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INDEX

Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann

1. MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) ................................................. 10
EMPOWERMENT ..................................... 5
National Institute of Social Defence ............................. 10
About the Ministry .................................. 5
Department of Empowerment of Persons
Department of Social Justice and with Disabilities (PwD) .......................... 10
Empowerment......................................... 6
1.7 Key Initiatives/ Schemes ................ 10
1.1 Initiatives for the Welfare of Scheduled India’s 1st Festival of Inclusion .................................... 10
Class ....................................................... 6 Sign Language Day ...................................................... 10
Statutory provisions........................................................ 6 Felicitation of Abilympics winners ............................... 10
SHRESHTA- ScHeme for Residential Education for Unique Disability ID (UDID) ....................................... 10
Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas .................. 6
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 10
Pradhan Mantri AnusuchitJaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-
AJAY) ............................................................................ 6 Atal Bihari Training Center for Divyang Sports .......... 10

National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem Disability sector pact .................................................... 11
(NAMASTE) .................................................................... 7 E-initiatives .................................................................. 11
Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing/fitting of
1.2 Initiatives for the welfare of Backward aids/appliances (ADIP) Scheme ................................... 11
Class ....................................................... 7
Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India
PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for (ALIMCO) .................................................................... 11
Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI) ......................................... 7
National Backward Classes Finance & Development 2. MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS .. 11
Corporation (NBCFDC)................................................. 8
About the ministry ............................... 11
1.3 Initiatives for Senior Citizens ........... 8
2.1 Constitutional Safeguards for
Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) ....... 8
Linguistic Minorities............................. 11
Elderline ......................................................................... 8
Senior Able Citizens for Re-Employment in Dignity 2.2 Key Initiatives ................................ 12
(SACRED) portal............................................................ 8
Scholarship Schemes .................................................... 12
Action Groups Aimed at Social Reconstruction (AGRASR)
PM Vikas Scheme ......................................................... 12
Groups ............................................................................ 8
Seekho Aur Kamao scheme (Learn and Earn).............. 13
Senior care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) initiative ... 8
USTTAD scheme ........................................................... 13
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) .................................. 8
Hamari Dharohar......................................................... 13
Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana ........................................... 8
Nai Roshini ................................................................... 13
Vayoshreshtha Samman ................................................. 8
Nai Manzil scheme ....................................................... 13
1.4 Initiatives for Transgender ................ 9 Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) ........ 14
Transgender persons (Protection of rights) Act, 2019 ... 9 National Minorities Development and Finance
National Council for Transgender Persons.................... 9 Corporation (NMDFC) ................................................ 14

National Portal for Transgender Persons ...................... 9 Haj Pilgrimage 2023 .................................................... 14

Ayushman Bharat Yojana ............................................... 9 Naya Savera ................................................................. 14

Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Jiyo Parsi...................................................................... 14

Enterprise (SMILE) ........................................................ 9 Padho Pardesh ............................................................. 15
Nai Udaan .................................................................... 15
1.5 Initiatives for Drug Abuse ................. 9
Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS). 15
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan .......................................... 9
Cyber Gram .................................................................. 15
1.6 Other Initiatives ............................. 10 Garib Nawaz Employment Scheme ............................... 15

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Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Program ..................... 15 Mission Circular Economy ........................................... 25
National Commission for Minorities ............................ 16 National Clean Air Program ........................................ 25
National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Cheetah Reintroduction in India .................................. 26
Minorities ..................................................................... 16
Sachar Committee ........................................................ 16 4.2 G20 India Presidency 2023 ............. 26
Durgah Khawaja Saheb Act, 1955 ............................... 16
5. MINISTRY OF CULTURE .................. 27
Central Waqf Council ................................................... 16
About the ministry ............................... 27
3. MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE ............................................. 16 5.1 World Heritage Sites ....................... 27

About the ministry................................ 16 5.2 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav ................ 29

Important events ........................................................... 29
3.1 Health Missions .............................. 17
5.3 G20 2023- India Presidency ............ 31
3.2 Maternal and Adolescent Health Care .
....................................................... 17 5.4 International Cultural Relations ..... 31
3.3 Child Health Program ...................... 18 5.5 Other Initiatives ............................. 31
3.4 Immunization ................................. 18 5.6 Birth and Death Anniversaries ........ 32
3.5 Family planning .............................. 19 200th Birth Anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand
Saraswati ...................................................................... 32
3.6 Health Insurance Schemes .............. 19 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose .
.......................................................................... 32
3.7 Disease Control Programmes ........... 19 150th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh ......... 32

3.8 E-Initiatives .................................... 20 250th Birth Anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy ........ 32
400th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur ... 33
3.9 Other key initiatives ....................... 20 125th Birth Anniversary of Sri Alluri Sitarama Raju .... 33

4. MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT FOREST 525th Birth Anniversary of Saint Meera Bai ................ 33
AND CLIMATE CHANGE ........................ 21 500th birth centenary celebrations of Rani Durgavati . 33

About the Ministry ................................ 21 6. MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND

INDUSTRY ............................................ 34
4.1 Key Initiatives ................................ 21
About the Ministry................................ 34
Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs ...
.......................................................................... 21
6.1 Key Initiatives/Achievements of the
Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Ministry ................................................ 34
Incomes (MISHTI) ........................................................ 22
Export Performance ..................................................... 34
Green Credit Program ................................................. 22
Foreign Trade Policy, 2023.......................................... 34
Ecomark Scheme .......................................................... 22
Districts as Export Hubs Scheme ................................. 35
Mission LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment) .................. 22
Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme....................... 35
India Cooling Action Plan ............................................ 23
Market Access Initiatives Scheme................................. 35
50 years of Project Tiger .............................................. 23
Interest Equalization Scheme ....................................... 35
International Big Cat Alliance ..................................... 23
Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products
Indira Parayavaran Bhawan ........................................ 23
Scheme .......................................................................... 35
India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 .................... 23
Government e-Marketplace .......................................... 35
PARIVESH 2.0 ............................................................. 24
Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin ..... 36
Ramsar Sites ................................................................. 24
G20 .......................................................................... 36
Forest (Conservation) Amendment) Act, 2023 ............. 24
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity ...... 36
Blue flag beaches ......................................................... 25
Bharat Mandapam ........................................................ 36

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Vanijya Bhawan ........................................................... 36 Khadi and Gramodyog Vikas Yojana ........................... 42

NIRYAT Portal ............................................................. 36 Coir Vikas Yojana ........................................................ 42
Invest India ................................................................... 37 Rozgar Yukta Gaon....................................................... 42
Make in India ............................................................... 37 Mission Solar Chakra ................................................... 42
Start-up India ............................................................... 37 Honey Mission Programme .......................................... 42
Fund of Funds .............................................................. 37 Project BOLD ............................................................... 43
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme .................................. 37 National Small Industries Corporation ........................ 43
Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS)- .......... 37 Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialization . 43
Geographical Indications Registry ............................... 37 International Cooperation Scheme ............................... 43
National Single Window System ................................... 37 CHAMPIONS portal ..................................................... 43
PM Gati Shakti (Logistics Division) ............................. 38
8. MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND ANIMAL
6.2 Bilateral Co-operation ..................... 38 HUSBANDRY ......................................... 43
India-US ....................................................................... 38 About the Ministry................................ 43
India-UAE .................................................................... 38
India - Australia ........................................................... 38 Department of Fisheries ....................... 43
Other Quick events ....................................................... 38 8.1 Key Initiatives/Schemes ................. 44
7. MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) .. 44
MEDIUM ENTERPRISE .......................... 39 Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development
Fund (FIDF) ................................................................. 44
About the ministry................................ 39 Kisan Credit Card (KCC) ............................................. 45

7.1 Key Initiatives/ Schemes ................ 39 Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana .. 45
Multipurpose Seaweed Park ......................................... 45
Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Development Act
(MSMED Act) 2006 ...................................................... 39 Sagar Parikrama Yatra ................................................ 45
PM Vishwakarma ......................................................... 39 Global Fisheries Conference India 2023 ..................... 45
Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program ... 39 National Fish Farmer’s Day ........................................ 45
Credit Guarantee for Micro and Small Enterprises G-20 Agriculture Working Group ................................ 45
(CGTMSE) .................................................................... 40 Report Food Disease Mobile App ................................ 45
Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund ....................................... 40 Other initiatives ............................................................ 46
Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development
Programme (MSE-CDP) .............................................. 40 Department of Animal Husbandry and
Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Dairying ................................................ 46
Industries (SFURTI) ..................................................... 40
8.2 Key Initiatives/Schemes ................. 46
A Scheme for Promoting Innovation, Rural Industry &
Entrepreneurship’ (ASPIRE) ........................................ 40 Rashtriya Gokul Mission .............................................. 46
Procurement and Market Support Scheme (PMS)........ 40 Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund
National SC-ST Hub ..................................................... 40 .......................................................................... 47

MSME Champions Scheme .......................................... 41 National Program for Dairy Development ................... 47

Technology Centres’ contribution ................................ 41 Statutory Bodies ........................................................... 47

Entrepreneurship Skill Development Program ............ 41 National Livestock Mission .......................................... 47

Promotion of MSMEs in North East Region (NER) and Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund . 47
Sikkim Scheme .............................................................. 41 Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme ..... 48
Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance Livestock Census and Integrated Sample Survey Scheme
Programme (RAMP) Scheme ....................................... 41 .......................................................................... 48
Udyam Registration Portal .......................................... 41 Animal Health Support System for One Health ............ 48
My MSME ..................................................................... 42

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1. MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

About the Ministry

• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has its origin from the erstwhile Ministry of Welfare.
• In the year 1985-86, the erstwhile Ministry of Welfare was bifurcated into the Department of Women and
Child Development and the Department of Welfare.
• Subsequently, the name of the Ministry was changed to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in
1998.
• Two departments that are under the Ministry are
o Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (Samajik Nyaya and Adhikarita Vibhag)
o Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)
• The Ministry is entrusted with the welfare, social justice and empowerment of disadvantaged and
marginalized sections - scheduled and backward classes, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, victims of
drug abuse, transgenders, etc.

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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

1.1 Initiatives for the Welfare of Scheduled Class

Statutory provisions

• Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955- Prescribes punishment for enforcement of any disability arising
from preaching and practice of untouchability, which usually emanate from caste-based discrimination.
• Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989- To prevent
atrocities and hate crimes against SC and ST.
o National Helpline Against Atrocities (NHAA) is available on toll free number ‘14566’
• Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013- Prohibits
the employment of manual scavengers for the hazardous manual cleaning of septic tanks and sewers.

SHRESHTA- ScHeme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas

• Objective- To provide quality education and opportunities for the poorest SC students as per the
Constitutional mandate.
• Eligibility- SC students studying from class 9th to class 12th whose parental annual income is up to Rs 2.5 lakh
per annum
• Selection- The students are selected through National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA which is conducted by
National Testing Agency.
• Project types- Residential schools, Non- residential schools and Hostels for primary and secondary students.

Pradhan Mantri AnusuchitJaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)

• Launch year- 2021-22

• Unified scheme- PM-AJAY is framed by merging the 3 erstwhile schemes
o Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
o Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP)
o Babu Jagjivan Ram Chatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)
• Objectives-
o Reduce poverty of the SC communities
o Improve socio-economic developmental indicators
o Increase literacy and encourage enrolment of SCs in schools and higher educational institutions
• Adarsh Gram- To ensure integrated development of SC majority villages with adequate infrastructure and to
realise the objectives of the scheme.

Scholarship Schemes

Pre Matric Scholarship for SCs

Post Matric Scholarship for SC students

National Fellowship Scheme

SHREYAS- Scholarships
for HigheR Education National Overseas Scholarship Scheme
for Young Achievers Scheme for SCs
Free Coaching Scheme for SCs and OBCs

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National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)

• About- It is a central sector scheme for improving the living standards of sanitation workers in urban areas.
• Launch year- 2022
• Origin- Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers is modified as NAMASTE.
• Aim- To provide alternate livelihood support and entitlements to reduce their vulnerabilities.
• Joint initiative- Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
• Implementation agency- National Safai Karamchari Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC).
• Objective - It envisages safety and dignity of sanitation workers in urban India by
o Recognizing sanitation workers as one of the key contributors in the maintenance of sanitation
infrastructure
o Providing them with sustainable livelihood
o Enhancing the occupational safety through capacity building and improved access to safety machines

Commission/
About
Institutes for SCs

• A fully owned Government of India Company under Section 8 of the Companies Act,
National Scheduled 2013.
Castes Finance and
Development • Function - Financing, facilitating and mobilizing funds for the economic empowerment
Corporation of persons having annual family income up to Rs. 3.00 lakh for both rural and urban
areas.

National Safai • Incorporated in 1997 as a not for profit organization under Section 25 of Companies Act.
Karamchari Finance &
Development • Objective- To eradicate terrible inhumane and evil practice of manual scavenging by
Corporation providing financial assistance.

• Established as statutory body in 1994 as per provision of NCSK Act 1993, now it acts as
National Commission for non-statutory body.
Safai Karamcharis
(NCSK) • Objective- To monitor the implementation of the Prohibition of employment as manual
scavengers and their rehabilitation Act, 2013.

• A society set up in 1992 under the Registration of Societies Act, 1860 and fully funded by
Dr. Ambedkar the Government of India.
Foundation • Implements Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE) for coaching SC students for
Civil Services Examination (CSE)

• Established in 2017 in New Delhi

Dr. Ambedkar
International Centre • Centre of Excellence for research and policy making in the field of socio-economic
transformation.

1.2 Initiatives for the welfare of Backward Class

PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (PM-YASASVI)

• Coverage- Other Backward Class (OBC), Economically Backward Class (EBC) and DNT students for pursuing
studies from Class IX to XII in reputed school shortlisted by the government.
• Implementation agency- National Scholarship Portal.
• Preference-30% of the slots shall be reserved for girl students.

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National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC)

• Incorporated under Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 in 1992 as a Company not for profit.
• Objective - To promote economic and developmental activities for the benefit of Backward Classes.
• It provides financial assistance and micro financing and also facilitates skill development of poor persons.

1.3 Initiatives for Senior Citizens

Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC)

• It is a central sector scheme under which grants in aid are given for running and maintenance of senior
citizens homes, mobile medicare units etc.,
• It is previously known as Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP) which was launched in 1992.

Elderline

• The Ministry has launched National Helpline for Senior Citizens (Toll free No. 14567) to address their
grievances.
• Launch year- During International Day for Older Persons on 1st October 2021.

Senior Able Citizens for Re-Employment in Dignity (SACRED) portal

• Launch year-2021
• It allows bringing people together by virtual matching of preferences by providing the senior citizens a
platform to connect with the private enterprises for certain positions.

Action Groups Aimed at Social Reconstruction (AGRASR) Groups

• It was launched in 2021 for senior citizens to form Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

Senior care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) initiative

• It was launched in 2021 to act as a “one-stop access” of elderly care products and services by credible start-ups
to promote the silver economy.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)

• Launch year- 2017

• Aim- To assist Below Poverty Line senior citizens suffering from age related disabilities/ infirmities
• Assistive devices will be distributed free of cost.

Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana

• Launch year- 2021

• Aim- To improve the quality of life of the Senior citizens by providing basic amenities like shelter, food,
medical care and entertainment opportunities and by encouraging productive and active ageing.

Vayoshreshtha Samman

• National Award for Senior Citizens (Vayoshreshtha Sammans) are conferred to eminent and outstanding
institutions or organizations and individuals from different categories.
• The Awards are given on 1st October every year by President of India.

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1.4 Initiatives for Transgender

Transgender persons (Protection of rights) Act, 2019

• The Act provides legal recognition of transgender individuals as a third gender, and recognizes their right to
self-identification based on their gender identity.
• It criminalizes offenses against transgender persons, including physical, sexual, emotional, and economic
abuse.

National Council for Transgender Persons

• Launch year- 2020

• Aim- To advise government on policies, programmes, legislation and projects with respect to transgender
persons.

National Portal for Transgender Persons

• Launch year- 2020

• Role- To obtain certificates and identify cards online without any physical interface with the office of issue.

Ayushman Bharat Yojana

• The ministry has signed MoU with National Health Authority for providing a comprehensive medical package
to transgenders in convergence with the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
• Coverage- All aspects of transition related healthcare for transgender including hormone therapy, gender
reassignment surgery that can be redeemed at all private and government facilities.

Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE)

• Launch year- 2022

• Aim- To provide welfare and rehabilitation to transgenders and the people engaged in the act of begging.
• Garima Greh- It is a housing facility to provide food, clothing, recreational facilities etc., to the transgender
community and the people engaged in the act of begging.

1.5 Initiatives for Drug Abuse

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan

• Launch year- 2020

• Aim- To tackle the issue of substance abuse and a vision
to make India drug free.
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Campaign- It is a three pronged
approach to deal with drug use.
• Navchetna Modules- Developed for sensitizing students
(6th-11th standard), teachers and parents on drug
dependence, related coping strategies and life skills.
• National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction
scheme (NAPDDR) - Provides financial assistance to
governments, NGOs and government hospitals for drug
demand reduction, awareness, capacity building, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation.

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1.6 Other Initiatives

Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH)

• It is a national action plan for skilling the marginalized persons of SC, OBC, EBC, Senior Citizens, DNTs, Safai
karamcharies including waste pickers, and women.
• Provides training programmes at free of cost on Up-skilling/Re-skilling, Short Term and Long Term Courses,
Entrepreneurship Development Program, etc.

National Institute of Social Defence

• An autonomous body registered under the Societies Act XXI of 1860 with the Government of NCT, Delhi.
• Central advisory body- For the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• It is a Centre of Excellence on research and training in the field of social defence.

DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PWD)

1.7 Key Initiatives/ Schemes

India’s 1st Festival of Inclusion

• Theme- “Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity” held at Goa.

• Aim- To showcase how we can come together to create a welcoming and inclusive world for everyone.

Sign Language Day

• 23rd September is declared by the United Nations as the International Day of Sign Languages.
• Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), an autonomous body under the Department of
Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, celebrated the Sign Language Day.
• Theme – A world where deaf people everywhere can sign anywhere

Felicitation of Abilympics winners

• Abilympics is a global competition for persons with disabilities, to recognize their achievements and
encourage them to pursue their dreams.

Unique Disability ID (UDID)

• It is a national database for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) that issues a Unique Disability Identity Card to
each PwD.

Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016

• Aim- To establish accessibility standards and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
• The act mandates that persons with at least 40% of a disability are entitled to certain benefits such as
reservations in education and employment, preference in government schemes, etc.,

Atal Bihari Training Center for Divyang Sports

• India's first high-tech sports training centre for Divyangjan equipped with state of the art facilities at Madhya
Pradesh.
• It aims to promote sports among persons with disabilities and provide them with opportunities to excel in
their chosen fields

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Disability sector pact

• It is signed between India and South Africa.

• It holds the promise of strengthening bilateral ties, with a shared commitment to advancing inclusivity and
empowerment for individuals with disabilities in both nations.

E-initiatives

• PM Daksh-DEPwD Portal- A comprehensive digital platform for skill training and employment
opportunities.
• Sugamya Pustakalaya- An online library that contains books accessible to the blind, people with low vision
or to persons with any other print disability.
• ARJUN Portal- Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing/fitting of aids/appliances (ADIP) and
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana Joint Interface for Unique Nomination facilitates empowerment and inclusion of
PwDs.

Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing/fitting of aids/appliances (ADIP) Scheme

• Aim- To assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable and scientifically manufactured appliances.
• Implementation- Through NGOs, National Institutes under tMinistry of Social Justice & Empowerment
and ALIMCO (a PSU that manufactures artificial limbs).
• Eligibility-
o Any Indian citizen with 40% disability or more
o Monthly income not more than Rs.20000
o Must not have received assistance during the last 3 years and for children its last 1 year

Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO)

• It is a not-for-profit company registered under Companies Act, 2013.

• It is 100% owned Govt. of India Central Public Sector Enterprises.

2. MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

ABOUT THE MINISTRY

• The Ministry was carved out of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in 2006.
• Objective- To ensure a more focused approach towards issues relating to the notified minority communities -
Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikhs, Parsis and Jain.
• As per Census 2011, around 19.3% of the population belongs to minorities.
• Mandate- To formulate, coordinate, evaluate and review the overall policy and planning, the regulatory
framework and the development programmes that aim to benefit the minority communities.

2.1 Constitutional Safeguards for Linguistic Minorities

The term "minority" is not defined in the Indian Constitution. However, the Constitution recognises religious
and linguistic minorities.
• The Central Government notifies minority communities at the national level under the National
Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act, 1992.

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• 6 communities notified as minorities under the Section 2 (c) of NCM Act are Christians, Sikhs, Muslims,
Buddhists, Parsis and Jains.
• Article 29 - Right of any section of the citizens residing in India with a distinct language, script or culture of
its own to conserve it.
• It grants protection to both religious minorities as well as linguistic minorities.
• The Supreme Court held that the scope of this article includes minorities as well as the majority.
• Article 30 - All minorities shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their
choice.
• The protection under Article 30 is confined only to minorities and does not extend to any section of
citizens.
• Article 347 – If the President is satisfied that a substantial proportion of the population of a State desire the
use of any language spoken by them to be recognised by that state, he may direct such language to be officially
recognised.
• Article 350 - It gives the right to submit representation for redressal of grievances to any authority of the
Union or a State in any of the languages used in the Union/States.
• Article 350A - It provides for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage of education to children
belonging to linguistic minority groups.
• Article 350B - It provides for a special Officer designated as Commissioner for Linguistic minorities to
investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities.

2.2 Key Initiatives

Scholarship Schemes

Scheme Description

Availed for education in both private and government schools from class 9
Pre- Matric Scholarship
and 10.

Post-Matric Scholarship Provided to support the education of students studying in Class 11 to PhD.

Merit cum Means Based

Targets professional & technical courses at UG & PG levels.
Scholarship

Begum Hazrat Mahal National Provided to recognize, promote and assist girl students belonging to national
Scholarship minorities who cannot continue their education due to lack of financial status.

PM Vikas Scheme

• Pradhan Mantri VIrasat Ka Samvardhan Scheme has

subsumed 5 existing schemes of the Ministry namely
o Seekho Aur Kamao (SAK)
o USTTAD
o Hamari Dharohar
o Nai Roshni
o Nai Manzil
• Aim- To cover the life cycle of under privilege segment of
minority community and focus on providing livelihood
opportunities.

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Component Earlier Schemes

Traditional Training Hamari Dharohar and USTAAD

Non- Traditional Skilling Seekho Aur Kamo

Leadership and Entrepreneurship Nai Roshini

Education Nai Manzil

Infrastructure Development Implemented through Hub and Spoke Villages

Seekho Aur Kamao scheme (Learn and Earn)

• Launch year- 2013

• Aim- It is placement linked skill development scheme that aims to upgrade the skills of minority youth (14-45
years) in various modern/ traditional skills.

USTTAD scheme

• The scheme stands for Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/ Crafts for Development.
• Launch year- 2015
• About- Targets capacity building and upgrading the traditional skills of master craftsmen/ artisans from the
minority communities.
• Hunar Haat- It has been implemented as a component of the scheme since 2016-17.
• It is an effective platform for minority artisans, craftpersons and culinary experts to showcase and market
their finest handicraft and exquisitely crafted indigenous products.

Hamari Dharohar

• Launch year-2014
• Objective- To protect and preserve the rich culture and heritage of the minority communities living in India.
• To improve livelihoods of minorities, particularly artisans, through skill development, education and leadership
training.

Nai Roshini

• Launch year- 2012

• About- It is a training programme conducted for women belonging to minority community between the age
group of 18 years to 65 years.

Nai Manzil scheme

• Launch year- 2015

• Aim- To benefit the youth belonging to 6 notified minority communities of 17-35 years of age, who do not
have formal school leaving certificate.

Beneficiary Specification

% of seats Category under minority community

30% Girl/Women

5% Persons With Disability

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• Significance- It provides a combination of formal education (Class VIII or X) and skills to enable
beneficiaries seek better employment and livelihood.
• Integrated Skill Training- It is being provided to the youth in market driven skills.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)

• Earlier scheme- Multi-sectoral Development Programme

• Aim- It is a centrally sponsored scheme that seeks to provide better socio-economic infrastructure assets and
basic amenities to the notified minorities mainly in the field of education, health & skill development.
• 33 to 40% of resources under the PMJVK would be specifically allocated for women centric projects.
• Significance- Ministry of Minority Affairs, in collaboration with National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO is
geo tagging the infrastructure constructed under the scheme.

National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC)

• Launch year- 1994

• It is a National Level Apex Body for the benefit of Minorities as defined under the National Commission
for Minorities Act 1992.
• It is a non-profit company under Companies Act 2013.
• Aim- To promote socio-economic development of backward sections amongst the minority communities
through State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs).
• Preference- Given to the occupational group and women.
• MInority Loan AccouNting (MILAN) Software is launched by NMDFC to digitize loan accounting processes.

Haj Pilgrimage 2023

• Hajj refers to the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, which every adult Muslim must make at
least once in his/her lifetime.
• The hajj is the 5th of the fundamental Muslim practices and institutions known as the Five Pillars of Islam.
• Haj pilgrimage for the Indian Pilgrims is conducted either through
o Haj Committee of India (HCoI), a statutory organization under the Ministry of Minority Affairs or
through
o Haj Group Organisers (HGOs)
• e-MASIHA- Medical Assistance System for Indian Hajis Abroad is an online OPD System enabled to create
and maintain health database of all Indian pilgrims who availed medical facilities during the Haj.
• The ministry has partnered with State Bank of India (SBI) to make special arrangements to provide Forex
facilities to the pilgrims.
• Haj Policy 2023- Gives the flexibility to the pilgrims to arrange their own foreign currency or take lesser
foreign exchange, as per their individual requirements.

Naya Savera

• Launch year- 2017

• Aim- To provide free coaching to candidates belonging to minority communities for qualifying in entrance
examinations of technical/ medical professional courses and Competitive examinations.
• The scheme provides financial support for free coaching to notified minority students in selected coaching
institutions.

Jiyo Parsi

• Launch year- 2013-14

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• Objective- To reverse the declining trend of Parsi Population by adopting scientific protocol and structured
interventions to stabilize their population in India.

Components About

Financial assistance is provided to Parsi Couples for medical treatment under standard
Medical
medial protocol

Financial assistance is provided to Parsi Couples for child care and assistance of elderly
Health of Community
people

Outreach programmes are conducted to generate awareness among the Parsi

Advocacy
population

Padho Pardesh

• About- It is a scheme of interest subsidy to students of minority communities on educational loans for
overseas higher studies.
• Feature - 100% subsidy on the interest rate.

Nai Udaan

• About- This central sector scheme support students for clearing Prelims conducted by Union Public Service
Commission (UPSC), State Public Service Commission (PSC) Staff Selection Commission (SSC) etc.,
• The selected candidate will get 100% financial support.

Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS)

• It is a skill development architecture aimed at providing an all-India Level training framework.

• Established- 2014
• Headquarters- New Delhi
• Concessional credit is provided for minority community after meeting their skilling needs for expanding
their existing businesses and setting up new businesses.

Cyber Gram

• It is a Multi-sectoral Development Programme (MsDP) in an effort to equip the targeted group with the
knowledge of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
• Launch year- 2015
• Coverage- Class VI to Class X belonging to minority community.

Garib Nawaz Employment Scheme

• Launch year- 2017-18

• About- The scheme provides short-term job oriented skill development courses to minorities’ youth in order
to enable them for skill based employment.
• Implementation- As per the norms issued by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
(MSD&E)).

Prime Minister’s New 15 Point Program

• Launch year- 2006

• Aim- To ensure that the underprivileged and weaker sections of centrally notified minority communities have
equal opportunities for availing the various government welfare schemes and contribute to the overall socio-
economic development of the country.

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• Objectives-
o Enhancing opportunities for education
o Ensuring an equitable share for minorities in economic activities and employment
o Improving the conditions of living of minorities by ensuring an appropriate share for them in
infrastructure development scheme
o Prevention and control of communal disharmony and violence

National Commission for Minorities

• Statutory body- It is established under National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
• The first statutory National Commission was set up in 1993.
• About- It is a forum for appeal, set up by the Government to safeguard the rights and interests of India’s
minority communities.

National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities

• Launch year- 2005. The commission submitted its report in 2007.

• Chairman- Ranganath Mishra, former Chief Justice of India
• Aim- To evaluate different type of factors and issues associated with linguistic and religious minorities in the
country and to ensure social, economical and educational uplift.

Sachar Committee

• Launch year- 2005

• Chairman- Rajinder Sachar, former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court.
• Aim- To study the social, economic and educational condition of Muslims in India.
• Outcome- The report was submitted in 2006 which suggested solutions for the inclusive development of the
Muslins in India.

Durgah Khawaja Saheb Act, 1955

• It is an act to make provision for the proper administration of the Dargah and the Endowment of the Dargah
of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishty (Dargah Khwaja Saheb, Ajmer).
• Mandate of Dargah Committee- To provide service to the public through development of infrastructure as
per the provision of Dargah Khwaja Saheb Act 1955 and its Bye Laws of 1958.

Central Waqf Council

• Statutory body- It was established in 1964 as per the provision given in the Waqf Act, 1954.
• Composition- The council consists of chairman and members not exceeding 20 in number.
• Ex-officio chairman- Union Minister in charge of Waqf.
• Advisory body to the Central Government on matters concerning the working of the Waqf Boards and Auqaf.

3. MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

ABOUT THE MINISTRY

• The Ministry is charged with health policy in India, which is also responsible for all government programs
relating to family planning in India.

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• Departments
o Department of Health and Family Welfare
o Department of Health Research
• Union Minister- Mansukh L. Mandaviya

3.1 Health Missions

• National Health Mission (NHM) – Launched in 2005 to provide accessible, affordable and quality health
care to the rural population, especially to the vulnerables

• Components
o Health System Strengthening
o Reproductive- Maternal- Neonatal - Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A)
o Control of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases
• Ayushman Bharat- It is a flagship scheme recommended by National Health Policy 2017 to achieve the
vision of Universal Health Coverage. It has two components
o Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
o Pradhan Mandri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM- JAY)
• Ayushman Arogya Mandir- The Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centre is renamed as Ayushman
Arogya Mandir by upgrading the Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and rural and urban Primary Health Centres
(PHCs), in both urban and rural areas.
• Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission- Launched in 2021, it is the
largest pan-India Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country.
• Swachh Swasth Sarvatra- It is a joint initiative along with Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in
2016 to achieve better health outcomes through improved sanitation and increased awareness on healthy
lifestyle.
• Kayakalp programme- It was launched in 2015 under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to maintain cleanliness in
the public health sector by rewarding their performances.
• Rogi Kalyan Samiti- It is a patient welfare committee which is a registered society that acts as a group of
trustees for the hospital to manage the affairs of the hospital.
• SaQushal: Safety and Quality, Self-Assessment tool for Health Facilities- Launched in 2022 to
implement patient safety framework.

3.2 Maternal and Adolescent Health Care

Maternal Mortality Ratio of India has registered a decline from 130 per 1 lakh live birth in Sample Registration
System (SRS) 2014-16 to 97 per 1 lakh live birth in SRS 2018-19.
• Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN)- To provide quality healthcare at no cost and zero tolerance
for denial of services for every woman and newborn visiting the public health facility to end all preventable
maternal and newborn deaths.
• Maternal Perinatal Child Death Surveillance Response- It is a software launched in 2021 which
measures and track all the maternal and perinatal deaths in real time.
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan- It was launched in 2016 which provides fixed day
assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care by gynaecology specialists to pregnant women on 9th of
every month at government health facilities.
Sub Mission Launched in
• LaQshya- It aims to improve the quality of care in Labour
Room and Maternity Operation Theatres.
National Rural Health Mission 2005
• Janani Suraksha Yojana- It provides Direct Benefit
Transfer to pregnant women for institutional deliveries in National Urban Health Mission 2013
order to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.

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• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram- It entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health
institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery including C-section.
• Midwifery Initiative- It is a program aimed at creating a dedicated cadre of Nurse Practitioners in
Midwifery (NPMs) in India.
• Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram- It was launched in 2014, with the key principles of adolescent
participation and leadership, equity and inclusion, gender equity and strategic partnerships with other sectors
and stakeholders.
• Ayushman Bharat School Health and Wellness Program- It is a school based health promotion
activities that combines health education, health promotion, disease prevention and improved access in an
integrated manner at the school level.

3.3 Child Health Program

• Rasthriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram- It aims at early identification and intervention for children from
birth to 18 years to cover 4 ‘D’s namely
o Defects at birth
o Deficiencies
o Diseases
o Developmental delays including disability
• SAANS- It was launched in 2019, which is a Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize
Pneumonia Successfully initiative to reduce deaths due to childhood pneumonia for rural and urban
areas.
• IDCF campaign- The goal of Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight campaign is to attain zero child death
due to childhood diarrhoea.
• Anaemia Mukt Bharat- It was launched in 2018 in a 6x6x6 strategy to reduce anaemia prevalence
among children, adolescents and women in reproductive age group.
• Mother’s Absolute Affection program- It attempts for the promotion of breastfeeding and provision of
counselling services for supporting breastfeeding through health systems.

3.4 Immunization

• Universal Immunization Program- It is one of the largest public health programs in the world launched
in 1978, to provide
vaccination at free Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella(a severe
of cost against 12 Nationally against
form of Childhood Tuberculosis), Hepatitis B, and Meningitis &
preventable 9 diseases
Pneumonia which is caused by Hemophilus Influenza type B
diseases.
• Mission Sub-nationally Rotavirus diarrhoea, Pneumococcal Pneumonia, and Japanese
Indradhanush- against 3 diseases Encephalitis
It is a targeted
approach focused
to reach all left-out and dropped out children in pockets of low immunization coverage.
o Mission Indradhanush 5.0- It is a catch-up vaccination campaign rolled out for children upto 5
years of age and pregnant women in 2023, who were left out of routine immunization with the special
focus on Measles Rubella Elimination goal.
• Measles Rubella Elimination- India is committed to Measles Rubella Elimination by 2023.
• Pulse Polio Immunization- It was launched in 1995 with an objective of achieving 100% coverage in Oral
polio Vaccine.
India was declared Polio free country in 2014.
• U-Win digital platform- Launched in 2023, it is a pilot project and an online case-based tracking and
reporting system for the universal immunization program for children and pregnant women.

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3.5 Family planning

As per NFHS-5 (2019-21) India has achieved replacement fertility rate (Total Fertility Rate (TFR) =2.0)
• Mission Parivar Vikas- It was launched in
2016 for increasing access to contraceptives and
family planning services in 146 high fertility districts
with TFR of 3 and above in 7 high focus states.
• ASHA Schemes- Ensuring spacing at birth, home
delivery of contraceptives and pregnancy testing kits
would promote family planning.
• New Contraceptive Choices- New contraceptives
such as Injectable contraceptive and
Centchroman have been added to the existing basket
of choices.
• National Family Planning Indemnity Scheme-
The clients are insured in the eventualities of death,
complication and failure following sterilization.

3.6 Health Insurance Schemes

• Ayushman Bharat- Prandhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana- It is the largest publicly funded health
assurance scheme in the world which provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary
and tertiary care hospitalization.
o Ayushman Bhava- It was launched to ensure the saturation of various healthcare schemes at the
village level, ultimately reaching the last mile beneficiaries.
o Ayushman App- It has been launched by National Health Authority, self-verification feature for
beneficiaries has been enabled.
• Central Government Health Schemes- It is mainly for serving or retired Central Government employees
and their families.
• Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi- It is a central sector scheme which provides one-time financial assistance to poor
patients living below threshold poverty line and suffering from major identified life threatening diseases.
o Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) - Financial assistance for treatment of life-threatening diseases
providing maximum financial assistance up to Rs. 15 lakhs
o Health Minister’s Cancer Patient - Financial assistance for treatment of cancer at Regional
Cancer Centres / Tertiary Care Cancer Centres and State Cancer Institutes
o Financial assistance for poor patients suffering from rare diseases - Maximum financial
assistance is Rs 20 lakhs.

3.7 Disease Control Programmes

• National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme- An umbrella programme for prevention and
control of vector borne diseases - Malaria, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue, Chikungunya, Kala azar, Lymphatic
Filariasis.
• National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) - To detect leprosy
Elimination
at an early stage and provide complete treatment, free of cost to prevent Diseases
target year
Grade II Disability in affected persons.
• NLEP has achieved the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem as Malaria 2030
per WHO criteria of less than 1 case per 10,000 population at the National
level in 2005 Kala Azar 2023
• National TB Elimination Program- It is launched with the goal of
achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to TB by 2025, five years Lymphatic
2027
ahead of the global target of 2030. Filariasis

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• Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan- It was launched in 2021 to provide additional support to
TB patients in order to improve treatment outcomes, augment community involvement and leverage
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana- It was launched in 2018 for providing Rs 500/month as Direct Benefit Transfer
to support the nutrition of TB patients for the entire duration of treatment.
• National AIDS and STD Control Programme (Phase-V)- It is a Central Sector Scheme with the focus
on UN SDG 3.3 of ending HIV/AIDS epidemic as a public health threat.

3.8 E-Initiatives

• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission- It was launched to create a seamless online platform through the
provision of a wide-range of data and infrastructure services through digital systems.
• National Telemedicine Service (e-sanjeevani)-It provides access to specialized medical healthcare
across the country by providing facility for doctor-to- doctor consultation and patient-to-doctor consultation.
o e-Sanjeevani AB-HWC- Doctor to doctor tele consultation
o e-Sanjeevani OPD- Patient to doctor tele consultation
• Global Initiative on Digital Health- Introduced during G20 India’s presidency in 2023 to create a
common platform to converge global efforts for digital health and bridge the digital divide.
• Mera Aspataal- It is a patient feedback system launched in 2016 to integrate Central Government Hospitals
and District Hospitals on the feedback portal.
• Tele-evidence- It is a modality through which doctors can testify in the judicial process utilizing the video
conferencing facility without visiting the courts.
• CoWIN- It is a cloud based IT solution for COVID vaccination that allows user to register, verify and monitor
their registration status online.
• Tele MANAS- It provides universal access to equitable, accessible, affordable and quality mental health
care through 24X7 tele-mental health services.
• National Digital Health Blueprint- It is a policy document launched in 2017 that outlines the vision of
creating a national digital health eco-system that supports universal health coverage.

3.9 Other key initiatives

• Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra- To raise awareness about the government's policies and schemes among the
people and foster an atmosphere of trust and collaboration.
• National COVID 19 Vaccination Programme- It is the world’s largest vaccination programme launched
in 2021, initially to cover the adult population in the shortest possible time.
• National Programme for Tobacco Control and Drug Addiction Treatment- To regulate tobacco use
depiction on Over-The-Top (OTT) media platforms
• Swasthya Nagrik Abhiyaan- To conduct campaign which will lead to generation of demand for health
services and promote health seeking behaviour.

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4. MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

ABOUT THE MINISTRY

4.1 Key Initiatives

Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

• The updated NDCs seeks to enhance India’s contributions towards achievement of the strengthening of global
response to the threat of climate change, as agreed under the Paris Agreement.
• It would safeguard India’s future development needs based on the principles of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

About First NDC in 2015 Updated NDC

To reduce 45% by 2030 from 2005

Emission intensity of its GDP To reduce 33-35% from 2005 levels
levels

Non fossil fuel based energy 40% To achieve 50% by 2030

• These two targets have been achieved well ahead of the time.
o The cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources is
43.81% of the total cumulative electric power installed capacity.
o The emission intensity of its GDP has been reduced by 33% between 2005 and 2019.

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Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)

• It was launched in 2022 after India joined Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) at COP27 in Egypt.
• Aim- To comprehensively explore the possible area for development of mangroves covering approximately
540 sq. kms. spreading across 11 States and 2 Union Territories.
• Tenure- 5 years
• Feature- Sharing of best practices on plantation techniques, conservation measures, management practices
and resources mobilization through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Green Credit Program

• It is an initiative within the LiFE movement that was launched by India on the side-lines of COP 28.
• It is an innovative market based mechanism designed to incentivise environmental actions.
• Green Credit Rules 2023 has been notified in 2023 under Environment Protection Act 1986.
• It puts in a mechanism to encourage voluntary environmental positive actions resulting in issuance of green
credits.
• It is independent of the carbon credit under Carbon Credit Trading Scheme 2023.

Ecomark Scheme

• It is a voluntary
certification scheme for
environment friendly products and
services in India.
• The Central Pollution Control
Board administers the scheme in
partnership with Bureau of
Indian Standards (BIS), which
is the national body for standards
and certification.
• Products accredited under this
scheme will adhere to specific
environmental criteria, ensuring
minimal environmental impact.

Mission LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment)

• It is a public movement to mobilize individuals

to become 'Pro-Planet People' introduced by
India at COP 26 in Glasgow.
• An India-led global mass movement to nudge
individual and community action to protect and
preserve the environment.
• Motto - Mindful and Deliberate Utilisation,
instead of Mindless and Destructive
Consumption
• Phases- Each phase requires a fundamental
shift in our approach towards sustainability.
o Change in Demand
o Change in Supply
o Change in Policy

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India Cooling Action Plan

• Launched in 2019, it is the 1st country in the world to develop a comprehensive Cooling Action Plan with the
long term vision.
• It seeks to provide an integrated vision towards cooling across sectors in reducing cooling demand, refrigerant
transition, enhancing energy efficiency and better technology options with a 20-year time horizon.
• Goal- To provide sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all while securing socio-economic and
environemental benefit for all in the society.

50 years of Project Tiger

• Launch year- 1973

• Objective - Conservation of tiger and ensures the preservation of their natural habitat.
• It is one of the most successful species conservation programmes in the world, it has 53 tiger reserves spread
over 75,000 km.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority- It was created under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 which
strengthens the tiger conservation in the country.

International Big Cat Alliance

• It is a mega international event launched to commemorate 50 years of Project Tiger.

• It is launched for conservation of 7 big cats - Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma.
• It will reach out to “range” countries that are home to the 7big cats to strengthen efforts to conserve these
denizens in the wild.
• It will facilitate the mobilization of financial and technical resources to support the entire ecosystem linked to
big cats.

Indira Parayavaran Bhawan

• It houses the building of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• It is India’s first on site net zero building built by adoption of solar passive design and energy efficient
building material.
• It has been designed as the highest green rated building, i.e., GRIHA 5-Star and LEED India Platinum

India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021

• Released by- Forest Survey of India (FSI)

• Publication- Biennial (Every 2 years)
• Significance- The report for the 1st time provides the forest cover in tiger reserve areas, tiger corridors and
Gir forests that houses the Asiatic lion.
• Increase in forest cover has been observed in open forest followed by very dense forest.
• The North East region reported the biggest losses in forest cover.

Aspects Top 3 States

Area-wise largest forest cover Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

Forest cover as % of total geographical area Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya

Increase in forest cover Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha

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PARIVESH 2.0

• It is a Pro Active and Responsive facilitation by Interactive and Virtuous Environmental Single window Hub.
• It is a single window integrated system for Environment, Forest, Wild Life and Coastal Regulation Zone
Clearance Process.
• The updated version leverages on emerging technology such as GIS, Advance Data Analytics, etc. for providing
faster decisions on green clearances.
• The PARIVESH Portal and Gati Shakti Portal are seamlessly integrated through Map service.

Ramsar Sites

• Aim - To preserve the ecological character of their wetlands of international importance.

• Pillars- List of wetlands recently added to the Ramsar

Sites
o Wise use of wetlands
o International Cooperation Koonthankulam Bird Sanctuary
o Wetlands of International
Importance - Designation and Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve
Management
• The convention dose not directly bind on the Vembannur Wetland Complex
nation, but countries formulate policies. Tamil Nadu
Vellode Bird Sanctuary
• Categories- The Ramsar sites are grouped into 3
categories.
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
o Marine and Coastal wetlands
o Inland wetlands Udhayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary
o Human-made wetlands
Nanda Lake Goa
• India ratified the Ramsar Convention in 1982.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary Karnataka
• Recently, India added 10 wetlands to the List of
Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar
Sites) within the Ramsar Convention. Madhya
Sirpur Wetland
Pradesh
• This takes the total number of Ramsar Sites in
India to 75, the 2nd largest network of Ramsar Satkosia Gorge Odisha
sites in Asia.
• Keoladeo National Park (in Rajasthan) and Chilika lake (in Odisha) were the 1st two sites to be placed on
the Ramsar list by India.
Amrit Dharohar Yojana has been launched for conservation of Ramsar sites through community participation.

Government Initiatives for Wetland Conservation

• National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems- To assist States in preparing and
implementing the integrated management plans for Ramsar sites and other priority wetlands.
• Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 – Accords legal protection to Ramsar sites.
• Sahbhagita Guidelines - Outlines an “all of society” approach and governance framework for wetlands
conservation.

Forest (Conservation) Amendment) Act, 2023

• It amends the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 which provides for the conservation of forest land.
• It is amended to achieve the country’s national as well as international commitments of NDCs, carbon
neutrality, eliminate the ambiguities and bring clarity about the applicability of the Act.
• It will promote the plantation in non-forest land, enhance the productivity of the forests.

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Blue flag beaches

• The Blue Flag

certificate is given
by
the Foundation
for
Environment
Education in
Denmark
(FEE) for
beaches, marinas,
and sustainable
boating tourism
operators.
• Mission- To
promote
sustainability in
the tourism
sector, through
environmental
education,
environmental
protection and
other sustainable
development
practices.
• To receive the certificate, the beaches must comply with all the 33 criteria as mandated by the FEE.

Mission Circular Economy

• Aim- To create new business models and employment opportunities, thereby integrating the informal sector.
• It will result in moving away from mindless consumption to mindful utilisation and will help achieve the
vision of Mission LiFE.
• Efforts - Mission Circular Economy is emphasised through
o Plastic Waste Management Rules
o e-Waste Management Rules
o Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules
o Metals Recycling Policy, etc.
• To expedite the transition of the country from a linear to a circular economy, 11 committees have been formed
for 11 focus areas such as scrap metal, Li-ion batteries, electronic wastes, etc.
• The Indian Railways has set a target of becoming net zero carbon emitter by 2030.
• Regulations on market based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle have been notified for 4
categories of wastes - plastic packaging waste, battery waste, e-waste and waste tyre.

National Clean Air Program

• Launch year - 2019

• Aim- To improve air quality in 131 cities (non-attainment cities and Million Plus Cities) in 24 States/UTs by
engaging all stakeholders.
• Non-attainment cities- They are the cities which did not meet the national ambient air quality standards
(NAAQS) for 2011-15 under the National Air Quality Monitoring Program (NAMP).
• Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan- More than 100 cities are monitored for air quality with an intent and plan to
improve the air quality through holistic approach.
• The programme envisages to achieve reductions up to 40% or achievement of NAAQS for PM 10 by 2025-26.

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Cheetah Reintroduction in India

• Project Cheetah- It is India’s

relocation programme, the first
intercontinental reintroduction of a
wild, large carnivore species.
• The project is to bring in 5-10 animals
every year, over the next decade, until
a self-sustaining population of
cheetahs is established.
• In India, the cheetah was found from
Jaipur and Lucknow in the north to
Mysore in the south, and from
Kathiawar in the west to Deogarh in
the east.
• The cheetah was officially
declared extinct by the Indian
government in 1952.
• A plan to reintroduce cheetahs in
India was endorsed in 2009 but it was
shot down by the Supreme Court in
2013.
• The idea was revived in 2017, and the
SC cleared the move in 2020 on an
experimental basis.
• Kuno-Palpur National Park, Madhya
Pradesh was found to be ready to
receive the cheetah immediately, as it had already been
prepared for the translocation of Asiatic Lion.
• Need for reintroduction- The main objective is
o To restore India’s historic evolutionary balance
o To develop a cheetah metapopulation that will help
in the global conservation of the animal
o As it is a flagship species, the conservation of the
cheetah will revive grassland-forests habitat

4.2 G20 India Presidency 2023

• G20 framework on Land Degradation- To accelerate actions on achieving the G20 goal of reducing
degraded land by 50% by 2040, through enhancing the G20 Global Initiative for Reducing Land Degradation
(GIRLD).
• G20 Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition- To foster global partnerships
among key industries for enhancing technological cooperation, exchange of ideas and mobilizing de-risked
finance.

Initiatives to promote circular bio economy

• Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT)- It was launched in 2018 to set
up Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) production plants and make CBG available in the market for use as a green fuel.
• GOBARdhan- It aims to transform “Waste to Wealth” using a “Whole of Government” approach, the main focus
is to keep villages clean, increase the income of rural households, and generate energy and organic manure from
cattle waste.
• Ethanol Blended Petrol program- It is a biofuel initiative with the target of 20% blending of petrol by 2025.

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• GIR-GIP- Gandhinagar Implementation Roadmap and Gandhinagar Information Platform (GIR-GIP)

emanated from G20 deliberations to tackle restoration of forest fire and mining degraded lands.
• Green Development Pact- It envisages a green development pact that endorses high-level principles on
lifestyle
o Chennai principles- For a sustainable resilient blue economy
o Deccan principles- For food security and nutrition
• Chennai High-Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue/Ocean-based Economy- It
stresses on a sustainable ocean-based economy, strengthening international cooperation to tackle shared
maritime challenges, and enhancing ocean finance.

5. MINISTRY OF CULTURE

ABOUT THE MINISTRY

• A separate ministry for culture was established in 2006 for the preservation and conservation of ancient
cultural heritage and promotion of tangible and intangible art and culture.
• Union Minister- Shri G. Kishan Reddy

5.1 World Heritage Sites

• New Inclusion- Santiniketan and Hoysala temples (Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas) from India
• Santiniketan- It is a university in West Bengal set up by the Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore.
• It is based on ancient Indian traditions, reflecting his vision and philosophy of recognizing unity of humanity
or ‘Visva Bharati’. It is the first tangible cultural heritage site from West Bengal.
• Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas- It comprise 3 magnificent 13th century temples of the Hoysala Dynasty in
Karnataka, namely
o Hoysalesvara Temple Helebidu,

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o Channakeshava Temple Belur,

o Keshava Temple Somnathapur.
India is in the 6th position for maximum number of sites on the World Heritage List of UNESCO
• UNESCO Creative Cities Network- Newly included in 2023 are
o Gwalior- Music
o Kozhikode- Literature
• UNESCO’s Representive List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity- ‘Garba of Gujarat’ has
been inscribed newly in 2023.

TANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE SITES

Man Made

1. Agra Fort (1983)

2. Ajanta Caves (1983)
3. Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (1989)
4. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (2004)
5. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004)
6. Churches and Convents of Goa (1986)
7. Elephanta Caves (1987)
8. Ellora Caves (1983)
9. Fatehpur Sikri (1986)
10. Great Living Chola Temples (1987)
11. Group of Monuments at Hampi (1986)
12. Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (1984)
13. Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (1987)
14. Hill Forts of Rajasthan (2013)
15. Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (1993)
16. Khajuraho Group of Monuments (1986)
17. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (2002)
18. Mountain Railways of India (1999)
19. Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (1993)
20. Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (2014)
21. Red Fort Complex (2007)
22. Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (2003)
23. Sun Temple, Konarak (1984)
24. Taj Mahal (1983)
25. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur (2010)
26. Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University) at Nalanda, Bihar (2016)
27. The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (2016)
28. Historic City of Ahmadabad (2017)
29. Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018)
30. Jaipur city, Rajasthan (2019)
31. Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana

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32. Dholavira: A Harappan City (2021)

33. Santiniketan (2023)
34. Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas (2023)

Natural Mixed

35. Great Himalayan National Park (2014)

36. Kaziranga National Park (1985)
37. Keoladeo National Park (1985)
42. Khangchendzonga National Park
38. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (1985)
(2016)
39. Nanda Devi & Valley of Flowers National Parks (1988)
40. Sundarbans National Park (1987)
41. Western Ghats (2012)

INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE LIST

1. Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre (2008)

2. Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana (2008)
3. Tradition of Vedic chanting (2008)
4. Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas (2009)
5. Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz, Nevru (2009)
6. Chhau dance (2010)
7. Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan (2010)
8. Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala (2010)
9. Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region,
Jammu and Kashmir, (2012)
10. Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur (2013)
11. Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab (2014)
12. Yoga (2017)
13. Kumbh Mela (2017)
14. Durga Puja in Kolkata (2021)
15. Garba of Gujarat (2023)

5.2 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav

• Launch year- 2021

• Theme- Nation first, always first
• Meaning- Great Celebration for the Amirtham
(nectar) of Independence.
• It is an embodiment of all that is progressive about
India’s socio-cultural, political and economic
identity.

Important events

• Meri Maati Mera Desh- Maati Ko Naman

Veeron ka Vandan- Unified celebration to pay

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tribute to the ‘Veers’ who laid down their lives for the country.
o Amrit Kalash Yatra- Carrying soil from all corners of the country in 7500 kalash to create an 'Amrit
Vatika' in Delhi.
o Amrit Mahotsav Memorial- At the memorial site, people will take a solemn pledge covering Panch
Pran, affirming their commitment to the country.
o Rastragaan- Hoisting of flags and singing of National Anthem at sites.
o Vasudheva vandhan- Panchayats, villages and urban local bodies will replenish Mother Earth by
planting 75 saplings of indigenous species and develop the ‘Amrit Vatika’
• Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar- Culturally map India's 6.5 lakh villages, spanning 29 States and 7 Union
Territories, on a comprehensive virtual platform under National Mission on Cultural Mapping.
• Har Ghar Tiranga- Encourages people to bring the tricolour flag home and to hoist it to mark the 75 th year
of India’s independence.
• Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2.0 -To revive the bonds between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu through cultural
exchange and knowledge sharing
• Swantatra Swar- Revolutionary poetry banned during British Raj is published.
• Vande Bharatam programme- An initiative as part of Republic Day Celebrations 2023 along with
Ministry of Defence, to promote the spirit of 'Jan Bhagidari', while showcasing India's vibrancy thorough its
dance.
o Shakti Rupen Sansthita- It was the title of the tableau of the Ministry of Culture that was
showcased at the Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path.

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5.3 G20 2023- India Presidency

• Theme- Vasudheiva Kudumbakam (One Earth One Family One Future)

• Events held
o G-20 March for World Peace
o G-20 Run for Women Power
o Culture All Unites, the largest display of Lambani embroidery patches was organised at Hampi,
Karnataka
• Kashi Culture Pathway- It reflects the consensus and commitment of the G20 member based on 4
thematic priorities.
• Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property
• Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future
• Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries, and Creative Economy
• Leveraging Digital Technologies for the Promotion and Protection of Culture
To know more about G20 Summit click here

5.4 International Cultural Relations

• Global engagement schemes

o Festivals of India Abroad- Tools of cultural diplomacy that project India’s rich cultural heritage
and its soft power
o Grant-in aid to Indo-Foreign Friendship Cultural Societies- To promote Indian culture
abroad, fostering closer friendship and cultural contacts
• Cultural Exchange Programme- It has been signed with Egypt, Colombia, Italy, Mauritius, Slovakia and
Belarus to foster bilateral cooperation.
• Shared Buddhist Heritage- Organized in association with Ministry of External Affairs, it is an
international conference with Shanghai Cooperation Organization Nations at New Delhi with focus on India’s
civilization connect.
• Global Buddhist Summit- It is hosted in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation with the
theme “Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis”.
• India Art, Architecture and Design Biennale, 2023- To invigorate the cultural space and creative
industries and leverage the Arts for Global Cultural Diplomacy and Connect.

5.5 Other Initiatives

• Atmanirbhar Bharat Centre for Design- Launched at Delhi to pave the way for a sustainable cultural
economy derived from the indigenous crafts of India by empowering the artisan communities with new
designs and innovations.
• Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav- Organised in Mumbai to promote National Unity and integrity through
cultural exchange.
• Kala Samantar- An art gala uniting visual and performing arts in a beautiful symphony organised by
National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.
• Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava- Festival on Karnataka’s culture, traditions and history.
• Vitasta- Festival to celebrate the vibrant cultural traditions of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Utkarsh- India’s largest folk and tribal cultural event organised in Madhya Pradesh.
• Samskrita Samunmesha- National Sanskrit Convention to carry Sanskrit to the grassroot level.
• Festival of libraries- To promote development and digitization of libraries and cultivate the culture of
reading.

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• International Museum Expo 2023- To celebrate the International Museum Day and to institutionalize
this in its annual calendar.

5.6 Birth and Death Anniversaries

200th Birth Anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati

• Dayanand Saraswati was one of the most influential figures of 19th-century India.
• A believer in the supreme authority of the Vedas, he established the Arya Samaj in 1875, leading a reform
movement within orthodox Hinduism.
• Arya Samaj means “Make this world noble”. He gave the clarion call “Go back to Vedas”.
• Shuddhi Movement- It was introduced by him to bring back the individuals to Hinduism who were either
voluntarily or involuntarily converted to other religions like Islam or Christianity.
• Publications- Satyarth Prakash, Sanskarvidhi and Yajurved Bhashyam.
• Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan called Dayanand Saraswati as “a maker of modern India”.

125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

• Subhash Chandra Bose is an Indian revolutionary prominent in the independence movement against British
rule of India.
• He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, but later broke away from them due to
ideological differences.
• In 1939, he formed the Forward Bloc, an organization aimed at unifying all anti-British forces in India.
• He also led an Indian National Force from abroad against the Western powers during World War II.
• He was a charismatic influencer of the youth and earned the epithet ‘Netaji’ by establishing and leading
the Indian National Army (INA) during India’s struggle for independence.

150th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh

• He is an Indian nationalist, poet, philosopher, and yogi.

• He played an active role in the Indian Freedom Movement till 1910, after which he became a spiritual
reformer.
• Tagore painted him as the Messiah of Indian Culture and Civilization and C R Das hailed him as the ‘poet of
patriotism, the prophet of nationalism and the lover of humanity.’
• He associated himself with journals and periodicals namely Jugantar, Bande Mataram and the
Karmayogi, through which he criticised British imperialism and preached revolutionary concept of
nationalism.
• In 1908, he was arrested on the charge of the Alipore Bomb Conspiracy Case and was acquitted in 1909
after a long trial.
• Important writings- The Life Divine, Savitri, Essay on the Gita, Defense of Indian Culture, etc.,

250th Birth Anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy

• Raja Ram Mohan Roy is considered as the father of modern Indian Renaissance for his remarkable reforms
such as abolition of Sati.
• In 1828, Ram Mohan Roy formed the Brahmo Samaj, which had no faith in idol-worship and were against
the caste restrictions.
• The title 'Raja' was bestowed upon him by the Mughal emperor Akbar II, in 1831.
• He brought out a newspaper in Persian called 'Miratul- Akhbar' (the Mirror of News) and a Bengali weekly
called 'Sambad Kaumudi' (the Moon of Intelligence).

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400th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur

• Guru Tegh Bahadur Jayanti is celebrated to mark the auspicious occasion of the birth of the 9th Guru of
Sikhism, Guru Tegh Bahadur.
• He is often called as the “Protector of Humanity” by Sikhs.
• He founded the town of Chak-Nanki in Punjab, which later became a part of Punjab’s Anandpur Sahib.
• His writings are housed in the sacred text, ‘Guru Granth Sahib,’ in the form of 116 poetic hymns
• He opposed the forced conversion of the Hindu Kashmiri Pandits by Mughal ruler Aurangazeb and was
persecuted.
150th birth anniversary of Jainacharya Shree Vijay Vallabh Sureshwar
• Vallabhsuri, also known as Punjab Kesari led an austere life as a Jain Saint to spread the message of Lord
Mahavira.
• He placed emphasis on education and inspired Jains to build more educational institutions.
• He also participated in the Swadeshi movement led by Mahatma Gandhi for independence of India.
• Statute of Peace is dedicated to him in Rajasthan by Government of India in 2021.

125th Birth Anniversary of Sri Alluri Sitarama Raju

• Alluri is also referred to as Manyam Veerudu (Jungle Warrior).

• Initially, Sitarama Raju, under the influence of Gandhiji’s Non-cooperation movement, inspired the tribals to
seek justice in the local panchayat courts and boycott the colonial courts.
• The Madras Forest Act, 1882 restricted the free movement of the tribal communities and prohibiting them
from engaging in their traditional Podu agricultural system.
• This oppressive order was the beginning of the tribal revolt, also known as the Manyam Rebellion
or Rampa Rebellion.

525th Birth Anniversary of Saint Meera Bai

• Mirabai, a 16th century Indian royal, was a great Bhakti saint, Hindu mystic poet and a devotee of the Lord
Krishna.
• Bhaktmal, a poetry collection that describes the biography of Meera Bai, is written by Guru Nabha Dass ji in
1585 CE in Braja language.
• She became a follower of Ravidas, a saint who was said to be untouchable.

500th birth centenary celebrations of Rani Durgavati

• Rani Durgavati is said to have been born in 1524, in Mahoba’s Chandela dynasty (Uttar Pradesh).
• She was married to Dalpat Shah, son of King Sangram Shah of Gondwana.
• After her husband’s death, Rani Durgavati ascended the throne of Gondwana.
• She fought the Mughal emperor Akbar and his commander Asaf Khan and gave the ultimate sacrifice.
• The day of her martyrdom is commemorated as ‘Balidan Diwas’.

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6. MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

ABOUT THE MINISTRY

• Union Minister- Shri Piyush Goyal Commodity

Headquarters
• It is responsible for administering two departments namely Boards

o Department of Commerce Coffee Board Bangalore

o Department of Industry and Internal Trade
Rubber Board Kottayam, Kerala
• Autonomous Bodies-
o The Marine Products Export Development Authority Tea Board Kolkata, West Bengal
o Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
Guntur, Andhra
Development Authority Tobacco Board
Pradesh
o Export Inspection Council
Spices Board Cochin, Kerala
o Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
o Indian Institute of Packaging
The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)-
• Statutory body- Under MPEDA Act 1972.
• Role- It is entrusted with the primary task of promotion of export of marine products.
• Headquarters- Cochin, Kerala.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)-
• Statutory body - Under APEDA Act 1985.
• Role – Responsible for export promotion and development of scheduled products like honey, meat, dairy
products etc.,
• Headquarters- New Delhi.
Export Inspection Council (EIC)
• It is the official export –certification body of India which ensures quality and safety of products exported from
India.
• It is set up under Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 to ensure sound development of export
trade of India through quality control and inspection and matters connected therewith.
• Headquarters- New Delhi
• Role- To ensure that products notified under the Act are meeting the requirements of the importing countries
in respect of their quality and safety.
• It is the only organization in India having global acceptance.

6.1 Key Initiatives/Achievements of the Ministry

Export Performance

• Despite global headwinds, both merchandise and services exports have robust performance.
• India’s overall export (Merchandise plus Services) stood at USD 499.46 billion during April-November 2023
as compared to USD 506.52 billion during April-November 2022.

Foreign Trade Policy, 2023

• It was launched with the aim of India’s exports to 2 trillion dollars by 2030.

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• Four Pillars
1. Incentive to Remission
2. Export promotion through collaboration
3. Ease of doing business, reduction in transaction cost and e-initiatives
4. Emerging Areas
• It encourages recognition of new towns through Towns of Export Excellence Scheme and exporters through
Status Holder Scheme.
To know more about Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 Click here

Districts as Export Hubs Scheme

• Aim- To convert each district of the country into an export hub.

• One District One Product Scheme has been merged with this scheme; it is a part of new Foreign Trade Policy.
• It will increase production, grow exports, generate economic activity and achieve the goal of AtmaNirbhar
Bharat, Vocal for local and Make in India.

Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme

• Launch year- 2017-18

• Objective- To enhance export competitiveness by bridging gaps in export infrastructure, creating focused
export infrastructure, first mile and last mile connectivity for export-oriented projects and addressing quality
and certification measures.
• It will provide financial assistance to Central/State Government owned agencies for setting up or up-grading
export infrastructure in States/UTs.

Market Access Initiatives Scheme

• It is an Export Promotion Scheme envisaged to act as a catalyst to promote India’s export on a sustained basis.
• It provides financial assistance for export promotion and the scheme is formulated on focus product-focus
country approach to evolve specific market and specific product through market studies/survey.

Interest Equalization Scheme

• Launch year- 2015

• It is a rebate of interest provided on pre and post shipment export credit like packing credit.
• The Scheme is recently extended up to March 2024.

Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products Scheme

• Launch year- 2021

• It is a tax refund scheme for exporters that replaced the Merchandise Export from India Scheme (MEIS).
• It would not be available in respect of duties and taxes already exempted, credited or remitted.

Government e-Marketplace

• It is a 100% government owned National Public Procurement Portal for procurement of goods and services
required by Central and State Government organizations.
• GeM endeavours to make public procurement process transparent, efficient and inclusive.
• Startup Runaway 2.0- It is an opportunity for Start-ups to showcase their innovative products and services
to Government buyers and engage in public procurement.
• MSME SC/ST entrepreneurs on GeM- GeM is collaborating with various stakeholders from MSME
ecosystem with special focus on entrepreneurs from the Scheduled Caste/ Schedule Tribes.

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o Mandatory procurement - 25% from MSMEs

o Sub target procurement - 4% goods and services from MSME entrepreneurs within SC/ST
communities
• Womaniya - It seeks to showcase products made by women entrepreneurs and women self-help groups; it
promotes women entrepreneurship by aligning them with opportunities to sell their products at GeM portal.
• SARAS Collection- It is a store front in GeM for marketing of Self-help group (SHG) products.

Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin

• It has been launched to facilitate trade and increase Free Trade Agreement utilization by exporters.
• It is designed to facilitate exporters through a secure, electronic, paperless procedures.

G20

• Under India’s Presidency, the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial reached a ground breaking consensus.
• Jaipur Call for Action- It was issued for enhancing access to information for MSMEs.
• G20 Generic Mapping Framework for Global Value Chains (GVCs)- It contained key building blocks
of data, analysis, and representation of GVC data.
To know more about G20 summit – Click here

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity

• It was launched jointly by the USA and other partner countries of the Indo-Pacific region in 2022 at Tokyo,
Japan.
• It has 14 partner countries including India.
• It seeks to strengthen economic partnership amongst participating countries with the objective of enhancing
resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness in the Indo-Pacific
region.
To know more about IPEF, Click here
• IPEF Supply Chain Resilience Agreement - During the 3rd IPEF Ministerial meeting, 2023 held in San
Francisco, California, the first-of-its-kind IPEF Supply Chain Resilience Agreement was signed.
• The Agreement is expected to make IPEF supply chains more resilient, robust, and well-integrated, and
contribute towards economic development and progress of the region as a whole.

Bharat Mandapam

• International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC) complex was inaugurated at New Delhi.

• It will help showcase and promote India as a global business destination
• Prime Minister of India urged the nation to move ahead with the principle of ‘Think Big, Dream Big, Act Big’.

Vanijya Bhawan

• It is the new premises of Ministry of Commerce and Industry located in New Delhi.
• It is designed as a smart building which incorporates the principles of sustainable architecture with a special
focus on energy saving.

NIRYAT Portal

• National Import-Export Record for Yearly Analysis of Trade is launched in 2022.

• It is developed as a one stop platform for stakeholders to get all necessary information related to India’s
foreign trade.

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Invest India

• It is the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of India and acts as the first point of
reference for investors.
• It acts as a facilitation arm for the Government of India for two of its key initiatives “Make in India” and
“Start-up”.

Make in India

• It is an initiative under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan launched in 2014.

• Role- To promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and skill development in India's manufacturing,
infrastructure, and service sectors.
• Pillars- New processes, new infrastructure, new sectors, and new mind set.
• It was one of the first 'Vocal for Local' initiatives that exposed India's manufacturing domain to the world.

Start-up India

• It was launched in 2016 with the objective of supporting entrepreneurs, building up a robust start-up
ecosystem and transforming India into a country of job creators instead of job seekers.

Fund of Funds

• It was launched to encourage investments in the startups.

• It does not directly invest in startups, instead provides capital to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment
Funds (AIFs), known as daughter funds, who in turn invest money in growing Indian startups through equity
and equity-linked instruments.
• Mandate- Small Industrial Development Bank of India.

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme

• Aim- To provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials,
market entry and commercialization.
• It envisages building a robust Start-up ecosystem in the country for nurturing innovation and providing
opportunities to budding entrepreneurs.

Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS)-

• It has been operationalized in 2023 which provides 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).
• Aim- Providing credit guarantee up to a specified limit against loans extended by Member Institutions (MIs)
to finance eligible borrowers viz. entities recognised as ‘startups’ by DPIIT PM Gati Shakti (Logistics Division).

Geographical Indications Registry

• It is a statutory organization setup for the administration of the Geographical Indications of Goods
(Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.
• Geographical indication is a type of intellectual property right that is basically used for product protection with
regards to its geographical origin.

National Single Window System

• It was launched in 2021 to provide “end to end” facilitation and support to investors.
• It is a one-stop shop for investor related approvals and services in the country.

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PM Gati Shakti (Logistics Division)

• PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP)- It was launched on 2021 for providing multimodal
connectivity infrastructure to various economic zones.
• National Logistics Policy, 2022- It complements the PM Gati Shakti NMP, it lays down an overarching
interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, multi-modal jurisdictional and comprehensive policy framework for the
Logistics Sector.
• Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) - It was launched in 2022 designed and developed by
National Industrial Corridor Corporation, under the guidance of NITI Aayog.
• Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS)- The report was launched in 2022, it is an indigenous
logistics performance index developed on the lines of World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index.

6.2 Bilateral Co-operation

India-US

• India – United States Trade Policy Forum (TPF) - It launched a new working group on Resilient Trade
to deepen bilateral dialogue on a range of issues that can enhance the resiliency and sustainability of the trade
relationship.
• Semiconductor Supply Chains - A MoU on Semiconductor Supply Chain and Innovation Partnership was
signed between India and US to facilitate supply chain resiliency.
• Innovation Handshake- It is a joint initiative between India and US to enhance innovative
ecosystems through the framework of India-US Commercial Dialogue.

India-UAE

• Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) - It is the free trade agreement between
India and UAE that was signed in 2022
• It covers the trade in services and investment, and other areas of economic partnership.
• India became the first country with which the UAE has signed a CEPA.
• UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) - India & UAE agreed to set-up a UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) as a
B2B collaboration mechanism, with a focus on MSMEs and start-ups, for building greater economic linkages
and optimizing CEPA benefits.

India - Australia

• Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) -India and Australia have signed the historic
Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (Ind-Aus ECTA) in 2022.
• It is the 1st free trade agreement signed by India with a developed country in a decade and 1 st time that India
has taken binding most-favoured-nations (MFN) commitments even though it is only in select services.
• It is estimated to double trade between the two nations and generate one million jobs.

Other Quick events

• Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference - It was held in New Delhi to stimulate the exports of millets
from India and provide market linkage to the producers.
• Spices Board - It organized the World Spice Congress at Navi Mumbai in 2023.
• National Turmeric Board - The government notified the constitution of National Turmeric Board in 2023.

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7. MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISE

ABOUT THE MINISTRY

• It is the apex executive body for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and laws relating to
MSMEs in India.
• MSME sector has emerged as a highly vibrant and dynamic sector of the Indian economy, fostering
entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities at comparatively lower capital cost, next only to
agriculture.
• Union minister- Shri Narayan Rane

7.1 Key Initiatives/ Schemes

Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Development Act (MSMED Act) 2006

• Aim- To facilitate the promotion and development and enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs.
• MSME definition- A revision was announced in Atmanirbhar Bharat package in 2020.

Investment in Plant and Machinery or

Classification Annual turnover
Equipment

Micro Not more than Rs 1 crore Not more than Rs 5 crore

Small Not more than Rs 10 crore Not more than Rs 50 crore

Medium Not more than Rs 250 crore Not more than Rs 250 crore

• Services provided under the act

• MSME SAMBANDH- Launched in 2017 to disseminate information on procurement done by various
government departments, ministries and Public Sector Units.
• MSME SAMADHAN- An online delayed payment monitoring system governed by Micro and Small
Enterprise Facilitation Council (MSEFC).
• MSME Technological Centres (MSME TCs)
• MSME SAMPARK- A digital platform where both the job seekers skilled in MSME Technology Centres and
the industries looking for skilled manpower can interact.

PM Vishwakarma

• Launch year- 2023

• Central Sector Scheme
• Aim- To improve the quality as well as the reach of products and services of artisans and craftspeople and to
ensure that the Vishwakarmas are integrated into the value chain.
• Key components- PM Vishwakarma certificate, ID card, skill upgradation, toolkit incentive, credit and
marketing support etc.,

Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program

• Launch year- 2006

• Credit linked subsidy scheme- Provides employment opportunities through establishment of micro-
enterprises in the non-farm sector.
• Aim- To provide financial assistance to set up self-employment ventures in rural as well as urban area.
• Subsidy- Margin money is provided to beneficiaries availing loan from banks for setting up new enterprises.

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• Training- Free 2-day Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) training.

Credit Guarantee for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE)

• Launch year- 2000

• Aim- To encourage first generation entrepreneurs to venture into self-employment opportunities by
facilitating credit guarantee support for collateral free
• The ceiling limit of Guarantee coverage has been increased from Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 5 crore

Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund

• Aim- To provide support for MSMEs across the country through equity infusion.
• Tenure of fund- 15 years.
• Fund type- Daughter Funds can be categorized I or II AIFs registered with SEBI.
• Exclusions- Non-Profit Institutions, NBFCs, financial inclusion sector, SHGs and other financial
intermediaries.

Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP)

• Launch year- 2003

• Objective- Enhance the productivity and competitiveness of MSEs by extending financial assistance for
establishment of Common Facility Centers

Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI)

• Launch year- 2005-06, revamped in 2014-15

• Aim- To organize traditional artisans into clusters for product development and diversification through value
addition and to promote traditional sectors.
• Implementation- Coir Board and KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission)

A Scheme for Promoting Innovation, Rural Industry & Entrepreneurship’ (ASPIRE)

• Aim- To create employment opportunities in the agro-rural sector.

• Components
o Livelihood Business Incubator- An entity set up for imparting skill development and incubation
programs for promoting entrepreneurship and employment generation in agro-rural sector with
special focus on rural and underserved areas.
o ASPIRE Fund of Funds- Managed by SIDBI with a focus to invest through Alternate Investment
Funds (AIFs), in early-stage scalable start-ups.

Procurement and Market Support Scheme (PMS)

• It promotes new market access initiatives and enhances the marketability of products and services in the
MSME sector.
• It provides financial assistance to micro enterprise for selling products or services through e-commerce
portals.
• It address the activities needed to establish market connections in order to effectively implement the Public
Procurement Policy for MSEs Order of 2012.
• India International Trade Fair (IITF), 2023- MSME pavilion was inaugurated under the theme “PM
Vishwakarma”.

National SC-ST Hub

• Launch year- 2016

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• It has been set up to provide professional support to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs to
fulfil the obligations under the Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order 2012.

MSME Champions Scheme

• Objective- To pick up clusters and enterprises and modernize their processes, reduce wastages, sharpen
business competitiveness, and facilitate their national and global reach.
• Components
o MSME-Sustainable (ZED)
o MSME-Competitive (Lean)
o MSME- Innovation (Incubation, IPR, Design)
o Digital MSME

Technology Centres’ contribution

• Technology Centre Systems Programme- It is a World Bank assisted project that provides access to
advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Chandrayaan-3- Tool rooms under the ministry made their contribution in India’s 3 rd lunar mission
realizing towards Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Aditya L1- Central Tool Room & Training Centre (CTTC), Bhubaneswar made contribution to India’s 1 st solar
mission

Entrepreneurship Skill Development Program

• Objective- To promote new enterprises, capacity building of existing MSMEs and inculcating entrepreneurial
culture in the country.
• Nature of assistance
o Industrial Motivational Campaign
o Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes
o Entrepreneurship-cum-skill Development Programmes
o Management Development Programs

Promotion of MSMEs in North East Region (NER) and Sikkim Scheme

• Objective- To provide technology support and skill development

• Key activities- Setting up of new and modernization of existing Mini Technology Centres.

Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance Programme (RAMP) Scheme

• Assistance- World Bank supported Central Sector Scheme

• Aim- To improve access of MSMEs to market, finance and technology upgradation by enhancing the outreach
of existing schemes under the ministry.
• Sub schemes
o MSE-GIFT- MSE Green Investment and Financing for Transformation
o MSE-SPICE -MSE Scheme for the Promotion of Investment in Circular Economy
o MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for Delayed Payments

Udyam Registration Portal

• Launch year- 2020

• It is zero cost free registration to simplify the procedure for business owners to register their business under
MSME.

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• Udyam registration number- The enterprise is issued a permanent identity number after registration.
• Udyam registration certificate- It is issued online upon the completion of registration process.
• Udyog aadhar- New MSMEs must register as soon as possible with the Udyam Registration Postal in order
to obtain an Udyam certificate.

My MSME

• Aim- It is a web based application launched to facilitate the enterprises to take benefits of various schemes.
• Mobile app- The app can also be accessed through mobile through which entrepreneurs can make their
applications and track them.

Khadi and Gramodyog Vikas Yojana

• Launch year- 2019

• Khadi Vikas Yojana- Offers end to end support in promoting Khadi industry through increased khadi
production, sales, number of artisans and employment opportunities.
• Gramodyog Vikas Yojana- Focuses on promoting traditional skills of rural artisans to meet the
developmental needs of village industry sector.
• Khadi grant- For meeting establishment expenses of KVIC officers/ employee.

Coir Vikas Yojana

• Aim- To support the establishment of new 'state of the art' coir processing units, provide modern
infrastructure facilities for creating more employment opportunities, especially for women.
• Implementation agency- Coir Board
• Science and Technology scheme- Modernize the traditional industry to bring improvement in
productivity and enhancement of quality.
• Entrepreneurship Development Programme etc.,
• Mahila Coir Yojana- A women oriented self-employment scheme to rural women artisans in regions
producing coconut.

Rozgar Yukta Gaon

• Vision- Transforming socio-economically distressed villages into sustainable and self-reliant khadi based
enterprise.
• The Government will only play the role of enabler while the rural communities will transit into state of
empowered entrepreneurship.

Mission Solar Chakra

• Launch year- 2018-19

• Implementation agency- Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
• The scheme envisages setting up of solar chakra clusters which would mean a focal village and other
surrounding villages in a radius of 8-10 kilometers.

Honey Mission Programme

• Launch year- 2017-18 in line with sweet revolution

• Implementation agency- KVIC
• It promotes bee keeping activities and provide self-sustaining employment opportunities among farmers,
Adivasis and unemployed youth in rural India, mainly in economically backward and remote areas.

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• Project RE-HAB- Reducing Elephant-Human Attacks using Bees, it intends to create “bee fences” by
installing bee boxes along the periphery of the forest and the villages to block the entrance of elephants to
human habitations.

Project BOLD

• Bamboo Oasis on Lands in Drought (BOLD) is an initiative of KVIC launched in 2021.

• Aim- To prevent land degradation, reduce desertification, and provide livelihood and multi-disciplinary rural
industry support to people living in dry/arid and drought-prone regions of India.

National Small Industries Corporation

• It is an ISO 9001-2015 certified Government of India enterprise to promote MSMEs in the country.

Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialization

• It is a national autonomous institute established in 2009 in Wardha.

• Objective- To accelerate rural industrialization for sustainable village economy so that Khadi Village
Industry sector co-exists with the main stream

International Cooperation Scheme

• It provides financial assistance on reimbursement basis to the eligible MSMEs to facilitate participation in
international exhibitions, seminars, conference etc.,
• Sub-components-
o MDA- Market Development Assistance of MSMEs.
o CBFTE- Capacity Building of First Time MSE Exporters
o IMID- Framework for International Market Intelligence Dissemination (IMID).

CHAMPIONS portal

• It stands for Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the
Output and National Strength.
• Launch year- 2020
• It is an ICT based technology system for making the smaller units big by guidance and advisory services in
areas of finance, marketing, technology, raw material, labour, infrastructure and capacity building.

8. MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

ABOUT THE MINISTRY

• The Ministry was carved from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare in 2019.
• Departments
o Department of Fisheries
o Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

• Fisheries sector plays an important role in the Indian economy as it contributes to the national income,
exports, food and nutritional security as well as employment generation.

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• It is recognized as the ‘Sunrise Sector’ and is instrumental in sustaining livelihoods of around 30 million
people in India particularly that of the marginalized and vulnerable communities.

8.1 Key Initiatives/Schemes

• The Department is responsible for the development of inland, marine and coastal fisheries and fishery
institutes.

Name of the Institute Headquarters

Fishery Survey of India Mumbai

Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training Kerala

Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fishery Bangalore

National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training Kochi

National Fisheries Development Board Hyderabad

Coastal Aquaculture Authority Chennai

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

• Flagship scheme to bring Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector
in India.
• Aim - To double the income of fish farmers and fishers in the country
• Launched - 2020
• Components
o Central Sector Scheme (CS) and
o Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
• Tenure- 5 years (from 2020-21 to 2024-25)
• Artificial reef program- Implemented by Fishery Survey of India (FSI) and ICAR-Central Marine
Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) to rejuvenate coastal fisheries.
• Matsya Sampada Jagrukta Abhiyan- An outreach programme to reach fish farmers and 3477 coastal
villages and ensures last mile connectivity.
• Sagar mitras- Youth will be engaged in fisheries extension through the interface between the Government
and fishers and act as first person of contact for any marine fisheries related demands/services of fishers.
• Swath sagar plan- To modernize the fisheries sector including the promotion of Bio-toilets, insurance
coverage for fishing vessels, fisheries management plan, e-trading and national IT based database.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)

• Launch year- 2018

• Tenure- 2018-19 to 2022-23
• Aim- To achieve a sustainable growth of 8-9%, to augment the country’s fish production to the level of 20
million tonnes by 2022-23.
• Nodal Implementing Agency - National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad.
• Nodal Loaning Entities - NABARD, National Cooperative Development Corporation and Scheduled Banks.
• Lending rate of interest - Not lower than 5% per annum.
• Period of repayment - 12 years inclusive of moratorium of 2 years on repayment of principal.

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Kisan Credit Card (KCC)

• KCC scheme was extended in 2018-19 to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers to help them meet their
working capital requirements.
• Kisan Rin portal- This digital platform offers a comprehensive view of farmer data, loan disbursement
specifics, interest subvention claims etc.,

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana

• Central Sector Sub Scheme- Under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
• Objective- To enhance the earnings and incomes of fishermen, fish vendors and micro & small enterprises
engaged in fisheries sector.
• The scheme focus on gradual formalization of the unorganized fisheries sector including digital inclusion,
facilitating access to institutional financing, maintenance of job for women in fisheries sector etc.,

Multipurpose Seaweed Park

• India’s 1st Fisheries Aquapark in form of Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu was announced in
the Union Budget 2021.
• Model - Hub-and-spoke model
• Objective - To promote the cultivation and conservation of seaweed.
• To supply high quality seaweed planting materials, product innovation lab to develop new product lines,
testing facility for quality testing of water and seaweed products, along with single window support for
entrepreneurs and processors.

Sagar Parikrama Yatra

• Aim- To solve the problems of fishermen and fish farmers by disseminating information about various
government schemes.
• Recent Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase-X has emerged as a significant initiative to empower coastal
communities and promote sustainable development in the fisheries sector.

Global Fisheries Conference India 2023

• The event was organised at the Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad.

• The event is the 1st edition which was instrumental in getting varied stakeholders together on one platform
and facilitate discussions for internal and international collaboration.

National Fish Farmer’s Day

• It is celebrated on 10th July every year to commemorate the remarkable achievements of the Indian fisheries
sector.

G-20 Agriculture Working Group

• The 1st meeting of the group showcased the development in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector which
discussed on themes such as inclusive agricultural value chains and food systems.

Report Food Disease Mobile App

• It has been developed by ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR),

Lucknow and launched under the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases.
• The app can be used by the farmers to report disease cases in finfish, shrimps and molluscs on their farms to
the field level-officers and fish health experts and get scientific advice for quickly addressing the disease
problems on their farms.

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Other initiatives

• World Food India

• Special Campaign 3.0
• Run for Unity programme

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

• It is responsible for livestock production, preservation, protection from diseases and improvement of stocks and
dairy development.

Sector Significance

Contribution to agriculture and allied sector contributes to 30.19% in 2021-22 from

Livestock
24.38% in 2014-15.

It is the single largest agricultural commodity contributing 5% of the national

Dairy
economy.

Egg As per FAO data India ranks 2nd in the world.

Meat production India ranks 5th in world as per FAO data.

8.2 Key Initiatives/Schemes

Rashtriya Gokul Mission

• Launch year- 2014

• Aim- To genetically improve the cattle population and promote and conserve indigenous cattle breeds.
• Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production (A-HELP)- It will help in
artificial insemination under Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), and in preventing the livestock from infectious
diseases.
• E-Pashu Haat- An e-market portal connecting breeders and farmers to provide quality- disease free bovine
germplasm.
• Pashu Sanjivni- An Animal Wellness Programme with the provision of animal health cards along with Unique
ID identification.
• Gokul Gram- Establishment of integrated indigenous cattle centres.
• Gopalan Sangh- Establishment of breeder’s societies
• National Digital Livestock mission- It is established by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) helps
in improving the productivity of the animals, control diseases that affect both animals and humans, ensure
quality livestock and livestock both for domestic and export markets.
• National Kamdhenu Breeding Centres- Established as Centres of Excellence.
• DNA based genomic selection-
o INDUSCHIP- Developed by NDDB for selection of elite animals of indigenous breeds.
o BUFFCHIP- Developed for genomic selection of buffalos which is 1st time in the world.
• Progeny Testing Programme- It has been implemented for Gir, Shaiwal indigenous breed of cattle and
Murrah, Mehsana indigenous breed of buffalo.
• Sex sorted semen production- It has been introduced in the country for production of only female calves
up to 90% accuracy with subsidy of Rs 750 or 50% of the cost of sorted semen on assured pregnancy is available
to farmers.

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• Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojana- Rashtriya Gokul Mission is continued under this umbrella scheme
from 2021 to 2026.
• Gopal Ratna award is given to farmers and Kamadhenu award is given to breeders’ societies

Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund

• Objectives-
o Modernization of milk processing plants and machinery
o Creation of additional infrastructure for processing more milk
o Bringing more efficiency in dairy processing plants and controlled dairy institutions
• Implementing agency-
o National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
o National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)
• Financial assistance- by NABARD.

National Program for Dairy Development

• Aim- To strengthen infrastructure for the production of high-quality milk as well as for the procurement,
processing, and marketing of milk and milk products.
• Components-
o To create and strengthen infrastructure for quality milk including cold chain infrastructure linking the
farmer to the consumer.
o Dairying through cooperatives.

Statutory Bodies

Statutory Body Headquarters About

National Dairy It is a premier institution to accelerate the pace of dairy development

Development Anand, Gujarat on cooperative lines in the country.
Board It launched Operation Flood in 1979.

Veterinary Council It is responsible for regulating veterinary practices as well as for

New Delhi
of India maintaining uniform standards of veterinary education

Animal Welfare It is a statutory advisory body on animal welfare laws and promotes
Tamil Nadu
Board of India animal welfare in the country.

National Livestock Mission

• Launch year- 2014-15

• Objective- The mission focus on the sustainable development of livestock sector, focusing on improving
availability of quality feed and fodder, risk coverage, effective extension, improved flow of credit and
organization of livestock farmers / rearers etc.,
• Sub-mission-
o Sub-Mission on Breed Development of Livestock & Poultry
o Sub-Mission on Feed and Fodder development
o Sub-Mission on Extension and Innovation

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund

• It is announced under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package.

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• Aim- To incentivize investments by individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSME, Farmers Producers
Organizations (FPOs) and Section 8 companies to establish
o Dairy processing and value addition infrastructure
o Meat processing and value addition infrastructure and
o Animal Feed Plant.

Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme

• Aim- To improve the animal health sector by way of implementation of prophylactic vaccination programmes
against various diseases of livestock and poultry, capacity building, disease surveillance and strengthening of
veterinary infrastructure.
• Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs)- 1 MUV is provided approximately for one lakh livestock population, they
are provided at strategic locations to provide service within targeted time.
• Classical Swine Fever Control Program (CSF-CP)- Classical swine is a highly contagious and
economically significant viral diseases of pigs, hence the program will be implemented in the whole country with
100% central assistance to States/UTs.

Livestock Census and Integrated Sample Survey Scheme

• It is a Centrally sponsored scheme with two components

o Livestock Census
o Integrated Sample Survey Scheme
• Livestock Census-
o Aim- To provide information on livestock population species-wise and breed-wise along with age, sex-
composition etc., up to household level in rural and urban areas.
o Livestock census started in 1919 till now 20 livestock census has been conducted.
o Tablet computers were introduced for the first time in the 20th livestock census, the next census will be
conducted in 2024.
• Integrated Sample Survey Scheme-
o Aim- To bring about the estimates of major livestock products such as milk, egg, meat and wool.
o Published- Annually in the Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics.
o eLISS- It is a specialised software through which data is entered into the tablets by the field workers.

Animal Health Support System for One Health

• The project focus on upgrading the laboratory, veterinary hospital/dispensary infrastructure and work towards
strengthening disease surveillance and reporting using One Health approach.
• Tenure- 2022-23 to 2026-27
• Implementation states- Assam, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha.
• Central Sector Project-

% of funding Given by

50% Central funding under Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme

50% World Bank

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