support. The Global Goal on Adaptation needs to have an ambitious and specific climate finance and technology commitment from developed nations that the current text lacks.
• It was encouraging that the GGA at least recognised the need for more adaptation finance. “We have seen that out of $1.27 trillion in climate finance flows in 2021-22, only $63 billion is allocated for adaptation. The allocation for adaptation has to increase given the acceleration of the effects of climate change globally.
• “The GGA’s implication is that India would need to increase domestic capital allocation for adaptation. India needs to set up a new fund with a broader mandate than the [existing] National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change to provide coverage for all aspects of adaptation and resilience.”

GS PAPER – II

Chhattisgarh: Newly elected Chief Minister

Why in news?

After recently conducted elections in different state, Vishnu Deo Sai is chosen as new Chhattisgarh Chief Minister.

Who is Vishnu Deo Sai?

• He is a party veteran and former union minister.
• He is elected from Kunkuri, a reserved constituency in the hilly northern tribal belt of Sarguja
• He was Chhattisgarh state president of the BJP from 2020 to 2022.
• He will be fourth chief minister and first tribal leader to hold this position.
• He is first to hail from a region beyond the other backward class dominated central plains.

Recent Developments:

• Vishnu sai Deo met Chhattisgarh Governor Biswabhsan Harichandan as the chief minister designate and was handed the letter appointing him chief minister.
• Mr sai said his priority would be to fulfil the series of poll promises labelled “Modi ki Gaurantee’.
• One of the promise mentioned that 18 lakh homes would be built for poor.

GS PAPER – II

Trade talks between India and Nordic countries

Why in news?

• Trade ministers from Switzerland and Norway has visited Delhi. It is regarding reaching an agreement on a trade pact with Nordic countries.
• The talks will be about Trade and Economic partnership agreement (TEPA) and Bilateral investment treaty (BIT) between India and four European countries.

Background:

• The trade talks about TEPA and BIT between India and the four European countries which make up the free trade association (EFTA) , outside the European union , countries like Iceland, Liechtenstein , Norway and Switzerland began 15 years ago .
• Even after 20 rounds of negotiation, it has been not closed.
• This meeting is taking place with an attempt to sign an agreement before the general election due in India in early 2024.
• The two day visit of Norwegian trade minister followed by visit of ministry of external affairs secretary Sanjay Verma to Switzerland and Liechtenstein

History with other countries:

• These four nation grouping has already signed 30 free trade agreements with other countries.
• There is an ongoing negotiation with India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Kosovo and South American Mercouser.

Nordic Countries: