Prelims Current Affairs includes Districts As Export Hubs (Deh) Initiative, Rodtep Scheme, Garbh-Ini Initiative, Tonga & Globe Network

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

1. DISTRICTS AS EXPORT HUBS (DEH) INITIATIVE

Current Context: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently informed the Lok Sabha about the progress of the Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) Initiative.

ABOUT DEH INITIATIVE

• Launched in: August 2019
• Implemented by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Department of Commerce
• Objective:
  • To promote balanced regional development
  • To identify, brand, and promote district-specific products
  • To boost exports from every district
• Key Features:
  • Decentralisation of export promotion activities
  • Districts made active stakeholders in export growth
  • Focus on both goods and services
• Institutional Mechanism:
  • State Export Promotion Committee (SEPC) at State level
  • District Export Promotion Committee (DEPC) at district level
• Planning Framework:
  • District Export Action Plans (DEAPs) prepared
  • Identify bottlenecks in supply chain and suggest solutions
• Coverage:
  • Export potential identified in 734 districts
  • Includes agriculture products, GI products, and toy clusters
• Support Measures:
  • Helps local manufacturers and exporters scale up
  • Facilitates access to global markets

SCHEME

2. RODTEP SCHEME

Current Context: Government has restored the rates and value caps under the RoDTEP Scheme for all eligible export products.

ABOUT RODTEP SCHEME

• Full Form: Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products.
• Introduced in: Foreign Trade Policy 2015–20
• Effective from: 1 January 2021
• Administered by: Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• Objective:
  • To refund hidden taxes and duties not reimbursed otherwise
  • To enhance export competitiveness
• Key Features:
  • WTO-compliant scheme
  • Fully digital platform for transparency
  • Covers a wide range of export sectors
• Eligibility:
  • Manufacturer exporters and merchant exporters
  • SEZ units and Export Oriented Units included
  • Applicable to e-commerce exports
  • Re-exported goods not eligible
• Priority Sectors: Labour-intensive industries
• Replaced Scheme: Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS)

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

3. GARBH-INi INITIATIVE

Current Context: India launched its largest pregnancy cohort study under GARBH-INi to address preterm births using AI-based solutions.

ABOUT GARBH-INi INITIATIVE

• Full Form: Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth Outcomes
• Launched by: Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

Objective:

• To reduce preterm births and neonatal mortality
• To develop personalised prediction models for Indian population

Key Features:

• Integration of clinical data, biomarkers, and artificial intelligence
• Multi-disciplinary research approach

Scale of Study:

• Around 12,000 pregnant women enrolled
• Over 1.6 million biospecimens collected
• More than 1 million ultrasound images

Data Infrastructure:

• National biorepository established
• GARBH-INi-DRISHTI data-sharing platform

Key Innovations:

• AI-based pregnancy dating models
• Microbiome-based prediction of preterm birth
• Identification of genetic markers

PLACE IN NEWS

4. TONGA

Current Context: A 7.6 magnitude earthquake recently struck near Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean.

ABOUT TONGA

• Location: Polynesia, South Pacific Ocean
• Type: Archipelago of 169 islands
• Neighbouring Regions: Fiji (west), Samoa (north), Cook Islands (east).
• Island Groups: Tongatapu (south), Ha‘apai (central), Vava‘u (north).
• Capital: Nukuʻalofa
• Geographical Features:
  • Western islands: volcanic origin
  • Eastern islands: coral limestone and sand
• Terrain:
  • Mostly flat with coral formations
  • Some volcanic islands
• Highest Point: Kao Island

MISCELLANEOUS 

5. GLOBE NETWORK

Current Context: India hosted the 12^th Steering Committee Meeting of the GlobE Network in New Delhi.

ABOUT GLOBE NETWORK

• Full Form: Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities
• Established under: Riyadh Initiative (G20 Presidency of Saudi Arabia)
• Framework: United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)
• Members:
  • 135 countries and 250 authorities
  • Observers include Europol, World Bank
• Governance: Steering Committee with Chair, Vice-Chair, and members
• India’s Role:
  • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs
  • Member agencies: CBI and Enforcement Directorate
• Functions:
  • Facilitates international cooperation in anti-corruption cases
  • Enables faster exchange of information
  • Supports investigation, prosecution, and asset recovery
• Support: Secretariat provided by UNODC

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