VISION

Sociology Strategy

Hi Everyone!

My journey in UPSC has been long. And along with it someone who has been a constant companion is my optional: “Sociology”

 Why in news?

The Union Cabinet recently approved the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for specialty steel with an outlay of Rs 6,322-crore.

What is the PLI scheme?

• For target segments, the scheme provides incentive of 4% to 6% on incremental sales over the base year for goods manufactured in India.
• Apart from inviting foreign companies to set shop in India, it encourages local companies to set up (or expand existing) manufacturing units.
• The scheme came in line with the National Policy on Electronics 2019 to position India as a global hub for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM).
• Objectives:
  1. Encourage local production
  2. Reduce India’s dependency on imports and cut the import bill
  3. Boost export earnings
  4. Increase the share of manufacturing to 20% by 2025.  

Manufacturing as a share of India’s GDP fell to 15.6% in FY20 and stayed there in FY21, down from the high of 16.8% in FY18.

How is the performance so far?

• The progress of the PLI scheme has been somewhat slow.
• Of the 13 sectors for which outlays have been finalised, guidelines need to be framed for a few.
• In others, the industry’s concerns need to be addressed.
• For textile products and automobiles, the schemes are awaiting Cabinet approval.
• But the auto sector hugely relies on imports for a range of components and is one of the country’s biggest employers.

What is the recent PLI scheme for speciality steel?

 What is the news about?

The recent trends in GST revenue indicates that the recovery is neither smooth nor fast

 What is the progress of GST revenue collection?

• With gross revenues of Rs. 1.12-lakh crore in August, the GST has now yielded over Rs. 1-lakh crore a month for almost a full year
• The August collections are 30% higher and also 14% above the pre-pandemic levels of 2019-20
• It pertains largely to economic activity in July and the ease in mobility restrictions in most States
• While revenues from domestic transactions were up 27%, key industrial States saw faster growth, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Is this an indicator of faster economic growth?

 What is the issue?

With the withdrawal of US from Afghanistan debate has abruptly shifted to the future of the United States declaring the withdrawal as the demise of America

What is the background of US’s presence in Afghanistan?

• The terrorist bombing of 9/11, which was a game-changing global experience  transformed the geopolitics of the world
• Once the responsibility of the attack was traced to Osama bin Laden and the terrorists in Afghanistan, U.S. retaliated by overthrowing the Taliban regime and hunted out bin Laden

What are the benefits of the U.S. presence?

• The U.S. presence in Afghanistan had succeeded in containing the dangers of terrorism for two decades.
•  Considering that terror attacks and victims worldwide are three to five times higher annually than in 2001 (9/11), the benefits of the American presence should not be underestimated
•  But the cost was high in terms of American money and lives.

How does the withdrawal impact the image of US?

 GS SCORE Fact Files: Constitutional Development PDF

1)  PM Modi Virtually Addresses 6th Eastern Economic Forum 2021

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the plenary session of the 6th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), organised in Vladivostok, Russia. An Indian delegation led by Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri and comprising leading Indian oil and gas companies are participating in the EEF Summit 2021 in Russia.

•On the sidelines of EEF, Petroleum Minister will also have meetings with Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov to review bilateral energy cooperation in the energy sector and with the Russian Minister for Development of Far East and Arctic Alexei Chekunkov to discuss the collaboration between Indian and Russian companies in that region. Petroleum Minister will also co-chair India-Russia Business Dialogue.

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