PIB Summary and Analysis - April 2023

MONTH: APRIL 2023
RBI GRADE B 2023 + NABARD

GRADE A/B 2023
Dear Aspirants,
Why Government Schemes are important?

• Government schemes play a very important role in Phase 1 + Phase 2 of RBI Gr B and
NABARD Gr A/B, their weightage is especially high in Phase 2 of both these exams.
What to cover for Government Schemes?

• All the newly launched schemes in past one year and the old schemes that have been in
news and are directly/indirectly related to the syllabus of the examination.
How to Cover Newly Launched and Schemes in News?

• The best source for doing this is through Press Information Bureau (PIB), it’s a government
of India website, which provides details about all the Day-to-Days programs, initiatives and
events of Government India across ministries and RBI in its exams directly pick
Questions from this Website.
How many Questions came from PIB?

• In recently conducted RBI Grade B 2022, around 38 Questions in phase I had reference in
PIB and 18 Questions mostly Government Schemes had been discussed in PIB.
How many Months of PIB to be Read?

• In the recently conducted exam as well as in Past year, 4-5 months updates were asked in
Phase I exam and 8-9 months updates mostly Schemes have been asked in Phase II
Stage, phase II questions are difficult and need detailed study.
How to Cover PIB?

• The best way to do is directly from official Website but many people find it difficult to do
and also many of those preparing for RBI, NABARD are already working so they don't
have sufficient time for them rather than leaving it for before exam, they should use some
detailed compilation.
How this PDF compilation is different from others?

• As you know most of the institutes hire content writer for these things, that content writer can
be anyone, this compilation has been created by me going through each and every article
and even I use this for myself in exams.
How to Read this PDF?

As I said earlier PIB is important for Phase I as well as Phase II but in Phase II only specific ministries
are important which relate to the syllabus of Economics and Social Issue, Agriculture and Rural
Development and there are only 14-15 such ministries. So, for these ministries’ updates have been
provided Ministry wise and for rest other such defense etc., news has been kept under Miscellaneous
Updates. Apart from that some reports are released by NITI Aayog and various ministries so there is
a separate section for Reports and Indices in PIB. So, this PDF has been categorized in five parts
namely,
I. PM and President in News
II. Cabinet Approvals (Most Important)
III. Programs and Update under Syllabus Related Ministries
IV. Miscellaneous Updates (Important for General Awareness)
V. RBI, SEBI Circulars and News
VI. National and International Reports
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President & PM In News – April 2023
PM Modi inaugurates 91 new FM transmitters of All India Radio to enhance coverage in aspirational
districts and border areas.
• He said with the launch of 91 FM transmitters, of capacity of 100 Watt at 91 locations across the country
will add 2 crore listeners to All India Radio network.
• These transmitters have been installed in 84 districts of 20 states (18 States and 2 UT).
• With this, the network of transmitters with All India Radio has increased from 524 to 615. It will result in
the expansion of coverage in about 35,000 sq km area.
• The addition will further boost the coverage of AIR to 73.5 per cent of the population of the country.
• The Prime Minister said he would soon host the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat and his deep connect with
the people all across the nation would not have been possible through any medium other than the radio.
Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1920436
PM Modi applauds historic peace agreement between militant outfit DNLA and Centre
• An Assam-based insurgent group — Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA)/Dimasa People’s Supreme
Council (DPSC) — which operates in the Dima Hasao district, signed a peace agreement with the
State Government and the Centre in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma on April 27.
• The agreement also calls on the Centre and the Assam government to take the required steps to
rehabilitate the DNLA's surrendered armed cadres.
• To that end, the Government of India and the Government of Assam would each fund a Special
Development Package of Rs 500 crore over a five-year period for the overall development of NCHAC as
well as Dimasa people living in other areas of the State.
o The DNLA was formed in April 2019 with the intention of establishing a sovereign region for the
Dimasa tribals and launching an armed insurrection to achieve that goal.
PM acknowledges the achievements of six years of Udan Scheme

• RCS UDAN is a flagship scheme of Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). It is termed as Regional Connectivity
Scheme UDAN (Ude Deshka Aam Nagrik).
• It has completed Six years since the launch of it first flight by Prime Minister Modi on April 27, 2017
between Shimla to New Delhi.
• The scheme was initiated on October 2, 2016, with a noble objective to fulfil the aspirations of the
common citizen by following the vision of ‘Ude Deshka Aam Nagrik’. It aimed to provide enhanced aviation
infrastructure and air connectivity, especially in tier II and tier III cities.
• Note: UDAN 5.0 has been discussed below under Miscellaneous.
PM addresses programme marking 20 years of SWAGAT Initiative

• SWAGAT (Statewide Attention on Grievances through Application of Technology) is a tech-based
grievance redressal programme.
• It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2003 when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
• It acts as a bridge between the citizens and the government using technology by solving their day-to-day
grievances in a quick, efficient, and time-bound manner.
• The uniqueness of SWAGAT is that it helps the common citizen air his grievances directly to the Chief
Minister. It is held on the fourth Thursday of every month wherein the Chief Minister interacts with citizens
for grievance redressal.
o The SWAGAT Online Programme has been given various awards over the years, including the
United Nations Public Service Award in 2010 for improving transparency, accountability and
responsiveness in public service.
o The SWAGAT Online Programme has four components: State SWAGAT, District SWAGAT, Taluka
SWAGAT, Gram SWAGAT
o The Chief Minister attends public hearings during State SWAGAT.
• PRAGATI has played a big role in the rapid development of the country in the last 9 years. This concept
is also based on the idea of SWAGAT.
PRAGATI Platform
• PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) Platform was launched in March
2015.
• The main objective of the initiative is to introduce e-transparency and e-accountability with real-time
presence and exchange among the key stakeholders to develop a culture of Pro-Active Governance
and Timely Implementation of developmental projects.
• The platform aimed at addressing the common man’s grievances and simultaneously monitoring and
reviewing important programmes and projects of the Government of India and projects selected by
State Governments.
• It also boosts the principle of cooperative federalism, as it brings on one stage the Secretaries of the
Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of the States.
• With the help of this platform, the Prime Minister discuss the issues with the concerned Central and
State officials with full information and the latest visuals of the ground-level situation.
• It is a 3-tier system (Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Union Government Secretaries, and Chief
Secretaries of the States)
• Prime Minister holds a monthly programme to interact with the Government of India Secretaries, and
Chief Secretaries through Videoconferencing enabled by data and geo-informatics visuals.
• The programme is generally held on the Fourth Wednesday (known as PRAGATI Day).
PM thanks Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese for hosting the next Quad Summit in Sydney
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Sydney next month to participate in the 3rd Quad Leaders’
Summit to be hosted by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on May 24.
• It will be the first time Australia hosts the Quad Leaders’ Summit, and follows the Quad Leaders’
Summit in Tokyo in May 2022.
• The Quad is a diplomatic partnership of four countries Australia, India, Japan and the United States
committed to promoting stability, resilience and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
• Before travelling to Australia, PM Modi is likely to visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima to attend the
annual summit of G7 advanced economies that is scheduled to take place from May 19 to 21.
• During his visit to India last month, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida invited Modi for the G7 summit.
PM inaugurates 6th Edition of One Earth One Health – Advantage Healthcare India 2023
• The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce & Industry (FICCI) has co-branded the 6th edition of One Earth One Health, Advantage
Healthcare India 2023 with India’s G20 Presidency and the event is being held on 26th and 27th April 2023
at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
• The two-day event emphasizes the importance of global collaborations and partnerships for Building
Resilient Global Health Architecture and working towards achieving Universal Health Coverage through
value-based healthcare.
• It further aims to showcase India’s strength in the field of medical value travel (MVT) as an exporter of
healthcare workforce providing value-based healthcare services and its emergence as a major hub for
world-class healthcare and wellness services.
• Essay Topics: Medical Tourism in India, India as World's Pharmacy, One Health and Its Significance,
Rural Healthcare System in India,
Northeast Gas Grid Project

• The Prime Minister has praised the Northeast Gas Grid project for achieving a major milestone.
• The project has constructed a 24-inch diameter natural gas pipeline using the Horizontal Directional Drilling
(HDD) method to go under the Brahmaputra River.
• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has shared that this achievement has set a record for the
longest hydrocarbon pipeline river crossing in Asia and the second-longest in the world.
• The Northeast Gas Grid project aims to provide clean and affordable energy to the Northeastern states of
India and is a significant step towards achieving the country's goal of reducing dependence on non-
renewable energy sources.
• The project is part of the government’s vision to increase the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix and
develop the National Gas Grid.
PM lauds nation’s first Water Metro in Kochi

• The Prime Minster has recently inaugurated the first phase of Kochi Water Metro in Kerala – first-ever
metro system of its kind.
• It’s a public boat service integrated with the metro rail network.
• The project is being implemented by Kochi Metro Rail Corporation with the financial assistance provided by
a German funding agency.
• The main objective is to link ten island communities in Kerala's city with the mainland, resulting in shorter
travel times and more cost-effective transportation.
PM Modi lauds Nitin Gadkari's infra push.

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has shared a tweet by the Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari
regarding amplification of National Highways by more than 53,868 KMs after 2014.
• India had a total of 91,287 km of National Highways till April 1, 2014, according to the official data. This was
expanded to 145,155 km by March 2023.
• From building 12.1 km per day of roads in 2014-15, India saw 28.6 km of roads being constructed every
day in 2021-22.
PM pays tributes to Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya on his birth anniversary.

• Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya, born in the 8th century AD in Kerala, is one of the most revered
philosophers in Indian history.
• Shankaracharya is credited with reviving Hinduism and restoring its philosophical and spiritual foundation.
• Shankaracharya was also a social reformer and worked to eliminate caste-based discrimination and
promote social equality.
PM pays tributes to Sri Ramanujacharya on his Jayanti.

• Ramanujacharya, born in 1017 in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, is widely respected as a Vedic philosopher
and social reformer.
• He is renowned for advocating social equality and justice, which was revolutionary for his time, and for his
propagation of the Bhakti movement, which inspired other Bhakti schools of thought.
• Because of his work to promote social equality, the 213-feet tall statue of Ramanujacharya in
Hyderabad is known as the Statue of Equality.
PM welcomes inauguration of National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts at IIT Madras
• The National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC) has been envisioned as the
centre for technological innovations and evolution of new ideas and breakthroughs for the port and
maritime sector.
• It works as the technology arm of Ministry of Shipping and providing the needful technological support to
ports, IWAI and other institutions.
• NTCPWC was established under the ambitious Sagarmala program at a cost of ₹ 77 crore.
PM addresses National Panchayati Raj Day Celebrations in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh

• The Government of India, in collaboration with the Government of Madhya Pradesh, will commemorate
National Panchayati Raj Day on April 24, 2023, at Rewa in Madhya Pradesh.
• Prime Minister Shri Modi inaugurated the integrated e-Gram Swaraj and GeM portal for public procurement
at the Panchayat level during the National Panchayati Raj Day celebrations.
• E-Gram Swaraj – Government e-Marketplace Integration aims at enabling Panchayats to market their
goods and services through GeM through e-Gram Swaraj platform.
• The Prime Minister will hand over around 35 lakh Swamitva property cards to the beneficiaries. With the
handing over of these cards, about 1 crore 25 lakh property cards would have been distributed in the
Swamitva Yojana in the country.
• The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of projects worth about Rs.7,000 crore under the Jal
Jeevan Mission.
About Panchayati Raj

• Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) is India’s rural local self-government system established by the 73rd
Constitutional Amendment Act, of 1992. PRI manages local affairs and rural development through
elected local bodies.
• The 73rd Amendment Act of 1992 made Panchayati Raj institutions a constitutional mandate and
provided for the devolution of powers, functions, and finances to the panchayats.
• Three-tier system: PRI at the village, intermediate, and district levels for uniformity (except in states with
<20 lakh population) (Article 243B).
• 73rd Amendment added Part IX titled “The Panchayats” and 74th Amendment added Part IXA titled
“The Municipalities”.
• One-third of the total number of seats to be reserved for women. One-third of the seats reserved for
SCs and STs also reserved for women. One-third offices of chairpersons at all levels reserved for
women (Article 243D).
PM SVAMITVA Scheme
• The PM SVAMITVA Scheme (Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in
Village Areas) aims to provide the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners possessing houses in
inhabited rural areas and issuance of property cards to the property owners.
• It was launched by Prime Minister on 24th April 2020 as a Central Sector Scheme to promote a socio-
economically empowered and self-reliant rural India.
• It is a scheme for mapping the land parcels in rural inhabited areas using drone technology and
Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS).
• The Scheme will cover around 6.62 Lakh villages of the entire country during 2021-2025.
• The pilot phase of the Scheme was implemented during 2020–2021 in the States of Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and select villages of Punjab and
Rajasthan.
• It will ensure streamlined planning, revenue collection and provide clarity over property rights in rural
areas and further this will open up avenues for applying for loans from Financial Institutions by the
owners.
PM applauds as DRDO & Indian Navy conduct successful trial of BMD Interceptor from Naval Platform
• Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Indian Navy successfully conducted a
maiden flight trial of a sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile off the coast of Odisha in the
Bay of Bengal.
• The purpose of the trial was to engage and neutralize a hostile ballistic missile threat, which would elevate
India to the elite club of nations having Naval Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capability.
• Prior to this, DRDO had successfully demonstrated a land-based BMD system with the capability to
neutralize ballistic missile threats from opponents.
PM expresses happiness over India’s spectacular climb of 6 places in World Bank’s Logistic Performance
Index
• India has climbed six places on the World Bank's Logistic Performance Index (LPI) 2023, now ranking 38th
in the 139 countries index.
• This is a significant improvement from its previous ranking of 44th in 2018 and 54th in 2014.
• The LPI is an interactive benchmarking tool developed by the World Bank Group. It helps countries identify
the challenges and opportunities they face in their performance of trade logistics and what they can do to
improve their performance.
• The LPI considers 6 parameters to evaluate logistics performance, namely: Customs performance,
Infrastructure quality, Ease of arranging shipments, Logistics services quality, Consignment tracking and
tracing, Timeliness of shipments.
• The LPI was reported by the World Bank every two years from 2010 to 2018 with a break in 2020 due to
the COVID-19 pandemic and a restructuring of the index methodology, eventually came out in 2023.
Highlights of LPI 2023:

• The LPI 2023 allows for comparisons across 139 countries.
• The LPI 2023, for the first time, measures the speed of trade with indicators derived from big datasets
tracking shipments.
• Singapore and Finland are the most efficient and highest-ranked LPI countries as per the 2023 LPI.
• India is ranked 38 out of 139 countries, climbing six places from the previous index.
• Two major factors for India's jump in the index could be modernization and digitalization, which the
report quotes as a reason for emerging economies like India to leapfrog advanced countries.
• What worked for India?
o Reduced Dwell Time:
▪ Dwell time is how long a vessel spends at a specific port or terminal. It may also refer to the
amount of time that a container or cargo spends at a port or terminal before being loaded
onto a vessel or after being unloaded from a vessel.
▪ India's very low dwell time (2.6 days) is one example of how the country has improved its
logistics performance.
▪ According to the report, the average dwell time for containers between May and October
2022 was 3 days for India and Singapore, much better than in some of the industrialized
countries. The dwell time for the U.S. was 7 days and for Germany, it was 10 days.
• With the introduction of cargo tracking, dwell time in the eastern port of
Visakhapatnam fell from 32.4 days in 2015 to 5.3 days in 2019.
o Technology's Role:
▪ Technology has been a critical component of India's logistics performance improvement
efforts.
▪ NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited applies radio frequency identification tags to
containers and offers consignees end-to-end tracking of their supply chain.
▪ The report quotes modernization and digitalization as a reason for emerging economies, like
India, to leapfrog advanced countries.
o Initiatives Related to Logistics: PM GatiSakti, Multi Modal Logistics Parks, Dedicated Freight
Corridor, Sagarmala Projects, Bharatmala Project
▪ Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government had announced PM Gati Shakti initiative, a
National Master Plan for multimodal connectivity, in October 2021 to reduce logistics cost
and boost the economy by 2024-25.
▪ In 2022, the prime minister had launched the National Logistics Policy (NLP) to ensure
quick last-mile delivery, end transport-related challenges, save time and money of the
manufacturing sector and ensure desired speed in the logistics sector.
National Logistics Policy 2022

• On September 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the National Logistics Policy (NLP) 2022.
It aims to ease the movement of goods and boost the trade sector in our economy.
• Goals:
• Logistics costs have to be cut by half to be near global benchmarks by 2030 by reducing the cost of
logistics from 14-18% of GDP to global best practices of 8%.
• Being the 5th largest economy in the world, India aims to be among the top 25 in the LPI (Logistics
Performance Index) by 2030.
• Creating data-driven Decision Support Systems (DSS) to enable an efficient logistics ecosystem.
• Key Building Blocks:
o The new policy has four features: Integration of Digital System (IDS), Unified Logistics
Interface Platform (ULIP), Ease of Logistics (ELOG), and System Improvement Group (SIG).
o Digital Integration System: It will lead to seamless and faster work-flow, making logistics
significantly more efficient.
o Unified Logistics Interface Platform: It aims to collapse all logistics and transport sector digital
services into a single portal, thereby freeing manufacturers and exporters from the present
tyranny of long and cumbersome processes.

o Ease of Logistics Services: E-Logs, a new digital platform, will allow industry to directly take
up operational issues with government agencies for speedy resolution.
o Comprehensive Logistics Action Plan: The Comprehensive Logistics Action Plan comprising
integrated digital logistics systems, standardisation of physical assets, benchmarking service
standards, human resource development, capacity building, development of logistics parks, etc.
PM acknowledges role played by Khelo India in encouraging sporting talent on completion of 5 years of
initiative.
• The Khelo India Scheme was launched in 2017 with a mandate for the identification of talent and nurturing
sporting talent to attain the highest levels of achievement at international levels.
• Parent Ministry: Khelo India Scheme is the flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs
& Sports.
• Khelo India was formed by merging three schemes namely Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), Urban
Sports Infrastructure Scheme (USIS), and National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS).
• It works to promote “Sports for All” and “Sports for Excellence”.
• Under the Scheme, eight years of annual financial aid in the amount of Rs. 5 lakh are given to talented
athletes in priority sports disciplines at various levels.
• Khelo India Scheme is based on Gujarat’s model of “Khel Mahakumbh” in which schools and colleges from
across the country participate in 27 different disciplines.
PM addresses 16th Civil Services Day at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi

• The Government of India commemorates ‘Civil Services Day’ every year on April 21.
• The day is marked to celebrate the exemplary work done by our civil servants, and as an opportunity for
them to recommit themselves to the cause of citizens.
• The theme for this year’s Civil Services Day is ‘Viksit Bharat: Empowering Citizens and Reaching the
Last Mile’.
• Every year on this day, the Prime Minister confers Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public
Administration to districts/implementing units for priority programme implementation and innovation
categories.
• The Prime Minister also released the e-books ‘Viksit Bharat – Empowering Citizens & Reaching the last
mile Volume I and II.’
• This year’s awards:
o Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration were given for exemplary work
done in four identified priority programmes — Promoting Swachh Jal through Har Ghar Jal Yojana;
Promoting Swasth Bharat through Health & Wellness Centres; Promoting quality education with an
equitable and inclusive classroom environment through Samagra Shiksha; Holistic Development
through Aspirational District Programme – overall progress with special focus on saturation
approach.
• History of this Day
o National Civil Services Day was first celebrated on April 21, 2006.
o April 21 was chosen because it is on this day that the first Home Minister of Independent India,
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, 1947 addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers at
Metcalf House in Delhi.
o He referred to the civil servants as the “steel frame of India.”
PM praises “Abhilekh patal” a portal with over 1 Crore Pages of Historical Records of the National
Archives
• It is a web portal to access records of the National Archives of India (NAI) and make its content available to
all.
• The National Archives of India is the repository of the non-current records of the Government of India and is
holding them in trust for the use of records creators and general users.
• It is an Attached Office of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
PTP-NER is a great scheme, aimed at improving the lives of the talented artisans belonging to the
Northeast: PM
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs have launched Marketing and Logistics Development for the Promotion of Tribal
Products from the North-Eastern Region (PTP-NER) for improving the lives of the talented artisans
belonging to the Northeast.
• It aims to strengthen livelihood opportunities for tribal artisans through increased efficiency in procurement,
logistics, and marketing of tribal products from Northeastern States
• Nodal Agency - Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation (TRIFED)
o The scheme will be applicable to eight states, namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim.
o Under this scheme, the government plans to empanel tribal artisans from the Northeastern Region
by organizing 68 Tribal Artisan Melas.
o These melas will be conducted in various districts of the region and will provide a platform for tribal
artisans to showcase their products and skills.
PM expresses happiness over metro trial run under Hooghly River in Kolkata.
• Kolkata Metro created another history on April 12, 2023. After a long wait Country's first Metro has run
under the mighty river Hooghly on Wednesday. For the first time in India Metro has completed the river
journey,
• Once launched, Howrah will become the country's deepest Metro station (33 meters below the surface).
• The Metro is expected to cover the 520-meter stretch under the river Hooghly in 45 seconds. This
tunnel under the river is 32 meters below the water level.
• Kolkata Metro, which started its journey in 1984, is being expanded to cover the whole city and its
outskirts. The underwater metro, which will be running through the Hoogly river will connect the twin cities
of Howrah and Kolkata.
PM addresses World Bank Event - ‘Making it Personal: How Behavioral Change Can Tackle Climate
Change.’
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that an idea becomes a mass movement when it moves from

"discussion tables to dinner tables" as he called for people's participation and collective efforts in
combating climate change.
• PM Modi hailed the World Bank for organizing the event on impact of behavioral change on climate
change, saying this is an issue close to his heart, and it was great to see it becoming a global movement.
• Citing "Mission Life", which was launched by him and the U.N. secretary general last year October,
PM Modi said the programme is about democratizing the battle against climate change.
• The World Bank Group is looking to increase climate finance from 26% to 35% as a share of total
financing. The focus of this climate finance is usually on conventional respects, he noted.
• The Prime Minister said adequate financing methods need to be worked out for behavioral initiatives too
and a show of support by the World Bank towards behavioral initiatives such as Mission Life will have
a multiplier effect.
• According to the Union Environment Ministry, India is home to 17% of the global population but
accounts for only 4% of global carbon emissions. Developed nations with the same percentage of
population account for nearly 60% of carbon emissions.
o India updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – plans to limit global warming to
1.5 degrees Celsius – in August last year, promising to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45%
by 2030, from the 2005 level, and achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from
non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
o India has maintained that the fight against climate change must keep the principles of equity and
Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) at the center.
o The CBDR-RC principle recognizes that each country is responsible for addressing climate change
but developed countries should bear primary responsibilities as they account for most of the
historical and current greenhouse gas emissions.
• New Terms for Essay: Climate Justice, Role Behavioral Change on Tackling Climate Change, Climate
Financing and Challenges, Sustainable Lifestyle.
Climate Finance
• Countries recently agreed at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Conference of Parties 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) that a complete transformation of the international
financial system was required to significantly increase resources for Climate Action.
• The current funding for climate action amounts to only 1%-10% of the estimated needs.
How Much Money Do We Need for Climate Action?

• The global transition to a low-carbon economy is expected to cost between USD 4-6 trillion per year
until 2050.
• If net-zero emissions targets are to be met, approximately USD 4 trillion must be invested annually in
the renewable energy sector until 2030.
• Between 2022 and 2030, the cumulative requirement of developing countries for implementing their
climate action plans was approximately USD 6 trillion.
• It means that every year, at least 5% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) must be directed
toward climate action.
• Only a few years ago, the estimated requirements ranged from 1 to 1.5% of global GDP.
• The USD 100 billion that developed countries have promised to mobilize each year represents nearly
the entire amount of money in play right now.
• Even this $100 billion has yet to be fully realized.
• Developed countries say they will meet this goal by 2023. Currently, the total amount flowing in is
around USD 50-80 billion per year.
What are India's Climate Finance Initiatives?

• National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC): The NAFCC was established in 2015 to cover
the costs of climate change adaptation for Indian states and union territories that are particularly
vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
• The National Clean Energy Fund was established to promote clean energy and was initially funded by a
10 | P a g e www.brajeshmohan.in www.affairstap.com
carbon tax on industries that use coal.
• It is governed by an Inter-Ministerial Group, which is chaired by the Finance Secretary.
• Its mission is to fund innovative clean energy research and development in both the fossil and non-fossil
fuel sectors.
Mission Life Initiative

• At the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP26), Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri
Narendra Modi announced Mission LiFE, to bring individual behaviors at the forefront of the global
climate action narrative.
• LiFE envisions replacing the prevalent 'use-and-dispose' economy—governed by mindless and
destructive consumption—with a circular economy, which would be defined by mindful and deliberate
utilization.
• It aims to create and nurture a global network of individuals, namely ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3), who will
have a shared commitment to adopt and promote environmentally friendly lifestyles.
• According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), if one billion people out of the
global population of eight billion adopt environment-friendly behaviors in their daily lives, global carbon
emissions could drop by approximately 20 per cent.
PM addresses a Bihu programme in Guwahati.

• Bihu performance in Guwahati creates Guinness World Record.
• Assam made a historic achievement by entering the Guinness Book of World Records with over 11,000
dancers and drummers performing the traditional 'Bihu' dance and playing the 'dhol' at a single venue.
• The main objective of the event was to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Assam to the world.
PM inaugurates program ‘Commemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger’ in Mysuru, Karnataka

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also released the latest tiger census data at a mega event to mark the
completion of 50 years of 'Project Tiger' in Mysuru.
• A commemorative coin on the completion of 50 years of 'Project Tiger' was also released on the
occasion.
• He mentioned that India has only 2.4 percent of the world’s land area but it contributes toward 8 percent to
known global biodiversity.
• He stated that India is the largest tiger range country in the world, the largest Asiatic elephant range
country in the world with nearly thirty thousand elephants, and also the largest single-horn rhino country
with a population of nearly three thousand.
• According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), India is home to over 70 per cent of the
world’s tigers.
o Since 2006, every passing census shows a steady increase in tiger population – 1,411 (2006),
1,706 (2010), 2,226 (2014), 2,967(2018), and 3,167 as of 2022.
o India’s conservation efforts have led to the number of tiger reserves swelling to 53, of which 23
are “internationally accredited”.
o Note: At many places, the no of National Park has been mentioned as 54 as a new one has been
approved but not yet updated on official website.
International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

• Calling for the protection of big cats worldwide, PM Modi also launched the “International Big Cat
Alliance (IBCA)” during the celebrations.
• The objective of the initiative is to conserve and protect seven species — tigers, leopards, cheetahs, lions,
snow leopards, pumas and jaguars — and create a platform that will benchmark big cat conservation
practices and act as a repository of technical knowledge and funds for conservation.
• It envisions collaboration of 97 countries that inhabit the seven cat species and is “open for other interested
countries and international organizations that are willing to contribute to IBCA’s objectives, the PM said.
• PM Modi first proposed an international group against poaching and illegal wildlife trade while releasing the
country’s tiger census report to mark Global Tiger Day in 2019.
• Broadly, the alliance will focus on the protection of seven major cat species and work with countries
harboring these big cats to stop the illegal wildlife trade.
Project Tiger
• As an initiative to save tigers, was first initiated in the year April 1, 1973, in Jim Corbett National Park,
Uttarakhand.
o It is Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
(MoEFCC)
• Implementing Authority - National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
• Achievement: The project has been successful in doubling India's wild tiger population in a span of about
12 years, much before the targeted year of 2022, as per St. Petersburg Declaration.
• Coverage: 18 States in India with 53 Tiger Reserves, encompassing an area of 75,500 sq km. (Guru
Ghasidas National Park and the Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh being the latest)
PM lauds Mudra Yojana on completion of 8 years

• PM MudraYojana has played a vital role in funding the unfunded and ensuring a life of dignity as well as
prosperity for countless Indians.
• The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) was launched on 8th April 2015.
• The implementation of financial inclusion programme in the country is based on three pillars, namely,
Banking the Unbanked, Securing the Unsecured, Funding the Unfunded
• PM MudraYojana serves the aims of third pillar of financial inclusion i.e, Funding the Unfunded.
o Any Indian Citizen who has a business plan for a non-farm sector income generating activity such
as manufacturing, processing, trading or service sector and whose credit need is less than Rs. 10
lakh can approach either a Bank, MFI, or NBFC for availing of Micro Units Development &
Refinance Agency Ltd. (MUDRA) loans under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).
• Aim: To facilitate easy collateral-free micro credit of up to Rs10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small and
micro entrepreneurs for income generating activities.
Features:
• The loans under PMMY are provided by Member Lending Institutions (MLIs), i.e., Banks, Non-Banking
Financial Companies (NBFCs), Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) and other financial intermediaries.
• The loans have been divided into three categories based on the need for finance and stage in maturity of
the business.
o These are Shishu (loans up to Rs 50,000/-), Kishore (loans above Rs 50,000/- and up to Rs 5 lakh),
and Tarun (loans above Rs. 5 lakh and up to Rs. 10 lakh).
• The rate of interest is decided by lending institutions in terms of RBI guidelines. In the case of a working
capital facility, interest is charged only on money held overnight by the borrower.
• Interest Subvention of 2% on prompt repayment of Shishu loans extended under PMMY for a period of 12
months to all eligible borrowers.
• Loans under this scheme are collateral-free loans.
• Expansion: PMMY has been expanded over time to cover activities related to agriculture, such as fishing,
dairy, and food processing, and loans for tractors and power tillers, and two-wheelers for commercial use
were included in PMMY.
Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU):

• Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units was set up in January 2016 under the aegis of the National
Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd. (NCGTC), a wholly-owned company of Government of India, to
provide guarantee to:
• Loans extended to eligible micro units under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) up to Rs. 10 lakh,
by Banks/ Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)/ Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs)/ other
financial intermediaries;
• Overdraft loan amount of Rs. 5,000 (enhanced to Rs 10,000 in Sep, 2018) sanctioned under Pradhan
Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts; and
• Self Help Group (SHG) portfolio between R10 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh (w.e.f. 01.04.2020).
Significance of PMMY:
• The scheme has enabled easy and hassle-free access to credit to micro-enterprises and has helped a
large number of young entrepreneurs establish their businesses.
• The PMMY scheme has helped in the generation of large-scale employment opportunities at the
grassroots level and also has proved to be a game changer while boosting the Indian economy.
• The growth of MSMEs has contributed massively to the “Make in India” programme as strong domestic
MSMEs lead to increased indigenous production both for domestic markets as well as for exports.
• Achievements under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) as on 24.03.2023
• About Rs. 23.2 lakh crore has been sanctioned in 40.82 crore loan accounts.
o Inclusive growth: About 69% of accounts under the scheme belong to women entrepreneurs
and 51% of accounts belong to entrepreneurs of SC/ST and OBC categories.
o Easy availability of credit to budding entrepreneurs: Approximately 21% of the total loans
have been sanctioned to New Entrepreneurs.
o Employment Generation: As per a survey conducted by the Ministry of Labour and
Employment, PMMY helped in generating over 1 crore net additional employment from 2015 to
2018, out of which women accounted for 69 lakh (62%)
o This demonstrates that easy availability of credit to the budding entrepreneurs of the country has
led to innovation and sustained increase in per capita income.
Challenges faced by the Scheme:

• Rise in non-performing assets or bad loans
• Lack of financial literacy among beneficiaries leading to defaults
• There have also been increasing instances of frauds reported at public sector banks.
• Less outreach to rural entrepreneurs
• Loan amount of up to Rs. 10 lakhs is inadequate for many small enterprises.
• Shoddy appraisal systems and end-use monitoring practices at PSBs appear to be one of the key
reasons for the quick deterioration in the quality of loans.

Additional Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1914739
PM marks 7 years of Stand Up India

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has acknowledged the role that Stand Up India initiative has
played in empowering the SC/ ST communities and ensuring women empowerment.
• Stand up India Scheme was launched by Ministry of Finance on 5th April 2016 to promote
entrepreneurship at grassroot level focusing on economic empowerment and job creation.
• This scheme has been extended up to the year 2025.
Features of Scheme:
• Promote entrepreneurship amongst women, Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.
• Provide loans for greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services or the trading sector and activities allied
to agriculture.
• Facilitate bank loans between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.100 lakh to at least one SC/ST borrower and at least one-
woman borrower per bank branch of Scheduled Commercial Banks.
• The scheme aims to encourage all bank branches in extending loans. The desiring applicants can apply
under the scheme: Directly at the branch or, Through Stand-Up India Portal (www.standupmitra.in) or,
Through the Lead District Manager (LDM).
• Eligibility for a Loan:
o SC/ST and/or women entrepreneurs, above 18 years of age.
o Loans under the scheme are available for only green field projects. Green field signifies, in this
context, the first-time venture of the beneficiary in manufacturing, services or the trading sector and
activities allied to agriculture.
o In case of non-individual enterprises, 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake should be held
by either SC/ST and/or Women Entrepreneur.
o Borrowers should not be in default to any bank/financial institution.
o The Scheme envisages ‘up to 15%’ margin money which can be provided in convergence with
eligible Central/State schemes.
o In any case, the borrower shall be required to bring in a minimum of 10 % of the project cost as own
contribution.
• Handholding Support:
o Apart from linking prospective borrowers to banks for loans, the online portal www.standupmitra.in
developed by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for Stand Up India Scheme is
also providing guidance to prospective entrepreneurs in their endeavour to set up business
enterprises, starting from training to filling up loan applications, as per bank requirements. Through
a network of more than 8,000 Hand Holding Agencies, this portal facilitates step by step guidance
for connecting prospective borrowers to various agencies with specific expertise viz. Skilling
Centres, Mentorship support, Entrepreneurship Development Program Centres, District Industries
Centre, together with addresses and contact number.
• Achievements:
o Rs.40,710 crore has been sanctioned under Stand-Up India Scheme to 180,636 accounts in the last
7 years.
o More than 80% of loans given under this scheme have been provided to women.

Additional Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1913705
PM applauds Mission Amrit Sarovar

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has praised the Mission Amrit Sarovar and said that the speed with
which Amrit Sarovars are being constructed across the country is going to fill new energy in our resolutions
for Amrit Kaal.
• In a tweet, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed that more than 40
thousand Amrit Sarovars have been dedicated to the nation. He has also said that there is a target of
constructing 50 thousand Amrit Sarovars by August 15, 2023.
• Mission Amrit Sarovar has been launched on 24th April 2022 with an objective to harvest and conserve
water for future generation.
• The salient features:
o Based on “Whole of Government” approach with the participation from the Ministry of Rural
Development, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of
Environment, Forest & Climate Change and technical organizations.
o Under the Mission every district of the country will construct or rejuvenate at least 75 Amrit
Sarovars.
o Every Amrit Sarovar will have a pondage area of at least 1 acre with a water holding capacity of
about 10,000 cubic metre.
o Every Amrit Sarovar will be surrounded by trees like Neem, Peepal and Banyan etc.
o Every Amrit Sarovar will be a source of generation of livelihoods by using the water for different
purposes like irrigation, fisheries, duckery, cultivation of water chestnut, water tourism and other
activities.
o The Amrit Sarovar will also act as a social gathering point in that locality.
o Every Amrit Sarovar site is a place for flag hoisting on every Independence Day.
o There is no separate financial allocation for Mission Amrit Sarovar.

Additional Link: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1885211
PM urges innovators to apply for the National StartUp Awards 2023

• Startup India initiative was launched on 16th January 2016 with an intent to build a strong ecosystem for
nurturing innovation, startups and encouraging private investments in startup ecosystem of the country.
• Four years later in 2020 National Startup Awards were started by Department for Promotion of Industry and
Internal Trade (DPIIT) to recognize and reward outstanding startups and ecosystem enablers.
• National Startup Awards 2023 given by Ministry of Commerce and Industry acknowledges startups and
enablers who have been instrumental in revolutionizing the development story of India.
• National Startup Awards 2023 will celebrate innovations from across the country, in line with ‘Vision India
@2047’, where India focusses on becoming a developed economy, fueled by the spirit of Amrit Kaal across
key themes.
• In this edition, the startups will be awarded across 20 categories, which have been decided upon thorough
deliberations on current Indian and global economic focus points.
• A cash prize of INR 10 lakhs will be awarded by DPIIT to one winning startup in each of the categories.
Recent Government Initiatives to Support Startup Ecosystem:

• SAMRIDH Scheme: Minister of Electronics Information and Technology (MeitY) launched the
SAMRIDH scheme, which stands for Startup Accelerators of MeitY for Product Innovation,
Development, and growth. It is proposed to support around 300 tech Start-Ups through about 40
cohorts (size of 8-10 Start-Ups) under the program. The SAMRIDH scheme will provide first round of
funding of up to ₹40 lakh (with an average of ₹ 30 Lakh per startup per cohort).
• Start-up India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS): Launched on 16th January 2021, this scheme provides
financial assistance to start-ups to help them prove their concept, develop prototypes, test products,
and enter the market. DPIIT has created Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) with an outlay of
INR 945 Crore and will support an estimated 3,600 entrepreneurs through 300 incubators in the next 4
years (2021-2025).
• National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI): It is an end-to-end plan for
start-ups to double the number of incubators and start-ups in the duration of five years.
• Ranking of States on Support to Startup Ecosystems (RSSSE): The Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been conducting
the States’ Start-up Ranking Exercise since 2018.
Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1914560
PM addresses 5th International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

• The International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) is CDRI's flagship event bringing
together policymakers, researchers and practitioners from across the world to strengthen the global
discourse on disaster and climate resilient infrastructure.
• Its objective is to promote research and knowledge sharing in the fields of infrastructure risk management,
standards, financing, and recovery mechanisms.
• The CDRI's theme for this year's conference is related to Delivering Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure.
• The Prime Minister noted the inclusive intent of some of the CDRI initiatives. He mentioned the
Infrastructure for Resilient Island States initiative or IRIS benefitting many island nations. He remarked on
the Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund that was announced last year. This 50 million dollar fund has
generated immense interest among developing nations.
About CDRI:
• Since its inception, 31 countries, 6 international organizations and 2 private sector organizations have
joined CDRI as members.
• CDRI is India's second major global initiative after the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The CDRI
Secretariat is based in New Delhi, India.
• It aims to increase the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby
ensuring sustainable development.
• It was launched in 2019, at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York.
Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS):

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) on sidelines of
CoP26 climate summit in Glasgow in 2021.
• Infrastructure for Resilient Island States or IRIS is the first major initiative by the Coalition for Disaster
Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
• Small island states are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
• As sea levels rise, they face a threat of being wiped off the map.
• India’s space agency ISRO will build a special data window for them to provide them with timely
information about cyclones, coral-reef monitoring, coastline monitoring etc. through satellite.
Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund:

• The CDRI had announced the launch of Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund (IRAF) at the 27th
session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) at Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt.
• IRAF is a multi-donor trust fund launched by CDRI with the support of the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
• Its purpose is to support global action on disaster resilience of infrastructure systems, especially in
developing countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• Supported by: Governments of India, the United Kingdom, Australia and the European Union.
• Managed by: The fund will be managed by the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (UN
MPTFO).
• Allocation: Around $50 million in financial commitments have already been announced for IRAF over an
initial duration of five years.

Source Link: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/cdri-announces-infrastructure-resilience-accelerator-fund-at-
cop27-11667994760775.html
PM praises ISRO conducting Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission

• The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully conducted the Reusable Launch Vehicle
Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX).
• The test was conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, Karnataka.
• What is a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV)?
• Reusable launch vehicle (RLV) means a launch vehicle that is designed to return to Earth substantially
intact and therefore may be launched more than one time.
• An RLV may also contains stages that may be recovered by a launch operator for future use in the
operation of a substantially similar launch vehicle.
About Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX):

• A Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) was flown by a Chinook Helicopter of the Indian Air Force as an
underslung load to a height of 4.5 km from the mean seal level.
• The RLV was then released mid-air.
• The RLV then performed approach and landing maneuvers using the Integrated Navigation, Guidance
& control system and successfully completed an autonomous landing back on the ATR in Chitradurga,
Karnataka.
• The autonomous landing was carried out under the exact conditions of a Space Re-entry vehicle's
landing —high speed, unmanned, precise landing from the same return path— as if the vehicle arrives
from space.
• Significance of the RLV LEX Test:
o This is the first time in the world that a launch vehicle has been carried to an altitude of 4.5 km
by a helicopter and released for carrying out an autonomous landing on a runway.
o With the successful landing of RLV LEX, the dream of an Indian Reusable Launch Vehicle
arrives one step closer to reality.
Credit Guarantee Scheme revamped further, PM praises.

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has said that revamping of credit guarantee scheme is a part of
Government's efforts to strengthen the MSME sector.
• The revamped credit guarantee scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has come into
effect from April 1, through infusion of ₹9,000 crore in the corpus as announced in Budget 2023.
• New Changes:
• The annual guarantee fee for loans up to Rs 1 crore has been reduced from the peak of 2 per cent to 0.37
per cent.
• The limit on ceiling for guarantees has also enhanced from Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore (There was
mistake in this particular data in Last month magazine)
• For settlement of claims in respect of guarantees for loan outstanding up to Rs 10 lakh, initiation of legal
proceedings will no longer be required.
• Budget Announcement:
In Budget 2023-24, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the revamping of credit
o
guarantee scheme for micro and small enterprises with effect from April 1, 2023, with an infusion of
Rs 9,000 crore to the corpus to enable additional collateral-free guaranteed credit of Rs 2 lakh crore
and the reduction in the cost of the credit by about 1 per cent.
• Achievement:
o CGTMSE created a new landmark by touching the milestone figure of approving guarantees worth
Rs 1 lakh crore during FY 2022-23, the MSME ministry stated.
• Exclusion criteria:
o Loans sanctioned under the agriculture segment and Self Help Groups (SHGs) are not eligible for
coverage under CGTMSE.
PM lauds defense exports reaching all time high.

• The country’s defence exports touched an all-time high of ₹15,920 crore in the Financial Year 2022-23,
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on April 1.
• This is almost ₹3,000 crore more than the previous financial year and a rise of over 10 times since 2016-
17, the Defence Ministry said.
• India is now exporting to over 85 countries.
• Indian Industry has shown its capability of design and development to the world, with 100 firms exporting
defence products at present. The rising defence exports and participation of 104 countries in Aero India
2023 are proof of India’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities.
• The Ministry said that the country exports major platforms like Dornier-228, 155 mm Advanced Towed
Artillery Guns (ATAGs), BrahMos missiles, Akash surface-to-air missiles, radars, simulators, mine
protected vehicles, armored vehicles, Pinaka rocket launch systems, ammunition, thermal imagers, and
body armour among others.
• India would be exporting defence equipment and material worth ₹35,000 to ₹40,000 crore by 2026, Union
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on March 28.
• Note: The government has set the target of manufacturing defence hardware worth Rs.1,75,000 crore and
taking defence exports to Rs.35,000 crore ($Billion) by 2024-25.
• As per the latest report on global arms transfers from the Swedish Think Tank Stockholm International
Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released in March, India remained the world’s largest arms importer for
the five-year period between 2018-22 even though its arms imports dropped by 11% between 2013–17 and
2018–22.
PM inaugurates Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Central Bureau of Investigation in New Delhi

• The Central Bureau of Investigation was established by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India dated 1st April 1963.
• The Prime Minister also inaugurated the newly constructed office complexes of the CBI at Shillong, Pune
and Nagpur.
• He released a Postage Stamp and Commemorative Coin marking the Diamond Jubilee Celebration year of
the CBI and launched its official Twitter handle as well.
PM expresses happiness for Ms. Deepali Jhaveri and Mr. Ota on being awarded by Joto Fire Station, Japan
• Indian resident Deepali Jhaveri was awarded by Japan's Joto Fire Station for rescuing a man by giving him
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
PM congratulates Satwik SaiRaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty for becoming the first Indian Men's Doubles
pair to win the Badminton Asia Championships Title
• India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty scripted history in Dubai, becoming the first Indian men's
doubles pair to secure a medal at Badminton Asia Championships in 52 years.
• Dipu Ghosh and Raman Ghosh were the last pair to win a medal (silver) in men's doubles at the continental
tournament in 1971.
• Prakash Padukone and Syed Modi, two of the legends of the game, won silver in 1978 but the tournament
was an invitational event in the said year.
• India last won a doubles medal at the Badminton Asia Championships when Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala
Gutta won bronze in women's doubles in 2014.
PM urges women to enrol for Mahila Samman Saving Certificate (Very Important)
• The Mahila Samman Saving Certificate (MSSC) is a new small savings scheme launched by Ministry of
Finance, Govt. of India aimed at encouraging women investors.
• Central government has introduced this scheme in the Budget 2023 to mark the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
and is a significant step towards financial inclusion and empowerment of the women, including the girls.
• Amount can be invested in the name of individual girl or woman. Minor account can be opened through
natural or legal guardian.
• The minimum investment amount is Rs. 1,000 and the maximum amount is Rs. 2 lakhs.
o The scheme will mature in two years from the date of opening the account.
o Interest rate for MSSC is 7.5% per annum, compounded quarterly.
o The scheme is operational during the period 01.04.2023 to 31.03.2025.
o Withdrawal is allowed up to 40% of the eligible balance which can be taken after expiry of one year
from the date of opening the account.
o The savings account can be closed due to the death of the depositor or guardian and on extreme
medical grounds.
o Premature closure of the account is allowed at any time after six months of opening but with the
interest rate reduced by 2%.
Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1915425
PM praises completion of Anji Khad bridge, India’s first cable stayed rail bridge
• The bridge was completed in 11 months and total length of cable strand used in the bridge is 653 km.
• The bridge is a part of a 326-km rail line connecting Udhampur to Baramulla via Srinagar, a crucial
connector between Kashmir and rest of India via railways.
• The project is commissioned by the Northern Railways and is being executed by Konkan Railway
Corporation Limited (KRCL) and Hindustan Construction Company.
Condolences: -
• PM condoles the demise of the former Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Parkash Singh Badal.
• PM condoles demise of noted scientist, Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan
• PM condoles demise of Shri Keshub Mahindra
• PM condoles demise of former Indian Cricketer, Salim Durani
Cabinet Approvals – April 2023

Cabinet approves the Policy for the Medical Devices Sector
• The medical devices sector in India is an essential and integral constituent of the Indian healthcare sector.
It is a sunrise sector which is growing at a fast pace.
• The market size of the medical devices sector in India is estimated to be $11 billion (approximately, ₹
90,000 Cr) in 2020 and its share in the global medical device market is estimated to be 1.5%.
• The Government of India has already initiated implementation of PLI Scheme for medical devices and
support for setting up of 4 Medical devices Parks in the States of Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Under the PLI scheme for Medical Devices, till now, a total of 26 projects have been approved, with a
committed investment of Rs.1206 Cr and out of this, so far, an investment of Rs.714 Cr has been achieved.
Need for the Policy

• Universal Healthcare: The Indian medical devices sector is on a growth track and has an enormous
potential to become self-reliant and to contribute towards the goal of universal health care.
• Orderly Growth: The National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 is expected to facilitate an orderly growth of
the medical device sector to meet the public health objectives of access, affordability, quality and
innovation.
Salient Features of National Medical Devices Policy, 2023:

• Vision: Accelerated growth path with a patient-centric approach and to emerge as the global leader in the
manufacturing and innovation of medical devices by achieving 10-12% share in the expanding global
market over the next 25 years. Policy is expected to help the Medical Devices Sector grow from
present $11 Bn to $50 Bn by 2030.
• Mission: Policy lays down a roadmap for accelerated growth of the medical devices sector to achieve the
following missions viz, Access & Universality, Affordability, Quality, Patient Centred & Quality Care,
Preventive & Promotive Health, Security, Research and Innovation and Skilled manpower.
Strategies to Promote Medical Device Sector:
Medical devices sector will be facilitated and guided through a set of strategies that will be cover six broad
areas of policy interventions:
• Regulatory Streamlining: In order to enhance ease of doing research and business and further to balance
patient safety with product innovation measures such as creation of a Single Window Clearance System'
for Licensing of Medical Devices coopting all the stakeholder departments / organizations such as AERB,
MeitY, DAHD, etc, enhancing the Role of Indian Standards like BIS and designing a coherent pricing
regulation, will be followed.
• Enabling Infrastructure: The establishment and strengthening of large medical device parks, clusters
equipped with world class common infrastructure facilities in proximity to economic zones with requisite
logistics connectivity as envisioned under the National Industrial Corridor Program and the proposed
National Logistics Policy 2021 under the ambit of PM Gati Shakti, would be pursued with the State
Governments and Industry for better convergence and backward integration with medical device Industry
• Facilitating R&D and Innovation: The policy envisages to promote Research & Development in India and
complement the Department’s proposed National Policy on R&D and Innovation in the Pharma- MedTech
Sector in India. It also aims at establishing Centres of Excellence in academic and research institutions,
innovation hubs, ‘plug and play’ infrastructures and support to start-ups.
• Attracting Investments in the Sector: Along with resent schemes and interventions like Make in India,
Ayushman Bharat program, Heal-in-India, Start-up mission, the policy encourages private investments,
series of funding from Venture Capitalists, and also Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
• Human Resources Development: In order to have a steady supply of skilled work force across the value
chain such as scientists, regulators, health experts, managers, technicians, etc., the policy envisages:
o For skilling, reskilling, and upskilling of professionals in the medical device sector, we can leverage
the available resources in Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
o The policy will support dedicated multidisciplinary courses for medical devices in existing institutions
to ensure availability of skilled manpower for futuristic medical technologies, high-end
manufacturing, and research, to produce future ready MedTech human resources and to meet the
evolving needs of the Sector.
o To develop partnerships with foreign academic/industry organizations to develop medical
technologies in order to be in equal pace with the world market.
• Brand Positioning and Awareness Creation: The policy envisages the creation of a dedicated Export
Promotion Council for the sector under the Department which will be an enabler to deal with various market
access issues:
o Initiate studies and projects for learning from best global practices of manufacturing and skilling
system so as to explore the feasibility of adapting such successful models in India.
o Promote more forums to bring together various stakeholders for sharing knowledge and build strong
networks across the sector.
Cabinet approves establishment of 157 new nursing colleges at a cost of Rs. 1570 crores in co-location
with existing medical colleges established since 2014.
• The step will add approximately 15,700 nursing graduates every year.
o This will further ensure quality, affordable, and equitable nursing education in India, particularly in
underserved districts and States/Union Territories.
• Allocation: The total financial implication will be Rs.1,570 crore.
• The establishment of these nursing colleges will provide a significant boost to the availability of
qualified human resources in healthcare.
• This is also being done as a part of the national mandate for Universal Health Care (UHC) and will help in
attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
• National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) also collaborates with leading International & National
agencies for skill development and placement of qualified nurses for overseas positions.
• Co-location of these nursing colleges with existing medical colleges will allow optimal utilization of the
existing infrastructure, skill labs, clinical facilities, and faculty.
• There is substantial increase of around 71% in Medical Colleges from 387 before 2014 to 660 as of
now.
Cabinet approves revised domestic gas pricing guidelines.

• The price of natural gas will be 10 per cent of the monthly average of the Indian crude basket.
• There will be monthly notification to ensure stable pricing in regime and provide adequate protection to
producers from adverse market fluctuation.
• The guidelines will ensure a stable pricing regime for domestic gas consumers, provide adequate
protection to producers from adverse market fluctuation and provide incentives for enhancing production.
• The guidelines will be applicable to the gas produced from nomination fields of ONGC/OIL, new exploration
license policy blocks (NELP) and pre-NELP blocks.
• The new guidelines have come into force from Saturday (7th April 2023).
Existing Gas Pricing in India

• Much of the natural gas being produced in the country does not command a market-determined price —
that is, it is not determined by buyers and sellers based on demand-supply dynamics in the market.
• Rather, as per the 2014 guidelines, a formula is used to fix the price of the fuel every six months.
• As per this formula, the domestic gas price is the weighted average price of four global benchmarks:
US-based Henry Hub, Canada-based Alberta gas, UK-based NBP, and Russian gas.
• The domestic price is based on the prices of these international benchmarks in the prior year and kicks
in with a quarter’s lag. It applies for six months. So, the price applicable from April 1 to September 30,
2022, is based on benchmark prices from January to December 2021.
Criticism of this Formula:

• Domestic gas prices have been rising in the past couple of years but thanks to the formula, they are still
cheaper than imported gas.
• Now, this acts as disincentive to local producers such as ONGC, Oil India and Reliance Industries who
often find that the price is not worth their time and effort to increase output. This eventually leads to
increased gas imports at higher prices.
Govt Approves Revised Domestic Gas Pricing Guidelines

• The Union Cabinet approved significant changes in the pricing regime for domestic natural gas under the
ambit of the Administered price mechanism (APM).
o Under the APM, the Indian government sets the price of natural gas produced by oil and gas
companies.
o The price of APM gas, which accounts for about two-thirds of India’s natural gas production, has
been determined as per the ‘modified’ Rangarajan formula since November 1, 2014.
• These changes will mainly apply to gas produced by legacy fields, or nomination fields, of national oil
companies Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Ltd and Oil India Ltd (OIL).
o Nomination fields are acreages that the government awarded to ONGC and OIL before 1999, after
which auctions became the basis of awarding oil and gas blocks.
What are the changes to the pricing mechanism?

• New Pricing mechanism based on recommendations of Kirit Parikh Panel.
• The panel was constituted in September 2022 to:
o delve into the extant gas pricing guidelines.
o recommend changes to balance the interests of gas consumers and producers;
o help India achieve its aim of increasing domestic gas output and substantially increasing the share
of natural gas in the country’s energy mix.
• Natural gas from legacy fields will be indexed to crude oil price.
o The natural gas produced from legacy or old fields will now be indexed to the crude oil price as
opposed to pricing based on gas prices in surplus nations such as the United States, Canada and
Russia.
o The price of such natural gas shall be 10 per cent of the monthly average of Indian Crude
Basket and shall be notified on a monthly basis.
• For Gas produced from Nomination fields
o The gas produced by ONGC and OIL from their nomination blocks and the administered price
mechanism (APM) shall be subject to a floor and a ceiling.
▪ It will have a floor price of $4/ mBtu and a ceiling of $6.5/ mBtu.
o However, the gas produced from new wells or well interventions in the nomination fields of
ONGC and OIL would be allowed a premium of 20 per cent over the APM price.
▪ New wells are drilled in areas where oil and gas reserves are known or suspected to exist
but have not yet been developed.
▪ Well interventions, on the other hand, involve various techniques that are used to increase
the productivity of existing wells.
• No revision in the ceiling price for two years
o The Cabinet decided that rates will not change for two years and will be increased by USD 0.25
(or 25 cents) annually thereafter.
• No change in pricing formula for gas from difficult blocks
o The changes in pricing formula for domestic APM gas do not apply to gas production from difficult
acreages — deep water, ultra-deep water, high-temperature, and high-pressure fields.

Additional Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/changes-domestic-gas-pricing-
formula-math-rationale-consumers-affected-8544231/
Cabinet approves National Quantum Mission to scale-up scientific & industrial R&D for quantum
technologies.
• The Union Cabinet on 20th April, approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) with a total outlay of
Rs 6,003.65 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2030-31 to scale up research and development and create
an innovative ecosystem in quantum technology in the country.
• The programme was approved after a delay of two years — the government first announced it in the 2020
Budget, with a commitment of about Rs 8,000 crore then.
• The programme will be implemented by the Department of Science and Technology in partnership with
others. With this, India is seventh country to have a dedicated quantum mission after the US, Austria,
Finland, France, Canada and China.
• Quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, and are faster than regular and supercomputers, which
use conventional bits.
• For instance, according to reports, Google’s quantum processor, Sycamore, in 2019 completed a task
in 200 seconds that Google claimed, in a Nature paper, would take a state-of-the-art supercomputer 10,000
years to finish.
Aims and Features:

• Over the next three years, the government will look to create at least 20-50 qubits of computers and also
cover 2,000 kms of multi-node quantum network, said Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting
Anurag Thakur at a press briefing.
• The programme will look to develop intermediate scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits in
eight years in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.
• Mission aims to nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D in quantum technology.
• As part of the mission, four thematic hubs (T-Hubs) will be set up at top academic and national R&D
institutes — quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrology, and quantum
materials and devices.
Implementation:
• The National Quantum Mission will be headed by a mission director with a dedicated secretariat.
• The Governing Body of the mission will be chaired by a renowned scientist or an entrepreneur from the
technology, industry, or research sector.
• Mission Technology Research Council will be headed by the Principal Scientific Advisor and will be the
scientific advisory mechanism for the Governing Body.
Last year, IIT Madras became the first institute from India to join IBM’s Quantum Network. It will get cloud-based
access to IBM’s most advanced quantum computing systems and expertise.
What is Quantum Technology?

• Quantum technology uses the laws of quantum mechanics. Unlike classical computers that use
zeroes and ones (bits and bytes), quantum technology is atom-based. It uses quantum bits
(qubits), which can be in a combination of zero and one simultaneously.
• Public Key Cryptography keeps information secure. It includes a public and private key. The public
key is used to encrypt data, while the private key is used to unlock the information.
• Public and private keys are linked in a mathematical relationship. If an intruder decides to break into
private information, they must solve certain mathematical problems, such as finding prime factors of
large numbers.
• With classical computers, it may be possible to crack this puzzle after multiple trials, but this is
almost impossible with quantum. One study said if we experiment with quantum technology, it may take
three lakh thousand years to crack it.
Image Source: Business Standard Newspaper (Only for Educational Purpose)

Ministry of Commerce and Industry
High-level delegations from India and EFTA meet to boost bilateral trade and economic partnership.
• In a recent meeting held in New Delhi, India and the four European countries that form the European Free
Trade Association (EFTA) have expressed their willingness to resume their negotiations for a Trade and
Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) that has been stalled since 2018.
• The TEPA aims to boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two regions by reducing
tariffs and non-tariff barriers, enhancing market access, and promoting investment flows.
About European Free Trade Association (EFTA):

• EFTA is an intergovernmental organization that was established in 1960 as an alternative trade bloc for
those European states that were unable or unwilling to join the European Union (EU).
• EFTA comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, which are not part of the EU but
have access to its single market through various agreements.
• Objective: Promotes free trade and economic integration between its members within Europe and
globally.
• The EFTA countries have developed one of the largest networks of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
These FTAs span over 60 countries and territories, including the European Union (EU).
• EETA & India:
o EFTA is India's 9th largest trading partner, accounting for about 2.5% of India's total
merchandise trade in 2020-21.
o The main items of India's exports to EFTA are textiles, chemicals, gems, and jewelry,
machinery, and pharmaceuticals.
o The TEPA aims to create opportunities for trade and investment between India and EFTA by
eliminating/reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers on a wide range of products.
PM GatiShakti NMP receives PM's Award for Excellence in Public Administration, 2022
• The Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration, 2022, in the category 'Innovation-
Central' was conferred by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi to the Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) at the 16th Civil Services Day Celebration for the successful
implementation of the prestigious ‘PM GatiShakti National Master Plan’ programme.
• As on date, PM GatiShakti NMP has 1450+ data layers, belonging to Central Ministries (585) and
States/UTs (870+). More than 30 Central Ministries / Departments including Infrastructure, Economic and
Social sector line Ministries / Departments and all 36 States/UTs have been onboarded.
• The institutional mechanism of Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS), Network Planning Group
(NPG) and Technical Support Unit (TSU) is in place and fully operational at both national and sub-national
level.
About Gati Shakti Master Plan

• On India’s 75th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre will
launch ‘PM Gati Shakti Master Plan’, a Rs. 100 lakh-crore projects for developing ‘holistic
infrastructure’.
• In October 2021, the government announced the PM Gati Shakti programme under which a portal
would be set up to bring 16 Ministries together for integrated planning and implementation of
infrastructure connectivity projects.
• The Gati Shakti scheme will subsume the Rs 110 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline that was
launched in 2019.
• Gati Shakti Digital Platform: It involves the creation of a common umbrella platform through which
infrastructure projects can be planned and implemented in an efficacious manner by way of
coordination between various ministries/departments on a real-time basis.
• It will also leverage technology extensively including spatial planning tools with ISRO imagery
developed by BiSAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and
Geoinformatics).
• Gati Shakti to aid in Achieving Ambitious Targets for period of 2024-25:
It will also help in fulfilling the ambitious targets set by the government for the period of 2024-25
which includes the following:
• 11 industrial corridors and two new defense corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
• 4G connectivity in all villages.
• Increasing renewable energy capacity to 225 GW from 87.7 GW.
• Expanding the national highway network to 2 lakh km.
• Increasing length of transmission network to 4,54,200 circuit km.
• Creation of 220 new airports, heliports and water aerodromes.
• Increasing cargo handling capacity of railways to 1,600 million tons from 1210 million tons.
• Adding 17,000 km to gas pipeline network.
• 202 fishing clusters/harbors/landing centers.
Note: In Previous Editions of our Magazine, we have already cover Pillars and Institutional Mechanism in
Detail.
Country’s overall exports register growth of 13.84 percent in 2022-23 over 2021-22
• It is estimated to achieve 770.18 US billion dollars worth of exports in the last financial year despite the
global headwinds and steady domestic demand.
• India's overall export was over 676 US billion dollars in the fiscal year 2021-22.
• According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, merchandise exports have registered the highest ever
annual exports of over 447 US billion dollars with over six percent growth during the financial year 2022-23
• The Ministry said, services exports lead the overall export growth and are projected to set a new record
worth of 322.72 billion US dollars with a growth rate of 26.79 percent during the last financial year.
More than 92,000 entities recognized as startups since launch of Startup India
• The Government with an intent to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation, startups and
encouraging private investments in startup ecosystem of the country launched Startup India initiative on
16th January 2016.
• Since the launch of Startup India initiative in 2016, DPIIT has recognized 92,683 entities as startups
as on 28th February 2023.
• The details of various programs undertaken by the Government to promote startups:
• Startup India Action Plan: An Action Plan for Startup India was unveiled on 16th January 2016. The
Action Plan comprises of 19 action items spanning across areas such as “Simplification and handholding”,
“Funding support and incentives” and “Industry-academia partnership and incubation”. The Action Plan laid
the foundation of Government support, schemes and incentives envisaged to create a vibrant startup
ecosystem in the country.
• Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) Scheme: The Government has established FFS with corpus of Rs.
10,000 crores, to meet the funding needs of startups. DPIIT is the monitoring agency and Small Industries
Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is the operating agency for FFS. The total corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore is
envisaged to be provided over the 14th and 15th Finance Commission cycles based on progress of the
scheme and availability of funds.
• Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS): The Government has established the Credit Guarantee
Scheme for Startups for providing credit guarantees to loans extended to DPIIT recognized startups by
Scheduled Commercial Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and Venture Debt Funds
(VDFs) under SEBI registered Alternative Investment Funds. CGSS is aimed at providing credit guarantee
up to a specified limit against loans extended by Member Institutions (MIs) to finance eligible borrowers viz.
DPIIT recognized startups.
• Support for Intellectual Property Protection: Startups are eligible for fast-tracked patent application
examination and disposal. The Government launched Start-ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP)
which facilitates the startups to file applications for patents, designs and trademarks through registered
facilitators in appropriate IP offices by paying only the statutory fees. Startups are provided with an 80%
rebate in filing of patents and 50% rebate in filling of trademark vis-a-vis other companies.
• Self-Certification under Labour and Environmental laws: Startups are allowed to self-certify their
compliance under 9 Labour and 3 Environment laws for a period of 3 to 5 years from the date of
incorporation.
• Income Tax Exemption for 3 years: Startups incorporated on or after 1st April 2016 can apply for income
tax exemption. The recognized startups that are granted an Inter-Ministerial Board Certificate are exempted
from income-tax for a period of 3 consecutive years out of 10 years since incorporation.
• Startup India Hub: The Government launched a Startup India Online Hub on 19th June 2017 which is one
of its kind online platforms for all stakeholders of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India to discover,
connect and engage with each other.
• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS): The Scheme aims to provide financial assistance to startups
for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization. Rs. 945
crores have been sanctioned under the SISFS Scheme for period of 4 years starting from 2021-22.
Piyush Goyal lauds GeM crossing Gross Merchandise Value of ₹2 lakh crore in 2022–23
• GeM has achieved ₹2 lakh crore of Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in FY23 while cumulatively, since
inception, its GMV has crossed ₹3.9 lakh crore, according to a press statement issued by the Commerce &
Industry Ministry.
• Total number of transactions on GeM has also crossed 1.47 crore.
• GeM caters to the diverse procurement needs of over 67,000 government buyer organizations. The portal
features over 11,700 product categories with more than 32 lakh listed products, as well as over 280 service
categories with more than 2.8 lakh service offerings.
• Based on various studies, the minimum savings on the platform are about 10 per cent, which translates into
a savings of ₹40,000 crore worth of public money.
• After the GeM portal was launched in 2017, business worth about Rs 400 crore was done, and in the
second year, GeM did business of about Rs 5800 crore.
• About Government e Marketplace (GeM)
o Government e Marketplace (GeM) is an online platform for public procurement in India that was
envisaged by the Prime Minister. The initiative was launched on August 9, 2016 by the Ministry of
Commerce and Industry with the objective of creating an inclusive, efficient, and transparent
platform for the buyers and sellers to carry out procurement activities in a fair and competitive
manner.
o In the last ~6.5 years, GeM has revolutionized the ecosystem of public procurement in the country
through technology, the digitization of processes, the digital integration of all stakeholders, and the
use of analytics.
o GeM has been effectively contributing to the government’s commitment of “Minimum Government,
Maximum Governance”.
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education invites suggestions on Draft National Curriculum Framework for School Education
• The Ministry of Education released the draft of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) for school
education for public feedback.
o The draft was formulated by a committee led by K Kasturirangan, a former head of the Indian
Space Research Organization (ISRO).
• NCF is one of the key components of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, that enables and energizes
this transformation, informed by the aims, principles, and approach of NEP 2020.
• The NCF has undergone four revisions in the past - in 1975, 1988, 2000, and 2005. The proposed
revision, if implemented, would be the fifth iteration of the framework.
• Four Sections of NCF:
o NCF for School Education - Draft has been Released.
o NCF for Early Childhood Care and Education (Foundational Stage) - Already Published in 2022.
o NCF for Teacher Education
o NCF for Adult Education
What is the draft National Curriculum Framework for School Education?

• The document covers the curriculum framework for children aged 3 to 18 years and seeks feedback from
students, parents, teachers, educators, experts, scholars, and professionals.
• Learning via 6 Pramana's:
o Pratyaksa, interpreted as perception through five senses;
o Anumana, which uses inferences to come to new conclusions;
o Upamana, which is knowing through analogy and comparison;
o Arthapatti, which involves knowing through circumstantial implication,
o Anupalabdhi, which includes perception of non-existence,
o Sabda, which is “something an individual can only directly know a fraction of all reality"
• Moral Development
o A part of this document focuses on a child's moral growth through panchakosha vikas or five-fold
development. This is an old explanation of the relevance of the body-mind connection in human
experience and comprehension.
o The pre-draft suggests instilling moral principles in children through a balanced diet, traditional
activities, yoga asanas, and a wide range of stories, songs, lullabies, poetry, and prayers to foster a
love of cultural context.
What are the proposed changes?

• The pre-draft says that for Grade 10 certification, students will have to take two essential courses from
humanities, maths and computing, vocational education, physical education, arts education, social science,
science and interdisciplinary areas.
• In Grade 11 and 12, students will be offered choice-based courses in the same disciplines for more
rigorous engagement.
• For Class 11 and 12, the document states, “Modular Board Exams will be offered as opposed to a single
exam at the end of the year and final result will be based on cumulative result of each exam.”
• At the foundational level
o For children aged 3-8 enrolled in grades between preschool and class II, the pedagogical
approach suggested is play based.
o It adds that textbooks are to be used from Grade 1 and most of the content should be concrete
materials – toys, puzzles, and manipulatives.
o It proposes that explicit tests and exams are not suitable assessment tools for children in
classes up to 2 and recommends introducing written tests only from class 3 onwards.
When will these changes come into effect?

• The government recently announced that textbooks based on the revised NCF will be taught in schools
starting from the 2024-25 academic session.
• But a specific timeline on the implementation of the changes on exams, assessment and subject design
has not been made available yet.
Image Source – Economic Times Newspaper (Only for Education Purpose)
Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change

Renaming of CHEETAHS introduced from NAMIBIA and SOUTH AFRICA
• The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat on 25th September 2022 had urged the
citizens to come with suggestions for cheetahs reintroduced from Namibia and South Africa, with an
intention to popularize and to sensitize the general public about Project Cheetah.
Do check the Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1918200
NCAP targets to achieve reductions up to 40% of PM 10 concentrations by 2025-26

• Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched National Clean Air Programme
(NCAP) in January 2019 with an aim to improve air quality in 131 cities (non-attainment cities and
Million Plus Cities in 24 States by engaging all stakeholders.
• The Programme envisages to achieve reductions up to 40% or achievement of National Ambient Air
Quality Standards for Particulate Matter10 (PM 10) concentrations by 2025-26.
• Under the Programme, Cities are required to take measures to improve air quality inter-alia include solid
waste management, control of pollution from biomass burning and air pollution from construction &
demolition activities.
• The NCAP is a voluntary programme and is being implemented in a decentralized manner, with the state
governments playing a key role in its implementation.
• MoEFCC provides financial assistance to States/ UTs under National Ambient Air Quality Programme
(NAMP) for monitoring of ambient air quality in towns and cities.
• In 2021, MoEFCC launched a portal named “PRANA" (Portal for Regulation of Air-pollution in non-
Attainment cities) under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
MoEFCC notified the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016

• MoEFCC issued notification in August 2021 for phasing out of 12 Single-Use Plastics (SUP) items w.e.f. 1st
July, 2022.
• As per Business Standard Editorial, even nearly 10 months after the ban on single-use plastic
products, their use is still rampant in most parts of the country. Close to 26,000 tons of plastic waste is
generated across India every day, of which more than 10,000 tons stay uncollected.
• India lacks an organized plastic waste management system, resulting in widespread littering. Plastics end
up in rivers, oceans, and landfills, threatening the lives of wildlife species.
• What's more, the ban as it stands impacts the most vulnerable segments, especially the small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) of the plastic industry, and potential job losses are also being overlooked.
MISHTI scheme promotes development of 540 Sq. Kms Mangroves across 11 States and 2 Union
Territories
• Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)) envisage to
comprehensively explore the possible area for development of Mangroves covering approximately 540 Sq.
Kms. spreading across 11 States and 2 Union Territories during five years commencing FY 2023-24
onwards.
• The sharing of best practices on plantation techniques, conservation measures, management practices and
resources mobilization through Public Private Partnership are objectives of the MISHTI scheme.
• The programme will operate through “convergence between MGNREGS, Campa Fund and other sources.
• This new programme will aim at intensive afforestation of coastal mangrove forests. India has such forests
on both its Eastern and Western coasts with the Sundarbans in Bengal being one of the largest mangrove
forests on the planet.
• The finance minister in her budget announced MISHTI, Amrit Darohar and PM PRANAM under Green
Push.
PM PRANAM (Prime Minister Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of
Mother Earth)
• This programme will seek to incentivize states and union territories promoting alternative fertilisers and the
balanced use of chemical fertilizers.
• The programme aims to ultimately bring down the government’s subsidy burden, which is estimated to
reach Rs 2.25 lakh crore in 2022-23: 39 per cent higher than last year’s figure of Rs 1.62 lakh crore.
• Bhartiya Prakritik Kheti Bio-Input Resource Centres: To further facilitate the adoption of “natural
farming,” 10,000 Bio-Input Resource Centres will be set-up, creating a national-level distributed micro-
fertiliser and pesticide manufacturing network. This will impact over 1 crore farmers over the next three
years, the finance minister said in her speech.
Amrit Dharohar
• This is a scheme that will be implemented over the next three years to encourage optimal use of wetlands,
and enhance biodiversity, carbon stock, eco-tourism opportunities and income generation for local
communities.
• Amrit Dharohar will emphasize on the importance of wetlands and their preservation, with an outlook that is
inclusive of local communities as caretakers of the ecosystem.
• Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance that have been designated under the criteria of the
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971) for containing representative, rare or unique wetland types or for
their importance in conserving biological diversity.
• India’s 75 Ramsar sites are spread across the country, covering 1326678 hectares, according to a PIB
press release. As many as 49 new sites have been added to the list since 2019, with 19 being added in
2022.
Mission Sahbhagita
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched Mission Sahbhagita in 2022
with a mission of ‘a healthy and effectively managed network of 75 wetlands of national and international
significance.
• Mission Sahbhagita aims to enable a society ownership approach for participatory conservation and wise
use of Wetlands.
• India has a largest network of Ramasar Sites in Asia. It strives to enable a society ownership approach with
communities leading at the forefront.
Ministry of Finance
Enrolments under Atal Pension Yojana (APY) cross 5. 20 crore mark
• Total enrolment under Atal Pension Yojana crossed 5.20 crore mark as on 31 March 2023. The scheme
enrolled more than 1.19 crore new subscribers in FY 2022-23 as compared to 99 lakhs in the last financial
year, depicting a growth of more than 20%.
o As on date, the total assets under management (AUM) in APY is more than Rs. 27,200 crore and
the scheme has generated investment return of 8.69% since inception of the scheme.
o Under APY, a subscriber would receive a lifelong minimum guaranteed pension of Rs. 1,000 to Rs.
5,000 per month from the age of 60 years, depending on their contributions, which itself would vary
based on the age of joining the APY.
• Recently, a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Finance stated that Income taxpayers will soon be
disallowed to be a part of the Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
• Administrated By: Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
6th Edition of Advantage Healthcare India 2023
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 6th edition of Advantage Healthcare India (AHCI) 2023 on
26th April at Pragati Maidan New Delhi.
• The program is in line with India's G20 Presidency theme 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' and is
aptly named 'One Earth, One Health - Advantage Healthcare India 2023'.
• It focuses on the “medical value travel” of patients, for affordable and timely health interventions, and
healthcare workers, for a more robust system across the world.
• This is a platform through which India is promoting itself as a hub for medical tourism; the initial focus
would be on private sector facilities.
• The primary focus of the summit will be on patient and healthcare workforce mobility so that value-
based healthcare services can be provided to patients in different countries in a hassle-free manner.
o The event aims to showcase India as the new hub for providing quality and world-class healthcare
and wellness services at affordable prices.
o India’s alternative forms of medicine like Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha medicine systems are not
only healing the body but also the mind of people. The concept of yoga is able to bring positive
change in the lifestyle of the person.
o India is also regarded as the pharmacy of the world since it is able to produce many high-quality
medicines at the most affordable price. Moreover, there is no compromise over the efficacy of these
medicines.
o The expansion of 5G technology and telemedicine have enabled doctors to engage in online
consultations with patients across the world.
o Under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative, India is becoming a hub of medical equipment
manufacturing and many other high-end tools. It will put India in a very comfortable position
across the world in medical tourism.
National Health Accounts Estimates for India (2019-20) released.

• Dr. Vinod K. Paul, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog launched National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates for
India for 2019-20 in the presence of Shri Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Union Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare.
• Highlighting the efforts of the government towards public investments in the health sector, findings from
National Health Accounts (NHA) show that various indicators have demonstrated an encouraging trend on
a sustained basis.
• The NHA estimates for 2019-20 which is seventh in the series of reports released annually, clearly
show that government expenditure for healthcare continues to be the priority.
Major Highlights: -
1. The share of Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) in total Health Expenditure (THE) declined from 62.6% to
47.1%. The continuous decline in the OOPE in the overall health spending show progress towards ensuring
financial protection and Universal Health Coverage for citizens.
2. During this period, the share of Government Health Expenditure (GHE) in the overall GDP of the country
has increased from 1.13% in 2014-15 to 1.35% in 2019-20. (Target is 2.5% of GDP).
3. In per capita terms, GHE has doubled from Rs. 1,108 to Rs. 2,014 between 2014-15 to 2019-20. The
government spending on health between 2018-19 and 2019-20 increased by 12%, more than double the
growth rate between 2017-18 and 2018-19 which was at 5%.
• Additionally, in General Government Expenditure (GGE), the share of health sector spending has
steadily increased from 3.94% to 5.02% between 2014-15 and 2019-20. This clearly indicates that
healthcare has been the priority for public investment in the country.
4. The increase in government spending on health has an important implication for the reduction of financial
hardship endured by households. In the Total Health Expenditure (THE) of the country between 2014-15
and 2019-20, the share of GHE has increased from 29% to 41.4%.
• The share of primary healthcare in Current Government Health Expenditure (CGHE) has increased
from 51.3% in 2014-15 to 55.9% in 2019-20. The increased focus on primary healthcare reinforces the
government’s decisions to prioritize primary healthcare in the country.
5. Another positive trend in the country’s health financing space is the increase in Social Security Expenditure
(SSE) on healthcare. This increase in social security has a direct impact on reducing out-of-pocket
payments. A robust social security mechanism ensures that individuals will not face financial hardship and
the risk of poverty as a consequence of accessing essential healthcare services.
o The share of SSE on health, which includes government-funded health insurance, medical
reimbursement to government employees, and social health insurance programs, in THE, has
increased from 5.7% in 2014-15 to 9.3% in 2019-20.
6. Dr. Paul also threw light on the fact that private health insurance share is also going up. He said that
“this shows a sign of maturity for a country in terms of insurance arena as those who can afford, will afford
it from private players too. This complements the government system of primary, secondary and tertiary
care.”
About National Health Account (NHA) estimates
• The National Health Account (NHA) estimates for India 2019-20 is the seventh consecutive NHA
estimates report prepared by NHSRC, designated as National Health Accounts Technical
Secretariat (NHATS) in 2014 by the Union Health Ministry. The NHA estimates are prepared by
using an accounting framework based on the internationally accepted standard of System of Health
Accounts, 2011, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• With the present estimate of NHA, India now has a continuous series of NHA estimates for the
country, from 2013-14 to 2019-20. These estimates are not only comparable internationally, but also
enable the policymakers to monitor the progress in different health financing indicators of the
country.
Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) in health:
• Out-of-pocket expenditure is the money paid directly by households, at the point of receiving health
care.
• This occurs when services are neither provided free of cost through a government health facility, nor
is the individual covered under any public or private insurance or social protection scheme.
General Government Expenditure (GGE):
• GGE involves all types of expenditure, current and capital. It includes all types of revenue. GGE
includes funds that are provided by donors and channeled through the government.
• It is not the same as the General Government Final Consumption, which comprises only current
spending.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs

URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND
• Union Budget 2023-24 has announced the setting up of the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF)
through use of priority sector lending shortfall.
• Rs. 10,000 crore per annum will be made available for this purpose.
• The Fund will be managed by the National Housing Bank and will be used by public agencies to create
urban infrastructure in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities on the basis of given guidelines.
• As per the Budget announcement, States will be encouraged to leverage resources from the grants of the
15th Finance Commission, as well as existing schemes, to adopt appropriate user charges while accessing
the UIDF.
• The Fund would be operationalized broadly along the lines of the existing Rural Infrastructure
Development Fund.
Telangana Generates Electricity from Vegetable Waste

• The Bowenpally Vegetable Market has caught Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attention for its innovative
waste management system.
• The Bowenpally’s Biogas Plant funded by the Department of Biotechnology and Department of Agriculture
marketing Telangana, Geetanath (2021) was set up under the guidance and patented technology of CSIR-
IICT (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Indian Institute of Chemical Technology) executed by
the Hyderabad-based Ahuja Engineering Services Pvt Ltd.
• Around 30 kg of biofuel generated per day is supplied to the kitchen facilities near the unit. 400- 500 units
of electrical power is being utilized by the administrative building, market water supply network, around 100
streetlights, and 170 stalls of the market.
Ministry of Jal Shakti

1st Ministerial-Level Meeting of India - Netherlands Joint Working Group Held In New Delhi
• In April 2021 during a virtual meeting between the Prime Ministers of India and the Netherlands ‘Strategic
Water Partnership’ was launched.
• On 29th March 2022, the ‘Strategic Water Partnership’ was signed by Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,
Union Minister for Jal Shakti and Mr. Mark Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management.
• The Partnership provides the necessary impetus to expand the bilateral water cooperation and is a joint
effort of Indian and Netherlands Governments, recognizing the importance of Sustainable Development
Goals, water safety, water availability and water quality for wellbeing and sustainable development of the
present and future generations.
Jal Jeevan Mission Achieves 60% Coverage Milestone

• More than 1.55 lakh villages, (25% of total number of villages), in India have so far reported ‘Har Ghar Jal’,
i.e., every household in these villages has access to clean drinking water through taps at their household
premises.
• In the current year from January to March 2023, one tap connection has been provided every second under
Jal Jeevan Mission.
• About Jal Jeevan Mission:
o Jal Jeevan Mission was announced by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 15th August 2019
with the aim to provide all rural households with adequate quantity (55 lpcd) water of prescribed
quality in adequate pressure, on regular and long-term basis.
o The overall financial commitment for Jal Jeevan Mission is Rs.3.6 Lakhs Crores (US $ 43.80 billion)
which makes it one of the largest welfare programmes in the world.
o At the time of the launch of the Mission in August 2019, out of 19.43 Crore rural households, only
3.23 Crore (16.65%) had access to tap water.
o The country crossed another milestone in the journey towards ‘Har Ghar Jal’ on 4th April 2023, with
over 11.66 Crore (60%) rural households provided with tap water supply in their homes.
o 5 states of Gujarat, Telangana, Goa, Haryana, and Punjab and 3 Union Territories of Andaman &
Nicobar Islands, Daman Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli and Puducherry have reported 100% coverage.
o Following the bottom-up approach, JJM is being implemented as a decentralized, demand-driven
community-managed programme.
o More than 5.24 lakh Paani Samitis/ Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSC) have
been formed and over 5.12 lakh Village Action Plan have been prepared under Jal Jeevan Mission
to manage, operate, and maintain in-village water supply infrastructure.
o With an active participation of people especially women, and rural communities working together,
Jal Jeevan Mission has truly become a people’s movement, i.e. 'Jan Andolan'.
First Ever Census on Water Bodies in India

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has released the report of India’s first water bodies census, a comprehensive data base
of ponds, tanks, lakes, and reservoirs in the country.
The census was conducted in 2018-19 and enumerated more than 2.4 million water bodies across all states and
Union Territories.
How is a ‘water body’ defined?
• The Water Bodies: First Census Report considers “all natural or man-made units bounded on all sides with
some or no masonry work used for storing water for irrigation or other purposes (e.g. industrial, pisciculture,
domestic/ drinking, recreation, religious, ground water recharge etc.)” as water bodies. The water bodies
“are usually of various types known by different names like tank, reservoirs, ponds etc.”, it says.
• As per the report, West Bengal’s South 24 Pargana has been ranked as the district having the highest
(3.55 lakh) number of water bodies across the country. The district is followed by Andhra Pradesh’s
Ananthapur (50,537) and West Bengal’s Howrah (37,301).
What does the census reveal about encroachment of water bodies?
• The census found that 1.6% of enumerated water bodies — 38,496 out of 24,24,540 — had been
encroached upon. More than 95% of these were in rural areas — which is logical because more than 97%
of the water bodies covered by the census were in the rural areas.
• Uttar Pradesh accounted for almost 40% (15,301) of water bodies under encroachment, followed by Tamil
Nadu (8,366) and Andhra Pradesh (3,920).
• No encroachment was reported from West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh.
Additional Link: https://theprint.in/india/governance/indias-1st-water-bodies-census-2-4-mn-water-bodies-97-in-
rural-areas-more-than-half-privately-owned/1536799/
Additional Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-does-the-report-of-indias-first-ever-water-body-
census-say-8573214/
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Government declares plan to add 50 GW of renewable energy capacity annually for next 5 years to achieve
the target of 500 GW by 2030
• The government on Wednesday announced a plan to add 250 GW of renewable energy capacity in the
next five years to achieve its target of 500 GW of clean energy by 2030.
• The Government has decided to invite bids for 50 GW of renewable energy capacity annually for the
next five years i.e., from Financial Year 2023-24 till Financial Year 2027-28.
• These annual bids of ISTS (Inter-State Transmission) connected renewable energy capacity will also
include setting up of wind power capacity of at least 10 GW per annum, it stated.
• The announcement is in accordance with the Prime Minister’s announcement at COP26, of achieving 500
GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel (Renewable Energy + Nuclear) sources by 2030.
• In addition to this, the ministry has declared a quarterly plan of the bids for FY 2023-24, which
comprises bids for at least 15 GW of renewable energy capacity in each of the first and second quarters of
the financial year (April-June 2023 and July-September 2023 respectively), and at least 10 GW in each of
the third and fourth quarters of the financial year (Oct-December 2023 and January-March 2024
respectively).
• This capacity addition is over and above the RE capacities that would come up under schemes like
Rooftop solar and PM-KUSUM of the Ministry, under which, bids issued directly by various States & also
capacities that may come up under Open Access Rules.
• Current Status of Renewal Energy:
o India currently has a total renewable energy capacity of 168.96 GW (as of 28th February 2023) with
about 82 GW at various stages of implementation and about 41 GW under tendering stage.
o This includes 64.38 GW of Solar Power, 51.79 GW of Hydro Power, 42.02 GW of Wind Power and
10.77 GW of BioPower.
o Considering the fact that Renewable Energy (RE) projects take around 18-24 months for
commissioning, the bid plan will add 250 GW of renewable energy and ensure 500 GW of installed
capacity by 2030.
• How the Bids would be conducted?
o Presently, Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI), NTPC Ltd. and NHPC Ltd., are notified by
the Government as Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) for calling such bids. It has
been decided to also notify SJVN Ltd, a public sector enterprise under Government of India, as an
REIA.
o The targeted bid capacity for FY 2023-24 would be allocated among the four REIAs. The REIAs
would be permitted to bring out the bids for solar, wind, solar-wind hybrid, RTC RE power, etc. – all
with/without storage, as per their assessment of the RE market or as per directions of the
Government.
Solar Energy Corporation of India gets 'Miniratna Category-I' status.

• SECI, which was established in 2011, is the primary implementing agency for renewable energy
schemes/projects of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aimed at fulfilling India’s international
commitments.
o Till date, SECI has awarded Renewable Energy (RE) project capacities of over 56 GW. SECI is also
active in setting up of projects through its own investments as well as for other public sector entities
as Project Management Consultant (PMC).
• Miniratna Category-I status: The CPSEs which have made profit in the last three years continuously, pre-
tax profit is Rs.30 crores or more in at least one of the three years and have a positive net worth are eligible
to be considered for grant of Miniratna-I status.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs

Union Minister of Tribal Affairs launches Central Sector Scheme “Marketing and Logistics Development
for Promotion of Tribal Products from Northeastern Region (PTP-NER)” in Manipur.
• The scheme's objective is to improve livelihood opportunities for tribal artisans by improving sourcing,
logistics, and marketing of tribal handicrafts from Northeastern states.
• Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim would be
covered under the scheme.
• The scheme will be implemented by TRIFED, the nodal agency under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
o This plan calls for the organization of 68 Tribal Artisan Melas (TAMs) in the several districts of
the Northeastern Region starting on April 18, 2023, in order to begin the empanelment of tribal
artisans from that region.
o A substantial Budget of around Rs. 143 Cr has been allocated towards this scheme for
implementation.
o Northeastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), a corporation
under the administrative control of the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (MDoNER),
India Post under Department of Posts and Northeastern State Government Departments/ Agencies
are being engaged as partners under the scheme.
NABARD Grade A – Agriculture and Rural Development Updates
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer welfare

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launches SATHI Portal & Mobile App to deal with challenges of
seed production, quality seed identification & seed certification.
• SATHI (Seed Traceability, Authentication and Holistic Inventory) Portal and Mobile App to deal with the
challenges of seed production, quality seed identification, and seed certification.
• It has been developed on the theme of Uttam Beej – Samriddh Kisan.
• SATHI portal will ensure quality assurance system, identify the source of seed in the seed production chain.
• The system will consist of integrated -7 verticals of the seed chain – Research Organization, Seed
Certification, Seed Licensing, Seed Catalogue, Dealer to Farmer Sales, Farmer Registration and Seed
DBT.
• Seeds with valid certification can only be sold by valid licensed dealers to centrally registered farmers who
will receive subsidy through DBT directly into their pre-validated bank accounts.
The 100th G20 Meeting under India’s G20 Presidency, the Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS)
concluded successfully at Varanasi.
• General (Dr.) V K Singh (Retd.) inaugurated the meeting.
• The Minister exhorted that bio-fortified crop varieties are the quicker solution to improve health and address
nutrition issues of women and children. Over 5 m ha area in India is under bio-fortified varieties of different
crops, he added.
• The 12th MACS meeting under India’s Presidency has identified the theme of Sustainable Agriculture and
Food Systems for Healthy People and Planet.
• The discussions were focused on Frontiers in Science and Technology for Achieving Food Security &
Nutrition, Biofortification in Food Crops for Enhancing Nutritional Value, Tropical Seaweed Farming for
nutrition and blue growth, Millets And other Ancient Grains International Research Initiative (MAHARISHI),
Digital Technological Solutions for reducing Food Loss and Waste, Agri-tech Startup Ecosystem etc.
MAHARISHI Initiative
• India had proposed a G20 initiative on Millets And other Ancient Grains International Research
Initiative (MAHARISHI) for adoption by MACS.
• MACS 2023 unanimously agreed to launch a Millet Initiative – MAHARISHI which was proposed by India
for research in the field of millets.
• MAHARISHI secretariat shall be housed at Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad with
technical support from ICRISAT, One CGIAR Centres and other international organizations.
• Focus - Nutri-cereals or superfoods, mainly grown on marginal land in dry areas of temperate, sub-tropical,
and tropical regions.
• Priority Areas - Food Security and Nutrition; Building resilience and sustainable agriculture through
approaches of climate resilient agriculture and One Health; Digitalization for Agricultural Transformation;
Public-Private Partnerships for Research and Development.
MoA&FW and NAFED launch Millets Experience Centre (MEC)

• First of its kind, MEC launched at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi.
• NAFED in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) established the
Millets Experience Centre with an aim to raise awareness on Millets and encourage its adoption among
general public.
Atal Tinkering Labs Linked with Krishi Vigyan Kendra & Agricultural Technology Management Agency
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW)
have come together to promote innovation in the agricultural sector among school students across India.
• The two government bodies have agreed to connect Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) with Krishi Vigyan Kendra
(KVKs) and Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMAs) under the initiative.
About Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)

• KVK is an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). The first KVK was
established in 1974 at Puducherry.
• A Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) is an agricultural extension center in India. Usually associated with a
local agricultural university, these centers serve as the ultimate link between the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research and farmers, and aim to apply agricultural research in a practical, localized
setting. All KVKs fall under the jurisdiction of one of the 11 Agricultural Technology Application
Research Institutes (ATARIs) throughout India.
• The mandate of KVK is technology assessment and demonstration for its application and capacity
development.
• KVK Portal has been developed to integrate all the KVKs of the country for online monitoring and
management of KVKs and to disseminate useful knowledge and technologies to farmers.
• The KVK scheme is 100% financed by the Government of India and the KVKs are sanctioned to
Agricultural Universities, ICAR institutes, related Government Departments and Non Government
Organizations (NGOs) working in Agriculture.
Functions of KVKs
• On-Farm Testing: Each KVK operates a small farm to test new technologies, such as seed varieties or
innovative farming methods, developed by ICAR institutes. This allows new technologies to be tested at
the local level before being transferred to farmers.
• Front-line Demonstration: Due to the KVK’s farm and its proximity to nearby villages, it organizes
programs to show the efficacy of new technologies on farmer fields.
• Capacity Building: In addition to demonstrating new technologies, the KVK also hosts capacity building
exercises and workshops to discuss modern farming techniques with groups of farmers.
• Multi-sector Support: Offer support to various private and public initiatives through its local network and
expertise. It is very common for government research institutes to leverage the network of KVKs when
performing surveys with a wide range of farmers.
• Advisory Services: Due to the growing use of ICT, KVKs have implemented technologies to provide
farmers information, such as weather advisories or market pricing, through radio and mobile phones.
Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA)

• Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Support to State Extension Programs for Extension Reforms” popularly
known as ATMA Scheme in agriculture is under implemented since 2005.
• Presently, the ATMA Scheme is being implemented in 691 districts of 28 states & 5 UTs in the country.
• The ATMA scheme promotes a decentralized farmer-friendly extension system in the country.
• The objectives of the Scheme is to support State Government’s efforts and to make available the latest
agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and
allied areas to farmers through different extension activities viz; Farmers Training, Demonstrations,
Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools, etc.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying

Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 notified by Central Government
• Recently, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying has issued the Animal Birth Control
Rules, 2023. These Rules supersede the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001, and are issued
under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960.
• India recorded a whopping 160 million cases of street/stray dog bites between 2019 and 2022, according to
data submitted in Parliament till November 2022.
• This has also led to an increase in revenge crime and atrocities against dogs, feeders of dogs and
caregivers as well as conflicts among urban residents.
• The Rules have been formulated in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Hon'ble Supreme Court
related to Animal Welfare Board of India and People for Elimination of Stray Troubles.
• The Supreme Court has specifically mentioned in various orders that relocation of dogs cannot be
permitted.
o The Rules aim to provide guidelines for the sterilization and immunization of stray dogs through
Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes.
o The responsibility of carrying out ABC programmes lies with the respective local bodies,
municipalities, municipal corporations, and panchayats.
o The Municipal Corporations are required to implement the ABC and Anti Rabies Program jointly.
o It provides guidelines on how to deal with human and stray dog conflicts without relocating the dogs
in an area.
o It also emphasizes addressing the cruelty involved in carrying out ABC programmes, ensuring
animal welfare.
o The Rules prohibit the improper disposal of solid waste and casual feeding of dogs.
Issues with the new rules:
• Homelessness: The ABC Rules do not provide for the rehabilitation of stray dogs, and instead, they are
left on the streets after sterilization and vaccination.
• Responsibility: The ABC Rules place the responsibility of caring for stray dogs on the local residents’
welfare associations, which may not have the resources or capacity to provide proper care.
• Funding and implementation: There are concerns that the lack of adequate funding and implementation
may lead to the rules being ineffective in addressing the stray dog problem.
About Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960:
• The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 is the first law enacted to safeguard the rights of animals
and protect them from pain and suffering caused by humans. It defines animals as any living creature other
than humans and outlines punishments for those who inflict unnecessary cruelty on them. It also includes
guidelines for experimenting on animals for scientific purposes and the exhibition of performing animals.
The establishment of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is one of the key features of this Act.
5dz: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1917510
Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative and Animal Health System Support for One Health
• Recently, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying has launched an Animal Pandemic
Preparedness Initiative (APPI) under One Health Approach to address the threat of diseases that can be
transmitted from animals to humans.
• One Health approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
• The Ministry has also launched Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH) project, funded
by the World Bank.
• What is the Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI)?
o The initiative is in line with the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global One Health strategy,
which emphasizes the importance of multisectoral collaboration in addressing the threat of zoonotic
diseases.
o It will help to improve veterinary services and infrastructure, disease surveillance capabilities, early
detection and response, build the capacity of animal health professionals, and awareness among
farmers through community outreach.
The initiative aims to enhance India's preparedness and response capabilities to prevent and
o
control zoonotic diseases, thereby safeguarding the health of both animals and humans.
• What is Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH)?
o The government has also announced a Rs 1,228-crore World Bank-funded project ‘Animal Health
System Support for One Health’ (AHSSOH) that aims to create an ecosystem for a better animal
health management system using the One Health approach, initially covering five states – Assam,
Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
o It aims to create an ecosystem for a better animal health management system using the One Health
approach.
o The project will be implemented over a five-year period as Central sector scheme.
o It has set a goal to cover 151 districts in five participating states, focusing on upgrading 75
district/regional laboratories, as well as strengthening 300 veterinary hospitals/dispensaries.
• What is the National One Health Mission (NOHM)?
o One Health brings together different sectors to solve health, productivity, and conservation
challenges, which is important for India with its diverse wildlife, large livestock population, and high
human density.
o Recent disease outbreaks, like Covid-19, Lumpy Skin Disease, and Avian Influenza, show that
addressing disease from just a human perspective isn't enough. We need to consider livestock and
wildlife too.
o The NOHM is a cross-ministerial effort approved by the Prime Minister's Science, Technology, and
Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) in its 21st meeting.
o The NOHM will be implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with
other ministries.
o The NOHM will focus on addressing the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental
health to promote holistic and integrated approaches to disease control and prevention.
o It aims to promote a coordinated and integrated approach to disease control and prevention in India,
addressing the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health.
A HELP Program launched in the State of Uttarakhand

• The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Mr. Pushkar Singh Dhami launched ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for
Health and Extension of Livestock Production) programme in the State of Uttarakhand.
• Trained A-HELP workers under 'A-HELP- Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock
Production' program to prevent various infectious diseases in animals, artificial insemination under
Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) will make significant contributions in tagging and animal insurance.
o The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has launched the novel initiative
through an MoU signed between DAHD and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) under
the Department of Rural Development (DoRD), Govt. of India.
• The primary responsibility of an A-HELP worker is to address the healthcare needs of the livestock
population in a village. The programme was successfully piloted in State of Madhya Pradesh and J&K
(UT).
• 'A-HELP' are community-based women activists or Pashu Sakhis, who assist veterinarians in local
departmental work, help livestock farmers to take loans for entrepreneurship development, fill applications,
mark the ear tagging of animals and register them on the INAF portal Will help with insurance etc.
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission launches National Campaign “Sangathan
se Samriddhi” to mobilize 10 Crore Rural Women into Self Help Groups
• This special drive will go on till June 30th, 2023, and aspires to bring all the vulnerable and marginalized
rural households under the Self-Help Group (SHG) fold to enable them to draw benefits provided under the
programme.
• The campaign's primary objective is to mobilize disadvantaged rural communities unaware of the
benefits of the DAY-NRLM program.
National Generic Document Registration System
• The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) (Ministry of Rural Development) has reported that as many as
28 States/UTs in India have adopted the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) for
land records.
• This system allows for eRegistration in these States/UTs, or they have started sharing data with the
national portal of National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) through User
Interface/API.
• Additionally, the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) or Bhu-Aadhar has been adopted
by 26 States/UTs. Furthermore, some States are using ULPIN in the SVAMITVA portal.
• The DoLR is implementing the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP) with
100% funding from the Government of India.
• Digital India Land Record Modernisation Programme
o It is a Central Sector scheme that has been extended to 2023-24, to complete its original targets as
well as expand its ambit with a slew of new schemes.
o It is being implemented by the Department of Land Resources (Ministry of Rural Development).
o The single-window service or the web-enabled “anytime-anywhere” access will save the citizen time
and effort in obtaining RoRs (Record of Rights), etc.
o Automatic and automated mutations will significantly reduce the scope of fraudulent property deals.
• National Generic Document Registration System:
o It is a major shift from the existing manual registration system to online registration of all
transactions in sale-purchase and transfer of land.
o It is a big step towards National Integration and a leap towards ‘One Nation One Software’.
• Unique Land Parcel Identification Number:
o Being described as “the Aadhaar for land", it is a number that would uniquely identify every
surveyed parcel of land and prevent land fraud, especially in the hinterlands of rural India, where
land records are outdated and often disputed.
33 products have received the GI tag

• GI Tag for Cumbum Grapes: Tamil Nadu’s famous Cumbum Panneer Thratchai, also known as Cumbum
grapes recently earned the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
o The Cumbum Valley located at the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu is known as the ‘Grapes City of
South India’ and cultivates the Panneer Thratchai. This variety, also known as Muscat Hamburg, is
popular for its quick growth and early maturity, ensuring that the crop is available in the market
almost throughout the year.
• GI Tag for Madhya Pradesh's Gond Painting: Madhya Pradesh's traditional Gond painting has been
awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, a recognition that will help protect the art form and the artists
who create it.
o The other products include Gwalior Handmade Carpet, Bhedaghat stone craft (Jabalpur), wrought
iron crafts (Dindori), and Waraseoni handloom sarees (Balaghat).
o Sharbati Gehu (wheat which is also called The Golden Grain), registered by the GI Registry in the
agricultural product category.
o Morena Gajak(a kind of sweet) has received the GI tag in the food ingredient category.
o Ujjain Batik print has received the GI tag in the textile category.
• GI Tag for Kathua's 'Basohli Painting': The world-famous 'Basohli Painting', popular for its miniature art
style from Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir has obtained the Geographical Indication (GI). This is the first
time that the Jammu region got a GI tag for handicrafts.
o The products from UT of J&K have been included in the list of 33 products that have received the GI
tag recently.
• GI Tag for Ladakh's Wood Carving: Ladakh's wood carving is renowned for its intricate designs and
unique patterns that are mostly inspired by Buddhist themes and motifs.
• GI Tag for Banarasi Paan: Recently, Banarasi Paan is granted with GI tag, Religious and tourist city Kashi
has emerged as a GI hub. Special Banarasi Langda Mango, Banarasi Paan, Ramnagar's Bhanta (White
Big Round Brinjal), and Adamchini Rice (District Chandauli) have got the Geographical Indications and
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) tag.
• Total number of GI Tags in India has risen to 465.
Miscellaneous News – General Awareness
Quality Control Orders
• Recently, the Ministry of Textiles announced two Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for 31 items,
comprising geo-textiles and protective textiles, following the due process of notification of technical
regulations.
o As per the Ministry, these orders mark the first technical regulation from India for the technical
textiles industry.
o Geo-textiles are used for infrastructure projects and environmental applications while protective
textiles are used to protect human life from hazardous and adverse working conditions.
o QCOs will ensure the standard and quality of Technical Textiles and encourage the growth of
this industry in India in producing quality products at competitive pricing.
o The QCOs will come into force 180 days after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
India's 100 Food Streets Initiative

• The Health Ministry of India, in partnership with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, (MoHUA)
has proposed the development of 100 food streets in 100 districts across the country.
• The initiative aims to promote safe and healthy practices in the food industry, reduce food-borne illnesses,
and improve overall health outcomes.
• The project will be implemented as a pilot scheme to demonstrate best practices for food businesses.
• The initiative will be implemented through the National Health Mission (NHM) in convergence with the
MoHUA and with technical support from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• States and Union Territories will receive financial assistance of ₹1 crore per food street/district, with
assistance under the NHM provided in the ratio of 60:40 or 90:10, subject to standard branding
according to FSSAI guidelines.
Earth Day
• Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on 22nd April to raise awareness about the need to protect our
planet and its environment.
• In 2009, the United Nations designated 22nd April as ‘International Mother Earth Day.
• The theme for Earth Day 2023 is “Invest in our planet,” which calls on businesses, investors, financial
markets, and governments to lead the way in building a healthier and more equitable global system.
• The landmark Paris Agreement, which aims to reduce global greenhouse emissions, was signed on Earth
Day 2016, demonstrating the significance of this day in driving meaningful change for our planet.
India achieves 100% of Phase II Rice Fortification target.

• As part of the Rice Fortification Program, 269 districts in 27 states in India have achieved a 100% target
for Phase II by March 2023 in the distribution of fortified rice under the Targeted Public Distribution
System (TPDS).
• This program aims to supply fortified rice in every Social Safety Net Scheme of the Centre throughout
the country by 2024 in a phased manner.
• During Phase II of the Rice Fortification Programme, 105 Lakh Metric Tonnes of fortified rice was lifted and
distributed to 27 states/union territories under the TPDS, while about 29 LMT was lifted by states/UTs
under Integrated Child Development Services and PM POSHAN.
• The department is now preparing for Phase III to complete the coverage of all remaining districts, except
for those that consume wheat, before the targeted date of March 2024.
• Fortification is the process of enhancing the nutritional value of staple foods like rice, by adding important
vitamins and minerals including iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A & D.
Sagar Setu App

• The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways recently launched the App Version of National
Logistics Portal (Marine) - ‘Sagar-Setu’.
• The mobile app will ensure data mobility such that approvals & monitoring shall be at the fingertips of port &
ministry officials and stakeholders as well.
• National Logistics Portal (Marine) is a national maritime single window platform encompassing complete
end-to-end logistics solutions to help exporters, importers, and service providers exchange documents
seamlessly and transact business.
UN Statistical Commission
• India has been elected to the UN Statistical Commission for a four-year period (beginning on 1
January 2024) in a competitive election. The Commission works under the United Nations Economic and
Social Council (ECOSOC).
• The UN Statistical Commission, established in 1947, is the highest body of the global statistical
system bringing together the Chief Statisticians from member states from around the world.
• It is the highest decision-making body for international statistical activities, responsible for setting statistical
standards and the development of concepts and methods, including their implementation at the national
and international levels.
• The Commission consists of 24 member countries (Five members are from African States, four from
Asia-Pacific States, four from Eastern European States, four from Latin American and Caribbean States
and seven members from Western European and other States) of the United Nations elected by the
ECOSOC on the basis of equitable geographical distribution. India has been elected to the Economic
and Social Council, one of the six main organs of the United Nations, for the 2022-24 term.
PM SVANidhi
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs recently released data related to the PM SVANidhi scheme,
which aims to provide micro-credit support to street vendors to alleviate the pandemic-induced economic
stress.
• The data reveals that out of 42.7 lakh loans disbursed under the scheme, amounting to ₹5,152.37
crore, only 9.3% were given to street vendors from minority communities.
• The disbursal of loans across states appears to be aligned with the population of each state, with Uttar
Pradesh disbursing the highest number of loans and Sikkim disbursing only one loan.
• Uttar Pradesh also gave the highest number of loans to minority street vendors at 95,032.
• The PM SVANidhi is a micro-credit scheme which was launched by the government in 2020 to provide
handholding support to street vendors to tide over pandemic-induced economic stress. It facilitates
collateral-free loans of ₹10,000, with subsequent loans of ₹20,000 and ₹50,000 with 7% interest subsidy.
AIM, NITI Aayog, and UNCDF Team Up to Make India a Global Agri-tech Leader.
• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
jointly launched a whitepaper aimed at making India a global leader in agritech innovation and expanding
these innovations to the least developed countries in Asia and Africa.
• The whitepaper, meticulously prepared by experts from AIM, NITI Aayog, and UNCDF, offers actionable
steps to overcome challenges faced by Agri-Tech start-ups and facilitate their growth at national and
international levels.
• AIM, in partnership with UNCDF, aims to create a south-south collaboration environment where start-ups
from Asia and Africa can exchange ideas and generate opportunities in their respective countries.
• About UNCDF:
o United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the United Nations’ flagship catalytic
financing entity for the world’s 46 Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
o It is an autonomous, voluntarily funded UN organization, affiliated with the UN Development
Programme (UNDP).
o The original UNCDF mandate from the UN General Assembly (UNGA) 1966 Resolution is to “assist
developing countries in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of
capital assistance by means of grants and loans”.
o The mandate was modified in 1973 to serve first and foremost but not exclusively the LDCs.
o It is the only UN agency mandated to focus primarily on the least developed countries (LDCs),
SUPREME Initiative
• Recently, the Union Minister of Science and Technology launched the SUPREME initiative to provide
financial support for the upgradation and maintenance of analytical instrumentation facilities (AIFs).
• The Support for Up-gradation Preventive Repair and Maintenance of Equipment (SUPREME) is a first-of-
its-kind programme by the government, which extends financial support for repair, upgradation,
maintenance, retrofitting, or acquiring additional attachments to increase functional capabilities of existing
analytical instrumentation facilities.
• Such facilities at institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) are eligible to apply
for grants under SUPREME.
• Duration: The duration of support will be for a period not exceeding 3 years.
• Funding Pattern: The funding pattern in the scheme would be 75:25 for all private and govt owned
institutions (except for state-funded institutions for which 100% funding would be considered).
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Science and Technology
• The Criterion for Selection:
o Apart from the academic and research merits of the organizations, details of how the revival of the
research facility will benefit the scientific community/MSMEs/Startups will be taken into account for
evaluating the proposals.
o Proven records of the sample(s) analyzed, publications, patents, different beneficiaries/stakeholders
associated with the facility and other parameters like Scientific Social Responsibility/ industrial R&D
components will be considered for screening of the proposals.
o The selection process will be through a peer review mechanism and a visit to the organizations, if
necessary.
o Expert Committee will evaluate the proposals and assist DST in making the final selection.
District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in 626 Districts of 23 States

• Section 9B of the MMDR Act, 1957 empowers the State Government to establish District Mineral
Foundation (DMF) Trust in all the Districts affected by mining for the benefit of the people and areas
affected by mining activities.
• Accordingly, concerned State Governments have established DMFs in 626 districts in 23 states in the
country.
• Ministry of Mines circulated guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojna (PMKKKY)
vide order dated 16.09.2015 to be implemented by the DMF for taking up development and welfare works
in mining affected areas.
• As per the PMKKKY guidelines, instruction have been issued to the DMFs for identification of affected
areas and people to be covered under the PMKKKY scheme and spend at least 60% of the funds on
High Priority areas like:
o drinking water supply; (ii) environment preservation and pollution control measures; (iii) health care;
(iv) education; (v) welfare of women and children; (vi) welfare of aged and disabled people; (vii) skill
development; and (viii) sanitation
o and up to 40% on Other Priority areas (i) physical infrastructure; (ii) irrigation; (iii) energy and
watershed development; and (iv) any other measures for enhancing environmental quality in mining
district.
Government ushers in new era of responsible online gaming through strict guidelines for ensuring safety
of Digital Nagriks.
• The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has announced new regulations to protect online gamers from
harmful content and addiction.
• A self-regulation model has been applied for the online gaming sector where SROs will approve the games
that can operate in the country in accordance with the rules.
• These new online gaming rules have been included as an amendment in the IT Rules of 2021.
• What are the new rules?
o The new rules can be summarized into the following points:
o The government will set up several SROs with representatives from various sectors. These SROs
will decide if a game is allowed or not.
o Gaming firms or platforms must not offer, publish, or share online games that have harmful or
banned content. They must verify the identity of online gamers.
o Online games that involve any kind of gambling (including ads) will be prohibited.
o SROs will also make sure games follow guidelines to prevent addiction and mental harm through
parental controls, frequent warning messages, and age-rating systems.
o The gamers will have the option to opt-out after reaching their own limits for time or money spent.

Additional Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/gaming/meity-new-online-gaming-rules-explained-
8544334/
UIDAI-IIT Bombay join hands to develop touchless biometric capture system.

• Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has joined hands with Indian Institute of Technology,
Bombay (IIT-Bombay) to develop a robust touchless biometric capture system for easier usage by people
anytime, anywhere.
• As part of the memorandum of understanding, UIDAI and IIT Bombay will carry out joint research to
build a mobile capture system for fingerprints along with liveness model integrated with the capture system.
• The collaboration between UIDAI and IIT Bombay through its National Centre of Excellence in
Technology for Internal Security (NCETIS) will lead to joint engagement in research and development
(R&D) for development of a system for UIDAI.
• The NCETIS is a joint initiative by IIT Bombay and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
(MeitY), under its flagship Digital India Programme.
Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched the 5th round of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Ude
Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)
• Commenting on the launch of UDAN 5.0, the Minister of Civil Aviation & Steel, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia
said, “UDAN has proved to be a lifeblood of many regions which are now well connected with places across
the country. This new & stronger version of the scheme will raise the momentum, connecting new routes,
and bring us closer to the target of operationalizing 1000 routes & 50 additional airports, heliports, and
water aerodromes in the near future.
• Features of the Scheme:
o This round of UDAN focuses on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-3 (>80 seats).
o The earlier stage length cap of 600 km is waived off and there is no restriction on the distance
between the origin and destination of the flight.
o Viability gap funding (VGF) to be provided will be capped at 600 km stage length for both Priority
and Non-Priority areas which was earlier capped at 500 km.
o No predetermined routes would be offered. Only Network and Individual Route Proposal proposed
by airlines will be considered.
o The airlines would be required to submit an action/business plan after 2 months from the issuance
of LoA wherein they submit their aircraft acquisition plan/availability of aircraft, crew, slots, etc. at
the time of the Technical Proposal.
o The same route will not be awarded to a single airline more than once, whether in different networks
or in the same network.
o Exclusivity will be withdrawn if the average quarterly PLF is higher than 75% for four continuous
quarters, to prevent exploitation of the monopoly on a route.
o 25% of the Performance Guarantee to be encashed for each month of delay up to 4 months, to
further incentivize quick operationalization.
o Airlines would be required to commence operations within 4 months of the award of the route.
Earlier this deadline was 6 months.
PM Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated first Global Buddhist Summit on 20th April.
• The two-day Summit is being hosted by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with International Buddhist
Confederation on 20-21 April.
• The theme of the Global Buddhist Summit is “Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to
Praxis”.
• It is an effort towards engaging the global Buddhist Dhamma leadership and scholars on matters of
Buddhist and universal concerns, and to come up with policy inputs to address them collectively.
World Heritage Day or International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS) celebrated on 18th April.
• World Heritage Day is celebrated every year on 18 April to preserve human heritage and to recognize all
the efforts of relevant organizations.
• The theme this year "Heritage Changes", offers the opportunity to respond to questions regarding learning
about traditional ways of knowing and knowledge systems in relation to climate action,
• In 1982, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) announced 18 April as World
Heritage Day.
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has a total of 1,154
monuments designated as world heritage sites from all over the world.
• Apart from India only Italy, Spain, Germany, China and France have 40 or more World Heritage sites
• Considering that 52 more sites are on India’s World Heritage Tentative list, our heritage monuments will
play a huge role in transforming the tourism sector.
India to hosted SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on April 28th.

• Calling upon Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states to root out terrorism collectively
and fix accountability on its supporters, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday asserted that any kind of
terrorist act or support to it is a major crime against humanity.
• Besides a virtual participation by Pakistan, defence ministers of eight SCO member states attended the
meeting in New Delhi.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization established in 2001.
• The SCO membership includes Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan besides India.
• Apart from the member states, two observer countries Belarus and Iran have also participated in the
SCO Defence Ministers Meeting on 28 April 2023.
• The theme of India’s Chairmanship of SCO in 2023 is ‘SECURE-SCO’.
INDO-UK JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE “AJEYA WARRIOR – 2023” TO COMMENCE AT SALISBURY PLAINS,
UNITED KINGDOM
• The 7th edition of joint military exercise “AJEYA WARRIOR-23” between India and the United Kingdom
is being conducted at Salisbury Plains, United Kingdom from 27 April to 11 May 2023.
• Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR is a biennial training event with the United Kingdom which is conducted
alternatively in the United Kingdom and India, the last edition was held at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand in
October 2021.
CULMINATION OF EXERCISE COPE INDIA-2023

• The sixth edition of Cope India-2023, an Air Exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and United States
Air Force (USAF), conducted over the last two weeks at Air Force Stations Kalaikunda, Panagarh and
Agra, culminated on 24 Apr 2023.
PARTICIPATION OF INDIAN AIR FORCE IN EXERCISE INIOCHOS-23

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS-23, a multi-national air exercise
hosted by the Hellenic Air Force.
• The exercise will be conducted at the Andravida Air Base in Greece from 24 Apr 2023 to 04 May 2023. The
Indian Air Force will be participating with four Su-30 MKI and two C-17 aircraft.
INDIAN AIR FORCE TO PARTICIPATE IN MULTILATERAL INTERNATIONAL EXERCISE ORION AT MONT

DE MARSAN, FRANCE
• An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent has departed for France, to participate in Exercise Orion at Mont-de-
Marsan, an Air Force base of the French Air and Space Force (FASF).
• This would be the first overseas exercise for the IAF's Rafale aircraft.
• Besides the IAF and the FASF, Air Forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom,
Spain and United States of America would also be flying in this multilateral exercise.
Joint Military Exercise ‘Ex KAVACH’ concludes at Andaman and Nicobar Command
• Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) conducted a large-scale Joint Military Exercise ‘Ex KAVACH’
involving the assets of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
• The exercise was aimed at fine-tuning joint warfare capabilities & Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
and enhancing interoperability and operational synergy between the forces.
INDIA –SRILANKA ANNUAL BILATERAL MARITIME EXERCISE (SLINEX-23)

• The 10th edition of IN-SLN bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-23 is scheduled at Colombo from 03 - 08
April 2023.
• Indian Navy is being represented by INS Kiltan, an indigenous Kamorta class ASW corvette and INS
Savitri, an Offshore Patrol Vessel.
• SLINEX aims at enhancing interoperability, improving mutual understanding and exchanging best practices
while jointly undertaking multi-faceted maritime operations.
NHAI to Create Around 10,000 km of Digital Highways by FY 2024 - 25

• NHAI is working towards development of around 10,000 km of Optic Fibre Cables (OFC) infrastructure
across the country by FY2024-25. National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a fully
owned SPV of NHAI, will implement the network of Digital Highways by developing integrated utility
corridors along the National Highways to develop OFC infrastructure.
• OFC network will allow direct plug-and-play or ‘Fibre-on-demand’ model for the Telecom / Internet
Services. The network will be leased out on a Fixed Price Allotment mechanism on ‘Open for All’ basis
through a web portal to eligible users. OFC allotment policy is being finalized in consultation with DoT and
TRAI.
Indian Railways registers record Revenue of Rs. 2.40 Lakh Cr. for FY 2022-23
• During this financial year 2022-23, Freight revenue too has leapfrogged to Rs.1.62 lakh Crores, a growth of
nearly 15% on previous year. Indian Railways’ passenger revenues have registered an all-time high growth
of 61% to reach Rs.63,300 Crores.
• Rs 1 lakh cr was invested in augmenting capacity of network. FY23 saw highest ever commissioning of
new lines and Doubling/Multi-tracking etc. of 5243 KMs.
SAIL achieves all-time best annual production in Financial Year 2022-23

• The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a Maharatna public sector unit under the Ministry of Steel, has
achieved the best ever annual production during the financial year 2022-23 ending on 31 March 2023.
• During the period, the company recorded 19.409 million Tonnes (MT) of hot metal and 18.289 MT
crude steel production with a growth of 3.6% and 5.3% respectively over the previous best. The company is
continuously ramping up its production over the years with a focus on more value added and special steels
production.
The Bharat Gaurav Tourist train tour on Ambedkar Circuit flagged off from New Delhi.
• Passengers of the Yatra to visit prominent places associated with the life of Baba Saheb Ambedkar
• IRCTC in association with Ministry of Tourism is operating its first tour on the Ambedkar circuit on an 8
days special tour from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station starting April 14, 2023.
• The Yatra will include Visit to prominent places associated with the life of Baba Saheb Ambedkar
like New Delhi, Mhow, Nagpur and sacred Buddhist sites like Sanchi, Sarnath, Gaya and Rajgir and
Nalanda in the tour itinerary.
RBI/SEBI Circulars & News – April 2023

Highlights of the 1st Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy of FY24
• The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 6-members Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met on 3rd, 5th and 6th
of April 2023 and released its first bi-monthly monetary policy statement for FY24 (Financial year 2023-
2024).
• The MPC has decided to keep the policy rates unchanged with the stance remain focused on the
withdrawal of accommodation.
• In an effort to control inflation, the central bank has already raised the repo rate by a total of 250 basis
points since May, but the inflation rate has largely remained above the RBI's comfort zone of 2–6 percent.
Key Highlights of Policy:

A. Growth and Inflation
• Growth: The RBI has slightly raised its real GDP prediction for FY24 from 6.4 percent to 6.5 percent.
o According to estimates, the GDP will be 7.8 percent in Q1FY24, 6.2 percent in Q2FY24, 6.1 percent
in Q3FY24, and 5.9 percent in Q4FY24.
o For 2024-25, assuming a normal monsoon and no major exogenous or policy shocks, the structural
model estimates indicate real GDP growth at 6.5%, with quarterly growth rates in the range of 5.5-
7.0%.
• Inflation: For FY24, inflation projection was revised to 5.2% (5.3% earlier), on higher base of stronger H2
numbers last year.
o Q1, Q2 and Q3 inflation projections were maintained at 5.1%, 5.4% and 5.4% respectively, while
Q4FY24 was revised to 5.2% (5.6% earlier), with risks evenly balanced.
o The impact of untimely rains on rabi crop, incomplete pass through of input costs to services, and
high milk prices were noted but it was offset by expectations of record harvest and lower household
inflation expectations.
• Rupee Movement: The nominal exchange rate of the Indian rupee, or INR, fluctuated in a range of INR
81–83 per US dollar (USD) in H2, according to the monetary policy report.
• CAD: The current account deficit (CAD) for the first three-quarters of FY23 stood at 2.7 percent of GDP. In
Q3 FY23, CAD narrowed significantly to 2.2 percent from 3.7 percent in Q2 FY23.
• Remittances: Inward gross remittances touched an all-time high of US$ 107.5 billion during calendar year
2022.
• Reserve: As on March 31, 2023, India’s foreign exchange reserves were placed at US$ 578.4 billion.
B. Developmental and Regulatory Policies

• New Portal: RBI decided to develop a secured web-based centralized portal named ‘PRAVAAH’
(Discussed Below)
• Web Portal Development for Unclaimed Deposits: In order to improve the access of
depositors/beneficiaries, RBI has decided to develop a centralized web portal for the public to enable
search across multiple banks for possible unclaimed deposits based on user inputs. The search results
would be enhanced by the use of certain AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools.
• RBI proposes expanding UPI payments to allow pre-sanctioned credit lines.
o In a move that is being seen as a step to allow UPI to mimic credit cards, the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) has allowed the operation of pre-sanctioned credit lines at banks through UPI.
o A credit line is a preset borrowing limit that the borrower can use as and when needed, until the limit
is reached. As and when the borrowed money is repaid, it can be borrowed again from the available
credit line. A credit line is similar to a credit card, except that you don’t need to carry any plastic
cards in this case.
o The RBI has already allowed banks to provide overdrafts to customers, which they can access
through UPI. The new permission to transfer funds from a credit line would enable banks to
structure loans like credit cards.
Circular: Remittances to International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) under the Liberalized Remittance
Scheme (LRS)
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on February 16, 2021, issued the Remittances to International Financial
Services Centres (IFSCs) in India under the Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS).
• Accordingly, AD Category - I banks may allow resident individuals to make remittances under LRS to
IFSCs in India, subject to the certain conditions.
• The remittance shall be made only for making investments in IFSCs in securities, other than those issued
by entities/companies’ resident (outside IFSC) in India.
• Indian residents can now make remittances to IFSCs under the LRS framework.
• They are allowed to open a foreign currency account (FCA) in IFSC. Until now, any funds lying idle in FCA
for up to 15 days had to be repatriated to the domestic rupee account.
• The RBI circular has allowed unutilised funds to be repatriated and surrendered to an authorised dealer
bank within 180 days.
• Banks can now offer interest-bearing accounts to resident individuals, which was not allowed under the
earlier regime.
• According to the Master Circular of RBI dated February 16, 2021:
• In February 2021, the RBI allowed resident individuals to make remittances under the Liberalised
Remittance Scheme (LRS) to IFSCs set up in India, but the remittances were only allowed for making
investments in IFSC securities.
• Earlier, only non-interest-bearing FCAs were allowed in IFSCs under LRS, and any funds remaining idle in
the account for up to 15 days from the date of its receipt were immediately transferred back to the domestic
account of the investor in India. The RBI circular issued on Wednesday removes these key restrictions.
• Resident Individuals shall not settle any domestic transactions with other residents through these FCAs
held in IFSC. - This has not been withdrawn.
What is liberalized remittance scheme?

• Liberalized remittance scheme (LRS) was introduced in India in 2004 by the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI). It is a scheme that enables Indian residents to remit funds abroad for certain specified purposes.
• Prior to this, the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) 1999 had imposed several restrictions on
the transfer of funds from India to other countries.
• The scheme permits Indian citizens resident in India to remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year
(April-March) for any permissible current or capital account transaction or a combination of both.
• This amount can be used for business, personal, educational, and other purposes.
• In order to avail the benefit of the LRS, the individual must be an Indian resident as defined under
the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
• Remittances under the scheme are not permitted for certain activities such as real estate, the
purchase of lottery tickets, margin trading, and speculation in foreign exchange markets.
• One of the major advantages of the scheme is that it enables individuals to make investments in
international financial markets without having to go through the cumbersome process of obtaining
permission from the RBI.
• This helps them to diversify their investment portfolios and get access to a wider range of financial
instruments.
• The scheme also provides an avenue for Indians to transfer funds to their family members or friends
who are residing abroad. This is especially useful when there is an emergency situation where funds
are needed urgently.
• The scheme also opens an opportunity for non-resident Indians (NRIs) to transfer funds to their
relatives in India. This can be done without any restrictions, making it easier for NRIs to maintain
contact with their family members back home.
What is 20% tax collection at source announced in Union Budget?

• The Union Budget 2023 has proposed a tax collection at source (TCS) of 20% for foreign outward
remittance under liberalized remittance scheme (LRS) (other than for education and medical purposes).
This will be applicable from July 1, 2023.
• Before this, TCS of 5% was applicable to foreign outward remittance in excess of ₹7 lakh or USD
250,000.
• Now, apart from education and medical treatment, there will be no threshold limit for other instances of
remittances.
Circular Link: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_CircularIndexDisplay.aspx?Id=12494

FAQs on LRS: https://m.rbi.org.in/scripts/FAQView.aspx?Id=115#Q1
Reference: https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/budget-2023-proposes-20-tcs-on-foreign-expenses-under-
lrs/articleshow/97555504.cms
Circular: RBI’s New Guidelines On General Credit Card Scheme
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued new guidelines on April 25, 2023, regarding the General Credit
Card (GCC) Scheme.
o All credit cards, such as Artisan Credit Card, Laghu Udyami Card, Swarojgar Credit Card, Weaver's
Card, etc., catering to the non-farm entrepreneurial credit needs are covered by the General Credit
Card scheme.
o The objective is to increase flow of credit to individuals for entrepreneurial activity in the non-farm
sector provided through the General Credit Card.
• Eligibility: All non-farm entrepreneurial credit extended to individuals, which is eligible for classification
under the priority sector guidelines.
• Quantum of credit limit: There will be no ceiling on the loan amount as long as the loan is for the purpose
of non-farm entrepreneurial activity and is otherwise eligible for classification as priority sector. The limits
should be fixed on the basis of risk assessment on a case to case basis.
• Rate of Interest: To be decided by banks in terms of their Board approved policies within the overall
guidelines issued by Reserve Bank on interest rates from time to time.
• Revised Guidelines:
o The GCC scheme “shall henceforth be called General Credit Card (GCC) Facility”, RBI said in new
guidelines.
o The terms and conditions of the GCC credit facilities should be as per the banks’ board-approved
policies and the framework laid down by RBI.
o All RBI directions regarding credit cards are also applicable to GCCs.
o Individuals/entities sanctioned working capital facilities for non-farm entrepreneurial activities which
are eligible for classification under the priority sector guidelines, may be issued General Credit
Cards.
o GCC shall be issued in the form of a credit card conforming to the stipulations in the already laid
down master direction on credit card by the central bank.
o These instructions supersede the GCC guidelines issued in December 2013 and come into effect as
on the date of this circular.
GCC Circular - https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_CircularIndexDisplay.aspx?Id=12492

Circular on Credit/Debit Card, 2022 - https://rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasDirections.aspx?id=12300
Circular: The RBI has harmonized the provisioning norms for standard assets across all categories of
UCBs.
• In a circular, the RBI stated, “On review, it has been decided to harmonize the provisioning norms for
standard assets applicable to all categories of UCBs, irrespective of their tier in the revised framework.”
o The RBI has categorized all unit UCBs and salary earners’ UCBs (irrespective of deposit size), and
all other UCBs having deposits up to Rs 100 crore in tier 1.
o UCBs with deposits more than Rs 100 crore and up to Rs 1,000 crore have been placed in tier 2.
o Banks with deposits more than Rs 1,000 crore and up to Rs 10,000 crore have been categorised in
tier 3.
o UCBs with deposits more than Rs 10,000 crore have been categorised in tier 4.
• Prior to this, these banks were only categorized as tier 1 and tier 2 and the current standard assets
provisionidrvng norms are based on the earlier categorization of UCBs.
• What are the revised norms?
• The RBI said on a review, it has been decided to harmonise the provisioning norms for standard assets
applicable to all categories of UCBs, irrespective of their Tier in the revised framework.
• Accordingly, the standard asset provisioning norms applicable to Tier I, Tier 2, Tier 3 and Tier 4
UCBs under the revised framework shall be as under:
o Direct advances to agriculture and SME sectors which are standard, shall attract a uniform
provisioning requirement of 0.25 percent of the funded outstanding on a portfolio basis.
o Advances to commercial real estate (CRE) sector which are standard shall attract a uniform
provisioning requirement of 1.00 percent of the funded outstanding on a portfolio basis.
o For advances to commercial real estate - residential housing (CRE-RH) sector, which are
standard, the provisioning requirement shall be 0.75 percent.
o For all other advances, banks shall maintain a uniform general standard asset provision of a
minimum of 0.40 percent of the funded outstanding on a portfolio basis.
• The erstwhile Tier I UCBs, which are currently maintaining standard asset provision of 0.25% All other
advances other than Direct advances to Agriculture and SME sectors, Commercial Real Estate (CRE)
sector, Commercial Real Estate-Residential Housing Sector (CRE-RH) are permitted to achieve the
provisioning requirement of 0.40% on such advances in a staggered manner by March 31, 2025.
o Thus, provision on all such standard loans and advances outstanding as on March 31, 2023, shall
be increased to 0.30% by March 31, 2024, to 0.35% by September 30, 2024 and to 0.40% by March
31, 2025.
RBI Circular: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_CircularIndexDisplay.aspx?Id=12491
Circular: RBI updates prudential norms on capital adequacy for UCBs

• As per the RBI’s master circular updates on prudential norms on capital adequacy, issued on 20th April,
2023 following changes have been made.
• Net Worth Requirement:
o UCBs shall have minimum net worth as under:
▪ Tier 1 UCBs operating in a single district shall have minimum net worth of ₹2 crore.
▪ All other UCBs (of all tiers) shall have minimum net worth of ₹5 crore.
▪ UCBs which currently do not meet the minimum net worth requirement, as above, shall
achieve the minimum net worth of ₹2 crore or ₹5 crore (as applicable) in a phased manner.
Such UCBs shall achieve at least 50 per cent of the applicable minimum net worth on or
before March 31, 2026, and the entire stipulated minimum net worth on or before March 31,
2028.
• Capital Adequacy Norms:
o UCBs shall maintain minimum Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) as under:
o Tier 1 UCBs shall maintain, as hitherto, a minimum CRAR of 9 per cent of Risk Weighted Assets
(RWAs) on an ongoing basis.
o Tier 2 to 4 UCBs shall maintain a minimum CRAR of 12 per cent of RWAs on an ongoing basis.
o UCBs in Tier 2 to 4, which do not currently meet the revised CRAR of 12 per cent of RWAs, shall
achieve the same in a phased manner. Such UCBs shall achieve the CRAR of at least 10 per cent
by March 31, 2024, 11 per cent by March 31, 2025, and 12 per cent by March 31, 2026.
• Share linking to Borrowings:
o Borrowings from UCBs shall be linked to shareholdings of the borrowing members as below:
o 5 per cent of the borrowings, if the borrowings are on unsecured basis.
o 2.5 per cent of the borrowings, in case of secured borrowings.
o In case of secured borrowings by Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), 2.5 per cent of the
borrowings, of which 1 per cent is to be collected initially and the balance of 1.5 per cent is to be
collected in the course of next 2 years.
Circular: Framework for acceptance of Green Deposits

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a new framework to offer green deposits to the
customers, aiming at developing a Green Finance Ecosystem (GFS) in India. The framework will come
into effect from June 1, 2023.
• The RBI Said, Climate change has been recognized as one of the most critical challenges faced by the
global society and economy in the 21st century. The financial sector can play a pivotal role in mobilizing
resources and their allocation thereof in green activities/projects. Green finance is also progressively
gaining traction in India.
• A green deposit refers to an interest-bearing deposit received by an RE (Regulated Entity) for a fixed
period, with the proceeds earmarked for allocation towards green finance.
• What are the Key Features of the Framework?
o Applicability: The framework is applicable to Scheduled Commercial Banks, including Small
Finance Banks, excluding Regional Rural Banks, Local Area Banks and Payments Banks and all
deposit-taking Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), including Housing Finance Companies.
o Allocation: REs will be required to allocate the proceeds raised through green deposits towards a
list of green activities and projects that encourage energy efficiency in resource utilization, reduce
carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, promote climate resilience and/or adaptation, and
improve natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
o Exclusion: Projects involving new or existing extraction, production and distribution of fossil fuels,
including improvements and upgrades, nuclear power, direct waste incineration, alcohol, weapons,
tobacco, gaming, or palm oil industries, renewable energy projects generating energy from biomass
using feedstock originating from protected areas, landfill projects and hydropower plants larger than
25 MW have been excluded from green financing.
o Financing Framework: To ensure effective allocation of green deposits, REs must put in place a
Board-approved Financing Framework (FF). The green deposits shall be denominated in Indian
Rupees only.
▪ The allocation of funds raised through green deposits by REs during a financial year shall
be subject to independent third-party verification/assurance, which shall be done on an
annual basis.
Sector Description
Renewable Energy • Solar/wind/biomass/hydropower energy projects that integrate
energy generation and storage.
• Incentivizing adoption of renewable energy.
Energy Efficiency • Design and construction of energy-efficient and energy-saving
systems and installations in buildings and properties
• Supporting lighting improvements (e.g. replacement with LEDs).
• Supporting construction of new low-carbon buildings as well as
energy-efficiency retrofits to existing buildings.
• Projects to reduce electricity grid losses.
Clean Transportation • Projects promoting electrification of transportation.
• Adoption of clean fuels like electric vehicles including building
charging infrastructure.
Climate Change Adaptation • Projects aimed at making infrastructure more resilient to impacts
of climate change.
Sustainable Water and Waste • Promoting water efficient irrigation systems.
Management • Installation/upgradation of wastewater infrastructure including
transport, treatment and disposal systems.
• Water resources conservation.
• Flood defence systems.
Pollution Prevention and Control • Projects targeting reduction of air emissions, greenhouse gas
control, soil remediation, waste management, waste prevention,
waste recycling, waste reduction and energy/emission-efficient
waste-to-energy.
Green Buildings • Projects related to buildings that meet regional, national or
internationally recognized standards or certifications for
environmental performance.
Sustainable Management of Living • Environmentally sustainable management of agriculture, animal
Natural Resources and Land Use husbandry, fishery and aquaculture.
• Sustainable forestry management including
afforestation/reforestation.
• Support to certified organic farming.
• Research on living resources and biodiversity protection.
Terrestrial and Aquatic Biodiversity • Projects relating to coastal and marine environments.
Conservation • Projects related to biodiversity preservation, including
conservation of endangered species, habitats and ecosystems.
Exclusions
• Projects involving new or existing extraction, production and distribution of fossil fuels, including
improvements and upgrades; or where the core energy source is fossil-fuel based.
• Nuclear power generation.
• Direct waste incineration.
• Alcohol, weapons, tobacco, gaming, or palm oil industries.
• Renewable energy projects generating energy from biomass using feedstock originating from protected
areas.
• Landfill projects.
• Hydropower plants larger than 25 MW.
• What is the Purpose of Framework?

o The purpose and rationale for the framework, RBI said is to encourage REs to “offer green
deposits to customers, protect interest of the depositors, aid customers to achieve their
sustainability agenda, address greenwashing concerns and help augment the flow of credit to green
activities/projects”.
o Further, the central bank said the allocation of proceeds raised from green deposits should be
based on the official Indian green taxonomy.
▪ Pending finalization of the taxonomy, as an interim measure, REs would be required to
allocate the proceeds raised through green deposits towards a specified list of green
activities/projects.
o The projects must encourage energy efficiency in resource utilization, reduce carbon emissions and
greenhouse gases, promote climate resilience and/or adaptation and value and improve natural
ecosystems and biodiversity.
o Renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, climate change adaptation,
sustainable water and waste management, and green buildings, are among the list of
projects/activities where REs could allocate the proceeds raised through green deposits.
• What is Greenwashing?
o “greenwashing” means the practice of marketing products/services as green, when in fact they do
not meet requirements to be defined as green activities/projects.

Additional Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/business/banking-and-finance/rbi-issues-framework-for-
acceptance-of-green-deposits-by-banks-nbfcs-8551078/
Circular: Credit Facilities to Scheduled Castes (SCs) & Scheduled Tribes (STs)
• There are several major centrally sponsored schemes under which credit is provided by banks and subsidy
is received through Government Agencies. Credit flow under these schemes is monitored by RBI. Under
each of these, there is a significant reservation/relaxation for the members of the SC/ST communities.
• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM): DAY-NRLM (previously
known as NRLM) was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India by restructuring
the erstwhile Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, effective from April 1, 2013. DAY-NRLM would
ensure adequate coverage of vulnerable sections of the society such that 50% of these beneficiaries are
SCs/STs.
• Differential Rate of Interest (DRI) Scheme - Under the DRI Scheme, banks provide finance up to
₹15,000/- at a concessional rate of interest of 4 per cent per annum to the weaker sections of the
community for engaging in productive and gainful activities.
o Banks have been advised to grant eligible borrowers belonging to SCs/STs such advances to the
extent of not less than 2/5th (40 percent) of total DRI advances.
o Further, the eligibility criteria under DRI, viz. size of land holding should not exceed 1 acre of
irrigated land and 2.5 acres of unirrigated land, are not applicable to SCs/STs.
o Members of SCs/STs satisfying the income criteria of the scheme can also avail of housing loan up
to ₹20,000/- per beneficiary over and above the individual loan of ₹15,000/- available under the
scheme.
• Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for Scheduled Castes (CEGSSC)
o The CEGSSC was launched by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment on May 6, 2015 with the
objective of promoting entrepreneurship amongst the Scheduled Castes (SCs), by providing credit
enhancement guarantee to Member Lending Institutions (MLIs), which extend financial assistance
to these entrepreneurs.
o IFCI Ltd. has been designated as the Nodal Agency under the scheme, to issue the guarantee
cover in favour of MLIs for financing SC entrepreneurs.
o Individual SC entrepreneurs/Registered Companies and Societies/Registered Partnership
Firms/Sole Proprietorship firms having more than 51% shareholding and management control for
the previous 6 months by SC entrepreneurs/ promoters/ members are eligible for guarantee from
IFCI Ltd. against the loans extended by MLIs.
o The amount of guarantee cover under CEGSSC ranges from a minimum of ₹0.15 cr to a maximum
of ₹5.00 cr.
o The tenure of guarantee is up to a maximum of 7 years or repayment period, whichever is earlier.
• Monitoring and Review
o A special cell should be set up at the Head Office of banks for monitoring the flow of credit to SC/ST
beneficiaries. Apart from ensuring the implementation of the RBI guidelines, the cell would also be
responsible for collection of relevant information/data from the branches, consolidation thereof and
submission of the requisite returns to RBI and Government.
o Banks should review the measures taken to enhance the flow of credit to SC/ST borrowers on a
quarterly basis.
Circular: Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)

• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India launched the National Rural Livelihood
Mission (NRLM) by restructuring Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) with effect from 01st April
2013.
• NRLM was renamed as DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods
Mission) w.e.f. March 29, 2016.
• The DAY-NRLM is the flagship program of Government of India for promoting poverty reduction through
building strong institutions of the poor, particularly women, and enabling these institutions to access a
range of financial services and livelihoods.
• Women SHGs and their Federations
o DAY-NRLM promotes affinity-based women Self Help Groups (SHGs). However, only in case of
groups to be formed with persons with disabilities and other special categories like elders and
transgenders, DAY-NRLM may have both men and women in the Self-Help Groups.
o Women SHGs under DAY-NRLM consist of 10-20 members. In case of special SHGs i.e., groups in
the difficult areas, groups with disabled persons, and groups formed in remote tribal areas, this
number may be a minimum of 5 members.
o Federations of Self Help Groups formed at village, gram panchayat, cluster or higher level may be
registered under appropriate Acts prevailing in their respective states.
• Financial Assistance to the SHGs
o Revolving Fund: DAY-NRLM, MoRD, will provide Revolving Fund (RF) support as corpus ranging
between ₹20,000 - ₹30,000 per SHG to strengthen their institutional and financial management
capacity and build a good credit history within the group.
▪ SHGs in existence for a minimum period of 3/6 months and follow the norms of good SHGs
known as ‘Panchasutras’, viz., regular meetings, regular savings, regular internal lending,
regular recoveries and maintenance of proper books of accounts, and which have not
received any RF earlier will be eligible for such support.
o Community Investment Support Fund (CIF): CIF will be provided by MoRD to the SHGs
promoted under DAY-NRLM in all blocks and will be routed through the village level/cluster level
federations, to be maintained in perpetuity by the federations.
o Interest Subvention
o DAY-NRLM has a provision for interest subvention for women SHGs.
• Eligibility Criteria for SHGs to avail loans:
o SHGs should be in active existence for at least 6 months as per their books of accounts (and not
from the date of opening of S/B account).
o SHGs should be practicing ‘Panchasutras’ i.e., regular meetings, regular savings, regular inter-
loaning, timely repayment and up-to-date books of accounts.
o SHGs should qualify as per grading norms fixed by NABARD. As and when the federations of the
SHGs come into existence, the grading exercise may be done by the federations to support the
banks.
o The existing defunct SHGs are also eligible for credit if these are revived and continue to be active
for a minimum period of three months.
• Loan amount
o Emphasis is laid on the multiple doses of assistance under DAY-NRLM. This would mean assisting
an SHG over a period of time, through repeat doses of credit, to enable the group to access higher
amounts of credit for taking up sustainable livelihoods and improving the quality of life.
▪ SHGs may avail either Term Loan (TL) or a Cash Credit Limit (CCL) or both based on their
requirement. In case of need, additional loan may be sanctioned even though the previous
loan is outstanding, based on the repayment behavior and performance of the SHG.
▪ In case of CCL, banks are advised to sanction a minimum loan of ₹6 lakh to each eligible
SHG for a period of 3 years with a yearly drawing power (DP). The drawing power may be
enhanced annually based on the repayment performance of the SHG.
▪ In order to facilitate use of loans for augmenting livelihoods of SHG members, at least 50%
of loans above ₹1 lakh, 75% of loans above ₹4 lakh and at least 85% of loans above ₹6 lakh
should be used primarily for income generating productive purposes.
o In order to facilitate women SHG members to graduate to entrepreneurs, banks may consider
extending loans up to ₹10 lakh to individual members of select matured well performing SHGs
(SHGs which are more than 2 years old and have accessed at least one dose of bank loan with
timely repayment) as per their lending policy.
• Security and Margin:
o For loans to SHGs up to ₹10.00 lakh, no collateral and no margin will be obtained. No lien should be
marked against savings bank accounts of SHGs and no deposits should be insisted upon while
sanctioning loans.
o For loans to SHGs above ₹10 lakh and up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral should be obtained, and no lien
should be marked against savings bank account of SHGs. However, the entire loan (irrespective of
the loan outstanding, even if it subsequently goes below ₹10 lakh) would be eligible for coverage
under Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU).
o For loan to SHGs above ₹10 lakh and up to ₹20 lakh, a margin not exceeding 10% of the loan
amount exceeding ₹10 lakh may be obtained as per the bank’s approved loan policy.
Interest subvention scheme on Credit to Women SHG during the year 2023-24 (Only this Part has been
Updated, rest Above remains same as Previously)
• The scheme is limited to Women Self Help Groups under DAY-NRLM in rural areas only.
• For loans up to ₹ 3 lakh under the scheme, banks will extend credit at a concessional interest rate of 7%
per annum. For outstanding credit balance upto ₹ 3 lakh, banks will be subvented at a uniform rate of 4.5%
per annum during FY 2023-24.
• For loans above ₹ 3 lakh and up to ₹ 5 lakh under the scheme, banks will extend credit at interest rate
equivalent to their 1 year-MCLR or any other external benchmark-based lending rate or 10% per annum,
whichever is lower. For outstanding credit balance above ₹ 3 lakh and upto ₹ 5 lakh, banks will be
subvented at a uniform rate of 5% per annum during FY 2023-24.
• Interest Subvention will be payable only for the period during which an account remains in standard
category.
• The interest subvention scheme shall be implemented for banks through a Nodal Bank selected by the
Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD). The Nodal Bank will operationalize the scheme through a web-
based platform, as advised by MoRD. For the year 2023-24, Indian Bank has been nominated as the Nodal
Bank by MoRD.
Circular: Master Direction on Outsourcing of Information Technology Services

• Reserve Bank of India came out with detailed norms for outsourcing of IT services by banks, NBFCs and
regulated financial sector entities to ensure that such arrangements do not undermine their responsibilities
and obligations to customers.
• In its 'Master Direction on Outsourcing of Information Technology Services', RBI said that Regulated
Entities (REs) have been extensively leveraging IT and IT-enabled Services (ITeS) to support their
business models, products and services offered to their customers.
• Applicability: The provisions of these Directions shall be applicable to the following REs:
o Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks);
o Local Area Banks; Small Finance Banks; Payments Banks;
o Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks having asset size of ₹1000 crore and above;
o Non-Banking Financial Companies in Top, Upper and Middle Layers; Credit Information
Companies; and All India Financial Institutions (NHB, NABARD, SIDBI, EXIM Bank and NaBFID)
• Background: In February last year, the central bank proposed the issuance of suitable regulatory
guidelines on outsourcing of IT services with an aim to ensure effective management of attendant risks.
• Purpose: According to RBI, the underlying principle of the directions is to ensure that outsourcing
arrangements neither diminish REs' ability to fulfil its obligations to customers nor impede effective
supervision by the central bank.
• With a view to provide REs adequate time to comply with the requirements, the norms will come into
effect from October 1, 2023.
o Business Continuity Plan and Disaster Recovery Plan: REs shall require their service providers
to develop and establish a robust framework for documenting, maintaining and testing Business
Continuity Plan (BCP) and Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) commensurate with the nature and scope
of the outsourced activity as per extant BCP/ DR requirements.
o Governance Framework: The RE intending to outsource any of its IT activities shall put in place a
comprehensive Board approved IT outsourcing policy. The policy shall incorporate, inter alia, role
and responsibilities of the Board, Board Committee and Senior Management, IT function, business
function, and oversight & assurance functions in respect of outsourcing of IT services.
o Monitoring and Control of Outsourced Activities: REs shall have in place a management
structure to monitor and control its Outsourced IT activities.
o Outsourcing within a Group/ Conglomerate: RE may outsource any IT activity/ IT enabled
service within its business group/ conglomerate, provided that such an arrangement is backed by
the Board-approved policy and appropriate service level arrangements/ agreements with its group
entities are in place.
o Additional requirements for cross-border outsourcing: The engagement of a service provider
based in a different jurisdiction exposes the RE to country risk. To manage such risk, the RE shall
closely monitor the service provider’s country’s government policies and its political, social,
economic and legal conditions on a continuous basis, and establish sound procedures for mitigating
the country risk.
Circular Link: https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/bs_viewcontent.aspx?Id=4156

Additional Reading: https://www.outlookindia.com/business/rbi-s-norms-on-outsourcing-it-services-aimed-at-
improving-corporate-governance-say-experts-news-278837
Banks end FY23 with a robust 15.4 pc credit growth: RBI Data
• Scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) reported a robust credit growth of 15.4 per cent in FY23 against
9.7 per cent in FY22, powered by growth in personal loans, and loans to services sector and agriculture
and allied activities.
• Personal loans registered a growth of 20.6 per cent in FY23 as compared with 12.6 per cent in the
year ago period, primarily driven by ‘housing loans’, according to RBI data on sectoral deployment of bank
credit.
• Credit growth to services sector accelerated to 19.8 per cent in FY23 from 8.7 per cent in FY22, due to the
improved credit offtake to ‘Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)’ and ‘trade’, per an RBI
statement.
• Credit to agriculture and allied activities rose by 15.4 per cent in FY23 compared with 9.9 per cent in
the previous year.
• However, credit to industry registered a growth of 5.7 per cent (7.5 per cent).
• Size-wise, credit to large industry rose by 3 per cent in FY23 compared with 2 per cent in FY22.
• Credit growth of medium industries was 19.6 per cent as against 54.4 per cent. Credit to micro and small
industries registered a growth of 12.3 per cent (23 per cent in FY22).
Tamil Nadu top borrower among States for third year: RBI data
• For third year in a row, Tamil Nadu has topped the list of States with highest market borrowings.
• According to RBI data, Tamil Nadu’s gross market borrowings through State Development Loans (SDLs)
stood at ₹68,000 crore during April-February FY23.
• It was followed by Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra with ₹51,860 crore and ₹50,000 crore in gross
market borrowings, respectively.
• Tamil Nadu stood on top of the borrowing table in the previous two fiscals too. The State borrowed ₹87,977
crore in FY21 and ₹87,000 crore FY22. However, it is to be noted that for the full FY23, the State’s
borrowings are likely to be slightly lower in FY23 compared with the previous two fiscals.
• The 15th Finance Commission has permitted states to maintain the ratio of Fiscal Deficit to GSDP
as 3.0% in 2023-24 and 2024-25, with an additional space of 0.5% of GSDP during 2021-22 to 2024-25 on
fulfilment of required Power Sector Reforms.
RBI grants AU Small Finance Bank to deal with foreign exchange.

• Reserve Bank of India vide its letter dated April 19, 2023 has granted Licence to act as Authorized
Dealer Category-I (AD-I) under section 10 of FEMA, 1999 to deal in foreign exchange.
• Recently, RBI approved re-appointment of Sanjay Agarwal as managing director and CEO of AU Small
Finance Bank for a period of three years.
• The Reserve Bank of India in August 2022 had said all scheduled small finance banks (SFBs) will be
eligible for authorised dealer (AD) category-I licence after completion of at least two years of operations
as AD Category-II.
o The AD Category-I licence is subject to eligibility norms, including minimum net worth of ₹500 crore,
capital to risk-weighted assets ratio should not be less than 15 per cent, net non-performing assets
should not exceed 6 per cent during previous four quarters, should have made profit in the
preceding two years, among others.
o Other eligibility criteria include, the SFB should not have defaulted in maintenance of cash reserve
ratio/ statutory liquidity ratio during previous two years; should have sound internal control systems;
and should not have any major regulatory and supervisory concerns.
• What is the AD Category 1 bank?
o Authorized dealer Category 1 Banks, popularly known as AD Cat I Banks, are the banks with an
RBI license to buy and sell foreign exchange for specified purposes. Such banks aim to ease the
foreign exchange facilities for NRI.
RBI to launch centralized portal PRAVAAH for licensing, approval applications.

• Reserve Bank of India will launch a secured web-based centralized portal named ‘PRAVAAH’ (Platform
for Regulatory Application, Validation And AutHorisation) to simplify and streamline application
processes.
• The portal will show time limits for deciding on the applications/approvals sought. This measure will bring
greater efficiencies into regulatory processes and facilitate ease of doing business for the regulated entities
of RBI.
• Gradually, it will be extended to all types of applications made to RBI across all functions, the central bank
said in its statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies.
RBI Governor addressed global conference on ‘Financial Resilience’.

• Speaking at a global conference on financial resilience organised by RBI-promoted College of
Supervisors, Dr.Das said, "the Indian banking system has remained resilient and has not been affected
adversely by the recent sparks of financial instability seen in some advanced economies."
• He also said stress tests show Indian banks will be able to maintain their capital buffers above the minimum
requirements even in the case of the most distressing of events.
• The conference with the theme — Financial Stability: Framework, Monitoring and Implementation — is
being organised by the College of Supervisors in collaboration with the Centre for Central Banking
Studies (CCBS), Bank of England, London.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) set up an academic advisory council called the ‘College of Supervisors
(CoS)’ to further strengthen supervision over regulated entities.
o The CoS is headed by former deputy governor N S Viswanathan, and it has five other members.
o The council’s objective is to identify areas where skill building or upskilling is required, plan and
develop curricula of all programmes, benchmark the programmes with international standards or
best practices, and develop appropriate teaching methods.
• The Bank of England’s CCBS runs an extensive programme of events for central bankers and
financial regulators from around the world.
o CCBS was established in 1990 and is one of the oldest providers of international central banking
technical cooperation and assistance.
Public sector banks transfer ₹35,012 cr unclaimed deposits to RBI: Govt

• Public sector banks (PSBs) have transferred unclaimed deposits of ₹35,012 crore as of February 2023 to
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad informed the Lok Sabha.
• SBI tops the list with an unclaimed amount of ₹8,086 crore, while Punjab National Bank has ₹5,340 crore
and Canara Bank has ₹4,558 crore. These unclaimed deposits belong to 10.24 crore accounts transferred
to the RBI.
What is Unclaimed Deposit?

• Unclaimed deposits are commonly defined as those deposits which are lying in accounts not operated
for a period of 10 or more years.
• Section 26 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 requires banks to submit to RBI information about these
accounts within 30 days after each calendar year ends.
• As per Section 26A of the amended Banking Regulation Act, 1949, money lying in dormant bank
accounts is transferred to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF) within a period of three
months from the expiry of the above-said 10 years.
• Unclaimed deposits can be claimed by their legal owners after satisfying certain conditions prescribed
by RBI.
• It can be claimed even after such amount has been transferred to DEAF. The bank is liable to pay the
amount to the depositor/claimant and claim refund of such amount from DEAF.
• Why Unclaimed deposits are rising?
o The most important reason for a deposit account becoming unclaimed is the death of the
depositor without a nomination or without being a joint account with ‘either or survivor’ option.
o This arises mostly due to ignorance of the account holder while opening the account, or even if
she comes to know afterwards, does not carry out the necessary modifications.
o In the case of such accounts, banks are required to follow the legal procedures before handing
over the money to the legal heirs.
o Therefore, the onus lies with the deceased depositor’s legal heirs who have to initiate the
process with the bank. However, as widely known, legal procedures are cumbersome and
consume considerable time.
o Financial illiteracy and lack of awareness about the procedures among the people lead to these
kinds of situations.
• Possible Solution:
o Organizing area-wise special camps for revival or disposal of unclaimed accounts.
o Monitoring the position of unclaimed deposits in customer grievance redressal meetings at
various levels.
o Business Correspondents can help establish contact with the holders of inoperative accounts or
their legal heirs and reactivate the accounts.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has conducted the 60th round of quarterly Order books, Inventories and
Capacity Utilization survey (OBICUS)
• Key finding of the order books, inventories and capacity utilisation survey (OBICUS), conducted by the
Reserve Bank of India covering 800 manufacturing companies:
o Capacity utilisation at manufacturing facilities was at a robust 74.3 per cent in Q3 FY23, up from 74
per cent in Q2. Utilisation has held above the 72-per-cent mark since Q3 FY22, indicating that the
manufacturing activity is taking place at a brisk pace.
o Utilisation had hit a low of 47.3 per cent in Q1 FY21 when most manufacturing units cut down
production. The pre-pandemic level (Q1 FY20) was 73.6 per cent.
o In Q3 FY23, growth in order book reduced to 8.4 per cent indicating a slowdown in demand in the
manufacturing sector.
• What is OBICUS?
o The RBI has been conducting the OBICUS of the manufacturing sector on a quarterly basis since
2008.
o It stands for – Order Books, Inventories and Capacity Utilization Survey (OBICUS).
o The survey provides an insight into the demands of the Indian manufacturing sector.
o It considered as important indicator to measure economic activity, inflationary pressures and the
overall business cycle.
o The survey provides valuable input for monetary policy formulation.
SIDBI Launches 'Mission 50K-EV4ECO' to Boost Financing for Electric Vehicles

• The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) recently announced “Mission 50K-EV4ECO” to
strengthen the country's electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem.
• This initiative aims to support 50,000 EV entrepreneurs and enterprises in the next three years through
various interventions such as financing, mentoring, capacity building and market linkages.
• As part of Mission 50K-EV4ECO, SIDBI will directly offer loans to qualified small and medium-sized
businesses for the acquisition of EVs and the development of charging infrastructure, including battery
swapping.
• Mission 50K-EV4ECO goal is to electrify 50,000 vehicles by 2025.
• The pilot scheme, which is a precursor to the EVOLVE scheme by SIDBI-World Bank, has two
components: direct lending and indirect lending.
o Under direct lending, SIDBI will provide loans directly to eligible MSMEs, including aggregators,
fleet operators, and EV leasing companies, for the purchase of electric vehicles and the
development of charging infrastructure, including battery swapping.
o The indirect lending component will target NBFCs, including small unrated focused, and
emerging NBFCs, actively engaged in EV financing, to provide access to funds and reduce the
landed cost of EVs.
• EV sales in India had crossed the 1 million mark in FY23 with 11,52,021 units sold, up 58 per cent from
7,26,861 units sold in FY22, according to the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV). Two-
wheelers had the highest share of 62 per cent with 7,26,976 units sold in FY23.
• EV30@30
o This campaign has been initiated globally with an aim of achieving 30% sales share of EVs by 2030.
Sebi unveils new logo with a modern design on 35th Foundation Day
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) unveiled a new logo on the occasion of the market
regulator's 35th Foundation Day.
• Sebi was established on April 12, 1988 under the Ministry of Finance. However, the body was granted
statutory powers in 1992. Sebi functions as a quasi-judicial body and is said to have more statutory powers
than other market regulators like the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States.
• The new logo retains the traditional blue palette but also reflects on a more modern design.
Finance names panel to improve pension benefits for Govt staff.
• Finance Ministry set up a four-member committee headed by Finance Secretary T V Somanathan.
• As per its terms of reference, the committee will suggest whether any changes are warranted given the
existing framework and structure of the National Pension System (NPS), also called the new pension
scheme, as applicable to government employees.
• The committee, to be chaired by Somanathan, will also have Secretary, Department of Personnel and
Training (DoPT); Special Secretary, Department of Expenditure; and Chairman of Pension Fund Regulatory
and Development Authority (PFRDA) as its members.
• About NPS Scheme:
o At present, while the employee contribution to the scheme is 10 per cent, the government
contribution stands at 14 per cent.
o Under the NPS, which covers employees who joined service post January 2004, contributions are
defined but benefits depend on the market.
o In March, the Central government had informed Parliament that it is not considering any proposal to
restore OPS in respect of its employees recruited after January 1, 2004.
o The Centre, however, allowed a one-time option to a section of government employees to shift to
OPS whose posts were advertised before the notification of the NPS in December 2003. Under the
OPS, retired government employees get 50 per cent of their last drawn salary as monthly pension
and the amount keeps increasing with hikes in dearness allowance rates.
o The Central Government had introduced the NPS with effect from January 1, 2004, except for
armed forces.
o In January, the RBI had cautioned states against reverting to the OPS stating that it will add to their
fiscal burden.
Reference Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/nps-pension-govt-notifies-panel-under-

finance-secretary-8544163/
Net direct tax collections grow 18% to Rs 16.61 trn in FY23, exceeding RE
• The net direct tax collections, which include taxes from individuals and corporations, have exceeded the BE
by 16.97 per cent and RE by 0.69 per cent, the ministry added.
• The gross collection of direct taxes (before adjusting for refunds) for 2022-23 stands at Rs 19.68 trillion, a
growth of 20.33 per cent over the gross collection of Rs 16.36 trillion in FY2021-22.
• Refunds worth over Rs 3.07 trillion were issued in 2022-23, which ended on March 31.
• The Budget Estimates (BE) for direct tax revenue in the Union Budget for 2022-23 were fixed at Rs 14.20
trillion, and the Revised Estimates (RE) were pegged higher at Rs 16.50 trillion.
Reference Link: https://www.business-standard.com/finance/news/govt-s-net-direct-tax-collection-rises-18-to-rs-

16-61-trillion-in-fy23-123040300980_1.html
Govt forms panel to examine stalled real estate projects.

• The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has set up a committee headed by Amitabh Kant, India’s
G20 Sherpa and the former CEO of NITI Aayog, to examine stalled real estate projects and recommend
ways to complete them.
• In its order on March 31, the Ministry said the Central Advisory Council formed under the Real Estate
(Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) had in its third meeting on April 12, 2022 decided to form
a committee to look into the issue of legacy stalled projects.
• Apart from Kant as the chairman, the committee’s membership would include the NOIDA CEO, Finances
Services secretary of the Union Finance Ministry, Corporate Affairs secretary, chairperson of the Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Board of India and officials from the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana state governments.
• The Committee will deliberate on the issues of legacy stalled projects and suggest ways to complete and
handover these projects to the homebuyers, in a time bound manner.
Reports and Indices – April 2023
NITI Aayog Releases Report - Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India
The report presents a set of good and innovative practices adopted by states governments and organizations in
various aspects of millet value- chain especially production, processing and consumption.
• The report in three themes i.e. (a) State Missions and initiatives to promote millets; (b) Inclusion of millets
in ICDS; (c) Research and development and use of technology for innovative practices.
• It aims to revive and mainstream millets in our diets, which are nutritionally wholesome crops.
• The Niti Aayog in its report also put out area, production, and crop yield data for some of the major millets
during the 2010-11 to 2020-21 period. Data showed the area under cultivation (or acreage) for finger millet
(ragi), small millets, pearl millet (Bajra), and Sorghum (Jowar) combined, declined from 19,055 hectares in
2010-11 to 13,633 hectares, with a decline of 3% CAGR. Their production declined from 19,996 tonnes to
18,020 tonnes.
• The reasons for the decline can be attributed to the promotion of rice and wheat vis-a-vis millet production
and lack of suitable initiatives towards millets.
• NITI Aayog has also proposed the establishment of a National Nutrition Commission to combat malnutrition
and ensure the availability of safe, affordable, and nutritious food to all.
• The commission will work towards strengthening the existing policies and programs related to nutrition and
also suggest new interventions.
Challenges Mentioned by Report:
• The low margins associated with millet production, vis-a-vis other crops, have created disincentives for
millet farmers.
• The relatively shorter shelf life of the crops creates storage-related concerns and gives rise to risks of
spoilage," the report said.
• Further, it said changes in lifestyle and consumer tastes, coupled with the unavailability of ready-to-eat
millets have contributed to lower demand.
About Millets:
• Millets are nutritionally superior to other food grains owing to their higher protein levels and a more
balanced amino acid profile. Millets also contain various phytochemicals which exert therapeutic properties
owing to their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.
• India produces all the nine commonly known traditional millets viz. Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Finger Millet,
Foxtail Millet, Proso Millet, Little Millet, Barnyard Millet, Brown top Millet and Kodo Millet. Millets are also
the most secure crops for small farmers as they are resilient and climate-adaptable in both hot and drought
environments.
• Considering the potential nutritional role of millets in public health, the central government declared millets
as Nutri-Cereals in 2018 and celebrated the National Year of Millets in 2018.
o The government of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded the United Nations
General Assembly (UNGA) resolution for declaring the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets
and the proposal of India was supported by 72 countries.
o India being the largest producer of millets and proposer of the International Year of Millets-2023, the
Niti Aayog report called for a greater need for India to exercise the leadership in reviving millets
through scaling up and replicating the millets value chain in other countries to leverage the
emerging demand from global markets.
State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22

• Recently, the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22 has been released by the Union Minister of
Power and New & Renewable Energy.
• The index is developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory body under the Ministry of
Power, in association with Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE).
• It assesses the annual progress of states and UTs in energy efficiency (energy savings and reduction in
emission intensity).
• The updated framework of 50 indicators is aligned with national priorities, and program-specific indicators
are included to track outcomes and impacts of state-level energy efficiency initiatives.
• Based on the progress and accomplishments of states in energy efficiency implementation, they have been
classified into four categories: Front Runner, Achiever, Contender, and Aspirant.
• What are the Key Findings from SEEI 2021-22?
o Front Runner Category (>60 points):
o Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
o Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Chandigarh are the top-performing states in their
respective state groups, while Telangana and Andhra Pradesh showed the most improvement since
the last index.
o Achiever Category (50-60 points):
o Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab.
• What are the Recommendations for States?
o Enabling fiscal assistance for energy efficiency in the focus sectors
o Developing institutional capacity in states and UTs to address emerging needs and challenges in
energy efficiency implementation.
o Enhancing cross-functional collaborations across financial institutions, energy service companies,
and energy professionals in large-scale energy efficiency implementation in states
o Mainstreaming energy data reporting and monitoring across sectors
National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22

• NMIS 2021-22 is a joint study by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to evaluate the innovation performance of manufacturing
firms in India.
• This study is a follow-up of DST’s first National Innovation Survey held in 2011.
• The survey findings offer wide-ranging insights into the enabling activities and barriers to innovation by
firms and has closely evaluated how states and sectors have performed with respect to the manufacturing
firms’ ability to produce new products, services and business processes.
• The NMIS 2021-22 survey had two specific components: the firm-level survey and the sectorial systems
of innovation (SSI) survey.
o The Firm-level survey captured data related to types of innovations and innovative measures taken
by firms, including the process of innovation, access to finance, resources, and information for
innovation, besides also recording the factors impacting the innovation activities in a firm.
o 25.01% of the 8,074 firms surveyed were considered innovative: One in four firms was found to
have successfully implemented an innovation in the observation period, and over 80% of these
firms benefitted significantly in expanding markets and production and reducing costs.
• The Sectorial System of Innovation (SSI) survey mapped the manufacturing innovation system and its
enabling role in achieving innovations in firms.
o The SSI study measured the interactions between stakeholders of the innovation ecosystem,
relative barriers to innovation, as well as the convergence or divergence of current policy
instruments in select five key manufacturing sectors important to the Indian economy – textiles; food
& beverage; automotive; pharma; and ICT.
• The responses obtained from the firm level survey have been converted into an India Manufacturing
Innovation Index 2022.
• All 28 states and 6 union territories were ranked based on their IMII scores. Category ranks were also
provided to the states and UTs post their classification into three groups: major (larger) states; hill states;
and UT or city states.
• The state of Karnataka ranked highest on IMII 2022 and the lowest was North-eastern states (excluding
Assam)
New York City topped a new list of the world’s wealthiest cities in 2023, with Japan’s Tokyo and Silicon
Valley’s Bay Area claiming the second and third spots.
• The list, compiled by London-based consultancy Henley & Partners, ranked the cities by taking into account
the number of resident millionaires (rounded off to the neared 1o0) as of December 31, 2022.
• It was dominated by cities in the United States and China — not one European city featuring in the top 10,
with the exception of London.
• The World’s Wealthiest Cities Report 2023 covered 97 cities across the world, using data from wealth
intelligence firm, New World Wealth, which tracks the movements and spending habits of high-net-worth
individuals with the work titles like Founder, Chairperson, CEO, and Director.
• Indian Cities in the List:
o Mumbai featured at 21st while Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad too found a mention.
o Bengaluru got a special mention as one of the fastest-growing cities in the Asia Pacific. The report
said: “Also known as the “Garden City” and the “Silicon Valley of India”, Bengaluru has a booming
tech sector.”
World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees & Societies.

• It is an annual report published since 1978 by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD) or World Bank. It provides an in-depth analysis of a specific aspect of economic development.
• The report estimated a 120% income gain for Indians who migrate to another country for work, compared to
a 40% rise in the case of internal migration.
• Highlights of the Report
o An Increase in Income: Under-skilled Indian citizens migrating to the US noticed a hike in their
income of nearly 500%, followed by the UAE by almost 300%. Those migrating to the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) nations other than UAE stand to gain less.
o Overview of Global Migration and Refugees: There are currently 184 million migrants globally,
which is 2.3% of the population, including 37 million refugees.
• There are four types of migrants:
o Economic migrants with strong skill match (e.g., Indian IT professionals in the US or construction
workers in GCC nations)
o Refugees with skills in demand at the destination (e.g., Syrian entrepreneurs in Turkey)
o Distressed migrants (e.g., Some poorly skilled migrants at the US southern border)
o Refugees (e.g., Rohingya in Bangladesh)
• Top Migration Corridors: India-US, India-GCC and Bangladesh-India have been identified to be among
the top migration corridors globally along with Mexico-US, China-US, Philippines-US and Kazakhstan-
Russia.
• Increase in Remittances: The remittances have increased to some of the countries with a large migrant
population, including India, Mexico, China and the Philippines.
o India received the highest ever foreign inward remittances of USD 89,127 million in FY 2021-22.
o In 2021, total global remittances were estimated at USD 781 billion and have further risen to
USD794 billion in 2022.
• A Decline in Working-Age Adults: The share of working-age adults will drop sharply in many countries
over the next few decades.
o Spain is projected to shrink by more than one-third by 2100.
• What are the Challenges in this Regard?
o Global Inequalities: As per the World Bank, migration issues are becoming even more widespread
and urgent due to severe divergences between and within countries— in terms of real wages,
labour market opportunities, demographic patterns and climate costs.
o Lack of Citizenship: A significant number of people do not have citizenship in the country where
they reside. Less than half of the global migrant population, about 43%, live in low- and middle-
income countries.
▪ This underscores the global nature of the issue of statelessness and highlights the need for
action to address it.
o Distressed Migration: Some migrants move without skills that match the needs in the destination
country and they are not refugees either. Such movements are often distressed irregular and take
place under harrowing circumstances.
• Recommendations to promote migration:
o The WB proposed policies to harness economic opportunities and for better migration management
in destination, transit, and origin countries (to mitigate the risks that migrants face). For example,
o Origin countries should make labour migration an explicit part of their development strategy.
o Destination countries should facilitate their inclusion and address social impacts that raise
concerns among their citizens.
o Match-Motive Framework: By combining “match” and “motive,” the framework identified policy
priorities for countries.
▪ The “match” aspect is grounded in labour economics and focuses on how well migrants’
skills and related attributes match the needs of the destination countries.
▪ The “motive” refers to the circumstances under which a person moves in search of
opportunity.
▪ This determines the extent to which migrants, origin countries and destination countries gain
from migration: The stronger the match, the larger the gains.
o The report also urged for international cooperation and multilateral efforts to strengthen the
match of migrants’ skills with the needs of destination societies.
o Manage Migration Strategically: Origin countries should make labour migration an explicit part of
their development strategy.
Article Link: https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/wdr2023
State of the Global Climate 2022 Report: WMO

• The State of the Global Climate 2022 report has been released by the World Meteorological Organization.
• It focuses on key climate indicators – greenhouse gases, temperatures, sea level rise, ocean heat and
acidification, sea ice and glaciers. It also highlights the impacts of climate change and extreme weather.
• Major Highlights of the Report
o Increase in Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emissions: Global GHGs emissions continued to
increase in 2022.
▪ Carbon dioxide is at 149% of pre-industrial levels, Methane is at 262% of pre-industrial
levels, Nitrous oxide is at 124% of pre-industrial levels.
o High Global Mean Temperature: In 2022, the planet was 1.15 ± 0.13 °C warmer than the pre-
industrial (1850-1900) average, making the last 8 years the warmest on record. Despite cooling La
Niña conditions, 2022 was the 5th or 6th warmest year.
o Ocean Heat Content: As GHGs accumulate in the atmosphere, temperatures warm on land and in
the ocean.
▪ It is expected that the ocean will continue to warm well into the future – a change which is
irreversible on centennial to millennial time scales.
▪ In 2022, 58 percent of the ocean surface suffered at least one marine heatwave event and
25 per cent of the surface experienced at least one marine cold spell.
o Rise in Sea Level: In 2022, global mean sea level continued to rise. The sea has risen
approximately 3.4 ± 0.3 mm per year over the past 30 years .
Article Link: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/natural-disasters/climate-change-worsened-extreme-weather-

events-in-2022-state-of-the-global-climate-report-88904
State of World Population (SOWP) report by UNFPA titled '8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities', released on
April 19.
• The State of World Population is published annually which covers and analyses developments and trends
in world population and demographics, as well as shedding a light on specific regions, countries and
population groups and the unique challenges they face.
• What are the Key Highlights of the Report?
• Global Scenario:
o The UNFPA has said the population of the world is 8,045 million, of which the largest share
(65%) is of people between the ages of 15 and 64 years, followed by those in the 10-24 years group
(24%), 10% of the population is above 65 years of age.
o The latest UN projections suggest that the global population could grow to around 8.5 billion in
2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 10.4 billion in 2100.
o More than half of the projected increase in global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in
eight countries — the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan,
the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania.
o The world’s two most populous regions are Eastern and South-Eastern Asia [2.3 billion people
– 29% of the global population]; and Central and Southern Asia [2.1 billion – 26%].
o Central and Southern Asia is expected to become the most populous region in the world by 2037.
• Population Estimation:
o India’s population is pegged to reach 142.86 crore against China’s 142.57 crore by July 2023.
o 25% of India's population is in the age group of 0-14 years, 18% in the 10-19 age group, 26% in the
age bracket of 10-24 years, 68% in the 15-64 years age group, and 7% above 65 years.
o India will have 29 lakhs more people than its Asian neighbour.
o The United States is a third populated country, with a population of 340 million.
• Fertility Rate:
o India’s total Fertility Rate was estimated at 2, lower than the world average of 2.3.
o Developed regions projected a fertility rate of 1.5, less developed regions 2.4 and less developed
countries 3.9.
• Life Expectancy:
o The average life expectancy for an Indian male was projected as 71 and 74 for females.
o On average, the life expectancy for males globally was projected to be 71 and 76 for females.
o For developed regions, the average life expectancy for males was projected at 77 and 83 for
females — the highest of all.
o For less developed regions, the ages are 70 for males and 74 for females, while for least developed
countries, it is 63 for males and 68 for females.
• Demographic Dividend:
o India's population offers a significant advantage in terms of a large workforce, which can help drive
economic growth.
o India’s 68 % population are in the 15 to 64 years age group, providing a significant contribution to
the working or able-to-work population.
o It certainly looks like a demographic dividend when a lot of advanced countries in the world struggle
due to their population growing old thus reducing the number of those who could work.
Explainer Article Link: https://www.indiatimes.com/explainers/news/un-population-report-2023-599949.html
Trade and Development Report Update: Global Trends and Prospects (April 2023) - UNCTAD
• The report projects India’s economic growth to decline to 6% in 2023 from 6.6% in 2022 because of
the declining government expenditure.
• The global growth rate is projected to decline because of slowing global growth and the financial fallout
because of rising interest rates.
• According to the report, India grew at a 6.6% annual rate in 2022, giving up the top spot among G20
(Group of Twenty) countries to oil-rich Saudi Arabia, which grew at an 8.6% annual rate.
o According to the report, global growth will decline to 2.1% in 2023 from 3.1% in 2022.
o South Asia grew at a 5.7% annual rate in 2022, while UNCTAD predicts it to grow at a 5.1% annual
rate in 2023, “driven by the growth of its largest economy, India.”
o According to the report, highly indebted South Asian nations such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
would continue to face pressure from external creditors to decrease public spending and cancel
social, productive, and climate adaptation projects.
o The report states that the growth of the United States (US) would decrease to 0.9% in 2023 from
2.1% growth rate in 2022.
o China’s growth will increase to 4.8% in 2023, up from 3% in 2022.
• Growing Crisis
o According to UNCTAD, 81 developing countries’ international reserves decreased by $362 billion
(5.3%) in 2022, or $241 billion (7%) if China is excluded.
o It represents an average decrease of 7%, with over 20 countries losing more than 10% of their
recent addition of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).
o Furthermore, borrowing costs for 68 emerging markets jumped from 5.3% to 8.5% as measured by
sovereign bond yields.
WEO April Update: IMF cuts India’s growth forecast for FY24 to 5.9 per cent and for FY25 to 6.3 per cent
• On April 11, 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its bi-annual World Economic Outlook
(WEO) 2023 report with a title ‘A Rocky Recovery’ has downgraded India’s Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) forecast for the financial year 2023-24 by 20 basis points (-0.2%) to 5.9% from 6.1% in January
2023 WEO Update.
• It has also lowered the growth forecast for the next fiscal (2024-25) by 50 basis points to 6.3 per cent.
• In January this year, IMF had estimated a growth rate of 6.1 per cent and 6.8 per cent for FY 24 and FY
25.
• A key reason for lowering the growth forecast is global uncertainties. A key reason for lowering the
growth forecast is global uncertainties.
• At the same time there is anticipation of lower consumption demand due to higher interest rates.
• The latest projection comes at a time when the IMF has been repeatedly calling India a ‘bright spot’.
• Inflation: India’s retail inflation to ease at 4.9% in FY24 from 6.7% in FY23. It will be 4.4% in FY25.
• CAD: The current account deficit to come down to 2.2% of GDP in FY24 from an estimated 2.6% in FY23.
o The global economy will grow by 2.8% in
2023 and 3% in 2024, down 10 basis
points each from its January WEO 2023
forecasts.
o Global inflation will fall from 8.7% in
2022 to 7% in 2023 and 4.9% in 2024.
o In 2023 economic slowdown is
concentrated in the advanced
economies, especially the euro area and
the United Kingdom (UK), where growth
is expected to fall to 0.8% and -0.3% in
2023 before rebounding to 1.4% and 1%
respectively.
o Many emerging markets and developing
economies are picking up, with year-
end-to-year-end growth accelerating to
4.5% in 2023, from 2.8% in 2022.
Article Link: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/imf-cuts-indias-growth-forecast-for-fy24-to-59-per-

cent-and-for-fy25-to-63-per-cent/article66724914.ece
MoSPI Statistics: Best utilization of MPLADS funds in Gujarat in FY23, UP gets most money.
• MPLADS is a central government scheme under which MPs can recommend development programmes of
expenditure of ₹5 crore every year in their constituencies.
• The scheme is implemented by Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI).
• In FY23, Gujarat had the highest utilisation-to-released fund ratio of MPLADS funds.
• While ₹66 crore was allocated to the state, it had utilised ₹95.77 crore, 145.11 per cent. This is according to
the data that the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation presented in the parliament on
March 27, 2023.
• The other major states with the highest utilisation-to-released fund ratio include Jharkhand, Karnataka,
Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.
• Who gets more money?
o Data shows that funds received from the Centre by each State are proportional to the number of
MPs that the State elects.
o For instance, Uttar Pradesh received ₹427.5 crore. The State has 80 Lok Sabha MPs. The State
has utilised 99 per cent of the funds that it received in FY23, as of March 27, 2023.
o Uttar Pradesh is followed by Maharashtra, Bihar and West Bengal. These States received ₹341.34
crore, ₹219.95 crore, and ₹182.17 crore respectively.
Article Link: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/data-stories/data-focus/best-utilisation-of-mplads-funds-in-

gujarat-in-fy23-up-gets-most-money/article66724046.ece
Global trade may grow 1.7% in 2023 despite war: WTO

• The world trade organization (WTO) on 5th April revised its global trade growth outlook for 2023
upwards to 1.7% from last October’s estimate of 1% even as the war in Ukraine, stubbornly high
inflation, tighter monetary policy and financial uncertainty continue to be a worry.
o Trade volume growth in 2022 was slower than expected at 2.7% following a fourth quarter
slump, but still stronger than worst case scenarios considered at the start of the war in Ukraine.
• Trade growth should rebound to 3.2% in 2024 as GDP growth picks up to 2.6%, but this estimate is
more uncertain than usual due to the presence of substantial downside risks, including rising geopolitical
tensions and global food insecurity, the trade body said.
• WTO Chief Economist Ralph Ossa has also warned that interest rate hikes in advanced economies have
revealed weaknesses in banking systems that could lead to wider financial instability if left unchecked. He
emphasized the need for governments and regulators to remain alert to these and other financial risks in
the coming months.
• North America is expected to record the strongest merchandise export growth of any WTO region in 2023
(3.3%), followed by the CIS (2.8%), Asia (2.5%) and Europe (1.8%).
Article Link: https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/trade_outlook23_e.pdf
South Asia Economic Focus: Expanding Opportunities: Toward Inclusive Growth report by World Bank
• The World Bank has forecast a 6.3% economic growth rate for India in the current fiscal year (FY)
which ends March 31, 2024. The World Bank estimated last fiscal year's growth at 6.9%.
• The primary reasons for this are high borrowing costs and slower income growth causing weaker
consumption, as well as the government tightening fiscal expenditure, the World Bank said in its South
Asia Economic Focus: Expanding Opportunities: Toward Inclusive Growth report.
• The Indian economy is expected to grow at 6.4% in FY 2024-25, an upgrade of 0.3 percentage points
from the previous forecast.
• The South Asia region as whole is expected to grow at 5.6% this calendar year.
• Current Account Deficit:
o It projected the current account deficit to narrow to 2.1% of gross domestic product for the current
fiscal year from an estimated 3% in the previous year, on the back of robust service exports and a
narrowing merchandise trade deficit.
• Bleak situation for Sri Lanka and Pakistan
o The outlook for India’s neighbors Sri Lanka and Pakistan, both of which have experienced economic
difficulties, was bleaker. The World Bank forecast for Sri Lanka this calendar year was -4.3% (i.e., a
contraction) and for Pakistan was 0.4% for the year ending June 30, 2023
o The political uncertainty in Pakistan made making decisive reforms harder, Islamabad is negotiating
the release of a $1.1 billion tranche of a larger $6.5 billion bailout package with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF), which has been delayed.
o Sri Lanka, which faced economic collapse last year, negotiated a $3 billion loan from the IMF at the
end of March and is hoping to secure further financing from international institutions.
Forbes’ 37th Annual World’s Billionaires List: Facts and Figures 2023
• Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries, was ranked 9th in the Forbes’
37th annual World’s Billionaires List 2023, with an estimated net worth of $83.4 billion. He maintained his
position as the wealthiest individual in Asia.
o Gautam Adani remained India’s second most wealthy person but slipped to the 24th rank globally
following the recent rout in share prices of Adani Group companies. His net worth was estimated at
$47.2 billion.
o Shiv Nadar of HCL Technologies is the third among Indians on the list with a net worth of $25.6
billion and a global rank of 55.
o While the Forbes’ global count of billionaires slipped from 2,668 last year to 2,640 in 2023, the tally
in India improved from 166 in 2022 to 169 this year.
o Altogether, the planet’s billionaires are now worth $12.2 trillion, a drop of $500 billion from $12.7
trillion in March 2022.
• According to Forbes, the US still boasts the most billionaires, with 735 list members worth a collective
$4.5 trillion. China (including Hong Kong and Macau) remains second, with 562 billionaires worth $2 trillion,
followed by India, with 169 billionaires worth $675 billion.
o Bernard Arnault (France) becomes No. 1 on the World’s Billionaires list for the first time. Record
sales and profits have driven shares of his luxury goods leviathan LVMH–which owns brands such
Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Tiffany–to new heights.
o Elon Musk, who held the top spot last year, has slipped to No. 2. Musk’s loss in wealth is second
only to that of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who’s the world’s third-richest person, worth $114 billion.
Article Link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chasewithorn/2023/04/04/forbes-37th-annual-worlds-billionaires-list-

facts-and-figures-2023/?sh=25fa64cc77d7
ADB Annual Report 2022: Pakistan becomes largest recipient of ADB funded programmes in 2022
• Owing to the economic crisis led by political and geopolitical uncertainties, Pakistan has become the largest
recipient of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded programmes/projects in the year 2022.
• According to the ADB Annual Report 2022, released on Monday, out of total disbursement of over $31.8
billion to 40 countries, Pakistan received loans of $5.58 billion.
The Tax Transparency in Asia 2023: Asia Initiative Progress Report by OECD
• Amid the current geopolitical and debt crisis, there is a pressing need to check tax evasion and illicit
financial flows, especially by Asian nations, which lost an estimated €25 billion in revenue in 2016.
• Quoting a study, the OECD report said 4 per cent of Asia’s financial wealth amounting to €1.2 trillion was
held offshore, leading to a potential annual revenue loss of €25 billion for the region in 2016.
• This resulted in reduced tax revenues and hindered states’ finances.
• According to the report, Asia accounted for 38.8 per cent of the estimated $7.8 trillion loss by
developing countries due to IFFs between 2004-2013.
• Asian members have reported at least 20.1 billion Euro in additional revenues since 2009.
• Curbing tax evasion and other illicit financial flows is therefore critical to achieve the development goals of
the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
• The ‘Tax Transparency in Asia 2023’ report was launched at the meeting of the Asia Initiative of the
Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes. Currently, 167 jurisdictions
are members of the Global Forum, which includes all G20 countries.
World military spending reaches all-time high of $2.24 trillion: SIPRI.

• Russia’s invasion of Ukraine fueled a sharp jump in military spending across Europe, according to SIPRI a
leading defence think tank.
o There was a 13 percent rise in Europe, the steepest in at least 30 years.
• The United States remained the world’s largest military spender — up 0.7 percent to $877bn in 2022
— which was 39 percent of total global military spending.
• China remained the world’s second-largest military spender, allocating an estimated $292bn in 2022.
• India’s military spending of $81.4 billion was the fourth highest in the world. It was 6% more than in
2021 and up by 47% from 2013. The increase in India’s spending shows the effects of its border tensions
with China and Pakistan.
o Russia and Saudi Arabia was third and fifth place respectively.
o The five countries accounted for 63% of the world’s military spending.
Global Unicorn Index

• According to the Global Unicorn Index 2023 by Hurun, Swiggy, Dream11 and BYJU'S are India's top
unicorns.
• A unicorn is any privately owned firm with a market capitalization of more than USD 1 billion. It denotes
new entities dedicated to offering creative solutions and new business models, among other things.
• The report indicates that India continues to be the world's third-largest country with the highest number of
unicorns, following the US and China.
• As per the report, the number of Indian unicorns established outside of India is higher than those located
within India.
o The list further disclosed that India has a total of 138 unicorns, out of which 70 were
established by Indian co-founders but have their headquarters located outside India, while 68 are
based in India.
• The report also revealed that India ranks third in terms of the number of gazelles, which are startups
established in the 2000s and valued at over $500 million (not yet listed) which are likely to become
unicorns within three years.
• However, when it comes to the Hurun Global 500 companies, which is a list of the most valuable non-
state-controlled businesses globally, India ranks fifth.
• According to the report, China and India have a higher proportion of gazelles and unicorns, which is
expected to result in a higher number of Hurun Global 500 companies over the next five years.
• In terms of unicorn investors, Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management, and SoftBank are the top
three, having invested in 238, 179, and 168 unicorn startups, respectively.
Article Link: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/huruns-global-unicorn-index-2023-labels-swiggy-dream11-as-

india-s-top-unicorns-11681874961980.html
With transactions worth ₹126 lakh crore, UPI rules digital payments in 2022: Worldline report
• Indians are increasingly choosing to pay digitally with transactions via debit, credit, prepaid cards and UPI
amounting to ₹149.5 lakh crore in value and 88 billion in volume in 2022.
• A lion’s share of these transactions occurred via UPI (Unified Payments Interface) – accounting for ₹126
lakh crore, over 74.05 billion transactions in 2022. UPI transactions grew 91% in volume and rose 76% in
value over the year before.
• The report by payment services firm Worldline India also stated that Bengaluru has emerged as the
top city for digital payment transactions in 2022, with 29 million transactions worth USD 65 billion.
• New Delhi came in second with 19.6 million transactions worth USD 50 billion, followed by Mumbai with
18.7 million transactions worth USD 49.5 billion and Pune with 15 million transactions valued at USD 32.8
billion.
Other Key Highlights:
UNIFIED PAYMENTS INTERFACE (UPI)
• In the year 2022, UPI clocked over 74.05 billion transactions in volume and INR 126 trillion in terms of
value. Its transactions volume and value almost doubled since last year as it recorded 91% increase in
volume and over 76% increase in value in Year 2022 as compared to Year 2021.
• As of year 2022, the top 5 UPI Apps in terms of volume and value were PhonePe, Google Pay, and
Paytm Payments Bank App, Amazon Pay and Axis Bank while top Remitter and Beneficiary Banks are
highlighted below:
Article Link: https://in.worldline.com/news/worldline-india-digital-payments-annual-report-2022-out-now
Stanford University’s annual AI Index report: India ranks fifth among countries with largest investments in
artificial intelligence.
• India received $3.24 billion in total investments in AI startups in 2022.
• The Index additionally shows that India was the sixth-largest nation in terms of AI investments
between 2013 and 2022, with funding for AI companies totalling $7.73 billion over the past ten years.
• However, nearly 40% of this funding was received in the year 2022 alone.
• Though globally AI investment has declined since 2021 due to the recessionary conditions, experts are
expecting a revival in VC funding this year, especially due to the massive interest in generative AI products
and OpenAI’s ChatGPT among enterprises and consumers.
• The Stanford report said 54% of researchers working on large language models (LLMs) were from
American institutions. However, last year researchers from Canada, Germany, and India contributed to the
development of LLMs for the first time.
Article Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/artificial-intelligence/key-takeaways-from-stanford-ai-

index-report-2023-8539812/
Minister of Statistics releases Women and Men in India 2022

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
recently released the 24th publication “Women and Men in India 2022”.
This publication offers comprehensive information on various topics, such as political participation, employment,
and health, while also providing gender-disaggregated data that can help us understand the differences between
various groups of men and women living in rural and urban areas across different regions of India.
• Key Highlights:
• India’s sex ratio (females per 1,000 males) will improve to 952 by 2036. This is rise from sex ratio of 943 in
2011.
• India’s Labour Force Participation Rate was 77.2 for males and 32.8 for females in 2021-22, with no
improvement in disparity over the years.
o Labour Force Participation Rate is the percentage of persons in the labour force in the population
above 15 years of age. It has been rising since 2017-2018.
• Women are largely left out of the labour force that restricts their scope of financial independence.
o Social factors responsible for low women participation: educational qualifications and gender
discrimination in terms of wages and opportunities at workplace.
• The population growth has declined from 2.2% in 1971 to 1.1% in 2021. The population growth will fall
further to 0.58% in 2036.
• Inequality in wealth:
o The report also says that of the total number of individual savings accounts in Scheduled
Commercial Banks (SCB), only 35 per cent are owned by women. And when it comes to the
cumulative amount of money deposited in these accounts, they own just 20 per cent.
o Andhra Pradesh has highest ration where More than 41 per cent of the total bank accounts here are
held by women.
o At the same time, surprisingly, the average deposit amount in the accounts of men and women is
not that different. While an average Indian man has ₹43,798 in his savings account, an average
woman has ₹42,978.
• Unpaid chores make Indian women poorer:
o The report shows that while an average Indian woman, aged between 15 and 29 spends 5.5 hours
doing unpaid labour, a man in that age group spends about fifty minutes a day doing work that
yields no money.
o This is also in line with an Oxfam report from December 2021, which noted that the unpaid work
done by women looking after their homes and children is worth 3.1 per cent of India’s GDP. A senior
woman (aged above 60) too spends four hours a day doing unpaid labour, while a senior man
spends an hour and a half on the same.

Official Link: https://www.mospi.gov.in/publication/women-men-india-2022
‘Striving For Clean Air: Air Pollution and Public Health in South Asia’: World Bank Report
• According to the World Bank (WB) report concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM) like soot and small
dust (PM 2.5) in some of South Asia’s most densely populated and underdeveloped areas are up to 20
times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold of 5 micrograms per cubic metre
(µg/mᶾ).
• According to the report, South Asia is home to 9 of the top 10 polluted cities in the world, including Dhaka
(Bangladesh).
• Nearly 60% of the population in South Asia lives in areas where concentrations of PM2.5 exceed an annual
mean of 35 μg/m3.
• The report claims that around 20% of all premature deaths in Bangladesh are caused by air pollution.
• It is estimated that it causes 2 million premature deaths in South Asia each year and imposes huge
economic damages.
• Transboundary Impact and Solution:
o The World Bank report highlights how air pollution crossed international borders and is trapped in
sizable “airsheds” that are shaped by geography and climatology.
o It identifies six major airsheds in South Asia with high spatial interdependence in air quality.
o It also states that 30 percent of air pollution in the largest cities of Bangladesh comes from India due
to the predominant wind direction from the northwest to the southeast.
o The report emphasizes the need for a coordinated approach to reduce air pollution levels in the
same airshed.
o It also recommends that countries in the region work together to fight air pollution to get better,
faster, and cheaper results.
5th cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE)

• On April 9th, 2023, the Centre released the 5th cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE),
which assesses the management of tiger reserves in India.
• The Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala has been ranked as the best-maintained tiger reserve in India.
• While Periyar reserve has obtained an MEE score of 94.3%, it is followed closely by the Satpura Tiger
Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, Bandipur in Karnataka and Nagarhole in Karnataka.
• None of the country's tiger reserves were graded as 'Poor' in the MEE report.
• 12 tiger reserves ranked in the 'Excellent' category, followed by 20 in the 'Very Good' category, 14 in the
'Good' category, and 5 in the 'Fair' category.
• What is MEE Rating?
o According to the Wildlife Institute of India, MEE is defined as the assessment of how well protected
areas are being managed. Primarily, whether they are protecting their values and achieving the
goals and objectives agreed upon.
o The ratings are assigned in four categories - Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.
o The criteria or indicators of for assessing India’s Protected Areas has been adopted from IUCN’s
World Commission on Protected Areas framework of MEE.
o The government has been using the MEE to assess tiger reserves across the country since its
inception in 2006.
o Out of the 53 tiger reserves notified at present, only 51 tiger reserves covering a total area of 73,765
square kilometers have been assessed in this 5th cycle.
Descriptive Answer Writing Practice Questions – April 2023

RBI Grade B Mains 2023 & NABARD Grade a Mains 2023
1. Internationalization of the Indian Rupee: Key Benefits, challenges.
2. Discuss the salient features of Quantum technology and its applications, with special reference to National
Quantum Mission (NQM)?
3. The concept of a circular economy has gained popularity in recent times. Why should India adopt this
economic model. What are the challenges in adopting the model?
4. Demographic Dividend in India - Importance, Challenges, and Initiatives
5. The Indian logistics industry is still largely disorganized and fragmented. In this context, examine the role of
Gati Shakti Mission in enhancement of logistics efficiency in India.
6. Precision farming has the potential to fulfil the food security of growing population with less exploitation of
natural resources. Discuss.
7. Discuss the threats posed by plastic pollution, in this regard to what extent the ban on single use plastic is
an effective measure?
8. Explain about El Nino and La Nina phenomenon and its impact on Indian monsoon.
9. Food fortification is a cost-effective and complementary strategy to address India’s malnutrition burden.
Discuss the Importance and Challenges associated with it.
10. Enumerate the functions of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Discuss its relevance in the
contemporary economy?
11. What are the key features and potential impacts of the newly announced Foreign Trade Policy 2023 by
India on the country's international trade and economic growth?
12. Discuss the role of technology in promoting sustainable development in India. What are the challenges in
adopting sustainable technologies, and how can they be overcome?
13. What is digital public infrastructure (DPI)? Discuss key benefits and challenges associated with the DPI.
14. What are the salient features of National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped
in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India?
ESI Objective Practice Questions – April 2023

Passage: The Scheme X has played a vital role in funding the unfunded and ensuring a life of dignity as well as
prosperity for countless Indians. The scheme aims to facilitate easy collateral-free micro credit of up to __A__ to
non-corporate, non-farm small and micro entrepreneurs for income generating activities. The loans under scheme
X are provided by banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), micro finance institutions (MFIs) and other
financial intermediaries.
Q.1 When was the Scheme X launched to provide to non-corporate, non-farm small and micro
entrepreneurs for income generating activities?
A. 16th March 2016
B. 8th April 2015
C. 28th September 2015
D. 1st October 2016
E. 1st April 2016
Q.2 As per recent news in April 2023, the disbursements of small business loans under scheme X registered an
all-time high of ______ in the financial year ended March 31, 2023.
A. Rs. 4.46-lakh crore
B. Rs. 3.16-lakh crore
C. Rs. 3.58-lakh crore
D. Rs. 5.81-lakh crore
E. Rs. 4.75-lakh crore
Q.3 According to Finance ministry announcement, about what percent of accounts under the scheme belong
to women entrepreneurs as on March 24, 2023?
A. 68%
B. 76%
C. 45%
D. 81%
E. 58%
Passage: The Government has decided to invite bids for 50 GW of renewable energy capacity annually for the
next __X___ years i.e., from Financial Year 2023-24 till Financial Year ____A____. These annual bids of ISTS
(Inter-State Transmission) connected renewable energy capacity will also include setti ng up of wind power
capacity of at least _____(B)_____ per annum. The plan was finalised by the Ministry of New and Renewable
Energy during the meeting. Minister R K Singh said that the bidding trajectory for renewable energy would be a big
boost to achieve 500 GW capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030 and a major step towards energy transition.
Q.4 The Government has decided to invite bids annually till which year to achieve the target of 500 GW by
2030.
A. 2029-30
B. 2026-27
C. 2025-26
D. 2024-25
E. 2027-28
Q.5 What would come in place of _____(B)_____ in the above paragraph?

A. 10GW
B. 15GW
C. 12GW
D. 18GW
E. 20GW
Q.6 Which of the following Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) for calling bids for adding
50 GW of renewable energy capacity annually has received Mini-Ratna Category-I Status
A. NTPC Ltd
B. NHPC Ltd
C. SECI Ltd
D. SJVN Ltd
E. HPCL Ltd
Passage: Project Tiger was launched by the Central government on __X____, in a bid to promote conservation of
the tiger. The programme came at a time when India’s tiger population was rapidly dwindling. According to reports,
while there were 40,000 tigers in the country at the time of the Independence, they were soon reduced to below
2,000 by 1970 due to their widespread hunting and poaching. Concerns around the issue further intensified when
the same year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared the tiger as an endangered species.
Q.7 When was the Project Tiger launched by the Central Government for the First time?
A. 1st April 1971
B. 1st April 1973
C. 1st July 1972
D. 30th September 1970
E. 1st October 1973
Q.8 Project Tiger was initially launched from which National Park in India?
A. Bandipore National Park
B. Valmiki National Park
C. Panna National Park
D. Jim Corbett National Park
E. Kuno National Park
Q.9 As per the recently released Tiger census in April 2023, What is the the current population of tigers in
the country as in 2022?
A. 2,262
B. 2,437
C. 2,890
D. 3,167
E. 3,489
Q. 10 India has proposed the creation of a new global alliance called the International Big Cat Alliance
(IBCA) to protect seven major big cats. India has committed to providing funding of ______ over 5 years to
support the IBCA.
A. $100 million
B. $250 million
C. $300 million
D. $500 million
E. $700 million
Passage: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has
approved the revised domestic natural gas pricing guidelines for gas produced from nomination fields of
ONGC/OIL, New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) blocks and pre-NELP blocks, where Production Sharing
Contract (PSC) provides for Government's approval of prices.
Q.11 Government has targeted to increase the share of natural gas in primary energy mix in India from
current 6.5% to ____ by 2030.
A. 10%
B. 12%
C. 15%
D. 20%
E. 30%
Q.12 The revised pricing mechanism is based on recommendations of a panel headed by ____.
A. Kirit Parikh
B. C Rangarajan
C. Amitabh Kant
D. P K Mishra
E. Nidhi Khare
Q.13 With this Approval of the CCEA, the price of administered price mechanism (APM), will be _____ of
the average price of the Indian crude basket in the preceding month.
A. 7 per cent
B. 10 per cent
C. 12 per cent
D. 5 per cent
E. 15 per cent
Q.14 The Cabinet has decided that rates will not change for _X__ years and will be increased by ____Y____
annually thereafter. What will come at the place of X and Y respectively.
A. 1, $0.50
B. 1, $0.75
C. 2, $0.25
D. 2, $0.75
E. 3, $0.50
Passage: The Union Cabinet in April 2023 approved the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023, which is expected
to facilitate an orderly growth of the medical device sector to meet the public health objectives of access,
affordability, quality, and innovation. It will help the sector grow from the present ___(A)__ to ____(B) in the next
five years. Through the policy medical devices sector will be facilitated and guided through a set of strategies that
will cover six broad areas of policy interventions, including regulatory streamlining, enabling infrastructure,
facilitating research and development and innovation, attracting investment and human resource development.
Q. 15 India’s current market share in the medical device category is _____ of the global space.
A. 1.2 per cent
B. 2.6 per cent
C. 1.5 per cent
D. 2.8 per cent
E. 3.1 per cent
Q. 16 The Government of India has already initiated support for setting up of medical devices Parks in the
States. It wouldn't be set up in which of the following state?
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Madhya Pradesh
C. Tamil Nadu
D. Uttar Pradesh
E. Karnataka
Q. 17 The government aims to make India as the global leader in the manufacturing and innovation of
medical devices by achieving 10-12% share in the expanding global market in the next _____?
A. 20 Years
B. 25 Years
C. 15 Years
D. 10 Years
E. 30 Years
Q. 18 Medical devices sector will be facilitated and guided through a set of strategies that will be cover six
broad areas of policy interventions. Which of the following is/are not one of six broad areas of policy
interventions.
A. Enabling Infrastructure
B. Brand Positioning and Awareness Creation
C. Facilitating R&D and Innovation
D. Promoting Medical Tourism
E. Regulatory Streamlining
Passage: Cabinet approves National Quantum Mission to scale-up scientific & industrial R&D for quantum
technologies. This mission will accelerate QT led economic growth, nurture the ecosystem in the country and make
India one of the leading nations in the development of Quantum Technologies & Applications (QTA). NQM can
take the technology development eco-system in the country to a globally competitive level. The mission would
greatly benefit communication, health, financial and energy sectors as well as drug design, and space applications.
Q.19 The Cabinet has approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) at a total cost of ______.
A. Rs.5500.25 crore
B. Rs.6720.45 crore
C. Rs.8080.50 crore
D. Rs.6570.85 crore
E. Rs.6003.65 crore
Q.20 The new National Quantum Mission will scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant &
innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT) and it has been approved till what years?
A. 2026-27
B. 2025-27
C. 2030-31
D. 2028-29
E. 2034-35
Q.21 India becomes sixth nations that have been developing R&D capabilities in quantum computing.
Which of the following country is NOT among the Six countries?
A. United Kingdom
B. China
C. Finland
D. Canada
E. Austria
Q.22 Which of the following statement about Quantum Computer is Incorrect?

I. Binary bits are the basic unit of information in quantum computing.
II. Sycamore is a quantum processor created by Google's Artificial Intelligence division.
III. China becomes the first country to develop Quantum Computer.
A. Only I & II
B. Only II
C. Only II & III
D. Only I & III
E. All I, II & III
Q.23 ____has become the first country in the world to have developed a country-level mathematical model
to estimate the prevalence of TB cases.
A. India
B. China
C. Vietnam
D. Philippines
E. Bangladesh
Q. 24 In April 2023, the 22nd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was
held. Which of the following statements with respect to ‘United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous
Issues (UNPFII)’ is Incorrect?
I. It is a high-level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council.
II. It has it headquarter in Vienna, Austria.
III. It is the only UN body that is mandated to deal specifically with indigenous peoples’ issues.
A. Only I & II
B. Only II
C. Only II & III
D. Only I & III
E. All I, II & III
Q.25 ‘Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) initiative’ has been launched by
A. World Bank
B. UNDP
C. WHO
D. UNICEF
E. G-20
Q. 26 Which of the following statements about ‘Support for Up-gradation Preventive Repair and
Maintenance of Equipment (SUPREME) initiative is Correct?
I. The scheme extends financial support for repair, upgradation, maintenance of existing analytical instrumentation
facilities.
II. The funding pattern in the scheme is 75:25 for all institutions and is implemented by the Ministry of Education.
III. The selection process of the institutions will be through a peer review mechanism.
A. Only I & II
B. Only II & III
C. Only III
D. Only I & III
E. Only II
Q. 27 Which of the following statements about ‘State of the Global Climate 2022 Report’ is/are Incorrect?
I. The years 2018 to 2022 were the five warmest in the instrumental record back to 1850.
II. The report is released by the United Nation Environment Program (UNEP).
III. The annual increase of methane was 18 ppb from 2020 to 2021. This is the second largest increase on record.
A. Only I & II
B. Only II
C. Only III
D. Only I & III
E. All of the Above
Q. 28 Which of the following statements regarding ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) 5.0’ is/are Incorrect?
I. The earlier stage length cap of 600 km is waived off and there is no restriction on the distance between the origin and
destination of the flight.
II. The same route will not be awarded to a single airline more than once, whether in different networks or in the same network
under this scheme.
III. Airlines would be required to commence operations within 6 months of the award of the route.
IV. Viability gap funding (VGF) to be provided will be capped at 500 km stage length for both Priority and Non-Priority areas.
A. Only I, II & IV
B. Only II & III
C. Only III & IV
D. Only III
E. Only I & II
Q. 29 “SWAGAT initiative” was recently in the news, it is related to.

A. The welfare of Non-resident Indians
B. Permitting foreign universities in India
C. Grievance redressal programme
D. Rescue Mission of Government of India in Sudan
E. Service Delivery Platform
Q. 30 In FY23, scheduled commercial banks reported a credit growth of __ percent, primarily driven by
growth in personal loans, and loans to services sector and agriculture and allied activities.
A. 5.4%
B. 9.7%
C. 12.6%
D. 15.4%
E. 18.2%
Answer and Explanation:

1-B
2-A
3-A
4-E
5-A
6-C
7-B
8-D
9-D
10 -A
11 -C
12 -A
13 -B
14 -C
15 -C
16 -E
17 -B
18 -D
19 -E
20 -C
21 -A
22 -D
23 -A
24 -C
25 -C
26 -A
27 -E
28 -C
29 -C
30 -D
Explanation: It is one of three UN bodies that is mandated to deal specifically with indigenous peoples’
issues. The others are the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Special Rapporteur on
the Rights of indigenous peoples.
• It is an advisory body within the framework of the United Nations System that reports to the UN’s Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• The 22nd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues was held in New York at
its HQ. It was established on 28 July 2000.
The Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) Initiative launched by World Health
Organization (WHO) is aimed at providing “guidance on integrated planning for responding to any respiratory
pathogen such as influenza or coronaviruses”.
• It was announced at the Global Meeting for Future Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics held on 24-26 April
2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.
• The first module focuses on respiratory pathogens, including influenza, coronaviruses, and respiratory
syncytial virus.
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PIB Summary and Analysis - April 2023

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MONTH: APRIL 2023

RBI GRADE B 2023 + NABARD

Why Government Schemes are important?

What to cover for Government Schemes?

How to Cover Newly Launched and Schemes in News?

How many Questions came from PIB?

How many Months of PIB to be Read?

How to Cover PIB?

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Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1920436

PM acknowledges the achievements of six years of Udan Scheme

PM addresses programme marking 20 years of SWAGAT Initiative

Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1920262

Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1919823

Northeast Gas Grid Project

PM lauds nation’s first Water Metro in Kochi

PM Modi lauds Nitin Gadkari's infra push.

PM pays tributes to Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya on his birth anniversary.

PM pays tributes to Sri Ramanujacharya on his Jayanti.

PM addresses National Panchayati Raj Day Celebrations in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh

About Panchayati Raj

Highlights of LPI 2023:

National Logistics Policy 2022

7|Page www.brajeshmohan.in www.affairstap.com

PM addresses 16th Civil Services Day at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi

9|Page www.brajeshmohan.in www.affairstap.com

Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1916725

How Much Money Do We Need for Climate Action?

What are India's Climate Finance Initiatives?

Mission Life Initiative

PM addresses a Bihu programme in Guwahati.

PM inaugurates program ‘Commemoration of 50 years of Project Tiger’ in Mysuru, Karnataka

International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1915055

PM lauds Mudra Yojana on completion of 8 years

Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU):

Challenges faced by the Scheme:

Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1914774

PM marks 7 years of Stand Up India

Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1913808

PM applauds Mission Amrit Sarovar

Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1913727

PM urges innovators to apply for the National StartUp Awards 2023

Recent Government Initiatives to Support Startup Ecosystem:

Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1914560

PM addresses 5th International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS):

Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund:

Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1913490

PM praises ISRO conducting Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission

About Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX):

Credit Guarantee Scheme revamped further, PM praises.

PM lauds defense exports reaching all time high.

PM inaugurates Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Central Bureau of Investigation in New Delhi

Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1915425

Cabinet Approvals – April 2023

Need for the Policy

Salient Features of National Medical Devices Policy, 2023:

Strategies to Promote Medical Device Sector:

Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1919982

Article Link: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1919985

Cabinet approves revised domestic gas pricing guidelines.

Existing Gas Pricing in India