GK update for 10 October 2014

Government to revive Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change

October 10, 2014   

The Central government is planning to reconstitute and revive the PM’s Council on Cilmate Change. This Council oversaw the implementation of the eight missions under the NAPCC (National Action Plan on Climate Change). This advisory body had not met in the last three years.
An Executive Committee had been set up in January 2013, comprising of officials from relevant Ministries, to assist the Council and monitor implementation of the eight missions. However, despite this, lack of funding and co-ordination lead to slow implementation of proposals under the eight missions. Most missions have been underperforming in relation to their targets.
With renewed emphasis on climate change in the international, the government has deemed it imperative to for
mulate a coherent domestic climate change policy. The reconstituted Council is expected to review the implementation of the eight missions and undertake a comprehensive reassessment of the country’s climate change policy. Moreover, the composition of the Council is expected to be tweaked to accommodate more members from the industrial sector.

Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change

The Council was established in 2007. It was responsible for framing the NAPCC in 2008. The High Level Advisory group was given the role of co-coordinating action plans for assessment, adaptation and mitigation of climate change. It also advised the government on multiple climate change related issues and facilitated inter-ministerial cooperation and coordination in the arena of climate change.

Government announces establishment of Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS)

October 10, 2014   

The Minister for Minority Affairs, Najma Heptullah, announced the establishment of a nation level skill development Academy, “Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills” (MANAS) with headquarters in Delhi.
MANAS will focus on providing skills, upgrading abilities and training members of minority communities in those sectors of the economy which are either facing a shortage or labour or where demand for labour is expected to surge. MANAS will also train people so that they may be self-employed. The National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) will provide assistance with credit for persons who have undergone training at MANAS and wish to establish their own business or be self employed. MANAS will also collaborate with multiple national and international agencies to provide certification and assistance with placement for the trainees, and also to secure funding for the program.
A MoU was also signed by MANAS and the National Skill Development Corporation to establish an All India Collaborative Network for MANAS.

Government to complete Phase-III of Cable TV Digitization by 2015

October 10, 2014   

The Government has modified the timeline for Cable TV Digitisation. As per the new timeline, Phase III will be over by end of 2015 and Phase IV, a year later, by end of 2016. In Phase III and IV, cable TV digitization will spread to the rural areas. Phase I was digitization of metro cities, and Phase II was digitization of cities with a population of more than 1 million people, Phase III covers all urban areas and Phase IV covers the rest of India.

 Task Force for Cable Digitization for Phases three and four

This task force was set up by the government to steer Phases III and IV. The task force was set up to look into indigenous production of set top boxes (STBs), interoperability between STB service providers and take efforts to provide tax incentives to boost domestic manufacturing of STBs and enable them to compete with foreign manufacturers. The Task Force will also consult with representatives of all stakeholders, including the service providers and consumers.