GS PAPER II NEWS
Toycathon-2021
Why in News
The Prime Minister interacted with participants of Toycathon-2021 via video conferencing. Union Minister and Minister of State were present on the occasion.
Key Points
- Apart from the importance of toys as the first friend of the children, the Prime Minister also emphasized the economic aspects of toys and gaming, he called it ‘Toyconomy’.
- Globally, toy market is about 100 billion dollars and India have only 1.5% of this market. India imports almost 80 per cent of its toys.
- The Prime Minister referred to the cheap data and growth of Internet led rural connectivity and called for exploration of possibilities in virtual, digital and online gaming in India.
- The Prime Minister mentioned that 75th anniversary of India’s Independence is a huge opportunity for the innovators and creators of the toy industry. Many incidents, stories of freedom fighters and their valour and leadership can be created into gaming concepts. These innovators have a big role in connecting ‘folk with the future’.
- There is a need to create interesting and interactive games that ‘engage, entertain and educate’.
About Toycathon – 2021
- India is being a home of many globally popular games like Chess, Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, but not among the leading developers and manufacturers of toys.
- So, to boost toy manufacturing in India, Hon’ble Prime Minister initiated Toycathon-2021 initiated under ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ to challenge India’s innovative minds to conceptualize novel Toy and Games based on Bharatiya civilization, history, culture, mythology and ethos.
- Toycathon 2021 was launched on 5th January, 2021 and the grand finale is being organized from 22nd June to 24th June.
- It is an inter-ministerial initiative organized by Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell with support from All India Council for Technical Education, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- Currently, India’s toy market stands at around 1.5 billion USD, which primarily is dominated by imported toys. Moreover, majority of these toys do not represent Indian heritage, civilization and value systems.
- It is a unique opportunity for Students, Teachers, Start-ups and Toy experts/professionals in India to submit their innovative toys/games concepts and win large number of prizes worth Rs. 50 lakhs.
GS PAPER II
All-party Meet at Jammu & Kashmir
Why in News
Recently, all-party meeting has been held at Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) with Prime Minister.
Key Points
- It was the first outreach initiative undertaken by the Centre since August 5, 2019, when it unilaterally abrogated Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that provided special status and privileges to it.
- Prime Minister stated that statehood of J&K would be restored “at an appropriate time” but urged the parties to get on board with delimitation or the redrawing of assembly constituencies to enable elections.
- The main focus of the meeting was to strengthen the democratic process. PM said that India is fully committed to the democratic process in J&K.
- He stressed that the holding assembly elections just like the successful District Development Council elections is a priority.
- At the meeting, the future of Jammu and Kashmir was discussed and the delimitation exercise and peaceful elections are important milestones in restoring statehood.
- At the meeting, it was also decided that the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor would set up a committee to review cases of political prisoners.
Delimitation
- Delimitation is the act of redrawing boundaries of an Assembly or Lok Sabha seat to represent changes in population over time.
- This exercise is carried out by a Delimitation Commission, whose orders has the force of law and cannot be questioned before any court.
- The objective is to redraw boundaries in a way so that the population of all seats, as far as practicable, be the same throughout the State.
- Aside from changing the limits of a constituency, the process may result in change in the number of seats in a state.
Delimitation exercises in J&K
- Delimitation exercises in J&K in the past have been slightly different from those in the rest of the country because of the region’s special status — which was scrapped by the Centre in August 2019.
- Until then, delimitation of Lok Sabha seats in J&K was governed by the Constitution of India, but the delimitation of the state’s Assembly seats was governed by the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution and Jammu and Kashmir Representation of the People Act, 1957.
Article 370
- Article 370 of the Indian constitution gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir which was administered by India as a state from 1954 to 31 October 2019.
- The Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir is part of the larger region of Kashmir which has been a subject of dispute since 1947 between India, Pakistan and, partly, China.
- It was drafted in Part XXI of the Indian constitution titled “Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions”.
GS PAPER II
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY)
Why in News
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister has approved allocation of additional foodgrain under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (Phase IV) for another period of 5 months i.e., July to November, 2021.
Key Points
As per the information, the government has sanctioned 5 kg per person per month free of cost for maximum 81.35 Crore beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) including those covered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).- The allocation in terms of wheat/rice shall be decided by the Department of Food and Public Distribution.
- Also, the Department of Food and Public Distribution may decide on the extension of the lifting/distribution period under Phase III and Phase IV of PMGKAY as per operational requirements, arising out of adverse weather conditions like monsoon, snowfall, etc. and supply chain and Covid-induced constraints.
- Under PM-GKAY 2021 (May – June 2021), so far, more than 76Lakh MT foodgrain, i.e., more than 96% of the allocated foodgrain have been lifted by States/UTs. Further, more than 35 Lakh MT food grains have been distributed by States/UTs for May 2021and more than 23 Lakh MT food grains have been distributed for June 2021.
- Around 80 crore NFSA beneficiaries are receiving 5 Kg additional free-of-cost foodgrain (wheat or rice) for the months of May 2021 and June, 2021.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
- It is a food security welfare scheme operated by the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
- It was implemented in March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
- It aims to feed the poorest citizens of India by providing grain through the Public Distribution System, to all the priority households.
- Under PMGKAY, government provides 5 kg of rice per person and 1 kg of dal to each family holding a ration card.
- The scale of this welfare scheme makes it the largest food security program in the world.
National Food Security Act
- It was enacted in 2013 by an Act of the Parliament.
- The National Food Security Act 2013 aims to provide subsidized food grains to the needy one.
- It includes the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services scheme and the Public Distribution System.
- The act also recognizes maternity entitlements.
- The Midday Meal Scheme and the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme are universal in nature whereas the PDS will reach about two-thirds of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas).
GS PAPER II
Black Sea Incident
Why in News
Russia accused Britain about spreading lies over a warship confrontation in the Black Sea and warned London that it would respond resolutely to any further provocative actions by the British Navy off the coast of Russia annexed Crimea.
Key Points
- Russia summoned the British Ambassador in Moscow for a formal diplomatic scolding after the warship breached its territorial waters but which Britain and most of the world say belong to Ukraine.
- Russia summoned the British Ambassador in Moscow for a formal diplomatic scolding after the warship breached what the Kremlin says are its territorial waters but which Britain and most of the world say belong to Ukraine.
- Britain said Russia was sowing inaccuracies and disputed Russia’s account, saying no warning shots had been fired and that no bombs had been dropped in the path of the Royal Navy destroyer Defender.
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Ambassador Deborah Bronnert to deliver a “tough demarche” — diplomatic jargon for a telling off — and spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused London of “barefaced lies”.
Background
- The Black Sea, which Russia uses to project its power in the Mediterranean, has for centuries been a flashpoint between Russia and its competitors such as Turkey, France, U.S. and the U.K.
- Russia seized and annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and considers areas around its coast to be Russian waters.
- Western countries deem the Crimea to be part of Ukraine and reject Russia’s claim to the seas around it.
Ukrainian waters
- British Prime Minister said the warship was acting in accordance with the law and had been in international waters.
- He also disagreed with the suggestion that relations with Russia were at an historic low.
- Under international law of the sea, innocent passage permits a vessel to pass through another state’s territorial waters so long as this does not affect its security.
- During its 2008 war with Georgia, Russia bristled at U.S. warships operating in the Black Sea, and in April the U.S. cancelled the deployment of two warships to the area.
Black Sea
- The Black Sea is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia; east of the Balkans (Southeast Europe), south of the East European Plain in Eastern Europe, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia in Western Asia.
- The coastline of the Black Sea is only mildly indented, except for the north-western and northern shores, which are low and furrowed by numerous ravines, valleys, and rivers, the mouths of which are often impeded by sandy spits.
- The mountains of southern Crimea form the only precipitous cliff areas. In the east and south, the coasts are steep and mountainous.
- Spurs of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus ranges, separated by the Kolkhida lowland, confine the Black Sea in the east, while the Pontic Mountains run along the southern coast.
GS PAPER III
Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC)
Why in News
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued norms for NBFC dividend distribution to infuse greater transparency in the practice.
Key Points
- The norms will be effective for dividend declaration from the profit for the financial year ending March 31, 2022.
- One of the criteria is the net NPA ratio must be lower than 6% in each of the last three years.
- No specific ceiling on pay-out has been set for NBFCs not taking public funds and not having customer interface.
- The maximum pay-out ratio for core investment firms would be 60%, standalone primary dealers 60% and other NBFCs 50%.
Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC)
- A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares or, stocks or, bonds or, debentures or, securities issued by Government or local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance business, chit business.
- It does not include any institution whose principal business is that of agriculture activity, industrial activity, purchase or sale of any goods or providing any services and sale/purchase/construction of immovable property.
- A non-banking institution is a company that has principal business of receiving deposits under any scheme or arrangement in one lump sum or in instalments by way of contributions or in any other manner, is also a non-banking financial company.