Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 01 July 2024 | Download PDF

• The Meghalaya Lokayukta has issued notifications to the former chief secretary and other former officials of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) regarding alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Saubhagya scheme in the state.

About Saubhagya scheme:

• Launch Date: October 2017
• Objective: Universal household electrification by providing electricity connections to all un-electrified households in rural areas and poor households in urban areas.
• Last-Mile Connectivity:
  • Electricity connections to all un-electrified households in rural areas.
  • Free connections for BPL families in rural areas, including LED bulbs, wire, holders, switches, etc.
  • Non-BPL families in rural areas: Connection cost of Rs. 500, payable in 10 installments of Rs. 50.
• Urban Areas:
  • Free power connections to BPL families.
  • Non-poor urban households are excluded from the scheme.
• Remote Areas: Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV)-based standalone systems for households in remote and inaccessible villages/habitations where grid extension is not feasible or cost-effective.
• Identification of Beneficiaries: Beneficiaries for free electricity connections identified using Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.
• Nodal Agency: Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) designated as the nodal agency for the Saubhagya scheme.

• The Indian multi-role stealth frigate INS Shivalik, which has been mission-deployed in the South China Sea and North Pacific Ocean, has arrived at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise.

About RIMPAC Exercise:

• Event: World’s largest international maritime exercise.
• Location: Hawaii.
• Objective: Enhance interoperability and build trust among navies of friendly foreign countries.
• Theme: Partners: Integrated and Prepared.
• Duration: Until August 1, 2024.
• Leadership: Led by the US Navy.
• Participation: Approximately 29 countries.

• The Department of Commerce has extended the Interest Equalisation Scheme for pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit for Micro, Small, and Medium-scale (MSME) exporters until August 31.

About Interest Equalisation Scheme:

• Implementation Date: First implemented on 1st April 2015.
• Purpose: Provides pre- and post-shipment export credit to exporters in rupees.
• Initial Validity: Initially valid for 5 years, up to 31st March 2020.
• Extensions:
  • Extended during COVID for one year.
  • Further extensions and fund allocations have been made.
• Implementing Agency:
  • Implemented by the RBI through various public and non-public sector banks.
  • Banks provide pre- and post-shipment credit to exporters.
• Monitoring: Jointly monitored by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the RBI through a consultative mechanism.
• Objective:
  • Helps identified export sectors be internationally competitive.
  • Aims to achieve a high level of export performance.

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently released an Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI) Dashboard. This dashboard aims to evaluate and rank countries based on their readiness to adopt and integrate artificial intelligence technologies.

About AIPI:

• Assessment Coverage: The index assesses AI preparedness across 174 countries.
• Rating Criteria: Ratings are based on readiness in four key areas:
  • Digital infrastructure
  • Human capital and labour market policies
  • Innovation and economic integration
  • Regulation and ethics
• Country Categorisation:
  • Advanced Economy (AE)
  • Emerging Market Economy (EM)
  • Low-Income Country (LIC)
• Top Rated Advanced Economy:
  • Singapore: 0.80
  • Denmark: 0.78
  • United States: 0.77
• India’s Rating and Ranking:
  • Categorised as Emerging Market Economy
  • Rating: 0.49
  • Rank: 72 out of 174 countries
• Other Countries’ Ratings and Rankings:
  • China: 0.63 (Rank 31)
  • Sri Lanka: 0.43 (Rank 92)
  • Bangladesh: 0.38 (Rank 113)

• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched several initiatives to enhance healthcare quality and promote wellness. 
• These include the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) assessment, a Dashboard for Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), and the Spot Food Licence Initiative, all aimed at providing “Healthcare for All.”

About NQAS:

• Launch and Compliance: Launched for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) and Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHL).
• IPHS Digital Platform:
  • Real-time monitoring of public health facilities.
  • Provides a comprehensive overview of assessment and compliance status.
• Spot Food Licence Initiative:
  • Purpose: Instant issuance of licenses and registrations through the pan-India IT platform, Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS).
  • Regulatory Framework: Supplements existing procedures under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011.
  • Instant Issuance Categories:
    • Wholesalers
    • Distributors
    • Retailers
    • Transporters
    • Storage without atmospheric control + cold
    • Importers
    • Food vending agencies
    • Direct sellers
    • Merchant-exporters
  • Exclusions:
    • Milk
    • Meat
    • Fish

• The Odisha government is set to launch the Prime Minister – Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, aimed at providing rooftop solar installations to enable free electricity up to 300 units per month for one crore households nationwide. 

About:

• Free Electricity: The government will provide 300 units of free electricity per month to 1 crore households, aiming to light up their homes.
• Rooftop Solar Promotion: Urban local bodies and Panchayats will be encouraged to promote rooftop solar systems in their areas. This aligns with the free electricity provision, potentially utilising solar power as the source.
• Financial Support: The government guarantees no financial burden on the beneficiaries. This will likely involve subsidies deposited directly into bank accounts and offering affordable loans to help cover any costs associated with the program

Financial Incentives:

• Under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana, subsidies are provided based on the capacity of the solar system: Rs 30,000 for a 1 KW system, Rs 60,000 for a 2 KW system, and Rs 78,000 for a 3 KW system or larger. 

• Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced the launch date for the Subhadra Yojana, scheduled for September 17, which coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.

About:

• This initiative aims to benefit women across the state by providing each eligible woman with a cash voucher worth Rs 50,000. 
• The decision to implement the Subhadra Yojana within 100 days was approved during the first cabinet meeting of the BJP government.

• In June 2024, Odisha achieved significant growth in its GST collections compared to the same period last year. Specifically, the state recorded a State GST (OGST + IGST Settlement) collection of Rs 2039.71 crore, marking a remarkable 23.56% increase from the Rs 1650.82 crore collected in June 2023.

GST Day:

• GST Day is observed on July 1 each year. 

Origins of GST in India:

• The concept of GST was first introduced in India in the early 2000s. 
• The Kelkar Task Force, a dedicated team of experts, proposed a comprehensive indirect tax system to replace the existing framework that was hindering the country’s economic growth.

Legislative Journey:

• In August 2016, a significant milestone was achieved when Parliament enacted the Constitution (101st Amendment) Act. 
• This legislation authorized the central government to charge and collect GST. 
• Subsequently, the government established the GST Council, comprising finance ministers from central and state governments, to oversee the implementation process.

Implementation:

• After numerous council meetings to decide on rates, exemptions, and concerns, GST was finally implemented on July 1, 2017. 
• The launch event took place at midnight in the Parliament’s central hall, marking a historic moment in India’s economic reforms.

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