Recently, the Cabinet Committee has approved the proposal of Department of Rural Development for revision of cost of SECC 2011.
Earlier, Below Poverty Line (BPL) list was prepared by States/UTs for identifying beneficiaries for various poverty alleviation and development schemes.
Later in 2011, Socio Economic and Caste Census were launched to avoid exclusion and inclusion errors in receiving benefits from the Government.
SECC 2011 elicited information on identified parameters from each household for identification of deprivation and multi-dimensionality of poverty.
The Ministry of Rural Development provided financial and technical support to the States/UTs for conducting Socio Economic and Caste Census-2011.
The advantage of SECC is that it provides for programme specific customized priority list to suit programme objective and budget space to address specific deprivation.
It has generated customized priority list for Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojna-Gramin (PMAY-G) and Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)
CAC is International food standards setting body.
It facilitates evolving a common standardization process for global trade and availability.
Codex Alimentarius (Food code) is a collection of internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines, and other recommendations relating to foods, food production, and food safety.
CAC has recently adopted three Codex standards for black, white and green pepper, cumin and thyme owing to India’s efforts to benchmark global spices trade.
With this adoption of codex standards, spices have been included for the first time as commodities that will have such universal standards.
It will benefit the trade from universal agreement to identify good quality spices.
Bilateral Investment Treaty
A bilateral investment treaty (BIT) is an agreement establishing the terms and conditions for private investment by nationals and companies of one state in another state.
The existing BIT’s are negotiated based on the Model BIT text adopted in 1993 and amended in 2003.
The process of reviewing and revising the existing BITs was started in 2015 and the negotiations on revised Model BITs are being carried out with USA, Russia and EU.
BIT includes fair and equitable treatment, protection from expropriation, free transfer of means and full protection and security.
BITs are established through trade pacts and they allow for an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, through an Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).
BITs help to project India as an attractive Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) destination, as well as protect outbound Indian FDI.
It boosts the confidence of investors by assuring a minimum standard of treatment and non-discrimination.
Learn and Earn Scheme
Seekho aur Kamao (Learn and Earn) is a central sector scheme implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
It aims to provide placement linked skill training to youths from minority communities.
It is implemented across the country by through selected Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs).
Air Freight Corridor
Recently, Air freight corridor was established between India and Afghanistan.
The connectivity established through the Air Freight Corridor will promote bilateral trade and provide Afghanistan, a landlocked country, direct access to India.
The cargo flight enables Afghan farmers quick and direct access to the Indian markets for their perishable produce.
Lingayats
Lingayats popularly known as “Veerashaivas” in the State of Karnataka are demanding a separate religion.
Lingayatism is a distinct shaivite religious tradition, founded by Basavanna.
Basavanna was a 12th-century social reformer, Kannada poet, philosopher, statesman who served as the chief minister of Kalachuri dynasty ruled by King Bijjala.
Lingyatism emphasizes on monism and bhakti (loving devotion) to Shiva.
It is spread by the followers of Basavanna, known as “Sharanas”.
Now, there is a division on whether the religion should be called “Lingayata Dharma” or “Veerashaiva Dharma” or “Veerashaiva/Lingayata Dharma”.
Kovvada
Kovvada is a new nuclear plant to be set up in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
It is a proposed light water nuclear water reactor in Srikakulam District.
Recently, Land acquired for the construction of nuclear power plant was handed over to Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
