Daily Current Affairs for 27th August 2021

GS PAPER II

Malabar Exercise of Quad nations

Why in News

The navies of India, United States, Japan and Australia kicked off the 25^th edition of the Malabar naval drills off the coast of the Pacific island Guam.

Malabar Exercise

• Malabar, which began as a bilateral exercise, is now one of the cornerstones of military interoperability of the Quad forces.
• Malabar is a multilateral war-gaming naval exercise that was begun in 1992.
• Initially, it was a bilateral exercise between the navies of India and the United States. Two more editions of the exercise were carried out in 1995 and 1996, after which there was a break until 2002 in the aftermath of India’s nuclear tests.
• From 2002 onward, the exercise has been conducted every year. Japan and Australia first participated in 2007, and since 2014, India, the US and Japan have participated in the exercise every year.
• In 2021, Malabar will witness “complex exercises including anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine warfare drills, and other manoeuvres and tactical exercises”.
• Such complex exercises have further enhanced synergy and mutual understanding among the four navies in undertaking joint maritime security operations, and will go a long way in further strengthening their already close strategic partnership.
• The exercise will strengthen the coordination between the navies of the participating countries.

Geographic Location of Malabar

Importance of participation of Australia

• As a grouping of four powerful navies in the Indo-Pacific region, the Quad has irked China, which is flexing its military power globally.
• Earlier, it was due to the possibility of riling China that India had not expanded Malabar and, to an extent that’s why Australia had pulled out after 2007.
• But with China’s relations vexed with all four participating nations, and with an ongoing military standoff in eastern Ladakh for more than 15 months, the Malabar sends a strong message.

Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)

• The ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’, is a strategic forum between the four nations for exchanging strategic intelligence and conducting joint military exercises.
• Quad meetings have semi-regularly happened only at the foreign ministers’ level.
• The dialogue was initiated in 2007 by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, with the support of Vice President Dick Cheney of the US, Prime Minister John Howard of Australia and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India.
• It is the group of the India-United States-Japan -Australia.
• During the 2017 ASEAN Summits in Manila, all four former members were agreed to revive the quadrilateral alliance in order to counter China militarily and diplomatically in the South China Sea.
• The grouping was conceived as a space to cooperate for safeguarding joint security and other interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
• In a 2021 “The Spirit of the Quad,” Quad members described “a shared vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” and “rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas,” which Quad members are needed to counter Chinese maritime claims.

GS PAPER III

Global Manufacturing Risk Index

Why in News

India placed at the second position globally in the list of ‘Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2021’ and China retains at the first position.

Key Points

• 
• According to the Cushman & Wakefield 2021 Global Manufacturing Risk Index, India has emerged as the 2^nd most attractive and sought-after manufacturing destination globally, stated.
• The Index assesses the most preferred locations for global manufacturing among 47 countries in Europe, the American, and Asia Pacific region.
• China retained at the top position while India and the US ranked second and third respectively.
• In 2020 report, the US ranked second while India was third.
• COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the manufacturing sector in the countries across the Asia Pacific region over the past 18 months resulting in total industrial output falling by approximately 7 per cent in the first half of 2020 before bouncing back.
• The largest manufacturing hubs in Asia-Pacific have recovered due to the country’s ability to restart its manufacturing sector.
• Countries like China and India who have ranked first and second respectively on the Index have demonstrated economic conditions and infrastructure supportive of a faster recovery.

Global Manufacturing Risk Index

• Cushman & Wakefield 2021 Global Manufacturing Risk Index assesses the most preferred locations for global manufacturing among 47 countries in Europe, the American, and Asia Pacific region.
• The Index offers clients and manufacturers key information and statistical data to make optimal location decisions.
• There are four parameters to measure the Manufacturing risk in nation:
• Ability of country to restart its manufacturing sector;
• Business environment;
• Operating costs; and
• Economic, environmental, and political risks.

Manufacturing Sector of India

• In World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Ranking 2020, India jumped 79 positions from 142^nd in 2014 to rank 63^rd in 2019 among 190 countries.
• With the improvement in the rank of Ease of Doing Business in India, growth and demand potential, subsidies and incentive schemes, industry-specific policies, supportive infrastructure, FDI relaxations, availability of skilled labour, strong macro-economic fundamentals have been fuelling the growth of India’s manufacturing sector.
• The Indian government implemented various ambitious initiatives to bring in reforms to boost the manufacturing sector such as:
• Tax Reforms: Reducing corporate tax from 30 per cent to 22 per cent for existing manufacturing companies and from 25 per cent to 15 per cent for new manufacturing companies, and scrapping the Dividend Distribution Tax since April 2020.
• Government schemes: Skill India, make in India, National Infrastructure (NIP), Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises, ASPIRE, PM Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Atmanirbhar Bharat program, Industrial corridors that aid in creating a favourable growth ecosystem to emerge as a trusted supply chain partner and preferred manufacturing hub.
• Schemes to strengthen the manufacturing industry such as Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI), Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS), Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0).
• The Indian government is also looking into investor-friendly land reforms to boost the manufacturing sector thus encouraging foreign companies to relocate their manufacturing centres to India.
• As per the Index report, manufacturers in India could benefit by relocating activities from China to other parts of Asia.
• However, further reforms to both land and labour laws are critical to maintaining India’s success as a global manufacturing hub.

GS PAPER III

SAMRIDH Scheme

Why in News

Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information and Technology (MeitY) launched the ‘Start-up Accelerators MeitY for Product Innovation, Development, and Growth (SAMRIDH)’ scheme.

Start-up Accelerators MeitY for Product Innovation, Development, and Growth (SAMRIDH)

• Objective of the SAMRIDH scheme is to boost the start-up ecosystem in India and aid in creating a conducive platform for Indian Software Product start-ups to secure investments for scaling their products and business.
• The MeitY Start-up Hub (MSH) is implementing the SAMRIDH scheme.
• It will pick those start-ups in India that all set for the acceleration stage.
• This scheme will offer financial assistance, mentorship, and other required support to the selected start-ups at this stage.
• Initially it will aid in accelerating 300 start-ups by offering customer connect, international expansion opportunities, and investor connects in the next 3 years.
• It offers to start-ups:
• An investment of up to Rs 40 lakh to the start-up based on current valuation,
• Provide growth state of the start-up through selected accelerators,
• Facilitate equal matching investment by the accelerator/investor.

Significance of SAMRIDH

• The scheme will provide financial support to the start-ups and improving the level of skill sets required to be successful.
• Leveraging the potential of start-ups and schemes such as SAMRIDH will help in realizing the vision of better life and inclusive development across the country.
• The scheme will further accelerate the growth of the start-up ecosystem in India.

GS PAPER III

Drone Rules 2021

Why in News

The central government has passed the New Drone Rules 2021, which is much more liberalised regime for unmanned aircraft systems than earlier.

Key points

• The New Drone Rules 2021 which will replace the Unmanned Aircraft System Rules 2021.

Drone Rules 2021 in India

• 
• The relaxation in New Drone Rules stipulates, no security clearance will now be required before any registration or license issuance for the operation of drones.
• As per the new Drone rules, the fees for the permissions to operate drones in the country have been reduced to nominal levels.
• Drone corridors will be developed for cargo deliveries.
• The coverage of drones under Drone Rules 2021 has been increased from 300 kilograms to 500 kilograms in order to include heavy payload-carrying drones and drone taxis.
• Some of the approvals that are abolished under the new Drone Rules 2021 include a unique authorization number, certificate of conformance, unique prototype identification number, operator permits, certificate of maintenance, remote pilot instructor authorization, and authorization of research and development organization.
• The maximum penalty under the Drone Rules 2021 has been reduced to Rs. 1 lakh. It will, however, will not apply to the penalties in respect of violation of other laws.
• The interactive airspace map with green, red, and yellow zones will be displayed on the digital sky platform. The yellow zone, under new rules, has been reduced from 45 km to 12 km from the airport perimeter. No permission will be required for operating a drone in the green zone and up to 200 feet in the area between 8 and 12 km from the airport perimeter.
• Online registration of all the drones will happen through the Digital Sky Platform. The easy process has also been prescribed for the transfer and de-registration of drones.
• Under new rules, an opportunity for the regularization of existing drones in India has now been introduced. No pilot license will now be required for operating nano-drones and micro-drones for non-commercial use.
• Safety measures such as ‘No permission- no take-off’, geo-fencing, real-time tracking beacon, etc. to be notified in the future. Under new rules, a minimum of six months’ time will be provided for compliance.
• All drone training and examination will be carried out by an authorized drone school. Directorate General of Civil Aviation will prescribe training requirements, provide pilot license online and oversee drone schools.
• The import of drones will be regulated by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

Significance of New Drone Rules 2021

• The Drone Rules, 2021, will facilitate investments in drone technology in India and will aid in simplifying the process of registration.
• The abolishment of restrictive practices and stringent license regime under the new Drone Rules by the government will offer flexibility to players in the sectors.
• An airspace map on the digital sky platform will provide access to real-time updates for drone operation in India in various zones.

GS PAPER III

Greater Male Connectivity Project

Why in News

Recently, India and Maldives signed a pact for the largest-ever infrastructure project, Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP).

Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP)

• 
• The project will be funded under the Indian Grant and Line of Credit.
• A contract for the same was signed between AFCONS (Mumbai-based construction and engineering company) and the Maldives government.
• Greater Male Connectivity Project will involve the construction of a 6.74 km long bridge and causeway link that will connect capital Male with the adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.
• Greater Malé Connectivity Project will comprise three navigation bridges of 140 m main span across the deep channel between each island:
• 1.41 km of the marine viaduct in deep water
• 2.32 km marine viaduct in shallow water or on land
• 2.96 km of at-grade roads.
• The project will use solar power for lighting purposes in a push for use of renewable energy.

Significance

• The Greater Malé Connectivity Project (GMCP) is one of India’s biggest new development projects in the Maldives.
• It is also the biggest infrastructure project in the Maldives overall.
• The project is being considered as the economic lifeline for the people of Maldives and is expected to provide a major boost to the Maldivian economy.