PIB
24*7
26th-27th May 2025
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NITI Aayog Report: Designing a
Policy for Medium Enterprises
What: NITI Aayog has released a
comprehensive report titled “Designing a
Policy for Medium Enterprises”.
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Background: Medium Enterprises—
Small Share, Big Impact
• MSMEs play a major role in India’s economy:
✓ Contribute ~29% to GDP, 40% to exports
✓ Employ over 60% of the workforce
• But their distribution is uneven:
✓ Micro enterprises: 97%
✓ Small enterprises: 2.7%
✓ Medium enterprises: Only 0.3%
• Even though medium enterprises make up just 0.3%,
they contribute ~40% of MSME exports, showing they
have high growth and innovation potential.
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Highlights of Report
• Gives a clear plan to turn medium enterprises into
key drivers of India’s future growth.
• Shows that medium enterprises play an important
but underused role, and suggests focused steps to
boost their impact.
• Sees medium enterprises as crucial for achieving
self-reliance and global competitiveness under
Viksit Bharat @2047.
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Key Challenges Identified in Report
• Lack of tailored financial products
• Limited adoption of advanced technologies (Industry
4.0)
• Limited adoption of advanced technologies
• Inadequate R&D support
• Lack of sectoral testing infrastructure
• Mismatch between training programmes and
enterprise needs
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Six Priority Interventions Proposed
To address these issues, the report outlines a comprehensive policy
framework with targeted interventions across six priority areas:
Six Priority Interventions Proposed:
1. Tailored Financial Support:
• Working capital loans linked to turnover
• ₹5 crore credit card facility at market rates
• Fast loan disbursal through retail banks under MSME
Ministry’s guidance
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Six Priority Interventions Proposed
2. Technology Upgrade (Industry 4.0):
• Turn existing Technology Centers into SME 4.0 Competence
Centers
• Focus on specific sectors and regions to promote advanced
technologies
3. Boosting R&D:
• Set up a special R&D Cell in the MSME Ministry
• Use the Self-Reliant India Fund for R&D projects in clusters
4. Better Testing Infrastructure:
• Create sector-specific labs to help with quality checks and
compliance
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Six Priority Interventions Proposed
5. Skill Development for Medium Enterprises
• Match training with the actual needs of enterprises
• Add special modules for medium enterprises in existing skill
programs (ESDP)
6. Digital Support Portal
• Launch a sub-portal on Udyam with tools for finding
schemes, support for compliance, and AI-based help to
guide enterprises.
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Q.1) With reference to NITI Aayog's report "Designing a Policy for [a] Only 1, 2, 4 and 5
Medium Enterprises", which of the following statements are correct? [b] Only 1, 3 and 4
(1) Medium enterprises constitute only 0.3% of all MSMEs but [c] Only 2, 4 and 5
contribute nearly 40% of MSME exports [d] All 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
[e] Only 1,2 and 4
(2) The report identifies medium enterprises as key drivers in India’s
transition to self-reliance under Viksit Bharat @2047 Solution: [a]
(3) A ₹5 crore interest-free credit facility has been proposed under the
tailored financial solutions for medium enterprises
(4) One proposed intervention is the integration of Industry 4.0 through
SME 4.0 Competence Centres
(5) The report recommends a centralized digital sub-portal under
Udyam for scheme discovery and AI-based assistance
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Panchayat Advancement Index
(PAI) 2.0 Portal
What: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has
launched the Panchayat Advancement
Index (PAI) 2.0, a revamped performance
monitoring framework
Why: To assess and enhance the
developmental progress of over 2.5 lakh
Gram Panchayats (GPs) across India.
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About Panchayat Advancement
Index (PAI)
• PAI is a tool to measure how well Gram Panchayats are
doing in governance and development, based on the
Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).
• It tracks and compares progress across different
panchayats.
• PAI 1.0 (first version): Covered 2.16 lakh Gram Panchayats
in 29 States/UTs.
• PAI 2.0 is an upgraded version with better features, faster
performance, and easier use.
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PAI 2.0: Major Improvements Over
PAI 1.0
The reduction in indicators and data points reduces the reporting
burden and improves data accuracy and reliability.
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Nine LSDG-Aligned Themes in PAI 2.0
1. Poverty-Free and Enhanced Livelihoods Panchayat
2. Healthy Panchayat
3. Child-Friendly Panchayat
4. Water-Sufficient Panchayat
5. Clean and Green Panchayat
6. Panchayat with Self-Sufficient Infrastructure
7. Socially Just and Socially Secured Panchayat
8. Panchayat with Good Governance
9. Women-Friendly Panchayat
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Q.2) With reference to the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 [a] Only 1, 3 and 4
launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, which of the following [b] Only 1, 2, 4 and 5
statements are correct? [c] Only 2, 3 and 5
(1) PAI 2.0 is aligned with the Localization of Sustainable [d] All 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Development Goals (LSDGs) [e] Only 1, 2 and 3
Solution: [a]
(2) The number of indicators has increased in PAI 2.0 compared to
PAI 1.0 to capture more granular data
(3) PAI 2.0 includes nine LSDG-aligned themes such as Poverty-Free
Panchayat and Women-Friendly Panchayat
(4) PAI 2.0 aims to enable evidence-based and data-driven
governance at the Gram Panchayat level
(5) The index was first launched in 2023 and now covers over 3 lakh
Gram Panchayats
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Sanchar Mitra Scheme
What: Ministry of Communications
has launched Sanchar Mitra Scheme
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About Scheme
• Launched by: Ministry of Communications
• Implemented by: Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
• Focus: A youth-driven initiative to promote telecom
awareness, digital safety, and cybersecurity.
Key Features:
• Aims to use the energy of young student volunteers (called
Sanchar Mitras) to spread awareness on:
✓ Safe digital practices
✓ Mobile safety
✓ Telecom fraud prevention
✓ Government digital initiatives
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About Scheme
• Sanchar Mitras will:
✓ Conduct outreach in communities, schools, and
public spaces
✓ Educate people on using telecom services safely
and responsibly
• Eligible Students:
✓ From technical institutions (including Tier 2 and
Tier 3 cities)
✓ Must be from telecom, electronics, IT, or
cybersecurity programs
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About Scheme
• Skill Development Opportunities for Top Performers:
✓ Involvement in R&D projects, telecom startups,
policy and standards work.
✓ Participation in field surveys, DoT initiatives, and
national events.
• Recognition & Incentives:
✓ Managed by DoT units using existing resources and
partnerships.
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Q.3) With reference to the Sanchar Mitra Scheme launched by the
Ministry of Communications, which of the following statements is
correct?
[a] The scheme exclusively targets final-year engineering graduates for
job placements in telecom PSUs
[b] It aims to create a paid internship programme in private telecom
companies for cybersecurity students
[c] It mobilizes student volunteers to promote telecom safety, fraud
prevention, and digital empowerment in the community
[d] It is limited to premier technical institutions in metro cities only
[e] It is a women-only outreach initiative launched under the Digital
India Mission
Solution: [c]
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Bharat Forecast System
What: India has launched one of the
world’s first indigenously developed high-
resolution weather forecasting systems —
the Bharat Forecast System.
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Tell me more
• Developed by: Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM),
Pune, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Key Features:
• Improved Resolution:
✓ Upgraded from 12 km to 6 km
✓ Allows village-level, highly accurate weather forecasts
• Technological Breakthrough:
✓ A big step forward for India’s weather services
✓ Offers real-time, hyper-local forecasts for farmers, disaster
managers, and the general public
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Why It Matters:
• Strengthens India’s ability to handle cyclones, floods,
and heatwaves.
• Helps in agriculture planning, fisheries, aviation, and
infrastructure safety.
• Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India by
building weather tech in India.
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Q.4) Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune under the
Ministry of Earth Sciences recently launched one of the world’s first
indigenously developed high-resolution weather forecasting systems —
the Bharat Forecast System. This system has enhanced resolution from
12km to ______________. Fill the gap
[a] 10 km
[b] 8 km
[c] 6 km
[d] 4 km
[e] 2 km
Solution: [c]
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SPICED Scheme
What: The Spices Board will be disbursing
around ₹130 crore to almost 45,000
beneficiaries in 2025-2026 under the SPICED
Scheme (Sustainability in Spice Sector
through Progressive, Innovative, and
Collaborative Interventions for Export
Development)
Why: To boost spice exports
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About SPICED Scheme
• Objective: To boost spice exports, improve cardamom
productivity, and upgrade post-harvest spice quality for
global markets.
• Launched by: Spices Board, Ministry of Commerce and
Industry
• Launch Year: 2024
• Duration: Till FY 2025–26 (end of 15th Finance
Commission period)
• Total Budget: ₹422.30 crore
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About SPICED Scheme
Key Focus Areas:
• Increase productivity of small and large cardamom
• Improve post-harvest infrastructure and quality
• Promote GI-tagged, organic, and value-added
spices
• Ensure global food safety and phytosanitary
compliance
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About SPICED Scheme
Sub-Programs:
1. Mission Value Addition: Encourage spice processing and
innovation.
2. Mission Clean and Safe Spices: Meet international food
safety standards.
3. GI-Tagged Spice Promotion: Increase global recognition
and exports.
4. Spice Incubation Centres: Support startups and
entrepreneurship in spices
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About SPICED Scheme
Target Beneficiaries:
• Farmer Groups, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs),
Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs), and Self-Help
Groups (SHGs)
• Units identified under One District One Product (ODOP)
and Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiatives
• Special focus on Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled
Tribe (ST) communities, Small and Medium Enterprises
(SMEs), and exporters from the North Eastern Region
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Q.5) With reference to the SPICED Scheme launched by the Spices
Board, which of the following statements is correct?
[a] The scheme is limited to the promotion of turmeric exports under
the Make in India initiative
[b] It provides assistance only to large spice exporters with a turnover
above ₹10 crore
[c] It aims to promote sustainability, value addition, and global export
competitiveness in the Indian spice sector
[d] It is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture to boost production
of cereals and spices
[e] It will be implemented till 2030 under the 16th Finance Commission
cycle
Solution: [c]
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Other Important
Questions
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Q.6) Which country recently hosted the 9th BRICS Industry Ministers’
Meeting under the overarching theme of “Strengthening Global South
Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”?
[a] China
[b] Russia
[c] Brazil
[d] India
[e] South Africa
Solution: [c]
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Q.7) Which foreign university became second to be issued with Letter of
Intent (LoI) under the UGC (Setting Up and Operation of Campuses of
Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023 to set
up campus in India (Bengaluru)?
[a] University of Liverpool
[b] Oxford University
[c] Standford University
[d] Munich University
[e] Harvard University
Solution: [a]
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• Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, presided
over the Letter of Intent (LoI) handover ceremony to the
University of Liverpool (UK) in New Delhi.
• This will be the second foreign university to be issued LoI under
the UGC (Setting Up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign
Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023.
• NOTE: University of Southampton (UK) was the first foreign
university to receive a LoI from the UGC in 2023 and could open
its campus later this year.
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Q.8) What is the theme for the 9th Edition of the India Mobile Congress
2025 unveiled recently by the Ministry of Communications?
[a] One World Connection
[b] Transform to Connect
[c] Innovate to Transform
[d] Help to Connect
[e] Connecting World
Solution: [c]
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• Ministry of Communications has unveiled ‘Innovate to Transform’
as the theme for the 9th Edition of the IMC 2025 to be held in
October 2025 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi.
• IMC is Asia's largest digital technology forum organized by the
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular
Operators Association of India (COAI)
• This year’s theme underscores the pivotal role of innovation in
shaping the future and enabling real, transformative change
across sectors, from industry and infrastructure to society and
sustainability.
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Q.9) Which Ministry has recently announced reservation of 4% in the
allotment of central government housing to persons with disabilities,
marking a substantial move towards equity, dignity, and accessibility in
public services?
[a] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
[b] Ministry of Women and Child Development
[c] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
[d] Ministry of Defence
[e] Ministry of Home Affairs
Solution: [a]
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Q.10) With which country's Patent Office has Ministry of Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprise (MSME) recently collaborated as part of the Support
for Commercialisation of IP programme (MSME-SCIP) to facilitate the
acquisition of intellectual property rights (IPR), including technology by
MSMEs?
[a] Germany
[b] Finland
[c] Australia
[d] Sweden
[e] Demark
Solution: [e]
