Pib Oct 2022

PIB Sutra: October 2022
PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

Government Missions, Schemes and Initiatives:
• Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP)
Background:
• Launched by PM Modi as a part of the National Logistics Policy on September 17, 2022.
• The purpose of this policy is to bring ease of doing business in the logistics sector by simplifying the
logistics processes, improving its efficiency, bringing in transparency and visibility, and reducing logistics
cost and time.
• ULIP will give direct and indirect benefits to all logistics stakeholders like verification of drivers and
vehicles details in a single click, tracking & tracing of consignment, Route Optimization Planning, timely
updates on the destination of the consignment, reduce paper works, empty carrier & container visibility,
inventory management etc.
• By reducing regulatory, documentary and other delays, ULIP will enable structured planning by helping
in decision-making on the optimum use of modes of logistics thereby saving cost and time.
Why in News?
PIB: Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) receives a tremendous response as 13 organisations signed a
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to access data on ULIP.
• The ULIP platform will enable the industry players to get secure access to the information related to
logistics and resources available with various Ministries.
• At present 30 systems from seven ministries are integrated through more than 100 APIs covering more
than 1600 data fields for usage by the stakeholders.
• Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme
Why in News?
PIB: Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) launches Telecom Technology Development Fund scheme
• Launch Year: 2022
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Communications
• Nodal Agency: Universal Service Obligation Fund (Department of Telecommunications)
• Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) aims to fund R&D in rural-specific communication
technology applications.
• It also aims to form synergies among academia, start-ups, research institutes, and the industry to build
and develop the telecom ecosystem.
• Swachh Survekshan 2022
Background:
• It is the world’s largest urban sanitation and cleanliness survey.
• The survey was first conducted in 2016.
• These surveys are conducted under the ambit of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).
• Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 is the continuation of SBM Phase-I. The SBM 2.0 was announced in the
Budget 2021-22 with an outlay of 1.41 Lakh Crore.
• The vision of a Garbage Free India under SBM-U 2.0 was given further impetus by announcing the results
of 7-star and 5-star rated cities under the Star Rating Protocol of Garbage Free Cities.
• The revised Star Rating Protocol of Garbage Free Cities was launched in 2021 to holistically evaluate
cities across solid waste management parameters.
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• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
Why in News?
PIB: President of India Announces Results of Swachh Survekshan 2022
• Indore is India’s Cleanest City for the Sixth consecutive year and India’s first 7-Star Garbage Free City.
• This year, the number of cities evaluated has gone up manifold with 3,600 cities applying for the
assessment against 2,238 last year, and the number of Star rated cities has gone up to 412 (with 1
seven-star city, 11 five-star cities, 182 three-star cities, and 218 one-star cities), thus signifying how
cities’ aspirations towards becoming Garbage Free is getting enhanced.
• The State awards saw a few surprises. Madhya Pradesh emerged as the ‘Cleanest State’ in the category
of “more than 100 Urban Local Bodies”, relegating Chhattisgarh, the Cleanest State of the previous 3
years, to second place.
• Similarly, Tripura emerged as the Cleanest State award in the “less than 100 ULBs category”, dislodging
Jharkhand, which had won in the last 2 consecutive years.
• YUVA 2.0 - Prime Minister’s Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors
Background
• First Edition: PM-YUVA 1.0 (Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors) was launched on 29 May, 2021.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education
• Nodal Agency: Department of Higher Education
• Eligibility: Young writers upto the age of 30 years. The writers are allowed to submit their piece of
writing in all the twenty-two scheduled languages and English.
• Features: A contest was organized to select seventy-five young authors. The theme of the contest was
‘National Movement of India’ with ‘Unsung Heroes’, “Role of Unknown Places in Freedom Movement’
etc as focus areas.
• Prize: A consolidated scholarship of Rs. 50,000 per month for a period of six months per author is to be
paid under the mentorship scheme.
Why in News?
PIB: PM’s Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors – YUVA 2.0 – Launched
• The launch of YUVA 2.0 is in tune with the Prime Minister’s vision to encourage the youth to understand
and appreciate India's democracy.
• YUVA 2.0 is a part of India@75 Project (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav) to bring to the fore the perspectives
of the young generation of writers on the theme: ‘Democracy (institutions, events, people,
constitutional values – past, present, future)’ in an innovative and creative manner.
• A total of 75 authors will be selected through an All-India Contest to be conducted.
• Under the mentorship, the first set of published books will be launched on 2 October 2023
• Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)
Background:
• ECLGS was rolled out in 2020 as a part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package in a response to the Covid-
19 crisis.
• Its objective is to help small businesses that have struggled to meet their operational liabilities due to
the lockdown imposed during the pandemic.
• A 100% guarantee is provided by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) to Member
Lending Institutions (MLIs) - banks, financial institutions and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).
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• The Government has revised the schemes various times (till ECLGS 4.0) to cover as many industries as
possible.
• The government has increased the credit line to a total of Rs. 5 Lakh crore for these sectors which will
be valid till 31st March 2023.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Finance
• Nodal Agency: Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance.
Why in News?
PIB: DFS modifies Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) to give the Civil Aviation sector necessary
collateral-free liquidity at reasonable interest rates to tide over their present cash flow problems.
Recognising that an efficient and strong civil aviation sector is vital for the economic development of the
country, the Department of Financial Services (DFS), and Ministry of Finance, has modified the Emergency
Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) yesterday to enhance the maximum loan amount eligibility for airlines
under ECLGS 3.0 to 100% of their fund based or non-fund-based loan outstanding as on the reference dates or
Rs. 1,500 crore, whichever is lower; and of the above, Rs. 500 crores shall be considered, based on equity
contribution by the owners.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
Background:
• Launch: 2021
• Nodal Agency: National Health Authority
• Budget Allocation: Rs 1600 Crore for five years (announced in the 2022-23 Budget)
• Under this Mission, every citizen will get a digital health ID and their health record will be digitally
recorded. This health ID is called ABHA Number (Ayushman Bharat Health Account Number), on the
lines of Aadhar Number.
• The other major component of the programme is creating a Healthcare Professionals’ Registry (HPR)
and Healthcare Facilities Registry (HFR), allowing easy electronic access to medical professionals and
health infrastructure.
• The HPR is a comprehensive repository of all the healthcare professionals involved in delivering
healthcare services across both modern and traditional medicine systems.
• The HFR database will have records of all the country’s health facilities.
Why in News?
PIB: Quick OPD registrations now possible under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
• The National Health Authority (NHA) under its flagship scheme Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
(ABDM) is undertaking a pilot for faster OPD (outpatient department) registration service at the new
OPD block of Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) & Smt. Sucheta Kriplani Hospital (SSKH) in New
Delhi.
• This service allows old as well as new patients to simply scan a QR Code and share their demographic
details like name, father name, age, gender, address, mobile number etc. with the hospital.
• This helps to reduce the time taken at the OPD registration counter, provides accurate data in the
hospital record and, most importantly, avoid the wait in the long queues. The service is planned to be
extended to other health facilities and departments soon.
• Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS)
Why in News?
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PIB: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) notifies the establishment of Credit
Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS).
• The Scheme will act as a key enabler and risk mitigation measure for lending institutions, enabling
collateral-free funding to startups.
• This scheme will provide credit guarantees to loans extended by Scheduled Commercial Banks, Non-
Banking Financial Companies and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) registered Alternative
Investment Funds (AIFs).
• The credit guarantee cover under the Scheme would be transaction-based and umbrella based. The
exposure to individual cases would be capped at Rs. 10 crores per case or the actual outstanding credit
amount, whichever is less.
• The extent of transaction-based cover will be 80% of the amount in default if the original loan sanction
amount is up to Rs. 3 crore, 75% of the amount in default if the original loan sanction amount is above
Rs. 3 crore, and up to Rs. 5 crore, and 65% of the amount in default if the original loan sanction amount
is above Rs. 5 crore (up to Rs. 10 crore per borrower).
• The extent of umbrella-based cover will be the actual losses or up to a maximum of 5% of Pooled
Investment on which cover is being taken from the fund in eligible startups, whichever is lower, subject
to a maximum of Rs.10 crore per borrower.
• PM National Apprenticeship Mela
Why in News?
PIB: The Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela to be conducted in 280 locations across India on October
10th, 2022.
• It is launched as a part of Skill India Mission to boost career opportunities and practical training.
• Apprenticeship Melas are held on the second Monday of each month to increase the employability of
India’s youth.
• Following the completion of the programmes, the company which is providing the training is likely to
hire the student as an employee.
• The Union Government is striving to train 1 Million youth per annum through apprenticeship training.
• Tele Mental Health and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS)
Why in News?
PIB: On the occasion of World Mental Health Day (10 October), the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
launched the Tele-MANAS initiative.
• 24x7 tele-mental Health Services available on Toll-Free Number - 14416.
• NIMHANS, Bengaluru and IIIT Bengaluru to be nodal mentoring Institutes.
• The Union Government aims to open at least one Tele-MANAS Cell in each state/UT.
Background:
• In 2020, World Health Organisation released findings of a mental health survey which said the
pandemic has disrupted critical mental health services in 93% of the countries worldwide.
• Acknowledging the mental health crisis in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic there was an urgent need
to establish a digital mental health network that will withstand the challenges amplified by the
pandemic.
• Government of India announced National Tele Mental Health Programme in the Union Budget 2022 -
23.
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• PM’s Development Initiative for North-East (PM-DevINE)
Why in News?
PIB: The Union Cabinet approved a new Scheme, Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North-East Region
(PM-DevINE) for the remaining four years of the 15th Finance Commission from 2022-23 to 2025-26.
• The new Scheme, PM-DevINE, is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% Central funding and will be
implemented by the Ministry of Development of the North-Eastern Region (DoNER).
• The PM DevINE Scheme will have an outlay of Rs 6600 crore for the four-year period from 2022-23 to
2025-26.
• Ayushman Bharat – PM Jan Arogya Yojana
Why in News?
PIB: PM to kickstart distribution of PMJAY-MA Yojana Ayushman cards in Gujarat
• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi distributed PMJAY-MA Yojana Ayushman cards in Gujarat.
• As the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Prime Minister had started the "Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA)"
scheme in 2012 to protect poor citizens from the catastrophic costs of medical treatment and illness.
• Later, the scheme was rebranded as Mukhyamantri Amrutam Vatsalya (MAV) Yojana.
• Drawing from the experience of the success of the scheme, Prime Minister launched the Ayushman
Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Background: AB-PM Jan Arogya Yojana
• Launch Year: 2018
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
• Nodal Agency: National Health Authority
• Beneficiary: Poor and vulnerable families based on deprivation and occupational criteria as per SECC
database
• Assistance: Rs 5 Lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme: The central government, UTs with legislature and state governments are
required to spend in 60-40 ratio. North-East and Himalayan states will be given 90% aid from the central
government. 100% funding for UTs without legislature.
• PM-JAY was earlier known as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) before being renamed. It
subsumed the then-existing Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) which had been launched in
2008. One thing to note here is that the RSBY had a family cap of five members. However, there is no
restriction on the family size, age or gender.
• National Ayush Mission
Why in News?
PIB: Minister of State for Ayush, Dr. Munjapara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai today laid the foundation stone for
Government Ayurveda College and Hospital at Surendranagar, Gujarat.
Ministry of Ayush under its centrally sponsored scheme National Ayush Mission (NAM) is supporting the efforts
of Government of Gujarat for establishing state of the art Ayush facilities.
Under NAM, Grant-in-aid is being provided to State/UT Governments for development and promotion of
Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) as per their proposed State Annual
Action Plans (SAAPs).
As Public Health is a State subject, setting up of AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries comes under the purview
of respective State/UT Governments. However, under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission
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(NAM), there is provision of financial assistance for upgradation of Government/ Panchayat/ Government aided
AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries for undertaking addition/ alteration of existing premises, furniture, fixtures,
equipments etc. State/UT Governments are eligible for seeking grant-in-aid under this activity as per NAM
guidelines.
Background: National Ayush Mission
• Launch: 2014 (during the 12th Five-Year Plan)
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of AYUSH (when the scheme was launched, it was implemented by the
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare)
• Nodal Agency: Department of AYUSH
• Budget: Rs 800 Crore (Union Budget 2022-23)
• The scheme validity has been extended by the Union Cabinet this year to 2025-26.
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSK)
Why in News?
PIB: Prime Minister Inaugurates 600 Pradan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras
• These Kendras are sales centres for fertilizer and seeds, and also a mechanism for establishing a deep
bond with the farmers of the country.
• These centres will provide soil testing and useful information about farming techniques.
• These Kendras come under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
• Under this scheme, more than 3.3 lakh retail fertilizer shops in the country will be converted into PMKSK
in a phased manner.
• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana
Why in News?
PIB: Prime Minister launched Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana - One Nation One Fertiliser.
• Launch: 2022
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers
• Nodal Agency: Department of Fertilizers
• Tagline: One Nation, One Fertilizers
• Under this scheme, ‘Bharat Urea Bags’ are launched. These will help companies market fertilizers under
the single brand name “Bharat”.
• The single brand name for UREA, DAP, MOP and NPK etc. would be BHARAT UREA, BHARAT DAP,
BHARAT MOP and BHARAT NPK etc. respectively for all Fertiliser Companies, State Trading Entities
(STEs) and Fertiliser Marketing Entities (FMEs).
• Under the new “One Nation One Fertiliser” scheme, companies are allowed to display their name,
brand, logo and other relevant product information only on one-third space of their bags. On the
remaining two-thirds space, the “Bharat” brand and Pradhanmantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana
logo will have to be shown.
• Assistance to Disabled Persons (ADIP) Scheme
Why in News?
PIB: Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar on his visit to Dimapur virtually
attended ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivir’ for distribution of aids and assistive devices to ‘Divyangjan’ under the ADIP
Scheme and to Senior citizens under ‘Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana’ (RVY) Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment, Government of India.
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Background: ADIP Scheme
• Launch: 1981
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
• Nodal Agency: The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (However, various
agencies are brought in to effectively implement the scheme. The most important of which is ALIMCO).
• ALIMCO: Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) is given the task to manufacture
artificial limbs for the beneficiaries. It is a Public-Sector Undertaking (PSU).
• Objective of the Scheme: To assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and
scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical,
social and psychological rehabilitation by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic
potential.
• Eligibility: Monthly Income not more than Rs 20,000. If the beneficiaries are dependents, the parents’
income shouldn’t be more than Rs 20,000.
• Assistance: Aids/appliances which do not cost more than Rs. 10,000 are covered under the Scheme for
single disability. If there are multiple disabilities, the limit is Rs 12,000.
• Full cost of aid/appliance is provided if the income is up to Rs. 15,000 per month and 50% of the cost of
aid/appliance is provided if the income is between Rs. 15,001 to Rs. 20,000 per month.
• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
Why in News?
PIB: Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar on his visit to Dimapur virtually
attended ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivir’ for distribution of aids and assistive devices to ‘Divyangjan’ under the ADIP
Scheme and to Senior citizens under ‘Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana’ (RVY) Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment, Government of India.
Background: Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana
• Launch: 2017
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
• Nodal Agency: Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO)
• Beneficiaries: Senior Citizens, belonging to Below- Poverty Line (BPL) category and suffering from any
of the age-related disability/infirmity Low vision, Hearing impairment, Loss of teeth and Locomotor
disability. As far as possible, 30% of the beneficiaries in each district shall be women.
• Funding: It is a central sector scheme funded by the Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund.
• All unclaimed amounts from small savings accounts, PPF and EPF are transferred to this fund.
• Mission LiFE
Why in News?
PIB: PM launches Mission LiFE at Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat.
The Prime Minister remarked, “The mantra of Mission Life is 'Lifestyle For Environment'. Emphasising the
benefits of Mission LiFE, the Prime Minister said that it connects the powers of the people for the protection
of this earth, and teaches them to utilise it in a better way. He underlined that Mission LiFE makes the fight
against climate change democratic, in which everyone can contribute within their capacity.
Background: Mission LiFE
The concept of LiFE was introduced by the Prime Minister at COP26 at Glasgow on 1 November 2021.
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NITI Aayog will curate and incubate Mission LiFE in the first year, and it will subsequently be implemented by
MoEFCC. The mission is a 5-year programme.
Mission LiFE is designed with the objective to mobilise at least one billion Indians and other global citizens to
take individual and collective action for protecting and preserving the environment in the period 2022 to 2027.
Within India, at least 80% of all villages and urban local bodies are aimed to become environment-friendly by
2028.
Mission LiFE emboldens the spirit of the P3 model i.e. Pro Planet People. Mission Life, unites the people of the
earth as pro planet people, uniting them all in their thoughts. It functions on the basic principles of ‘Lifestyle
of the planet, for the planet and by the planet’.
Mission LiFE aims at following a three-pronged strategy for changing our collective approach towards
sustainability.
• First is by nudging individuals to practise simple yet effective environment-friendly actions in their daily
lives (demand)
• Second is by enabling industries and markets to respond swiftly to the changing demand (supply) and;
• Third is to influence government and industrial policy to support both sustainable consumption and
production (policy).
• Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin
Why in News?
PIB: PM participates in ‘Griha Pravesham’ of more than 4.5 Lakh beneficiaries of PMAY-G in Madhya Pradesh
Background: PM Awaas Yojana – Gramin (erstwhile Indira Awaas Yojana)
• Launch: 2016
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
• Nodal Agencies:
• Objective: Housing for All, constructing 2.95 Crore houses by the year 2024 (earlier it was 2022)
• Eligibility: All Houseless and people living in dilapidated and kutcha houses as per SECC 2011 data
• Unit Size: Minimum size of the unit is 25 sq. mt. which includes a dedicated area for hygienic cooking
• Unit Assistance: Rs. 1.20 lakh in plains and Rs.1.30 lakh in hilly states, difficult areas and Integrated
Action Plan (IAP) districts
Economy & Finance

• Khadi Fest – 2022 Exhibition
The Khadi Fest – 2022 has been organized by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission on the occasion of
Gandhi Jayanti and will be available till 1 November, 2022.
After inaugurating the exhibition MSME Minister Shri Narayan Rane said such exhibitions organized KVIC
facilitate Khadi and Village Industries Sellers to reach markets. “It is the result of such steps, that in year 2021-
22, KVIC registered record exports of more than Rs.257.02 crore”, he said.
• Silver Jubilee of Quality Council of India
The Quality Council of India celebrates its Silver Jubilee with a special event intended to share India’s journey
of growth, accelerated by the enhancement of quality.
The event will comprise of panel discussions on the quality ecosystem being an enabler for ‘Make in India’,
achieving India’s growth vision for 2047 through speed, scale, digitalization & quality, and discussion on the
‘Heal in India-Heal by India’ initiative. Excellent contributors to India’s quality ecosystem will also be recognized
through several awards instituted by QCI with its partners.
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Quality Council of India was set up in 1997, jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry
represented by the three premier industry associations i.e. Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of
India (ASSOCHAM), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce
and Industry (FICCI), with Mr Ratan Tata as its first Chairman.
• Committee of Experts on Sustainable Finance
A ‘Committee of Experts on Sustainable Finance’, constituted by International Financial Services Centres
Authority (IFSCA) submitted its final report to Chairperson, IFSCA on October 03, 2022. The committee was
chaired by Shri C.K. Mishra.
Some important recommendations include developing a voluntary carbon market, framework for transition
bonds, enabling de-risking mechanisms, promoting regulatory sandbox for green fintech and facilitating the
creation of a global climate alliance among others. Considering the significance of the MSME sector in the
economic development of the country, the committee also proposes setting up of a dedicated MSME platform
for sustainable lending. The committee recommends to facilitate the use of innovative instruments such as
catastrophe bonds, municipal bonds, green securitisation, blended finance among others. Focusing on the
need to enhance capital flows in IFSC, the committee endorses the need to enable aggregation facilities, impact
funds, green equity etc. in IFSC. In addition to the above, it recommends IFSCA to play a vital role in a capacity
building which lays the foundation for greening the financial system.
• BSE SME Platform
With the listing of eight new companies in the Bombay Stock Exchange's SME (Small and Medium Entreprise)
platform today, the BSE SME platform has achieved the milestone of 400 listed companies.
BSE Ltd had set up the BSE SME Platform in March 2012 as per the rules and regulations laid down by SEBI. BSE
SME Platform offers an entrepreneur and investor friendly environment, which enables the listing of SMEs from
the unorganized sector scattered throughout India, into a regulated and organized sector.
Insolation Energy Limited became the 400th company to get listed on the BSE SME Platform on October 10,
2022.
• All India Consumer Price Index
The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is releasing
All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Base 2012=100 and corresponding Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI)
for Rural (R), Urban (U) and Combined (C) for the month of September 2022.
In the latest update, CPI-Rural is 7.56 and CPI-Urban is 7.27. The Combined CPI (All India CPI) is 7.41.
• All India Wholesale Price Index
Annual rate of inflation based on all India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) number eases to 10.7% (Provisional) for
the month of September, 2022 (over September, 2021) against 12.41% recorded in August 2022.
Food inflation based on WPI Food Index decreases from 9.93% in August, 2022 to 8.08% in September, 2022.
The Food Index consisting of 'Food Articles' from Primary Articles group and 'Food Product' from Manufactured
Products group have decreased from 176.0 in August, 2022 to 175.2 in September, 2022. The rate of inflation
based on WPI Food Index decreased from 9.93% in August, 2022 to 8.08% in September, 2022.
The DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce, releases index numbers of wholesale price in India on monthly basis on 14th
of every month (or next working day) with a time lag of two weeks of the reference month, and the index
numbers is compiled with data received from institutional sources and selected manufacturing units across the
country.
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• 75 Digital Banking Units in 75 Districts
Recently, 75 digital banking units have come up in the 75 districts of the country.
Digital Banking Units are another major step towards making the lives of the common man of India easier, the
objective towards which the country has already been moving. This is one such special banking system which
will work to provide maximum services with 'Minimum Digital Infrastructure'. These services will be free of
paperwork and hassle, and will be easier than ever before. That is, it will not only provide convenience but also
a strong digital banking security. In a village or a small town, when a person avails the services of a digital
banking unit, everything from sending money to taking loans will become easy online.
Digital Bank Units do not have a legal personality and hence, they are not licensed under the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949. Also, they are not required to furnish a balance sheet. Legally, they are equivalent to
banking outlets or branches, instead of being a separate business unit.
Background: Digital Banking Units (DBUs)
The DBUs will enable those who do not have ICT infrastructure to access banking services digitally. They will
also assist those who are not tech savvy to adopt digital banking. In DBU, the products and services will be
offered to customers in 2 modes:
• Self-Service Mode
• Digital Assistance Mode
DBUs will be different from traditional branch in following aspects:
• They will provide banking services including cash deposit & withdrawal 24 x 7.
• Services shall be provided digitally.
• People not having connectivity or computing devices can do banking transactions from DBU in a
paperless mode.
• Bank staff will be available to help and guide users for banking transactions in assisted mode
• Will help in providing digital financial literacy and create awareness for adopting digital banking.
• New Controller General of Accounts
Ms Bharati Das took charge as the 27th Controller General of Accounts (CGA).
The office of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) is under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Controller General of Accounts (CGA) is ‘the Principal Advisor’ on accounting matters to the Union
Government. CGA is responsible for establishing and managing a technically sound Management Accounting
System and preparation & submission of the accounts of the Union Government. CGA is also responsible for
exchequer control and internal audits for central Government.
• IPPB and RBIH Collaboration
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) have come together to focus their
efforts on enhancing the reach of financial solutions to large sections of society across India and enabling
frictionless finance to a billion Indians.
The collaboration between IPPB and RBIH will explore projects which shall have impact on the masses by:
• Leveraging the deep rural reach of IPPB-Department of Posts (DoP) to take Rural Finance to a billion
Indians.
• Enabling access to sustainable and secure finance services to every segment of the society, through
research and innovation.
About RBIH
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• The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) set up to promote and facilitate an environment that accelerates innovation across the financial
sector.
• RBIH will provide the platform to anchor a shared vision among all financial ecosystem stakeholders
and aid them in crafting forward-looking innovation strategies while addressing the most pressing issues
in the Indian financial sector.
• The organisation serves as a focal point to position India as a global innovation hub for a network of
financial services providers, fintech innovation hubs, policymakers, technologists, academia, and the
investor community.
About IPPB
• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has been established under the Department of Posts, Ministry of
Communication with 100% equity owned by the Government of India.
• IPPB was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on September 1, 2018.
• The bank has been set up with the vision to build the most accessible, affordable and trusted bank for
the common man in India.
• The fundamental mandate of IPPB is to remove barriers for the unbanked and under-banked and reach
the last mile leveraging a network comprising 160,000 post offices (145,000 in rural areas) and 400,000
postal employees.
• India Craft Week
Center of Excellence for Khadi (CoEK) to showcase design directions for khadi at the fourth edition of India
Craft Week, a four-day event from 20th- 23rd October 2022, at National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC)
Okhla, New Delhi.
The Centre of Excellence for Khadi is a centre for experimentation, innovation and design by the Ministry of
MSME to support the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) in association with the National Institute
of Fashion Technology. The Centre is working towards making Khadi fashionable and youthful. The Centre has
Delhi as the hub and Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, Kolkata and Shillong as spoke centers.
• CPI for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers
The All-India Consumer Price Index Number for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers (Base: 1986-
87=100) for the month of September, 2022 increased by 9 points each to stand at 1149 (One thousand one
hundred and forty-nine) and 1161 (One thousand one hundred and sixty-one) points respectively.
The CPI numbers for both agricultural labourers and rural labourers are published by the Labour Bureau,
Ministry of Labour and Employment.
• Rozgar Mela
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched Rozgar Mela – the recruitment drive for 10 lakh personnel – on
22nd October. During the ceremony, appointment letters were handed over to 75,000 newly inducted
appointees.
The new recruits, selected from across the country, will join 38 Ministries/Departments of Government of
India. The appointees will join the government at various levels viz. Group – A, Group – B (Gazetted), Group –
B (Non-Gazetted) and Group – C. The posts on which appointments are being made include Central Armed
Force Personnel, Sub Inspector, Constable, LDC, Steno, PA, Income Tax Inspectors, MTS, among others.
• New Chairman of Quality Council of India
Shri Jaxay Shah, former Chairman of CREDAI and founder Chairman of Savvy Group has been appointed as the
Chairman of Quality Council of India (QCI) for a period of three years effective from 21st October 2022.
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• 5Fs on Industrial Development
Piyush Goyal, Hon'ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution
and Textiles participated in the event 'Enhancing Global Opportunities for Indian Manufacturers' organized
by Federation of Telangana CCI at Hyderabad.
Answering to some of the questions on how to develop the industrial ecosystem, he said “Remember PM Shri
Narendra Modi’s 5Fs on industrial development, Farm to fibre; fibre to factory; factory to fashion; fashion to
foreign to achieve self-sufficiency as well as making India a developed country by 2047”.
Note: Try to use these 5Fs in essays and descriptive questions on the industrial development/manufacturing
related topics.
• Investor Education, Awareness and Protection Conference
The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the aegis of Ministry of Corporate Affairs
(MCA) organised an Investor Education, Awareness and Protection Conference in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
at Kashmir International Conference.
IEPFA Mascot Fundoo which was selected through Jan-bhagidari after a month-long open contest on MyGov
platform. The mascot is conceptualised with an idea symbolizing IEPFA’s vision of taking investor awareness to
the last mile with the objective of making it easier to connect with its message, mandate and initiatives.
Niveshak Didi which is a unique endeavour of IEPF Authority with India Post Payment Bank Wherein Investor
Education will be promoted in “By the women, for the women” concept. The Niveshak Didi i.e., female Dakiya
has intense social connect to the rural population especially women.
IEPFA
• Established: In 2016 Under sub-section (5) of Section 125 of Companies Act, 2013.
• Objective: Promoting Investor Education, Awareness and Protection and for administration of the IEPF
fund.
• IEPFA is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• NHAI Infrastructure Investment Trust
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari rang the bell at Bombay Stock Exchange
on 28th October in Mumbai and ceremoniously marked the listing of NHAI InvIT Non-Convertible Debentures.
An Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvITs) is like a mutual fund, which enables direct investment of small
amounts of money from possible individual/institutional investors in infrastructure to earn a small portion of
the income as return.
• National Financial Reporting Authority
In order to ensure presentation of true and fair view of the financial statements of the companies, NFRA has
issued a circular on 20.10.2022 on this subject to draw attention of all companies, audit committees, and
statutory auditors.
NFRA:
• Established: In 2018, under Section 132 (1) of the Companies Act 2013.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• NFRA is an independent regulator for the auditing profession under Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• Its account is Monitored by Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) of India.
• Function: To make recommendation to Central Government on the formulation and laying down of
accounting and auditing policies and standards for adoption by companies or class of companies or their
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auditors. It has also been given the power to investigate matters of professional misconduct by
chartered accountants or CA firms, impose penalty and debar the CA or firm for up to 10 years.
• Index of Eight Core Industries
The combined Index of Eight Core Industries increased by 7.9 percent (provisional) in September 2022 as
compared to the Index of September 2021. The eight core industries are Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery
Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity. The decreasing order of weightage of industries in the index
is Refinery Products (28.04 %)> Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers (2.63
%). The base year for calculating this index is 2011-12.
The Office of Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), publishes
this index every month.
The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 percent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial
Production (IIP). IIP is compiled and published by National Statistical Office at the base year 2011-12.
• Electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWR)
Warehousing and Electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWR) are going to play a critical role in the
transformation of India and rural India in particular. In that context, a seminar on “e-NWR – An Effective Tool
for Promoting Pledge Financing” was organized by the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority
(WDRA).
WDRA celebrated its Foundation Day as it was constituted in 2010 under the Warehousing (Development and
Regulation) Act, 2007. As a part of its Foundation Day celebrations, a series of events was organized from
17th to 31st October 2022.
The mission of Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) is to regulate and ensure
implementation of the provisions of the Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007 for the
development and regulation of warehouses, Regulations of Negotiability of Warehouse Receipts and
promote orderly growth of the warehousing business.
WDRA comes under the administrative control of Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of
Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
Social Issues
• HERSTART – A start-up platform
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, launched 'herSTART' – a start-up platform for Women
Entrepreneurs of Gujarat University in Ahmedabad today. She also inaugurated/laid the foundation stone
virtually from Gujarat University for various projects of the government of Gujarat related to education and
tribal development.
• Swachhta Saarthi Samaroh 2022
The two-day ‘Swachhta Saarthi Samaroh’ was organised on 30th September and 1st October 2022 at the
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. This event marked the completion of the first year of the Swachhta
Saarthi fellowship (SSF) of the Waste to Wealth Mission of the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to
the Government of India.
• Agni Tattva Campaign- LiFE Mission
Power Foundation of India in association with Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) ran a campaign to create awareness on
Agni Tattva under LiFE - Lifestyle for Environment. This campaign includes conferences, seminars, events, and
exhibitions across the country involving educational institutions, communities, and relevant organisations to
create awareness of the core concept of Agni Tattva, an element that is synonymous with energy and is
amongst the five elements of Panchmahabhoot.
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It is the first conference of the Agni campaign, organised in Leh, on the theme of ‘Sustainability and Culture’.
LiFE Mission:
• On the occasion of World Environment Day- 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on launched the
‘Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement’.
• The idea of LiFE promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle that focuses on ‘mindful and
deliberate utilization’ instead of ‘mindless and wasteful consumption.
• The Mission plans to create and nurture a global network of individuals, namely ‘Pro-Planet People’
(P3).
• Igniting Young Minds, Rejuvenating Rivers
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organised the 11th edition of Monthly Webinar Series with
Universities ‘Igniting Young Minds, Rejuvenating River’ on 8th October 2022 in collaboration with APAC News
Network. This month’s webinar was themed ‘Wetland Conservation’.
India had signed the Ramsar (an Iranian City) Convention in 1982. Following the provisions laid out in this
convention, wetlands across the world are declared “Ramsar sites” that enables those wetlands to get more
care and preservation measures. At present, India has 75 Ramsar sites.
• Sustainable Mountain Development Summit-XI
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav attended the inaugural
session of Sustainable Mountain Development Summit-XI, (SMDS-XI) being held at Leh, Ladakh UT from 10-12
October, 2022.
The theme for SMDS-XI is ‘Harnessing tourism for sustainable mountain development’. The main focus of the
summit is to reduce the negative impacts of tourism while harnessing its positive contributions to building
climate and socio-ecological resilience and sustainability.
The Minister also highlighted the establishment of G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment
(GBPNIHE), Almora, Uttarakhand and its one Regional Centre at Leh, under MOEFCC which is particularly
mandated on research and development activities for sustainability of the Himalayan environment.
• Poshan Maah
In a recent update, the Ministry of Women and Child Development said that more than 15 crore activities were
conducted under various themes, across the country during the 5th Rashtriya Poshan Maah (1st to 30th
September, 2022) contributing in the Prime Minister’s vision for a Suposhit Bharat. Prior to the 5th Poshan
Maah, four Poshan Maahs and 4 Poshan Pakhwadas have been held since the launch of the Abhiyan, with a
collective activity count of more than 40 crores.
Under the theme ‘Mahila aur Swasthya’ prominent activities conducted across the country, included, Anemia
screening and awareness campaigns (approximately 32 lakhs), Ante natal check-up camps (approx 11 lakhs),
awareness campaigns on menstrual hygiene (approx 7 lakhs), Activities on hand wash and sanitisation (approx
41 lakhs) etc.
The other key theme , Bachcha aur Shiksha– Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi, that called for focus on quality pre-school
education for children under 6 years also gained momentum during Maah 2022. Under this theme close to 81
lakh activities were conducted focussing on early childhood care and education.
The 5th Rashtriya Poshan Maah culminated with a Poshan Utsav at Kartavyapath, New Delhi from 30th
September to 2nd October 2022. The Poshan Utsav served as a platform for disseminating to the people at
large, the critical messages on the importance of correct nutrition, particularly for young children and women,
and sensitizing them on age-appropriate good health practices to address the challenges of malnutrition in the
country.
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• 6 East Asia Summit Education Minister’s Meeting
th
India participated at the 6th East Asia Summit Education Minister’s Meeting held in Hanoi, Vietnam.
It was highlighted that the NEP 2020 encourages a holistic, flexible & multidisciplinary approach to education
as envisioned by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and it is based on foundational pillars of access,
equality, quality, affordability & accountability & is aligned with SDG 2030 goals.
The next mention was about the recently-launched PM SHRI scheme under which more than 14,500 schools
will be developed across India with all components of NEP 2020 as exemplar schools.
The Indian delegates also underlined that NEP 2020 focuses on the internationalization of education and
building collaborations with other countries.
• Medical Education in Mother Tongue
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi hailed the commencement of medical education in Hindi at Bhopal,
Madhya Pradesh. Shri Modi remarked that the historic move will empower lakhs of students to study medicine
in their own language and bring about a positive change in the country. He further added that it will open
multiple doors of opportunities for the students.
The need for teaching medicine in regional languages:
• School-College Linguistic Mismatch: Students from state boards, where the mode of education is a
regional language, find it difficult to comprehend the technical concepts in English.
• Doctor-Patient Communication Gap: It would be easier for doctors to explain the technical terms and
complicacies related to a disease in a regional language, especially if the patient doesn’t know English.
In 2020, the Union Education Minister set up a task force for preparing a roadmap on imparting technical
education in the mother tongue of students. This task force was chaired by Amit Khare.
• Ayurvedic College
Minister of State for Ayush, Dr. Munjapara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai laid the foundation stone for Government
Ayurveda College and Hospital at Surendranagar, Gujarat.
Ministry of Ayush under its centrally sponsored scheme National Ayush Mission (NAM) is supporting the
efforts of Government of Gujarat for establishing state of the art Ayush facilities.
Ministry of Ayush, through centrally sponsored scheme National Ayush Mission (NAM), aims to enhance the
nation’s health care system by focusing on the core competency areas of Ayush.
Read more about the National Ayush Mission in the Government Scheme section of this PDF.
• CAQM Closely Monitors Air Quality Parameters
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has reiterated to all implementing
agencies of the Central and State Governments of NCR to strictly implement actions under Stage I of the Graded
Response Action Plan (GRAP) in view of the air quality index of NCR, and has also urged citizens to cooperate
in adherence to the Citizen Charter of the respective stages and assist in effective implementation of the GRAP
measures to improve the overall Air Quality in the region.
Background: CAQM
• Established in: 2021 (Through the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region
and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2021).
• The Ordinance also dissolves the Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority established
in the NCR in 1998.
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• Contravention of provisions of the Ordinance, or orders and directions of the Commission will be
punishable with imprisonment of up to five years, or fine of up to one crore rupees, or both. All appeals
against the Commission’s orders will be heard by the National Green Tribunal, and not any other civil
court.
• National SC-ST Hub Mega Conclave
The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India organized National SC-ST
Hub (NSSH) Conclave at Dawrpui Multipurpose Centre, Aizawl, Mizoram on 15th October 2022 to promote
entrepreneurship culture and spread awareness of the NSSH Scheme and other Schemes of the Ministry.
For inclusive growth, Ministry of MSME implements the National SC-ST Hub Scheme with an objective of
creating an ecosystem for SC/ST entrepreneurs and handholding them to participate in the public procurement
to reach 4% mandate as per the public procurement policy.
• Samajik Adhikarita Shivir
A ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivir’ for distribution of aids and assistive devices to ‘Divyangjan’ under the ADIP
Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India was organized by the
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in association with ALIMCO, Social Justice
and Empowerment Department and District Administration Alwar at Pratap Auditorium in Alwar City,
Rajasthan.
Across the country, these camps are organized for distribution of aids and assistive devices to ‘Divyangjan’
under the Assistance to Disabled Persons (ADIP) Scheme and to Senior Citizens under the Rashtriya Vayoshri
Yojana.
Details on ADIP and RVY are given under the Government Schemes Segment in this doccument.
• Expediting the Implementation of the ABDM
National Health Authority (NHA) and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers
(NABH) - a constituent board of Quality Council of India (QCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to collaborate in the areas of capacity building, dissemination of information, promotion of QCI (NABH)
accreditation & ABDM standards, technical support, stakeholder advocacy and for creating overall awareness
for different initiatives of NABH and NHA by leveraging the reach and presence of each other.
National Health Authority is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,
whereas the QCI is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• 14th Tribal Youth Exchange Programme
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with Ministry of Home Affairs organised 14th Tribal Youth
Exchange Programme for the development of Tribal Youth today in New Delhi.
Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan has been organizing Tribal Youth Exchange Programme since 2006 for the
development and main streaming of Tribal Youth in collaboration and financial support from Department of
Left Wing Extremism (LWE), Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India. During this financial year 2022-23, 26
Tribal Youth Exchange Programmes are being organized by NYKS across the country.
• Draft National Credit Framework
Union Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra
Pradhan launched the draft of National Credit Framework (NCrF) for public consultation.
Taking the vision of the new National Education Policy (NEP), the Government of India has developed the
National Credit Framework (NCrF) to enable the integration of academic and vocational domains to ensure
flexibility and mobility between the two.
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NCrF will seamlessly integrate the credits earned through school education, higher education and vocational
and skill education by encompassing the National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF), National
Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and National School Education Qualification Framework (NSEQF). It also
supports educational acceleration for students with gifted learning abilities and Recognition of Prior Learning
for the workforce that has acquired knowledge and skills informally through the traditional family inheritance,
work experience or other methods.
• Indian Urban Housing Conclave – 2022
Indian Urban Housing Conclave (IUHC) 2022, the 3-day Expo-cum-Conference at Rajkot, Gujarat, was
inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 19 th October 2022 at a mega event, wherein he also
inaugurated Light House Project (LHP) Rajkot under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) and
handed over the house keys to the beneficiaries.
In 2021, the PM laid the foundation stone of Light House projects (LHPs) under Global Housing Technology
Challenge (GHTC)- at six sites across six States, today through video conference. He announced the winners
under Affordable Sustainable Housing Accelerators - India (ASHA-India) and gave away annual awards for
excellence in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U) Mission. He also released a
certification course on innovative construction technologies named NAVARITIH (New, Affordable, Validated,
Research Innovation Technologies for Indian Housing).
Salient Features:
• LHP shall mean a model housing project with approximate 1,000 houses built with shortlisted alternate
technology suitable to the geo-climatic and hazard conditions of the region.
• The period of construction is a maximum of 12 months from the date of handing over of sites to the
construction agency after all statutory approvals. Approvals will be accorded through a fast-track
process by the concerned State Government.
The LHPs are being constructed at Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Ranchi
(Jharkhand), Agartala (Tripura) and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh).
• Blue Beach
Recently, Thundi Beach and Kadmat Beach made it to coveted list of Blue Beaches, an eco-label given to the
cleanest beaches in the world. The Prime Minister congratulated the people of Lakshadweep for achieving this
feat. India now has 12 Blue Flag certified beaches.
This “Blue Flag” certification is awarded by Foundation for Environment Education (FEE), Denmark. A Blue Flag
would mean 100% compliance to 33 stringent criteria laid out by FEE.
The Blue Flag beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists/beachgoers clean and
hygienic bathing water, facilities, a safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.
Following Blue Flag certification, India has also launched its own eco-label BEAMS (Beach Environment &
Aesthetics Management Services) Project. This project was launched by the Society of Integrated Coastal
Management (SICOM) and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• STREE DESH
The Ministry of Culture organized a dance-drama titled “STREEDESH” based on the lives of 13 legendary
women of Jammu and Kashmir.
The event showcased the history of Jammu and Kashmir as a land of great women and depicted the lives of
Yashovati, Ishaan Devi, Vakpushta, Suganda Rani, Rani Didda, Srilekha, Silla, Sooryamati, Kalhanika among
many others.
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The danseuse showcased how India as a society has traditionally been ‘gender just’ and women leadership has
been ingrained in the ancient traditions of the Indian society. The dance-drama gave a glimpse of the gender
equality that has been in existence for long in the Indian Society to the foreign diplomats.
• Ayush Utsav
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the
Ayush Utsav at the Government Unani Medical College & Hospital (GUMC) in Ganderbal, Kashmir.
With the focus of the government to enable traditional medicinal practices to supplement modern patient care,
the Ayush Utsav was launched with the inauguration of a seminar titled ‘Bridging the Gaps in Healthcare:
Ayush, a Promising Recourse’ was inaugurated by the Union Ayush Minister.
• G20 Health Ministerial Meeting
“The need is to ensure sustainable financing, IHR reforms and seamless discussions among intergovernmental
negotiating body in the WHO (SETA), GAVI, G7 and G20 for creating a ‘fit-for purpose’ global healthcare
ecosystem”. This was stated by Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare during
his concluding remarks at the Second G20 Health Ministerial Meeting, in Bali, Indonesia.
Dr Mandaviya also proposed site events such as Digital Health Workshop on collaborative research to expand
access to medical counter-measures, medical value travel and holistic healthcare through evidence based
traditional medicines to support, supplement and enrich G20 discussions.
• Maze Garden and Miyawaki Forest
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi dedicated Maze Garden and Miyawaki Forest in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
Miyawaki Forest and Maze Garden are new attractions at the Statue of Unity. When the Statue of Unity was
inaugurated 4 years back, it was the vision of the Prime Minister to turn it into a hub for tourism with attractions
for each age group. As a result, more than 8 million people have visited the Statue of Unity so far.
The Miyawaki forest is named after the technique developed by a Japanese botanist and ecologist Dr Akira
Miyawaki to plant saplings of various species that are planted close to each other which develops into a dense
urban forest. The growth of plants is ten times faster using this method and as a result, the forest developed is
thirty times denser. Through the Miyawaki method, a forest can be developed in just two to three years while
it takes at least 20 to 30 years through the traditional method.
Agriculture & Allied Activities

• Farm Demonstration on Crop Residue Management
Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, attended a farm
demonstration on crop residue management in a village in Punjab.
The objectives of the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme includes protecting environment from air
pollution and preventing loss of nutrients and soil micro-organisms caused by burning of crop residue;
promoting management of crop residue by retention/incorporation into the soil or collection for further
utilization through the use of appropriate mechanization inputs; promoting Farm Machinery Banks for custom
hiring of crop residue management machinery to offset the adverse economies of scale arising due to small
landholding and high cost of individual ownership; creating awareness among stakeholders through
demonstration, capacity building activities and differentiated Information, Education and Communication
strategies for effective utilization and management of crop residue.
Under the Central Scheme on Crop Residue Management, the Government is already providing financial
assistance to Punjab, Haryana, U.P. and NCT Delhi to combat air pollution in Delhi NCR due to stubble burning.
Rs. 601.53 crore has already been released by the Centre during the current year so far.
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The Government also promotes widespread use of bio-decomposer (also known as Pusa Decomposer)
developed by the ICAR, Pusa for effective in-situ decomposition of stubble.
• MoU: Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and NAFED
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited to boost the initiative visioned
by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to promote Millets towards celebration of the International Year of
Millets 2023.
DA&FW and NAFED will collaborate in key areas like facilitating advisory support to manufacturers/processors
of millet-based products to develop value-added millet-based commodities; on-boarding of start-ups, inclusive
of start-ups empanelled with Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad.
Some information about Millets:
• Millets are often referred to as Superfood and their production can be seen as an approach to
sustainable agriculture and a healthy world.
• The three major millet crops currently grown in India are jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet)
and ragi (finger millet).
• Major producers include Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.
• New Records of India’s Sugar Production and Export
India emerges as the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar and world’s 2nd largest exporter of sugar.
In Sugar Season (Oct-Sep) 2021-22, a record of more than 5000 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT) sugarcane was
produced in the country out of which about 3574 LMT of sugarcane was crushed by sugar mills to produce
about 394 LMT of sugar (Sucrose). Out of this, 35 LMT sugar was diverted to ethanol production and 359 LMT
sugar was produced by sugar mills. With this, India has emerged as the world’s largest producer and consumer
of sugar as well as the world’s 2nd largest exporter of sugar.
Government has been encouraging sugar mills to divert sugar to ethanol and also to export surplus sugar so
that sugar mills may make payment of cane dues to farmers in time and also mills may have better financial
conditions to continue their operations.
• Vishaal Kisan Sammelan
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Sahakar Bharati organised ‘Vishaal Kisan Sammelan’ workshop
on 4th October 2022 in Bayanpur village, Sonipat, Haryana as part of the targeted campaign under Namami
Gange Programme and Arth Ganga to promote Natural Farming amongst the farmers in the Ganga Basin.
This is the third interaction with farmers in the Ganga Basin in the past few weeks including workshops in
Shirdi, Maharashtra and Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh on 19th August and 5th September 2022 respectively. A
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NMCG and Sahakar Bharation 16th August 2022 in
the presence of the Hon. Union Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to achieve the vision of a sustainable
and viable economic development by public participation, creation and strengthening of local cooperatives
towards realizing the mandate of Arth Ganga, that aims to link people with the river through a “bridge of
economics”.
• Eastern and North-Eastern Cooperative Dairy Conclave 2022
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated Eastern and North-Eastern Cooperative
Dairy Conclave 2022 in Gangtok, Sikkim.
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The Ministry of Cooperation and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) have planned a Multipurpose
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in every Panchayat that along with distribution of Dairy, Farmer
Producer Organisation (FPO), Agriculture and Gas Production will make arrangements for LPG distribution,
Petrol Pump and Storage and Marketing.
Government is committed to increase the domestic dairy market of Rs 13 lakh crore to Rs 30 lakh crore by
2027.
• National Conference on Enhancing Agricultural Productivity
The National Conference on Enhancing Agricultural Productivity on the topic "Integration of Improved Seeds
and Agri Inputs”, was organized by the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
The number of small farmers in the country is more, who have small acreage and do not have money for
investment; for such farmers, the Central Government is setting up 10,000 new FPOs, for which a provision of
Rs 6,865 crore has been made and small farmers are being mobilized. It is the effort of the government that
farmers should do group farming, so that the input costs can be reduced, production quality improves and
small farmers can shift to remunerative crops and get the price for their produce on their own terms. FPOs can
also process products. For this, the government has extended loans up to Rs. 2 crore without guarantee.
To reduce import dependence in oilseeds, the Oil Palm Mission has been started with a provision of Rs.11,000
crore. 28 lakh hectares of land in the country is suitable for oil palm cultivation, especially In the North-East.
• Purple Revolution
Addressing a Conference on "Sustainable Agricultural Innovations for Resilient Agri-Food Systems" at the
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) here , Union Minister, Dr Jitendra
Singh enumerated a series of pro-agriculture reforms introduced by the Modi government and said several
pathbreaking decisions like new guidelines for geospatial technology and relaxation in the regulations for
developing Drone are also enabling provisions for today’s agriculture entrepreneurs and agri-startups.
The Minister also said 'Purple Revolution’ originating from Jammu & Kashmir offers attractive avenues and
those who have entered the lavender sector are making a fortune out of it.
• Coconut Community Farmers' Conference
The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has said that the Centre
will continue to provide all possible assistance to the farmers in the coastal states to promote coconut
cultivation in the country. With the increase in the number of coconut-based industries in the country, new
products and many employment opportunities are also increasing in the market.
Shri Tomar was addressing the Coconut Community Farmers' Conference at Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu contributes 21 percent of the area under coconut in the country and 26 percent of the production.
Tamil Nadu ranks first in coconut processing activities and Coimbatore is first in terms of area under coconut
cultivation, with an area of 88,467 hectares under coconut cultivation.
• XXVI Meeting of ICAR Regional Committee -II
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government
of India conducted the XXVI Meeting of ICAR Regional Committee -II comprising the States of West Bengal,
Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands today at ICAR-
National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack.
This meeting will help to establish the link between ICAR and state governments for identifying state specific
problems related to agricultural and allied aspects and offering suitable solutions through achievements and
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accomplishments of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) of the concerned states within specific
timeline.
The ICAR has set up eight Regional Committees on the basis of agro-climatic regions. The purpose of the
Regional Committee is to provide a forum to the researchers and the State Government functionaries to
examine the major gaps in the current research and training efforts in agriculture, animal husbandry and
fisheries; to identify priorities; and to decide agenda of research and extension education in different agro-
ecological regions of the country for the coming two years.
A research agenda of national relevance in the areas of agricultural technology assessment, refinement and
transfer is set up for discussion in the regular meetings of the Regional Committee, which is held once in two
years.
• Paddy Field – IARI, Pusa
The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, visited the paddy field of the Indian Agricultural
Research Institute (IARI), Pusa and observed the paddy being cultivated there.
The Minister reviewed the disease resistant varieties of Basmati rice being grown by DSR (Direct Sowing of
Rice) method such as the Pusa Basmati 1979, made by improving the Pusa Basmati 1121, and Pusa Basmati
1985, derived by improving Pusa Basmati 1509.
These varieties will help in increasing the income of the farmers and saving water by reducing the cost of paddy
cultivation by direct sowing.
There will be no need to spray pesticides in these varieties, which will reduce the cost as well as produce
Basmati rice free from chemical residues, which will fetch good price in the international market and directly
benefit farmers' income.
• PM – KISAN Samman Sammelan
PM inaugurated PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022, at Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi and
released PM-KISAN Funds worth Rs 16,000 crore.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated 600 Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSK) under the
Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister also launched Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana - One Nation
One Fertiliser.
During the event, the PM also launched ‘Indian Edge’, an e-magazine on fertiliser.
More about PM – Kisan Samruddhi Kendras and PM – Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana have already covered
in the doccument under the concerned segment.
• The CCEA Approves MSP for all Rabi Crops
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the
increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2023-24 to
ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce. There are 6 crops of cultivated in Rabi season,
for which, the MSPs are announced. They are wheat, barley, gram, lentil, rapseed & mustard, and safflower.
The absolute highest increase in MSP has been approved for lentil (Masur) at Rs.500/- per quintal followed by
rapeseed and mustard at Rs.400/- per quintal. For safflower, an increase of Rs.209/- per quintal has been
approved. For wheat, gram and barley an increase of Rs.110/- per quintal, Rs.100 per quintal respectively has
been approved.
From the year 2014-15, there has been a renewed focus on increasing the production of oilseeds and
pulses. The efforts have yielded good results. Oilseeds production has increased from 27.51 million tonnes in
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2014-15 to 37.70 million tonnes in 2021-22 (4th advance estimates). Pulses production has shown similar
increasing trend. The Seed Minikits programme is a major tool for introducing new varieties of seeds in the
farmers’ fields and is instrumental for increasing the seed replacement rate.
• Agri Startups Accelerator Programme
In the Agri Startup Conference organized on the second day of PM Kisan Samman Sammelan at Pusa Mela
Ground, Delhi, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare informed that a high-level steering
committee will be constituted under the chairmanship of Agriculture Minister for overall guidance of the
Agriculture Startup ecosystem. A Rs. 500 crore accelerator programme for taking forward and popularizing
the successful initiatives of Agri Startups will be started.
Amidst a large gathering of Agri Startup delegates, Shri Tomar announced that an Executive Committee would
be constituted under the chairmanship of Secretary Agriculture, comprising of concerned agencies like (DARE),
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), agricultural incubators and knowledge
partners, agricultural universities, research institutes, top investors and other stakeholders.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under the Department of
Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of
India.
• HURL – Barauni Plant Commences Urea Production
Barauni Plant of Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL) commences urea production. The state-of-the-
art gas based Barauni Plant is part of the initiative taken by the Government to revive the closed urea units of
Fertilizer Corporation of India Ltd. (FCIL) and Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation Ltd (HFCL) in order to achieve
self-sufficiency in urea sector.
HURL, incorporated on 15th June, 2016 is a Joint Venture Company by Coal India Limited (CIL), NTPC Limited
(NTPC), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and FCIL/HFCL mandated to revive Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni
units with an estimated investment of Rs. 25,000 crores. The start of all the three plants of HURL will add 38.1
LMTPA indigenous urea production in the country and help to realize the vision of Prime Minister to make India
‘Aatmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) in the urea production.
• 14th World Spice Congress
The world’s largest exclusive business platform for the spice sector, 14th World Spice Congress (WSC),
organized by Spices Board India (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India) in association with various
trade and export forums, is scheduled to be held at CIDCO Exhibition and Convention Centre, Navi Mumbai,
Maharashtra during 16-18 February 2023.
This biennial event organized by Spices Board India remains the premier platform that brings the global spice
industry together to deliberate on the problems and prospects in the spices sector.
The theme chosen for the current edition of WSC is ‘Vision 2030: SPICES’ (Sustainability– Productivity –
Innovation – Collaboration- Excellence and Safety)”.
• ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry
The 7th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting (AIMMAF) on Agriculture and Forestry was held virtually this month.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh
Tomar. Agriculture Ministers of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam also participated in the meeting.
Referring to the importance of millet (nutritional-cereals) as a nutritious food and the international nutritional-
cereal year 2023, Shri Tomar urged the ASEAN member countries to support the efforts of India in increasing
the production, processing, value addition and consumption of millets. Shri Tomar said that India will promote
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nutritious cereal products for the health and nutrition of the people. Nutritious cereals help in the creation of
nutritious, with low resource requirement and more efficient agri-food systems.
In the meeting, the progress in implementation of various programs and activities under the Medium-Term
Action Plan of ASEAN-India Cooperation (Year 2021-2025) was reviewed. The meeting also welcomed the 30th
anniversary of ASEAN-India relations.
• 3rd Advanced Estimates – Horticulture Crops
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India has released the 3rd Advance Estimates of
the area and production of various horticultural crops for the year 2021-22. According to this estimate, a record
342.33 million tonnes are estimated to be produced in an area of 28.08 million hectares.
Highlights of the estimate:
• The total horticulture production is estimated to be 342.33 million tonnes in the year 2021-22,
showing an increase of about 7.73 million tonnes (an increase of 2.3%) over the year 2020-21 (final).
• Production of fruits is estimated to be 107.24 million tonnes as against 102.48 million tonnes in 2020-
21.
• Production of vegetables is estimated to be 204.84 million tonnes as against 200.45 million tonnes in
2020-21.
• Production of Onion is estimated to be 31.27 million tonnes as against 26.64 million tonnes in the year
2020-21.
• Production of Potatoes is estimated to be 53.39 million tonnes as against 56.17 million tonnes in 2020-
21.
• Tomato production is estimated to be 20.33 million tonnes as against 21.18 million tonnes in 2020-21.
• Department of Agricultural Research and Education
The Government of India announced Special Campaign 2.0 from October 2nd to October 31st, 2022, with a focus
on “Swachhata (cleanliness) and reducing pendency in Government”. It reinforces the importance of timely
disposal of references and clean workspace in Government offices. The campaign was managed by the
Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE).
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the country have adopted 900 villages to demonstrate and promote microbial-
based agricultural waste management and Vermicomposting. Technologies related to the microbial
decomposition of agricultural residues and conversion of farm residues and other organic wastes into
vermicompost were demonstrated to 22,678 farmers.
Crop residues are valuable organic inputs to improve soil health and crop productivity when utilized after
proper decomposition. Due to the long duration of the natural composting process of most of the crop
residues, farmers resort to burning, resulting in environmental pollution apart from the wastage of a valuable
asset. Composting technologies using efficient microbial decomposers like “PUSA Decomposer” accelerates
the decomposition process resulting in high-quality organic manure in a shorter period.
Department of Agricultural Research and Education
• Established: 1973, under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare
• DARE is the nodal agency for International Cooperation in the area of agricultural research and
education in India.
• With over 111 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country this is one of
the largest national agricultural research systems in the world. DARE oversees the functioning of all
these institutes/centres.
Krishi Vigyan Kendra
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• Launch: The first KVK was established in 1974 at Puducherry.
• It is an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System
• There are 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the country.
• There are 38 KVKs under the control of State Governments, 66 under ICAR Institutes, 103 under NGOs,
506 under Agricultural Universities, 3 under Central Universities, 3 under Public Sector Undertakings, 7
under Deemed to be Universities and 5 under Other Educational Institutions.
• The technologies developed out of research conducted by ICAR are taken to farmers’ fields for its
assessment by KVKs to ascertain their location specificity under various farming systems. KVKs also
conduct large number of technology demonstrations at farmers’ fields for their adoption by the
farmers.
Note: A question on Vermicompost was asked in NABARD Grade A 2022: Phase – II Exam.
Rural India
• India’s first 24x7 solar-powered village
PM declares Modhera (Gujarat) as India’s first 24x7 solar-powered village.
• Grameen Udyami Convocation
The Gramin Udyami Skill Training Programme, which is based on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of
Atmanirbhar Bharat, targets empowering the rural youth by providing them specific skilling opportunities. The
pilot project was launched in May this year in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and covered five states (Chhattisgarh,
Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, apart from Madhya Pradesh), during the first leg 152 candidates were
enrolled, of which 132 successfully completed the course and were given certificates .
The next leg (Phase 1.2) was held in four states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha. A total
of 165 candidates will be given the certificates.
Training was provided in five disciplines- electrical and solar energy, agricultural mechanization, e-governance,
plumbing and masonry, two-wheeler repair and maintenance.
The next phase (Phase 1.3), solely for women’s groups, will soon begin in Gumla (Jharkhand) by
October/November, for which 153 women have already enrolled.
• Inaccurate Portrayal of Implementation of NREGS
A report was released recently by Azim Premji University, National Consortium of Civil Society Organisations
and Collaborative Research and Dissemination (CoRD) on 13th October, 2022, on which several reports have
been published in the newspapers on 14th October 2022. The report is not available in the public domain. Many
reports stated that around 39% MNREGA card holders didn’t get single day of work in 2020-21.
As per the clarifications by the Minsitry of Rural Development, it needs to be appreciated that Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is a demand driven scheme. It will not be correct to assume
that all registered households had demanded work.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA) provides guarantee of
at least 100 days of wage employment against the demand made by a household in a rural area.
The person-days generation during last three years is as under:
FY 2021-2022 FY 2020-2021 FY 2019-2020
Person-days 363.33 389.09 265.35

Generated [In Cr]
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The demand for work and offer of work against the demand during last three years is as under:
Financial Year Offer of work against the demand (in %)
2019-20 99.79
2020-21 99.89
2021-22 99.55
• People’s Plan Campaign–2022

Ministry of Panchayati Raj organised a two-day National Training Workshop on People’s Plan Campaign–2022
during 19th – 20th October, 2022 in New Delhi.
People’s Plan Campaign (PPC)–2022 had been rolled out as ‘Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas’ from 2nd October 2022
and will continue up to 31st January 2023. During the campaign, structured Gram Sabha/ Ward Sabha/
Neighborhood Sabha/ Mahila Sabha/Bal Sabha / Block Sabha/ District Sabha will be held for preparing the
comprehensive GPDP, BPDP and DPDP with the integration of Village Poverty Reduction Plan (VPRP) prepared
by SHGs and other such village action plan of line Departments.
The guidelines for revamped People’s Plan Campaign–2022 and Handbook on revamped Gram Panchayat
Development Plan (GPDP) Portal were also launched during the Workshop.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj organises People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) every year (Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas) from
2nd October to 31st December. This year also PPC–2022 was launched on 2nd October, 2022 to prepare District/
Block/ Gram Panchayat Development Plans for the year 2023–2024.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has evolved thematic approach aggregating 17 Sustainable goals into 9 broad
themes of Localised Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) at grassroots level. In this PPC 2022, Panchayats
will prepare Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) on these 9 themes by adopting Whole-of- Government
and Whole-of-Society approach.
• Saras Food Festival-2022
Union Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste inaugurates the Saras Food Festival-
2022. On this occasion, the Minister also launched the e-commerce portal www.esaras.in for better and more
effective marketing of Saras products prepared by women of self-help groups (SHGs).
The Saras Food Festival is a unique example of women’s empowerment. Women from self-help groups, formed
under the flagship program ‘National Rural Livelihoods Mission’ of the Union Ministry of Rural Development
are participating in this festival. This is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Rural Development as an effort to
empower women on a large scale.
Note: A descriptive question on the National Rural Livelihoods Mission was asked in the NABARD Grade A:
Phase – II 2022.
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Other News: Not Important for Phase – II
• Prime Minister Launches 5G services in India
Taking India’s digital transformation and connectivity to new heights, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi
launched 5G services in India. He also unveiled various 5G use cases of various Telecom Service Providers in
Education, Health, worker safety, smart agriculture etc.
5G technology will bolster and propel India’s position as an economic and tech powerhouse globally and will
provide new opportunities for start-ups to come up with innovative solutions to solve existing challenges,
create jobs and contribute to India's economic resilience.
The four pillars of Digital India –
1. Cost of Devices – With AatmaNirbhar Bharat the cost of devices can be reduced to a large extent. In the
year 2014 there were 02 mobile manufacturing units in the country, whereas presently there are 200
manufacturing units. India is now at second position in the world for manufacturing of mobile and is also a
large exporter of mobiles.
2. Digital Connectivity – Country has made a huge progress; in 2014 there were 6 cr Broadband users which
has now increased to 80 crore users. Approx 100 GPs were connected with OFC in the country and now more
than 1,70,000 GPs in the country are connected with OFC. Internet users in the rural areas of the country are
growing at a faster rate than in the urban area.
3. Cost of Data – The cost of data has reduced from Rs. 300 per GB in 2014 to Rs. 10 per GB in 2022. The
average Data used per person is 14 GB per month, and the reduction in the cost of data has brought
considerable savings per month for citizens.
4. Idea of Digital First – Many people carried the opinion that the rural poor of this country will not be able to
adopt digital technology, but the citizens, particularly the rural people, have made these assumptions wrong.
Rural India is fast adopting digital technologies and the internet in their daily lives.
• Indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Inducted into Indian Air Force
In a big boost to Aatmanirbharata (self-reliance) in Defence, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh presided over
the formal induction of Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL), into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Jodhpur.
This Light Combat Helicopter is named “Prachanda”.
• ECI launches Radio series - ‘Matdata Junction’
The Election Commission of India launched a yearlong Voter Awareness Program - ‘Matdata Junction’. The
‘Matdata Junction’ is a 52-episode radio series produced by the Election Commission of India, in collaboration
with All India Radio.
• 6th edition of India Mobile Congress
Marking the historic launch of 5G services in India by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 6th edition of
Asia’s largest telecom festival, India Mobile Congress 2022 concluded with grand success here at Pragati
Maidan in New Delhi.
• New Director General of the ESIC
Dr. Rajendra Kumar, a senior IAS officer from Tamil Nadu Cadre (Batch : 1992) took over the charge of Director
General of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) under Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of
India
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• International Solar Alliance’s Fifth Assembly
International Solar Alliance’s Fifth Assembly was held in New Delhi from 17th to 20th October, 2022. Shri R.K
Singh, Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, will preside over the Assembly.
The International Solar Alliance is an international organisation with 109 member and signatory countries. It
works with governments to improve energy access and security worldwide and promote solar power as a
sustainable way to transition to a carbon-neutral future. ISA’s mission is to unlock US$ 1 trillion of investments
in solar by 2030 while reducing the cost of the technology and its financing. It promotes the use of solar energy
in the Agriculture, Health, Transport and Power Generation sectors.
ISA Headquarters: Gurugram, India
• 90th Interpol General Assembly
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the 90th Interpol General Assembly in Pragati Maidan, New
Delhi.
The Prime Minister highlighted that India is celebrating 75 years of its independence which is a celebration of
people and cultures. The Prime Minister also informed that Interpol will be celebrating 100 years of its
inception in the year 2023.
• DefExpo 2022
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the DefExpo22 at Mahatma Mandir Convention and
Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. At the India Pavilion, the Prime Minister unveiled HTT-40 - the
indigenous trainer aircraft designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. During the programme, the Prime
Minister also launched Mission DefSpace and laid the foundation stone of Deesa airfield in Gujarat.
• Exercise Garuda – VII
Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force (FASF) are participating in a bilateral exercise, named
'Garuda VIl', from 26 October to 12 November 2022 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
This is the seventh edition of the bilateral exercise. The first, third and fifth editions were conducted in India in
2003, 2006 and 2014 at Air Force Stations Gwalior, Kalaikunda and Jodhpur, respectively. The second, fourth
and sixth editions were conducted in France in 2005, 2010 and 2019.
• Exercise SIMBEX – 2022
The Indian Navy is hosting the 29th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) from
26 to 30 October, 2022 at Visakhapatnam.
• Exercise IMT TRILAT – 2022
The first edition of India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise (IMT TRILAT), a joint maritime exercise
among the Indian, Mozambique and Tanzanian navies commenced at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on 27 Oct 22.
Indian Navy is represented by the guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, a Chetak helicopter and MARCOS (Special
Forces).
These exercises reflect India's and the Indian Navy's commitment to enhancing maritime security and
cooperation with maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and promoting SAGAR (Safety and Growth
for All in the Region).
Important Days
• National Voluntary Blood Donation Day
PIB: Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, addressed National Voluntary
Blood Donation Day on 1st October.
The minister felicitated voluntary blood donors and States/UTs that have done exemplary work in this field.
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• Gandhi Jayanti & Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti
PIB: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his Jayanti (2 October)
at Rajghat. The PM also paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri on his Jayanti today
at Vijay Ghat.
• Swachh Bharat Diwas
PIB: Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Celebrates Swachh Bharat Diwas,
2022 on 2nd October.
The Department is implementing two flagship programmes of the central government i.e. Swachh Bharat
Mission Grameen (SBM-G) and Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
SBM-G was started on 2nd October 2014 with the aim to stop Open Defecation. On 2nd October 2019, all villages
in the country declared themselves ODF. Thereafter, SBM-G 2.0 was launched in 2020 to sustain the ODF status
in villages and improve the level of cleanliness in rural areas through Solid and Liquid Waste Management,
thereby making villages ODF Plus.
• World Habitat Day
PIB: The theme of this year’s World Habitat Day (3rd October) is 'Mind the Gap. Leave No One Behind and No
Place Behind’, and it serves as a strong reminder that we cannot leave behind any citizen and any place as we
build towards a more resilient future.
• Cyber Jaagrukta Diwas
PIB: Cyber Jaagrukta Diwas is an initiative launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs that requires all
government organizations to spread cybersecurity awareness. It is observed on first Wednesday of every
month. The purpose is to create awareness and sensitize the Internet users on safeguarding against cyber
frauds and cybercrimes.
• World Cotton Day
PIB: On 7th October, the Ministry of Textiles celebrated World Cotton Day 2022 by organizing a national level
consultation on Sustainability in the Textile Value Chain in India in collaboration with United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) and Competition Commission of India (CCI).
Based on the posters provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the theme for
the celebration of World Cotton Day in 2022 is "Weaving a better future for cotton" (FAO).
• Air Force Day
PIB: PM Narendra Modi has greeted the members of Indian Air Force and their families on the occasion of Air
Force Day on 8th October.
To mark this occasion, the Government has approved the creation of a new branch, called the Weapon Systems
(WS) branch. The creation of WS branch would entail unification of all weapon system operators under one
entity dedicated to the operational employment of all ground-based and specialist airborne weapon systems.
• World Standards Day
PIB: Bureau of Indian Standards, Mumbai organised a Conclave – “Manak Mahotsav” on occasion of World
Standards Day.
On the occasion of World Standards Day (14th October), Bureau of Indian Standards, Mumbai today organized
a Standards Conclave – “Manak Mahotsav” based on the theme ‘Standards for Sustainable Development
Goals - A Shared Vision for a Better World’.
Every year on 14 October, the members of the International Electrotechnical Commission, International
Organization for Standardization and International Telecommunication Union celebrate World Standards
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Day, as a means of paying tribute to the collaborative efforts of thousands of experts worldwide who develop
the voluntary technical agreements that are published as International Standards.
BIS is the National Standard Body working under the Ministry of consumer affairs, food and public
distribution, Government of India. Our objective is the harmonious development of the activities of
standardization, product testing and quality certification of goods in the country.
• Mahila Kisan Diwas
PIB: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare and its various wings celebrate ‘Mahila Kisan Diwas’ on 15th
October.
The National Gender Resource Centre in Agriculture (NGRCA), Directorate of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare,
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare in collaboration of National Institute of Agricultural Extension
Management (MANAGE), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
(MoA&FW) has celebrated ‘Mahila Kisan Diwas’ or ‘International Rural Women Day’ on 15th October, 2022.
As the year 2023 has been declared as the ‘International Year of Millets by United Nations (UN), the theme of
this year Mahila Kisan Diwas is ‘Millets: Empowering Women and Providing Nutritional Security’.
This inaugural event was organized through Video Conferencing under the guidance of Union Agriculture
Minister Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar and the technical session of the programme is being organized at
MANAGE, Hyderabad with the technical support provided by Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR),
Hyderabad.
• Ayurveda Day
PIB: 7th Ayurveda Day to be celebrated at a grand scale on 23rd October, 2022.
Dhanawantari Jayanti has been celebrated since 2016 as Ayurveda Day to promote our most ancient and well
documented system of medicine. The main event will be held at Vigyan Bhawan, in New Delhi and various
programs will be organized across the country with support of other ministries as a whole government
approach. This year Indian missions/Embassies will also organize programs in their respective countries.
This year’s Ayurveda Day is being celebrated with the theme “Har Din Har Ghar Ayurveda” so as to propagate
benefits of Ayurveda to larger and grass root community.
• National Unity Day
All India Radio broadcasts the annual Edition of Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture on 31st October, which is
celebrated as the National Unity Day or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sardar
Vallabh Bhai Patel, the first Home Minister of the Government of India.
Reports & Indices

• Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2022 Survey Report
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri
Piyush Goyal launched the Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2022 survey report. The LEADS is an
indigenous data-driven index to assess logistics infrastructure, services, and human resources across all 36
States and UTs.
The first logistics report was released in 2018.
By engaging with various end-user stakeholders, the LEADS acts as a feedback mechanism on the existing
logistic capacities and draws recommendations for further improvement. The LEADS further uses the feedback
evaluation to classify states on the scale of logistics ease currently present among them.
LEADS 2022 has adopted a classification-based grading, states have been now classified under four categories
viz coastal states, hinterland/landlocked states, north-eastern states, and Union Territories.
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Three performance categories namely, Achievers: States/UTs achieving 90% or more percentage, Fast Movers:
States/UTs achieving percentage scores between 80% to 90%, and Aspirers: States/UTs achieving percentage
scores below 80% have been made. Maharashtra tops amongst the “Achievers” states.
The LEADS 2022 survey report would assist PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMGS-NMP) and National
Logistics Policy (NLP) to perform a network mapping of logistics infrastructure, services, and regulatory
environment enabling State Governments to identify and fill the gaps and achieve data-driven multimodal
connectivity. LEADS continues to act as a guiding & bridging mechanism for the identification of interventions
enhancing logistics efficiency at State/UTs.
• Global Hunger Index- 2022
The Global Hunger Report 2022 released by Concern Worldwide and Welt Hunger Hilfe, Non-Government
Organisations from Ireland and Germany respectively, has ranked India at 107 among 121 countries.
• The GHI score is calculated on a 100-point scale reflecting the severity of hunger - zero is the best score
(implies no hunger) and 100 is the worst.
• The GHI is an annual report and each set of GHI scores uses data from a 5-year period. The 2022 GHI
scores are calculated using data from 2017 through 2021.
Components:
• Undernourishment: The share of the population with insufficient caloric intake. The Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) recommends 1800 Kilo Calories per person per day for India.
• Child stunting: The share of children under age five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic
undernutrition.
• Child wasting: The share of children under age five who have low weight for their height, reflecting
acute undernutrition.
• Child mortality: The share of children who die before their fifth birthday, partly reflecting the fatal mix
of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments.
India’s Performance:
• Barring war-torn Afghanistan, India has performed worse than all the countries in the South Asian region
in the Global Hunger Index 2022. It has ranked 107 out of 121 countries.
• Child Wasting: India’s child wasting rate (low weight for height), at 19.3%, is worse than the levels
recorded in 2014 (15.1%) and even 2000 (17.15%).
• Undernourishment: The prevalence of undernourishment has also risen in the country from 14.6% in
2018-2020 to 16.3% in 2019-2021.
• Child Stunting: has declined from 38.7% to 35.5% between 2014 and 2022.
• Child mortality: has dropped from 4.6% to 3.3% in the same comparative period.
• Global Forest Sector Outlook 2050 Report
A report titled “The global forest sector outlook 2050” with the theme “Assessing future demand and sources
of timber for a sustainable economy” was released recently by the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) at the 26th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization Committee on Forestry in
Rome.
practicemock.com 34
Demand for wood products like mass timber and man-made cellulose fibre used as substitutes for non-
renewable materials may increase by up to 272 million cubic metres by 2050, according to this new report. In
developing countries, it will lead to the creation of around 1 million jobs.
In 2020, around 2.3 billion people relied on wood-fuel as their primary source of energy for cooking and
heating, the report stated. These will remain the main sources of energy for households in emerging economies
till 2050.
There are 45-million-hectare agroforestry and 7-million-hectare rubber plantations across the globe, which can
be further increased during agricultural expansion for food production.
• Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index 2022
India has improved six places to rank 123 out of 161 countries in the most recent Commitment to Reducing
Inequality Index (CRII), but it still has one of the lowest levels of health spending. Norway is ranked first in the
CRII, followed by Germany.
The index is prepared by Oxfam International and Development Finance International, based on government
policies and actions in three areas, namely public services (health, education, and social protection), taxation,
and workers’ rights.
• Grievance Redressal Index
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has once again topped amongst all Group A Ministries,
Departments and Autonomous Bodies for resolving public grievances in the rankings report published by
Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) for the month of September 2022.
This is the second consecutive month UIDAI has topped the said rankings.
This index is prepared by the DARPG every month. DARPG was set up in 1964 and is under the administrative
control of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
• Global TB Report – 2022
The World Health Organisation (WHO) released the Global TB Report 2022 on October 27, 2022. The Report
notes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, treatment and burden of disease for TB all over
the world.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken note of the report and has clarified that India has, in fact,
performed far better on major metrics as compared to other countries over time. India’s TB incidence for the
year 2021 is 210 per 100,000 population – compared to the baseline year of 2015 (incidence was 256 per lakh
of population in India); there has been an 18% decline which is 7 percentage points better than the global
average of 11%. These figures also place India at the 36th position in terms of incidence rates (from largest to
smallest incidence numbers).
The WHO Report notes the crucial role of nutrition and under-nutrition as a contributory factor to the
development of active TB disease. In this respect, the TB Programme’s nutrition support scheme – Ni-kshay
Poshan Yojana – has proved critical for the vulnerable. During 2020 and 2021, India made cash transfers of 89
million dollars (INR 670 crores) to TB patients through a Direct Benefit Transfer programme. Moreover, in
September 2022, the Honourable President of India has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative, Pradhan Mantri
TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan to provide additional nutritional support to those on TB treatment, through
contributions from community including individuals and organizations. Till date, 40,492 donors have come
forward to support over 10,45,269 patients across the Country.
practicemock.com 35
DESCRIPTIVE QUESTIONS
Q1. Logistics costs have so far played a huge role in downplaying India’s export prospects. Write your views on
this and explain how the Union Government is trying to address this issue. (600 words)
Q2. Write a note on how rivers can be used to boost the economy. Also, mention some key initiatives started
by the Government in this context. (600 words)
Q3. Just like Aadhar Number raised some serious privacy concerns in the past, ABHA Number is doing the same
now. Which intended benefits are making the Government pursue this Health-Sector Programme even after
the privacy concerns associated with it? (600 words)
Q4. In the past few years, India witnessed a sharp rise in the number of start-ups. What are some possible
reasons according to you? Also, write your suggestions to improve the start-up ecosystem further. (600 words)
Q5. How is Natural Farming different from Organic Farming? Is it feasible for small and marginal farmers to do
natural farming profitably? (600 words)
Q6. The recently released Global Hunger Index puts India in a bad light. Further, the Government of India has
criticised the methodology to prepare this Index. What are your views on the issue? (600 words)
Q7. What do you understand by Crop Residue Management? How can it act as an aid to a sustainable
environment? (400 words)
Q8. Recently, 5-G services have been launched in India. How do you see this new technology change the way
Rural and Agrarian economy have been functioning so far? (400 words)
Q9. Discuss the pretext in which the RBI is all set to launch “e-Rupee”. How does it address the issues associated
with the cryptocurrencies? (400 words)
Q10. Critically analyse the key features of the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin. (400 words)
OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
• Questions
Q1. ULIP was launched as a part of the National Logistics Policy-2022. What does “I” stand for in the
abbreviation “ULIP”?
A. Interest
B. International
C. Interface
D. Incentive
E. None of the above
Q2. Universal Service Obligation Fund comes under the administrative purview of _______.
A. Ministry of Finance
B. Ministry of Corporate Affairs
C. Ministry of Labour and Employment
D. Ministry of Communications
E. Reserve Bank of India
practicemock.com 36

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PIB Sutra: October 2022

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

Economy & Finance

Agriculture & Allied Activities

FY 2021-2022 FY 2020-2021 FY 2019-2020

Person-days 363.33 389.09 265.35

Financial Year Offer of work against the demand (in %)

• People’s Plan Campaign–2022

Reports & Indices

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