1. Railways plans to modernise 1,000 small stations under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
Tags: National Economy/Finance Government Schemes
The Indian Railway will launch the “Amrit Bharat Station Scheme” under which 1000 small but important stations will be modernized. This scheme is different from the ongoing plan to revamp 200 railway stations.
According to the Indian Railways the stations will be selected not only on the passenger traffic but also on the cites they cater to. These stations will be redeveloped under what is called the ''Khurda model of redevelopment''.
Khurda station in Odisha was modernized for Rs 4 crore with all contemporary amenities for passengers. The main structure was renovated, the facade was redone and the number of railway tracks was also increased.
Under the “Amrit Bharat Station Scheme” the Divisional Railway Managers will be responsible for the redevelopment of the railway station. The DRMs have been instructed to review existing buildings in the station premises and release space for passengers near the entrances and enable relocation of rail offices to other places.
Modernisation of these stations would include improved station approaches to ensure smooth access by widening roads, removal of unwanted structures, properly designed signages, dedicated pedestrian pathways, well-planned parking areas, and improved lighting among others.
The station should also have a second entry station building and high-level platforms with a length of 600m.
Union Railway Minister: Ashwini Vaishnaw
2. Government to waive off Registration/Diagnostics/Treatment fee at National Institutes for Divyangjan having UDID cards from 1st January, 2023
Tags: National
In a significant move that will benefit lakhs of Divyangjan, the government has waived the Registration, Diagnostics and Treatment fees at National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres from 1st of January2023. The fee will be waived for those who have Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities- UDID cards and those who have disability certificate and are enrolled on UDID portal.
In addition, full course fee will also be waived off in various courses at such institutes and centres. This will be effective for 2022-23 batch students onwards. Further, the central government has also instructed each National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres to have a dedicated counter to help Persons with Disabilities in filing UDID applications and to provide treatment facilities to all persons on Saturday and Sunday also.
Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar
3. PM Modi to participate in the historic programme marking ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ in Delhi on 26 December
Tags: place in news National Person in news Important Days
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a historic programme marking the first ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Delhi on 26th December 2022.
On the Prakash Purab()birth anniversary) of the 10th Sikh Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh on 9th January 2022 the Prime Minister had announced that 26th December will be observed as ‘Veer Bal Diwas to mark the martyrdom of Sri Guru Gobind Singh’s sons Sahibzadas Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh.
They were brutally murdered by Wazir Khan the Mughal Governor of Sirhind on this day in 1705. .
During the programme, the Prime Minister will attend a ‘Shabad Kirtan’ performed by Baal Kirtanis. On this occasion, Mr Modi will also flag off a march-past by about three thousand children in Delhi.
4. Union Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goel launches right to repair portal for consumers
Tags: National
On the National Consumer Rights day the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal launched a host of new initiatives including the Right to Repair portal in New Delhi on 24 December 2022.
The Right to Repair portal
On the 'right to repair' portal, manufacturers will share the manual of product details with customers so that they can either repair by self, by third parties, rather than depend on original manufacturers. Initially, mobile phones, electronic, consumer durables, automobile and farming equipment will be covered.
In July 2022 the Department of Consumer Affairs had set up a committee headed by the Additional Secretary Nidhi Khare to develop a comprehensive framework on ‘Right to Repair’.
National Consumer Helpline
On the occasion the minister opened the new premises of the National Consumer Helpline centre in the national capital. On this day National Consumer Helpline launched its service in 7 new regional languages. The helpline is now offering its service in 12 regional languages.
"Effective disposal of cases in consumer commission"
Speaking on the theme of the "Effective disposal of cases in consumer commission" on the National consumer Rights day the minister praised the consumer commissions for disposing of a higher number of pending cases in the last six months.
Under the Consumer Protection law, a complaint is required to be disposed of within 90 days of its filing and within 150 days wherever expert evidence is required to be taken. There are 673 consumer commissions in the country.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Consumer Affairs Department and IIT (BHU), Varanasi
5. Air Suvidha forms must for passengers coming from 5 countries; Mansukh Mandaviya
Tags: National
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on 24 December 2022 that the Air Suvidha portal will be implemented for passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand in view of rising cases of COVID in China.
Air Suvidha forms are self-declarations of the health of passengers travelling to India from the identified international destinations. These forms have been reintroduced to keep a check on the passengers arriving from the countries most affected by the virus.
The Minister also said that the RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test will be mandatory for them. And they will be quarantined if they test positive.
India has already started random testing 2 percent of international passengers arriving at its airports for COVID-19 as the country steps up surveillance for new virus variants.
The steps come amid a series of high-level meetings following a spike in cases seen in other parts of the world, although experts and officials have reportedly said India has little to worry because of its high baseline immunity.
6. 81 crore people to get free foodgrains for one year under NFSA
Tags: Government Schemes National News
The government on 23 December decided to provide free foodgrains to 81.35 crore people for one year under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) at an estimated cost of Rs 2 lakh crore. It will be implemented from 1 January 2023.
Important facts
- As per the cabinet decision, beneficiaries under NFSA will get free food grains for one year till December 2023.
- The decision comes a few days before the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) expires on December 31, 2022.
- The beneficiaries will not have to pay a single rupee to get foodgrains.
About PMGKAY
- It is a food security welfare scheme announced by the Central Government in March 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- It is a part of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to help the poor in the fight against COVID-19.
- The program is run by the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
- Under the programme more than 80 crore beneficiaries are provided 5 kg free wheat/rice per person per month.
- It is the largest food security program in the world.
Objective of the scheme
- To provide food security to all priority households (ration card holders and those identified by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme), to provide food grains to India's poorest citizens through the Public Distribution System.
National Food Security (NFS) Act, 2013
- It aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people.
- This includes Re 3 per kg of rice, Re 2 per kg of wheat and Re 1 per kg of coarse grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
- It converts the existing food security programs of the Government of India into a legal mandate.
- The existing food security programs include the mid-day meal scheme, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme and the Public Distribution System (PDS).
7. Sitiveni Rabuka becomes the new Prime Minister of Fiji
Tags: Person in news International News
Sitiveni Rabuka became Fiji's prime minister on 24 December 2022 after a coalition of parties voted narrowly to install him as leader of the country. It also signals the end of the former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama's 16 years in power. In the 55 member Parliament of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka secured 28 votes against Bainimarama's 27 votes.
Rabuka now heads a three-party coalition government consisting of his People's Alliance, the National Federation Party led by Biman Prasad and the Sodelpa Party, led by Viliame Gavoka.
Fiji will have three deputy prime ministers in Biman Prasad (finance), Viliame Gavoka (tourism), and Manoa Kamikamica (external trade) under the coalition arrangement.
Republic of Fiji
It is an archipelago of 300 islands and 500 islets in the South Pacific Ocean near New Zealand.
It gained Independence from Great Britain in 1970.
About two-fifths of the Fijian populations are Indins who were brought as indentured labourer by the British from North India to work in the sugar fields of Fiji.
English, Fijian, and Fijian Hindi are the official languages of the country.
The Parliament of Fiji is unicameral and consists of 55 members. The term of the Fijian parliament is of four years.
Capital of Fiji: Suva
Currency: Fijian Dollar
President: Jioji Konrote
8. PM Modi addressed the 75th 'Amrut Mahotsav' of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Sansthan
Tags: Festivals National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 75th Amrut Mahotsav of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot Sansthan via video-conferencing on December 24.
Important facts
- The five-day Amrit Mahotsav celebrations were inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at Sahajanand nagar in Rajkot on 22 December.
- Spiritual leaders, saints and devotees from across the world are participating in large numbers in the grand Amrit Mahotsav celebrations to be held at Sahajanand Nagar in Rajkot.
- Mega blood donation camps, free medical check-up camps are being organized during Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, where renowned doctors are providing free medical services and free medicines to the people.
About Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot Sansthan
- It was established at Rajkot in 1948 by seer Shri Dharmajivandasji Swami.
- It has expanded significantly and currently has more than 40 branches across the world, providing school, undergraduate and postgraduate education to more than 25,000 students.
9. CCEA increases the Minimum Support prices for copra for 2023 season
Tags: National Economy/Finance
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 23 December 2022 has approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for copra for 2023 season. The approval is based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
The MSP for Fair Average Quality of milling copra has been fixed at Rs. 10860/- per quintal and for ball copra at Rs. 11750/- per quintal for 2023 season. This is an increase of Rs. 270/- per quintal for milling copra and Rs. 750/- per quintal for ball copra over the previous season.
The announced MSP of copra for 2023 season is in line with the principle of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times all India weighted average cost of production as announced by the Government in the Budget 2018-19.
National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) will continue to act as Central Nodal Agencies for procurement of copra and de-husked coconut under Price Support Scheme (PSS).
Price Support Scheme
- It has been launched by the government of India.
- Under this scheme when the prices of commodities fall below the Minimum Support price (MSP) , state and central notified procurement nodal agencies purchase commodities directly from the farmers at MSP under specified Fair Average Quality,
- This helps and protects the farmers against the economic loss in farming.
10. Government approves Bharat Biotech’s Nasal covid vaccine
Tags: National Science and Technology
The government of India on 23 December 2022 has allowed the use of Bharat Biotech's nasal COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose. The vaccine will be offered to people of 18 years and above.
The vaccine will be available initially at the private hospitals and can be booked on the CoWIN app from 23 December 2022.
The nasal vaccine BBV154 had received approval of the Drugs Controller General of India in November for restricted use in an emergency situation for those above 18 as a heterologous booster dose.
This vaccine has been specifically formulated to allow intranasal delivery through nasal drops. The nasal delivery system has been designed and developed to be cost-effective in low and middle-income countries.
It was developed in partnership with Washington University, St. Louis of the United States of America.
The rise of mutant variants in China and other countries may cause a fresh surge of infections in India, which is a cause of concern for the government.
Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech company has also developed injectable Covaxin vaccine with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology, Pune.
Heterologous vaccine
A heterologous vaccine is a type of booster vaccine which is given to a person who has already taken a different vaccine. A heterologous vaccine is also called a mix and match vaccine because a person is taking two types of vaccine for the same disease.
The novel coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan China in December 2019 and was later declared a Public health emergency of International concern by the World Health Organisation on 30 January 2020 and a Pandemic on 11 March 2020. The first case of the virus in India was confirmed in Kerala on 30 January 2020.
The Covid vaccination in India was started on 16 January 2021.
