In News:

Indo-Oman bilateral naval exercise Naseem-Al-Bahr was held in Goa from October 2024.

Naseem-Al-Bahr Exercise Overview

• Indian and Omani Participants:
  • Indian Navy: INS Trikand (warship) and Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
  • Royal Navy of Oman: Vessel Al Seeb.

• Initiation: Launched in 1993, marking a long-standing strategic partnership between India and Oman.
• Structure: The exercise is conducted in two phases:
  • Harbour Phase:
    • Professional Interactions: Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE), planning conferences.
    • Social & Sports Engagements: Informal activities to foster mutual understanding.
  • Sea Phase:
    • Naval Operations:
      • Gun firings at surface inflatable targets.
      • Close-range anti-aircraft firings.
      • Replenishment at Sea Approaches (RASAPS).
    • Helicopter Operations: INS Trikand’s helicopter performed cross-deck landings and Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) with RNOV Al Seeb.
    • Aircraft Support: Dornier aircraft provided Over-the-Horizon Targeting (OTHT) data to enhance operational coordination.

Key Highlights of the 2024 Exercise

• Interoperability: The exercise focused on improving operational coordination and enhancing mutual understanding of naval practices.
• Cohesion: The Indian Navy Sea Riders embarked on RNOV Al Seeb to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

Strategic Significance

• Strengthening Ties: Naseem-Al-Bahr reaffirms the strong strategic relationship between India and Oman.
• Regional Collaboration: This exercise exemplifies India's growing collaboration with like-minded nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Broader Defence Relations:
  • Oman is the first GCC country to conduct such bilateral naval exercises with India.
  • Both countries also engage in other defence exercises:
    • Army: Al Najah.
    • Air Force: Eastern Bridge.

Trade Relations Between India and Oman (2022):

• Oil: India is the second-largest market for Oman's crude oil exports, following China.
• Non-oil Exports: India is Oman's fourth-largest market for non-oil exports, after UAE, US, and Saudi Arabia.
• Imports: India is the second-largest source of Oman's imports, following the UAE.
• Ongoing Trade Agreement: Both nations are currently negotiating a trade agreement to further boost bilateral economic cooperation.

In News:

Recently, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) inaugurated the third Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum.

Purpose and Goals

• Objective: To accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems to address global challenges:
  • Eradicate poverty (SDG 1)
  • End hunger and malnutrition (SDG 2)
  • Reduce inequalities (SDG 10)
• Target: Focuses on improving the lives of poor and vulnerable populations by:
  • Raising incomes
  • Enhancing nutritional status and overall well-being
  • Strengthening resilience to climate change

Key Features of the HIH Initiative

• Launched: 2019 as a flagship program by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
• Primary Focus Areas:
  • Geospatial and analytics-driven approach: Utilizes advanced geospatial modeling, biophysical, socio-economic data, and analytics to identify key territories for intervention.
  • Market-based transformation: Aims to create sustainable, market-based solutions for agricultural development and food systems transformation.
  • Value Chain Development: Focus on developing value chains for priority commodities to boost incomes and food security.
  • Agro-Industry Building: Strengthening agro-industries and introducing efficient water management and precision agriculture systems.
  • Digitalization: Introducing digital services for better agricultural planning and productivity.

Key Areas of Intervention

• Agricultural Transformation: Identifying territories with the highest potential for transformation.
• Sustainable Management: Focus on sustainable practices in forestry, fisheries, and land management.
• Climate Resilience: Building systems to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce vulnerability.
• Food Loss Reduction: Addressing food losses and waste across agricultural value chains.

Global Participation

• Member Countries: 72 countries have joined the initiative, collaborating on shared goals for agrifood systems transformation.

The Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum

• Purpose: A platform to mobilize investments for the successful implementation of agrifood transformation programs under the HIH initiative.
• Event: The third Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum was recently opened by the FAO Director-General to discuss challenges and solutions for global agrifood system transformation.

About the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

• Established: October 1945, it is the oldest permanent specialized agency of the United Nations.
• Mandate:
  • Improve nutrition.
  • Increase agricultural productivity.
  • Raise the standard of living in rural areas.
  • Contribute to global economic growth.
• Headquarters: Rome, Italy.
• Members: 194 Member States and the European Union.

Key Role of FAO:

• FAO leads international efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition worldwide.
• Supports member countries in implementing agricultural and food security programs.

Strategic Importance

• The Hand-in-Hand Initiative is integral to FAO’s mandate, focusing on countries with the most pressing needs due to poverty, hunger, or crises (natural or man-made).
• It enhances cooperation among nations to tackle global food security challenges, with a particular emphasis on countries with limited national capacities.

In News:

The Prime Minister of India is set to announce the 18th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme in Washim, Maharashtra. This will benefit over 9.4 crore farmers nationwide, with the government allocating more than ?20,000 crore for this initiative.

About PM-KISAN

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is a Central Sector Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) initiative aimed at providing income support to farmers.

Key Features:

• Financial Assistance: The scheme offers ?6,000 annually to small and marginal farmer families, distributed in three equal installments.
• Eligibility: Initially targeted at families with up to 2 hectares of cultivable land, the scope was later broadened to include all farmer families, regardless of land size.
• Family Definition: The definition of a family under this scheme includes the husband, wife, and minor children.
• Identification of Beneficiaries: State governments and Union Territory administrations are responsible for identifying eligible farmer families based on the scheme's guidelines.
• Direct Transfers: The funds are directly credited to the beneficiaries' bank accounts.

Exclusion Criteria

Certain categories of individuals are not eligible for benefits under the PM-KISAN scheme, including:

• Institutional Land-holders: Those who hold land under institutional ownership.
• High-Profile Government Officials: This includes former and current holders of constitutional posts, ministers, members of legislative assemblies, mayors, and district panchayat chairpersons.
• Government Employees: Serving or retired officers and employees of central or state government ministries and departments are excluded.
• Pensioners: Retired pensioners receiving a monthly pension of ?10,000 or more, as well as those in the previously mentioned categories, are also ineligible.
• Income Tax Filers: Individuals who have paid income tax in the last assessment year.
• Registered Professionals: Professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, chartered accountants, and architects who are engaged in practice and registered with professional bodies.

In News:

• The sixth Commercial Dialogue took place in Washington on October 4, 2024, led by Indian Union Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
• MoU Signing: A day prior, the leaders signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding and diversifying critical minerals supply chains to enhance resilience.
• Focus Areas:
  • Identification of equipment, services, policies, and best practices for the development of U.S. and Indian critical minerals, covering:
    • Exploration
    • Extraction
    • Processing and refining
    • Recycling and recovery
• Context: This agreement follows China's export restrictions on gallium and germanium, critical for the semiconductor industry, and its ban on technology related to rare earth magnets and critical materials extraction.
• Strategic Goals:
  • Promote open supply chains, technology development, and investment flows for green energy.
  • Explore collaboration with other mineral-rich countries, particularly in Africa and South America.
• Progress on Semiconductor Supply Chains:
  • Continued efforts to establish resilient semiconductor supply chains since the previous MoU.
  • Completion of a "readiness assessment" by the U.S. Semiconductor Industry Association and India Electronics Semiconductor Association.
  • Commitment to foster investments, joint ventures, and technology partnerships.
• Innovation Handshake: Success of roundtables in San Francisco and New Delhi aimed at enhancing innovation ecosystems and startup collaboration.
• Strategic Clean Energy Partnership: Discussions from the EIN Roundtable in March 2024 informed the U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership meeting.
• IPEF Supply Chain Agreement: Significant progress noted in the IPEF ministerial meeting, focusing on semiconductors, chemicals, and critical minerals, particularly batteries and healthcare products.
• Future Collaborations:
  • Focus on expanding U.S. Department of Commerce presence in India with approximately 70 Foreign Commercial Service staff.
  • Plans for a U.S. trade mission to India in March 2025 aimed at supporting U.S. SMEs owned by underserved communities.
• Domestic Solar Manufacturing Protection: India reinstated the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) order to protect local solar PV module production against cheaper imports from China.
• Economic Context:
  • The Economic Survey 2023-24 highlights China's expanding manufacturing trade surplus and its restrictive actions affecting India's access to solar equipment.
  • India’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have invested over $4.5 billion to bolster clean energy manufacturing but require additional policies to safeguard these investments.

In News:

The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme, announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her Budget speech on July 23, was launched on October 3. The PM Internship Scheme aims to provide internship opportunities to one crore youth in the top 500 companies over the next five years.

Companies will upload their internship positions, and candidates can submit applications starting October 12.

What is the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme?

The PM Internship Scheme will enhance youth employability in India by offering them hands-on exposure to real-world business environments. The scheme represents a transformative opportunity to bridge the skills gap and drive sustainable growth in India.

A monthly stipend of ?4,500 will be provided to the interns from the central government via DBT (Direct Benefit transfer), with an additional ?500 offset provided by the company’s CSR fund.

Who is eligible for the PM internship scheme?

• Candidates aged between 21 and 24 years who are not engaged in full-time employment are eligible for the one-year internship programme.
• Internships are available to those who have passed class 10 or higher.
• Individuals from families with government jobs are excluded
• The scheme is not open to post-graduates
• A candidate who graduated from premier institutes such as IIT, IIM, or IISER, and those who have CA, or CMA qualification would not be eligible to apply for this internship.
• Anyone from a household that includes a person who earned an income of ?8 lakh or more in 2023-24, will not be eligible.

How to apply for the PM internship scheme?

• Interns can register in the portal and apply for internships. The portal, pminternship.mca.gov.in, is likely to be opened up for youngsters to enroll for consideration by companies on October 12. This window will be open till October 25 for the first batch of internships. Candidates must share and self-certify some data about their educational qualifications and residential pin codes.
• Candidates’ data will be matched with companies’ needs and locations using Artificial Intelligence tools, and a shortlist of candidates will then be generated for companies to consider.
• The portal is designed to streamline the application process and make candidate selection more transparent. Applicants can check the status of their applications in the portal once they have applied to the available posts.

What is the benefit of the scheme?

The scheme is to provide on-job training to youth and an exposure to real-life work environment. The scheme will also benefit the industry by creating a pipeline of skilled, work-ready youth who can be employed post-internship both in large as well as micro, small and medium enterprise.

Overview

India’s mental healthcare landscape is evolving, with increasing awareness and decreasing stigma around mental health issues. However, access to mental healthcare remains a significant challenge due to a shortage of professionals. Here are the key points:

Current State of Mental Healthcare in India

1. Rising Demand: Shifts in societal attitudes have led to more individuals seeking mental health support. Awareness and willingness to access treatment have notably increased.
2. Professional Shortage: Despite the rising demand, there are only 0.75 psychiatrists per one lakh population, far below the World Health Organization’s recommendation of three per lakh. As of the latest data, India has about 9,000 psychiatrists, while an estimated 36,000 are needed to meet the standard.
3. Slow Workforce Growth: Approximately 1,000 psychiatrists enter the workforce annually, but with attrition and unemployment, it could take around 27 years to reach the WHO target without intervention.
4. Comparative Analysis: India has one of the lowest psychiatrist-to-population ratios among BRICS nations, trailing only Ethiopia. However, it performs better than many South Asian countries.

Limitations of Current Data

1. Outdated Survey: The data largely relies on the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) conducted between 2015 and 2016, which is based on a limited sample size of around 40,000 people across 12 states.
2. Narrow Focus: The NMHS primarily addressed specific mental illnesses and overlooked milder conditions, emotional issues, and vulnerable populations like prisoners and the homeless.
3. Need for Updated Research: A second NMHS is scheduled for release next year, which may provide more comprehensive data and insights.

Improvements in Awareness and Attitudes

1. Positive Attitudinal Shift: A study by the LiveLoveLaugh Foundation found significant improvements in how Indians perceive mental health. For instance, the percentage of people believing that individuals with mental illnesses can handle responsibilities rose from 32% in 2018 to 65% in 2021.
2. Willingness to Seek Help: Over 90% of respondents in 2021 indicated they would seek treatment for themselves or support others in doing so, a substantial increase from 54% in 2018.
3. Increased Awareness: Awareness of mental health issues has grown, with 96% of respondents in 2021 recognizing mental health compared to 87% in 2018.

Conclusion

While India is making strides in reducing stigma and increasing awareness around mental health, the critical shortage of mental health professionals poses a significant barrier to accessing timely care. Addressing this issue requires targeted policy interventions and incentives to boost the supply of mental health professionals and improve the overall infrastructure for mental healthcare in the country.

In News:

• GST compensation cess likely to continue beyond January 2026, with potential rebranding and new end-use defined.
• Revenue Collection: Estimated Rs 20,000 crore expected from the cess by February 2026, with recent receipts of Rs 12,068 crore in August 2024.
• Cess Nature: The compensation cess, originally intended for revenue shortfall, cannot merge with the 28% GST slab due to regulatory limitations.

Financial Context

• RBI Study Insights: Weighted average GST rate decreased from 14.4% at launch to 11.6%, now even below 11%, raising concerns among states.
• State Concerns: Many states, including Punjab and Kerala, seek a 2-5 year extension for the compensation period to stabilize finances.

Regulatory Framework

• Cess Legislation: GST Compensation Cess is governed by the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Act, 2017, initially set for five years.
• Taxpayer Obligations: All suppliers of designated goods/services must collect the cess, except exporters and those under the composition scheme.

Distribution Mechanism

• Calculation of Compensation: Based on projected revenue growth (14%) against actual revenue, with payments distributed bi-monthly.
• Surplus Distribution: Any surplus in the compensation fund post-transition period will be shared between the Centre and states.

Future Considerations

• Ministerial Panel: A panel established by the GST Council will recommend the cess's future and revenue sharing post-compensation.
• Tax Expert Opinions: Some experts argue against pursuing the revenue-neutral rate, suggesting broader tax base expansion instead.
• Revenue Gap Solutions: Options for addressing compensation fund deficits include revising cess formulas, increasing rates, or market borrowing.

In News:

In a significant move for global security, the Foreign Ministers of the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) grouping issued a strong declaration against terrorism during the 79th UN General Assembly in New York. This declaration condemned terrorism in all its forms and reaffirmed the collective responsibility of the international community to eliminate terrorist safe havens worldwide.

Key Points from the IBSA Declaration:

• Universal Threat: The ministers stressed that terrorism is a threat that transcends borders, cultures, and governments.
• Rule of Law: They emphasized that counter-terrorism efforts must adhere to international law, particularly the UN Charter and human rights laws, ensuring civil liberties are respected.
• International Framework: A call was made for establishing a comprehensive international counter-terrorism framework, with the United Nations at its core, to coordinate global efforts against terrorism.
• Cross-Border Security: The declaration highlighted the need for stringent actions against the movement of terrorists and the financing of terrorist networks, condemning groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
• Comprehensive Convention: A renewed commitment to accelerate the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN was emphasized, aiming to create a unified legal framework for combating terrorism.

In News:

India signed agreements within the US-led 14-member IPEF focused on a clean and fair economy.

• Objectives:
  • Facilitate development, access, and deployment of clean energy and climate-friendly technologies.
  • Strengthen anti-corruption measures and promote tax transparency among member countries.
• Clean Economy Agreement:
  • Aims to accelerate energy security and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
  • Focuses on innovative methods to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote technical cooperation.
• Fair Economy Agreement:
  • Seeks to create a transparent and predictable business environment to enhance trade and investment.
  • Emphasizes information sharing, asset recovery facilitation, and strengthening cross-border investigations.
• Funding Mechanisms:
  • IPEF offers platforms for technical assistance and concessional funding.
  • IPEF Catalytic Capital Fund: Initial grant of $33 million aimed to catalyze $3.3 billion in private investments.
  • PGI Investment Accelerator: Received $300 million from the US International Development Finance Corporation.
• Concerns Raised:
  • Experts highlighted concerns over the secrecy of IPEF negotiations with limited public input.
  • Expressed hope that India has not agreed to a non-derogation clause that could limit domestic regulatory flexibility for national projects.
• Potential Risks:
  • Most standards discussed in IPEF are aligned with those in the US and OECD countries.
  • India risks compliance pressures in future trade deals if it adopts these standards without adequate preparation.
• Strategic Importance of IPEF:
  • Involves 14 member countries, focusing on economic cooperation through four key pillars: trade, supply chain resilience, clean economy, and fair economy.
  • Represents 40% of the global economy and 28% of world trade, highlighting India's commitment to regional partnerships alongside the US, Japan, Australia, and other Indo-Pacific nations.

In News:

At the Bengaluru Space Expo 2024, Bengaluru-based start-up Bellatrix Aerospace launched Project 200, a pioneering satellite designed to operate in the Ultra-Low Earth Orbit (ULEO) range of 180 km to 250 km.

Revolutionary Capabilities

Bellatrix Aerospace claims that operating in this orbit dramatically enhances satellite capabilities and redefines their connection to Earth. The satellite's launch is part of a technology demonstration mission, showcasing an innovative propulsion system tailored for this low altitude.

Breakthrough Propulsion Technology

Traditionally, satellites are positioned above 450 km to minimize atmospheric interference. However, deploying at 200 km can significantly enhance capabilities, which has been hindered by propulsion technology limitations until now.

Enhanced Performance Metrics

The new propulsion system allows satellites to maintain their orbits for years, avoiding rapid deorbiting due to atmospheric drag. Key benefits of Project 200 include:

• Reduced Communication Latency: Halves the delay in satellite communication.
• Improved Image Resolution: Enhances clarity threefold.
• Cost Efficiency: Significantly lowers overall satellite costs.

Bellatrix's innovative approach not only addresses current limitations but also positions its satellite as a transformative solution for applications in high-resolution Earth observation, telecommunications, and scientific research.

In News:

• Recently, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for civil nuclear cooperation.
• The agreement, established between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC)-led Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Operations and Maintenance, was formalized during the visit of Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, to New Delhi.

Background:

• This MoU marks the first formal agreement of its kind between NPCIL and ENEC. The collaboration aligns with the broader commitment made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE in August 2015, which focused on peaceful nuclear energy applications, including safety, health, agriculture, and science and technology.

Trilateral Cooperation:

• The agreement follows a series of discussions on nuclear cooperation between India and the UAE. On September 19, 2022, Foreign Ministers from France, India, and the UAE met in New York during the UN General Assembly and initiated a trilateral cooperation framework. This was further solidified by a phone call on February 4, 2023. The trilateral format aims to promote joint projects in energy, emphasizing solar and nuclear energy.

Additional Agreements:

During the Crown Prince’s visit, several other agreements were also signed:

• LNG Supply MoU: An agreement was reached between Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited for long-term LNG supply.
• Production Concession Agreement: Urja Bharat and ADNOC signed an agreement for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1.
• Food Parks Development: The Government of Gujarat and Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC (ADQ) signed an MoU for developing food parks in India. This initiative aligns with the I2U2 grouping (including Israel and the United States), which envisions food parks in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Conclusion:

The visit of the Crown Prince and the signing of these agreements reflect the strengthening ties between India and the UAE. This dynamic development coincides with the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers’ meeting held in Riyadh on September 8-9. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted India's growing energy demands and its significant role in future global energy markets during his remarks at the meeting.

In News:

The recent dissolution of the 14-member Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS) by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has sparked considerable controversy and debate. The committee, which was chaired by Pronab Sen, a renowned economist and former chief statistician of India, was reportedly disbanded after its members raised concerns about the delay in conducting the decennial census.

Key Points:

• Dissolution of the Committee:
  • The SCoS, formed in July 2023, was responsible for advising the Union government on survey methodology and statistical frameworks. According to the experts the decision to dissolve the SCoS was due to an overlap in functions with the newly formed Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys.
• Concerns and Criticism:
  • Dr. Pronab Sen and other committee members expressed concerns over the delay in conducting the census, which was due in 2021 but has yet to be carried out. The last census, conducted in 2011, is now outdated, impacting the accuracy of various statistical surveys.
  • Members of the SCoS reportedly questioned the delay in census operations during their meetings, leading to speculation that their concerns may have contributed to the committee's dissolution.
• Formation of the New Steering Committee:
  • The new Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys, chaired by Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar, was established following a recommendation by the National Statistical Commission (NSC). The roles of this new committee are said to overlap with those of the SCoS, which the Ministry cited as a reason for disbanding the latter.

Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS)

• The Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS) was established by renaming and expanding the scope of the Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES), which was originally formed in December 2019.
• The SCES, with 28 members, was tasked with reviewing economic indicators related to the industrial sector, services sector, and labor force statistics, including datasets like the Periodic Labour Force Survey, the Annual Survey of Industries, and the Economic Census.

Current Structure and Members: The newly formed SCoS comprises 14 members, including:

• Four Non-Official Members
• Nine Official Members
• One Member Secretary

The committee's total membership can be extended up to 16 based on requirements.

Functions:

1.       Review and Address Issues:

o   The SCoS reviews the existing frameworks and addresses issues related to all surveys as presented by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). This includes evaluating survey results and methodologies.

2.       Advisory Role:

o   It advises on various aspects of survey methodology, including sampling frames, sampling designs, and survey instruments. The committee is also responsible for finalizing the tabulation plans and results of surveys.

3.       Data Collection and Production:

o   The SCoS oversees the design and implementation of all data collection and production efforts. It ensures that data collected by MoSPI adheres to high standards of statistical quality and accuracy.