Topics

1. India secures 80th rank on Henley Passport Index
2. POSHAN Scheme
3. MULTI-MODAL LOGISTICS PARKS
4. G20 THINQ
5. Kerch Bridge

Topic 1: India secures 80th rank on Henley Passport Index

Context:

• India’s ranking on the Henley Passport Index 2023 has improved, moving up seven places to the 80th position from 87 in the previous year.

However, despite this progress, the number of countries offering visa-free access to Indian passport holders remains the same.

Introduction:

• The Henley Passport Index is a globally recognized ranking system that evaluates the strength and value of passports from various countries.
• It is published by Henley & Partners, a respected global residence and citizenship advisory firm.
• The index annually ranks passports based on the number of countries and territories their holders can visit without the need for a visa or with visa-on-arrival access.

 Derivation of Henley Passport Index:

• The Henley Passport Index utilizes data from reputable sources such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• It covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations.
• Each passport is assigned a “visa-free score” representing the number of destinations accessible without obtaining a visa in advance.
• A higher visa-free score indicates a stronger passport.

India’s Passport Performance in 2023:

• In the 2023 Henley Passport Index, India is ranked 80th.
• Over the past years, India’s ranking has experienced fluctuations, with positions ranging from 76th in 2014 to 87th in 2017.
• However, despite the rise in ranking, the number of countries offering visa-free access to Indian passport holders has not increased significantly.

Global Scenario:

• Singapore has overtaken Japan to claim the top spot as the country with the most powerful passport.
• Singaporean citizens enjoy visa-free access to 192 out of 227 travel destinations worldwide.
• Following closely, Germany, Italy, and Spain share the second position, while Japan dropped to third place on the Henley Passport Index.

• Pakistan, ranked at 100, with citizens having visa-free access to just 33 countries, highlighting the challenges faced by certain countries in terms of international travel.

Conclusion:

India’s rise in the Henley Passport Index 2023 is commendable, but the lack of significant improvement in visa-free access indicates the need for further efforts to strengthen international travel opportunities for Indian passport holders.

As countries vie for the top position on the index, improving visa arrangements and diplomatic relations could positively impact India’s ranking and enhance global mobility for its citizens.

Topic 2: POSHAN Scheme

Introduction

• POSHAN stands for Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment.
• It is a centrally sponsored scheme by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education.
• It aims to provide one hot cooked meal to the children studying in Government and Government – aided schools.
• It replaced the national programme for mid-day meal in schools or Mid-day Meal Scheme in September 2021.
• It has been launched for an initial period of five years (2021-22 to 2025-26) with a financial outlay of Rs 1.31 trillion.

Features

1. The scheme covers students of balvatikas (children in the 3-5 year age group) from pre-primary classes, primary (1-5) and upper primary (6-8) schoolchildren/
2. The scheme has a provision for supplementary nutrition for children in aspirational districts and those with high prevalence of anaemia.
3. The scheme does away with the restriction on the part of the Centre to provide funds only for wheat, rice, pulses and vegetables.
4. The scheme encourages the use of locally-grown nutritional food items from “school nutrition gardens” for boosting the local economic growth, and also includes involvement of Farmers Producer Organizations (FPO) and Women Self Help Groups in the implementation of the scheme.

The scheme also promotes the consumption of millets or nutri-cereals, which are rich in minerals and B-complex vitamins, as well as proteins and antioxidants, making them an ideal choice for improving the nutritional outcome of children.

Benefits

• The scheme aims to improve the nutritional status of school children and reduce malnutrition, stunting, wasting and anaemia among them.

• The scheme also aims to enhance the enrolment, attendance and retention of children in schools and prevent classroom hunger.

• The scheme also aims to foster social equity and gender parity among school children by providing them a common platform to eat together irrespective of their social background.

• The scheme also aims to create awareness among children about the importance of hygiene, sanitation and healthy eating habits.

Challenges

• • Delay in transfer of funds from the Centre to the states and from the states to the implementing agencies.
  • Lack of adequate infrastructure, storage facilities, cooking equipment and utensils in some schools.
  • Inadequate monitoring, supervision and evaluation of the quality and quantity of food served to the children.
  • Issues related to food safety, hygiene and sanitation in some schools.
  • Resistance from some communities or parents to accept certain food items due to cultural or religious reasons.

Conclusion

• POSHAN Scheme is a significant initiative by the government to address the issue of child nutrition and education in India.
• The scheme has several features and benefits that can improve the health and learning outcomes of school children.
• However, the scheme also faces some challenges that need to be overcome through effective coordination, implementation and monitoring.

The scheme can be further improved by incorporating best practices from other countries or states that have successfully implemented similar schemes.

Topic 3: MULTI-MODAL LOGISTICS PARKS

Introduction

• MMLPs are a key policy initiative of the Government of India to improve the country’s freight logistics sector by lowering overall freight costs and time, cutting warehousing costs, reducing vehicular pollution and congestion, improving the tracking and traceability of consignments through infrastructural, procedural, and information technology interventions.

• The initiative is led by National Highways Logistics Management Limited under Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

• MMLPs are developed in a hub-and-spoke model to connect different modes of transport such as road, rail, air, water and pipeline.

• MMLPs provide various facilities such as mechanized warehouses, specialized storage solutions, container terminals, bulk and break-bulk cargo terminals, customs clearance, quarantine zones, testing facilities, value-added services and late-stage manufacturing activities.

Background

• India’s logistics sector has been expanding with the country’s rapid economic growth, but it also faces many challenges such as high logistics costs, low speed of freight movement, skewed modal transportation mix, fragmented warehousing sector, lack of standardization and integration, regulatory hurdles and infrastructure bottlenecks.

• According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), India’s logistics costs are 13% of total price of goods compared with 8% in other major economies and average 72% higher cost than China of exporting/importing a container in India.

• To make India globally competitive by reducing these costs and time, the MoRTH is developing multi-modal logistics parks at selected locations in the country under its Logistics Efficiency Enhancement Program (LEEP).

Implementation

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on October 2017 had authorized MoRT&H to develop 35 Multi Model Logistics Parks (MMLP) across the country.

• These 35 MMLPs are to be developed under Public Private Partnership (PPP) on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) mode.

• The National Highways and Logistics Management (NHLML), which is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) and fully owned by the NHAI, plans to construct majority of the proposed MMPLs in PPP mode.

• The parks will have 50:50 funding model. There are 35 multi-modal logistics parks planned across the country with a capital allocation of Rs 50,000 crore.

The 35 proposed MMLPs are at: Nagpur, Chennai, Bangalore, Indore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Pune, Surat, Sangrur, Delhi-NCR, North Gujarat, Jaipur, Kolkata, Ambala, Jagatsinghpur, Nashik, Kota, Panaji, Hisar, Visakhapatnam, Bhopal, Sundargarh, Bhatinda, Solan, Rajkot, Raipur, Jammu, Kandla, Cochin, North Punjab, Vijayawada, Patna, Valsad and Guwahati.

• Jogighopa, Assam Country’s first Multi-Modal Logistic Park

Benefits

1. Lower overall freight costs by optimizing modal mix and reducing transit time and distance.
2. Reduced warehousing costs by consolidating inventory and increasing utilization.

• Reduced vehicular pollution and congestion by shifting freight from road to rail and water modes.

1. Enhanced tracking and traceability of consignments by using information technology systems.
2. Improved service quality and reliability by providing integrated logistics solutions.
3. Increased employment opportunities by creating direct and indirect jobs in logistics sector.

• Boosted trade competitiveness by facilitating exports and imports.
• Promoted regional development by connecting hinterland areas with major markets.

1. Efficient distribution of goods by enabling faster delivery times and better inventory management.
2. Environmentally sustainable by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption.
3. Enhanced connectivity by linking different modes of transport seamlessly.

Improved supply chain efficiency by offering value-added services such as labelling, packaging, tagging and crating.

Topic 4: G20 THINQ

Introduction

• The G20 THINQ is a quiz competition for students of classes 9 to 12.
• It is organized by the Indian Navy in association with G20.
• The quiz aims to inspire a sense of national pride, patriotism, and curiosity among young minds while challenging their intellect.

The G20 THINQ is a great opportunity for students to learn about the Indian Navy and to showcase their knowledge and intellect. The competition is also a great way to build national pride and patriotism.

Topic 5: Kerch Bridge

Introduction:

• The Kerch Bridge, connecting the Russian mainland to the Crimean Peninsula, has emerged as a pivotal structure symbolizing Russia’s control over Crimea.

Built in 2018 following the contested annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, the bridge holds both strategic and symbolic importance for Russia.

The Kerch Bridge: An Engineering Marvel

• The Kerch Bridge spans 19 km across the Kerch Strait, boasting two parallel roadways and rail lines.
• Inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, this engineering marvel established direct connectivity between mainland Russia and the annexed Crimea.

A Symbol of Russia’s Control over Crimea

• Since its annexation in 2014, Crimea has been a focal point of tension between Russia and Ukraine.
• The Kerch Bridge stands as a symbolic reminder of Russia’s territorial control, drawing both international attention and criticism.

Strategic Importance: Securing a “Land Bridge”

• Following the annexation, the bridge’s construction was a strategic move to establish a reliable “land bridge” between mainland Russia and Crimea.
• This connection plays a crucial role in maintaining Russia’s influence and military presence in the region.

Logistical Supply Link for Russian Troops

• The Kerch Bridge serves as a vital logistical supply link for Russian troops stationed in southern Ukraine.
• It facilitates the seamless movement of personnel, equipment, and resources, enabling Russia to exert its military presence effectively.

Vulnerability and Security Concerns

• The bridge’s strategic vulnerability cannot be overlooked, as it lies within range of Ukrainian fire.
• Protecting the Kerch Bridge is of utmost importance for Russia’s military operations in the region, leading to heightened security measures and potential retaliatory actions.

Conclusion:

The Kerch Bridge stands as a testament to Russia’s assertiveness in asserting control over Crimea.

 With its strategic significance in establishing connectivity and facilitating military operations, the bridge remains a focal point of tension and potential conflict in the region.

As geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve, the security and symbolism of the Kerch Bridge will likely continue to shape Russia’s actions and international responses.

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