♦ The Indian Armed Forces inaugurated the first-ever tri-services “Future Warfare” course in New Delhi on 23 September 2024. This course is scheduled from 23 - 27 September. This program has been organised by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) under the leadership of Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.
♦ The primary goal of the course is to acquaint officers with the technological and operational complexities of modern warfare.
♦ The need for a Future Warfare Course for Tri Services officers arises from the rapidly evolving nature of modern warfare, driven by technological advancements, changing global dynamics, and emerging threats.
Posted Date: September 23, 2024National
♦ The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, launched the ‘Cruise Bharat Mission’ from the Mumbai port on 30 September 2024. Sonowal said that the mission aims to propel the country’s cruise tourism industry by doubling cruise passenger traffic by 2029. He further said that the government is committed to harnessing the tremendous potential of the Blue Economy of India.
♦ Sarbananda Sonowal launched the mission from onboard cruise ship ‘Empress’. The initiative aims to excel India’s vision to become a global hub for cruise tourism and promote the country as the leading global cruise destination. The Cruise India Mission will be implemented in three phases, beginning from 1 October 2024 up to 31 March 2029.
♦ The Indian Army signed the eighth procurement contract through the government’s flagship initiative Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) in New Delhi on 30 September 2024. The contract for procurement of Generation of Quantum Secure Key (Quantum Key Distribution) was signed with QuNu Labs in the presence of Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lieutenant General NC Raja Subramani. This contract will replace the algorithm-based encryption systems thus enabling greater security and also optimising manpower commitment.
♦ At present there is a total of 74 Projects of the Indian Army under iDEX including as part of Acing Development of Innovation Tech with iDEX (ADITI), Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC) and Open Challenge schemes which involve handholding of 77 Startups for the development of the latest state of art solutions for the Indian Army.
♦ iDEX aimed to create an eco-system to foster innovations and encourage technological development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging Research and Development Institutes, Academia, and Industries including MSMEs, Start-Ups, and individual innovators.
♦ The 8th edition of India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND-2024 commenced at Surya Foreign Training Node, Auli, Uttarakhand on 30 September 2024. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 30th September to 13th October 2024.
♦ KAZIND-2024 has been held annually since 2016. Last edition of the Joint Exercise was held at Otar, Kazakhstan from 30th October to 11th November 2023.
♦ Aim of the Joint Exercise is to enhance joint military capability of both sides to undertake counter terrorism operations in a sub conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The Joint Exercise will focus on operations in the semi-urban and mountainous terrain. Objectives to be achieved from the Joint Exercise are high degree of physical fitness, rehearsing and refining drills for operations at tactical level and sharing of best practices.
♦ The Ministry of Labour & Employment and Amazon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi, marking a significant step toward enhancing employment accessibility in India.
♦ The MoU is initially set for a period of two years. Under this agreement, Amazon and its third-party staffing agencies involved in hiring for Amazon will regularly post job vacancies on the NCS portal and conduct hiring through it.
♦ The collaboration also involves organizing job fairs at Model Career Centres (MCCs), where job seekers will have the opportunity to interact directly with Amazon's recruitment teams.
♦ Through this collaboration, Amazon and its third-party staffing agencies will tap into a diverse talent pool from the NCS portal, including women and persons with disabilities.
About NCS Portal:
♦ The National Career Service (NCS) portal, operational since July 2015, has been a transformative platform in the employment landscape.
♦ Managed by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, it provides a wide range of services, including job search, career counselling, vocational guidance, and skill development resources.
♦ The portal serves millions of users, including job seekers, employers, and educational institutions.
Posted Date: September 30, 2024♦ External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar chaired the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) informal Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York on 28 September 2024.
♦ The meeting was held to prepare for the BIMSTEC Leaders’ Summit.
♦ Jaishankar highlighted that the meeting focused on improving physical, maritime, and digital connectivity across the region, along with exploring opportunities for capacity building, skill development, and improving people-to-people ties.
♦ He noted that the development of BIMSTEC Centres of Excellence is a collective resolve and that the meeting reaffirmed India’s commitment to wider engagement with BIMSTEC in line with Neighbourhood First, Vision SAGAR, and Act East Policy.
Posted Date: September 30, 2024♦ Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the 21st Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Zone III Conference at the Mizoram Legislative Assembly Complex on 27 September 2024. This gathering, which aims to foster legislative sanctity, brings together key political figures and representatives from across the northeastern region.
♦ The CPA was established in 1911. This is one of the oldest organizations within the Commonwealth, representing over 180 legislatures from 54 member countries. It aims to strengthen commitments to democratic governance and the parliamentary system, providing opportunities for collaboration among MPs and parliamentary staff on mutual interests and best practices.
♦ The CPA India Region was formed in 2004, consisting of 31 member branches, including the Parliament of India and state/union territory legislatures. The ongoing commitment to strengthening democracy in the northeastern region has led to the regular organization of regional conferences, with the first taking place in 1997.
Posted Date: September 27, 2024♦ The Ministry of Tourism launched a nationwide initiative called ‘Paryatan Mitra’ and ‘Paryatan Didi’ to promote responsible tourism across India on World Tourism Day (September 27). The initiative, which was piloted in six key tourist destinations - Orchha (Madhya Pradesh), Gandikota (Andhra Pradesh), Bodh Gaya (Bihar), Aizawl (Mizoram), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), and Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) focuses on enhancing the tourist experience.
♦ Through ‘Paryatan Mitra’ and ‘Paryatan Didi’, the Ministry aims to connect tourists with locals who act as proud Ambassadors and Storytellers of their regions.
Posted Date: September 27, 2024♦ India ranked 58th globally, with a talent score of 40.47 in the IMD’s World Talent Ranking 2024. In 2023 India was at 56th rank. The ranking assesses nations based on their ability to develop, retain, and attract highly qualified domestic and international talent. In 2022, India was at the 52nd rank.
♦ Top ten countries in the 2024 World Talent Ranking are:
1. Switzerland: 100 score
2. Singapore: 85.65 score
3. Luxembourg: 81.69 score
4. Sweden: 81.02 score
5. Denmark: 78.49 score
6. Iceland: 77.94 score
7. Norway: 77.92 score
8. Netherlands: 77.88 score
9. Hong Kong SAR: 77.22 score
10. Austria: 77.17 score
♦ Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the two-day India Sugar and Bio-Energy conference in New Delhi on 26 September 2024. He said India is now the world’s third largest producer and consumer of Ethanol due to the policy changes made by our government.
♦ Speaking on Sugar Production in the country, the minister said that in the last decade sugarcane cultivation increased by about 18 percent while the sugarcane production has increased by 40 percent.
Posted Date: September 26, 2024♦ India was ranked 39th in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024. A total of 133 countries are present in this list. The Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released this index. In 2023 India was ranked 40th.
♦ According to the WIPO’s GII 2024, Switzerland, Sweden, the US, Singapore, and the UK are the world’s most innovative economies, while China, Turkey, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines are the fastest climbers over the past decade.
♦ The GII was started in 2007 by INSEAD, a business school, and World Business, a British magazine, provides a comprehensive measure of global innovation.
Posted Date: September 26, 2024♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated three Param Rudra supercomputers and High Performance Computing (HPC) systems for weather and climate research on 26 September 2024. The supercomputers, developed indigenously under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) and at a cost of about Rs 130 crore, will be deployed in Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata to support high-performance scientific research and development.
♦ He also inaugurated ‘Arka’ and ‘Arunika’, a High-Performance Computing (HPC) system tailored for weather and climate research, and interacted with scientists and researchers involved in the development of the infrastructure.
♦ The HPC system tailored for weather and climate research, is launched under a total project cost of Rs.850 crore, and is located at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune and the National Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (NCMRWF) in Noida.
Posted Date: September 26, 2024♦ The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has released final estimates of production of major agricultural crops for the year 2023-24. The total food grain production in the country during 2023-24 is estimated at record over three thousand 322 lakh metric tonnes which is 26 lakh metric tonnes higher, compared to 2022-23.
♦ Rice production touched a record 137.82 million tonne, up from 135.75 million tonne in 2022-23. Wheat output also hit a high of 113.29 million tonne as compared to 110.55 million tonne the previous year (2022-23). However, pulses production declined to 24.24 million tonne from 26.05 million tonne and oilseeds output fell to 39.66 million tonne from 41.35 million tonne.
♦ Sugarcane production decreased to 453.15 million tonne from 490.53 million tonne, and cotton output fell to 32.52 million bales (1 bale equals to 170 kg) from 33.66 million bales.
Posted Date: September 25, 2024♦ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the 41st Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Commanders' Conference in New Delhi on 24 September 2024. The three-day conference focusses on advancing the growth and infrastructure development of the ICG. It serves as a crucial platform for ICG Commanders to engage in meaningful discussions on strategic, operational, and administrative matters amid evolving geopolitical landscapes and maritime security complexities.
Posted Date: September 24, 2024♦ The Ayushman Bharat PM-Jay Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJ) scheme marked its 6th year anniversary on 23 September 2024. It was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.
♦ ABPMJAY aims to provide health cover of five lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to approximately 55 crore beneficiaries corresponding to 12.37 crore families constituting the bottom 40 percent of India’s population. This is the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme.
♦ The Union Health Ministry said that 49 percent of the Ayushman Cards are issued to women and out of 7.79 crore hospital admissions, around 3.61 crores are utilized by women.
♦ In terms of Ayushman Cards creation Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra are top performing states and in terms of utilization, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are the top performers.
♦ As on 1st September 2024, a total of 29648 hospitals including 12696 private hospitals have been empaneled under the scheme. The scheme is being implemented in 33 states and Union Territories, excluding Delhi, Odisha, and West Bengal. It provides cashless inpatient services to beneficiaries at empanelled hospitals nationwide, with no restrictions on family size, age, or gender. Further all preexisting diseases are covered from day one in the scheme.
Posted Date: September 23, 2024♦ Hindi movie 'Laapataa Ladies' was chosen as India's official entry in the Best Foreign Film Category for the Oscars 2025 by the Film Federation of India on 23 September 2024. It was released on 1 March 2024.
♦ This film has been selected from all India entries of 12 Hindi films, 6 Tamil and 4 Malayalam films. The jury has been led by 13 members this year.
♦ Laapataa Ladies is directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Kiran Rao, Aamir Khan, Jyoti Deshpande.
Posted Date: September 23, 2024♦ Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated Invest India’s new office in Singapore on 22 September 2024. The office will serve as a dedicated point of contact for companies from the region looking to invest in India, fostering collaboration across sectors.
♦ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced setting up of an Invest India office in Singapore during his visit to the country on September 4th and 5th, 2024.
♦ The Singapore Office is Invest India’s first overseas office.
Posted Date: September 22, 2024♦ The Union government will host the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) from February 5 to 9, 2025, to bolster the country’s media and entertainment industry and extend its global influence. The summit promises a close coordination between the M&E industry and technology sectors, which are becoming increasingly interconnected in the digital age.
♦ WAVES will also focus on fostering trade collaborations between India and other countries to enhance India’s export potential in M&E.
Posted Date: September 22, 2024♦ Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi took oath as the new Chief Minister of Delhi on 21 September 2024. She was administered oath of office along with five ministers by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena at Raj Niwas.
♦ The five cabinet ministers are - Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Kailash Gahlot, Imran Hussain, and first-time MLA Mukesh Ahlawat.
♦ Atishi is Delhi's third woman Chief Minister after Sushma Swaraj of the BJP and Sheila Dikshit of the Congress.
Posted Date: September 21, 2024♦ Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda, inaugurated the second edition of the Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 20 September 2024. The Summit was organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). It aims to establish a global platform for food regulators to exchange insights on strengthening food safety systems and regulatory frameworks throughout the food value chain.
♦ The inaugural Global Food Regulators Summit was held in 2023 in New Delhi.
♦ Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal went to Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) on 20 September 2024 to participate in the 21st ASEAN-India Economic Ministers (AEM-India) meeting and the 12th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers Meeting (EAS EMM).
♦ These annual meetings of ASEAN with their dialogue partners are being hosted this year by Lao PDR, the ASEAN Chair for 2024.
♦ EAS EMM witnesses participation by Economic Ministers of 10 ASEAN countries and 8 other EAS partners viz. India, USA, Russia, China, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
♦ India joined ASEAN in 1992 and became its Comprehensive Strategic Partner in 2022.
♦ Union Minister Amit Shah launched 'White Revolution 2.0' on 19 September 2024. The programme focuses on four key areas - empowering women farmers, enhancing local milk production, strengthening dairy infrastructure, and boosting dairy exports.
♦ The minister also launched the nationwide rollout of RuPay Kisan Credit Cards for dairy farmers and the installation of micro-ATMs at dairy cooperative societies. Additionally, he released standard operating procedures for the computerisation of 67,930 Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS).
♦ Under White Revolution 2.0, the government aims to increase milk procurement by dairy cooperative societies by 50 percent over the next five years.
♦ Indian Coast Guard (ICG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ‘The Habitats Trust’ and ‘HCL Foundation’ to strengthen efforts in marine conservation at ICG Headquarters, New Delhi. The strategic partnership aims to implement critical conservation initiatives and as part of the collaboration.=
The key efforts will include:
♦ Ghost Net Removal: Addressing the problem of discarded fishing nets, which significantly harm marine ecosystems.
♦ Mapping and Classifying Ghost Gear Aggregation Areas: Enhancing knowledge about regions most affected by ghost gear to prioritize clean-up efforts effectively.
♦ Surveys in Ecologically Sensitive Regions: Monitoring and protecting biodiversity, focusing on vulnerable marine habitats.
♦ Community Involvement: Engaging coastal communities in conservation activities to promote stewardship of marine ecosystems.
♦ The 3rd edition of World Food India (WFI) 2024 was started in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 19 September 2024. The Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India organised this event. This is scheduled from 19 to 22 September 24.
♦ World Food India 2024 showcases innovations and opportunities across the food value chain.
♦ The Government of India initiated the inaugural World Food India event in 2017 to showcase India’s rich culinary traditions and encourage investments in the country’s diverse food processing sector.
♦ India has become the sixth largest market in the MSCI All Country World Investable Market Index (ACWI IMI), surpassing China and narrowly behind France. The global index tracks capital market performance across the world.
♦ The index includes large- and mid-cap stocks and is a more inclusive version of the widely tracked MSCI ACWI Index.
♦ India’s weight in the MSCI ACWI IMI stood at 2.35 percent in August, 11 basis points higher than China’s 2.24 percent. India trails France marginally, by just three basis points.
♦ China's weight has fallen by half since peaking in early 2021, while India’s weight has more than doubled during this period.
Top 10 countries in the MSCI ACWI Index:
1. USA: 63.23%, Japan: 5.73%, UK: 3.51%, Canada: 2.83%, France: 2.38%, India: 2.35%, China: 2.24%, Switzerland: 2.14%, Taiwan: 2%, Germany: 1.9%.
Posted Date: September 18, 2024♦ Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the NPS Vatsalya scheme in New Delhi on 18 September 2024. The scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25. This scheme will allow parents to save for their children’s future by investing in a pension account. Parents can subscribe to NPS Vatsalya online or visiting a bank or post office.
What is NPS Vatsalya?
♦ NPS Vatsalya is a specialised variant of the National Pension System (NPS) tailored for minor children. Parents or legal guardians can open and contribute to this account until the child attains the age of 18. Once the child reaches adulthood, the account can seamlessly transition into a standard NPS account.
♦ The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan with a total outlay of Rs.79,156 crore, aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities on 18 September 2024. This initiative will focus on saturating tribal-majority villages and aspirational districts, covering approximately 63,000 villages and benefitting more than five crore tribal people across 30 states and union territories.
♦ The Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, which aims to conduct simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, followed by urban body and panchayat polls within 100 days. The proposal is based on the recommendations of a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which submitted a detailed report on the subject.
♦ The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of two umbrella schemes under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), merging them into a unified initiative known as the Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme. With a total outlay of Rs.9,197 crore during the 15th Finance Commission period from 2021-22 to 2025-26, Bio-RIDE includes a new component called Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry, aimed at advancing India’s capabilities in biotechnology and biomanufacturing.
♦ The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme, allocating Rs.35,000 crore for the 15th Finance Commission Cycle up to 2025-26.
♦ The Union Cabinet has approved a significant expansion of India’s Gaganyaan program, marking a pivotal step in the country’s space exploration ambitions. This decision includes the development of the first unit of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS-1) and the integration of new technologies and missions to support the creation and operation of the BAS.
♦ The second edition of the Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2024 was started in New Delhi on 17 September 2024.
♦ The Conference is the apex-level biannual event facilitating deliberations on significant strategic, operational, and administrative issues between the Naval Commanders.
♦ This is scheduled at New Delhi from 17 to 20 Sep 24.
♦ The Commanders’ Conference as pivotal platform upholds Navy’s commitment to safeguard India’s maritime interests and Navy’s status as a ‘combat ready, credible, cohesive and future ready force’.
Posted Date: September 18, 2024♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first Vande Metro (Namo Bharat Rapid Rail service) between Bhuj and Ahmedabad on 16 September 2024.
♦ The train covers 360 kilometres in 5 hours and 45 minutes and has a top speed of 110 km/h.
♦ Namo Bharat train's special features:
♦ The first rake has been manufactured at ICF, Chennai. Vande Metro is intended to replace the existing mainline EMUs on Indian Railways, offering a metro-like experience with seating and standing options for passengers.
♦ The 12 coach train can accommodate 1,150 passengers while sitting and 2,058 standing passengers.
♦ The Vande Metro boasts an array of features, including a top speed of 130 kmph, enhanced acceleration and deceleration capabilities, and fully sealed gangways that allow for easier movement between coaches while maintaining a dust-free environment.
Posted Date: September 17, 2024♦ Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal launched the Bharat Startup Knowledge Access Registry (BHASKAR) initiative in New Delhi on 16 September 2024.
♦ BHASKAR is an interactive online platform that will centralise, streamline, and enhance collaboration among key stakeholders within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including startups, investors, mentors, service providers, and regulatory bodies.
♦ BHASKAR is designed to unify and empower India’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem by offering a one-stop solution for seamless collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation.
♦ With over 1.4 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups as of August 2024, India has established itself as one of the largest and most vibrant startup ecosystems globally.
♦ BHASKAR aims to challenge incubators, policymakers, and other key startup ecosystem stakeholders under one roof for ease of accessibility and traceability.
Posted Date: September 17, 2024♦ India has jumped to Tier 1 in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024, released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ‘GCI 2024’ used a new five-tier analysis, a shift that allows a greater focus on each country's advances with cybersecurity commitments.
♦ The report placed 46 countries in Tier 1, the highest of the five tiers, reserved for “role modelling" countries that demonstrate a strong commitment in all five cybersecurity pillars.
♦ India topped the chart for adopting measures like legal, technical, capacity development and cooperation as areas of relative strength. Organisational measures was a listed as an area of potential growth for the country.
♦ Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia launched the official website for the much-anticipated Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav. The launch event took place at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi, underscoring the government's commitment to promoting the Northeast's vast potential on a national and global stage.
♦ The Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav, to be held from December 6th to 8th, 2024, at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
♦ The festival draws inspiration from the eight Northeastern states - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura - collectively known as the "Ashtalakshmi," representing eight forms of prosperity.
♦ The website, www.ashtalakshmimahotsav.com, will serve as a one-stop resource for event updates, schedules, and participation details, ensuring seamless engagement for attendees from across the country.
♦ Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) launched the "Rangeen Machhli" mobile app at ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar on 12 September 2024. This was developed by ICAR-CIFA with support from the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
♦ The app is designed to meet the growing needs of the ornamental fisheries sector, providing crucial knowledge resources for hobbyists, aquarium shop owners, and fish farmers.
♦ The "Rangeen Machhli" app provides multilingual information on popular ornamental fish species in eight Indian languages, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Posted Date: September 12, 2024♦ The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved six major schemes with a total outlay of Rs.1,02,358 crore on 11 September 2024. They are:
♦ The health coverage to all the senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of income under the flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). This aims to benefit approximately 4.5 Crore families with 6 crore senior citizens with 5 Lakh rupees free health insurance cover on a family basis.
♦ The Ministry of Power proposed a modification of the budgetary support scheme for the cost of Enabling Infrastructure for Hydro Electric Projects (HEP) with a total outlay of Rs.12461 crore. The scheme would be implemented from FY 2024-25 to FY 2031-32.
♦ The PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-Drive) Scheme with an outlay of Rs.10,900 crore for two years and a Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) of Rs.3,435.33 crore under PM-eBus Sewa in a boost to electrification of vehicles.
♦ The Department of Rural Development proposes “Implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana - IV (PMGSY-IV) during FY 2024-25 to 2028-29”. The financial assistance is to be provided for the construction of a 62,500 km road for providing new connectivity to eligible 25,000 unconnected habitations and the construction/upgradation of bridges on the new connectivity roads. The total outlay of this scheme will be Rs.70,125 crore.
♦ The Union Cabinet has approved ‘Mission Mausam' today with an outlay of Rs.2,000 crore over two years.
♦ The Union Cabinet has approved the “PM-eBus Sewa-Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) scheme” for procurement and operation of e-buses by Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) with an outlay of Rs.3,435.33 crore. This scheme will support deployment of more than 38,000 electric buses (e-Buses) from FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29.
♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the SEMICON India 2024 at the India Expo Mart in Uttar Pradesh’s Greater Noida on 11 September 2024. This conference is being organised from 11th to 13th September with the theme “Shaping the Semiconductor Future”.
♦ On this occasion PM Modi said, India’s electronics sector is valued at over $150 billion, and the government aims to achieve a valuation of $500 billion by the end of 2030.
♦ The main aim of SEMICON India 2024 is to provide a platform for global leaders, semiconductor industry experts, academia, and government officials to interact and explore opportunities to invest in the Indian semiconductor sector.
♦ The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), under the commerce ministry, has topped the chart in the networking category in LinkedIn's top 100 MBA programmes in the world. The institute was ranked 51st among the top 100 programmes globally.
♦ IIFT is establishing a state-of-the-art Centre for International Negotiations (CIN) to offer world-class training for corporates and policymakers on international negotiations.
Posted Date: September 10, 2024♦ Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah was unanimously re-elected as the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language. He has also served as the Chairperson of the committee from 2019 to 2024.
♦ The Parliamentary Committee on Official Language was constituted under the provisions of Section 4 of the Official Languages Act, 1963, in the year 1976. The committee comprises 30 members of Parliament, out of which 20 are from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.
♦ The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) announced the Swachh Vayu Survekshan 2024 awards. This recognition is part of the National Mission for Clean Air. “Swachh Vayu Survekshan” is an initiative by MoEF&CC to rank cities based on the implementation of activities approved under the city action plan and air quality in 130 NCAP (National Clean Air Programme) cities.
♦ Surat, Jabalpur and Agra, cities with populations of over 1 million, have topped the Swachh Vayu Survekshan (clean air survey) Awards for clean air.
♦ In the category for populations between 300,000 and 1 million, Firozabad, Amravati and Jhansi were recognised as the top three and for cities with fewer than 300,000 people, the toppers were Raebareli, Nalgonda and Nalagarh.
♦ The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) reported that 51 cities have shown a reduction in PM10 levels by more than 20% compared to the base year 2017-18, with 21 of these cities achieving a reduction of over 40%.
Posted Date: September 8, 2024♦ The Union Government has given approval to proposals worth Rs.1,45,000 crore to enhance the country’s defence preparedness. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved 10 capital acquisition proposals.
♦ The Council gave nod to procurement of Future Ready Combat Vehicles, Air Defence Fire Control Radars, Dornier-228 aircraft, Next Generation Fast Patrol and Offshore Patrol Vessels.
Posted Date: September 3, 2024♦ Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the 'Agrisure Scheme' on 3 September 2024. This initiative aims to advance the agricultural and rural start-up ecosystem in India, marking a crucial step towards improving the nation’s agricultural landscape.
♦ The Agrisure Fund, established with a mixed capital investment of Rs.750 crore, will focus on technology-driven, high-risk, and high-impact ventures. The fund’s composition includes a Rs.250 crore contribution from the Government of India, Rs.250 crore from NABARD, and an additional Rs.250 crore from banks, insurance companies, and private investors.
Posted Date: September 3, 2024The Union Cabinet has sanctioned seven schemes to transform the agricultural sector, with a combined financial commitment of Rs.14,235.30 crore on 2 September 2024. These initiatives enhance farmers’ livelihoods, improve agricultural productivity, and ensure sustainable development.
The seven schemes & allocations:
♦ Digital Agriculture Mission: Rs. 2,817 crore
♦ Livestock health and dairy: Rs.1,702 crore
♦ Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): Rs. 1,202 crore
♦ Natural resource management to support sustainable agricultural productivity: Rs.1,115 crore
♦ Focuses on crop science: Rs.3,979 crore
♦ To strengthen agricultural education and research: Rs. 2,291 crore
♦ Sustainable development of horticulture: Rs. 1,129.30 crore
♦ The Ministry of Finance upgraded four public-sector enterprises - Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN), Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) and RailTel Corporation of India Limited, to the 'Navratna' status. Three of the four new Navratna companies in India are publicly traded: Railtel, SJVN, and NHPC.
♦ Navratna status is awarded to government-owned companies that were previously classified under 'miniratna' category I.
♦ Navratna companies can invest up to Rs.1,000 crore without prior government approval. Navratna PSUs also can allocate around 15 percent to a specific project or 30 percent of their net worth over an entire year, as long as it is under the Rs.1,000 crore limit.
♦ Shipbuilder Mazgaon Dock was the last PSU to be upgraded to the Navratna status, making these four the 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 25th enterprises to be upgraded.
