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in

01 Shankardev

CONTEXT:
 Prime Minister participated in the Krishnaguru Eknaam
Akhanda Kirtan for World Peace on 3rd February.

Who was Krishnaguru?

 Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar established the Krishnaguru
Sevashram in the year 1974, in Assam.
 He is the ninth descendant of Mahavaishnab Manohardeva,
who was the follower of the great Vaishnavite saint Shri
Shankardeva.

SHANKARDEV
 He was the first to preach Vaishnavism in Brahmaputra valley.
 He was the founder of Eka Saranadharma and Veerapurushamarga
 He is widely credited with building on past cultural relics and devising new forms of music
(Borgeet), theatrical performance (Ankia Naat, Bhaona), and dance (Sattriya), literary language
(Brajavali).

02 Ravidas

CONTEXT:
 PM pays tributes to Sant Ravidas on his Jayanti

About Guru Ravidas

 Guru Ravidas was a famous saint of the Bhakti Movement and
was born in 1377 C.E. at Mandhuadhe which is located in Uttar
Pradesh, India.
 He was one of the most famous and leading star of the nirguna
sampradaya means sant parampara and lead the North Indian
Bhakti movement.
 He has given variety of spiritual and social messages through
his great writings of poetry to his lovers, followers, community
people, and society people to reform their mind and show their boundless love towards God.
 He was the vision of people as a messiah in order to complete the social and spiritual needs. He was
the spiritually rich person worshipped by the people.
 Guru Ravidas was also known as Raidas, Rohidas or Ruhidas.

His Association with Meera Bai

 Sant Guru Ravidas Ji is considered as a spiritual Guru of the Meera Bai.
 She was very impressed by the teachings of Guru Ravidass Ji and became the great follower of
him.

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03 YUVA SANGAM

CONTEXT:
 The “Yuva Sangam” registration portal launched at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts
(IGNCA), New Delhi.

About Yuva Sangam

 The Yuva Sangam is an initiative to build close ties between the youth of North East Region and rest
of India under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
 Over 20000 youth will travel across India and gain a unique opportunity of cross cultural learning.
 The program will give an opportunity to see, know, understand India and do something for the
country.

Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts

 The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) was established in 1987 as an autonomous
institution under the Ministry of Culture.
 Project Mausam is implemented by Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts.

04 Maharshi Dayananda Saraswati

CONTEXT:
 English rendering of PM’s speech at 200th Jayanti celebrations of
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati in New Delhi.

Key Points
 He was an Indian philosopher, social leader and founder of the
Arya Samaj.
 Arya Samaj is a reform movement of Vedic dharma and he was the
first to give the call for Swaraj as “India for Indian” in 1876.
 The first Arya Samaj unit was formally set up by him at Mumbai
(then Bombay) in 1875 and later the headquarters of the Samaj were established at Lahore.
 He took inspiration from the Vedas and considered them to be ‘India’s Rock of Ages’, the infallible
and the true original seed of Hinduism. He gave the slogan “Back to the Vedas”.
 He subscribed to the Vedic notion of chaturvarna system in which a person was not born in any
caste but was identified as a brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya or shudra according to the occupation the
person followed.

05 Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav

CONTEXT:
 Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2023 was held recently showcasing ethos of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha
Bharat’.

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About Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav

 Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is the flagship festival of the Ministry of Culture.
 It has been organized since 2015 with the active participation of Seven Zonal Culture Centres.

Significance:-
 It has been playing a pivotal role to take the vibrant culture of India out to the masses instead of
confining it to auditoria and galleries.
 It has been instrumental in showcasing folk and tribal art, dance, music, cuisines & culture of one
state in other states reinforcing the cherished goal of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”.
 It also provides an effective platform to the artists and artisans to support their livelihood.

Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

 The initiative ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ was announced in 2015.
 The program aims to actively enhance interaction between people of diverse cultures living in
different States and UTs in India, with the objective of promoting greater mutual understanding
among them.
 Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education

06 Working Hours in SC

CONTEXT
 The Minister of Law and Justice informed that the number of working hours, working days and
vacations of the courts are prescribed as per rules framed by the respective courts and the central
government has no role in fixing the minimum number of compulsory working hours and working
days for courts.

Rules pertaining to SC’s functions

 Article 145 of the Constitution of India, makes rules for regulating the Court’s practice and procedures
and procedures which includes its sittings and vacations
 Accordingly, the SC has framed the ‘Supreme Court Rules, 2013’ which were notified in 2014.
 The Central Government has no role in fixing the minimum number of compulsory working hours
and working days for courts.

Constitutional Provisions
 Provision of Supreme Court under Part V (The Union) and Chapter 6 (The Union Judiciary).
 Articles 124 to 147 in Part V of the Constitution deal with the organisation, independence,
jurisdiction, powers and procedures of the Supreme Court.
 Indian constitution under Article 124(1) states that there shall be a Supreme Court of India
constituting of a Chief Justice of India (CJI).

Recent Government initiatives to improve functioning

 Virtual Justice Clock: It is an initiative to exhibit vital statistics of the justice delivery system at the
Court level giving the details of the cases instituted.

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 Justice Mobile App 2.0: It is a tool available to judicial officers for effective court and case
management by monitoring pendency and disposal of not only his court but also for individual
judges working under them.
 Digital Court: It is an initiative to make the court records available to the judge in digitised form to
enable the transition to Paperless Courts.
 S3WaaS Websites: It is a framework to generate, configure, deploy and manage websites for
publishing specified information and services related to district judiciary.
 E-Supreme Court Reports (SCR): The official publication of Supreme Court of India.

07 One district one product-

CONTEXT
 The ODOP-DEH (One District One Product- Districts as export hubs) Invest India, DPIIT, Ministry of
Commerce & Industry, Delhi, in collaboration with the Industries Department, Punjab, organized a
nationwide awareness campaign to promote district wise local products.

About
 ODOP initiative is operationally merged with ‘Districts as Export Hub (DEH)’ initiative of the DGFT,
Department of Commerce, with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT).
 This initiative is part of the Government of India’s efforts to promote the growth of micro, small
and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and to support the development of indigenous products.
 The nationwide awareness campaign for ODOP-DEH is aimed at improving the economic viability
of MSMEs and promoting the consumption of locally made products.
 It brought together manufacturers, artisans, traders, and beneficiaries from different sectors under
ODOP-DEH.
 For example, honey, minor forest products in tribal areas, traditional Indian herbal edible items like
turmeric, amla, haldi, etc.

08 Operation Sadbhavana In Ladakh

CONTEXT-
 As part of ‘Operation SADBHAVANA’, Indian Army undertook multiple welfare activities for the
children living in remote areas of Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh.

About
 Operation Sadbhavana (Goodwill) is an unique humane initiative undertaken by Indian Army in
the State of Jammu & Kashmir to address aspirations of people affected by scrooge of terrorism,
sponsored and abetted by Pakistan.
 The unique operation has provided succor to a large section of population of the State.
 Objectives:
 national integration tours
 women empowerment
 employment generation
 education and development activities towards nation building

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09 PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman (PMVIKAS)

CONTEXT:
 Prime Minister Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman (PM-VIKAS) scheme has been announced for
traditional artisans and craftsmen in the budget 2023-24.

What is PM-VIKAS Scheme?

 PM Vishwa Karma Kaushal Samman is a package of assistance for traditional artisans and
craftspeople.
 It will enable them to improve quality, scale and reach of their products, integrating with MSME
value chain.
 Features:
 financial support to the artisans
 Skills and training programs for traditional and age-old crafts
 Introduction of artisans and craftsmen to paperless payments.
 Integration of entire program with MSME sector

10 Millet Exports

CONTEXT:
 Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organized the
Virtual-Buyer Seller Meet to harness export opportunities in UAE for millets.

India Millets Production

About Millets
 Millet refers to a number of small-seeded annual grasses that are cultivated as grain crops.
 Examples: jowar (sorghum), ragi (finger millet), Kodo (Kodo millet), kutki (little millet), kakun
(foxtail millet), Sanwa (barnyard millet), cheena (proso millet), kuttu (buckwheat) and chaulai
(amaranth).

 The major millets producing states in India are Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh,
Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
 Currently, together these ten states accounts for around 98 percent in Millets production in India
during the period 2020-21.

About APEDA
 APEDA functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
 Set up in: 1986
 Headquarters: New Delhi
 The APEDA had been undertaking most of the activities as per its mandate and scope of work
allocated spanning its 14 product categories which mainly includes the sector of fruits and
vegetables, processed fruits and vegetables, animal, dairy and poultry products and cereals.

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11 Poshan Abhiyan

CONTEXT:
 According to the Ministry
of Women and Child
Development, more than 15
crore activities were conducted
on various themes across the
country contributing to the
Prime Minister’s vision for a
Suposhit Bharat.

About Suposhit Bharat

Initiative
 Through the Suposhit Bharat initiative, the government intends to conceptualize, develop, pilot and
scale up food-based nutrition interventions through food services at institutional food services’
level, and street foods, school & college canteens.
 This will therapeutically address malnutrition and non-communicable diseases in the general
population.
 The Ministry of Ayush is knowledge partner with the Ministry of Women and Child Development
in the Poshan Abhiyan to achieve the ultimate goal of ‘SUPOSHIT BHARAT’.

Government intervention towards eradicating undernutrition

 To tackle undernutrition, the Government has made several policy and programmatic efforts,
including:
 National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan)
 National Health Mission
 National Nutrition Policy
 Mid-Day Meal Scheme or PM-POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) Scheme
 National Nutrition Policy
 Government also implements Anganwadi Services, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
and Scheme for Adolescent Girls under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development
Services Scheme (ICDS) as targeted interventions to address the problem of malnutrition in
the country.

POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan

 Launched in: 2018
 Objective: to improve nutritional outcomes for children under 6 years of age, pregnant women
and lactating mothers.
 Mission Poshan 2.0 (Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0): It has been launched as an
integrated nutrition support program to strengthen nutritional content, delivery and outcomes
with a principle of expanding practices that facilitate health, wellness and immunity and
malnutrition.

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12 Industrial Corridor

CONTEXT:
 Prime Minister laid the foundation stone to South India’s 1st Industrial Corridor Project, the Tumakuru
Industrial Township, as part of National Industrial Corridor programme.

Key Highlights:
 Karnataka’s Tumakuru falls under Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC).
 The Tumakuru Industrial Township has been planned in line with the principles of PM-GatiShakti to
ensure last mile multimodal connectivity to the economic zone.

What is Gati Shakti?

 The national master plan is aimed at
 breaking inter-ministerial silos and integrating the planning and designing of projects with
a common and holistic vision
 enhance India's global competitiveness through next-generation infrastructure and seamless
multi-modal connectivity
 ensure seamless movement of goods and people
 enhance the ease of living as well as the ease of doing business in the country
 It aims to lend more speed (Gati) and power (Shakti) to projects by connecting all concerned
departments on one platform.

National Industrial Corridor Development Programme

 National Industrial Corridor Development Programme is India’s most ambitious infrastructure
programme aiming to develop new industrial cities as “Smart Cities” and converging next generation
technologies across infrastructure sectors.

Tumarkuru Industrial Township

 First industrial corridor in South India
 It will generate employment for more than 88,000 people
 Attract investment of Rs. 7,000 crores within five to six years
 Contribute inclusive growth of the country
 Trigger economic growth and prosperity in the region
 Launched in Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor
 In line with the objectives of Atma Nirbhar Bharat
 It will address the issues of multi-modal connectivity

13 Central Bank of Digital Currency

CONTEXT:
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched the first pilot of Digital Rupee- Retail segment (e₹-R)

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About
 The e₹-R is in the form of a digital token that represents legal tender.
 It is being issued in the same denominations that paper currency and coins are currently issued.
 It is being distributed through financial intermediaries, i.e., banks.
 The e₹-R offers features of physical cash like trust, safety and settlement finality.
 As in the case of cash, it will not earn any interest and can be converted to other forms of money,
like deposits with banks.

Monetary Policy Committee

 It was created in 2016.
 It was created to bring transparency and accountability in deciding monetary policy.
 MPC determines the policy interest rate required to achieve the inflation target.
 Committee comprises of six members where Governor RBI acts as an ex-officio chairman. Three
members are from RBI and three are selected by government.
 Inflation target is to be set once in a five year. It is set by the Government of India, in consultation
with the Reserve Bank.

14 Global Milk Production

CONTEXT:
 India ranked 1st in the milk production in the world contributing to 24% in the year 2021-22.

Key-highlights

Dr. Verghese Kurien (1921-2012)

 He is known as the ‘Father of White Revolution in India’.
 He is famous for his ‘Operation Flood’, which is known as the world’s largest agricultural
program.

 The milk production of India has registered fifty-one percent increase during the last eight years i.e.,
during the year 2014-15 and 2021-22 and increased to twenty-two crore tonne in the year 2021-
22.

Recent Government intervention to promote dairy sector

 Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)
 National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD)
 Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF)
 Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organizations engaged in dairy activities
(SDCFPO)
 National Livestock Mission (NLM)
 Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)
 Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LH and DCP)

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Indian Dairy Sector:

 India is self-sufficient in milk and the world’s top milk producer as well as consumer.
 India accounts for 23 per cent of the global output.
 India’s dairy sector has a unique smallholder milk production system, wherein more than 70
percent of dairy farmers own either 1 or 2 animals.
 There are about 8 crore dairy farmers in India mostly small and marginal (having at an average
2 bovines).
 The annual domestic production of milk in the country is estimated at 220 million tonne.
 It provides a stable cash flow as compared to crop cultivation. There is a large network of dairy
institutions, providing market access to the dairy farmers.
 India is home to about 19 percent of in-milk cattle and 63 percent of in-milk buffaloes in the
world.
 It has a very rich reservoir of genetic diversity and possesses some of the best breeds of cattle
and buffaloes in the world.

15 Rashtriya Gokul Mission

CONTEXT:
 Department of Animal Husbandry implements Rashtriya Gokul Mission to develop and conserve
indigenous bovine breeds and genetic upgrade of bovine population.

About:
 The scheme is continued under a revised and realigned scheme of the Department from 2021-22 to
2025-26 with an allocation of Rs. 2400 crore.
 RGM information on the Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme is uploaded online on the
Information Network on Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) database.
 Implemented By: Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
 Objectives:
 To enhance productivity of bovines and increase milk production in a sustainable manner using
advanced technologies.
 To propagate use of high genetic merit bulls for breeding purposes.

Funding:
 Under RGM, there is a scheme to provide subsidies of Rs 4 crore, 1 crore, 60 lakh, 50 lakh
respectively on cow/buffalo/pig/chicken/goat breeding farms and silage making units.
 Out of the total amount, 50% subsidy will be given by the Government of India and apart from
this, 3% interest subvention can also be taken under the AHIDF (Animal Husbandry Infrastructure
Development Fund) scheme on the loan amount.

16 Vayo Abhyuday Yojana

CONTEXT:
 Financial security, healthcare, nutrition, shelter, welfare etc. for senior citizens are being provided
under ATAL VAYO ABHYUDAY YOJANA.

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About
 Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) is a central sector scheme to improve the quality of life of the
Senior Citizens.
 The scheme being run by Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, includes provision of
financial security, healthcare, nutrition, shelter, welfare etc. for senior citizens.
 Basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care, entertainment opportunities are provided free of
cost to indigent senior citizens.
 Senior citizen homes (old age homes) under Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC) is a
component of AVYAY.

Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens(IPSrC):

 It is a component of Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojna.
 Under the Scheme, grant is given to Implementing Agencies for running and maintenance of
Senior Citizens Homes/Old Age Homes for destitute senior citizens.

17 Namaste Scheme

CONTEXT:
 NAMASTE scheme to eradicate unsafe sewer and septic-tank cleaning practices introduced by the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

About Namaste Scheme

 It was launched in 2022 as a Central Sector Scheme.
 The scheme is being undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE)
 Objectives:-
 Zero fatalities in sanitation work in India.
 All sanitation work is performed by skilled workers.
 No sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter.

18 International Seabed Authority

CONTEXT:
 India’s Blue Economy resources and the International Seabed Authority officially designated
India as a “Pioneer Investor”. The International Seabed Authority and the Ministry of Earth
Sciences recently exchanged PMN exploration extension contracts.

India’s Blue Economy

 India has a 7,500 kilometre-long coastline and 14,500 kilometres of navigable inland waterways,
and the development of the blue economy can serve as a growth catalyst.
 At present, the blue economy comprises 4.1 per cent of India’s economy.

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 The Indian Blue Economy Task Force defines it as: The Blue Economy encompasses a wide range of
economic activities pertaining to sustainable development of resources and assets in the oceans,
related rivers, water bodies and coastal regions – in a manner that ensures equity, inclusion,
innovation and modern technology.

Government Initiatives to promote blue economy:

 Sagarmala Project: The Sagarmala project is the strategic initiative for port-led development
through the extensive use of IT enabled services for modernization of ports.
 O-SMART: India has an umbrella scheme by the name of O-SMART which aims at regulated use of
oceans, marine resources for sustainable development.
 Integrated Coastal Zone Management: It focuses on conservation of coastal and marine resources,
and improving livelihood opportunities for coastal communities etc.
 National Fisheries Policy: India has a National Fisheries policy for promoting ‘Blue Growth
Initiative’ which focuses on sustainable utilization of fisheries wealth from marine and other aquatic
resources.

International Seabed Authority

 It is an intergovernmental body that organizes, regulates and control all mineral (non-living
resources) related activities in the international seabed area beyond the limits of national
jurisdiction.
 Headquarter : Jamaica
 Established in 1994
 It is an organization established by the Law of the Sea Convention.
 It functions under the aegis of the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
 It has an observer status to UN.

19 National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA).

CONTEXT:
 The Central Government is contemplating creation of the National Interlinking of Rivers
Authority (NIRA).

Key Points
 NIRA is supposed to be an independent autonomous body for planning, investigation, financing
and the implementation of the river interlinking projects in the country.
 NIRA will function as an umbrella body for all river linking projects and to be headed by a
Government of India Secretary-rank officer.
 It will replace the exis ng Na onal Water Development Agency (NWDA).
 It will coordinate with neighbouring countries and concerned states and departments and will
also have powers on issues related to environment, wildlife and forest clearances under river linking
projects and their legal aspects.
 NIRA will have the power to raise funds and act as a repository of borrowed funds or money
received on deposit or loan given on interest.

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 It will also have the power to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for individual link projects.

Highlights-
 The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has been entrusted with the work of inter-linking
of rivers under National Perspective Plan (NPP).
 NPP has two components, viz., Himalayan Rivers Development Component and Peninsular Rivers
Development Component.
 Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first link project under NPP.

20 Digi Yatra

CONTEXT:
 DigiYatra to be implemented at Kolkata, Pune, Vijayawada and Hyderabad Airports by March
2023.

About
 Digi Yatra policy is an initiative launched by Ministry of Civil Aviation for biometric boarding system
using Facial Recognition Technology.
 It aims at providing seamless and hassle-free experience for passengers at airports.
 Its main objective is to enhance passenger experience by eliminating the need for verification of
ticket and ID at multiple touch points.
 Expenditure on implementation of Digi Yatra is done by Airport Operators. Ministry of Civil
Aviation

How is DigiYatra being implemented?

 The project is being implemented by the DigiYatra Foundation — a joint-venture company whose
shareholders are the Airports Authority of India (26% stake) and Bengaluru Airport, Delhi Airport,
Hyderabad Airport, Mumbai Airport and Cochin International Airport. These five shareholders
equally hold the remaining 74% of the shares.

21 CPGRAMS and Air Sewa Portal

CONTEXT:
 Aggrieved air passengers can lodge their grievances through CPGRAMS and Air Sewa Portal

About Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System

(CPGRAMS)
 It is an online platform available to the citizens 24x7 to lodge their grievances to the public authorities
on any subject related to service delivery.
 It is a single portal connected to all the Ministries/Departments of Government of India and
States.
 Every Ministry and States have role-based access to this system.
 It is also accessible to the citizens through standalone mobile applications downloadable through
Google Play store and mobile applications integrated with UMANG.

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22 Sickle Cell Disease

CONTEXT:
 The Government of India, through the National Health Mission, is supporting the states in their
efforts to prevent and manage sickle cell disease.

About
 Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic single gene disorder causing a debilitating systemic
syndrome.
 In the union budget of FY 2023-24, it is announced to launch a mission to eliminate sickle cell
anemia by 2047.
 State Haemoglobinopathy Mission has been established in Madhya Pradesh to tackle the challenges
in screening and management of sickle cell disease.

23 National Data & Analytics Platform

CONTEXT:
 NITI Aayog launched the National Data & Analytics Platform (NDAP) for open public use today.

Key Points:
 NITI Aayog, in collaboration with ministries and state governments launched a transformational
open data platform called the NDAP.
 It serves foundational datasets from central and state government entities in machine-readable
formats, with user-friendly interface and powerful analytics.
 The platform uses cutting-edge methods to link diverse datasets from across the government.

NITI AAYOG
 Prime Minister of India is the Chairperson
 Governing Council consists of the Chief Ministers of all the States and Lt. Governors of Union
Territories in India.
 Vice-Chairperson (appointed by the Prime Minister)
 Part-time members: Maximum of 2 members from foremost universities, leading research
organizations, and other innovative organizations in an ex-officio capacity. Part-time members
will be on a rotational basis.
 Ex Officio members: Maximum of 4 members of the Council of Ministers which is to be nominated
by the Prime Minister.

24 Aero India 2023:

CONTEXT:
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Aero India 2023 – Asia’s biggest aero show - in
Bengaluru.

Aero India 2023

 Aero India is a premier global aviation trade fair, which provides an opportunity for the Indian
aviation-defence industry, including the aerospace industry, to showcase its products, technologies
and solutions to the national decision makers.

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Key Highlights:
 Theme for 2023: ‘‘The runway to a billion opportunities”.
 The Aero India show is held every 2 years.
 It was held by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) this year on behalf of the Department of Defence
Production of the Ministry of Defence.
 The first edition of the air show was held in 1996.

Objective
 The event aims to promote export of indigenous air platforms like Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)-
Tejas, HTT-40, Dornier Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Advanced
Light Helicopter (ALH).

25 Use of Bio fertilisers

CONTEXT:
 There is no proposal to make use of bio-fertilizers compulsory along-with the urea.

Key Points:
 Use of bio-fertilizer is recommended under Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) strategies and
organic farming for use in all crops.
 Bio-fertilizers are live microbial products which does not contain any nutrients.
 The micro-organisms present in the bio-fertilizer ensure availability of nutrients from non-available
form present within soil and air to available form which plants can uptake.
 Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed improved and efficient strains of bio-
fertilizers.
 It’s specific to different crops and soil types under All India Network Project (AINP) on Soil
Biodiversity-Bio-fertilizers.
 Bio-fertilizers can improve crop yields by 10-25% and supplement costly chemical fertilizers (N,
P) by nearly 20-25% in most of the cases when used along with chemical fertilizers without any
reduction in production.

26 Manas Scheme

CONTEXT:
 Tele-MANAS services are available in 20 languages provided through 130 Mental Health Professionals,
173 District Mental Health Program Personnel and 580 Tele-MANAS Counsellors.

Key Points:
 Tele-MANAS aims to provide free tele-mental health services all over the country, particularly
catering to people in remote or under-served areas.
 It’s an initiative of Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
 NIMHANS will be the nodal centre while National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHRSC), IIT
Bengaluru and IIITB will provide technology support.

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