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PIB SUMMARY

22 nd
& 28 Feb-2023
th

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The Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Report
The second edition of the report was released at the India Dialogue Conference organised by
Institute for Competitiveness and US-Asia Technology Management Center, Stanford University.
Released by: Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) Bibek
Debroy.
Key Highlights
Index of foundation learning Index on Foundational Learning presents a comprehensive evidence
-backed view of factors driving India's low learning outcomes in early grades and outlines pathways
for improvement.
Result of Index of FLN 2022
CATEGORY WISE RANKING – INDEX ON FOUNDATIONAL LEARNING
Small states

Larges states

UT

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North east region

Category wise scores

ACCESS TO EDUCATION

• Large state category, West Bengal has scored the highest i.e., 67.75, it is the only state where more
than 50 percent of the teacher are for primary education, for every 30 students there is one teacher.
• Uttar Pradesh has the second highest score in same category i.e., 51.65, it has the second highest
percentage of teacher for primary education i.e., 39.38.

EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE

• 19 states have scored above national average 67.12 in the educational infrastructure pillar.
• Punjab has scored the highest i.e., 97.98 in Small State category and is closely followed by Delhi
with a score of 95.52 in union territory.
• In Large state category, Tamil Nadu has scored 84.99.
• In the north-eastern category, only Sikkim has scored 75.53 which is above national average.
• In particular performance of Meghalaya is concerning as it has scored the lowest i.e. 3.01.

BASIC HEALTH

National average is 51.63.

• 50 per cent of states/UTs have scored above national average.

• Puducherry has scored the highest i.e., 92.35 in UT category.
• It is closely followed by Kerala (79.25) and Sikkim (79.09) in small state and North-eastern category.
• All states have scored below national average in the large state category, except for Tamil Nadu and
West Bengal. Uttar Pradesh (19.44) and Bihar (12.58) have the lowest scores.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

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• 15 out of 36 states/UTs have scored above national average of learning outcomes i.e., 44.78.
• In the Small state category, Punjab has scored 96.36 which is the highest across all states.
• In Large state category, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have scored 77.93 and 64.14 respectively.
Whereas in Union Territory category Chandigarh leads with a score of 68.74.
• In North-eastern category, only 2 states have scored above national average i.e., Manipur (59.61)
and Assam (59.27).

GOVERNANCE

• This pillar has the lowest national average across all categories i.e., 21.73. 16 out of 36 states/UTs
have scored above national average in governance pillar.
• Bihar has scored the highest in large state category. Whereas in North-East category, Sikkim leads
with a score of 38.51.
• Central fund utilization under POSHAN scheme has been observed high for the following states:
Maharashtra (13.45 per cent), Bihar (9.32 per cent) and Gujarat (7.29 per cent).
• It is noted that Andaman & Nicobar Island and Tripura are the only states which incurred more than
30 per cent share of budget on mid-day meal.
• Delhi is the only state with the highest expenditure on education - as ratio to Aggregate Expenditure
i.e., 22.8 which has also reflected in its performance as it has scored 36.48, which is highest in UT
category. It is closely followed by Assam and Bihar with 18.6 and 18.1 per cent respectively.

About the report

The report compares states on 36 indicators across five key domains
1. educational infrastructure
2. access to education
3. basic health,
4. learning outcomes
5. governance.
Sources

• The primary data for these indicators were taken from various sources, including the
Ministry of Education’s UDISE index, the National Family Health Survey-5, all Budgets
from 2019 onwards and the National Achievement Survey 2021.

• The other sources include data from the National Sample Survey Organisation’ survey
2017-18 and the data from the report on Foundational Numeracy and Literacy released by
the NCERT in 2022 titled ‘National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage’.
Methodology

• The methodology adopted to assign weights in the index was Principal Component
Analysis (PCA).

• States were categorized into different tiers based on the level of development to help form
a better analysis.

• Further, they were classified based on their population of children aged 10 and below.

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IMPORTANT NEWS
Extension of the The Union Cabinet chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,
term of the approved the extension of the term of the Twenty-second Law Commission of
Twenty-second India up to 31st August, 2024. The tenure of present Twenty-second Law
Law Commission Commission of India ends on 20th February, 2023.

Law commission

• The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body, constituted by the

Government of India from time to time.
• The Commission was originally constituted in 1955.
• The various Law Commission have been able to make important
contribution towards the progressive development and codification of Law
of the country

Composition

1. a full-time Chairperson;
2. Four full-time Members (including Member-Secretary)
3. Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex-officio Member
4. Secretary, Legislative Department as ex officio Member
5. Not more than five part-time Members.

Function

• Identification of laws which are no longer relevant and recommending for

the repeal of obsolete and unnecessary enactments.
• Suggesting enactment of new legislations as may be necessary to implement
the Directive Principles and to attain the objectives set out in the Preamble
of the Constitution;
• Considering and conveying to the Government its views on any subject
relating to law and judicial administration.
• Considering the requests for providing research to any foreign countries.
• Preparing and submitting to the report to the Central Government.
• Performing such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Central
Government from time to time.

13th instalment of The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will release Rs 2000 each to farmers under
PM-KISAN the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PM-KISAN) scheme on 27th feb 2023.

• A total of more than Rs. 16,800 crores will be deposited directly in the
accounts of more than eight crore farmers under the Scheme.
• The 11th and 12th instalments under the Scheme were given in May and
October last year.

PM – KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi)

Launch: 24 Feb, 2019 @ Gorakhpur, UP
AIM: To provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the
country with cultivable land, subject to specific exclusions.
Beneficiary: ALL landholding farmers.
List of exclusions
1. All Institutional Land holders
2. Farmer families w/ 1 or more member belonging to:
a. Former/ present Constitutional post holder
b. Former/ present Minister/ MP/ MLA/ Mayor
c. All serving/ retired Central/ State employees

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d. All pensioners w/ monthly pension >₹10,000. (However, serving or
retired multi-tasking staff (MTS)/ Class 4/ Group D employees are
eligible to get benefit under the Scheme, provided their families are
otherwise eligible and not covered under other exclusion criteria.)
e. All Persons who paid income Tax in last assessment year.
f. Professionals like Doctors, Engineers' Lawyers, Chartered
Accountants, and Architects registered with Professional bodies and
carrying out profession by undertaking practices.
Funding 100% Centrally funded scheme
₹6000/year ➜ ₹2000 every 4 month
PMEGP Scheme Loan amount of around Rs 300 Crore sanctioned to 3083 beneficiaries under
PMEGP Scheme in Karauli district of Rajasthan by KVIC.

PMEGP (Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme)

Launch: 2008
It was renamed by merging the two schemes that were in operation till 31.03.2008
namely Prime Minister’s Rojgar Yojana (PMRY) and Rural Employment
Generation Programme (REGP).
Objectives
• To generate employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas of the
country through setting up of new self-employment
ventures/projects/micro enterprises.
• To bring together widely dispersed traditional artisans/ rural and urban
unemployed youth and give them self-employment opportunities to the
extent possible, at their place.
• To increase the wage-earning capacity of artisans and contribute to increase
in the growth rate of rural and urban employment.
Implementation
National: KVIC
State: State KVIC Directorates, State Khadi and Village Industries Boards (KVIBs)
and District Industries Centres (DICs) and banks.
.
Duration: The PMEGP has now been approved for continuation over the 15th
Finance Commission Cycle for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with an outlay
of Rs.13554.42 Crore.

States/districts covered: All the States/UTs will be covered under the Scheme.

Following major modifications/improvements have been made in the existing

Scheme
• Increasing the maximum project cost from existing Rs.25 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh
for manufacturing units and from existing Rs.10 lakh to Rs.20 lakh for service
units.
• Modify definition of village industry and Rural Area for PMEGP. Areas falling
under Panchayti Raj institutions to be accounted under rural area, where as
areas under Municipality to be treated as urban area.
• All Implementing Agencies are allowed to receive and process applications in
all areas irrespective of the rural or urban category.
• PMEGP applicants under aspirational districts and transgender will be treated
as Special category applicants and entitled for higher subsidy.
Normal rate of interest shall be charged.
Repayment schedule may range between 3 to 7 years after an initial moratorium.
Financial Assistance
o The balance amount of the total project cost will be provided by Banks as term
loan.

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o Increasing the maximum project cost from existing Rs.25 lakh to Rs. 50 lakh
for manufacturing units and from existing Rs.10 lakh to Rs.20 lakh for service
units.
o Cost of Trading Sector Unit Rs. 10 lakh in North Eastern Region, LWE-affected
districts and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
o Cost of the land should not be included in the Project cost.
o Cost of the ready built shed as well as long lease or rental Work-shed/Workshop
can be included in the project cost.
o Transport activities for purchase of vehicles – Max 10% of project cost is
allowed.
• Higher rate of Margin Money subsidy - 25% of the project cost in urban area
and 35% of the project cost in rural areas, for special category applicants
including, SC, ST, OBC, women, Transgender, Physically Disabled, NER,
Aspirational and Border district applicants.
• For General category applicant’s subsidy is 15% of the project cost in urban
area and 25% of the project cost in rural areas.

Category Beneficiary Margin money

Contribution Subsidy (of Project Cost)
(of Project Cost) Urban Rural
General 10% 15% 25%
Special (SC/ST/ 5% 25% 35%
Minority/NE/wom
Union Minister Shri Shri Parshotam
en) ) Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and
inaugurates three Dairying inaugurated and launched three national flagship programmes
national flagship 1. Genetic Improvement Programme of Indian White Shrimp (Penaeus
programmes at indicus),
ICAR-CIBA Chennai 2. National Surveillance Programme on Fish Diseases
3. aquaculture insurance product

He also laid foundation stone for the Genetic Improvement Facility at ICAR-CIBA
campus, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai.

1. National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD)

Background

• India is the third largest fish producing country with a fish production
of 14.73 million metric tonnes and one of the largest exporters of farmed
shrimps around 7 lakh tonnes.
• The country loses about 7200 crores annually due to diseases.
Government is implemented the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic
Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) since 2013 with a major emphasis on strengthening
farmer-based disease surveillance system.

First phase: The results of the first phase proved the reduction in revenue losses
due to diseases, increased farmers’ income and exports.

NSPAAD: Phase-II has been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Sampada Yojana

It will be implemented at pan-India, and all the State Fisheries Departments along
with Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) are expected to play
an important role.

2. Genetic Improvement Programme of Indian White Shrimp (Penaeus

indicus)
Background

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• The farmed shrimp alone contributes about 70% of India’s seafood exports
worth Rs. 42000 crores.
• The shrimp farming sector mostly depends on one exotic Specific Pathogen
Free stock of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) species.
• It is highly risky to depend on one species for the production of 10 lakh
tonnes with huge investments on farming infrastructure and the livelihoods
of two lakh farm families.
Purpose: To break this single species dependence and to promote indigenous
species vis-à-vis exotic shrimp species ICAR-CIBA has taken up the genetic
improvement of programme of Indian white shrimp, P. indicus as a national
priority under the Make in India flagship program.
Key points
• CIBA has successfully optimized breeding protocol and demonstrated
culture potential across different geographic location in coastal states using
indigenous feed, indicus plus (35% Protein).
• The Department of Fisheries, Govt. of India have sanctioned the “Genetic
improvement program of Penaeus indicus (Indian white shrimp)-Phase-
I” with an outlay of Rs.25 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) under the Central sector scheme to establish a
National Genetic Improvement Facility for shrimp breeding.

3. Aquaculture insurance product

Background
• India achieved about 430% growth in shrimp production during the last one
decade.
• Shrimp farming is labelled as “risky venture” and due to this, the banking
and insurance institutions are cautious to take up business in shrimp
sector.
• CIBA has estimated Rs 1000 to 1500 crores as the business potential of
shrimp crop insurance per year and a micro credit requirement of over Rs.
8,000 to 10,000 crores per annum.
Key points
ICAR-CIBA developed a Shrimp Crop Insurance product with the support of
Alliance Insurance brokers which was filed with the IRDAI by Oriental
Insurance Company Limited, New Delhi in October 2022.
The product charges differential premium based on location and requirements of
the individual farmer from 3.7 to 7.7 % of input costs and farmer will be
compensated to the tune of 80 % loss of input cost in the event of total crop loss.
i.e., more than 70% crop loss.

VAIBHAV On the occasion of the "National Science Day" on 28th feb 2023, Union Minister
Fellowships of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; launched VAIBHAV
Schemes Fellowship scheme for the Indian Diaspora abroad.
Implemented by: Department of science and technology
Aim: Improving the research ecosystem of India’s Higher Educational and
Scientific Institutions by facilitating academic and research collaborations between
Indian Institutions and the best institutions in the world through mobility of
faculty/researcher from overseas institutions to India.

Eligibility: (for Scientists)

1. The applicant should be Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Persons of Indian Origin
(PIO)
2. and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), currently living abroad.
3. The applicant must have obtained Ph.D/M.D/M.S degree from a recognized
University.

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4. Applicant must be a researcher engaged in an overseas academic / research
/ industrial organization with proven track record of research &
development working in the top 500 QS World University Ranking.
5. Applicants can submit their proposal only once in a calendar year.

Eligibility: (for Institutions): Higher Educational Institutions / University ranked

in top 200 in NIRF overall rankings and having NAAC ‘A” grade (3.0 and above)
and scientific institutes.

Nature & Duration of Support

• The fellowship is tenable only in India and can be implemented in any of
the recognized academic institutions, national laboratories and other
recognized R & D institutions.
• The host institution should provide necessary administrative and
infrastructural support
2. The fellowship is for 1-2 months each year for a period of 3 years. The fellows
will be entitled to receive the grants as given below:
• Fellowship @ USD 5000 (in equivalent Indian currency)
• International Travel from place of their institute to place of work in India in
• business class.
• Accommodation in 3 or 4-star hotel.
• Contingency Rs 1,00,000 per year.
• Domestic Travel for academic purposes up to two stations in a year.
The host institute will get Rs 10 lakh per year for hosting the scientist and
providing office/lab accommodation and facilitation for various infrastructure
support.

Selection & Mode of Application

• The call for applications for VAIBHAV Fellowship will be notified through
DST website www.dst.gov.in.
• Applications would be invited twice in a year, ending on 31st July and 31st
January.
• The applicant must identify an Indian Institution/University/Research
Laboratory for carrying out his research.
• The selection will be based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee
that will be constituted by the DST.

Documents required (in PDF) should be in prescribed format

• Bio-data of Applicant
• Age Proof Certificate
• Qualification Certificate
• Undertaking Certificate by the applicant and NOC from their parent
institute
• Endorsement Certificate from Host Institute
• Plagiarism undertaking.

Termination of the Fellowship

• If any fellow wishes to terminate the fellowship, he/she shall inform DST.
• DST reserves the right to terminate the Fellowship at any stage.

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NEWS IN SHORT
Sansad Ratna The 13th edition of the award ceremony is set to be held this year on March 25 in New Delhi.
Awards 2023
Key points

• The Jury Committee has chosen a total of 13 MPs and two parliamentary
committees for the award.
• Lifetime award being presented for the first time this year.
• its jury committee comprises “eminent Parliamentarians and (members of) civil
society”.
• It was chaired by Arjun Ram Meghwal (MoS, Parliamentary Affairs) and co-
chaired by T S Krishnamurthy (Former Chief Election Commissioner of India).

About

• The Sansad Ratna Awards were instituted in 2010, inspired by the teachings
of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who launched the first edition of the
Award function in Chennai.
• They seek to recognize and felicitate the top-performing MPs on the basis of
their work in the apex legislative body.
• So far 90 Parliamentarians have been given this award.
• Prime Point Foundation (Civil society organisation) runs the awards show.
• The awards were started with support from IIT Madras.

41st edition of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the meeting of 41st edition of
PRAGATI, PRAGATI, the ICT based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely
Implementation, involving Centre and State governments.

Key points

• In the meeting, nine key infrastructure projects were reviewed.

• These nine projects have a cumulative cost of over Rs. 41,500 crores and relate
to 13 states
• Prime Minister advised the Ministries and State Governments to use the PM
Gati Shakti portal for planning of infrastructure projects.
• During the interaction, the Prime Minister also reviewed ‘Mission Amrit
Sarovar’.

About

• “Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation” (PRAGATI) on 25th

March, 2015, as a part of Digital India program.
• It is a robust system for bringing e-transparency and e-accountability with real-
time presence and exchange among the key stakeholders.
• This programme has proved effective in addressing and resolving issues by
bringing down the inter-departmental communication gap and thus minimizing
the time taken for implementation of projects and schemes.
Centre GOI has approved the Quality Control Order (QCO) for mandatory certification of
approves cotton bales under specification No. IS12171: 2019-Cotton Bales.
Quality
Control Order Purpose: To augment supply of good quality cotton to the textile industry.
for mandatory
certification of Background: Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles, presided over the fifth interactive
cotton bales meeting with the Textile Advisory Group (TAG) in New Delhi to review the progress of
initiatives for cotton value chain.

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Key points

• Branding of Indian Cotton will add great value to the entire cotton value chain
from farmers to end users.
• MoU has been signed between the CCI and TEXPROCIL to encourage the Trade
and Industry to work on the principle of self-regulation by owning complete
responsibility of Traceability, Certification and Branding of “KASTURI Cotton
India” with the project target period of 2022-23 to 2024-25.
• Steering Committee and Apex Committee have been constituted and the work
of Traceability, Certification will begin in the current cotton season.
• Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) prepared a pilot project targeting
technologies to agro-climatic zones-large scale demonstrations of best practices
to enhance cotton productivity.

18th UIC • The 18th UIC World Security Congress, concluded with the adoption of the
World Security Jaipur Declaration by the attendees.
Congress • International Union of Railways and Railway Protection Force come together to
organize 18th World Security Congress.

Theme: "Railway Security Strategy: Responses and Vision for Future".

About UIC

• The UIC (Union International Des Chemins) or International Union of Railways

established in 1922 is headquartered in Paris.
• It is the worldwide professional association representing the railway sector for
research, development & promotion of rail transport.

Railway Protection Force (RPF): Constituted as a federal Force in the year 1957,
RPF is responsible for security of railway property, passenger and passenger zones.
Convention on The Union Cabinet chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved
International the ratification of three Protocols relating to amendments in the convention on
Civil Aviation International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), 1944.
(Chicago
Convention), The ratification would affirm India’s commitment to the principles enshrined in the
1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation.

Article 3: To refrain member States from resorting to the use of weapons against civil
aircraft in flight (Protocol signed in May, 1984).

Article 50 (a): For raising the strength of the ICAO Council from 36 to 40 (Protocol
signed in October, 2016); and

Article 56: For raising the strength of the Air Navigation Commission from 18 to 21
(Protocol signed in October, 2016).

About

Purpose: For the standards and procedures for peaceful global air navigation.

• The Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago

Convention, established the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
• The Convention on International Civil Aviation was signed on 7th December
1944 in Chicago.

ICAO

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• In October 1944 ICAO became a specialized agency of the United Nations
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• It changes the principles and techniques of international air navigation and
fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure
safe and orderly growth.
• Its headquarters is located in the Canada.

“International Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology informed that
Bio-resource First time since Independence, North East Region is organizing an International
Conclave” Conference on Biotechnology involving over 700 International and National
delegates representing over 35 countries.

• “International Bio-resource Conclave” along with the 22nd Congress of the

International Society for Ethno-pharmacology and the 10th Congress of Society
for Ethno-pharmacology (ISE SFEC-2023) will be held from February 24-26,
2023 at the City Convention Centre, Imphal, Manipur.

Theme: “Reimagine Ethnopharmacology: Globalisation of Traditional Medicine''.

Baba Saheb IRCTC will be operating Baba Saheb Ambedkar Yatra tour package under “Dekho
Ambedkar Apna Desh” initiative, covering some of the prominent sites associated with the life of
Yatra tour Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
package
• The First journey of the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Yatra will be from New Delhi in
April 2023.

Under “Dekho Apna Desh” initiative, Ministry of Railways along with Indian Railways
Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), is operating Bharat Gaurav Tourist
Trains on various theme-based circuits across India.
Medicinal Garcinia pedunculata, a medicinal plant commonly called 'Borthekera' in the
plant Assamese language, traditionally forbidden for raw consumption, has been found to
commonly protect from heart diseases.
called
Borthekera • The dried pulp of the ripe fruit of the medicinal plant reduced cardiac
hypertrophy indicators and oxidative stress and heart inflammation brought on
by ISO.
• Scientists of Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST),
under Department of Science and Technology (DST), explored this medicinal
plant's potential to prevent heart diseases.

The sun-dried slices of the ripe fruit are used for culinary and medicinal purposes
and are known to have therapeutic properties like anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic,
antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, nephroprotective, and even
neuroprotective activity.
W20 (Women The city of Aurangabad is all set to host the Inception Meeting of W20.
20)
• The Inception Meet at Aurangabad, Maharashtra will be held on 27-28
February, 2023.
• This will be followed by two other W20 International meets at Jaipur, Rajasthan
on 13th-14th April.
• W20 Summit in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu on 15th-16thJune.
• There are five priority areas of W20 under India’s Presidency Women in
Entrepreneurship, Women Leadership at Grassroots, Bridging the Gender
Digital Divide, Education & Skill Development and Women & Girls as change
makers Climate Resilience Action.

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• The goal that has been set by the W20 2023 is to ensure continuity of the W20
agenda from the past presidencies while establishing a stronger W20 global and
national network

W20 (Women 20)

• W20 (Women 20) is an official engagement group under the G20 which was
established during the Turkish presidency in 2015.
• Objective: To ensure that gender considerations are mainstreamed into G20
discussions and translated into the G20 Leaders’ Declaration as policies and
commitments that foster gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
• W20 India took over the presidency from W20 Indonesia on 12 December 2022.

5G Test Bed The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications
free of cost has offered the usage of 5G Test Bed free of cost to the Start-ups and MSMEs
recognized by the Government of India up to January 2024.
All 5G stakeholders i.e. Industry, Academia, Service Providers, R&D Institutions, Govt.
Bodies, Equipment Manufacturers etc. can utilize this facility at a very nominal rate.
5G test bed
In March, 2018, the Department of Telecommunications approved financial grant
for the multi-institute collaborative project to set up ‘Indigenous 5G Test Bed’ in India
with total cost of Rs.224 Crore.
• The eight collaborating institutes in the project were IIT Madras, IIT Delhi,
IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IISc Bangalore, Society for Applied
Microwave Electronics Engineering & Research (SAMEER) and Centre of
Excellence in Wireless Technology (CEWiT).
• The Indigenous 5G Test Bed was dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minster,
Shri Narendra Modi on May 17th 2022.
• A web-based portal (https://user.cewit.org.in/5gtb/index.jsp) has also been
designed for access and usage of the Test Bed.
• The 5G Test Bed is available at five locations.
• Indigenous 5G Test Bed provides an open 5G test bed that enables R&D teams
of Indian academia and industry to validate their products, prototypes,
algorithms and demonstrate various services
5th Jan Department of Pharmaceuticals is celebrating the 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas on 7th
Aushadhi March 2023.
Diwas
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)

Launched: November, 2008

Objective: of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all.

Ministry/Department: Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals &

Fertilizers

Key points

• This scheme ensures easy reach of affordable medicine to the people in every
nook and corner of the country.
• The Government has set a target to increase the number of PMBJKs to 10000
by the end of December 2023.
• Product basket of PMBJP comprises 1759 drugs and 280 surgical instruments.
• New medicines and nutraceuticals products like protein powder, malt-based
food supplements, protein bar, immunity bar, sanitizer, masks, glucometer,
oximeter, etc. have been also launched.

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• Medicines available under PMBJP are priced 50%-90% less than that of
branded prices.
• It has drastically cut down the out of the pocket expenditure of the lower- and
middle-class people of India.
• This has saved more than Rs. 20000 crores of citizens on cost of medicines.

The 4th Speaker of Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla will address the valedictory function of the 4th
edition of edition of National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) on 2nd March, 2023 the
National Youth Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi.
Parliament
Three National Winners of the Festival will express their views during the event.
Festival, 2023
Theme: Ideas for a Better tomorrow: India for the World.
National Youth Parliament Festival
NYPF is based on the idea given by the Prime Minister in his Mann Ki Baat Address
on 31stDecember, 2017.
Objective: To hear the voice of the youth, who will join various careers in coming
years, including public services.
Key points
• 3 editions have been organised since its inception in 2019
• The 4th will be conducted from 25th to 29th January 2023.
• Many youths from 748 Districts of all States and UTs will participate at 150
venues across the country.
Indo-Danish The India – Denmark: Partners for Green and Sustainable Progress Conference on
Green 28th feb 2023 in New Delhi.
Strategic
Partnership Key points

• India and Denmark agreed to further strengthen the Green Strategic

Partnership with a focus on green hydrogen, renewable energy and wastewater
management.
• India and Denmark have set very ambitious national targets on climate and
energy that will contribute to an ambitious implementation of the Paris
Agreement.
• A number of agreements covering sectors such as green shipping, animal
husbandry and dairying, water management, energy, cultural exchange were
inked.
• Letter of Intent on the establishment of a Centre of Excellence on Green
Shipping, which will further strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation.
• Agreement to expand the cooperation on agriculture by a Joint Declaration of
establishing a Centre of Excellence on Dairy.
• Continued collaboration in the field of antimicrobial resistance.
• India conveyed its acceptance of the Danish invitation to join the International
Center for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) as Mission Partner.
• The Danish Prime Minister confirmed Danish accession to the Global Digital
Health Partnership on India’s invitation to improve public health and well-
being through evidence-based digital technologies.

Background: The Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark was
launched during the virtual Summit in September 2020 and focuses on promoting
green and sustainable developments.
The 47th Civil Accounts Day will be celebrated on 1st march to mark the foundation
47th Civil of Indian Civil Accounts Service.
Accounts Day

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History

• In 1976, two ordinances were promulgated to separate the maintenance of

accounts of the Union government from audit, and to pave the way for
departmentalized accounts.
• After that maintenance of Accounts of the Union government was separated
from that of Audit.
• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India was divested with this
responsibility.
• This led to the establishment of the ICAS, which was constituted on 1st March
1976.
• Since then, the ICAS has been celebrating this day as the Civil Accounts Day
every year.

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated National Science

National Day 2023.
Science Day
Theme: ‘Global Science for Global Well-being’.

History

• In 1986, the Government of India, designated February 28 as National Science

Day to commemorate the announcement of the discovery of the “Raman
Effect”.
• The Raman Effect was the discovery which won physicist Sir CV Raman his
Nobel Prize in 1930.
• Raman discovered that when a stream of light passes through a liquid, a
fraction of the light scattered by the liquid is of a different colour.

Ministry of Electronics & IT has launched GAC.

Grievance
Appellate Key points
Committee
(GAC) • It was one of the provisions in the recently amended Information Technology
(Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
• The GACs will work in the most transparent manner and all their decisions will
be uploaded on website and accessible to the public.
• The appellate committees will deal with the pleas by users against the decision
of the Grievance Officer appointed by the social media intermediary.
• The committee will have a chairperson and other members selected by the
central government.
• GAC is a faceless dispute resolution mechanism that makes digital platforms
accountable to Digital Nagriks.
• GACs to be accessible through the Common Service Centres (CSCs).

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One liner
100 percent With the completion of the electrification of the North Eastern Railway’s (NER)
electrification Subhagpur-Pachperwa Broad Gauge (BG) route, the railway network in the state of
of Broad Gauge Uttar Pradesh has now been fully electrified.
in UP
28th edition of Agricultural and Process Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) is
Gulfood 2023 participating in the 28th edition of Gulfood 2023 being held in UAE.
31st New Delhi The 9-day mega book fair will be held from 25th February to 5th March, 2023 at
World Book Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
Fair Organised by: National Book Trust, in collaboration with India Trade Promotion
Organization.
The airport in Prime Minister is all set to launch the Shivamogga airport (9th domestic airport in
Shivamogga Karnataka) of worth of 600 crore on February 27 which is named after poet
Kuvempu.
Desert Flag An Indian Air Force contingent has arrived at United Arab Emirates for participating
VIII. in Exercise Desert Flag VIII. The exercise is scheduled from 27 Feb 23 to 17 Mar 23.
Exercise Desert Flag
Exercise Desert Flag is a multilateral air exercise in which Air Forces from UAE,
France, Kuwait, Australia, UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea, and USA
would also be participating.
Unying Festival Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal attended
the colourful Siang Unying Festival.
• It is an - an important festival of the Adi community at Boleng , Arunachal
Pradesh. It is celebrated to herald the season of cultivation, beginning of the
Adi community’s new year, arrival of spring seasons.

1st G20 The 1st G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) and
Finance 2nd Finance and Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) Meetings were held in Bengaluru
Ministers and from 22nd-25th February 2023.
Central Bank
Governors
(FMCBG
COBRA • Indian Air Force will participate in Exercise Cobra Warrior in United Kingdom.
WARRIOR The exercise is scheduled from 06 Mar 23 to 24 Mar 23.
• A multilateral Air exercise in which Air Forces from Finland, Sweden, South
Africa, United States of America and Singapore would also be participating.
CSIR-Central • CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI) celebrated
Mechanical its 66th Foundation Day on 26th Feb 2023.
Engineering • The Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute at Durgapur, West
Research
Bengal was established in February 1958 with the specific task of development
Institute
(CMERI) of mechanical engineering technology.
14th Rashtriya The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu visited Bikaner on February 27, 2023
Sanskriti to grace and address the 14th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav.
Mahotsav
The Second The Second Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG)
Environment meeting will be held at Gandhinagar from 27-29 March 2023.
and Climate
Sustainability
Working
Group (ECSWG)
Government • GSM Association (GSMA) has conferred Government Leadership Award 2023
Leadership to India for implementing best practices in telecom policy and regulation.
Award 2023

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• GSMA, which represents more than 750 mobile operators and 400 companies
in the telecom ecosystem, recognizes one country every year. India was
declared winner in the ceremony held at Mobile World Congress Barcelona on
27 Feb, 2023.
Ayushman • The National Health Authority (NHA) under its flagship scheme Ayushman
Bharat Digital Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has achieved milestone in healthcare
Mission ecosystem.
(ABDM) • Over 25 crore health records of individuals have been linked to their ABHA
(Ayushman Bharat Health Account).

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