ASSOCHAM, E-waste - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

ANSWER: ASSOCHAM

Explanation:
India's food processing sector has the potential to attract $33 billion investment by 2024, according to a study released here on 20^thNov 2017 by ASSOCHAM.

The country's food and retail market is expected to touch $482 billion by 2020, up from $258 billion in 2015, with recent reforms making the sector more competitive and marke-oriented, it said.

ASSOCHAM: Know More

• The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) is one of the apex trade associations of India.
• The organisation represents the interests of trade and commerce in India, and acts as an interface between industry, government and other relevant stakeholders on policy issues and initiatives.
• The goal of this organisation is to promote both domestic and international trade, and reduce trade barriers while fostering conducive environment for the growth of trade and industry of India.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
Scientists at IIT, Madras have come up with a novel technique where e-waste can be used as a resource not only to treat waste water.

It can also be used to generate electricity simultaneously, making it an important innovation to deal with fast growing menace of such hazardous waste in the country.

Under this technique, scientists use e-waste component like "LED\LCD (liquid crystal coated polaroid) glass" as an electrode material in 'Microbial Fuel Cells' (MFCs).

This is primarily a technology used for only waste water treatment.

Use of e-waste as an electrode, however, helps it to generate electricity and recover metals for reuse.

Use of waste to study waste and generate electricity is a novel concept.

Technologies available in the country at present are generally meant for only recovering and recycling components like glass, plastic, printed circuit board, hard drives, batteries and valuable metals.

But this new technology, the scientists claim, can use LED\LCD glass component of e-waste for the twin jobs–waste water treatment and electricity production.

IIT Madras: Know More

• Director: Bhaskar Ramamurthy
• Founded: 1959
• Chairperson: Pawan Kumar Goenka
• Motto: Sanskrit:सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा/ (English:Siddhirbhavati Karmaja)

ANSWER: Sandeep Jajodia

Explanation:
Monnet Ispat & Energy Ltd. CMD Sandeep Jajodia has been appointed the new President of industry chamber ASSOCHAM.

Balkrishan Goenka, Chairman, Welspun Group and Kiran Kumar Grandhi, vice-chairman of GMR Infrastructure Ltd, have taken over as senior vice-president and vice-president respectively.

Jajodia took over from Sunil Kanoria, vice-chairman, Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited.

ASSOCHAM initiated its endeavour of value creation for Indian industry in 1920.

It has more than 400 Chambers and Trade Associations, serving more than 4,50,000 members from all over India.

ASSOCHAM is set to influence dynamics of growth and development in the technology driven cyber age of ‘Knowledge Based Economy’.

ASSOCHAM derives its strength from its Promoter Chambers and other Industry/ Regional Chambers/Associations spread all over the country.

ANSWER: National Data Bank

Explanation:
Industry body ASSOCHAM has offered to set up a National Data Bank containing information about electronic transactions, used by the government for official purposes like issuance of passports as well as protecting country’s strategic interests.

• Proposal involves creation of a Central Coordination Committee under the guidance of National Security Council Secretariat
• A clear legal framework is required to legitimise the need for creating a National Data Bank of e-information of classified and heritage documents for national archives which can be integrated with national information policy demarcating information into three board categories.
• Data which is non sensitive in nature could be used for scientific economic and development purposes
• It can be used for taking accurate and immediate decisions in large demographies for trend forecasting and recourse in case of civic decisions or exigency by numerous Ministries or Departments of Government of India.
• Industry has noted the current regime of the Big Data Management does not facilitate efficient open sharing and interoperability of government owned data with different inter and intra government agencies
• Need for creating cyber National Data Bank of e-information of classified heritage documents for National Archive with the aim to promote open data sharing and access to GoI owned data for national planning and R&D.

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• Collection is now exclusively Producer’s responsibility, which can set up collection centre or point or even can arrange buy back mechanism for such collection.
• No separate authorization from SPCBs for such collection will be required, which will be indicated in the EPR Plan of Producers.
• Shift from collection centre to collection mechanism approach and removal of need of separate authorization will ensure effective collection simultaneously ensuring flexibility for Producers for implementation.
• This will check leakage of flow of e-waste to unauthorised players.
• Option has been given for setting up of PRO, e-waste exchange, e-retailer, Deposit Refund Scheme as additional channel for implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) by Producers to ensure efficient channelization of e-waste.
• Bulk Consumer is being redefined by adding ‘and health care facilities which have turnover of more than one crore or have more than twenty employees. They need to file annual returns.

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:

• Collection and channelisation of e-waste in Extended Producer Responsibility - Authorisation shall be in line with the targets prescribed in the rules.
• The phase wise Collection Target for e-waste, which can be either in number or Weight shall be 30% of the quantity of waste generation as indicated in EPR Plan during first two year of implementation of rules followed by 40% during third and fourth years, 50% during fifth and sixth years and 70% during seventh year onwards.
• Thus producers will have to ensure 30 per cent e-waste collection, based on their projected sales, by 2018 and 70 per cent by 2023.
• They also have to pay for publicity and awareness programmes.

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• The e-waste exchange as an option has been provided in the rules as an independent market instrument offering assistance or independent electronic systems offering services for sale and purchase of e-waste generated from end-of life electrical and electronic equipment between agencies or organizations authorized under these rules.
• Deposit Refund Scheme has been introduced as an additional economic instrument wherein the producer charges an additional amount as a deposit at the time of sale of the electrical and electronic equipment and returns it to the consumer along with interest when the end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment is returned.

ANSWER: ASSOCHAM

Explanation:
This is a 67% jump over USD 23 billion revenue for 2015 as per industry body ASSOCHAM. Indian e-commerce market was worth USD 3.8 billion in 2009 and went up to USD 17 billion in 2014 nd USD 23 billion in 2015. It is expected to touch USD38 billion mark by 2016. Enhanced internet and mobile penetration as well as increased acceptability of online payments and desired demographics will provide the e-commerce sector a chance to connect with customers. ASSOCHAM predicts a 5 to 7 fold increase in revenue generated via e-commerce.

ANSWER: Sunil Kanoria

Explanation:
Sunil Kanoria on 25th November 2015 has been appointed as President of the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India, succeeding YES Bank MD and CEO Rana Kapoor. Kanoria has an amazing record as a finance expert and brought INR 34000 crore rupees of consolidated assets under SREI, one of the first NBFCs to be listed on LSE.