Daily Prelims Notes 9 June 2022
- June 9, 2022
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN
Daily Prelims Notes
9 June 2022
Table Of Contents
- The science behind the cancer cure
- State Emblem of India atop of the New Parliament building
- RBI- Monetary policy update
- Credit cards to be linked with UPI
- Issues to dominate WTO meet
- Ahead of sowing, Kharif MSP revealed
- No coal use in Delhi NCR from January 1 2023
- Technology Development Board to launch Rs 1,000-crore start-up fund
- Electromagnetic radiation levels till a certain limit found to have no impact on sparrows in Guwahati
- India as a hub for wildlife trafficking
- EASE 5.0
1. The science behind the cancer cure
Subject : Science and Technology
Section: Biotechnology
Context:
- In a medical trial, 12 patients in the United States were completely cured of rectal cancer without requiring any surgery or chemotherapy.
- The trial used a monoclonal antibody called dostarlimab every three weeks for six months for the treatment of a particular kind of stage two or three rectal cancer.
- The study was done by doctors from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, and its results have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
What are the findings?
- The trial showed that immuno therapy alone – without any chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery that have been staples of cancer treatment – could completely cure the patients with a particular kind of rectal cancer called ‘mismatch repair deficient’ cancer”.
- All 12 patients had completed the treatment and were followed for six to 25 months after.
- No cases of progression or recurrence had been reported during the follow-up. The response too was rapid, with symptoms resolving in 81% of the patients within nine weeks of starting the therapy.
What is this deficiency, and how was it cured?
- ‘Mismatch repair deficient’ cancer is most common among colorectal, gastrointestinal, and endometrial cancers. Patients suffering from this condition lack the genes to correct typos in the DNA that occur naturally while cells make copies.
- The immunotherapy belongs to a category called PD1 blockades that are now recommended for the treatment of such cancers rather than chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
- PD1 is a type of protein that regulates certain functions of the immune system, including by suppressing T cell activity, and PD1 blockade therapy looks to release the T cells from this suppression.
- The anomalies in the DNA result in cancerous growths in patients with mismatch repair deficient cancers.
- For example, If you imagine the immune system to be a car, PD1 acts as the brakes for the T cells of the immune system. By giving the PD1 blockades, we release the brakes and allow the T cells to destroy the cancerous growth.
- India has a couple of PD1 blockades available, although not the one used for this study.
If PD1 therapy was already in use, what’s new in the trial?
- Earlier, this therapy was used post-surgery, but the study has shown that a surgery may not be required.
- “Although the therapy is usually used for cancers that have metastasised (spread to locations other than where the cancer formed), it is now recommended for all mismatch repair deficient cancers as they result in quicker improvement and lesser toxicity as compared to traditional chemo and radiotherapy.
- So far, this therapy was used after a patient undergoes surgery; it is used for 10 to 15 indications. This study shows that even the surgery was not needed in these patients.
- In all tumours, they now look for mismatch repair deficiency to see whether immunotherapy can be used.
- Eliminating other treatments can improve a patient’s quality of life by preserving fertility, sexual health, and bladder and bowel functions.
2. State Emblem of India atop of the New Parliament building
Subject: History
Section: Art and Culture
Context
- The government may install the state emblem on the top of the under construction New Parliament building.
New Parliament building
- The government has set the ambitious October 2022 deadline for completion of the massive project with the aim to hold the next winter session of parliament in the new building.
- The emblem will be more than 20 feet tall.
- The state emblem is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion capital of Ashoka.
- The new Parliament building with a built-up area of approximately 60,000 metre square, is set to come up on plot number 118 of the Parliament House Estate, which currently houses a reception, boundary walls and other temporary structures.
- The central foyer has been renamed the Constitution Hall as it is expected to display the Constitution for public viewing. A library will also come up near the central foyer.
- It will have sculptures of parliamentarians and images representing the diversity of India. At one side of the Constitution Hall will be the Constitution gallery, where the Constitution will be displayed.
- The triangular complex is designed to include 120 offices with six separate entrances for MPs and VIPs, including the Speaker and the vice president.
State emblem of India
- The national emblem is an adaptation of the Lion Capital, originally found atop the Ashoka Column at Sarnath, established in 250 BC.
- The capital has four Asiatic lions—symbolising power, courage, pride and confidence—seated on a circular abacus.
- The abacus has sculptures of a bull, a horse, a lion and an elephant.
- In the national emblem, three lions are visible; the abacus shows a bull and horse separated by a dharma chakra; the outlines of two more dharma chakras are visible on either side of the abacus.
- While Buddhist interpretations say the animals represent different phases of the Buddha’s life, non-religious interpretations say they depict the reign of emperor Ashoka in the four geographical directions, while the wheels depict his enlightened rule.
- The capital was adopted as the national emblem on January 26, 1950. It was chosen as a symbol of contemporary India’s reaffirmation of its ancient commitment to world peace and goodwill.
3. RBI- Monetary policy update
Subject : Economy
Section : Monetary Policy
Context:
- The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) today stepped up its inflation fight , with its members unanimously voting for an increase in the policy repo rate by 50 basis points.
- The MPC move comes a little over a month after the six- member Committee unanimously voted for a 40 basis points hike in the repo rate in an off cycle meeting on May 4.
Current repo rate and inflation projections:
- Following the latest hike, the repo rate is now 4.9 per cent up from 4.4 per cent. This will make bank loans (retail and MSME) linked to external benchmark rates such as the repo rate dearer.
- RBI revised its retail inflation projection for FY23 sharply upwards to 6.7 per cent (assuming a normal monsoon and average crude oil price — Indian basket — of $105 per barrel) from earlier projection of 5.7 per cent.
Liquidity stanching:
- Along with the increase in the repo rate, the MPC also de- cided unanimously to remain focussed on withdrawal of accommodation stance to ensure that inflation remains within the target (of 4 per cent within a band of +/- 2 per cent) going forward, even while supporting growth.
SDF, MSF rates up:
- Following the 50 basis points hike in repo rate, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate has moved up to 4.65 per cent (4.15 per cent earlier); and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate to 5.15 per cent (4.65 per cent).
- Under SDF, banks can park surplus liquidity with the RBI, overnight or for longer tenors.
- Under the MSF, banks can get funds from the RBI on overnight basis against their excess statutory liquidity ratio (government securities and state development loans) holdings.
To ease pressure on rupee:
- The policy tightening is also warranted to reduce the pressure on the rupee from widening the Current Account Deficit (CAD) and stem foreign portfolio outflows.
Retains GDP growth
- The central bank retained real GDP growth for 2022-23 at 7.2 per cent.
4. Credit cards to be linked with UPI
Subject: Economy
Section: Money and Banking
Context:
- In a move that will add to the growing popularity of the Uni- fied Payments Interface, the Re- serve Bank of India has proposed linking of credit cards to UPI.
- To begin with, the Rupay credit cards will be linked to the UPI platform.
Linking credit cards with UPI
- At present, UPI facilitates transactions only by linking savings/ current accounts or through debit cards. The new facility will allow users to link UPI to their credit cards, too.
- To begin with, the Rupay credit cards will be linked to the UPI platform.
- Linking of credit cards with UPI will provide additional convenience to users and enhance the scope of digital payments.
- The basic objective of linking credit cards to UPI is to provide the customer a wider choice of payments.
- The addition of RuPay credit cards adds a credit line facility to UPI. Having a choice of payment benefits both the merchant and the customers.
MDR rate unclear
- It is not clear how the merchant discount rate (MDR) will be charged for UPI transactions through credit cards. At present, there is zero MDR on UPI and Rupay debit card payments.
5. Issues to dominate WTO meet
Subject : Science and Technology
Section: Biotechnology
Context:
- The twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the WTO will take place during June 12-15 in Geneva to decide on crucial issues impacting world trade.
WTO Ministerial Conference
- The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making forum of the WTO. The last such meeting, the MC11, took place in 2017.
- MC12 is taking place in the back- ground of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Covid-induced lockdown in parts of China.
Important issues that will be discussed at the MC12:
- Fisheries sectorThe negotiations aim to
- (i) eliminate subsidies to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing,
- (ii) prohibit subsidies for fishing overfished stocks and
- (iii) subsidies to fishing contributing to overfishing and overcapacity. The idea is to curb subsidies that threaten the sustainability of fishing.
- Agriculture and food security
- For India, securing the Permanent Solution to the issue of public stock holding (PSH) would be the top priority.
- The most awaited reform is restoring the functioning of the Dispute Settle- ment System (DSS) including the Appellate Body (AB). This is needed to preserve the rights and obligations of WTO Members.
- Another area being discussed for reform are the Special and Differential Treatment (S&D) provisions of various WTO Agreements. S&D provisions allow the developing and LDC members to take a longer time to meet the various obligations.
- Many developed countries seek to limit the application of such flexibilities. India considers S&D provisions as non-negotiable, treaty-embedded rights which should not be diluted.
Special and Differential Treatment (S&D) ○ The WTO Agreements contain special provisions which give developing countries special rights and which give developed countries the possibility to treat developing countries more favourably than other WTO Members. These special provisions include, for example, longer time periods for implementing Agreements and commitments or measures to increase trading opportunities for developing countries. These provisions are referred to as “special and differential treatment” (S&D) provisions. The special provisions include:
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- Moratorium on e-comm, TRIPS
- The Moratoriums on E-Commerce and TRIPS is- sues were renewed every two years. MC12 may likely agree to further extension.
- To promote e-commerce, the WTO members in 1998 agreed to not charge (Moratorium) Customs Duties on Electronic Transmission for two years.
- Similarly, members agreed to a moratorium on the launch of disputes at the WTO over intellectual property rights.This is known as TRIPS non-violation and situation complaints(NVSC) moratorium. The Moratoriums on ECommerce and TRIPS issueswere renewed every two years. MC12 may likely agree to further extension
- Easing pandemic pain
- WTO’s response to the pandemic is a priority for MC12.
- India and South Africa proposed waiving patent protections on Covid-19 vaccines temporarily by more generous application of the ‘compulsory licensing’ procedure allowed under the TRIPS agreement.
- Looking at the destruction the pandemic has caused, the decision should have been swift. However, under pressure from the pharma lobby, most developed countries ar-gued for solutions which essentially meant opposing the proposal.
6. Ahead of sowing, Kharif MSP revealed
Subject: economy
Section: Agriculture
- The Union Cabinet in June raised the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by Rs 100 a quintal for the Kharif season of 2022-23.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs increased the MSP for all mandated Kharif crops for marketing season 2022-23.
- The rates for 14 crops have been increased in the range of 4% to 8%.
- Paddy is the main Kharif crop, the sowing of which has already begun.
- The MSP for paddy (common), which was Rs 1,940 a quintal in 2021-22, and paddy (grade A), which was Rs1,960 a quintal, had increased by Rs 100
- The highest increase had been for two varieties of jowar at the rate of 8%. And the lowest increase of Rs 92 had been for maize, whose price was Rs 1,870.
- The present increase comes against the backdrop of spiraling input rates, especially due to a sharp increase in fertilizer rates.
Minimum Support Price
- The MSP is the rate at which the government purchases crops from farmers, and is based on a calculation of at least one-and-a-half times the cost of production incurred by the farmers.
- MSP is a “minimum price” for any crop that the government considers as remunerative for farmers and hence deserving of “support”.
Crops under MSP
- The Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) recommends MSPs for 22 mandated crops and fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane.
- CACP is an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- The mandated crops include 14 crops of the kharif season, 6 rabi crops and 2 other commercial crops.
- In addition, the MSPs of toria and de-husked coconut are fixed on the basis of the MSPs of rapeseed/mustard and copra, respectively.
Factors for Recommending the MSP
- The CACP considers various factors while recommending the MSP for a commodity, including cost of cultivation.
- It takes into account the supply and demand situation for the commodity, market price trends (domestic and global) and parity vis-à-vis other crops, and implications for consumers (inflation), environment (soil and water use) and terms of trade between agriculture and non-agriculture sectors.
Three Kinds of Production Cost
- The CACP projects three kinds of production cost for every crop, both at state and all-India average levels.
- ‘A2’: Covers all paid-out costs directly incurred by the farmer in cash and kind on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, hired labour, leased-in land, fuel, irrigation, etc.
- ‘A2+FL’: Includes A2 plus an imputed value of unpaid family labour.
- ‘C2’: It is a more comprehensive cost that factors in rentals and interest forgone on owned land and fixed capital assets, on top of A2+FL.
- CACP considers both A2+FL and C2 costs while recommending MSP.
- CACP reckons only A2+FL cost for return.
- However, C2 costs are used by CACP primarily as benchmark reference costs (opportunity costs) to see if the MSPs recommended by them at least cover these costs in some of the major producing States.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) of the Union government takes a final decision on the level of MSPs and other recommendations made by CACP.
7. No coal use in Delhi NCR from January 1 2023
Subject: Environment
Section: Pollution
- To bring down greenhouse gas emissions in Delhi NCR, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in June issued directions to State governments concerned to phase out usage of coal by December 31, 2022.
- It will not only help save 1.7 million tonnes of coal annually, but also reduce pollutants including particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxide (NOx), CO2 and CO.
- However, thermal power plants in NCR are allowed to use low-sulfur coal.
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
- It was established as a statutory body by the government in August 2021 as an overarching body to carry out air quality management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Act 2021.
- The air quality around Delhi-NCR has been monitored and managed by multiple bodies before the CAQM was established.
- The bodies included the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the state pollution control boards, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) of NCR, and the various state governments concerned.
- These bodies are further monitored by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and also the Supreme Court.
- The Act now consolidates all the bodies in that the CAQM is an overarching body that will take decisions and issue orders for protecting and improving the air quality in Delhi and NCR.
- This is to make the management of air quality more efficient and coordinated.
- The CAQM has replaced the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) which was appointed by the SC and had been active for 22 years.
- Only the National Green Tribunal will have the power to hear cases involving the CAQM, and not the civil courts.
Powers & Functions
- The Commission will have the power to take measures, issue directions and entertain complaints “for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of air in the National Capital Region”.
- It will also coordinate action taken by states on air pollution and will lay down parameters for air quality and emission or discharge of environmental pollutants.
- It will also have the authority to restrict industries in any area, conduct random inspections of any premises including factories. It may also shut down an industry or cut its water and power supply in case of non-compliance.
- CAQM will also be monitoring the actions taken by the states to prevent stubble burning.
CAQM Members
- The Commission is chaired by a Chairperson who should be a person with experience of not less than 15 years in the field of environmental protection and pollution control or having administrative experience of not less than 25 years.
- The members will also comprise an official from the Environment Ministry; one full-time member who is or has been a joint secretary; five ex-officio members who are either chief secretaries or secretaries from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh; three full-time independent technical members who are experts in air pollution; one full-time member who is or has been a joint secretary; one technical member each from the CPCB and ISRO; one representative of the NITI Aayog; and three members from non-governmental organisations who deal in air pollution.
- The commission will also have three members, comprising stakeholders from sectors like industry, agriculture, transport or construction and also representatives of several ministries, including Power, Road Transport & Highways, Housing & Urban Affairs, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Commerce and Industry and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
- There will also be representatives of any association from the commerce or industry sector.
- The CAQM will have a minimum of three sub-committees namely, monitoring and identification, research and development, and safeguarding and enforcement.
8. Technology Development Board to launch Rs 1000-crore start-up fund
Subject : Science and Technology
Section:
- The Technology Development Board (TDB), a statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology is set to launch a ₹1,000-crore start-up fund under a public private partnership (PPP) model.
- The fund will be launched in two phases:
- In the first phase, a corpus of ₹400 crore will be set up, of which ₹200 crore will be contributed by a private company.
- In the later phase, TDB will partner with more companies to raise and invest money.
- The fund is sector agnostic and is looking to invest in start-ups that aim to solve a problem with strong technical solutions and has a wider use case.
Technology Development Board
- It is formed by an act of the Indian Parliament, namely, the Technology Development Board Act, 1995 under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
- TDB is the chief body in India to promote the development and commercialization of indigenous technology and adaptation of imported technology for wider application.
- Its primary objective is to commercialize the fruits of indigenous research.
- It proactively encourages companies to take up technology-oriented products.
Technology Development Board Objectives
- To stimulate new ideas from small firms even at the risk of failures;
- To advance the production of competitive consumer products;
- To propel industries and R&D institutions for product innovation;
- To develop socially relevant and profitable technologies;
- To recognise and act in domains needing strategic interventions;
- To invest in core technological strengths to enable the Indian industry to stand up to the competitive pressure and become a global player.
Technology Development Board Functions
- The major function of the TDB is the provision of equity capital or loans to industrial concerns and also offers financial assistance to R&D institutions.
- Its loans carry only a small simple interest rate of 5% PA.
- The other functions are as follows:
- Facilitating interaction between the industry, technocrats, scientists and specialists.
- Fostering an innovation culture by enabling cooperative research between the industry and institutions.
- Providing the enterprises with an interface with banks and financial institutions for funds.
- Creating a new breed of new generation entrepreneurs.
- Assisting partnerships with other similar technology financing institutions.
- Providing vistas for venturing into hi-tech domains.
- Generating job opportunities.
Technology Development Board Members
- TDB is chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (ex-officio member). Other than the Chairperson, there are six ex-officio members and four nominated members.
- The ex-officio members are the secretaries of the departments of Scientific & Industrial Research, Defence Research & Development, Expenditure, Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, and Rural Development.
Subject :Environment
Section: Pollution
- In a study about the possible impact of radiofrequency EMR on wild birds (house sparrow, great tit, blue tit, and white stork) with regards to their occupancy, abundance, breeding density, reproduction, and species composition.
- The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) was one of the most ‘successful’ urban birds, occupying two-thirds of the world’s surface.
- However, recent years have witnessed a decline in their populations across many parts of the world.
- Among the various causes hypothesized were:
- lack of nesting sites due to rapid urbanization,
- unsustainable loss of green cover,
- excessive use of pesticides,
- lack of traditional granaries,
- avian malaria,
- air pollution, and
- possible link with increasing electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phone towers.
- The study concluded that EMR did not seem to possess a significant correlation with the densities of house and tree sparrows
- A takeaway from this study is that we should focus more on urban ecological planning, providing more open green spaces so that sparrows and other birds can thrive amidst humans.
- While EMR doesn’t seem to affect house sparrows and tree sparrows, the authors cannot say the same for other species.
- According to them, exposure to prolonged EMR could be a serious concern for bees, fruit flies, frogs, birds, bats and even humans.
10. India as a hub for wildlife trafficking
Subject: Environment
Section: Biodiversity
- According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), wildlife trafficking is the fourth largest form of transnational organised crime (after smuggling of drugs, human trafficking, and counterfeiting) worth an estimated £15 billion per annum.
- Despite being a part of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora), India is not only a major source, but also a transit and a destination country for trafficked wildlife and wildlife products.
- International wildlife trafficking into and out of India mainly occurs through either the long international border along the Northeast or through airports. Chennai and Mumbai airports are major hubs for this illegal activity.
- Wildlife trafficking in India is driven by the demand for raw material like red sandalwood and ivory, and animal parts – particularly rhinoceros horn and tiger parts – for traditional medicine, demand for meat, and the attraction towards exotic pets.
- When exotic live animals that have been smuggled into India are seized, they are sent to rescue centres or sanctuaries.
- Several international and national governmental organisations are teaming up to develop tools and networks that counter wildlife trafficking.
Reasons
- Due to its mega diverse nature (India has 8% of the world’s wildlife), and dense human population.
- Porous international borders with China, Myanmar, and other Southeast Asian countries.
- A growing aviation market and the fast-expanding airport sector, and
- The use of social media as online marketplaces by wildlife traffickers.
- Also, smugglers of exotic wildlife species in India have even resorted to misusing the Voluntary Disclosure Scheme issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in 2020.
- Besides these reasons, there are major lacunae in laws that pertain to the ownership of exotic animals in India. People caught transporting exotic wildlife species can be charged with the crime only if it can be proven that they crossed an international border illegally with those animals.
Species trafficked in India
- Ivory, turtles and tortoises (especially the Indian star tortoise), and red sandalwood.
- Pangolin, Indian rhino for horn, tiger, ornamental fish such as the Channa barca or snakehead (endemic to the upper Brahmaputra basin) and the zebra loach (in the Western Ghats).
- Wildlife trafficking has expanded to include trade in body parts of golden jackals, Asiatic black bears, leopards (for tantric uses and traditional medicines) and mongooses (for mongoose hair paint brushes).
- Instances of exotic animals such as kangaroos, marmosets, tamarins, and birds such as macaws and parrots being transported across India are on the rise.
Factors driving wildlife trafficking in India
- The foremost is the demand for raw materials like red sandalwood and ivory (used in manufacturing luxury products), and animal parts – particularly rhinoceros horn and tiger parts – for traditional medicine.
- Another factor that drives wildlife trafficking is the demand for meat – many animals such as the Bengal slow loris, soft shell turtles from Uttar Pradesh, deer, antelope, wild cattle, and even sea cucumbers are mainly trafficked for consumption.
- The third major driving factor for wildlife trafficking in India lies in the growing demand for exotic pets, especially birds like cockatoos, macaws, and grey parrots.
Steps taken to reduce wildlife trafficking in India
- The DRI, which is in the forefront of the battle against smuggling, has teamed up with the Indian Customs as a part of the Green Customs initiative of the World Customs Organization, to counter wildlife trafficking into and out of India.
- To combat the rising use of air transport in wildlife trafficking, a suite of tools have been developed by TRAFFIC, along with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Wildlife Fund-India (WWF-India), and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).
- Apart from this, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) also has a short 20-minute training module to help spread awareness on wildlife trafficking through air transport.
- Airport authorities in Bengaluru have even set up a forest cell to tackle wildlife smuggling.
The Counter Wildlife Trafficking program, run by the Wildlife Conservation Society-India, conducts training and sensitisation workshops for state forest departments, police forces, customs officials, border security force units, and even the judiciary, on conducting crime scene investigations and promoting inter-agency collaborations
Subject: Economy
Section: Money and Banking
Context: Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister launched the fifth edition of Enhanced Access and Service Excellence (EASE 5.0), which spells out the common reforms agenda for public sector banks under the EASENext program.
About EASE 5.0
- Under EASE 5.0, PSBs will continue to invest in new-age capabilities and deepen the ongoing reforms to respond to evolving customer needs, changing competition and the technology environment.
- EASE 5.0 will focus on digital customer experience and integrated and inclusive banking, with emphasis on supporting small businesses and agriculture.
- All PSBs will also create a bank-specific three-year strategic roadmap.
- The initiatives will be across diverse themes — business growth, profitability, risk, customer service, operations and capability building.
- EASENext is well-positioned to channel reforms with specific focus on customer-centric initiatives.
Evolution of EASE Reforms Agenda:
- EASE Agenda was launched in January 2018 jointly by the government and PSBs.
- It was commissioned through Indian Banks’ Association and authored by Boston Consulting Group.
- EASE 1.0 report showed significant improvement in PSB performance in resolution of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) transparently.
- EASE 2.0 introduced new reform Action Points across six themes – Responsible Banking; Customer Responsiveness; Credit Off-take, PSBs as UdyamiMitra (SIDBI portal for credit management of MSMEs); Financial Inclusion & Digitalisation; Governance and Human Resource (HR).
- Ease 3.0 seeks to enhance ease of banking in all customer experiences, using technology – Dial-a-loan and PSBloansin59 minutes.com. Partnerships with FinTechs and E-commerce companies, Tech-enabled agriculture lending.
- EASE 4.0 commits PSBs to tech-enabled, simplified and collaborative banking to further the agenda of customer-centric digital transformation.