1. Conservation Plan for Great Indian Bustards
Tags: Government Schemes National News
The ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is taking various measures for conservation and protection of Great Indian Bustard in the country, including in Rajasthan.
Important steps taken by the Ministry
The Great Indian Bustard is listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Highest degree of legal protection from hunting.
Important habitats of Great Indian Bustards have been designated as National Parks/Sanctuaries for their better protection.
This species has been identified for conservation efforts under the centrally sponsored scheme 'Species Recovery Programme'.
Breeding conservation of the Great Indian Bustard has been done in collaboration with the Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra Forest Departments.
Sites have been identified for setting up conservation breeding centers for Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican birds in consultation with the Wildlife Institute of India and international experts.
A satellite conservation breeding facility has been established at SAM, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
About Great Indian Bustard
It is considered India's most critically endangered bird species and is especially found in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
It is one of the heaviest flying birds endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
It is the state bird of Rajasthan.
These birds are on the verge of extinction, with barely 50 to 249 surviving, according to a 2021 report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
It is a large bird with brown-and-white feathers with black crown and wing markings. It is one of the heaviest birds in the world.
Its habitat is Arid grasslands.
IUCN Status - Critically Endangered.
Listed in Wildlife Protection Act’s Schedule 1.
The cause of the decline in numbers is Hunting, Intensification of agriculture, Power lines.
2. Government of India launched National Rabies Control Program (NRCP) for prevention and control of Rabies
Tags: Government Schemes National News
The Central Government has launched the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) for prevention and control of Rabies recently.
National Rabies Control Program Strategy
Provision of Rabies Vaccine and Rabies Immune Globulin through National Free Drug Initiative.
Training on proper management of animal bites, prevention and control of rabies, surveillance and inter-sectoral coordination.
Strengthening monitoring of reporting of animal bites and rabies deaths.
Awareness about prevention of rabies.
What is Rabies?
Rabies is a viral disease. This virus is present in the saliva of animals suffering from rabies such as dogs, cats, monkeys etc.
It is caused by the rabies virus of the Lyssavirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. It is an RNA virus.
According to statistics, about 99 percent of cases in humans are caused by dog bites.
Rabies is 100% fatal and 100% preventable through vaccines.
India accounts for33% of global rabies deaths.
The time period between bites of an animal infected with rabies and the appearance of symptoms of rabies can range from four days to two years, or sometimes more.
World Rabies Day
The day is observed every year on 28 September to raise awareness about the effects of rabies virus disease and ways to prevent it.
The day is celebrated to mark the anniversary of Louis Pasteur's death.
Louis Pasteur developed the first rabies vaccine and laid the foundation for the prevention of rabies.
The theme of this day for the year 2022 is 'Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths'.
3. 2.18 Crore pucca houses completed till 11th March under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin
Tags: Government Schemes National News
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According to the government, 2 crore 18 lakh pucca houses have been built till March 11, 2023, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G).
An overview of the news
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Rural Development Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said that under the scheme, states and union territories have already sanctioned 2.85 crore pucca houses to the beneficiaries.
Out of these, a total of two crore 94 lakh houses have been allotted to the beneficiaries.
The government has set a target of constructing two crore 95 lakh pucca houses with basic facilities by March 2024.
About Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation launched the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana rural in 2016.
The scheme was initiated with the objective of ‘Housing for All by 2022’.
The scheme has 2 Components - Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural).
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin was earlier called Indira Awas Yojana which was renamed in March 2016.
4. Green national highway corridor project to be implemented in four states
Tags: Government Schemes National News
India and the World Bank have signed aloan agreement for the construction of the Green National Highway Corridors Project (GNHCP) in four States.
An overview of the news
These four states are-Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
Agreement has been signed for construction of 781 kilometer green national highway corridor in these states with a line of credit of $500 million.
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari gave this information in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on March 15.
About Green National Highways Corridor Project
It will assist the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to construct 781 km of highways.
It will integrate safe and green technology designs such as local and marginal materials, industrial by-products and other bioengineering solutions.
It will also support the Bharatmala Pariyojana programme.
Components of the project
Sustainable development and maintenance of National Highways.
Institutional Capacity Enhancement and Road Safety.
Research and Development.
Objective of GNHCP
To demonstrate safe and green highways keeping in mind climate resilience and use of green technologies by incorporating provisions for conservation of natural resources, use of cement-treated reclaimed asphalt pavement.
Use of local/marginal materials such as lime, fly ash, waste plastic, bio-engineering measures such as hydroseeding, coco/jute fibre, etc.
It will enhance the capacity of the Ministry to mainstream green technologies.
5. 3 lakh 61 thousand crore rupees loan given to MSMEs under Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme
Tags: Economy/Finance Government Schemes National News
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Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have so far been given a loan of Rs 3 lakh 61 thousand crore under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS).
An overview of the news
Minister of State for Finance Dr. Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad gave this information in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on March 14.
He informed that this scheme covers all sectors of the economy.
About Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme
It was announced as part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package in 2020.
Its objective is to help businesses including MSMEs to meet their operational liabilities and resume business in view of the distress caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
It provides 100 percent guarantee to lending institutions for any losses incurred due to non-payment of ECLGS funding by borrowers.
The scheme is under the operational domain of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services (DFS).
6. Over 38 crore loans provided since launch of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
Tags: National Economy/Finance Government Schemes National News
In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on March 14, Minister of State for Finance Dr. Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad said that since the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana in April 2015, more than 38 crore loans have been disbursed so far.
An overview of the news
He informed that out of this, more than 26 crore loans have been given to women entrepreneurs.
About 20 crore loans have been disbursed to SC, ST and OBC borrowers.
The Ministry of Labor and Employment had conducted a large sample survey at the national level to assess the employment generation under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.
According to the results of the survey, 1 crore 12 lakh net additional employment has been generated in the country from2015 to 2018 by this scheme.
Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana
It was launched on 8 April 2015.
Under the scheme, the people of the country are given loans up to a maximum of 10 lakhs to start their own small business.
Any person who wants to further his business can take a loan under this scheme.
People are issued a Mudra card to avail loans under this scheme.
The loans are provided through Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Micro Financial Institutions (MFIs), and other financial intermediaries.
More than64 per cent of the loan accounts opened under the scheme are of women.
Three types of loans under Mudra Yojana
Shishu- Loans up to Rs.50,000.
Kishor - Loans above Rs.50,000 and less than Rs.5 lakh.
Tarun- Loans above Rs.5 lakh and up to Rs.10 lakh.
7. Centre launches MSME Competitive (LEAN) scheme
Tags: Economy/Finance Government Schemes National News
Union Minister for MSME Narayan Rane launched theMSME Competitive (LEAN) Scheme on 10 March.
About the Scheme
It aims to provide a roadmap to global competitiveness for the MSMEs of India.
The scheme will not only strive to improve quality, productivity and performance, but also change the mindset of manufacturers and provide them the ability to become world class manufacturers.
Under this scheme, MSMEs will implement LEAN manufacturing tools like 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, Visual Workplace, Poka Yoka etc. under the able guidance of trained and competent LEAN consultants to acquire LEAN levels like Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.
Through this scheme, MSMEs can significantly reduce wastage, increase productivity, improve quality, expand their markets, operate in a safer manner and ultimately become competitive and profitable.
To assist MSMEs, the government will contribute 90 per cent of the implementation cost and consultancy fee for providing initial support.
There will be an additional contribution of 5 per cent for MSMEs which are owned by women/SC/ST and are part of SFURTI clusters located in North Eastern States.
Nodal Agency of the scheme will be the National Productivity Council (NPC).
Initiatives related to MSME Sector
The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act was notified in the year 2006 to address policy issues affecting MSMEs as well as the coverage and investment limits of the sector.
Prime Minister's Employment Generation Program (PMEGP):- It is a credit linked subsidy scheme for setting up new micro enterprises and generating employment opportunities in rural and urban areas of the country. Commencement - 15 August 2008
Scheme of Fund for the Upliftment of Traditional Industries (SFURTI):- Its objective is to organise artisans and traditional industries into clusters and thus provide financial assistance to make them competitive in the current market scenario.
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises :- Under this scheme launched to facilitate easy flow of credit, guarantee cover is provided for collateral free loans given to MSMEs.
Credit Linked Capital Subsidy and Technology Upgradation Scheme (CLCS-TUS) :- It aims at facilitating technology up-gradation to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) by providing 15% capital subsidy for purchase of plant and machinery.
CHAMPIONS Portal:- It aims to help Indian MSMEs to establish themselves as national and global champions by resolving their grievances and providing them encouragement, support.
8. PM Modi addresses post-budget webinar on PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman
Tags: Government Schemes National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the post-budget webinar on 'PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman (PM VIKAS)' on 11 March.
An overview of the news
According to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, this is part of the series of 12 post-budget webinars being organized by the Government of India for ideas and suggestions for effective implementation of the initiatives announced in the Union Budget.
The Prime Minister said that through these schemes, the youth of the country are getting a lot of employment opportunities.
There is a need for a more targeted approachin the field of skill development to get better results and the PM-Vishwakarma scheme is a result of that thinking.
The objective of the PM-Vishwakarma scheme is not only to preserve the rich tradition of traditional artisans and craftsmen but also to develop them.
Now the skill infrastructure system needs to be changed according to their needs.
PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Scheme
This scheme has been announced for traditional artisans and craftsmen in the budget 2023-24.
The objective of the scheme is to improve the quality and accessibility of artisans/craftsmen by integrating them with domestic and global value chains of their products/services.
The scheme includes financial support as well as access to advanced skills, training, knowledge of modern digital technologies and efficient green technologies, brand promotion and social security.
In this scheme, more attention has been given to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Women and Weaker Sections.
Under the Vishwakarma community, more than 140 castesof the country come, which cover a large population of the country.
9. New initiative called 'Beggar Free City' launched in Maharashtra's Nagpur
Tags: Government Schemes State News
In Maharashtra, a new initiative called 'Beggar Free City' was launched in Nagpur.
News Overview
Nagpur City Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said that a notice under 144 CrPC has been issued in this regard.
Notices were given to people, and chances are also not to be allowed in public places.
It is a joint venture of the Nagpur City Police and the Social Welfare Department of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has made special arrangements in its owned shelters to restrict homeless people.
The civic bodies have also arranged a bus and an ambulance to shift the beggars caught in the police operation to their shelter homes.
About Maharashtra
Establishment - 1st May 1960
Official Language - Marathi
Neighbouring States - Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Dadra And Nagar Haveli, Chhattisgarh
Members of Parliament -Lok Sabaha 48 (Rajya Sabha seats 19)
Legislature - Bicameral ( Assembly 289 and council 78 seats)
Literacy - 82.91%
Districts - 36
Major Rivers - Tributaries of Tapti, Bhima, Godavari and Krishna
Capital - Mumbai
Population - 11.23 crore (2011 census)
Governor - Ramesh Bais
Chief Minister -Eknath Shinde
10. Madhya Pradesh govt launches Ladli Bahna scheme
Tags: Government Schemes State News
Madhya Pradesh Government on 5 March launched Ladli Bahna scheme under which each woman will be given one thousand rupees per month.
An overview of the news
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the process of filling application forms of Ladli Bahna Yojana in the presence of about one lakh women at Bhopal's Jamboree Maidan.
This scheme is being launched with the aim of increasing the economic independence of women in the state, improving their health and nutritional status and increasing their influence on family decisions.
Under the scheme, Rs 1,000 per month will be deposited in the accounts of the native women of the state in the age group of 23 to 60 years.
Applications for the scheme will be filled from March 15 to April 30 and the disbursement of funds will start from June 10.
