Today  GK Snapshots on 1 April 2021

1. Covid vaccination for all above 45 years begins

2. China refutes WHO Director General’s assertion about lack of access and withholding data

3. Centre approves issuance of 16th tranche of electoral bonds

1. Covid vaccination for all above 45 years begins

The COVID-19 vaccination opens this morning for everyone aged above 45 years irrespective of comorbidity.

The cut-off date for the 45-plus years category is those persons born before 1st January 1977.

Experts have appealed citizens to get vaccinated. NITI Aayog Member and Chairman of National COVID-19 Task Force, Dr V K Paul has appealed to people above 45 years of age to get vaccinated without hesitation.

The Centre has asked the States and Union Territories to maintain vaccine wastage at less than one percent. The states have also been directed to ensure timely utilization of available stocks to avoid expiry of vaccines.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan yesterday held a review meeting with all States and Union Territories on the COVID-19 vaccination drive and preparations. The meeting focused on the identification of low vaccine coverage pockets particularly in districts showing COVID surge and for taking corrective actions there.

2.China refutes WHO Director General’s assertion about lack of access and withholding data

China on Wednesday refuted the assertions of WHO Director General Dr. Tedros that it did not provide necessary access to the team of international experts and withheld data from them.

China’s comments came a day after the release of the long-awaited study into the origins of Covid-19. The report, written after four weeks of investigative work in the mainland city of Wuhan, drew widespread criticism from countries including the US, which called it incomplete and overly controlled by China.

Following the publication of the much awaited joint study report into the origins of COVID-19 by China and the WHO on Tuesday, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said China had withheld data from the international investigators. WHO Director-General unexpectedly also critiqued the report, saying it had not sufficiently examined the controversial hypothesis that the virus could have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology where researchers have been studying different coronaviruses, including ones with similarities to SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19. He also called for further studies to unravel the origin of the virus.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson also refuted a joint statement made by the United States and 13 other countries expressing "concerns" over the WHO report on the origins of COVID-19. A top Chinese medical expert Liang Wannian, who was co-leader of the joint study, told reporters that researchers from both sides had access to the same data throughout the investigation and that the assertions about lack of access were not accurate.

The search for the origins of the virus has become a diplomatic tussle. The U.S. and other Western nations have repeatedly raised questions about delays, transparency and data access, while China has promoted theories that suggest the virus may have come from elsewhere.

Chinese health officials also pushed to expand the search for the origins of the coronavirus beyond China. The WHO report concluded that the virus or a progenitor of it was most likely carried by a bat, which infected another animal that infected a human. Researchers have not been able to trace the bat or the intermediate animal yet, but suspicion has fallen on bat habitats in southwest China or nearby Southeast Asia.

3. Centre approves issuance of 16th tranche of electoral bonds

Amid the ongoing Assembly elections in four states and a Union territory, the Ministry of Finance has informed that the issuance of the 16th tranche of electoral bonds will be open for sale from April 1 to 10.

Electoral bonds have been pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency in political funding.

Only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act and which secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last General Election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly of the State, will be eligible to receive the electoral bonds.

Important GK 

NITI Aayog releases report titled ‘Investment Opportunities in India’s Healthcare Sector’

On March 31, 2021, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) Member Dr VK Paul, CEO Amitabh Kant, and Additional Secretary Dr Rakesh Sarwal released a report titled ‘Investment Opportunities in India’s Healthcare Sector’. The report highlights the range of investment opportunities in different segments of India’s Healthcare sector.

i.As per the report,

• Investments in the Healthcare sector are expected to reach USD 372 Billion in 2022.

• The FDI inflows in the sector increased from USD 94 million in 2011 to USD 1, 275 million in 2016 (a jump of over 13.5 times).

• The sector has been growing at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 22% since 2016, providing direct employment to around 4.7 Million People.

• It has the potential to generate 2.7 Million additional jobs in India between 2017-22 (over 500, 000 new jobs per year).

• At this rate, Healthcare is set to become one of the largest sectors of the Indian economy in terms of both revenue & employment.

ii.The report states that expansion of Private players to Tier 2 & Tier 3 locations will offer attractive investment opportunities.

iii.The report provides insights regarding employment generation potential, prevailing business, investment climate & an overarching policy landscape.

iv. Hospital industry in India accounts for 80 per cent of the total healthcare market, the report said. The hospital industry was valued at USD 61.79 billion in 2016-17 and is expected to reach USD 132 billion by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 16 per cent-17 per cent.

v.There are seven key segments they are, hospitals and infrastructure, health insurance, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, medical devices, medical tourism, home healthcare as well as telemedicine and other technology-related health services.

Factors driving growth of Indian Healthcare sector

The report has listed several factors behind the growth of the Indian Healthcare sector. They are Aging population, growing middle class, rising proportion of lifestyle diseases, emphasis on public-private partnerships & increased adoption of digital technologies, increased FDI inflows over the last two decades.

Support of Central Government

It also highlights the steps taken by Government of India to boost the investment opportunities.

• ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’ package which has short-term & longer-term measures for growth of health care system.

• Introduction of Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for boosting domestic manufacturing of pharmaceutical and medical devices.

• COVID-19 has presented an opportunity for the expansion of the telemedicine & home healthcare market in India.

• India is also working towards becoming the global hub for spiritual & wellness tourism.

Union Budget Allocation:

i.The government’s plans to increase budgetary allocation for public health spending to 2.5% of the country’s GDP by 2025 will benefit the hospital sector as well.

About NITI Aayog:

Chairperson – Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) CEO – Amitabh Kant Headquarters – New Delhi

Indo-US Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘VAJRA PRAHAR 2021’ conducted at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh

The 11th Edition of the India-US Special Forces Exercise ‘Vajra Prahar 2021’ was conducted at Special Forces Training School at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh in March, 2021.

• The main objective of the exercise is to enhance interoperability between the Special Forces of the two countries.

• Vajra Prahar is conducted alternatively between India & US to share best practices & experiences in areas like Joint Mission Planning & Operational Tactics.

• The navies of India & United States conducted a 2-day Passage Exercise ‘PASSEX’ in Bay of Bengal (Eastern Indian Ocean Region) from March 28-29, 2021.

Importance of Bilateral Defence Exercises

• Bilateral Military Exercises & Defence Exchanges are vital part of deepening bilateral defence cooperation between friendly countries.

• During these exercises, the participating armies jointly train, plan and execute a series of operations for neutralisation of threats with a common aim of countering threats of international terrorism.

About United States (US):

President– Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. Capital– Washington, D.C. Currency– United States Dollar

About Indian Special Forces

3 Branches of the Indian Armed Forces have separate special forces units Para SF – Indian Army; MARCOS – Indian Navy; Garud Commando Force of the Indian Air Force

India, Japan sign 4 Pacts to support Healthcare projects under GGP Scheme

On March 30, 2021, India & Japan signed 4 Agreements worth ~ 29.30 Million Yen (~ INR 1.93 Crores/~ USD 265,000). Under these agreements, Japan will support Healthcare projects funded under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) scheme in India.

• The 4 grants are expected to improve the lives of people in the project areas, and further strengthen the friendly relationship and cooperation between Japan and India.

• India is one of the largest recipients of Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) besides Bangladesh & Vietnam in Asia.
 

Signatories

The Agreement was signed between Mr. Satoshi Suzuki, Ambassador of Japan to India & representatives of the respective recipient organizations.

Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) scheme

• It was introduced in 1989 by the Japanese government to provide financial assistance for development projects (projects designed to meet the basic human needs of people) in around 100 developing countries.

• GGP provides support to small-scale projects implemented by Non-Profit organizations (NGOs, Educational & Medical Institutions) through Japanese diplomatic missions in developing countries.

• For an organization to receive funds under GGP, it should be registered under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976.

• The maximum amount per project under GGP Scheme is 10 Million Japanese Yen (Loan amount is disbursed in US Dollars).

Japanese ODA:

• Most Japanese ODA are channeled as loans for Infrastructure projects, the loans have long grace periods and low-interest rates.

• Japan’s ODA for India is seen as one of the important tools to strengthen Japan-India relations set forth by ‘Japan-India Strategic and Global Partnership’.

About Japan:

Capital– Tokyo Currency– Japanese yen Prime Minister– Yoshihide Suga

Indian Navy’s INAS 310 celebrates Diamond Jubilee

Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 310, popularly known as the ‘Cobras’ celebrated its Diamond Jubilee on 21st March 2021. The air squadron was commissioned in 1961 in France. It has been continuously serving Indian Navy from INS Hansa for the last 60 years. INAS 310, equipped with Surveillance & Electronic Warfare equipment continuously monitors Indian Coastline.

• INAS 310 has participated in Operation Vijay (1961), Indo-Pakistani War (1965), Indo-Pakistani War (1971), Operation Pawan (1987), Kargil War (1999) and Operation Parakram (2001-02).

MEA’s Think Tank ‘India Centre for Migration (ICM)’ celebrates Foundation Day on March 27

India Centre for Migration (ICM), a Think-Tank set up by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) celebrated its foundation day on March 27, as part of India@75 celebrations. An event was held to celebrate the foundation day of ICM. During the event 2 Knowledge products were launched. They are

• A Report on ‘The Impact of COVID-19 on India’s International Migration’

• Report on ‘Student Handbook for Studying Abroad’

i.It aims to create awareness regarding mobility of Indian workforce as well as the student community aspiring for opportunities abroad.

ii.The foundation day celebrations are part of India@75 celebrations

Background

• It was established in 2008 by the Government of India to serve as a think tank on all matters relating to International Migration.

• Previously known as Council for Promotion of Overseas Employment, it was renamed as ‘India Centre for Migration (ICM)’ in 2012.

• It is engaged in capacity building, training and awareness generation programmes on International migration.

• It has also contributed to identification of emerging sectors & destinations for employment opportunities for potential Indian migrant workers going abroad.

About India Centre for Migration (ICM): Chairman – Sh.Sanjay Bhattacharyya Head Office – New Delhi

Facebook & Google to set-up Underground Cables to connect USA with Southeast Asia

Facebook has partnered with Google & other regional telecom companies to connect the United States of America with Southeast Asian countries through undersea cables. These underground cables will improve internet connectivity in Singapore, Indonesia.

• At the initial stage, 2 undersea cables: Echo and Bifrost, will be connecting the US with Indonesia through a diverse sea route across the Java Sea in the Trans-pacific region.

Note- Facebook deploys 3000 Kms of fibre in Indonesia to develop public Wi-Fi hot spots. “Echo” – Constructed by Facebook in partnership with Google & XL Axiata, an Indonesian telecom company. It is expected to get completed by 2023. “Bifrost”- Constructed by Facebook in partnership with Indonesia’s Telin & Singapore’s Keppel. It is expected to get completed by 2024.

Reason for implementing Cable:

73% of Indonesia’s population of 270 million are online, the majority access the web through mobile data, with less than 10 percent using a broadband connection, according to a 2020 survey by the Indonesian Internet Providers Association.

Previous efforts

The Pacific Light Cable Network (PLCN) – funded by Facebook and Alphabet, Google’s parent company – was originally intended to link the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines. These plans were withdrawn last year following national security concerns raised by the Trump administration.

About Facebook: With over 320 million users, India is the largest market in the world for Facebook. Founder & CEO- Mark Zuckerberg Established- 2004 Headquarters- California, United States

NPCI set 30% market cap on UPI Transactions for TPAPs with Exemptions

National Payments Corporation of India(NPCI) has framed a new rule that limit digital payment apps’ share in the overall volume of transactions on the unified payment interface (UPI) at 30 per cent in a bid to end the monopoly of Big Tech firms on the growing payments market in India. Key points:

• The limit of 30% will be calculated based on the total volume of transactions processed on UPI by the payment apps during the preceding three months.

• Players are given the time limit until December 2023 to comply with the market cap norms on UPI.

• After January 2023 in the case of non-compliance, the regulator could prevent the player from onboarding new users.

• Phone Pe and Google Pay accounted for 80% of overall transactions in the month of December 2020.

Guidelines of NPCI:

• The NPCI will send three alerts to the Third-Party Applications (TPAPs) and their partner banks when they hit a 30% cap

• First Alert: It is through an email or a letter to a TPAP and its partner banks, after their market share, in terms of total UPI transactions, hits the 25-27% Players will have to acknowledge this alert from NPCI.

• Second alert: This alert will be sent by the retail payments organization once a player hits 27-30% of the total market share, the entity have to provide evidence to NPCI of the actions undertaken to comply with the market volume cap.

• Third alert:On crossing the 30% mark, third-party apps and their partner banks will have to stop onboarding new users with immediate effect.

Exemptions:

• TPAs will get exemption for 6 months on a “case-to-case basis” so as to not disrupt the user experience and they have to submit a plan on how they look to correct the market cap breach.

• The plan should reach NPCI in 5 working days from the date of communication regarding the breach, the retail payments organization.

Top 5 Apps as on Feb 2021,

1. Phone Pe – 42.55% (975.53 million Transaction)

2. Google Pay – 36.11% (827.86 million Transaction)

3. Paytm Payments Bank App – 14.86% (340.71 million Transaction)

4. Axis Banks App – 2.82%(64.74 million Transaction)

5. Amazon Pay App – 1.93% (44.22 million Transaction)

6. Others – 1.73%

Both Phone Pe & Google Pay will have to take measures to decrease this market share within the next two years.

About National Payments Corporation Limited (NPCI): MD & CEO – Dilip Asbe Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

UN-ESCAP Forecasted India’s GDP growth to 7% in FY22 and Contraction of 7.7% in FY21

On March 30, 2021, The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) reported the survey on economic growth over Asia and the pacific region the report titled “Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021:Towards post-COVID-19 resilient economies”

Key points about the report by ESCAP:

• The report has forecasted the Indian economy to grow at 7% in FY22 against a contraction of 7.7%(-7.7%) in FY21.

• It reported a “K-shaped recovery” in the economics of the Asia Pacific region, including India.

• On average, the Asia-Pacific region’s developing economies are expected to grow 5.9% in 2021 and 5% in 2022, with a contraction of 1%(-1%) in 2020.

• China became the only major economy (worldwide) to achieve a positive annual economic growth rate in 2020.

ESCAP’s Report on Indian Economy:

• Despite a strong reduction in COVID-19 cases and vaccine rollout, ESCAP forecasted India’s 2021 economic output to remain below the 2019 level.

• It estimated a zero year-on-year growth with a moderate recovery in the fourth quarter of FY21.

• It mentioned the challenge that India could face i.e. The difficulty in maintaining low borrowing costs meanwhile keeping the non-performing loans under check.

• In its second advance estimates of national accounts, the National Statistical Office (NSO) has projected an 8 per cent contraction in 2020-21.

Economic report for Asia-Pacific regions:

• China: The report mentioned China to be the only major economy worldwide to achieve a positive annual economic growth rate in 2020 with a 6.5% year-on-year growth rate.

• ESCAP estimated that additional 89 million people in the Asia-pacific region could have been pushed back into extreme poverty at the $1.90 per day threshold.

Note – The international poverty line is $1.90 per day; it is the threshold that determines whether someone is living in poverty.

About the K-shaped recovery:

• ESCAP reported that the Asia Pacific region, including India, is observing a “K-shaped recovery” of their economies due to COVID-19.

 “K-shaped recovery”- It is one of the types of recovery after a recession in which different sectors and economic groups of an economy recover at different speeds, with the most vulnerable sections severely impacted, taking longer to come out from the jolt of the pandemic-induced recession.

About The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP)

Establishment – 1947 as the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) Executive Secretary

– Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Headquarters – Bangkok, Thailand

Noted Marathi Writer Dr Sharankumar Limbale To Receive Saraswati Samman 2020

KK Birla Foundation has selected well known Marathi writer Dr. Sharankumar Limbale, as the recipient of Saraswati Samman 2020 for his 2018 Marathi novel titled “Sanatan”. The Saraswati Samman 2020 marks the 30th Saraswati Samman. The book – Sanatan, features the story of socio-cultural struggles of the untouchables.

About Saraswati Samman:

i.The Saraswati Samman is an annual award instituted by KK Birla Foundation in 1991.
ii.It is one of the highest literary awards in India.
iii.The award includes a citation, a plaque and a cash award of Rs.15 lakh.
iv.The winner of the award is selected from the outstanding works from 22 Indian languages.

About Dr. Sharankumar Limbale:
i.Dr. Sharankumar Limbale hails from Solapur, Maharashtra. ii.He was the retired professor and director of Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik, Maharashtra. iii.He has authored around 40 books of novels, poetry, stories and criticism.

International Transgender Day of Visibility 2021 – March 31

International Transgender Day of Visibility is annually observed across the globe on 31st March to celebrate the lives of Transgender people and to educate the general public about the history of Transgender.

Aim:

The day aims to create awareness about the discrimination and violence faced by the trans people.

Background:

i.The International Transgender Day of Visibility was founded by Rachel Crandall, the US Based transgender activist in 2009.

ii.The first International Transgender Day of Visibility was held on 31st March 2009.

Note:

The day focuses on trans people and the allies of the trans community who reach out to trans people.

Events:

i.The National Center for Transgender Equality, the largest non-profit group advocating for trans right, hosted an online award ceremony to honour the trans leaders.

ii.The Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs hosted a trans flag raising on 31st March.

Discrimination against Trans community:

i.The trans community women of colour faces various forms of discrimination including transphobia, racism, classism, misogyny and misogynoir.

ii.Due to discrimination against trans community, around 20% of trans people engage in underground economy.

India’s efforts to support Trans:

i.The Governemnt of India has constituted the India’s first 30 member National Council for Transgender Persons to advice, monitor and evaluate measures to protect the people of Trans community.

ii.In November 2020, The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched the “National Portal for Transgender Persons” and inaugurated the Garima Greh: A Shelter Home for Transgender Person in Vadora, Gujarat.

iii.The Cyberabad Police launched India’s first transgender Community Desk at Gachibowli Police station in Hyderabad, Telangana. This is the first ever gender inclusive community policing initiative of India.

TRIFED signed MoU with Dadra &Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu Administration to Implement MSP for MFP & Van Dhan Yojana

On 5th March 2021, Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs(MoTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the administration of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu for the implementation of Minimum Support Price(MSP) for Minor Forest Produce(MFP) scheme and Van Dhan Yojana(VDY).

Implementation agency:

Dadra Nagar Haveli Daman & Diu Schedule Caste & Scheduled Tribes Other Backward Classes & Minorities Financial Development Corporation.

Features of MoU:

i.Under this MoU, the Mechanism for MFP through MSP and Development of Value Chain for MFP will be implemented in the Union Territory(UT).

ii.It is planned to establish 1 Van Dhan Vikas Kendra in the UT.

About MSP for MFP:

MSP for MFP is a flagship scheme of the MoTA.

Aim:

To provide remunerative and fair prices to tribal gathers of forest products.

Points to note:

The scheme has injected 3000 crores into the tribal economy.

About Van Dhan Yojana(VDY):

Van Dhan Yojana is a programme for value addition, branding and marketing the MFPs by establishing Van Dhan Kendras to support the sustainable livelihoods for the forest based tribes is a component of the same scheme.

About Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED):

Managing Director– Pravir Krishna Established in 1987 Headquarters– New Delhi

Arunachal Pradesh gets first formal indigenous knowledge system school ’Nyubu Nyvgam Yerko’

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu along with Union MoS for Sports & Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju has inaugurated the state’s first formal indigenous language and knowledge system school called ‘Nyubu Nyvgam Yerko‘at Rang Village, Seppa in East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.

• It literally means ‘Nyubu’ (priest), ‘Nyvgam’ (person having wisdom and knowledge) and ‘Yerko’ (learning institution).

• The school will help in promoting and preserving indigenous traditions, culture and language.