Current
Affairs, 18 November 2017
GS
Paper 2:Topic: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues
and challenges pertaining to the federal structure, devolution of powers and
finances up to local levels and challenges therein.
EK BHARAT-SHRESHTHA BHARAT
Context:
Under
‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat’ Yojana, Madhya Pradesh has been made partner of
Manipur and Nagaland. The Higher Education Department of Madhya Pradesh has
been made nodal department to implement the scheme.
§
As part of this, Madhya Pradesh
will participate in Sangai Mahotsav being organized in Manipur from November 21
to 30. Similarly, teams of Manipur and Nagaland will take part in Lok Rang and
Bal Rang programmes to present their cultural programmes and to apprise people
with their culture.
§
Besides, translation work of Nagaland’s books has also been
started in Madhya Pradesh to introduce people of the state with their
activities and cultural heritage. Other activities are also being conducted in
this regard.
About Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat:
What is it?
“Ek
Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” was announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 31st
October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel. Subsequently, the Finance Minister announced the initiative
in his Budget Speech for 2016-17.
What is it for?
Through
this innovative measure, the knowledge of the culture, traditions and practices
of different States & UTs will lead to an enhanced understanding and
bonding between the States, thereby strengthening the unity and integrity of
India.
Implementation:
All
States and UTs will be covered under the programme. There will be pairing of
States/UTs at national level and these pairings will be in effect for one year,
or till the next round of pairings. The State/UT level pairings would be
utilized for state level activities. District level pairings would be
independent of the State level pairings.
Significance:
The
activity will be very useful to link various States and Districts in annual
programmes that will connect people through exchanges in areas of culture,
tourism, language, education trade etc. and citizens will be able to experience
the cultural diversity of a much larger number of States/UTs while realising
that India is one.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora,
their structure, mandate.
South
Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC)
Context:
An
Interim Meeting of the Steering Committee of the International Monetary Fund
(IMF)’s South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC)
was held recently in national capital to assess the Center’s activities since
its inauguration in February 2017 and to review the Fiscal Year 2018 Work Plan.
Officials
from all Six (6) Member countries attended the meeting, together with the
Development Partner representatives (the European Union, the United Kingdom,
Australia, and USAID), and IMF staff.
About SARTTAC:
What is it?
SARTTAC,
the newest addition to the IMF’s global network of fourteen regional centers,
is a new kind of capacity development institution, fully integrating customized
hands-on training with targeted technical advice in a range of macroeconomic
and financial areas, and generating synergies between the two. It was
inaugurated at Delhi in February 2017.
Finance:
SARTTAC
is financed mainly by its six member countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka — with additional support from Australia, the
Republic of Korea, the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Goal:
SARTTAC’s
strategic goal is to help its member countries strengthen their institutional
and human capacity to design and implement macroeconomic and financial policies
that promote growth and reduce poverty.
What it does?
SARTTAC
will allow the IMF to meet more of the high demand for technical assistance and
training from the region. Through its team of international resident experts,
SARTTAC is expected to become the focal point for the delivery of IMF capacity
development services to South Asia.
Sources: pib.
Topic: Important
International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Context:
The Shanghai Cooperation
Organization Meeting of the Ministers of Member States responsible for Foreign
Economic and Foreign Trade was recently held in Russia. This is the first
Ministerial Conference on Trade organized by the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization after India became a full member of the Organization in June 2017.
About SCO:
What is it?
The
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, also known as the Shanghai Pact, is a
Eurasian political, economic, and military organisation which was founded in
2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Apart from Uzbekistan, the other five countries
have been a part of the Shanghai 5 since 1996. The cooperation was renamed to
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation after Uzbekistan joined the organisation in
2001.
New members: India and Pakistan joined SCO as full members in June 2017
in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The SCO counts four observer states
