♦ The government has established 13,822 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) till 30 September 2024. These Kendras have also achieved record sales of Rs.200 crore in September 2024, which is the highest monthly sales in the history of the PMBJP.
♦ Under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), in last 10 years, sale of medicines worth Rs.6100 crores have been done through Kendras, which has led to estimated savings of Rs.30,000 crores for the citizens as compared to the branded medicines.
National
♦ Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a mobile application for registration of births and deaths on 29 October 2024. The Civil Registration System (CRS) mobile app, prepared by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India is expected to significantly reduce the time required for the registration of births and deaths.
♦ According to The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, all reported births and deaths in the country occurring from October 1, 2023 are to be digitally registered through the Centre’s portal dc.crsorgi.gov.in.
♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) on 29 October 2024. This expanded scheme offers free health coverage of up to Rs.5 lakh annually for every citizen aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income or economic status. The initiative aims to provide dignified healthcare access to elderly citizens, many of whom have struggled with costly medical treatment.
♦ Prime Minister Modi announced the nationwide rollout of the U-WIN portal, a digital platform aimed at streamlining vaccinations for pregnant women and children. The platform will support 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants annually by fully digitalizing the vaccination process. It aims to ensure the timely delivery of essential vaccines to women and children (from birth to 16 years) for protection against 12 preventable diseases, as part of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s flagship Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).
♦ Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the new complex of India's first Biomanufacturing Institute, "BRIC-National Agri-Food Bio-Manufacturing Institute" (BRIC-NABI) on 28 October 2024. The facility aims to transform India’s agri-food sector through advanced biotechnology.
♦ BRIC-NABI is the result of a strategic merger between the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) and the Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing (CIAB).
♦ The institute aims to bridge the gap between research and commercialization, facilitating pilot-scale production and bringing innovative agricultural technologies to the market.
Posted Date: October 29, 2024♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez inaugurated the Tata Advanced System Limited-Airbus facility to manufacture C-295 military aircraft in India on 28 October 2024.
♦ The facility in Gujarat’s Vadodara city is the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in India.
♦ A total of 56 aircraft are there under the C-295 programme, of which 16 are being delivered directly by Airbus from Spain and the remaining 40 are to be made in India.
♦ The C-295 aircraft will replace IAF's HS-748 Avro fleet and is the first instance of the private sector manufacturing a military aircraft in India, breaking the virtual monopoly of defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics.
♦ Modi had laid the foundation stone for the Vadodara final assembly line in October 2022.
Posted Date: October 29, 2024♦ ‘Abhay’ was launched M/s L&T, Kattupalli. This was built by M/s GRSE for Indian Navy. The contract for building eight ASW SWC ships was signed between MoD and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata in April 19.
♦ Arnala class of ships will replace the in-service Abhay class ASW Corvettes of Indian Navy and are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and Mine Laying Operations.
♦ The ASW SWC ships are approx 77 m long, with a maximum speed of 25 knots & endurance of 1800 NM.
Posted Date: October 28, 2024♦ NTPC has partnered with the Indian Army to establish a Solar Hydrogen-based Microgrid at Chushul, Ladakh. This significant step will provide a stable power supply using Green Hydrogen in off-grid Army locations.
♦ NTPC to operate independently, using hydrogen as an energy storage medium to supply 200kW of power round-the-clock throughout the year. This system will replace existing diesel gensets at off-grid Army locations, providing a sustainable power supply despite harsh winter conditions, where temperatures drop to -30°C at an altitude of 4,400 meters.
♦ The Solar-Hydrogen microgrid is set to replace existing diesel generators currently in use at off-grid Army locations.
Posted Date: October 28, 2024♦ Airbus has inaugurated its new India and South Asia Headquarters at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The centre is equipped with four A320 simulators and can train 800 pilots and 200 technicians annually.
♦ According to the government data, the total training aircraft have grown from 190 in 2020 to 264 in 2024 and commercial pilot licences issued have increased from 744 in 2019 to 1600 in 2023.
Posted Date: October 28, 2024♦ Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh launched the 21st Livestock Census in New Delhi on 25 October 2024.
♦ This will cover over 30 crore households across all States and Union Territories, including nomadic communities and pastoralists, ensuring that the diversity of India’s livestock practices is captured.
♦ The census will focus on critical areas such as Gender Roles in Livestock Rearing, breed management, animal health and productivity.
♦ The census will be conducted from October 2024 to February 2025.
♦ The livestock census has been conducted every five years since 1919.
Posted Date: October 26, 2024♦ Global industry body International Copper Association (ICA) elected Aditya Birla Group firm Hindalco Industries Ltd. as its newest member on 25 October 2024. Hindalco Industries has been operating since 1958. It is the metals flagship firm of the Aditya Birla Group, which is a leading copper and aluminium producer.
♦ ICA was formally created in 1989. It is a not-for-profit trade association representing half the world’s copper production, with 33 members across 6 continents. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we operate in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Posted Date: October 26, 2024♦ The government announced the Tarun Plus category under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) on 25 October 2024. In this banks can sanction loans up to Rs.20 lakh. This decision was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as part of the Union Budget for 2024-25 in July 2024.
♦ This category will offer loans ranging from 10 lakh rupees to 20 lakh rupees for entrepreneurs who have repaid their previous Tarun loans.
♦ PMMY loans up to Rs.20 lakh will be provided under the Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU).
♦ As per the existing scheme, banks provide collateral-free loans up to Rs.10 lakh under three categories-Shishu (up to Rs.50,000), Kishore (between Rs.50,000 and Rs.5 lakh) and Tarun (Rs.10 lakh).
Posted Date: October 26, 2024♦ The German Embassy in New Delhi held the fifth edition of its GSDP Conversation Series at IIT Delhi on 25 October 2024. It focussed on “The Future of Work in the Digital Era: Indo-German Skills Development in Education and Training.” The event brought together leaders from academia, industry, and government to discuss labor market trends and the growing need for green and digital skills.
♦ This event is part of the Indo-German Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development (GSDP), initiated in 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. It aligns with global sustainability frameworks like the 2030 Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement, fostering cooperation between the two nations in education and sustainable development.
♦ The GSDP Conversation Series, signed during the 6th Indo-German Cabinet Consultations in Berlin in 2022, aims to strengthen cooperation between the two nations through regular networking and exchange of ideas. The series is hosted by the German Embassy in collaboration with BMZ, GIZ, the KfW Development Bank, and the German National Metrology Institute.
Posted Date: October 26, 2024♦ The Union Government launched Gram Panchayat-Level Weather Forecasting in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 24 October 2024. This initiative, developed in collaboration between the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), marks a major step forward in climate preparedness at the grassroots level.
♦ Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Minister of Panchayati Raj, Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology & Earth Sciences, and Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Panchayati Raj have participated in this event.
♦ The initiative will provide Gram Panchayats with a five-day weather forecast and hourly updates, enabling rural communities to plan agricultural activities better and prepare for weather-related risks.
♦ The launch of the Gram Panchayat-Level Weather Forecasting system is a momentous milestone in empowering rural communities and building a climate-resilient India. It will help rural populations make informed decisions about agricultural activities, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure planning, ensuring a higher quality of life and contributing to the nation’s progress.
Posted Date: October 25, 2024♦ India’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Noor Rahman Sheikh handed over the first tranche of humanitarian assistance sent by India to Lebanon on 24 October 2024.
♦ Lebanon’s Health Minister Firas Abiad received the consignment of medicines.
♦ On 18 October 2024, India had dispatched the first tranche of 11 tons of medical supplies to Lebanon as part of a humanitarian effort to support the nation amid rising tensions and the ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon. A total of 33 tons of medical supplies are being sent.
Posted Date: October 25, 2024♦ The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved two railway projects of Ministry of Railways with total estimated cost of Rs.6,798 crore (approx.) on 24 October 2024.
♦ Two approved projects are – (a) doubling of Narkatiaganj-Raxaul-Sitamarhi-Darbhanga & Sitamarhi-Muzaffarpur Section covering 256 kms and (b) construction of new line between Errupalem and Namburu via Amaravati covering 57 kms to be completed in 5years.
♦ The Two projects covering 8 districts in 3 states i.e., Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Bihar will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 313 kms.
Other decisions:
♦ The Union Cabinet has also approved the creation of a Rs.1,000 crore venture capital fund dedicated to the space sector, under the supervision of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe).
♦ The fund is expected to deploy an average of Rs.150-250 crore per year, depending on the investment landscape and startup requirements. As part of India’s 2020 space reforms, IN-SPACe was established to promote private sector participation in space activities. Currently, India’s space economy is valued at $8.4 billion, with a target to expand it to $44 billion by 2033.
Posted Date: October 25, 2024♦ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the second edition of Indian Army's flagship international seminar, the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi on 24 October 2024.
♦ "Drivers in Nation Building: Fuelling Growth Through Comprehensive Security" is the theme for this seminar.
♦ Rajnath Singh also launched the Indian Army’s Green Initiative 1.0 and Digitisation of IA 1.0.
Posted Date: October 25, 2024♦ The Indian Coast Guard successfully conducted the coastal security exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’ on October 16-17 across Gujarat and the Union Territory of Daman & Diu. The exercise was coordinated by the Coast Guard Regional Headquarters in Gandhinagar, was the second edition of the year.
♦ It aimed to sharpen maritime and coastal security preparedness while validating existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Posted Date: October 19, 2024♦ Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY NRLM) under Ministry of Rural Development signed Memorandum of Understanding with nine Public Sector Banks and one Private Bank on 18 October 2024.
♦ These Banks are Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, UCO Bank and IDBI Bank Limited.
♦ These Banks have designed specific products for financing individual women entrepreneurs under the fold of DAY-NRLM. The loan products so designed will help women avail bigger ticket size loans for scaling up their enterprises.
Posted Date: October 19, 2024♦ Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud inaugurated the international conference Advancements of Research and Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda (AROHA-2024) in New Delhi on 17 October 2024. The three-day event will continue until 19 October 2024. AROHA aims to position Ayurveda as a key pillar of global health and wellness.
♦ The conference features workshops and 15 scientific sessions, with over 400 research papers presented.
♦ The All India Institute of Ayurveda has a global presence in over 74 countries through academic and scientific collaborations with prominent organizations like the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, FIGZ Germany, AIST Japan, Western Sydney University Australia, UHN Canada, and national institutions like IGIB, AIIMS, CSIR, IIT, and others.
Posted Date: October 17, 2024♦ The Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6(A) of the Citizenship Act related to the grant of Indian citizenship to immigrants in Assam by a majority verdict of 4:1 on 17 October 2024. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Surya Kant, MM Sundresh, and Manoj Misra gave the majority verdict, while JB Pardiwala passed a dissent verdict.
♦ The section 6(A) was inserted in 1985 following the Assam Accord. It created a special provision for Assam by which persons of Indian origin who came from Bangladesh before 1st January 1966, were deemed to be citizens of India as of that date.
♦ The section also said that, Persons of Indian origin who entered Assam between 1st January 1966, and 25th March 1971, and were required to register themselves. They were granted citizenship only after 10 years of residence.
♦ However, Section 6(A) specified a cut-off date of 25th March, 1971 and said that persons entering after the cutoff date will be termed illegal immigrants.
Posted Date: October 17, 2024♦ Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nayab Singh Saini (54) took oath as Haryana's Chief Minister for the second time on 17 October 2024. Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya administered the oath of office to CM designate Nayab Singh Saini and other ministers in Panchkula's Parade Ground near Chandigarh.
♦ The BJP defied the odds to secure a third consecutive term in Haryana. In the recent assembly elections, the BJP secured 48 out of 90 seats, while the Congress won 37.
♦ Saini became the chief minister of Haryana for the first time on 12 March 2024 after Manohar Lal Khattar's resignation.
Posted Date: October 17, 2024♦ The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26.
♦ The MSP for six rabi crops has been raised by Rs.130 to Rs.300 per quintal.
Wheat: Rs.150 per quintal, Barley: Rs.130 per quintal, Gram: Rs.210 per quintal,
Lentil: Rs.275 per quintal, Mustard: Rs.300 per quintal, Sunflower: Rs.140 per quintal.
♦ The Cabinet also sanctioned the construction of a new rail-road bridge over the Ganga river in Varanasi. This project will include four railway tracks and a six-lane highway, with a total investment of Rs.2,642 crore and is expected to be completed within four years.
Posted Date: October 16, 2024♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 8th edition of India Mobile Congress during the International Telecommunication Union – World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (ITU-WTSA) 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 15 October 2024. WTSA is the governing conference for the standardization work of the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Agency for Digital Technologies, organized every four years.
♦ It is for the first time that the ITU-WTSA is being hosted in India and the Asia-Pacific. It is a pivotal global event that has brought together more than 3,000 industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over 190 countries, representing telecom, digital, and ICT sectors.
Posted Date: October 15, 2024♦ External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar inaugurated the eMigrate V2.0 web portal and Mobile App in Delhi on 14 October 2024. The eMigrate portal promotes safe and legal mobility channels for Indian migrants. The enhanced e-Migrate portal aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 10, promoting orderly and responsible migration.
♦ Jaishankar stated that there is a global need for workers who have domain-specific knowledge of their field. He noted that this need for a well-trained workforce in different geographies is only going to grow further. Dr Jaishankar added that this is reflected in the pace at which India has undertaken negotiations with different countries on migration and mobility since 2015.
Posted Date: October 14, 2024♦ PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for muti-modal connectivity is completing three years on 13 October 2024. This master plan was launched in 2021 to provide multimodal connectivity infrastructure to various economic zones.
♦ PM GatiShakti has integrated 44 Central Ministries and 36 States and Union Territories for planning and executing infrastructure projects. It has achieved a milestone of assessing 208 big-ticket infrastructure projects worth over Rs.15 lakh crore of various ministries.
♦ The National Logistics Policy under this scheme aims to reduce logistics costs, improve India’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) ranking to be among the top 25 countries by 2030, and promote data-driven decision-making.
Posted Date: October 13, 2024♦ The government has approved the upgradation of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to 14th Maharatna, Central Public Sector Enterprises. The Finance Ministry announced this on 12 October 2024. This status will give more autonomy to the company in terms of financial and strategic matters.
♦ HAL is a Department of Defence Production, CPSE with an annual turnover of Rs.28,162 crore and a net profit of Rs.7,595 crore in 2023-24.
♦ To qualify for Maharatna status, a company must meet stringent financial criteria: an average turnover exceeding Rs.25,000 crore, an average annual net worth of more than Rs.15,000 crore, and an average annual net profit of over Rs.5,000 crore over the past three years.
♦ The 14 "Maharatna" public sector undertakings (PSUs) in India are: BHEL, BPCL, Coal India, GAIL, HPCL, Indian Oil, NTPC, ONGC, Power Grid, SAIL, Oil India, REC, PFC, HAL.
Posted Date: October 12, 2024♦ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated and dedicated 75 BRO (Border Roads Organisation) road and bridge projects to the nation at a cost of Rs.2,236 crore on 12 October 2024. It contains 22 Roads, 51 Bridges and 02 other miscellaneous projects. These Projects have been constructed in 11 border States/Union Territories including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
♦ Out of these Projects 19 have been constructed in UT of J&K, 11 in UT of Ladakh, 18 in Arunachal Pradesh, 09 in Uttrakhand, 06 in Sikkim, 05 in Himachal Pradesh, 02 each in West Bengal and Rajasthan and 01 each in Nagaland,Mizoram.
Posted Date: October 12, 2024♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Prime Minister of Lao PDR H.E. Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane on 11 October 2024. India and Lao PDR signed six MoUs and agreements in the fields including defence cooperation, customs, audio-visual, and preservation of heritage. India has also decided to provide one million US dollar financial assistance to a project to improve nutrition security in Laos with food fortification through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.
Posted Date: October 11, 2024♦ The India Digital Agri Conference 2024 was organized in New Delhi on 11 October 2024 to explore the transformative potential of digital agriculture. The mission aims to empower farmers with real-time information and support systems, enabling better decision-making and boosting rural livelihoods. Shri Chaturvedi emphasized that digital agriculture will play a pivotal role in transforming the agricultural landscape of India.
Posted Date: October 11, 2024♦ The naval fleet exercise Malabar-2024 was officially launched in Visakhapatnam, the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) on 9 October 2024. Navies from Australia, Japan, and the United States have joined the Indian Navy for this annual maritime exercise, which will take place both in harbour and at sea. This exercise is being held until 18 October 2024.
♦ The exercise aims to strengthen cooperation and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
♦ MALABAR was initiated in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and the US, gained further traction as a significant maritime engagement, with Japan and Australia joining in subsequently.
Posted Date: October 9, 2024♦ The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) has announced the integration of the UMANG app with DigiLocker- India’s Digital Wallet on 9 October 2024. This collaboration aims to provide citizens with seamless access to a wide range of government services bringing greater convenience and allowing users to manage multiple services through a single platform.
♦ DigiLocker is a flagship initiative under the Digital India program aimed at providing secure cloud-based storage of essential documents.
Posted Date: October 9, 2024♦ India has officially launched its ‘Study in India’ campaign at the 20th International Education Show in Sharjah on 9 October 2024. This is a significant push to attract international students to its universities. This was organized by EdCIL, a Miniratna company under the Ministry of Education, the campaign seeks to position India as a leading global education hub.
♦ The India Pavilion at Expo Centre Sharjah was inaugurated by Ahmed Mohamed Obaid Al Naboodah of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Yatin Patil, Deputy Consul General of India in Dubai.
♦ The ‘Study in India’ programme showcases over 590 Indian universities and institutions, offering a variety of courses and exclusive benefits such as fee waivers and scholarships for international students.
Posted Date: October 9, 2024♦ The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) on 9 October 2024. This decision extends the program from July 2024 through December 2028. The rice fortification initiative will continue as a central sector initiative with 100% funding by the Government of India as part of PMGKAY (Food Subsidy).
♦ The Union Cabinet also approved the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal, Gujarat. This major project, aimed at preserving and showcasing India’s 4,500-year-old maritime heritage, will be executed in two phases.
Posted Date: October 9, 2024♦ Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated DefConnect 4.0 in Delhi on 7 October 2024. This was organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence - Defence Innovation Organisation (iDEX-DIO), under the ministry's Department of Defence Production.
♦ DefConnect 4.0 marks a milestone in India's defence innovation journey, bringing together the armed forces, Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), industry leaders, innovators, start-ups and MSMEs, academia, incubators, investors and policymakers.
♦ During the event, Rajnath Singh launched the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX-ADITI 2.0 challenges and the 12th edition of Defence India Start-up Challenges – DISC 12. ADITI 2.0 features 19 challenges from the Armed Forces and allied agencies, offering a grant of up to Rs.25 crore to Innovations for Defence Excellence winners. DISC 12 will present 41 challenges across key technology domains with grants up to 1 crore 50 lakh rupees.
♦ The Union Health Ministry said that, India has become an affiliate member of the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF), which will open doors to invaluable opportunities for reliance and collaboration with regulatory authorities worldwide. The IMDRF was established in 2011. This is a group of global medical device regulators whose aim is to speed up the adoption of international medical device regulatory harmonisation and convergence.
Posted Date: October 6, 2024♦ The celebration of the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF) began in Marina Beach, Chennai on 06 October 2024. The theme for this year (2024) is Sashakt, Saksham, Atmanirbhar (Potent, Powerful, Self-reliant).
♦ Chennai Air Show 2024 showcased 72 functional and vintage fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters.
♦ Chennai hosted the IAF airshow after 21 years, witnessed a scintillating aerial display of several fighter jets, helicopters, and vintage aircraft, which enthralled the audience. Some of the aircraft and helicopters that participated in various formations include LCA Tejas, Rafale, Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar Mirage 2000, MiG 29, HTT 40, ALH Mk-I, Hawk MK, Chetak, Dakota and Harvard.
Posted Date: October 6, 2024♦ According to data from the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), in the fiscal year 2014-15, mobile phone production in India was valued at a modest Rs.18,900 crore. Fast forward to 2023-24, and this figure is expected to escalate to an impressive Rs.4.10 lakh crore. This exponential growth underscores the country’s escalating manufacturing capabilities and its commitment to becoming self-reliant in the electronics sector.
♦ In 2014-15, mobile phone exports stood at a mere Rs.1,556 crore. The last decade (2014-2024) has seen mobile exports worth Rs.3.22 lakh crore, with the year 2023-24 alone touching the Rs.1,20,000 crore mark—marking an astounding 77-fold increase.
♦ In 2014-15, India imported mobile phones worth Rs.48,609 crore. By 2023-24, this number is expected to plummet to Rs.7,665 crore, an 84% reduction.
♦ Since 2014, India has produced an impressive 2.5 billion mobile handsets worth Rs.20 lakh crore. The number of manufacturing units has surged from just a handful in 2014 to over 200 units, making India the second-largest mobile phone manufacturing nation globally.
♦ Between 2023 and 2028, the mobile phone manufacturing sector is expected to generate 8 lakh new jobs, providing a significant boost to the country’s employment rates. The Government of India projects that the sector will be worth $126 billion or Rs.10,587.82 billion by 2025-26.
Posted Date: October 5, 2024♦ Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have announced the establishment of a joint venture company (JVC), which has been incorporated in the name of BEL IAI AeroSystems Private Ltd. The JVC with its registered office in Delhi shall be the single point of contact (SPOC) for extending long-term product support to the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) systems of India's defence forces, Bengaluru-headquartered BEL.
♦ IAI is the Israel's leading aerospace and defence company.
♦ BEL said the JVC has been set up to provide life cycle support, both technical and maintenance related, for MRSAM air-defence systems of the country.
Posted Date: October 4, 2024♦ The Union Cabinet officially granted classical language status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali on 3 October 2024. This decision marks a significant addition to India’s classical language list, which was first established on 12 October 2004, with the declaration of Tamil as a classical language.
♦ The category was created to honor languages with a long and rich history, ancient literature, and cultural heritage.
♦ The status of a classical language is granted based on specific criteria, including the language’s antiquity, with recorded texts dating back over a thousand years, a body of ancient literature considered a valuable heritage by generations, and an original literary tradition not borrowed from other linguistic communities.
♦ The Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC), constituted by the Ministry of Culture under Sahitya Akademi in November 2004, reviewed and revised the criteria, leading to the declaration of Sanskrit as a classical language in 2005. Since then, Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014) have also received classical language status.
♦ The Union Government launched the pilot phase of the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme on 3 October 2024. It aims to provide internship opportunities to one crore youth in top 500 companies over five years. The scheme also aiming to offer 1.25 lakh internship opportunities during the fiscal year 2024-25.
♦ The total cost of the pilot project will be Rs.800 crore and will be rolled out in seven districts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and Telangana.
♦ It will be implemented through an online portal pminternship.mca.gov.in.
♦ The interns will be provided a financial assistance of Rs.5,000 per month and out of the total amount, Rs.4,500 will be disbursed by the government and Rs.500 will be paid by the company from its CSR funds.
♦ NITI Aayog has launched its maiden State Chapter of Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) in association with WE Hub and the Telangana government on 1 October 2024. With over 30 thousand registered women entrepreneurs and associations, the WEP has over 400 mentors from different industry sectors. WE Hub will be the nodal agency for all WEP activities in the State.
♦ The platform aims at promoting and supporting women entrepreneurs across sectors, providing them resources, tools, and a robust network to enhance their business growth. The WEP will offer customised support like digital skilling, access to financial services, mentorship, and market linkages.
♦ The Union Government has launched the PM Electric Drive (E-DRIVE) scheme, with an outlay of Rs.10,900 crore. The scheme will be implemented from October 1, 2024, until March 31, 2026, and is designed to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across India. The scheme will focus on electric two-wheelers (e-2Ws), electric three-wheelers (e-3Ws), electric buses, and other emerging categories of EVs.
♦ The EMPS-2024 (Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme) being implemented for the period April 1, 2024 to September 30, 2024 is being subsumed under the PM E-DRIVE scheme.
♦ The overall budget of Rs 10,900 crore will be spread over two years, with Rs 5,047 crore allocated for FY 2024-25 and Rs 5,853 crore for FY 2025-26. The government aims to support the procurement of over 14,000 e-buses, establish 2,000 charging stations, and upgrade EV testing infrastructure across the country.
♦ India is among 104 countries invited to attend the world’s largest naval defence trade show that will be held in Paris from 2024 November 4-7. The event, focusing on innovation, sovereignty and international cooperation, will bring together the key players in the Naval industry which includes shipbuilders, equipment manufacturers, institutions and experts.
♦ This year (2024), there will be shows on innovative solutions to protect naval forces and maritime infrastructure against air and surface drones, next-generation anti-ship missiles, missile systems to destroy multiple hostile drones and many other latest features to strengthen naval forces around the world.
