1.Period Poverty

Why in News?

• Scotland has become the first country to end “period poverty” by providing free sanitary products to women of all ages in the country.

Highlights:

• Free menstrual products are already available to students in high schools, colleges and universities in Scotland.
• A bill has been passed by the Scottish Parliament recently which will make pads and tampons free across the board to women of all ages.
• The legislation would make tampons and sanitary pads available at designated public places such as community centres, youth clubs and pharmacies, at an estimated annual cost of 24.1 million pounds ($31.2 million).
• European Union has pledged to remove all taxes on menstruation products by 2022.

What is Period Poverty?

• Period poverty means being unable to access sanitary products and having a poor knowledge of menstruation often due to financial constraints.
• Period poverty is an issue that affects women and girls across the globe, with more than a quarter having missed work or school because they couldn’t afford or didn’t have access to menstrual products.

2.Solar Charkha Mission

Why in News?

• Subsidy to artisans under Solar Charkha Mission.

Solar Charkha Mission:

• The mission was launched by the Ministry of MSME.
• The scheme is envisaged to generate direct employment for nearly one lakh persons.
• It envisages setting up of ‘Solar Charkha Clusters’ which will have 200 to 2042 beneficiaries (spinners, weavers, tailors and other skilled artisans). Each spinner will be given two charkhas of 10 spindles each.
• As part of the scheme no subsidy is given, however, subsidy to the tune of Rs.9.60 crore is provided for the procurement of charkha and looms to the Implementing or Promoting Agency for a full-scale Solar Charkha Cluster involving a total investment of about Rs.38.625 crore.
• The pilot solar charkha cluster was set up at Khanwa village, Nawada District, Bihar in 2016. It was a success and benefited 1180 artists. Based on this success, the government set out to establish 50 such clusters under this Mission.
• These solar charkhas are to be operated using solar power which is a renewable energy source. It will help in the development of a green economy as it is an environment-friendly programme. It will also generate sustainable employment for the artisans.
• The Mission is implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

Objectives:

• To ensure inclusive growth by generation of employment, especially for women and youth, and sustainable development through solar charkha clusters in rural areas.
• To boost rural economy and help in arresting migration from rural to urban areas.
• To leverage low-cost, innovative technologies and processes for sustenance.

3.Indian Ocean Commission

Why in News?

• India has recently been approved as an observer state in the Western Indian Ocean (Indian Ocean Commission).

About Indian Ocean Commission:

• It is a five nation grouping in the Western Indian Ocean, which includes Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Mauritius and French Reunion.
• The decision to join the IOC marks a part of the government’s push for greater salience in the whole Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including what is called the Western or African Indian Ocean.
• The IOC is also significant for its geographical location, as the islands sit around a “key choke point” in the Indian Ocean — the Mozambique Channel.
• This channel is being watched more closely as the U.S ­ Iran tensions threaten the Strait of Hormuz.
• With the decision, India will join China, which was made an observer in 2016,
• Given China’s growing presence in the region, India hopes to increase its naval presence and gain support for its maritime projects across the Indo Pacific, beginning at East African shores.
• It can also be seen as deepening strategic partnership with France as well as its expanding ties with the Vanilla Islands.

4.Jeevan Kaushal Curriculum

Why in News?

• The Minister of Human Resource Development has recently informed about the implementation of Jeevan Kaushal (life skills) curriculum in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Key Points:

• It is developed by the University Grants Commission (UGC)
• It is a life skill (Jeevan Kaushal) curriculum for undergraduate students at Universities and Colleges.
• It covers the courses on communication skills, professional skills, leadership & management skills and universal human values. The implementation of curriculum is suggestive.
• The objectives of the curriculum are Enhancement of self-awareness, Creation of emotional competency and emotional intelligence, Learning through practical experiences,

Development of interpersonal skills, Time and Stress management, and Achievement of excellence with ethics.

• It has been decided that foreign investment in Air India Ltd be brought on a level playing field with other scheduled airline operators.
• The amendment in FDI policy will permit foreign investment in Air India Ltd at par with other Scheduled Airline Operators i.e. upto 100% in Air India Ltd by those NRIs, who are Indian Nationals.
• The proposed changes in FDI Policy will enable foreign investment by NRIs into Air India Ltd. upto 100%, under automatic route.

Rationale of the Move:

• Above amendment to the FDI Policy are meant to liberalise and simplify the FDI policy to provide ease of doing business in the country.
• It is expected to lead to largest FDI inflows and thereby contributing to growth of investment, income and employment.