Pib Sutra January 2023

PIB SUTRA
JANUARY - 2023
A MONTHLY PIB COMPENDIUM
Content:
Government Schemes & Missions
Economic & Financial Issues
Social Issues
Agriculture & Allied Activities
Rural Issues
Global & National Reports & Indices
Descriptive & Objective Questions
PIB Sutra: January 2023
Contents
PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU ........................................................................ 5
Government Missions, Schemes and Initiatives................................................ 5
• FAME II Scheme .................................................................................. 5
• PM GatiShakti ...................................................................................... 6
• National Skill Development Mission ......................................................... 7
• National Green Hydrogen Mission ........................................................... 8
• PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) ......................................... 11
• PM SVANidhi ..................................................................................... 11
• Mission LiFE ...................................................................................... 12
• Atal Bhujal Yojana .............................................................................. 13
• National SC – ST Hub ......................................................................... 15
• Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme ............................................... 16
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund ............................................................ 17
• Jal Jeevan Mission .............................................................................. 18
• PM – Employment Generation Program (PMEGP) .................................... 19
Economy & Finance ................................................................................... 20
• GST Revenue from December 2022 ...................................................... 20
• VIRAASAT ......................................................................................... 21
• Rising Popularity of UPI payments ........................................................ 22
• Assistance by Asian Development Bank ................................................. 23
• Intelligent Tray Retrieval System ......................................................... 23
• 1st Advance Estimates of National Income ............................................. 24
• Startup India Innovation Week ............................................................ 24
• World Spice Congress ......................................................................... 24
• National Board of MSME ...................................................................... 26
• Consumer Price Index: Rural, Urban and Combined ................................ 28
• Index of Industrial Production .............................................................. 28
• Central Consumer Protection Authority .................................................. 29
• New Regional Office of EPFO ................................................................ 30
• Digital financing against e-Negotiable Warehouse Receipts....................... 31
• Wholesale Price Index (WPI) ................................................................ 32
• India’s Foreign Trade – November 2022 ................................................ 32
• Disclosures by Fund Management Entities for ESG Schemes ..................... 33
• First Movers Coalition ......................................................................... 34
• All-India Consumer Price Index: for ALs & RLs ....................................... 34
• Promotion of Medical Value Travel ........................................................ 35
Telegram: @RegulatoryPracticeMock 1
• Payroll Reporting in India .................................................................... 36
• Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0 ......................................................................... 37
• National Logistics Portal – Marine ......................................................... 38
• International Customs Day – 2023 ....................................................... 39
• ACIC-CBIT Research and Entrepreneurship Foundation ............................ 40
• Visit India Year 2023 Logo................................................................... 40
• Consumer Price Index – IW ................................................................. 41
• Economic Survey 2022 – 23: Highlights ................................................ 41
Social & Environmental Issues .................................................................... 50
• National Ganga Council Meet ............................................................... 50
• SMART Initiative ................................................................................ 51
• India’s First Green Hydrogen Blending Operation .................................... 52
• Water Vision@2047 ............................................................................ 53
• Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity......................................................... 54
• Year End Review 2022: MoHUA ............................................................ 54
• CII Bio Energy Summit 2023 ............................................................... 54
• National Commission for Protection of Child Rights ................................. 54
• National Youth Festival – 2023 ............................................................. 55
• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) .............................................. 56
• UIDAI Deliberates on Five Focus Areas .................................................. 56
• National Girl Child Day ........................................................................ 57
• iNNCOVACC ...................................................................................... 57
• Bharat Parv 2023 ............................................................................... 58
• National Summit on Quality of Biologicals .............................................. 58
• National Commission for Women .......................................................... 58
• G20 Energy Transition Working Group Meeting ....................................... 59
Agriculture & Allied Activities ...................................................................... 60
• International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 ................................................ 60
• Beekeeping As A Medium of Sweet Revolution ........................................ 60
• e-NAM Bags Digital India Award 2022 ................................................... 61
• Regulatory standards for Basmati Rice .................................................. 62
• India Cold Chain Conclave ................................................................... 62
• Reducing Elephant Attacks on Humans and Farmers’ Crops ...................... 64
• Millets & Organics -2023 ..................................................................... 66
• Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) for Food and Agriculture ...................... 66
Rural India ............................................................................................... 67
• Manthan: Charting New Paths .............................................................. 67
Other Developments .................................................................................. 67
• 2023 Science Vision ........................................................................... 67
• New Chairman & CEO of Railway Board ................................................. 69
• 108th Indian Science Congress ............................................................. 69
• DRDO: 65th Foundation Day................................................................. 70
• New President of Brazil ....................................................................... 70
• Asian Pacific Postal Union .................................................................... 70
• Manohar International Airport – Mopa, Goa............................................ 70
• Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Convention ..................................................... 70
• MV Ganga Vilas.................................................................................. 70
• RRR Gets Golden Globe Award for the Best Original Song ........................ 71
• Ex VARUNA – 2023 ............................................................................ 71
• Fifth Kalvari Class Submarine Vagir ...................................................... 72
• Exercise Cyclone-I ............................................................................. 72
• Parakram Diwas ................................................................................. 72
• Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival .................................... 72
• BharOS............................................................................................. 73
• AMPHEX – 2023 ................................................................................. 74
• TROPEX – 2023 ................................................................................. 74
• National Voters’ Day ........................................................................... 74
• Adi Shaurya ...................................................................................... 75
• Chief Guest of Republic Day Celebrations .............................................. 75
• SCO Film Festival – 2023 .................................................................... 75
• Veer Guardian 2023 ........................................................................... 75
• Khelo India Youth Games .................................................................... 76
• UN PGA Csaba Kőrösi ......................................................................... 76
REPORTS & INDICES .................................................................................... 77
Indian Reports & Indices ............................................................................ 77
• Annual Transparency Report ................................................................ 77
• A Report on Gross bond issuances by Indian banks ................................. 77
• Groundwater Yearbook 2021 – 22 ........................................................ 78
• All India Survey on Higher Education: 2020 – 21 .................................... 78
Global Reports & Indices ............................................................................ 79
• Nikkei Asia’s Report ............................................................................ 79
• Henley Passport Index – 2023 ............................................................. 80
• Global Risks Report – 2023 ................................................................. 80
• World Social Report 2023 .................................................................... 81
• World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2023 .............................. 81
• Survival of the Richest ........................................................................ 82
DESCRIPTIVE SEGMENT................................................................................ 83
MCQs ......................................................................................................... 83
PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU
Government Missions, Schemes and Initiatives
• FAME II Scheme
Why in News?
PIB: 50 Electric Buses launched in Delhi with support under FAME India Phase II scheme of the Ministry of Heavy
Industries.
Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister of Heavy Industries said that under the FAME II Scheme of the Ministry
of Heavy Industries (MHI), Cities/STUs/State Governments placed supply orders for 3,538 Electric Buses. Out
of those 3,538 Electric Buses, a total of 1,716 electric Buses have been deployed as on 2nd January 2023.
Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) Scheme:
• FAME was launched in 2015, by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, with the objective to support
hybrid/electric vehicles market development and manufacturing ecosystem.
• The scheme has 4 focus areas i.e. Technology Development, Demand Creation, Pilot Projects and
Charging Infrastructure.
The primary objectives of Fame India scheme are listed below.
• This scheme encourages electric vehicle manufacturers and related providers to manufacture a
higher number of electric vehicles in the country.
• Its goal is to reduce vehicular emissions and air pollution levels within the country.
• This scheme also aims to establish an electric charging infrastructure.
• In addition, Fame India Scheme targets to convert 30% of total transportation into electric
vehicles by the year 2030.
Fame India scheme offers the following benefits:
• Issues related to environmental and fuel conservation will be significantly reduced.
• Vehicles from different segments will receive subsidy benefits accordingly.
• Citizens can avail themselves of eco-friendly public transportation.
• This scheme will allow individuals to reap the benefits of renewable energy sources through
charging systems.
• The establishment of charging stations in close proximity further encourages individuals to opt
for electric vehicles.
FAME: Key Features:
• National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP): It was launched in 2013 with the aim to
achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles in the country. FAME is
launched as a part of NEMMP.
• Coverage: Cities under Smart Cities Mission, State capitals and cities with 1 Million population as
per the 2011 Census. North-East Cities.
• Financial Outlay: As the scheme was launched for two years, the budget for the first two years
was 795 Crore. The greatest allocation was to demand generation and technology development
respectively. When the scheme was extended to 2019, the budget outlay was increased to Rs
895 Cr.
FAME – Phase II
• Phase-II of FAME India Scheme for a period of five years commencing from 1st Apri1, 2019 with a total
budgetary support of Rs. 10,000 crore. FAME – Phase II is valid till 31st March 2024.
• This phase mainly focuses on supporting electrification of public & shared transportation, and aims to
support through demand incentive 7090 eBuses, 5 lakh e-3Wheelers, 55000 e4 Wheeler Passenger Cars
and 10 lakh e-2 Wheelers.
• In addition, creation of charging infrastructure is also supported under the Scheme. charging stations
will be established on both sides of the road at an interval of about 25 km each.
• Revamped FAME-II: The Centre has made a partial modification of the FAME-II, including increasing the
demand incentive for electric two-wheelers to Rs. 15,000 per KWh from an earlier uniform subsidy of
Rs 10,000 per KWh for all EVs, including plug-in hybrids and strong hybrids except buses.
• The government has also capped incentives for electric two-wheelers at 40% of the cost of vehicles, up
from 20% earlier.
• Under the second phase of Fame India Scheme, the Government is hopeful of establishing 2700
charging stations in metros, smart cities, hilly states, million-plus cities across the country. The grid
measurement will follow a 3 km x 3 km layout.
• Through this scheme, the concerned department aims to provide incentives to various categories of
vehicles. These are,
o Electric Two-wheelers: 10 lakh registered electric two-wheelers will get an incentive of ₹ 20,000
each.
o Electric Four-wheelers: 35,000 electric 4-wheelers with ex-factory price of ₹ 15 lakh will get an
incentive of ₹ 1.5 lakh each.
o Hybrid Four-wheelers: Through this scheme, the Government will provide ₹ 13,000 - ₹ 20,000
as an incentive to hybrid 4-wheelers with ex-factory price of ₹ 15 lakh.
o e-rickshaws: 5 lakh e-rickshaws (each) can avail ₹ 50,000 as incentives.
o e-buses: Nearly 8000 e-buses with a maximum ex-factory price of ₹ 2 crores will receive an
incentive of ₹ 50 lakh each.
• PM GatiShakti
Why in News?
PIB: Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Shri Piyush Goyal reviews PM GatiShakti with 8 infrastructure
Ministries
Since its launch in October 2021, infrastructure projects approved by the Cabinet have either been completed
or are already under implementation. The Network Planning Group (NPG), under the PM GatiShakti
institutional structure, has held 41 meetings in the last one year. 61 project proposals pertaining to road,
railways, natural gas, ports and urban infrastructure have been evaluated in terms of optimising PM GatiShakti
principles and recommended by NPG for implementation in the coming years.
Shri Goyal appreciated the progress made by Central Ministries and States, and emphasized that PM GatiShakti
needs to play a proactive role for planning and in sound decision making.
With India now holding the G20 presidency 2023, creating a resilient and efficient logistics ecosystem and
promoting seamless multimodal international transportation and transit is being put on international priority.
As part of the Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG), “Logistics for Trade'' has been identified as one
of the priority issues.
PM GatiShakti:
The Union Cabinet cleared the PM GatiShakti - National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity to economic
zones on 21st October 2021. It is a giant stride in India’s ambitious goal of achieving US $5 trillion economy.
PM Gati Shakti shall bring in various stakeholders together and help integrate different modes of
transportation. It will give new energy to the present and future generations of the country to build India of
21st century and lay the foundation of Aatmanirbharta for the next 25 years.
The master plan takes a holistic approach to sector-specific developments by integrating 16 ministries in a
joint committee to implement and monitor Rs. 100 lakh crores of investment.
Institutional Framework: The institutional framework for rolling out, implementation, monitoring and support
mechanism is designed to have a three-tier system:
• Empowered Group of Secretaries: EGOs will be headed by Cabinet Secretary and will consist of
Secretaries of 18 Ministries as members and Head of Logistics Division as Member Convenor. The EGOS
has been mandated to review and monitor implementation of the PM GatiShakti to ensure logistics
efficiency. It is empowered to prescribe framework and norms for undertaking any subsequent
amendments to the Master Plan.
• Network Planning Group: Cabinet Committee Economic Affairs (CCEA) has also approved formation,
composition and terms of reference for Network Planning Group (NPG) consisting of heads of Network
Planning wing of respective infrastructure ministries and it will assist the EGOs.
• Technical Support Unit: Further, in view of the complexities involved in overall integration of networks,
enhancing optimization to avoid duplication of works for holistic development of any region as well as
reducing logistics costs through micro-plan detailing, the Technical Support Unit (TSU) is approved for
providing the required competencies.
The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan will propel India’s self-confidence towards the resolve of self-reliance.
This National Master Plan will give impetus to India of the 21st century. Next generation infrastructure and
multimodal connectivity will get momentum from this national plan. This national plan will give impetus to the
government policies related to infrastructure, from planning to execution. This GatiShakti National Plan will
provide accurate information and guidance for the completion of the government's projects within the
stipulated time-frame.
• National Skill Development Mission
Why in News?
PIB: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan chairs the 3rd meeting of the steering committee of National Skill Development
Mission
Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan chaired the 3rd
meeting of the steering committee of National Skill Development Mission. Minister of State for Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar and senior officials of the ministry attended
the meeting. In the meeting Shri Pradhan discussed the progress made and the roadmap ahead in the skill
development efforts.
National Skill Development Mission
• The National Skill Development Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet on 01.07.2015, and officially
launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 15.07.2015 on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day.
• The Mission has been developed to create convergence across sectors and States in terms of skill training
activities.
• Further, to achieve the vision of ‘Skilled India’, the National Skill Development Mission would not only
consolidate and coordinate skilling efforts, but also expedite decision making across sectors to achieve
skilling at scale with speed and standards.
• It will be implemented through a streamlined institutional mechanism driven by Ministry of Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
• Key institutional mechanisms for achieving the objectives of the Mission have been divided into three
tiers, which will consist of a Governing Council for policy guidance at apex level, a Steering Committee
and a Mission Directorate (along with an Executive Committee) as the executive arm of the Mission.
• Mission Directorate will be supported by three other institutions: National Skill Development Agency
(NSDA), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), and Directorate General of Training (DGT) – all
of which will have horizontal linkages with Mission Directorate to facilitate smooth functioning of the
national institutional mechanism.
o National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) - The NSDA focuses on policy research via National
Skills Research Division, quality assurance and implementation of quality standards across all
skilling agencies; develops protocols for training and accreditations for private trainers, etc.
o National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) - NSDC overlooks training, capacity building
aspects of trainers – both public and private, lead the engagement with industries, drive the
sectors skills councils.
o Directorate General of Training (DGT) - The DGT maintains the skill training structures
of Advanced Training Institutes (ATIs), Regional Vocational Training Institute (RVTIs) and other
such institutes, advises on training policies, trains instructors, provides technical support, runs
women-centric training institutes, etc.
• Seven sub-missions have been proposed initially to act as building blocks for achieving overall objectives
of the Mission. They are: (i) Institutional Training, (ii) Infrastructure, (iii) Convergence, (iv) Trainers, (v)
Overseas Employment, (vi) Sustainable Livelihoods, (vii) Leveraging Public Infrastructure.
• The Steering Committee, chaired by the Minister in charge of Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship will be responsible for ensuring that implementation of Mission activities is done as
per policies and decisions laid down by Governing Council. Secretary, Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship will be Member Secretary of the Steering Committee. It will also consist of Secretaries
of M/o Finance, M/o Rural Development, M/o Labour and Employment, M/o MSME, M/o Agriculture,
M/o Human Resource Development, M/o Overseas Affairs, M/o HUPA and M/o Information Technology
which are running large scale skill training programmes across the country.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission
Why in News?
PIB: Cabinet approves National Green Hydrogen Mission
India has declared the goal to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2070. As India’s growth story unfolds, its demand
for energy and resources is set to rise. Energy use has doubled in the last 20 years and is likely to grow by at
least another 25% by 20301. India currently imports over 40% of its primary energy requirements, worth over
USD 90 billion every year. Major sectors like mobility and industrial production are significantly dependent on
imported fossil fuels. This necessitates a shift towards technologies that enable enhanced share of renewable
sources in the energy mix, and progressively reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.
Many major economies have declared Hydrogen strategies as part of the broader climate and clean energy
related actions. These national strategies largely seek to tackle the common underlying challenges of scaling
up Green Hydrogen production, enhancing Hydrogen use across sectors, developing technologies, and
designing enabling policies and regulations. There is clear focus on government funding and support for R&D,
measures for demand creation and financial support for manufacturing and infrastructure development.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved National Green
Hydrogen Mission. The initial outlay for the Mission will be Rs.19,744 crore, including an outlay of Rs.17,490
crore for the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition Programme (SIGHT programme), Rs.1,466
crore for pilot projects, Rs.400 crore for R&D, and Rs. 388 crore towards other Mission components. Ministry
of New and Renewable Energy will formulate the scheme guidelines for implementation of the respective
components.
The Mission will result in the following likely outcomes by 2030:
• Development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per
annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country
• Over Rs. 8 lakh crore in total investments
• Creation of over 6 lakh jobs
• Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports over Rs. 1 lakh crore
• Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions
Phased Approach: Considering the nascent status of the sector and the rapidly evolving profile of the industry,
the mission is proposed to be implemented in a phased manner, focusing initially on deployment of Green
Hydrogen in sectors that are already using hydrogen, and evolving an ecosystem for R&D, regulations and pilot
projects. The later phase of the Mission will build on these foundational activities and undertake Green
Hydrogen initiatives in new sectors of the economy. The major thrust areas of each phase are identified below.
PHASE I (2022-23 to 2025-26):
• The focus of Phase I will be on creating demand while enabling adequate supply by increasing the
domestic electrolyser manufacturing capacity. In order to ensure Make in India from the inception
stage, a bouquet of incentives aimed at indigenization of the value chain and increasing Green Hydrogen
production and uptake will be developed. Utilisation in the refineries, fertilizers and city gas sectors will
also create a sustained demand to support new investments in Green Hydrogen production.
• The first phase will also lay the foundation for future energy transitions in other hard-to-abate sectors
by creating the required Research and Development impetus. In this phase, pilot projects will be
undertaken for initiating green transition in steel production, long-haul heavy-duty mobility and
shipping. Parallelly, work will commence on establishing a framework of regulations and standards to
facilitate the growth of the sector and enable harmonisation and engagement with international norms.
• The scale-up of Green Hydrogen production and use, and the proposed measures under the Mission in
the first phase, are expected to drive down costs, allowing for greater and wider Green Hydrogen
deployment in the next phase.
PHASE II (2026-27 to 2029-30):
• Green Hydrogen costs are expected to become competitive with fossil-fuel based alternatives in
refinery and fertilizer sector by the beginning of the second phase, allowing for accelerated growth in
production. Depending upon the evolution of costs and market demand, the potential for taking up
commercial-scale Green Hydrogen-based projects in the steel, mobility and shipping sectors will be
explored. At the same time, it is proposed to undertake pilot projects in other potential sectors like
railways, aviation etc. R&D activities will be scaled up for the continuous development of products. The
second phase of activities would enhance penetration across all potential sectors to drive deep
decarbonisation of the economy.
Mission Components:
The achievement of Mission objectives requires a comprehensive strategy that coordinates efforts across
multiple sectors. The Mission strategy accordingly comprises interventions for:
(i) demand creation by making Green Hydrogen produced in India competitive for exports and through
domestic consumption.
(ii) addressing supply side constraints through an incentive framework, and
(iii) building an enabling ecosystem to support scaling and development.
What is Green Hydrogen?
• Hydrogen, the first member of the periodic table, is the lightest and most abundant element found in
the environment. Like electricity, hydrogen is a form of energy that needs to be created from another
substance. Water, fossil fuels, or biomass can all be used to produce hydrogen, which can then be
separated and used as a fuel or source of energy.
• One method of producing hydrogen is electrolysis, where an electrical current is used to separate
hydrogen and oxygen in water. If renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro, etc.) are used to produce
electricity for this process, the hydrogen generated is considered 'green', as there are no carbon
emissions during the entire production process, making green hydrogen one of the cleanest fuels
currently available.
• At present, the annual global demand for hydrogen stands at 70 million metric tons, 76% of which is
produced from natural gas, 23% from coal, and the remaining from the electrolysis of water. The aim is
to increase hydrogen production by the electrolysis method and reduce production via the other two
methods. Cost parity between green hydrogen and hydrogen derived from natural gas can be achieved
by 2030, if not earlier.
• PM Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)
Why in News?
PIB: Opportunity for opening Janaushadhi Kendra in 651 Districts across the country
With an objective of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all, Pradhan Mantri
Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of
Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government in 2008.
Under this scheme, there are already more than 9000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are functional across the country.
The Government has set a target to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras to 10,000 by March 2024.
The product basket of PMBJP comprises 1759 medicines and 280 surgical devices covering all major therapeutic
groups
With this objective, the Government has approved the proposal of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
Bureau of India (PMBI), the implementing agency of PMBJP to invite online applications for opening of new
Jan Aushadhi Kendras in 651 districts of different States/UTs.
This scheme provides an excellent opportunity of self-employment with sustainable and regular earnings.
Under PMBJP, an incentive of Rs. 5.00 lakh is provided to the Jan Aushadhi Kendras as financial assistance and
one-time additional incentive of Rs. 2.00 lakh (as reimbursement for IT and Infra expenditure) is provided to
Jan Aushadhi Kendras opened in North-Eastern States, Himalayan areas, island territories and backward areas
identified as aspirational districts by NITI Ayog or if opened by Women Entrepreneur, Ex-serviceman, Divyang,
SCs & STs.
• PM SVANidhi
Why In News?
PIB: In last 2 years, PM SVANidhi disburses more than 40.07 lakh loans worth Rs. 4,606.36 crore to 45.32 lakh
beneficiaries across two tranches
The scheme has received an enormously positive response from street vendors across the country, and has
become one of the fastest growing micro-credit schemes of the Government of India.
In line with the Digital India vision, PM SVANidhi has also provided a platform for financial inclusion by
facilitating the street vendors to carry out digital transactions. The street vendors have recorded 37.70 crore
digital transactions to the tune of more than Rs. 45,000 crore. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has
released Rs. 23.02 crore as cashback to the beneficiaries to promote the use of digital transactions.
These are the following provisions as per the latest notification;
1. Extension of lending period till December 2024;
2. Introduction of 3rd loan of upto ₹50,000 in addition to 1st & 2nd loans of ₹10,000 and ₹20,000
respectively.
3. To extend ‘SVANidhi Se Samriddhi’ component for all beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi scheme across the
country;
‘SVANidhi Se Samriddhi’ was launched in January 2021 to map the socio-economic profile of the PM SVANidhi
beneficiaries and their families.
The subject matter relating to creation of vending zone falls under the ambit of Street Vendors (Protection of
Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014, which is being implemented through respective
State/UT.
42 lakh street vendors are to be provided benefits under PM SVANidhi Scheme by December, 2024.
PM SVANIDHI:
• Launched: 2020
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
• Funding: Since it is a central sector scheme, it is fully funded by the Government of India.
The PM SVANidhi scheme intends to empower Street Vendors by not only extending loans to them, but also
for their holistic development and economic upliftment and offers incentives in the form of:
• interest subsidy @ 7% per annum on regular repayment of loan
• cashback upto INR 1200/- per annum on undertaking prescribed digital transactions
• eligibility for enhanced next tranche of loans
• Mission LiFE
Why In News?
PIB: National Museum of Natural History takes the message of Mission LiFE to the youth of the country
National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), a subordinate office of Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEFCC), organized Mission LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment) awareness programme for youth
to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda at Dyal Singh College, New Delhi.
Mission LiFE: Overview
The concept of LiFE was introduced by the Prime Minister at COP26 at Glasgow on 1 November 2021.
NITI Aayog will curate and incubate Mission LiFE in the first year, and it will subsequently be implemented by
MoEFCC. The mission is a 5-year programme.
Mission LiFE is designed with the objective to mobilise at least one billion Indians and other global citizens to
take individual and collective action for protecting and preserving the environment in the period 2022 to 2027.
Within India, at least 80% of all villages and urban local bodies are aimed to become environment-friendly by
2028.
Mission LiFE emboldens the spirit of the P3 model i.e. Pro Planet People. Mission Life, unites the people of the
earth as pro planet people, uniting them all in their thoughts. It functions on the basic principles of ‘Lifestyle
of the planet, for the planet and by the planet’.
Mission LiFE aims at following a three-pronged strategy for changing our collective approach towards
sustainability.
• First is by nudging individuals to practise simple yet effective environment-friendly actions in their daily
lives (demand).
• Second is by enabling industries and markets to respond swiftly to the changing demand (supply) and;
• Third is to influence government and industrial policy to support both sustainable consumption and
production (policy).
• Atal Bhujal Yojana
Why In News?
PIB: National Level Steering Committee reviews overall progress of Atal Bhujal Yojana
The third meeting of the National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) of the Atal Bhujal Yojana was held in New
Delhi in January, 2023.
While it was approved in 2019 by the Union Cabinet, Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL) is being implemented as a
Central Sector Scheme since April, 2020 in 8220 water stressed Gram Panchayats of 229 administrative
blocks/Talukas in 80 districts of seven States, viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for five-year period (2020-25). The total outlay for the scheme is Rs 6000 Crore
for this period of five years. The nodal ministry is the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Background:
Ground water contributes to nearly 65% of total irrigated area of the country and nearly 85% of the rural
drinking water supply. The limited ground water resources in the country are under threat due to the
increasing demands of growing population, urbanization and industrialization. Intensive and unregulated
ground water pumping in many areas has caused rapid and widespread decline in ground water levels as well
as reduction in the sustainability of ground water abstraction structures. The problem of reduction in ground
water availability is further compounded by deteriorating ground water quality in some parts of the country.
The increasing stress on ground water due to over- exploitation, contamination and associated environmental
impacts threaten to endanger the food security of the nation, unless necessary preventive / remedial measures
are taken on priority.
On the Birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (25th December, 2019), Prime
Minister Narendra Modi launched Atal Bhujal Yojana (ATAL JAL).
The scheme envisages active participation of the communities in the participating states in various activities
such as formation/strengthening of Water User Associations, monitoring and disseminating ground water data,
water budgeting, preparation of Gram Panchayat wise water security plans & their implementation through
convergence of ongoing schemes and IEC activities related to sustainable ground water management.
Participation of women has been ensured by mandating 20% presence of women in the committees.
Out of the total outlay of Rs. 6000 crore, 50% shall be in the form of World Bank loan, and be repaid by the
Central Government. The remaining 50% shall be through Central Assistance. from regular budgetary support.
The entire World Bank's loan component and Central Assistance shall be passed on to the States as Grants.
Beneficiaries
The recipients of ATAL JAL are the economies, occupations, and social orders that depend upon ground water
assets for flourishing and wellbeing. The arrest in decline of ground water levels is likely to improve water
regimes required for agriculture, domestic, and industrial purposes, thereby generating societal benefit. In
particular, it will have positive impacts on
• Women, small marginal farmers, and agricultural labourers
• Central and state government agencies responsible for ground water management
• Population affected by floods and droughts, particularly poor people living in the rural areas
• Environment and Agriculture ministries; research and educational institutions; NGOs; civil society
organizations; students and researchers; and the private sector.
ATAL JAL: Components
A. Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building Component - for strengthening institutional
arrangements for sustainable ground water management in the states including improving monitoring
networks, capacity building, strengthening of Water User Associations, etc.
B. Incentive Component - for incentivising the States for achievements in improved groundwater
management practices namely, data dissemination, preparation of water security plans,
implementation of management interventions through convergence of ongoing schemes, adopting
demand side management practices etc.
ATAL JAL: Outcomes
A. Institutional strengthening for improving ground water monitoring networks and capacity building of
stakeholders at different levels which will enhance ground water data storage, exchange, analysis and
dissemination.
B. Improved and realistic water budgeting based on an improved database and preparation of community-
led Water Security Plans at Panchayat level.
C. Implementation of Water Security Plans through convergence of various ongoing/new schemes of the
Government of India and State Governments to facilitate judicious and effective utilization of funds for
sustainable ground water management.
D. Efficient use of available ground water resources with emphasis on demand side measures such as
micro-irrigation, crop diversification, electricity feeder separation etc.
• National SC – ST Hub
Why In News?
PIB: National SC – ST Hub Conclave to be held in Mumbai on 23rd January
The Government is organizing a National SC-ST Hub Conclave in Mumbai, on Monday, 23rd January, 2023. The
day-long national conclave is being organized by the Union Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises,
at World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai, to promote the culture of entrepreneurship among members
of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities and to spread awareness of the National SC-ST Hub
(NSSH) and other schemes of the MSME Ministry. The event will be inaugurated by the Union MSME Minister
Narayan Rane.
The conclave provides an interactive platform to both aspiring and existing SC-ST entrepreneurs to interact
with diverse stakeholders comprising Central Public Sector Enterprises, Industry Associations, lending
institutions and concerned central and State government departments. Through the exchange of ideas and
deliberation on challenges and opportunities, the SC-ST MSMEs are also expected to be able to expand their
horizons by incorporating new ideas by becoming better aware of the various interventions being taken by the
Government.
The objective of National SC-ST Hub is to develop a supportive ecosystem for SC/ST entrepreneurs to achieve
the mandated 4% procurement by the CPSEs from the SC/ST entrepreneurs as laid down in Central
Government Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises Order 2012.
National SC-ST Hub scheme:
• Launch: 2016
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of MSME
• Nodal Agency: National Small Industries Corporation
• Objective: To provide professional support to SC/ST entrepreneurs to fulfill the obligations under the
Central Government Public Procurement Policy for MSME
Key Objective:
The National SC ST Hub is set up to provide professional support to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe
Entrepreneurs to fulfill the obligations under the Central Government Public Procurement Policy for Micro and
Small Enterprises Order 2012, adopt applicable business practices and leverage the Stand-Up India initiatives.
The other main action points include:
• To encourage SC/ST owned units to achieve their share of at least 4% of total procurement being made
by Central/State Governments, CPSEs and other government agencies
• To prepare strategy for intervention through industry associations to sensitize, encourage and enable
the SC/ST owned units for participation in Public Procurement Process
• Collection, collation and dissemination of information regarding SC/ST enterprises and entrepreneurs
• Facilitating SC/ST Entrepreneurs to be part of vendor development programs and mentoring support by
specific CPSE matching the products/services of such entrepreneurs
• Facilitating SC/ST Entrepreneurs’ participation in Public Procurement through the e-platform of DGS&D
and monitoring the progress
High Powered monitoring Committee: Minister of MSME is the chairperson of the committee. The committee
members are representatives of various stakeholders including states, various ministries, industry associations
& SC/ST entrepreneurs.
Under the Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme, all the SC-ST MSEs of manufacturing as well as service
sector are eligible for 25% subsidy, with ceiling of Rs. 25 lakh, for procurement of Plant & Machinery and
equipment through institutional credit.
The Hub is being implemented by the Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India through National Small Industries
Corporation (NSIC), a public-sector undertaking under the administrative control of this Ministry.
• Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme
Why In News?
PIB: EPCG Scheme Relaxed for Sectors Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic
The Indian government has announced a one-time relaxation from maintaining average export obligation and
an option to extend the export obligation period for certain sectors under the Export Promotion Capital Goods
(EPCG) Scheme. The sectors that are eligible for this relief are the Hotel, Healthcare, and Educational sectors.
For the years 2020-21 and 2021-22, these sectors will not be required to maintain average export obligation
for EPCG authorizations issued to them.
What are Capital Goods?
 Capital goods are physical assets that a company uses in the production process to manufacture
products and services that consumers will later use.
 Capital goods include buildings, machinery, equipment, vehicles, and tools.
 Capital goods are not finished goods, instead, they are used to make finished goods.
 The Capital Goods sector has a multiplier effect and has bearing on the growth of the user industries
as it provides critical input, i.e., machinery and equipment to the remaining sectors covered under the
manufacturing activity.
Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme:
The Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme is a trade promotion scheme implemented by the Indian
government that allows duty-free import of capital goods for the purpose of export production in India. The
scheme aims to encourage the production of goods for export by providing import duty concessions on capital
goods. The EPCG scheme is administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and is governed
by the Foreign Trade Policy of India.
o EPCG Scheme was launched in the 1990s to facilitate import of capital goods with the aim to enhance
the production quality of goods and services, thereby, increasing India’s international manufacturing
competitiveness.
o Under the scheme, manufacturers can import capital goods for pre-production, production and post-
production goods without attracting any customs duty on them.
• Second-hand capital goods may also be imported without any restriction on age under the EPCG
Scheme.
o The exemption from paying the obligation of customs duty on the import of capital goods is subject to
fulfilment of an export value equivalent to 6 times of duty saved on the importation of such capital
goods within 6 years from the date of issuance of the authorization.
• This would mean that the importer (being export-oriented) needs to attract earnings in foreign
currency which equals 600% of the customs duty saved in domestic currency, within 6 years of
availing benefits of the Scheme.
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
Why In News?
PIB: Agriculture Infrastructure Fund crosses Rs.30,000 crore mark of capital mobilization
Within two-and-a-half years of the implementation of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), the scheme
has mobilized more than Rs.30,000 crore for projects in the agriculture infrastructure sector with a sanctioned
amount of Rs.15,000 crore under AIF. With support of 3% interest subvention, credit guarantee support
through CGTMSE for loan of upto Rs. 2 crore and facility of convergence with other Central and State Govt.
Scheme, AIF is providing all around financial support to the farmers, agri-entrepreneurs, farmer groups like
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) etc. and many
others to create post-harvest management infrastructure and build community farming asset throughout the
country.
Agriculture Infra Fund (AIF) is a financing facility launched on 8th July 2020 under the visionary guidance of the
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, for creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and community
farm assets. Under this scheme, Rs 1 lakh crore is to be disbursed by financial year 2025-26 and the interest
subvention and credit guarantee assistance will be given till the year 2032-33. The scheme is implemented by
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Apart from AIF, the Government has also implemented the following schemes for bringing improvements in
the Infrastructure Facilities in the Agriculture:
i. Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI), a sub-scheme of Integrated Scheme for Agricultural
Marketing (ISAM) under which assistance is provided for construction/ renovation of godowns/
warehouses in the rural areas in the States to enhance the storage capacity for agriculture produce. AMI
is demand-driven scheme in which subsidy is provided at the rate of 25% and 33.33% on capital cost of
the project based on the category of eligible beneficiary. Assistance under this scheme is available to
Individuals, Farmers, Group of farmers/growers, Agri-preneurs, Registered Farmer Produce
Organizations (FPOs), Cooperatives, and state agencies etc. The scheme is demand driven.
ii. National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) scheme, a virtual platform integrating physical wholesale mandis/
markets of different States/ Union Territories (UTs) to facilitate online trading of agriculture and
horticulture commodities to enable farmers to realize better remunerative prices for their produce.
iii. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) under which financial assistance for setting
up of Post-Harvest Management Infrastructure including cold storage, cold room facilities for
horticultural produce @ 35% of the project cost in general areas and 50% in case of hilly and scheduled
areas per beneficiary is available. The component is demand/ entrepreneur driven through commercial
ventures for which Government assistance is credit linked and back ended.
iv. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under which the funds are released
to the State Governments as Grants-in-Aid on the basis of projects in Agriculture & allied sectors
approved in the State Level Sanctioning Committee Meeting (SLSC) headed by the Chief Secretary of the
concerned State, which is the empowered body to approve projects under the scheme. In this scheme
Sates has flexibility and autonomy in the process of selection, planning, approval and execution projects
in agriculture and allied sectors as per their priorities. RKVY is primarily a project oriented scheme, the
benefit of which is available to all sections of the farming community.
• Jal Jeevan Mission
Why In News?
PIB: PM lauds the achievement of 11 Crore Tap water connections under Jal Jeevan Mission
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has praised achievement of 11 Crore Tap water connections under Jal
Jeevan Mission. Shri Modi also congratulated to all those who have benefitted from this initiative and
compliments to those working on the ground to make this Mission a success.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a centrally sponsored scheme, is being implemented in partnership with States, since
August, 2019 to make provision of potable tap water supply to every rural household of the country on regular
and long-term basis, by 2024.
At the time of announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission (Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti), 3.23 Crore rural
households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as on 25th January, 2023, out of 19.35 Crore
rural households in the country, around 11 Crore households are reported to have tap water supply in their
homes and the remaining rural households are planned to be covered by 2024.
Goa has become the first ‘Har Ghar Jal’ certified State in the country, where people from all the villages have
declared their village as ‘Har Ghar Jal’ through a resolution passed by Gram Sabha, certifying that all households
in the villages have access to safe drinking water through taps, ensuring that ‘No One is Left Out’. All 2.63 lakh
rural households of Goa have access to potable water through tap connection;
Jal Jeevan Mission is a ‘bottom up’ approach where community plays a vital role from planning to
implementation, management, operation and maintenance. To achieve this, Village Water & Sanitation
Committees (VWSC)/ Pani Samitis are being constituted and strengthened. Village Action Plans are developed
through community engagement and Implementation Support Agencies (ISAs) are engaged to support village
communities in programme implementation and create awareness among people.
Jal Jeevan Mission aims to also strengthen women of the country, who otherwise are forced to bring water
especially in rural areas from far-fetched areas. It strives for the freedom of mothers and sisters from centuries’
old drudgery of fetching water for the household, and improving their health, education and socio- economic
condition. The mission is bringing ease of living and adding pride and dignity to rural families.
Use of Technology: While addressing a webinar held on February 23, 2022, under the theme ‘Leaving no citizen
behind’ on positive impact of Union Budget 2022 on water and sanitation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
stressed upon use of technology, service delivery & community participation to achieve ‘Har Ghar Jal’ by 2024.
• Jal Jeevan Mission leverages the use of technology to ensure transparency, accountability, proper
utilization of funds and service delivery.
• Every water supply asset created under Jal Jeevan Mission is geo-tagged.
• Hydro-Geo Morphological (HGM) maps are used in planning single village scheme to identify drinking
water sources and construct aquifer recharge structure.
• Household tap connections provided by JJM are linked with Aadhaar number of the head of the
household.
• All financial transactions are undertaken through Public Finance Management System (PFMS).
• To ensure transparency and accountability in implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission, all information
about Jal Jeevan Mission is in public domain and the JJM dashboard can be accessed at
https://ejalshakti.gov.in/jjmreport/JJMIndia.aspx.
• Jal Jeevan Mission App has also been launched for improving awareness among stakeholders.
Budgetary Allocation:
To achieve the mammoth task of providing tap water supply to every rural household in a span of five years,
Rs 3.60 lakh Crore has been allocated. Rs. 60,000 Crore has been allocated to ‘Har Ghar Jal’ in Union Budget
2022-23 to provide tap water to 3.80 Crore households.
In addition to above, in 2021-22, Rs 26,940 Crore has been allocated to States as 15th Finance Commission tied
grant for water & sanitation to Rural Local Bodies/ PRIs. There is an assured funding of Rs 1,42,084 Crore for
the next five years i.e. up to 2025-26. This huge investment in rural areas across the country, is accelerating
economic activities and boosting rural economy, as well as creating employment opportunities in villages.
• PM – Employment Generation Program (PMEGP)
Why In News?
PIB: Margin Money worth Rs. 100.29 Crore distributed among 3223 beneficiaries Under PMEGP Scheme , 26000
new employment generated
Chairman, Khadi and Village Industries Commission Shri Manoj Kumar released margin money grant of Rs
100.29 crore to 3223 beneficiaries of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand under the
Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP) implemented by KVIC.
About the Scheme:
• Launched in 2008, the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Program, a central sector scheme, is
playing a crucial role in realizing the dream of a self-reliant India. The Khadi and Village Industries
Commission through its various programs is generating employment opportunities for artisans at their
door steps in remote areas at very low cost. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is the nodal
agency at the national level. At the State/District level, State offices of KVIC, Khadi and Village Industries
Boards (KVIBs) and District Industry Centres (DIC) are the implementing agencies in the States in the
ratio of 30:30:40. The nodal ministry is the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• The PMEGP has now been approved for continuation over the 15th Finance Commission Cycle for five
years from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs 13,554.42 crore.
• This scheme of the Government of India is playing vital role in providing employment to the
unemployed youth of rural and urban areas. Under this scheme, any entrepreneur can set up a unit
up to Rs 50 lakh in the manufacturing sector and up to Rs 20 lakh in the service sector. For the
establishment of these units, 15% to 25% of the entire project cost is provided to the beneficiaries in
urban areas and 25% to 35% in rural areas as grant by the Government of India. Along with this, free
entrepreneurship development training is also provided to the beneficiaries after loan approval to
make them established entrepreneurs.
Eligibility:
• Any individual, above 18 years of age.
• Only new projects/units are considered for sanction of loans.
• Self-help groups that have not availed benefits under any other public scheme, societies, production
co-operative societies, and charitable trusts.
Role of Banks:
Loans are provided by Public Sector Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Co-operative Banks and Private Scheduled
Commercial Banks approved by respective State Task Force Committee.
Changes:
• The definition of village industry and rural area has been changed for the scheme.
• Areas falling under Panchayati Raj institutions would be accounted under rural areas, whereas areas
under Municipality will be treated as urban areas.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC):
• The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body established by an Act of
Parliament in 1956. In April 1957, it took over the work of former All India Khadi and Village Industries
Board.
• The broad objectives, that the KVIC has set before it, are;
• The social objective of providing employment.
• The economic objective of producing saleable articles.
• The wider objective of creating self-reliance amongst the poor and building up of a strong rural
community spirit.
• The KVIC is charged with the planning, promotion, organisation and implementation of programs for
the development of Khadi and other village industries in the rural areas in coordination with other
agencies engaged in rural development wherever necessary.
Economy & Finance

• GST Revenue from December 2022
The gross GST revenue collected during December 2022 is Rs 1,49,507 crore, of which CGST is Rs 26,711 crore,
SGST is Rs 33,357 crore, IGST is Rs 78,434 crore (including Rs 40,263 crore collected on import of goods) and
Cess is Rs 11,005 crore (including Rs 850 crore collected on import of goods).
When GST was introduced by the central government in July 2017, the idea was to subsume all the
various indirect taxes into one. The reason to implement GST was to simplify the indirect taxation
system for the supply and demand side. India is a federal country and we have many levels of
governance. In terms of finance, both central and state governments are permitted to collect and levy
taxes
The three components of GST are: -
• CGST: Central Goods and Services Tax
• SGST: State Goods and Services Tax
• IGST: Integrated Goods and Services Tax
CGST and SGST are used for intra state transfer of goods and services. Intrastate means within the same
state. For example: Movement of goods from Delhi and within Delhi will attract CGST and SGST.
Integrated Goods and Service Tax or IGST numerically equals= CGST+SGST. The movement of goods
from New Delhi to Agra will attract IGST.
The revenues for the month of December 2022 are 15% higher than the GST revenues in the same month last
year. During the month, revenue from the import of goods was 8% higher and the revenues from domestic
transaction (including the import of services) are 18% higher than the revenues from these sources during the
same month last year. During the month of November, 2022, 7.9 crore e-way bills were generated, which was
significantly higher than 7.6 crore e-way bills generated in October, 2022.
• VIRAASAT
The second phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India took place from
3rd to 17th January 2023 at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi. It was organised by the Ministry of Textiles.
The second phase, having 90 participants from different parts of the country, brings enhanced attraction by
participation of famous Handcrafted varieties of Saris like Tie and Dye, Chikan embroidered Saris, Hand Block
Saris, Kalamkari printed Saris, Ajrakh, Kantha and Phulkari.
The first phase of “VIRAASAT”- Celebrating 75 handwoven Saris of India started on 16th December 2022 and
concluded on 30th December 2022. The event was inaugurated by Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala
Sitharaman on 16th December 2022.
Handloom sector is a symbol of our country’s rich and varied cultural heritage, besides being one of the key
sectors providing employment to a large number of people, especially women. The event celebrates both the
tradition as well as potential of the Handloom Sector in its full strength.
Handloom Sector:
The handloom sector of India is one of the biggest unorganised economic activities. The handloom industry in
India has a long tradition of outstanding artisanship that represents and preserves vibrant Indian culture. India's
handloom artists are globally known for their unique hand spinning, weaving and printing style. They are based
out of small towns and villages of the country which transfer skills from one generation to the next. The
handloom industry is the country's largest cottage industry, with 23.77 lakh looms. It is also the second-largest
employment provider in the rural region employing more than 3 million people in direct and allied activities.
According to the Handloom Census 2019-20, the industry employs about 3,522,512 handloom workers across
the country. The industry primarily employs women workers with a share of 72.29% of the total handloom
workers.
India exports handloom products to more than 20 countries in the world. Some of the top importers are the
US, the UK, Spain, Australia, Italy, Germany, France, South Africa, Netherlands and UAE. US is the biggest
importer of handloom products from India, consistently the top importer for the past 8 years. During 2020-21,
the country imported handloom products worth Rs. 613.78 crore (US$ 83 million). The exports to the UK, which
was the second largest importer of handloom from India during 2020-21 increased by 9.7% to Rs. 140.2 crore
(US$ 19 million) from Rs. 123.13 crore (US$ 17.3 million) during 2019-20.
Government Initiatives:
• National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP): The NHDP programme has several components
that focus on various stages of the handloom business. The Cluster Development Programme (CDP)
provides financial benefits to clusters and during 2021-22, assisted 66 clusters. In addition to this, the
government provides Handloom Marketing Assistance (HMA), the Urban Haats scheme and handloom
awards to develop the industry and encourage businesses in India. For the development of mega
handloom clusters, the Government of India plans to provide financial assistance of Rs. 30 crore (US$
3.9 million) to at least 10,000 handlooms.
• Market Access Initiative (MAI): The MAI, launched in 2018, was revised in 2021 and will be in effect till
March 2026. This scheme will act as a catalyst to promote India's exports on a sustained basis. MAI is
based on a produce specific approach with market studies and research on evolving the markets. The
main activities of this initiative are marketing the products internationally, building capacity, supporting
the statuary compliances, carrying out studies, developing projects, providing portal for foreign trade
facilitation and also support the smaller and traditional industries. Through the MAI, various
components (Trade fairs, exhibitions, market research, buyer-seller meets, etc.) of industry
development will have specific ceiling budgets.
GOVERNING BODY
• The Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC): The HEPC was formed in 1965 and is a not-for-profit
organization. The council supports and promotes the export of Indian handloom fabrics by undertaking
market studies and trade missions, disseminating information, advising governments and providing
guidance and consultancy to exporters. The HEPC also organizes and participates in international trade
fairs and buyer-seller meets in India and abroad.
• Rising Popularity of UPI payments
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has lauded fellow Indians for embracing digital payments as India
reached a milestone of 782 Crore UPI Transactions worth ₹12.8 Lakh Crore in Dec 2022.
UPI:
• Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile
application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing &
merchant payments into one hood. It also caters to the “Peer to Peer” collect request which can be
scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.
• UPI is an initiative that was taken by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016 as they
partnered with the Reserve Bank of India and Indian Banks Association (IBA).
• NPCI is a firm that handles the RuPay payments infrastructure and is similar to MasterCard and Visa. It
enables various banks to interconnect and also transfer funds.
• Immediate Payments Service (IMPS) is another initiative by the NPCI. UPI is now considered as an
advanced version of the IMPS facility.
• Assistance by Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966, which
is headquartered in Manila, Philippines. The bank also maintains 31 field offices around the world to promote
social and economic development in Asia.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable
Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. It assists its members and
partners by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and
economic development.
The following agreements were signed in January, 2023.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $350 million loan to build
new lines and improve the connectivity of the metro rail system in Chennai with the city’s existing
public transport system.
• Further, the ADB and the Government of India signed a $300 million loan to upgrade over 300
kilometres of state highways and major district roads (MDRs) in Assam.
• The ADB and India also signed a $220 million loan to improve energy security, quality of supply,
efficiency, and resilience of power sector in Tripura.
• They also signed a $350 million loan to improve the connectivity of key economic areas in the state of
Maharashtra.
• Intelligent Tray Retrieval System
Union Minister for MSME, Shri Narayan Rane, inaugurated virtually Intelligent Tray Retrieval System (ITRS),
Manufactured by M/s SJK Innovations Pvt. Ltd, an MSME-Make in India Company at MOPA (GOA) International
airport.
The ITRS is an Artificial Intelligence based fully automatic machine that helps in providing enhanced passenger
security with advanced screening technology. The machine is equipped with image analysis software with
advanced tools that makes it easy for the screener to take correct decisions against every baggage. This in turn
helps the passenger to complete the screening much faster and easier when compared to the conventional
machines. The machine also contains a dedicated module for the high threat baggage’s which needs immediate
attention at the airport. The ITRS machine is one of its kind that gives passengers a unique travel experience
during the hand baggage screening at the airport.
• 1 Advance Estimates of National Income
st
The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation releases the First
Advance Estimates (FAE) of National Income at both Constant (2011-12) and Current Prices, for the financial
year 2022-23.
The First Advance Estimates of GDP, introduced in 2016-17 to serve as essential inputs to the Budget exercise,
is based on limited data and compiled using the Benchmark-Indicator Method i.e. the estimates available for
the previous year (2021-22 in this case) are extrapolated using relevant indicators reflecting the performance
of sectors.
• Real GDP or GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in the year 2022-23 is estimated at ₹157.60 lakh crore,
as against the Provisional Estimate of GDP for the year 2021-22 of ₹147.36 lakh crore, released on
31st May, 2022. The growth in real GDP during 2022-23 is estimated at 7.0 per cent as compared to 8.7
per cent in 2021-22.
• Nominal GDP or GDP at Current Prices in the year 2022-23 is estimated at ₹273.08 lakh crore, as against
the Provisional Estimate of GDP for the year 2021-22 of ₹236.65 lakh crore, released on 31st May, 2022.
The growth in nominal GDP during 2022-23 is estimated at 15.4 per cent as compared to 19.5 per cent
in 2021-22.
• Startup India Innovation Week
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry is
organizing Startup India Innovation Week from 10th January 2023 to 16th January 2023 to celebrate the Indian
Startup Ecosystem as well as National Startup Day (16th January 2023).
Startup India Innovation Week 2023 will include Knowledge Sharing Sessions for entrepreneurs, aspiring
entrepreneurs, and other enablers, involving relevant stakeholders from the startup ecosystem such as
Government officials, incubators, corporates and investors.
Furthermore, to commemorate National Startup Day on 16th January 2023, DPIIT is organizing the felicitation
ceremony for the winners of National Startup Awards 2022, a flagship initiative under Startup India. The
ceremony will recognize and reward the excellence exhibited by startups and ecosystem enablers across
different sectors, sub-sectors, and categories.
Since the launch of the Startup India initiative on 16th January 2016, the Indian startup ecosystem has grown
to become the 3rd largest in the world, with over 60,000 startups across 633 districts from all 28 States and 8
Union Territories.
• World Spice Congress
India is known as the ‘Spice Bowl’ of the world. It produces a number of quality, rare and medicinal spices.
With an aim to open up newer opportunities to promote international trade of Indian spices, the 14th edition
of the World Spice Congress (WSC), is to be held in Mumbai from 16-18 February 2023.
A majority of the spice trade in India takes place during the last quarter of the year and the Indian spice industry
is looking forward to an increased export of spices during January -March 2023, which is expected to take the
total exports towards the USD 4 billion mark. The WSC 2023 will provide a platform to further explore diverse
possibilities in this area.
This year’s WSC 2023, supported by the Government of India, is expected to be bigger and far more diverse
compared to previous editions and will have special state pavilions and commodity pavilions. The event will
provide an opportunity for the spice fraternity to meet and promote Indian brands before a bigger global
audience.
Spices Board (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India) is the flagship organisation for the
development and worldwide promotion of Indian spices. The Board is an international link between the Indian
exporters and the importers abroad. The Board has been spearheading activities for excellence of Indian spices,
involving every segment of the industry. The Board has made quality and hygiene the corner stones for its
development and promotional strategies.
India is the world’s largest spice producer. It is also the largest consumer and exporter of spices. The production
of different spices has been growing rapidly over the last few years. Production in 2021-22 stood at 10.88
million tonnes. During 2020-21, the export of spices reached an all-time high both in terms of value and volume
by registering a growth of 17% in US$ value terms and 30% in volume terms.
During 2021-22, the single largest spice exported from India was chilli followed by spice oils and oleoresins,
mint products, cumin and turmeric.
• National Board of MSME

Union Minister of MSME Shri Narayan Rane chaired the 19th meeting of the National Board of MSME
(NBMSME).
Union Minister released the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) India Report 2021-22. The GEM is a
global study conducted by GEM Consortium with the aim to collect internationally comparative primary data
on entrepreneurial activity and its related concepts.
National Board of MSME:
The National Board for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (NBMSME) was established / notified for the
first time on 15th May 2007 consisting of 47 members including Chairman, Vice Chairman and Member
Secretary in accordance with the Sub Section 1 of Section 3 of MSMED Act, 2006 and National Board for
Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Rules, 2006. The Minister in-charge of Ministry of MSME is ex-officio
Chairman of the National Board.
Functions of the National Board:
• Examine the factors affecting the promotion and development of Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises and review the policies & programmes of the Central Government in regards to
facilitating the promotion & development & enhancing the competitiveness of such enterprises
and the impact thereof on such enterprises.
• Make recommendations on matters referred to in clause (a) above or any other matter referred
to it by the Central Government which, in the opinion of that Government, is necessary or
expedient for facilitating the promotion and development and enhancing the competitiveness of
the micro, small and medium enterprises.
• Advise the Central Government on the use of the Funds.
MSME Sector in India:

The Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector is a major contributor to the socio-economic
development of the country. In India, the sector has gained significant importance due to its contribution to
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country and exports. The MSME sector contributes more than 29% to the
national GDP and 50% of the country’s total exports. The sector has also contributed immensely with respect
to entrepreneurship development especially in semi-urban and rural areas of India. Overall, this sector employs
more than 12 crore people and this number is expected to grow to 15 crore in the next few years.
How has the MSME sector in India evolved over the years?
Small-scale businesses have been a hallmark of the Indian economy since independence. Over the last five
decades, the MSME sector has evolved to show itself as a vibrant and dynamic component of the economy.
• Initially, the non-agricultural MSME sector was heterogeneous and consisted of traditional industries.
These included khadi, silk, coir, cottage and village industries, Small Scale Service and Business
Enterprises (SSSBEs), and Small Scale Industries (SSIs). Today, all these industries are clubbed together
under the umbrella term of Small Scale Industries (SSI).
• In 2006, the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act was enacted. This
statute aimed to incorporate all the diverse industries, the service sector, and medium enterprises.
• As a result, the MSME sector in India is classified into two categories: the manufacturing and service
industries. Furthermore, the industries are classified as micro, small, and medium based on the
investment made toward machinery and equipment. This categorisation is shown in the table shown
above.
What are the challenges for the MSME sector today?
The sector is expected to shoulder a substantial portion of the country's vision to turn into a $5-trillion
economy. But there are some challenges that lie ahead:
• Need for digitisation: Owing to problems like the dearth of proper infrastructure, finance, and limited
knowledge, the MSME sector has been slow in going digital. Digitising the sector could help in enhancing
efficiency and reliability, cutting costs, and keeping up with trends.
• Importance of business knowledge: With growing competition, it is imperative for MSMEs to have a
thorough grasp of the opportunities, challenges, in-depth know-how, trends, and risks of the industry
to run a successful business. The right business strategy can help a company scale up.
• Problems related to funding: Many MSMEs may not have all the financial documentation in place or
enough access to digitisation in order to take advantage of government schemes. There is also a
challenge with collateral as the perceived risk of funding MSMEs is higher. Cash flow and working capital
issues are challenging, especially in instances where payments are delayed. While protections exist
under the MSMED Act, such as penalties for delayed payments, the fear of losing long-term business
means that these protections are rarely ever invoked.
Statutory Bodies:
MSME Ministry has five statutory bodies:
• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) which is responsible for promoting and developing
khadi and village industries for providing employment opportunities in rural areas, thereby
strengthening the rural economy,
• Coir Board in charge of promoting overall development of the coir industry and improving living
conditions of workers in this industry,
• National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC) responsible for promoting, aiding and fostering
growth of micro and small enterprises in the country, generally on commercial basis,
• National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, (NI-MSME) in-charge of enterprise
promotion and entrepreneurship development, enabling enterprise creation, performing diagnostic
development studies for policy formulation, etc.
• And lastly, Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Rural Industrialisation (MGIRI) responsible for accelerating
rural industrialisation for sustainable village economy, attract professionals and experts to Gram Swaraj,
empower traditional artisans, encourage innovation through pilot study/field trials and R&D for
alternative technology using local resources.
• Consumer Price Index: Rural, Urban and Combined
The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is releasing All
India Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Base 2012=100 and corresponding Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) for Rural
(R), Urban (U) and Combined (C) for the month of December 2022 (Provisional).
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of price changes in a basket of consumer goods and services purchased
by households. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures price fluctuations at the consumer level.
• Index of Industrial Production

The Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) are released on 12th of every month (or previous
working day if 12th is a holiday) with a six weeks lag and compiled with data received from source agencies,
which in turn receive the data from the producing factories/ establishments.
For the month of November 2022, the Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with base 2011-
12 stands at 137.1. The Indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors
for the month of November 2022 stand at 122.7, 136.7 and 166.7 respectively. These Quick Estimates will
undergo revision in subsequent releases as per the revision policy of IIP.
IIP: Overview
• It is a composite indicator that measures the growth rate of industry groups classified under:
o Broad sectors, namely, Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity.
o Use-based sectors, namely Basic Goods, Capital Goods, and Intermediate Goods.
• In India, the first official attempt to compute the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) was made much
earlier than the first recommendation on the subject came at the international level.
• With the inception of the Central Statistical Organization (now known as the National Statistics Office
(NSO)) in 1951, the responsibility for compilation and publication of IIP was vested with it.
o Ministry: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
o Base year: 2011-2012
o Sources of data: NSO compiles the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) using secondary data
received from 14 source agencies in various Ministries/Departments or their
attached/subordinate offices.
o The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) is the source for the major chunk of
data for the calculation.
About Eight Core Sectors:
• These comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• The eight core sector industries in decreasing order of their weightage: Refinery Products> Electricity>
Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers.
• Central Consumer Protection Authority
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued notices to e-commerce entities, Amazon, Flipkart
and Snapdeal for sale of toys in violation to standards directed for compulsory use by the Central Government.
CCPA has sought response from the e-commerce entities within 7 days from issuance of notice, failing which
necessary action may be initiated against them under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Who is a consumer?
A Consumer is a person who purchases a product or avails a service for a consideration, either for his personal
use or to earn his livelihood by means of self-employment. The consideration may be:
• Paid
• Promised
• Partly paid and partly promised
Need for Consumer Protection:
Consumers play a vital role in the economic system of any nation. Consumers are the key players in the market
place and their consumption patterns greatly influence the society and the economy. In the modern philosophy
of marketing, consumer is supposed to be the ‘king’ and business is expected to provide maximum possible
satisfaction to consumers. Technology has made available a variety of goods and services to the consumers
from all over the world, which are only a click away. New products and services throng the market every day,
many of which disappear very soon. Coupled, with the revolution in information technology the consumers are
facing new challenges, such as cyber-crime, plastic money, unsustainable consumption, global warning etc.,
which affects them in a number of ways.
The consumer who is referred to as ‘king’ is actually a ‘victim’ of the market malpractices. Producers and sellers
have only one motto; to maximize profit by engaging in all sort of deleterious practices and producing products
that do not meet acceptable quality standards. In order to maximize profits, many businessmen exploit
consumers by supplying poor quality goods at higher prices. Consumers are exposed to physical, environmental
and other hazards. As a result, consumers do not get value for their money.
About the CCPA-
 It was established in 2020 to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers.
 It was constituted under section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 that replaced Consumer
Protection Act, 1986.
 The new act has been incorporated with additional consumer concerns like treating misleading
advertisements and providing wrong information regarding quality or quantity of goods or provision of
services as an offence.
 It deals with matters affecting rights of consumers by individuals or entities following improper trade
practices or by display of inappropriate or wrong advertisements affecting public interest.
 It helps to promote consumer trust by enforcing the rights of consumers through effective guidelines.
Composition-
It consists of the following members appointed by the Central Government.
 Chief Commissioner.
 Two Commissioners.
 One commissioner each will represent goods and services.
• New Regional Office of EPFO
Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Shri Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the Regional Office of
Employees’ provident Fund Organization (EPFO) at Alwar, Rajasthan.
Speaking on this occasion, Shri Bhupender Yadav underscored the important role played by EPFO in providing
social security to workers over the past 70 years.
EPFO is the custodian of hard-earned savings of over 6.4 crore members and their families, who dip into this
collective fund in vulnerable moments, which bestows an enormous responsibility on the organization. This
aspiration and the needs of the members have fuelled and driven EPFO’s vision to innovate and launch a series
of initiatives so that social security access is available 24x7. EPFO is an innovation driven social security
organization aiming to extend universal coverage and ensuring Nirbadh (seamless and uninterrupted) service
delivery to its stakeholders through state-of-the-art technology.
Employees Provident Fund Organisation:
• EPFO is one of the World's largest Social Security Organisations in terms of clientele and the volume of
financial transactions undertaken.
• The EPFO is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government
of India.
• Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) was established by an act of Parliament of India, to
provide social security to workers working in India. It came into force by Employee Provident Fund and
Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952.
• The Act and Schemes framed there under are administered by a tri-partite Board known as the Central
Board of Trustees, Employees' Provident Fund, consisting of representatives of Government (Both
Central and State), Employers, and Employees.
EPFO Schemes
EPF Scheme 1952
• Accumulation plus interest upon retirement and death.
• Partial withdrawals allowed for education, marriage, illness and house construction.
• Housing Scheme for EPFO Members to achieve the Hon'ble Prime Minister's Vision of housing to all
Indians by 2024.
Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS)
• Monthly benefit for superannuation/retirement, disability, survivor, widow(er) and children.
• Minimum pension on disablement.
• Past service benefit to participants of erstwhile Family Pension Scheme, 1971.
Insurance Scheme 1976 (EDLI)
• Benefit provided in case of death of an employee who was a member of the scheme at the time of
death.
• Benefit amount 20 times the wages. Maximum benefit of 6 lakh.
• Digital financing against e-Negotiable Warehouse Receipts
A conference on “Digital financing against e-Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (e-NWRs) and way forward” was
held at NABARD Head Office in Mumbai.
The purpose of the conference was to interact with bankers to increase post-harvest pledge finance against e-
NWRs issued by warehouses registered by WDRA and evolve mechanisms that would improve ease of doing
business. This would also help raise the post-harvest pledge financing from current levels. Bankers present
expressed their satisfaction with the e-NWR system established by WDRA as it provides them with considerable
safety and comfort against loans advanced by them against warehouse receipts. Loaning against e-NWRs has
shown a steady growth over the years. During FY 2022-23 the loan figure has already crossed Rs.1500 crores.
Participating bankers indicated the post-harvest loans they had made so far, and agreed to increase the loaning.
Warehouse Receipts:
A warehouse receipt is a document on which are itemized the goods stored in a warehouse. The receipt
represents title to the goods. Warehouse receipts can be used to sell goods without having to deliver them.
Instead, the new owner continues to store the goods in the warehouse.
There are two types of warehouse receipt, which are noted below.
• Negotiable Warehouse Receipt: A negotiable warehouse receipt specifies that the goods are
deliverable to the bearer of the document, which means that they can be used as collateral for loans. If
the borrower defaults, the lender takes over the warehouse receipt and can sell the goods to obtain
payment of the loan.
• Non-Negotiable Warehouse Receipt: A non-negotiable warehouse receipt specifies to whom the goods
shall be delivered.
About Negotiable Warehouse Receipt:
• The negotiable warehouse receipt (NWR) system was launched in 2011 allowing the transfer of
ownership of a commodity stored in a warehouse without having to deliver it physically.
• These receipts are issued in negotiable form, making them eligible as collateral.
• This has been enabled by enabling the financing of warehouse receipts through the Warehouse
(Development and Regulation) Act, 2007.
• The Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) regulates the entire operation under
NWR.
WDRA, being the regulator of the warehousing sector, always endeavours to improve the system to promote
scientific warehousing in the country. WDRA is also the implementing agency to establish a negotiable
warehouse receipt system for all commodities. To that end, WDRA is taking steps to improve the fiduciary trust
among stakeholders including depositors, warehousemen and financial institutions.
Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority:
The Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) was setup by the Government of India in
2010 to ensure implementation of the provisions of the Warehousing (Development & Regulation) Act, 2007.
• The main objective of WDRA is to implement Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (NWR) System in the
country, which would help farmers to store their produce in scientific storage godowns near by their
farms and to seek loan from banks against their NWR.
• The main functions of the Authority are to make provisions for the development and regulation of
warehouses which interalia includes negotiability of warehouse receipts, registration of warehouses,
promotion of scientific warehousing of goods, improving fiduciary trust of depositors and banks,
enhancing liquidity in rural areas and promoting efficient supply chain.
• Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
The annual rate of inflation based on all India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) number is 4.95% (Provisional) for
the month of December, 2022 (over December, 2021) against 5.85% recorded in November, 2022. Decline in
the rate of inflation in December, 2022 is primarily contributed by fall in prices of food articles, mineral oils,
crude petroleum & natural gas, food products, textiles and chemicals & chemical products.
The Office of Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce, releases index numbers of wholesale price in India on
monthly basis on 14th of every month (or next working day) with a time lag of two weeks of the reference
month, and the index numbers is compiled with data received from institutional sources and selected
manufacturing units across the country.
What is the Wholesale Price Index?
• It measures the changes in the prices of goods sold and traded in bulk by wholesale businesses to other
businesses.
• Published by the Office of Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• It is the most widely used inflation indicator in India.
• Major criticism for this index is that the general public does not buy products at wholesale price.
• The base year of All-India WPI has been revised from 2004-05 to 2011-12 in 2017.
• India’s Foreign Trade – November 2022
India’s overall exports (Merchandise and Services combined) in April-December 2022 is estimated to exhibit a
positive growth of 16.11 per cent over the same period last year (April-December 2021). As India’s domestic
demand has remained steady amidst the global slump, overall imports in April-December 2022 is estimated to
exhibit a growth of 25.55 per cent over the same period last year.
Recent developments in foreign trade policy are as follows
• In August 2022, India and the UK concluded the fifth round of talks for the India-UK Free Trade
Agreement (FTA).
• In April 2022, India and the EU agreed to launch the EU-India Trade and Technology Council and planned
to sign a free trade agreement by next year.
• As of April 2022, India signed 13 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with its trading partners including major
trade agreements like the India-UAE Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the India-
Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAus ECTA).
• In April 2022, the merchandise exports were at US$ 38.19 billion, registering an increase of 24.22% as
compared to the same period the previous year. With the upcoming trade policy 2021-26, the
government plans to increase merchandise exports with emphasis on the higher share of MSMEs.
• Foreign trade policy 2021-26 is expected to focus on MSMEs and new export potential. In March 2021,
the central government announced plans to establish a new mechanism to increase import screening to
protect domestic manufacturers. Details of the new screening process would be available in the foreign
trade policy 2021-26, which is expected to commence next month.
• Disclosures by Fund Management Entities for ESG Schemes
International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), with the aim to establish GIFT-IFSC as a hub for
various sustainable finance related activities, has issued/notified the following regulatory
frameworks/requirements:
• Disclosure and listing of Green Bonds, Social Bonds, Sustainability Bonds and Sustainability Linked Bonds
• Sustainability reporting by listed companies having market capitalization above $50 million
• IBUs and Finance Companies to have board approved framework on sustainable financing and to have
at least 5% of their loan assets towards sustainable sectors
• Sustainability related Disclosures by Fund Management Entities managing corpus / AUM above $3
Billion
To tap into the increasing investor awareness regarding the social and ecological impact of their investments,
asset managers globally, have been focusing on offering investment products relating to various aspects
concerning sustainability. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, by 2025, over a third of assets under
management globally, shall pertain to ESG.
What is ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)?
ESG is a framework that helps stakeholders understand how an organization is managing risks and
opportunities related to environmental, social, and governance criteria (sometimes called ESG factors). ESG is
an acronym for Environmental, Social, and Governance.
• The environmental factor might focus on a company’s impact on the environment or the risks and
opportunities associated with the impacts of climate change on the company, its business and its
industry.
• The social factor might focus on the company’s relationship with people and society, or whether the
company invests in its community.
• The governance factor might focus on issues such as how the company is run and executive
compensation.
Benefits of ESG?
• Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are an increasingly popular way for investors to
evaluate companies in which they might want to invest.
• Many mutual funds, brokerage firms, and robo-advisors now offer products that employ ESG criteria.
• ESG criteria can also help investors avoid companies that might pose a greater financial risk due to their
environmental or other practices.
International Financial Services Centres Authority:
The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has been established on April 27, 2020 under the
International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019. It is headquartered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar in
Gujarat.
• The IFSCA is a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial
services and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in India. At
present, the GIFT IFSC is the maiden international financial services centre in India. Prior to the
establishment of IFSCA, the domestic financial regulators, namely, RBI, SEBI, PFRDA and IRDAI regulated
the business in IFSC.
• As the dynamic nature of business in the IFSCs requires a high degree of inter-regulatory coordination
within the financial sector, the IFSCA has been established as a unified regulator with a holistic vision in
order to promote ease of doing business in IFSC and provide world class regulatory environment. The
main objective of the IFSCA is to develop a strong global connect and focus on the needs of the Indian
economy as well as to serve as an international financial platform for the entire region and the global
economy as a whole.
• First Movers Coalition
India participated in the First Movers Coalition (FMC) Leadership Meeting of the World Economic Forum
which deliberated on the world need for clean energy technologies to confront climate crisis globally. Industry
leaders appreciated India’s fight against COVID leveraging digital technologies and also expressed their
appreciation for Government partnering with industry in its fight.
About WEF:
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international organization: headquartered in Geneva,
Switzerland.
• It brings together: its membership of political and business leaders each year to discuss major issues
that impact the global economy.
o These include but are not limited to political, economic, social, and environmental concerns.
• Davos: The WEF is best known for its annual World Economic Forum Meeting at Davos, the Swiss ski
resort.
o The event regularly draws business and political leaders from around the world for a series of
discussions about global issues.
• The WEF has no independent decision-making power: but seeks to influence powerful people to make
decisions that benefit the global community.
The organization is funded: through its own membership, which includes many prominent business and
political figures.
• All-India Consumer Price Index: for ALs & RLs
The All-India Consumer Price Index Number for Agricultural Labourers (Base: 1986-87=100) for the month of
December, 2022 remained stationary at 1167 (One thousand one hundred and sixty seven) points and for Rural
Labourers increased by 1 point to stand at 1179 (One thousand one hundred and seventy nine) points. The
maximum upward pressure on general index of Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers came from
miscellaneous group to the extent of 0.91 & 0.93 points respectively, mainly due to increase in prices of
medicine, barber charges, bus fare, etc.
In case of Rural Labourers, it recorded an increase of 1 to 8 points in 9 States and a decrease of 2 to 9 points in
11 States. Tamil Nadu with 1338 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 961 points
stood at the bottom.
Consumer Price Index
• It examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, such as
transportation, food, and medical care.
• It is calculated by taking changes in price over time for each item in the predetermined basket of goods
and averaging them.
• This is done from the perspective of a retail buyer.
• Labour Bureau under the Ministry of Labour and Employment compiles the CPI for Industrial Workers
(IW), Agricultural Labourer (AL) and Rural Labourer (RL).
• National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
compiles CPI (Rural/ Urban/ Combined).
• CPI is adopted as the key measure of retail inflation by the Reserve Bank of India in 2014.
• Promotion of Medical Value Travel
Ministry of Ayush has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India Tourism Development
Corporation (ITDC), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India to work together for the promotion of Medical
Value Travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.
According to the MoU, Ministry of Ayush will provide training to the officials of ITDC to sensitize them about
the Medical value travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine. It will identify tourist circuits,
where there is immense scope to promote Medical value travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of
medicine and provide all the technical know-how from time to time to ITDC.
ITDC on suggestion of Ministry of Ayush will include historical heritage sites of Indian systems of medicine in
tourist destinations under "Knowledge Tourism” and may develop films/literature useful to tourists. It will
explore establishing Ayurveda and Yoga centre in the Hotels run by ITDC and will organize sensitization
workshops in collaboration.
The implementation and progress of the MoU will be monitored by a Joint Working Group (JWG) co-chaired
by representatives from MoA and ITDC. The JWG will also identify the best practices adopted by Malaysia,
Singapore and Thailand etc. to promote themselves as a preferred destination for Medical value travel.
Medical Value Travel:
• MVT stands for Medical Value Travel (Also known as health tourism or medical tourism) it is defined
as travel for the purpose of maintaining, improving or restoring health through medical intervention.
• Medical Value Travel has seen significant growth in India in recent years. According to the report ‘The
Global Wellness Economy: Looking beyond COVID’ by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the Global
Wellness economy will grow at 9.9% annually. Ayush based healthcare & Wellness economy is
estimated to grow to $70 billion by 2025.
• There is a special MEDICAL VISA for patients who opt for treatment in India. The Visa grants a stay for
60 days, travellers can visit India for their treatment and obtain second electronic visa if they need to.
The Visa is available to citizens of all the countries
• Payroll Reporting in India
The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the
press note on Payroll Reporting in India: An Employment Perspective of the country covering the period
September, 2017 to November, 2022 based on the administrative records available with selected government
agencies to assess the progress in certain dimensions.
Since April, 2018 this Ministry has been bringing out the employment related statistics in the formal sector
covering the period September 2017 onwards, using information on the number of subscribers who have
subscribed under three major schemes, namely the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, the Employees’
State Insurance (ESI) Scheme and the National Pension Scheme (NPS).
The present report gives different perspectives on the levels of employment in the formal sector and does not
measure employment at a holistic level. The next report is due for release on 24.02.2023.
The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is a mandatory savings scheme under the Employees’ Provident Funds
and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. It is managed under the aegis of Employees' Provident Fund
Organization (EPFO). It covers every establishment in which 20 or more persons are employed (and certain
other establishments which may be notified by the Central Government even if they employ less than 20
persons each), subject to certain conditions and exemptions as provided for in the Act. The pay ceiling is
Rs.15000/- per month. Persons drawing pay above Rs. 15,000/- are exempted or can be enrolled with some
permission or on voluntary basis. The number of members subscribing to this scheme gives an idea of the level
of employment in the formal sector. The data on subscribers-new members, exited members and those
subscribers that restarted their subscription is sourced from EPFO.
The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 is applicable to non-seasonal, manufacturing establishments (other
than a mine subject to the operation of the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952), or a railway running shed) employing
10 or more workers. For health and medical institutions, the threshold limit is 20 or more workers. ESI
Scheme for India is an integrated social security scheme tailored to provide socio-economic protection to the
workers in the organized sector and their dependents, in contingencies, such as Sickness, Maternity and Death
or Disablement due to an employment injury or occupational hazard. The wage ceiling is Rs. 21000/- per
month. Subscribers are termed as Insured Persons (IP) and a new IP number can also arise due to change in
employment. Employees may cease to pay contribution due to wage exceeding the statutory ceiling of
Rs.21000/- per month or owing to resignation, death, retirement or dismissal. The number of subscribers of
this scheme also gives an idea of the level of employment in the formal sector. Data is sourced from Employees’
State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and the information may have an element of duplication with EPF data and
is thus not additive.
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA)’s National Pension Scheme (NPS) is an
easily accessible, low cost, tax-efficient, flexible and portable retirement account. Under the NPS schemes for
the Govt. Sector, the individual contributes to his retirement account and also his employer will co-contribute
for the social security/welfare of the individual. NPS is designed on defined contribution basis wherein the
subscriber contributes to his account, and the accumulated wealth depends on the contributions made and
the income generated from investment of such wealth. From 1st January 2004, the Central and the State
Governments have adopted this scheme for new employees except for armed forces. Most of the State
Governments also adopted NPS subsequent to adoption of NPS by Central Government. NPS was extended to
Corporate Sector from 2009 onwards and it provides platform for Corporate to make co-contribution in NPS
accounts of their subscribers or facilitate them to make their own contributions for their NPS accounts. There
are three variations of contributions i.e. only from employer, only from employee and contributions from both
employer and employee.
• Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0
Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is launching a massive District Outreach Programme in all the
Districts of the country through a revamped Nidhi Aapke Nikat programme.
Over the years, EPFO has taken several measures and reforms for the benefit of its subscribers. In the year
2015, Bhavishya Nidhi Adalat was rechristened as Nidhi Aapke Nikat and in the year 2019, the outreach of
the Nidhi Aapke Nikat Program was further improved by inviting participation of trade unions. In the year 2021,
for grievances redressal of pensioners, an exclusive platform monthly Pension Adalat was initiated.
The Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0 will not be only grievance redressal platform and information exchange network for
the employers and the employees but also a platform for exchange of information with the district level
authorities of various State and Central Government departments. In this programme, a help desk will be
created where members will get the online services like filing of online claim etc. Grievance redressal of the
members will be done on the spot and in case any grievance could not be redressed on the spot, it will be
registered on the grievance portal of EPFO and will be resolved on priority.
The Nidhi Aapke Nikat is a programme where EPFO stakeholders come to the EPFO field offices for grievance
redressal. Under the Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0, EPFO will reach out to the stakeholders, thereby increasing
accessibility and visibility of the organisation, in all the districts of the country. The aim of the programme is to
reach out to all the districts in the country on the same day every month. The Nidhi Aapke Nikat 2.0 will be
conducted on 27th of every month starting from January 2023. However, if 27th of a month is a holiday, it will
be conducted on the next working day.
Employees Provident Fund Organisation:
• EPFO is one of the World's largest Social Security Organisations in terms of clientele and the volume of
• The EPFO is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government
of India.
• Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) was established by an act of Parliament of India, to
provide social security to workers working in India. It came into force by Employee Provident Fund and
Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952.
• The Act and Schemes framed there under are administered by a tri-partite Board known as the Central
Board of Trustees, Employees' Provident Fund, consisting of representatives of Government (Both
Central and State), Employers, and Employees.
EPFO Schemes
EPF Scheme 1952
• Accumulation plus interest upon retirement and death.
• Partial withdrawals allowed for education, marriage, illness and house construction.
• Housing Scheme for EPFO Members to achieve the Hon'ble Prime Minister's Vision of housing to all
Indians by 2024.
Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS)
• Monthly benefit for superannuation/retirement, disability, survivor, widow(er) and children.
• Minimum pension on disablement.
• Past service benefit to participants of erstwhile Family Pension Scheme, 1971.
Insurance Scheme 1976 (EDLI)
• Benefit provided in case of death of an employee who was a member of the scheme at the time of
death.
• Benefit amount 20 times the wages. Maximum benefit of 6 lakh.
• National Logistics Portal – Marine
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated The
National Logistics Portal (marine) in New Delhi on 27th January 2023.
The National Logistic Portal (marine) (NLP) is a project of national importance, as envisaged by the Ministry of
Ports Shipping Waterways and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. It is a one-stop platform aimed at
connecting all the stakeholders of the logistics community using IT, to improve efficiency and transparency by
reducing costs and time delays and achieving easier, faster, and more competitive offerings of services, to
promote the growth of the logistics sector and thereby improve trade. NLP will be a single window for all trade
processes of the logistics sector spread across the country covering all modes of transport in the waterways,
roadways, and airways along with an E-marketplace to provide a seamless end-to-end logistic service coverage.
So, NLP Is a one stop marketplace where all logistic stakeholders are integrated for easier, speedier &
competitive services thereby promoting trade and growth.
Following are some salient features of the NLP – M:
Single Platform to perform all core activities of the Importer / Exporter / Customs Broker /
Freight Forwarder
End-to-end functionality to perform self-clearance digitally Online transaction with

custodians
Providing a level playing field to relevant stakeholders (large & small) thus increasing the
competition
Complete domestic tracking of the shipment with notifications on each stage
Real time information of the activities which are generally not in reach of Importer / Exporter
/ Customs Broker
Enhanced transparency in Government to Business relations and Ease of doing Business
Document Management System to store all the important documents securely on Cloud
Storage
Reduced costs and timeframes for execution of trade and logistics operations
Paper-less transaction, for all the stakeholders along with BI reporting and data analytics
The implementation of NLP had been initiated in July 2021 with the development of NLP Marine as a first phase.
It is an “open platform” that allows the coexistence of multiple service providers to provide EXIM-related
services independently or by combining different connectivity options. It has the capability to integrate with
various Port Operating Systems/ Terminal Operating Systems, ICEGATE, Other regulatory agencies, and
stakeholder(s) systems in the ecosystem. It aims to reduce regulatory complexities and enhance the ease of
doing business by moving towards user-friendly paperless trade. This will be accomplished by utilizing the
prowess of IT infrastructure to develop a single window, centralizing all necessary documentation, compliance
certifications, and formal procedures necessary for the EXIM trade (export-import).
The activities of NLP Marine are categorized into four distinct verticals viz.
i. Carrier,
ii. Cargo,
iii. Banking and Finance and
iv. Regulatory Bodies and Participating Government Agencies (PGAs).
This will enrich the user experience through end-to-end tracking of the shipment with notifications at each
stage, seamless exchange of documents, and the ability to securely transact with transparency and speed.
• International Customs Day – 2023
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and all its field formations observed the International
Customs Day, 2023 on 27th January.
The theme for this year, as given by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) was “Nurturing the Next
Generation: Promoting a Culture of Knowledge-sharing and Professional Pride in Customs”.
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs:
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (erstwhile Central Board of Excise & Customs) is a part of the
Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It deals with the tasks of
formulation of policy concerning levy and collection of Customs, Central Excise duties, Central Goods &
Services Tax and IGST, prevention of smuggling and administration of matters relating to Customs, Central
Excise, Central Goods & Services Tax, IGST and Narcotics to the extent under CBIC's purview. The Board is the
administrative authority for its subordinate organizations, including Custom Houses, Central Excise and Central
GST Commissionerates and the Central Revenues Control Laboratory.
• ACIC-CBIT Research and Entrepreneurship Foundation
Dr. Chintan Vaishanv, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog inaugurated ACIC-CBIT centre on
Tuesday, January 31st 2023 in Hyderabad. AIM team visited the centre to understand the different lab setups,
technology and infrastructure for incubatees. Along with the inauguration of the centre, ACIC-CBIT hosted the
first Startup 20X event in the form of talks from four startup founders working in different areas ranging from
infrastructural development, millet manufacturing, mental health and upskilling rural innovators. These
startups are working to bring about a change for the betterment of the community and nation at large.
About ACIC CBIT
Objectives:
Atal Community Innovation Centre (ACIC) - Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology (CBIT) has been
established with an aim to build a community innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to nurture
innovators and startups of unserved and underserved regions. ACIC believes and mandates the creation of a
strong community innovation ecosystem to include expert mentors; access to infrastructural support such as
maker space; funding facilitation; building capacities through training and mentoring.
ACIC CBIT Foundation Sectoral Areas and Targeted SDGs:
Sectoral Focus Areas:
• Health-tech
• AI/ML/IoT Based Smart Engineering Products
• Renewable Energy & Environmental Sustainability
About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):
AIM is the Government of India’s endeavour to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. Its
objective is to serve as a platform for the promotion of world-class innovation hubs, grand challenges, start-up
businesses, and other self-employment activities, particularly in technology-driven areas. It was set up in 2016
under NITI Aayog.
• Visit India Year 2023 Logo
Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) launched
the Visit India Year 2023 initiative and unveiled its logo at New Delhi, kicking off the year of grand plans and
activities for promoting tourism in India.
Harnessing the momentum created by the recovery of the global industry, preferential sentiment from global
travellers for exploring India and building upon the success in growing tourism in India over the years–the
Tourism Ministry is on a mission to unlock the untapped potential of tourism in India, making India a 365-day
destination.
Encouraging the inbound travel and particularly in the backdrop of India’s G20 Presidency as well as grand
celebrations of India@75 Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Ministry of Tourism is celebrating this year as ‘Visit
India Year 2023’. The focus is on inbound travel to India, to highlight varied tourism offerings of our country
and showcase them to the global tourists. The priorities include highlighting the unique tourism offerings of
every state by leveraging country’s richness in culture, heritage, spirituality, natural beauty and focusing on
promoting diverse categories of tourism like sustainable tourism, rural tourism, medical tourism, MICE, and
others.
India’s G20 presidency presents itself as a fantastic opportunity to highlight the country’s tourism offerings on
a global stage. The Ministry plans to unlock this global campaign, by starting at home – inspiring citizens into
being India’s ambassadors with pride-evoking citizen advocacy campaigns across the year in the backdrop of
India’s G20 presidency leveraging the engagements across the G20 meeting cities.
The ‘Incredible India’ brand will continue to be leveraged, embellished, and polished to match the renewed
expectations of travellers around the world.
Tourism Sector in India:
The tourism sector in India is an integral pillar of the Make in India programme. The tourism industry in India
plays a role of significant economic multiplier and becomes critical since India has to grow at rapid rates and
create jobs.
India offers geographical diversity, world heritage sites and niche tourism products like cruises, adventure,
medical, eco-tourism, etc. Incredible India has spurred growth in Tourists Arrivals and Employment. India aims
to increase cruise passenger traffic from 0.4 mn at present to 4 mn. Economic potential of Cruise tourism is
expected to go up from $110 mn to $5.5 bn in the years to come.
• India is currently ranked 54th in World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Development Index (2021).
• By 2030, India is expected to be among the top five business travel market
• 100% FDI in the tourism industry is allowed under automatic route
• 100% FDI allowed in tourism construction projects, including the development of hotels, resorts, and
recreational facilities
Industry Scenario:
• $512 bn contributions to India's GDP by 2028 and 53 mn jobs by 2029
• India is estimated to contribute 250 Bn USD GDP from Tourism, 137 mn jobs in the Tourism sector, 56
bn USD in Foreign Exchange Earnings and 25 mn foreign arrivals are expected to be achieved by 2030.
• By 2028, Indian tourism and hospitality is expected to earn $ 50.9 bn as visitor exports compared with
$ 28.9 bn in 2018. International tourist arrivals are expected to reach 30.5 mn by 2028
• The travel market in India is projected to reach $ 125 bn by FY27 from an estimated $ 75 bn in FY20
• In FY20, tourism sector in India accounted for 39 mn jobs, which was 8.0% of the total employment in
the country. By 2029, it is expected to account for about 53 mn jobs.
• It is estimated that outbound trips from India will touch 29 mn by 2025 and cross the $24 bn mark by
2024.
• Consumer Price Index – IW
The Labour Bureau, an attached office of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, has been compiling Consumer
Price Index for Industrial Workers every month on the basis of retail prices collected from 317 markets spread
over 88 industrially important centres in the country. The index is compiled for 88 centres and All-India and is
released on the last working day of succeeding month.
The All-India CPI-IW for December, 2022 decreased by 0.2 points and stood at 132. On 1-month percentage
change, it decreased by 0.15 per cent with respect to previous month compared to decrease of 0.24 per cent
recorded between corresponding months a year ago.
• Economic Survey 2022 – 23: Highlights
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, presented the Economic Survey
2022-23 in the Union Parliament. The highlights of the Survey are as follows:
State of the Economy 2022-23: Recovery Complete

• Recovering from pandemic-induced contraction, Russian-Ukraine conflict and inflation, Indian economy
is staging a broad based recovery across sectors, positioning to ascend to the pre-pandemic growth path
in FY23.
• India's GDP growth is expected to remain robust in FY24. GDP forecast for FY24 to be in the range of 6-
6.8 %.
• Private consumption in H1 is highest since FY15 and this has led to a boost to production activity
resulting in enhanced capacity utilisation across sectors.
• The Capital Expenditure of Central Government and crowding in the private Capex led by strengthening
of the balance sheets of the Corporates is one of the growth driver of the Indian economy in the current
year.
• The credit growth to the MSME sector was over 30.6 per cent on average during Jan-Nov 2022.
• Retail inflation is back within RBI's target range in November 2022.
• Indian Rupee performed well compared to other Emerging Market Economies in Apr-Dec2022.
• Direct Tax collections for the period April-November 2022 remain buoyant.
• Enhanced Employment generation seen in the declining urban unemployment rate and in the faster net
registration in Employee Provident Fund.
• Economic growth to be boosted from the expansion of public digital platforms and measures to boost
manufacturing output.
India’s Medium Term Growth Outlook: with Optimism and Hope
• Indian economy underwent wide-ranging structural and governance reforms that strengthened the
economy's fundamentals by enhancing its overall efficiency during 2014-2022.
• With an underlying emphasis on improving the ease of living and doing business, the reforms after 2014
were based on the broad principles of creating public goods, adopting trust-based governance, co-
partnering with the private sector for development, and improving agricultural productivity.
• The period of 2014-2022 also witnessed balance sheet stress caused by the credit boom in the previous
years and one-off global shocks, that adversely impacted the key macroeconomic variables such as
credit growth, capital formation, and hence economic growth during this period.
• This situation is analogous to the period 1998-2002 when transformative reforms undertaken by the
government had lagged growth returns due to temporary shocks in the economy. Once these shocks
faded, the structural reforms paid growth dividends from 2003.
• Similarly, the Indian economy is well placed to grow faster in the coming decade once the global shocks
of the pandemic and the spike in commodity prices in 2022 fade away.
• With improved and healthier balance sheets of the banking, non-banking and corporate sectors, a fresh
credit cycle has already begun, evident from the double-digit growth in bank credit over the past
months.
• Indian economy has also started benefiting from the efficiency gains resulting from greater
formalisation, higher financial inclusion, and economic opportunities created by digital technology-
based economic reforms.
• Thus Chapter 2 of the Survey shows that India's growth outlook seems better than in the pre-pandemic
years, and the Indian economy is prepared to grow at its potential in the medium term.
Fiscal Developments: Revenue Relish
• The Union Government finances have shown a resilient performance during the year FY23, facilitated
by the recovery in economic activity, buoyancy in revenues from direct taxes and GST, and realistic
assumptions in the Budget.
• The Gross Tax Revenue registered a YoY growth of 15.5 per cent from April to November 2022, driven
by robust growth in the direct taxes and Goods and Services Tax (GST).
• Growth in direct taxes during the first eight months of the year was much higher than their
corresponding longer-term averages.
• GST has stabilised as a vital revenue source for central and state governments, with the gross GST
collections increasing at 24.8 per cent on YoY basis from April to December 2022.
• Union Government's emphasis on capital expenditure (Capex) has continued despite higher revenue
expenditure requirements during the year. The Centre's Capex has steadily increased from a long-term
average of 1.7 per cent of GDP (FY09 to FY20) to 2.5 per cent of GDP in FY22 PA.
• The Centre has also incentivised the State Governments through interest-free loans and enhanced
borrowing ceilings to prioritise their spending on Capex.
• With an emphasis on infrastructure-intensive sectors like roads and highways, railways, and housing and
urban affairs, the increase in Capex has large-scale positive implications for medium-term growth.
• The Government’s Capex-led growth strategy will enable India to keep the growth-interest rate
differential positive, leading to a sustainable debt to GDP in the medium run.
Monetary Management and Financial Intermediation: A Good Year
• The RBI initiated its monetary tightening cycle in April 2022 and has since raised the repo rate by 225
bps, leading to moderation of surplus liquidity conditions.
• Cleaner balance sheets led to enhanced lending by financial institutions.
• The growth in credit offtake is expected to sustain, and combined with a pick-up in private capex, will
usher in a virtuous investment cycle.
• Non-food credit offtake by scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) has been growing in double digits since
April 2022.
• Credit disbursed by Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) has also been on the rise.
• The Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) ratio of SCBs has fallen to a seven-year low of 5.0.
• The Capital-to-Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) remains healthy at 16.0.
• The recovery rate for the SCBs through Insolvency and Bankruptcy (IBC) was highest in FY22 compared
to other channels.
Prices and Inflation: Successful Tight-Rope Walking
• While the year 2022 witnessed a return of high inflation in the advanced world after three to four
decades, India caps the rise in prices.
• While India’s retail inflation rate peaked at 7.8 per cent in April 2022, above the RBI’s upper tolerance
limit of 6 per cent, the overshoot of inflation above the upper end of the target range in India was
however one of the lowest in the world.
• The government adopted a multi-pronged approach to tame the increase in price levels
o Phase wise reduction in export duty of petrol and diesel
o Import duty on major inputs were brought to zero while tax on export of iron ores and
concentrates increased from 30 to 50 per cent
o Waived customs duty on cotton imports w.e.f 14 April 2022, until 30 September 2022
o Prohibition on the export of wheat products under HS Code 1101 and imposition of export duty
on rice
o Reduction in basic duty on crude and refined palm oil, crude soyabean oil and crude sunflower
oil
• The RBI’s anchoring of inflationary expectations through forward guidance and responsive monetary
policy has helped guide the trajectory of inflation in the country.
• The one-year-ahead inflationary expectations by both businesses and households have moderated in
the current financial year.
• Timely policy intervention by the government in housing sector, coupled with low home loan interest
rates propped up demand and attracted buyers more readily in the affordable segment in FY23.
• An overall increase in composite Housing Price Indices (HPI) assessment and Housing Price Indices
market prices indicates a revival in the housing finance sector. A stable to moderate increase in HPI also
offers confidence to homeowners and home loan financiers in terms of the retained value of the asset.
• India’s inflation management has been particularly noteworthy and can be contrasted with advanced
economies that are still grappling with sticky inflation rates.
Social Infrastructure and Employment: Big Tent
• Social Sector witnessed significant increase in government spending.
• Central and State Government’s budgeted expenditure on health sector touched 2.1% of GDP in FY23
(BE) and 2.2% in FY22 (RE) against 1.6% in FY21.
• Social sector expenditure increases to Rs. 21.3 lakh crore in FY23 (BE) from Rs. 9.1 lakh crore in FY16.
• Survey highlights the findings of the 2022 report of the UNDP on Multidimensional Poverty Index which
says that 41.5 crore people exit poverty in India between 2005-06 and 2019-20.
• The Aspirational Districts Programme has emerged as a template for good governance, especially in
remote and difficult areas.
• eShram portal developed for creating a National database of unorganised workers, which is verified with
Aadhaar. As on 31 December 2022, a total of over 28.5 crore unorganised workers have been registered
on eShram portal.
• JAM (Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile) trinity, combined with the power of DBT, has brought the
marginalised sections of society into the formal financial system, revolutionising the path of transparent
and accountable governance by empowering the people.
• Aadhaar played a vital role in developing the Co-WIN platform and in the transparent administration of
over 2 billion vaccine doses.
• Labour markets have recovered beyond pre-Covid levels, in both urban and rural areas, with
unemployment rates falling from 5.8 per cent in 2018-19 to 4.2 per cent in 2020-21.
• The year FY22 saw improvement in Gross Enrolment Ratios (GER) in schools and improvement in gender
parity. GER in the primary-enrolment in class I to V as a percentage of the population in age 6 to 10 years
- for girls as well as boys have improved in FY22.
• Due to several steps taken by the government on health, out-of-pocket expenditure as a percentage of
total health expenditure declined from 64.2% in FY14 to 48.2% in FY19.
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Under Five mortality rate (U5MR) and neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) have
shown a steady decline.
• More than 220 crore COVID vaccine doses administered as on 06 January, 2023.
• Nearly 22 crore beneficiaries have been verified under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme as on 04 January,
2023. Over 1.54 lakh Health and Wellness Centres have been operationalized across the country under
Ayushman Bharat.
Climate Change and Environment: Preparing to Face the Future
• India declared the Net Zero Pledge to achieve net zero emissions goal by 2070.
• India achieved its target of 40 per cent installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuels ahead of 2030.
• The likely installed capacity from non-fossil fuels to be more than 500 GW by 2030 resulting in decline
of average emission rate by around 29% by 2029-30, compared to 2014-15.
• India to reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 levels.
• About 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity to come from non-fossil fuel-based energy
resources by 2030.
• A mass movement LIFE– Life style for Environment launched.
• Sovereign Green Bond Framework (SGrBs) issued in November 2022.
• RBI auctions two tranches of ₹4,000 crore Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrB).
• National Green Hydrogen Mission to enable India to be energy independent by 2047.
• Green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum to be
developed by 2030. Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports over ₹1 lakh crore and creation of over
6 lakh jobs by 2030 under the National green Hydrogen Mission. Renewable energy capacity addition of
about 125 GW and abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual GHG emissions by 2030.
• The Survey highlights the progress on eight missions under the NAP on CC to address climate concerns
and promote sustainable development.
• Solar power capacity installed, a key metric under the National Solar Mission stood at 61.6 GW as on
October 2022.
• India becoming a favored destination for renewables; investments in 7 years stand at USD 78.1 billion.
• 62.8 lakh individual household toilets and 6.2 lakh community and public toilets constructed (August
2022) under the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat.
Agriculture and Food Management
• The performance of the agriculture and allied sector has been buoyant over the past several years, much
of which is on account of the measures taken by the government to augment crop and livestock
productivity, ensure certainty of returns to the farmers through price support, promote crop
diversification, improve market infrastructure through the impetus provided for the setting up of
farmer-producer organisations and promotion of investment in infrastructure facilities through the
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
• Private investment in agriculture increases to 9.3% in 2020-21.
• MSP for all mandated crops fixed at 1.5 times of all India weighted average cost of production since
2018.
• Institutional Credit to the Agricultural Sector continued to grow to 18.6 lakh crore in 2021-22
• Foodgrains production in India saw sustained increase and stood at 315.7 million tonnes in 2021-22.
• Free foodgrains to about 81.4 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act for one year from
January 1, 2023.
• About 11.3 crore farmers were covered under the Scheme in its April-July 2022-23 payment cycle.
• Rs 13,681 crores sanctioned for Post-Harvest Support and Community Farms under the Agriculture
Infrastructure Fund.
• Online, Competitive, Transparent Bidding System with 1.74 crore farmers and 2.39 lakh traders put in
place under the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) Scheme.
• Organic Farming being promoted through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) under the
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
• India stands at the forefront to promote millets through the International Year of Millets initiative.
Industry: Steady Recovery
• Overall Gross Value Added (GVA) by the Industrial Sector (for the first half of FY 22-23) rose 3.7 per cent,
which is higher than the average growth of 2.8 per cent achieved in the first half of the last decade.
• Robust growth in Private Final Consumption Expenditure, export stimulus during the first half of the
year, increase in investment demand triggered by enhanced public capex and strengthened bank and
corporate balance sheets have provided a demand stimulus to industrial growth.
• The supply response of the industry to the demand stimulus has been robust.
• PMI manufacturing has remained in the expansion zone for 18 months since July 2021, and Index of
Industrial Production (IIP) grows at a healthy pace.
• Credit to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has grown by an average of around 30% since
January 2022 and credit to large industry has been showing double-digit growth since October 2022.
• Electronics exports rise nearly threefold, from US $4.4 billion in FY19 to US $11.6 Billion in FY22.
• India has become the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer globally, with the production of
handsets going up from 6 crore units in FY15 to 29 crore units in FY21.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows into the Pharma Industry has risen four times, from US $180
million in FY19 to US $699 million in FY22.
• The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes introduced across 14 categories, with an estimated capex
of ₹4 lakh crore over the next five years, to plug India into global supply chains. Investment of ₹47,500
crores has been seen under the PLI schemes in the FY22, which is 106% of the designated target for the
year. Production/sales worth ₹3.85 lakh crore and employment generation of 3.0 lakh have been
recorded due to PLI schemes.
• Over 39,000 compliances have been reduced and more than 3500 provisions decriminalized as of
January 2023.
Services: Source of Strength
• The services sector is expected to grow at 9.1% in FY23, as against 8.4% (YoY) in FY22.
• Robust expansion in PMI services, indicative of service sector activity, observed since July 2022.
• India was among the top ten services exporting countries in 2021, with its share in world commercial
services exports increasing from 3 per cent in 2015 to 4 per cent in 2021.
• India’s services exports remained resilient during the Covid-19 pandemic and amid geopolitical
uncertainties driven by higher demand for digital support, cloud services, and infrastructure
modernization.
• Credit to services sector has grown by over 16% since July 2022.
• US$ 7.1 billion FDI equity inflows in services sector in FY22.
• Contact-intensive services are set to reclaim pre-pandemic level growth rates in FY23.
• Sustained growth in the real estate sector is taking housing sales to pre-pandemic levels, with a 50% rise
between 2021 and 2022.
• Hotel occupancy rate has improved from 30-32% in April 2021 to 68-70% in November 2022.
• Tourism sector is showing signs of revival, with foreign tourist arrivals in India in FY23 growing month-
on-month with resumption of scheduled international flights and easing of Covid-19 regulations.
• Digital platforms are transforming India’s financial services.
• India’s e-commerce market is projected to grow at 18 per cent annually through 2025.
External Sector
• Merchandise exports were US$ 332.8 billion for April-December 2022.
• India diversified its markets and increased its exports to Brazil, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
• To increase its market size and ensure better penetration, in 2022, CEPA with UAE and ECTA with
Australia come into force.
• India is the largest recipient of remittances in the world receiving US$ 100 bn in 2022. Remittances are
the second largest major source of external financing after service export
• As of December 2022, Forex Reserves stood at US$ 563 bn covering 9.3 months of imports.
• As of end-November 2022, India is the sixth largest foreign exchange reserves holder in the world.
• The current stock of external debt is well shielded by the comfortable level of foreign exchange reserves.
• India has relatively low levels of total debt as a percentage of Gross National Income and short-term
debt as a percentage of total debt.
Physical and Digital Infrastructure
Government’s Vision for Infrastructure Development
• Public Private Partnerships
o In-Principal Approval granted to 56 projects with Total Project Cost of ₹57,870.1 crore under the
VGF Scheme, from 2014-15 to 2022-23.
o IIPDF Scheme with ₹150 crore outlay from FY 23-25 was notified by the government on 03
November, 2022.
• National Infrastructure Pipeline

o 89,151 projects costing ₹141.4 lakh crore under different stages of implementation
o 1009 projects worth ₹5.5 lakh crore completed
o NIP and Project Monitoring Group (PMG) portal linkage to fast-track approvals/ clearances for
projects
• National Monetisation Pipeline

o ₹ 9.0 lakh crore is the estimated cumulative investment potential.
o ₹ 0.9 lakh crore monetisation target achieved against expected ₹0.8 lakh crore in FY22.
o FY23 target is envisaged to be ₹1.6 lakh crore (27 per cent of overall NMP Target)
• GatiShakti
o PM GatiShakti National Master Plan creates comprehensive database for integrated planning
and synchronised implementation across Ministries/ Departments.
o Aims to improve multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency while addressing the critical
gaps for the seamless movement of people and goods.
Electricity Sector and Renewables
• As on 30 September 2022, the government has sanctioned the entire target capacity of 40 GW for the
development of 59 Solar Parks in 16 states.
• 17.2 lakh GWh electricity generated during the year FY22 compared to 15.9 lakh GWh during FY21.
• The total installed power capacity (industries having demand of 1 Mega Watt (MW) and above)
increased from 460.7 GW on 31 March 2021 to 482.2 GW on 31 March 2022.
Making Indian Logistics Globally Competitive

• National Logistics Policy envisions to develop a technologically enabled, integrated, cost-efficient,
resilient, sustainable and trusted logistics ecosystem in the country for accelerated and inclusive growth.
• Rapid increase in National Highways (NHs) /Roads Construction with 10457 km NHs/roads constructed
in FY22 compared to 6061 km in FY16.
• Budget expenditure increased from ₹1.4 lakh crore in FY20 to ₹2.4 lakh crore in FY23 giving renewed
push to Capital expenditure.
• 2359 Kisan rails transported approximately 7.91 lakh tonnes of perishables, as of October 2022.
• More than one crore air passengers availed the benefit of the UDAN scheme since its inception in 2016.
• Near doubling of capacity of major ports in 8 years.
• Inland Vessels Act 2021 replaced 100-year-old Act to ensure hassle free movement of Vessels promoting
Inland Water Transport.
India’s Digital Public Infrastructure

• Unified Payment Interface (UPI)
o UPI-based transactions grew in value (121 per cent) and volume (115 per cent) terms, between
2019-22, paving the way for its international adoption.
• Telephone and Radio - For Digital Empowerment
o Total telephone subscriber base in India stands at 117.8 crore (as of Sept,22), with 44.3 per cent
of subscribers in rural India.
o More than 98 per cent of the total telephone subscribers are connected wirelessly.
o The overall tele-density in India stood at 84.8 per cent in March 22.
o 200 per cent increase in rural internet subscriptions between 2015 and 2021.
o Prasar Bharati (India’s autonomous public service broadcaster) - broadcasts in 23 languages, 179
dialects from 479 stations. Reaches 92 per cent of the area and 99.1 per cent of the total
population.
• Digital Public Goods
o Achieved low-cost accessibility since the launch of Aadhaar in 2009
o Under the government schemes, MyScheme, TrEDS, GEM, e-NAM, UMANG has transformed
market place and has enabled citizens to access services across sectors
o Under Account Aggregator, the consent-based data sharing framework is currently live across
over 110 crore bank accounts.
o Open Credit Enablement Network aims towards democratising lending operations while allowing
end-to-end digital loan applications
o National AI portal has published 1520 articles, 262 videos, and 120 government initiatives and is
being viewed as viewed as a tool for overcoming the language barrier e.g. ‘Bhashini’.
o Legislations are being introduced for enhanced user privacy and creating an ecosystem for
standard, open, and interoperable protocols underlining robust data governance.
Social & Environmental Issues

• National Ganga Council Meet
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi chaired the National Ganga Council meet via video conferencing in
Kolkata. The meeting of Council provides a great opportunity to discuss ways to further strengthen the Namami
Gange initiative.
Why we need "Namami Gange" programme?
• River Ganga has significant economic, environmental and cultural value in India.
• Rising in the Himalayas and flowing to the Bay of Bengal, the river traverses a course of more than 2,500
km through the plains of north and eastern India.
• The Ganga basin - which also extends into parts of Nepal, China and Bangladesh - accounts for 26 per
cent of India's landmass.
• The Ganga also serves as one of India's holiest rivers whose cultural and spiritual significance transcends
the boundaries of the basin.
What are the pollution threats to Ganga?
• Rapidly increasing population, rising standards of living and exponential growth of industrialization and
urbanization have exposed water resources to various forms of degradation.
• The deterioration in the water quality of Ganga impacts the people immediately.
• Ganga has become unfit even for bathing during lean seasons.
• The impacts of infrastructural projects in the upper reaches of the river Ganga raise issues.
How "Namami Gange" programme works?
In order to implement "Namami Gange" Programme, a three-tier mechanism has been proposed for project
monitoring comprising of:
• A high-level task force chaired by Cabinet Secretary assisted by National Mission for Clean Ganga
(NMCG) at the national level,
• State-level committee chaired by Chief Secretary assisted by SPMG at the state level and
• District-level committee chaired by the District Magistrate.
"Namami Gange" will focus on pollution abatement interventions namely Interception, diversion & treatment
of wastewater flowing through the open drains through bio-remediation/appropriate in-situ treatment/use of
innovative technologies/sewage treatment plants (STPs)/effluent treatment plant (ETPs) rehabilitation and
augmentation of existing STPs and immediate short-term measures for arresting pollution at exit points on
riverfront to prevent inflow of sewage etc.
National Ganga Council
The full name of the Council is ‘National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River
Ganga’.
• It was formed under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order,
2016.
• This Order dissolved the National Ganga River Basin Authority and replaced it with the National Ganga
Council.
• This Council has the overall responsibility of preventing pollution and rejuvenating the Ganga River
Basin, including the River Ganga and its tributaries.
• Its jurisdiction extends to the states which comprise of the Ganga River Basin namely, Uttar Pradesh,
Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Rajasthan,
Haryana, Jharkhand and Delhi-NCR, and any other states having the major tributaries of the Ganga.
• It is chiefly responsible for the implementation of the National Mission for Clean Ganga.
• SMART Initiative
The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for Research in
Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the two prominent institutions under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India
for regulating medical education and conducting scientific research respectively, have launched ‘SMART’
(Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) program aimed to boost scientific
research in priority healthcare research areas through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.
While highlighting key points of ‘SMART’, Prof. Vaidya Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General, CCRAS said, “The
proposed initiative is conceptualised with an objective to identify, support and promote innovative research
ideas in healthcare research areas including Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic Bronchitis,
Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Non-
alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)”.
• AYUSH is the acronym of the medical systems that are being practiced in India such as Ayurveda, Yoga
& Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. These systems are based on definite medical
philosophies and represent a way of healthy living with established concepts on the prevention of
diseases and promotion of health. The basic approach of all these systems on health, disease and
treatment is holistic.
• Ministry of AYUSH had issued an advisory on various immunity-enhancing steps from the time-tested
approaches of Ayurveda. The advisory is reiterated again in these testing times to support the efforts
of all as a measure towards enhancing one’s immunity.
• The AYUSH system is centuries old. But over these years it has gained the confidence of many as other
systems of medicine. There is much scientific evidence through which it can be validated that no single
system of medicine can cater the health care needs effectively. Combinedly, they can be better
practised which can give relief and cure to the patients thereby paving the way for better health. They
cannot be regarded as competitors rather they are complementary to each other.
• One can conclude by saying that 'Alternative Medicine' is not an 'alternative' at all, but the basis of our
health care system and hence should become a part of everyone’s life. This, coupled with adequate and
appropriate government policies, can ensure a healthy, blissful life for every Indian citizen.
• The market size of AYUSH sector in the country has grown from USD 3 billion in 2014 to over USD 18
billion now, clocking a phenomenal growth of six times. During 2014-2020, the AYUSH industry grew 17
per cent year-on-year while the Ayurveda market is predicted to grow at 15 percent CAGR from 2021-
2026.
• Government of India is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM)
in the country through State and UT governments for promotion and development of AYUSH systems.
Under the concept of AYUSH Gram, AYUSH based lifestyles are promoted through behavioral change
communication, training of village health workers towards identification and use of local medicinal
herbs and provision of AYUSH health services.
• India’s First Green Hydrogen Blending Operation
NTPC Ltd commissions India's first green hydrogen blending project. The green hydrogen blending has been
started in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of NTPC Kawas township, Surat. The project is a joint effort of
NTPC and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL).
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), the regulatory body has given approval for 5% vol./vol.
blending of green hydrogen with PNG to start with and the blending level would be scaled phase wise to reach
20%. Green hydrogen when blended with natural gas reduces CO2 emissions keeping net heating content
same.
This feat is achieved only by few select countries like UK, Germany, and Australia etc. This would bring India at
the centre stage of the global hydrogen economy. India would not only reduce its hydrocarbon import bill
significantly but can also bring forex ashore by being a green hydrogen and green chemicals exporter to the
world.
What is Green Hydrogen?
• Hydrogen, the first member of the periodic table, is the lightest and most abundant element found in
the environment. Like electricity, hydrogen is a form of energy that needs to be created from another
substance. Water, fossil fuels, or biomass can all be used to produce hydrogen, which can then be
separated and used as a fuel or source of energy.
• One method of producing hydrogen is electrolysis, where an electrical current is used to separate
hydrogen and oxygen in water. If renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro, etc.) are used to produce
electricity for this process, the hydrogen generated is considered 'green', as there are no carbon
emissions during the entire production process, making green hydrogen one of the cleanest fuels
currently available.
• At present, the annual global demand for hydrogen stands at 70 million metric tons, 76% of which is
produced from natural gas, 23% from coal, and the remaining from the electrolysis of water. The aim is
to increase hydrogen production by the electrolysis method and reduce production via the other two
methods. Cost parity between green hydrogen and hydrogen derived from natural gas can be achieved
by 2030, if not earlier.
Due to its advantageous geographic location and the presence of an abundance of natural resources, India has
a significant advantage in the production of green hydrogen. India also benefits from low-cost renewable power
and rapidly decreasing electrolyser prices. Green hydrogen production can be made cost-effective in India by
adding the necessary capacity for renewable power generation, storage and transmission. This will steadily
enhance India's self-sufficiency while ensuring energy security.
The central government has set a target of an annual production capacity of 25 million tonnes by 2047. The
number could be revised upwards as the technology evolves and the demand outlook improves.
• Water Vision@2047
Marching forward with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision to make India a developed Nation by 2047,
the Government is deliberating on the preparation of the Action Plan and Vision Document of India@2047.
While addressing the challenges of water security as part of the India@2047 plan, the Prime Minister has
proclaimed the ‘5P’ mantra which includes Political will, Public financing, Partnerships, Public Participation
and Persuasion for sustainability.
India’s water sector will play a significant role in achieving heights India strives to reach in the next crucial years.
To take forward action plan, the Ministry of Jal Shakti is organizing the “1st All India Annual State Ministers
Conference on Water’’ with the theme “Water Vision@2047” in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on 5th &
6th January, 2023.
The primary objective of the 2-days Conference is to gather inputs for the India@2047 and 5P vision from the
different water stakeholders of the states, water being a state subject, and also to improve engagement and
partnership with the states and to share the initiatives and schemes of the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity
The first-of-its-kind inclusive festival in India, 'Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity' took place in Goa.
Aimed at furthering the spirit of inclusion, the Purple Fest features a variety of exciting live performances,
sporting events, grand exhibitions, immersive experience zones, accessible movie screenings, & discussions on
vital subjects like inclusive education, tourism, employment, & independent living.
• Year End Review 2022: MoHUA
Various schemes and Missions run by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs during 2022 have helped boost
the Make in India and AtamNirbhar Bharat initiatives in many ways. There are factors connected with the
schemes and Missions which have directly influenced the AtamNirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives
directly or indirectly.
• AMRUT 2.0 was launched by the Prime Minister on 1st October 2021. This mission is a step towards
AatmaNirbhar Bharat with aim of making the cities 'water secure' and providing functional water tap
connections to all households in all statutory towns/cities. The total indicative outlay for AMRUT 2.0 is
₹2,77,000 Cr including central share of ₹76,760 Cr for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Urban (PMAY-U) was launched in June 2015 to provide an all-weather
dwelling unit to eligible beneficiaries across all urban areas. All houses built or acquired or purchased
under the Mission have basic amenities like kitchen, water supply, electricity and toilet. The Mission
has been extended upto 31st December 2024 to complete the already sanctioned houses upto
31st March 2022. As of November 2022, more than 1.20 crore houses have been sanctioned under the
Mission, out of which more than 64 lakhs have been completed and the rest are in various stages of
construction/grounding.
• CII Bio Energy Summit 2023
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep S. Puri will address the
11th edition of Confederation of Indian Industry’s flagship event “Bio Energy Summit 2023” to be held on
12th January, 2023 in New Delhi. The Summit with the theme “Energy Transition- Solution for a Sustainable
Tomorrow”, will provide an opportunity for Innovators and a way forward for Clean & Green Energy Solutions
for future. The summit will also dwell upon the relevance of biofuel in the overall sustainability agenda.
After India taking over the presidency of the G20, the Summit is a great opportunity to jumpstart more action
across the country and build the momentum for the G20 summit later this year. It will discuss the solutions to
the challenges facing the world including climate change and sustainable development. While the bioenergy
sector is one of the ways of creating solutions for a sustainable tomorrow, it needs to be integrated into global
trade policies.
About Confederation of Indian Industry:
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the
development of India, partnering Industry, Government and civil society, through advisory and consultative
processes. It was founded in 1895.
CII is a non-government, not-for-profit, industry-led and industry-managed organization, with around 9000
members from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of
over 300,000 enterprises from 286 national and regional sectoral industry bodies.
• National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is celebrating its 18th Foundation Day. To fully dedicate this
occasion to the children, a Quiz was launched by the Commission on the occasion of National Youth Day (Swami
Vivekananda Jayanti) on 12 January, 2023 to create awareness among children about child rights and make
th
Child Rights champions through this Quiz.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) performs the powers and functions assigned
to it under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
Under the act, “child rights” includes the children’s rights adopted in the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of the Child in November 1989 which was ratified by the Indian Government on 11 December 1992.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was established under the Commission for
Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
Composition of NCPCR: The commission consists of the following members:
• A Chairperson
• Six other members
Key Points related to the composition of NCPCR
• The Chairperson and members are appointed by the Central Government.
• Provided, the Chairperson of the Commission shall be appointed on the recommendation of a three-
member Selection Committee constituted by the Central Government.
• The Chairperson can be someone who has done outstanding work promoting children’s welfare.
• Out of the 6 other members, at least two are women from the field related to the promotion of the
welfare of children.
• The 6 members must be appointed from amongst persons of eminence, ability, integrity, standing, and
experience in:
1. Education;
2. Child health, care, welfare, or child development;
3. Juvenile justice or care of neglected or marginalized children or children with disabilities;
4. Elimination of child labour or children in distress;
5. Child psychology or sociology; and
6. Laws relating to children.
The Commission is further mandated to monitor the proper and effective implementation of Protection of
Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012; Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
and Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
• National Youth Festival – 2023
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 26th National Youth Festival in Hubbali, Karnataka on
12th January. The programme is being held on National Youth Day, which is celebrated on the birth anniversary
of Swami Vivekananda, to honour and cherish his ideals, teachings and contributions.
The theme of the festival is ‘Viksit Yuva - Viksit Bharat’ and it brings diverse cultures from all parts of the
country on a common platform and unites the participants in the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.
The National Youth Festival is held every year to provide exposure to our talented youth at the national level,
along with galvanising them towards nation-building. It brings diverse cultures from all parts of the country on
a common platform and unites the participants in the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.
• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah greeted National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on its
18th Raising Day on 19th January, 2023.
The mid-nineties and the subsequent decade saw much international debate & discussion around Disaster
Response & Preparedness. Some of the notable and more impactful ones were the Yokohama Strategy Plan
(1994) & the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005), adopted by the UN. During the same period India faced
some of its most severe natural calamities like Orissa Super Cyclone (1999), Gujarat Earthquake (2001) and
Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004). This succession of events and the international environment brought to fore,
the need of comprehensive disaster management plan. This led to the enactment of the Disaster
Management Act on December 26th , 2005. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was
constituted to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management.
In a very short span of time, NDRF has rescued over 1.48 lakh precious human lives and also evacuated more
than 7 lakh stranded persons from disaster situations within the country and abroad. The swift and effective
response of NDRF during Japan Triple Disaster-2011 and Nepal Earthquake 2015 was acclaimed globally. The
force is fulfilling these responsibilities with its rigorous training regime and diligent application of skills on the
ground.
Besides the professionalism shown during rescue operations in floods and cyclones and collapsed structure
search and rescue (CSSR) operations, NDRF has also acquired considerable expertise in facing CBRN (Chemical,
Biological, Radiological & Nuclear) challenges.
Today NDRF is a distinguished, unique Force across the country functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India, within the overall command, control and leadership of the Director General, NDRF.
• UIDAI Deliberates on Five Focus Areas
As Aadhaar saturation has reached near universal among adult population, the Unique Identification Authority
of India (UIDAI) deliberated on and decided to work on five core areas to provide continued support to
residents in their daily lives, further enhance data security, and play a stellar role in furthering the cause of
good governance.
The five core areas are –
• resident centricity,
• expanding the usage of Aadhaar,
• security and privacy,
• continuous technology upgradation, and
• collaborate with global economies and support them in their aspiration to achieve SDG 16.9 (provide
legal identity for all).
The Authority is constantly exploring and adopting ways to expand the use of Aadhaar for both ease of living
as well as ease of doing business. Its sandbox environment will allow startups, professionals, and companies to
explore and test innovation applications for increasing the use of Aadhaar. From expanding e-KYC adoption to
popularizing offline verification for better service delivery to residents, UIDAI will strive to expand use of
Aadhaar in multiple ways.
Aadhaar has emerged as a tool of good governance, of empowerment and service delivery. Since the first
Aadhaar number was generated in 2010, UIDAI has issued over 1.35 billion Aadhaars and has carried out more
than 88 billion authentication transactions so far, indicative of how it is touching resident’s lives. UIDAI has also
executed over 710 million Aadhaar updations following requests from residents since 2010.
UIDAI:
• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory authority established under the
provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services)
Act, 2016 (“Aadhaar Act 2016”) on 12 July 2016 by the Government of India, under the Ministry of
Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The Aadhaar Act 2016 has been amended by the
Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019 (14 of 2019) w.e.f. 25.07.2019.
• UIDAI was created to issue Unique Identification numbers (UID), named as "Aadhaar", to all residents
of India. The UID had to be (a) robust enough to eliminate duplicate and fake identities, and (b) verifiable
and authenticable in an easy, cost-effective way. As on 31st October 2021, the Authority has
issued 131.68 crore Aadhaar numbers to the residents of India.
• Under the Aadhaar Act 2016, UIDAI is responsible for Aadhaar enrolment and authentication, including
operation and management of all stages of Aadhaar life cycle, developing the policy, procedure, and
system for issuing Aadhaar numbers to individuals and perform authentication and the security of
identity information and authentication records of individuals.
• Before its establishment as a statutory authority, UIDAI was functioning as an attached office of the
then Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog)
The government set up UIDAI to issue 12-digit unique identification numbers for the following objectives:
• To allocate a unique number to all residents that would provide a unique identity to all citizens
• Eliminate duplicate, or fake identities and impersonation.
• Establish a system that would make it more efficient and cost-effective to verify and authenticate
information of all cardholders.
Thus, UIDAI’s vision is to equip all Indians with a unique identity and provide a digital platform to facilitate
hassle-free verification of their identities anywhere and anytime.
• National Girl Child Day
The Ministry of Women & Child Development celebrated the National Girl Child Day on 24th January ,2023.
National Girl Child Day is celebrated with a view to promote awareness about the rights of the girl child to
bridge the gender divide and to lay emphasis on the importance of girl’s education, health and nutrition.
In 1990, Indian Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen coined the phrase ‘missing women’ showing that
in parts of the developing world, the ratio of women to men in the population is suspiciously low. The
worsening sex ratio (number of females per 1,000 males) in countries such as India and China reflected the
gross neglect of women. Mr Sen estimated that more than 100 million women were missing due to gender
discrimination. Over 30 years down the line, the sex ratio in India seems to have improved. For every 1,000
men, India has 1,020 women, as per the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) data released for the year
2019-2021 in December 2021. However, the sex ratio cannot be the only determinant of gender equality.
Various other statistics like poor access to healthcare and education show the plight of women right from birth
in India.
From female foeticide to sexual abuse and violence to early marriage, girls face numerous challenges just
because of their sex. With an objective of highlighting the inequalities faced by girls and to promote awareness
about the rights of a girl child and the importance of their education, health, and nutrition, the Ministry of
Women and Child Development marks January 24 as National Girl Child Day.
• iNNCOVACC
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare unveiled the iNNCOVACC COVID-19
vaccine.
iNNCOVACC is the world’s first intranasal COVID19 vaccine to receive approval for the primary 2-dose
schedule, and as a heterologous booster dose. It is developed by Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL)
in collaboration with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance (BIRAC), a PSU under the Dept of
Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.
iNCOVACC is a cost effective covid vaccine which does not require syringes, needles, alcohol wipes, bandage,
etc, saving costs related to procurement, distribution, storage, and biomedical waste disposal, that is routinely
required for injectable vaccines. It utilizes a vector-based platform, which can be easily updated with emerging
variants leading to large scale production, within a few months. These rapid response timelines combined with
the ability of cost effective and easy intranasal delivery, makes it an ideal vaccine to address future infectious
diseases.
• Bharat Parv 2023
The six - day mega event “Bharat Parv” event is being organised by the Government of India from 26th to 31st
January, 2023, as part of the Republic Day Celebrations.
Ministry of Tourism has been designated as the nodal Ministry for the event, the highlights of which include
showcasing of the best Republic Day Parade tableaux at the venue, cultural performances by the Zonal Cultural
Centres as well as cultural troupes from States/ UTs.
Bharat Parv was previously held in 2016 (inaugural year), 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 (and virtually in the year
2021) at the Lawns and Gyan Path in front of Red Fort. The physical event is being organized after a gap of 2
years at the Lawns and Gyan Path in front of Red Fort. The event would have Food Festival, Handicraft mela,
folk and tribal dance performances, Performances by cultural troupes, Display of Republic Day Tableaux,
illumination of Red Fort etc. Branding and promotion of Dekho Apna Desh, Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat, G20 and
Mission LIFE would be undertaken during the event.
• National Summit on Quality of Biologicals
National Summit on Quality of Biologicals was organised by the National Institute of Biologicals (NIB), Noida,
Uttar Pradesh.
The National Summit will act as platform to bring together stakeholders, regulatory authorities & academia
for interaction on various aspects of quality assurance of biologicals. These interactions will spearhead
capacity building, technology enhancement and development of newer biologicals for promoting and
safeguarding public health contributing towards government’s mandate of ‘Healthy India’.
The National Institute of Biologicals (NIB) had been set up in 1992. NIB is an apex autonomous institute under
the administrative control of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India. The
Institute is located in NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh.
National Institute of Biologicals is playing a vital role in ensuring that only quality biological products reach the
health system, thereby strengthening our mission of ensuring quality health and wellness for all.
• National Commission for Women
The Hon’ble President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu addresses the 31st Foundation Day of the National
Commission for Women in Delhi on January 31st, 2023. The theme of the programme is ‘Sashakt Nari Sashakt
Bharat’ aimed at acknowledging and celebrating the stories of women who have excelled and paved their
journey to leave a mark.
The Commission is organizing a two-day event to celebrate its 31st Foundation Day from 31st January, 2023 to
1st February, 2023. On the second day, a panel discussion will be held with extraordinary women who have
led the path of inspiration and empowerment for several others. Through this discussion, the Commission aims
to provide a platform with diverse and varied exchange of dialogue focusing around gender equality in decision-
making and leadership roles of women belonging to different socio-economic backgrounds.
NCW was founded in January 1992 as a statutory body under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
It was established to review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women, recommend remedial
legislative measures, facilitate redressal, or grievances, and advise the government on policy matters affecting
women.
• G20 Energy Transition Working Group Meeting
The first G20 Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) Meeting under India’s Presidency will be held in
Bengaluru, from Feb 5-7, 2023. The meeting will have over 150 participants including G20 member countries,
nine special invitee guest countries – Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore,
UAE and Spain.
In addition, leading international organizations such as The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United
Nations Development Program (UNDP), International Energy Agency (IEA), Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM),
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), International Solar Alliance (ISA), United Nations International
Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP), RD20 and knowledge partners will be part of the Meeting. Senior government officials from the
concerned Ministries will also participate in the ETWG Meeting.
About G-20:
G-20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation representing around 85% of the global GDP,
over 75% of the worldwide trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. During the G-20 Presidency,
India will hold about 200 meetings in 32 different sectors in multiple locations across India. The G-20 Summit
to be held next year would be one of the highest-profile international gatherings to be hosted by India.
How the G-20 Works:
The G20 Presidency steers the G20 agenda for one year and hosts the Summit. The G20 consists of two parallel
tracks: the Finance Track and the Sherpa Track. Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors lead the Finance
Track, while Sherpas lead the Sherpa Track.
• The Finance Track is led by Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the member countries.
Within the two tracks, there are thematically oriented working groups in which representatives from
the relevant ministries of the members as well as from invited/guest countries and various international
organisations participate.
• The G20 process from the Sherpa Track is coordinated by the Sherpas of member countries, who are
personal emissaries of the Leaders. The Sherpa Track oversees inputs from 13 Working Groups, 2
Initiatives – Research Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) and G20 Empower, and various Engagement
Groups, all of whom meet throughout the year and develop their Issue Notes and Outcome Documents
in parallel. These substantive discussions then feed consensus-based recommendations to the Sherpa
Meetings. The outcome document of the Sherpa-level meetings eventually forms the basis of the
Leaders' Declaration, which will be debated and signed (after and if consensus is reached) at the final
New Delhi Summit in September next year by the Leaders of all G20 member countries.
• In addition, there are Engagement Groups which bring together civil societies, parliamentarians, think
tanks, women, youth, labour, businesses and researchers of the G20 countries. The Startup20
Engagement Group will be established under India's G20 Presidency for the first time, recognising the
role of startups in driving innovation that responds to a rapidly changing global scenario. Active
consultation with the Engagement Groups forms an integral part of India's "inclusive ambitious,
decisive, and action-oriented", G20 approach, as outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Bali
Summit this year.
G-20 Summit – 2022:
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Bali, Indonesia from November 14-16 to attend the 17th G20 Summit
at the invitation of the President of Indonesia. At the Summit’s closing session, President Widodo symbolically
handed over the G20 Presidency to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Agriculture & Allied Activities

• International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023
Spearheaded by the Prime Minister, the Government of India sponsored the proposal for International Year of
Millets (IYM) 2023 which was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The declaration has
been instrumental for the Government of India to be at the forefront in celebrating the IYM. The PM of India,
Shri Narendra Modi has also shared his vision to make IYM 2023 a ‘People’s Movement’ alongside positioning
India as the ‘Global Hub for Millets’. On 6th December 2022, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of
the United Nations, organized an opening ceremony for the International Year of Millets – 2023 at Rome, Italy.
‘Millets’ were among the first crops to be domesticated in India with several evidence of its consumption
during the Indus valley civilization. Being grown in more than 130 countries at present, Millets are considered
traditional food for more than half a billion people across Asia and Africa. In India, millets are primarily a kharif
crop, requiring less water and agricultural inputs than other similar staples. Millets are important by the virtue
of their mammoth potential to generate livelihoods, increase farmers’ income and ensure food & nutritional
security all over the world.
Some information about Millets:
• Millets are often referred to as Superfood and their production can be seen as an approach to sustainable
agriculture and a healthy world.
• The three major millet crops currently grown in India are jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet) and ragi
(finger millet).
• Major producers include Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra,
Gujarat and Haryana.
• India registered a growth of 8.02% in the export of millets in the financial year 2021-22 as the export of
millets was 159,332.16 metric tonne against 147,501.08 metric tonne during the same period last year.
• India’s major millet exporting countries are U.A.E, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Oman, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen,
U.K and U.S.A. The varieties of millets exported by India include Bajra, Ragi, Canary, Jawar, and Buckwheat.
Recognising the enormous potential of Millets, which also aligns with several UN Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), the Government of India (GoI) has prioritised Millets. In April 2018, Millets were rebranded as
“Nutri Cereals”, followed by the year 2018 being declared as the National Year of Millets, aiming at larger
promotion and demand generation. The global millets market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.5% during
the forecast period between 2021-2026.
• Beekeeping As A Medium of Sweet Revolution
Chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Government of India Manoj Kumar said that beekeeping
is the medium of sweet revolution, more income can be earned by joining this work.
The Sweet Revolution, sometimes referred to as Honey Mission or Mithi Kranti, is an initiative, launched in
2016, that aims to double farmers’ incomes by promoting the advancement of scientific beekeeping and the
production of honey and related goods.
The government has allocated Rs 500 crore for National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) for three years
(2020-21 to 2022-23) keeping in view the importance of beekeeping as part of the Integrated Farming System
(IFS) in the country. The mission, launched as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme, is being implemented
through National Bee Board (NBB).
Purpose of sweet revolution
• To make Jharkhand state in the category of developed states by 2022
• Providing employment by connecting the farmers of the state with bee keeping.
• To increase agriculture and horticulture yield and income of farmers.
• To make the state the leading state in the field of honey production.
• Children free from malnutrition.
• Production of quality honey.
On the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Khadi and village industries are working with commitment to
bring Sweet Revolution in the country. So far, 1 lakh 75 thousand bee boxes have been distributed by the
Commission after providing beekeeping training to 17 thousand 500 beneficiaries across the country.
The government launched ‘sweet revolution’ after the White Revolution, Green Revolution, and Blue
Revolution, which is a strategic step to emphasize the increase in honey production in the state, which can be
a major contributor to doubling the income of the farmers. It is expected that with the increase in income, the
production of crops will also increase by 15%.
Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) took the task of further development of the beekeeping industry
to uplift the financial status of people living in extremely interior rural areas by introducing and popularizing
scientific beekeeping.
India is one of the top nations exporting honey worldwide. India’s organic honey has made its way to markets
in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy, Spain, and other countries. About 74,413 MT of
honey worth Rs. 1221.17 crores was exported by India in 2021–22. The US, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Bangladesh,
and Qatar are some of the main export markets.
On the National Bee Board, there are presently about 13,000 beekeepers registered. It employs more than 3
lakh, rural people.
• e-NAM Bags Digital India Award 2022
e-NAM, a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has won the Platinum Award
(1st Position) in the Digital Empowerment of Citizens Category in Digital India Awards 2022 held in New Delhi
today.
e-NAM is a digital platform integrating 1260 APMC mandis across 22 States and 3 UTs to facilitate online trading
of 203 agriculture and horticulture commodities to enable farmers to realize better remunerative prices for
their produce.
e-NAM is catalysing the digital transformation of mandi operations and e- trading of agricultural commodities.
As on 31.12.2022, more than 1.74 Crore farmers & 2.39 Lakh traders have been registered on e-NAM portal. A
total trade consisting of 69 million metric tonnes of worth Rs. 2.42 lakh crore has been recorded on e-NAM
platform.
Digital India Awards (DIA) has been instituted by MeitY, under the aegis of National Portal of India to
encourage and honour innovative digital solutions/ exemplary initiatives by various government entities in the
realm of Digital Governance.
• Digital India Awards 2022 aims to inspire and motivate not only government entities but also startups
in fulfilling the Digital India vision.
• Digital India Awards 2022 were given under 7 different categories viz. Digital Empowerment of Citizens,
Public Digital Platforms, Digital Initiatives in Collaboration with Start-ups, Digital Initiative for ease of
doing business, Data sharing and use for socioeconomic development, Digital Initiatives at Grassroots
level, Best Web & Mobile initiatives etc. Platinum, Gold & Silver awards have been given to the winning
teams under different categories.
• Regulatory standards for Basmati Rice
For the first time in the country, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has specified the identity
standards for Basmati Rice (including Brown Basmati Rice, Milled Basmati Rice, Parboiled Brown Basmati Rice
and Milled Parboiled Basmati Rice) vide Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food
Additives) First Amendment Regulations, 2023.
As per these standards, Basmati rice shall possess natural fragrance characteristic of basmati rice and be free
from artificial colouring, polishing agents and artificial fragrances. These standards also specify various identity
and quality parameters for basmati rice such as average size of grains and their elongation ratio after cooking;
maximum limits of moisture, amylose content, uric acid, defective/damaged grains and incidental presence of
other non-basmati rice etc.
The standards are aimed at establishing fair practices in the trade of Basmati rice and protect consumer
interest, both domestically and globally. These standards will be enforced w.e.f 1st August, 2023.
Basmati Rice:
• Basmati rice is a premium variety of rice cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of the Indian sub-
continent and is universally known for its long grain size, fluffy texture and unique inherent aroma and
flavour. Agro-climatic conditions of the specific geographical areas where Basmati rice is grown; as well
as the method of harvesting, processing and ageing of the rice contributes to the uniqueness of Basmati
rice. Due to its unique quality attributes, Basmati is a widely consumed variety of rice both domestically
and globally and India accounts for two thirds of its global supply.
• Being a premium quality rice and fetching a price higher than the non-basmati varieties, Basmati rice is
prone to various types of adulteration for economic gains which may include, among others, undeclared
blending of other non-basmati varieties of rice. Therefore, in order to ensure supply of standardised
genuine Basmati rice in domestic and export markets, FSSAI has notified regulatory standards for
Basmati rice that have been framed through extensive consultations with the concerned government
departments / agencies and other stakeholders as well.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India:
FSSAI has been established under Food Safety and Standards, 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders
that have hitherto handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments. FSSAI has been created
for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage,
distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
Establishment of the Authority: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the
Administrative Ministry for the implementation of FSSAI. The Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have already been appointed by Government of India. The
Chairperson is in the rank of Secretary to Government of India.
• India Cold Chain Conclave
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, along with PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PHDCCI) in
association with National Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD) as a knowledge partner, organised a
one-day exhibition and conference as “India Cold Chain Conclave” in New Delhi.
The conference was organised with the objective to bring together all the stakeholders on one common
platform where they can contribute thoughts and ideas for the growth of industry in a sustainable manner and
to explore ways of reducing post-harvest losses with relevant technologies. An exhibition was also organised
concurrently to demonstrate Innovations and Excellence in Cold Chain Sector by industry leaders.
What is a cold chain?
A cold chain is a temperature-controlled supply chain comprising refrigerated production, storage and
distribution facilities supported by equipment that can constantly maintain the required low-temperature
range. So, the cold chain refers to managing the temperature of perishable products in order to maintain quality
and safety from the point of origin through the distribution chain to the final consumer.
• For example, some vaccines require a constant temperature range from the time they are
manufactured until they are used. The requirement is so exact that if the temperature goes outside of
this range, even for a short time, the vaccine could lose its potency and become unfit for use. The same
is true for some agricultural produce.
India’s cold chain network has played an integral part in maintaining the quality of perishables and other
temperature-sensitive products. And yet, there are many challenges to ensure the on-time delivery of
perishable goods around India.
A recent report highlights that the country’s total cold storage capacity is estimated to reach 40.7 million metric
tonnes of perishables by 2023 and that this growth will be driven by online groceries, pharmaceutical sales and
vaccination drives.
National Centre for Cold-chain Development:
The Task Force on cold-chain development in India had suggested in its report to establish a National Centre
for Cold-chain Development (NCCD) in India as an autonomous centre for excellence to be established as a
registered society to work in close collaboration with industry and other stake holders to promote and develop
integrated cold-chain in India for perishable F&V and other perishable allied agri – commodities to reduce
wastages and improve the gains to farmers and consumers substantially.
As recommended by the Task Force on cold-chain a National Centre for Cold-chain Development (NCCD) was
been established in 2012 to promote and develop integrated cold-chain in India for perishable agriculture and
horticulture produce including perishable from allied sectors. The main objectives of the centre are to
recommend standards and protocols for cold-chain infrastructure, suggest guidelines for human resource
development and to recommend appropriate policy frame-work for development of cold-chain. NCCD comes
under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure:
The objective of the Scheme of “Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure” is to provide
integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure facilities, without any break, from the farm gate to the
consumer. It covers creation of infrastructure facility along the entire supply chain viz. pre-cooling, weighing,
sorting, grading, waxing facilities at farm level, multi product/multi temperature cold storage, CA storage,
packing facility, IQF, blast freezing in the distribution hub and reefer vans, mobile cooling units for facilitating
distribution of non-horticulture, horticulture, fish/marine (except shrimp), dairy, meat and poultry. The scheme
allows flexibility in project planning with special emphasis on creation of cold chain infrastructure at farm level.
• The integrated cold chain project can be set up by Partnership / Proprietorship Firms, Companies,
Corporations, Cooperatives, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), NGOs,
Central / State PSUs, etc. subject to fulfilment of eligibility conditions of scheme guidelines.
• The scheme is under implementation since 2008.
• Reducing Elephant Attacks on Humans and Farmers’ Crops
KVIC through RE-HAB project of the Honey Mission Programme aims to reduce elephant attacks on humans
and farmers’ crops
Under the Project RE-HAB, “Bee-fences” are created by setting up bee boxes in the passage ways of elephants
to block their entrance to human habitats. The boxes are connected with a string so that when elephants
attempt to pass through, a tug or pull causes the bees to swarm the elephant herds and dissuade them from
moving further.
This is a cost-effective way of reducing human-wild conflicts without causing any harm to the animal. It is
scientifically recorded that elephants fear the bee swarms that can bite their sensitive inner side of the trunk
and eyes. The collective buzz of the bees annoys elephants which force them to return.
Under the RE-HAB farmers are trained in bee-keeping and each of them are supplied with 10 Bee boxes and
installed in the elephant corridors so bee boxes and bee hives are placed in the Elephant corridor to restrict
elephants from approaching the agricultural field. This Pilot project has shown very good results in Ponnampet.
This project has also helped in the increasing agricultural output due to enhanced pollination as well as Honey
Extraction.
The long-term survival of some of the world’s most iconic species, including elephants and tigers, is at risk from
a significant and escalating threat: human-wildlife conflict.
• Human-wildlife conflict is when encounters between humans and wildlife lead to negative results,
such as loss of property, livelihoods, and even life. Defensive and retaliatory killing may eventually
drive these species to extinction. These encounters not only result in suffering for both people and
wildlife immediately impacted by the conflict; they can also have a global reach, with groups such as
sustainable development agencies and businesses feeling its residual effects. The scope of the issue is
significant and truly global, but we are nowhere near being able to address it at the scale needed.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission:
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body of the Indian Constitution. It comes under
the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. It was established by Khadi and Village Industries Act,
1956.
KVIC plans, promotes, organizes, and implements programs for the development of Khadi and other village
industries in rural areas, nationwide. KVIC also helps in building up the reserve of raw materials for supply to
producers. The commission focuses on the creation of common service facilities for the processing of raw
materials, such as semi-finished goods. KVIC has also helped in the creation of employment in the Khadi
industry.
Functions of KVIC
• Building up of a reserve of raw materials and implementation for supply to producers
• Formation of common service facilities for processing of raw materials that include semi-finished goods
• Promoting the sale and marketing of Khadi and Village Industries products, as well as handicrafts
• Promoting research in the village industries sector-related production techniques and equipment
• Providing financial assistance to individuals and institutions for the development and operation of Khadi
and Village industries
Schemes under Khadi and Village Industries Commission:
• Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): Prime Minister’s Employment
Generation Programme (PMEGP) was launched in 2008 to replace The Rural Employment Generation
Programme (REGP) scheme. The Ministry of MSME launched PMEGP which is a credit-linked subsidy
program. The prime reason for launching this scheme is to create employment in rural and urban areas
across the nation.
• Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI): Launched in 2005, SFURTI is a
Scheme of the Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries Ministry of MSME. The primary objective
of SFURTI is to organize the traditional artisans and industries into groups to make them competitive
and provide them with long-term sustainability. The financial support provided under SFURTI for any
specific project shall be subject to a maximum of Rs 8 crore. Institutions of the Central and State
Governments and semi-Government institutions, Non-Government organizations (NGOs), Panchayati
Raj institutions (PRIs), etc. can apply for this scheme.
• Interest Subsidy Eligibility Certificate (ISEC): The Interest Subsidy Eligibility Certificate (ISEC) Scheme is
the major funding source for the Khadi program. This scheme is applicable to all registered institutions
of KVIC. This scheme was introduced to mobilize funds from banking institutions to bridge the gap
between the actual fund requirement and its availability from budgetary sources. Under this scheme,
funding is provided at a concessional rate of interest of 4% per annum for working capital purposes as
per the requirements.
• Market Promotion Development Assistance (MPDA): Market Promotion Development Assistance
(MPDA): This scheme is launched to provide services like market promotion and development assistance
for Khadi industries.  The aim of this scheme is to ensure increased earnings for artisans.
Under the former MDA scheme, financial assistance was distributed amongst Artisans (25%),
selling institutions (45%), and producing Institutions (30%). It goes 20% for selling institutions and 40%
for both artisans and producing institutions.
• Khadi Reform and Development Programme (KRDP): Khadi Reform and Development Programme
(KRDP) is formed for employment generation, to enhance the earnings of artisans, and to ensure the
positioning of Khadi considering the present needs of the Khadi industry. The main focus of this scheme
is on Repositioning Khadi and linking to market requirements, providing selective subsidy and enhanced
remuneration.
• Beekeeping – The Honey Mission: Honey Mission aims to improve the livelihoods of rural communities.
It works around five dynamics that include:
o It’s an income-generating activity
o Medicinal and food value of honey
o Supports agricultural activities
o Contributes to forests conservation efforts
o Facilitates healthy linkages between biodiversity toward sustainable livelihoods
• Market Development Assistance (MDA): MDA scheme is promotion assistance for the development of
Khadi which is paid at 20% on the production. Approximately 25% of MDA is paid to the institution of
which 25% is given to artisans as an incentive and 30% is offered to institutions for production and 45%
for marketing purposes. Under the MDA scheme, financial assistance of 25% is reserved for payment
among weavers and spinners as an additional incentive through their post/bank office account.
• Millets & Organics -2023
Millets & Organics 2023 – International Trade Fair kicks off in Thripuravasini, Bengaluru on Friday,
20th January. The three-day event was divided in multiple segments including Exhibition, Pavilion, B2B
networking and much more.
The trade fair is a platform for farmers, farmer groups, domestic and international companies, central and state
institutions in organic and millet sector to connect and explore opportunities in agriculture, horticulture,
processing, machinery and agri-technology. The Government of Karnataka has been a leader in promotion of
millets - The first Organics and Millets Fair was held in 2017, the second and third editions in 2018 and 2019
in Bengaluru.
• Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) for Food and Agriculture
In the recently concluded 12th Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group (ITWG) on Animal
Genetic Resources (AnGR) at Rome during 18 -20 January 2023, India was elected as Vice-Chair and
represented Asia & Pacific region. Dr B N Tripathi, Deputy Director General (Animal Sciences), ICAR, and the
National Coordinator, vice-chaired the Session and also act as Rapporteur.
The Working Group, established by the FAO’s Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
(CGRFA), functions to review technical issues, advise and make recommendations to the Commission and
further implement the Commission's programme related to AnGR at global level.
Animal genetic resources are defined as genetic diversity in domesticated animal species having economic or
other socio-cultural values and found among species, among animal breeds within the species and in cryo-
conserved material (embryos and semen).
• Animal Genetic Resources include all species, breeds and strains that are of economic, scientific and
cultural interest to agriculture, now and in the future. Common species include sheep, goats, cattle,
horses, pigs, buffalo and chickens, but many other domesticated animals such as camels, donkeys,
elephants, reindeer, rabbits and rodents are important to different cultures and regions of the world.
• Animal domestication began some 12,000 years ago when people began selecting animals for food,
fibre, work power and other agricultural uses. Livestock provide valuable products, such as hides, wool
and manure, that are important both for subsistence and as sources of income for rural communities.
• Livestock process forage and crop waste, inedible to humans, into nutritionally important food
products. Approximately 40 percent of the total land available in developing countries can be used only
for some form of forage production.
• Animals account for 19 percent of the world’s food directly. They also provide draught power and
fertilizer for crop production, bringing their overall contribution up to 25 percent. In addition, livestock
serve as very important cash reserves in many of the mixed farming systems.
ICAR- National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBAGR):
Established on 21st September, 1984 at Bangalore in the form of twin institutes namely ICAR- National Bureau
of Animal Genetic Resources and National Institute of Animal Genetics and then shifted to Karnal in 1985, the
two institutes were merged to function as a single entity in the form of ICAR- National Bureau of Animal Genetic
Resources (ICAR-NBAGR) in 1995. This premier institute is dedicated to work with its mandate of identification,
evaluation, characterization, conservation and utilization of livestock and poultry genetic resources of the
country. The Bureau is now headquartered at Karnal, Haryana.
Food and Agriculture Organization:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), oldest permanent specialized agency of the United Nations,
established in October 1945 with the objective of eliminating hunger and improving nutrition and standards of
living by increasing agricultural productivity. It is headquartered in Rome, Italy.
The FAO coordinates the efforts of governments and technical agencies in programs for developing
agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and land and water resources. It also carries out research; provides technical
assistance on projects in individual countries; operates educational programs through seminars and training
centres; maintains information and support services, including keeping statistics on world production, trade,
and consumption of agricultural commodities; and publishes a number of periodicals, yearbooks, and research
bulletins.
Rural India
• Manthan: Charting New Paths
With the ever-evolving digital landscape in India, rural areas have also experienced a need for better e-
Governance platforms by the Government. In order to harness use of digital technology pursuing ‘Next
Generation’ reforms with the policy objective of ‘Maximum Governance – Minimum Government’, Ministry of
Panchayati Raj organised a one-day deliberation meet ‘Manthan: Charting New Paths’ on 30th January
2023 in New Delhi to brainstorm and develop a roadmap for improving its current e-Governance applications
primarily e-Gram SWARAJ.
This conference has ensured broadening of the vision and visibility of the State Panchayati Raj Departments on
the various technology driven innovations underway in the Government landscape, further fuelling the growing
appetite for technological solutions above and beyond the existing e-Gram SWARAJ solution in rural areas. This
would, in turn, trigger the rural transformation to achieve the vision of Gram Swaraj laid down by Mahatma
Gandhi.
Other Developments
• 2023 Science Vision
At the beginning of the new year, the Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra
Singh while talking to the journalists informed the media about the Science Vision-2023. Dr. Jitendra Singh said
that dream of the country will come true in the year 2047, when India will be celebrating 100 years of
independence.
The Minister also encouraged the citizens to think out-of-the box and said the future belongs to those with
innovative ideas. He also discussed several outlines set by various science and technology departments for this
year and said Indian Space Research Organisation is focusing on “Gaganyan” program which will land an Indian
on the surface of the Moon.
Significance of Gaganyaan for India:
1. Boost to industries: The Indian industry will find large opportunities through participation in the Space
missions. Gaganyaan mission is expected to source nearly 60% of its equipment from the Indian private
sector.
2. Employment: The space organisation would need an additional manpower of 900. Gaganyaan mission
would create 15,000 new employment opportunities. It is expected to generate employment and train
human resources in advanced technologies. The programme is expected to give impetus to economic
activities within the country in terms of human resource development and enhanced industrial
capabilities.
3. Technological development: Human Space flights are frontier field in science and technology. Human
spaceflight programme will provide a unique platform in space for conducting experiments and test bed
for future technologies.
4. Boost to academic organisations: Gaganyaan Programme is a national effort and will involve the
participation of academia and National Agencies. It will establish a broader framework for collaboration
between ISRO, academia, industry, national agencies and other scientific organizations.
5. Boost to research: It will boost good research and technology development. With a large number of
researchers with proper equipment involved, it will thrust significant research in areas such as materials
processing, astro-biology, resource mining, planetary chemistry, planetary orbital calculus and many
other areas.
6. Motivation: Human space flight will provide that inspiration to the youth and also the national public. It
will inspire a large number of young students to take up science and technology careers for national
development.
7. Prestige: India will be the 4th country to launch human space mission. The Gaganyaan will not only bring
about prestige to the nation but also establish India’s role as a key player in the space industry.
The Minister added that the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research will focus on the Green Hydrogen and
Biotechnology department will work towards the improvement of vaccines for the existing and emerging
diseases. Dr. Singh also expressed his confidence that the country’s Blue Economy will see further headway
through the Earth Sciences Ministry. He informed that this year Atomic Energy Department will deliver about
21 lakh equipments for the Election Commission of India which includes Ballot Units, Control Units and Voter
Verifiable Paper Audit Trail.
Blue Economy:
• According to the World Bank, the blue economy is the "sustainable use of ocean resources for
economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean
ecosystem."
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans,
seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
• India was among the first in the world to create a Department of Ocean Development in 1981,
now the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). Based on the experience of more than three decades,
India has come a long way with the launch of new programmes such as “Deep Ocean Mission,”
“Oceanography from space” and “Launching of the data buoys” along the Indian coastline.
• The Government of India’s Vision of New India by 2030 enunciated in February 2019 highlighted
the Blue Economy as one of the ten core dimensions of growth. The Blue Economy was
mentioned as the sixth dimension of this vision stressing the need for a coherent policy
integrating different sectors so as to improve the lives of the coastal communities and accelerate
development and employment.
• In recent years, there has been a series of initiatives for sustainable development in the maritime
domain. These initiatives are catalysts to strengthen the growth of India’s maritime interests and
our Blue Economy. In the Post COVID-19 global scenario India is likely to witness significant
growth in the marine sector by efficient and sustainable utilization of ocean resources.
• With a coastline of nearly 7.5 thousand kilometers, India has a unique maritime position. Nine
of its 29 states are coastal, and the nation’s geography includes 1,382 islands. There are nearly
199 ports, including 12 major ports that handle approximately 1,400 million tons of cargo each
year. Moreover, India’s Exclusive Economic Zone of over 2 million square kilometers has a
bounty of living and non-living resources with significant recoverable resources such as crude oil
and natural gas. Also, the coastal economy sustains over 4 million fisherfolk and coastal
communities. With these vast maritime interests, the blue economy occupies a vital potential
position in India’s economic growth. It could well be the next multiplier of GDP and well-being,
provided sustainability and socio-economic welfare are kept centre-stage. Therefore, India's
draft blue economy policy is envisaged as a crucial framework towards unlocking country’s
potential for economic growth and welfare.
Green Hydrogen:
Most large economies including India have committed to net zero targets. Transition to Green Hydrogen
and Green Ammonia is one of the major requirements for the reduction of emissions, especially in the
hard-to-abate sectors. The government of India have had under consideration a number of policy
measures in order to facilitate the transition from fossil fuel I fossil fuel-based feedstocks to Green
Hydrogen / Green Ammonia both as energy carriers and as chemical feedstock for different sectors.
• Hydrogen, as an energy carrier, is becoming crucial for achieving the decarbonisation of hard-to-
abate sectors. Many sectors such as iron ore and steel, fertilizers, refining, methanol, and
maritime shipping emit major amounts of CO2, and carbon-free hydrogen will play a critical role
in enabling deep decarbonization. For other high-emitting sectors, such as heavy-duty trucking
and aviation, hydrogen is among the main options being explored with an outlook to be the
preferred solution for several applications.
• This has resulted in growing global momentum towards hydrogen in general, and green
hydrogen—hydrogen produced through the electrolysis of water using electricity from
renewable sources—in particular. Declining prices of hydrogen, coupled with growing urgency
for decarbonization means the global demand for hydrogen could grow by almost 400 percent
by 2050, led by industry and transportation.
• Green Hydrogen / Green Ammonia shall be defined as Hydrogen / Ammonia produced by way of
electrolysis of water using Renewable Energy; including Renewable Energy which has been
banked and the Hydrogen/Ammonia produced from biomass.
• New Chairman & CEO of Railway Board
Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti has taken over the charge of new Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Railway
Board (Ministry of Railways). The appointments committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Shri
Anil Kumar Lahoti as Chairman & CEO of Railway Board. Prior to this, Shri Anil Kumar Lahoti has worked as
Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board.
• 108th Indian Science Congress
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) on 3rd January, 2023.
The focal theme of this year's ISC is “Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women
Empowerment”. It witnessed discussions on issues of sustainable development, women empowerment and
the role of science & technology in achieving this. The participants discussed and deliberated on ways to
increase the number of women in higher echelons of teaching, research and industry, along with trying to find
ways to provide women with equal access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics)
education, research opportunities and economic participation. A special programme to showcase the
contribution of women in science and technology was also held, which also witnessed lectures by renowned
women scientists.
The first session of the Science Congress was held in 1914. The 108th annual session of ISC will be held at
Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, which is also celebrating its centenary this year.
• DRDO: 65 Foundation Day
th
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) celebrated its 65th foundation day on 1st January. It
was on this day in 1958 when DRDO was formed to make India strong and self-reliant in terms of science and
technology and especially in military technologies.
• New President of Brazil
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on assuming office as the
President of Brazil.
• Asian Pacific Postal Union
India will take over the leadership of the Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) having its Headquarters in Bangkok,
Thailand from this month. Following the successful elections held during the 13th APPU Congress held in
Bangkok during August- September 2022, Dr. Vinaya Prakash Singh, erstwhile Member (Personnel), Postal
Services Board will take over the charge of Secretary General of the Union for the tenure of 4 years.
• Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU) is an intergovernmental organization of 32-member countries of the
Asian-Pacific region. APPU is the only Restricted Union of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in the region,
which is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
• The goal of APPU is to extend, facilitate and improve postal relations between member countries and
to promote cooperation in the field of postal services.
• As the regional centre for various UPU projects, APPU also takes the lead in ensuring that all technical
and operational projects of the UPU are fulfilled in the region so that the region is integrated into the
global postal network in the best possible way.
• Secretary General leads the activities of the Union and is also the Director of the Asian Pacific Postal
College (APPC) which is the largest intergovernmental postal training institute in the region.
• Manohar International Airport – Mopa, Goa
The Union Cabinet chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval for naming of
Greenfield International Airport Mopa, Goa as ‘Manohar International Airport – Mopa, Goa’, as a mark of
tribute to Late Shri Manohar Parrikar, Ex-Defence Minister and Four-time Goa Chief Minister.
• Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas Convention
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Government of India. It provides an
important platform to engage and connect with the overseas Indians and to enable the diaspora to interact
with each other.
The 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is being organized in partnership with the Madhya Pradesh
Government from 08-10 January 2023 in Indore. The theme of this PBD Convention is "Diaspora: Reliable
partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal”. Over 3,500 diaspora members from nearly 70 different countries
have registered for the PBD Convention.
The first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was celebrated in the year 2003. The day marks the contribution of the
overseas Indian community in the development of India. PBD is being organized biennially from the year 2015.
First Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was celebrated on 9th January 2003. The date, 9th January, was selected to mark
the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915.
• MV Ganga Vilas
The world's longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas is flagged off by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 13th
January 2023 in Varanasi. In the coming 50 days, this luxury cruise will not only bring to the world India’s
potential for cruise tourism for India but will also showcase India’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and spiritual
splendour.
The launch of Cruise Tourism is an example of multi-ministry synergy and Whole of Government Approach
under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership as the underlying task of cleaning the Ganga comes under the Ministry
of Jal Shakti, the policy for cruise tourism is formulated by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the
Ministry of Tourism provides the support in creating attractive tourism products and experiences and markets
the destination. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is the coordinator of this ship tourism project.
The journey of MV Ganga Vilas, will continue on the Ganga and the Brahmaputra River, and will end in
Dibrugarh in Assam on March 1, 2023 after 51 days. The cruise will visit 50 major tourist destinations, including
heritage sites such as Varanasi’s famous Ganga Aarti and sanctuaries such as Kaziranga National Park and the
Sundarbans Delta. In Bangladesh, the cruise will travel approximately 1,100 kilometres.
In these 51 days, the tourists will travel a distance of 3200 kms. This tour will continue through Patna, Kolkata,
Dhaka (Bangladesh), Sahibganj, and Guwahati, via Majuli Island. Tourists travelling in this ship will visit the
famous cities and tourist areas located on the banks of these two rivers.
The government of India has taken several initiatives to boost the country’s cruise tourism industry, including
infrastructure upgrades, rationalisation of port fees, removal of ousting charges, priority berthing for cruise
ships, and the provision of e-visa facilities. India aims to increase cruise passenger traffic from 0.4 million at
present to 4 million. The economic potential of cruise tourism is expected to rise from $110 million to $5.5
billion in the coming years. To realise this, the Centre has taken up the task of developing 100 national
waterways, with the goal of seeing world-class cruise ships operating on these waterways in addition to cargo
movement. 12 projects amounting to Rs. 1,098 Cr. are being undertaken to improve infrastructure related to
cruise shipping in India. For the majority of these projects, infrastructure is being developed with the allied
facility at Major ports.
• RRR Gets Golden Globe Award for the Best Original Song
PM congratulates RRR team on winning Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song ‘Naatu Naatu’. Music
director M M Keeravani accepted the award at the function in the presence of the director, S S Rajamouli and
the star cast.
• Ex VARUNA – 2023
The 21st Edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between India and France – Exercise Varuna commenced on
the Western Seaboard on 16 Jan 23. While the bilateral exercise between the two navies were initiated in 1993,
it was christened as ‘VARUNA’ in 2001 and has become a hallmark of India – France strategic bilateral
relationship.
Having grown in scope and complexity over the years, this exercise provides an opportunity to learn from each
other’s best practices. The exercise facilitates operational level interaction between the two navies to foster
mutual cooperation for good order at sea, underscoring the shared commitment of both nations to security,
safety and freedom of the global maritime commons.
• Fifth Kalvari Class Submarine Vagir
Indian Navy is set to commission the fifth Kalvari class submarine Vagir on 23 Jan 2023, Adm R Hari Kumar,
Chief of the Naval Staff will be the Chief Guest for the ceremony. These submarines are being built in India by
the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group, France.
Four of the Kalvari class of submarines have already been commissioned into the Indian Navy.
• Exercise Cyclone-I
The first ever joint exercise between the special forces of the Indian Army and the Egyptian Army named
“Exercise Cyclone-I” is in progress at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan since 14 January 2023. The exercise aims to bolster
defence co-operation between the two nations and focus on sharing professional skills and interoperability of
Special Forces in desert terrain while undertaking counter terrorism, reconnaissance, raids and other special
operations.
• Parakram Diwas
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Parakram Diwas.
India is celebrating Parakram Diwas on 23 January to commemorate the birth anniversary of great freedom
fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the event
to name 21 large unnamed islands of the Andaman Nicobar Island, after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees.
Param Vir Chakra is the highest military decoration, awarded for showing distinguished valour during times of
war. The islands will be named in chronological order, i.e. the largest island will be named after the first Param
Vir Chakra awardee and the second largest after the second, and so on.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting organised the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival from
the 27th - 31st of January, 2023, in Mumbai, through the National Film Development Corporation. The SCO
Film Festival is being organized to mark India’s Presidency at SCO.
The official language of the SCO i.e., Russian and Chinese will also be the official language of the Film Festival.
However, English will also be included as the functional language of the festival as it is being hosted in India.
The films to be screened will be subtitled in English for the benefit of the jury and local audience.
The SCO is a multilateral organization, established on 15 June 2001. The SCO currently comprises eight Member
States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), three Observer States
(Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia) and fourteen Dialogue Partners (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri
Lanka, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, UAE and Turkey).
• BharOS
Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan along with
Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw
successfully tested the ‘BharOS’, a Made In India mobile operating system developed by IIT Madras.
Shri Pradhan said that the poor people of the country will be the main beneficiary of a strong, indigenous,
dependable & self-reliant digital infrastructure. He further said that promoting policy enablers with the whole
of the government approach is an applied experiment of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji's vision. ‘BharOS’
is a successful step towards data privacy he added.
It is an Android Open Source Project (AOSP)-based Indian operating system, indigenously developed by JandK
Operations Private Limited, a Company established by IIT Madras. BharOS is an important step in building a
strong indigenous digital infrastructure in the country. In terms of technology, BharOS is very similar to Android
OS. The main difference between the two operating systems is that BharOS does not include Google services.
It will be a different operating system that will allow users to add apps based on their preferences.
The software can be installed on commercially available handsets, providing users with a secure
environment, the company stated in a statement. BharOS has No Default Programs (NDA), which means that
users are not forced to run apps that they are unfamiliar with or do not trust. The institute claimed that the
users would get more freedom, control, and flexibility to choose and use only the apps that fit their needs.
BharOS, a native mobile operating system is being offered to organisations with strict privacy and security
standards and places where people handle sensitive information.
Important Points:
• The BharOS is an Android Open Source Project based operating system which is developed by JandK
Operations Private Limited.
• The JandKops is a non-profit organisation incubated at IIT Madras.
• BharOS a new mobile operating system focused on privacy and security. A mobile operating system is
a software that is the core interface on a smartphone like Android by Google and iOS by Apple.
• The BharOS is an Indian government-funded project to develop a free and open-source operating
system (OS) for use in government and public systems.
• The project aims to reduce the dependence on foreign OS in smartphones and promote the use of
locally developed technology.
• It is a huge leap forward to create an indigenous ecosystem and a self-reliant future.
• BharOS Services are currently being provided to organisations that have stringent privacy and security
requirements and whose users handle sensitive information that requires confidential communications
on restricted apps on mobiles.
• Such users require access to private cloud services through private 5G networks.
• The Foundation is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India,
under its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NMICPS).
• It aspires to put India on par with those few countries that currently possess such capabilities.
• AMPHEX – 2023
The biennial Tri-Services (Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy) Amphibious Exercise, AMPHEX 2023 was
conducted at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh from 17 to 22 January 23. AMPHEX is aimed at joint training of
elements of all three services in various facets of amphibious operations to enhance interoperability and
synergy.
AMPHEX 2023 is the first time that the exercise was undertaken at Kakinada, and was the largest ever AMPHEX
conducted till date. The participating forces undertook complex exercises in all domains of amphibious
operations over five days.
• TROPEX – 2023
The 2023 edition of Indian Navy’s major maritime exercise TROPEX, is currently underway in the Indian Ocean
Region. This operational level exercise is conducted biennially and witnesses participation not only by all Indian
Navy units but also of Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Coast Guard assets.
TROPEX 23 is being conducted over a duration of three months from Jan - Mar 23. As part of the exercise, all
surface combatants of the Indian Navy including Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes as well as submarines and
aircraft are put through complex maritime operational deployments to validate and refine the Navy’s Concept
of Operations including operational logistics and interoperability with other Services. The exercise is being
conducted in different phases, both in harbour and at sea, encompassing various facets of combat operations,
including live weapon firings.
• National Voters’ Day
Election Commission of India is celebrating 13th National Voters’ Day on 25th January 2023.
Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu will be the Chief Guest at the national function being
organized in New Delhi by the Election Commission of India. Union Minister for Law and Justice, Shri Kiren Rijiju
will grace the function as Guest of Honour.
The theme for this year’s NVD, ‘Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure’ is dedicated to voters which conveys
individual’s feeling and aspiration towards participation in the electoral process through power of their vote.
The logo is designed to showcase festivity and inclusivity of the electoral process. Ashoka Chakra in the
background represents the largest democracy of the world, whereas the inked finger represents participation
of each and every voter of the country. The tick mark in the logo stands for informed decision making by the
voter.
Since 2011, National Voters’ Day has been celebrated on January 25 every year, all across the country to mark
the foundation day of the Election Commission of India, i.e. 25th January 1950. The main purpose of the NVD
celebration is to create electoral awareness amongst citizens and encourage them to participate in the electoral
process. Dedicated to the voters of the country, the National Voters' Day is also used to facilitate enrolment of
voters, specially the newly eligible young voters. New voters are felicitated and handed over their Elector Photo
Identity Card (EPIC) in the NVD functions held across the country.
• Adi Shaurya
The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Coast Guard,
celebrated “Adi Shaurya – Parv Parakram Ka” with a colourful showcase of tribal dances, and performances
by the Armed forces to commemorate the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (Parakram
Diwas).
• Chief Guest of Republic Day Celebrations
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi thanked President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of the Arab Republic of Egypt
for gracing this year’s Republic Day celebrations. President Sisi was the Chief Guest on India’s 74th Republic
Day.
Republic Day is the day when India marks and celebrates the date on which the Constitution of India came
into effect on 26 January 1950. This replaced the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of
India, thus turning the nation into a republic separate from British Raj.
• SCO Film Festival – 2023
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization festival commenced with the world premiere of the Tamil film
"Appatha". The film is directed by Padma awardee and National Award-winning filmmaker Priyadarshan.
About SCO Film Festival: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization film festival (SCO Film Festival) is being
organized by the National Film Development Corporation, a Public Sector Undertaking of the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting, in association with the SCO Council of Heads of States from the 27th - 31st of
January, 2023, in Mumbai The SCO Film Festival is being organized to mark India’s Presidency at SCO.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization: The SCO is an intergovernmental organization founded in Shanghai on 15
June 2001. The SCO currently comprises eight Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), four Observer States interested in acceding to full membership
(Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia) and six “Dialogue Partners” (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal,
Sri Lanka and Turkey). In 2021, the decision was made to start the accession process of Iran to the SCO as a full
member, and Egypt, Qatar as well as Saudi Arabia became dialogue partners.
Since its inception in 2001, the SCO has mainly focused on regional security issues, its fight against regional
terrorism, ethnic separatism and religious extremism. To date, the SCO’s priorities also include regional
development.
• Veer Guardian 2023
The inaugural edition of the bilateral air exercise 'Veer Guardian 2023' between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and
Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) concluded in Japan, on 26 January 2023.
The JASDF participated in the exercise with its F-2 and F-15 aircraft, while the IAF contingent participated with
the Su-30 MKI aircraft. The IAF fighter contingent was complemented by one IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft
and two C-17 Globemaster strategic airlift transport aircraft.
• Khelo India Youth Games
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur
attended the inaugural function of fifth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games in Madhya Pradesh.
This time a game like Malkhamb has also been included in the Khelo India Youth Games and it is not just a
regional but a national game. Indigenous sports and talents are now gaining national and international
recognition.
The Khelo India Scheme is the flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. It
seeks to instil a culture of sports and achieve sporting greatness throughout the nation, enabling the general
public to tap into sports’ transformative power.
The revamped Khelo India Scheme was introduced during the 2017–18 fiscal year.
Khelo India was formed by merging three schemes namely Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan (RGKA), Urban Sports
Infrastructure Scheme (USIS), and National Sports Talent Search Scheme (NSTSS).
• UN PGA Csaba Kőrösi
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi welcomed Mr. Csaba Korosi, President of the 77th Session of the
United Nations General Assembly in India.
During the meeting, Mr. Csaba Korosi lauded India’s transformational initiatives for communities, including in
the area of water resource management and conservation. Acknowledging India’s efforts towards Reformed
Multilateralism, Mr. Csaba Korosi underscored the importance of India being at the forefront of efforts to
reform global institutions.
What is the UNGA?
• The UN General Assembly (UNGA), the United Nation’s chief policy-making and representative organ,
was created in 1945.
• It meets from September to December every year, and then again between January and August.
• At the beginning of each regular session in September, the Assembly holds its main event — the general
debate, where representatives of each member state are provided the opportunity to raise any issues
that concern them.
• It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations(UN).
• It serves as the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN
• Its powers, composition, functions, and procedures are set out in Chapter IV of the United Nations
Charter.
• The UNGA is responsible for the UN budget, appointing the non-permanent members to the Security
Council, appointing the Secretary-General of the United Nations, receiving reports from other parts of
the UN system, and making recommendations through resolutions.
• The UNGA is the only UN organ wherein all member states have equal representation.
• All 193 members of the United Nations are members of the General Assembly, with the addition of
Holy See and Palestine as observer states.
REPORTS & INDICES
Indian Reports & Indices
• Annual Transparency Report
As a step towards enhancing the transparency about management and governance of audit firms and their
internal policy framework to ensure high quality audits and preventing conflict of interest by maintaining
independence, the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has published draft requirements regarding
preparation and publication of Annual Transparency Report (ATR) by auditors/audit firms.
These ATR requirements are on the lines of the contemporary international best practices implemented by
certain prominent Independent Audit Regulators in other jurisdictions. Rule 8(2) of the NFRA Rules 2018
empowers the NFRA to require an auditor to report on its governance practices and internal processes designed
to promote audit quality, protect its reputation and reduce risks including risk of failure of the auditor and may
take such action on the report as may be necessary.
Please note that this report has still not been prepared. So, more details will be shared when NFRA announces
the final shape of the report.
National Financial Reporting Authority:
• Established: In 2018, under Section 132 (1) of the Companies Act 2013.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• NFRA is an independent regulator for the auditing profession under Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• Its account is Monitored by Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) of India.
• Function: To make recommendation to Central Government on the formulation and laying down of
accounting and auditing policies and standards for adoption by companies or class of companies or their
auditors. It has also been given the power to investigate matters of professional misconduct by chartered
accountants or CA firms, impose penalty and debar the CA or firm for up to 10 years.
• A Report on Gross bond issuances by Indian banks

Gross bond issuances by Indian banks raised more than Rs 91,000 crore in April-December 2022, more than
the previous high of Rs 80,000 crore in financial year 2016-17 (FY17), according to ICRA.
With tight liquidity conditions likely persisting in the near to medium term, banks may raise around Rs 1.3
trillion to Rs 1.4 trillion through bond issuances in FY23. Banks raised more than Rs 73,000 crore raised in FY22,
said the rating agency.
• Public sector banks usually issue bonds for capital considerations and private ones to meet credit-
deposit growth mismatch.
• Public sector banks largely issue tier I bonds, private lenders preferred Tier II bonds (as Tier I is costlier
than Tier II) and both issued infrastructure bonds.
• Groundwater Yearbook 2021 – 22

A recent report on the State of Groundwater released by the Central Ground Water Board has highlighted that
12 states have uranium levels beyond permissible limits in their groundwater.
• Punjab is the worst-affected state in terms of the percentage of wells found to have uranium
concentration of more than 30 ppb, the safe levels prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
and the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Haryana is the second state in terms of uranium prevalence in groundwater. It is followed by Uttar
Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.
Uranium is a nephrotoxic element and can have an adverse impact at very high concentrations. This means
that people dependent on groundwater containing the element are at a higher risk of impaired renal function
and kidney disease. Exposure to uranium may also lead to other adverse health impacts, including bone toxicity.
Central Ground Water Board:
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), a subordinate office of the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Ministry of Water
Resources, Government of India, is the National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibilities of providing
scientific inputs for management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation and regulation of ground
water resources of the country. Central Ground Water Board was established in 1970 by renaming the
Exploratory Tube wells Organization under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. It was merged
with the Ground Water Wing of the Geological Survey of India during 1972.
• All India Survey on Higher Education: 2020 – 21
The Ministry of Education, Government of India has released All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE)
2020-2021. The Ministry has been conducting All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) since 2011, covering
all higher educational institutions (HEIs) located in Indian Territory and imparting higher education in the
country. The survey collects detailed information on different parameters such as student enrolment, teacher’s
data, infrastructural information, financial information etc. For the first time, in AISHE 2020-21, HEIs have filled
data using entirely online data collection platform through the Web Data Capture Format (DCF) developed by
Department of Higher Education through the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
Student Enrolment - Highlights:
• The total enrolment in higher education has increased to nearly 4.14 crore in 2020-21 from 3.85 crore
in 2019-20.
• The Female enrolment has increased to 2.01 crore from 1.88 crore in 2019-20.
• The percentage of female enrolment to total enrolment has increased from 45% in 2014-15 to around
49% in 2020-21.
• As per 2011 population projections for 18-23 years age group, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) has
increased to 27.3 from 25.6 in 2019-20.
• Notable increase of 1.9 percentage points is observed in GER of ST students in 2020-21, as compared
to 2019-20.
• Female GER has overtaken Male GER since 2017-18. Gender Parity Index (GPI), the ratio of female GER
to male GER, has increased from 1 in 2017-18 to 1.05 in 2020-21.
• The enrolment in Distance Education is 45.71 Lakh (with 20.9 Lakh Female), an increase of around 7%
since 2019-20 and 20% since 2014-15.
• Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan are the top 6
States in terms of number of student enrolled.
• As per response in AISHE 2020-21, about 79.06 % of the total students are enrolled in undergraduate
level courses and 11.5 % are enrolled in postgraduate level courses.
• Among Disciplines at undergraduate level, enrolment is highest in Arts (33.5%), followed by Science
(15.5%), Commerce (13.9%) and Engineering & Technology (11.9%).
• Among streams at postgraduate level, maximum students are enrolled in Social Science (20.56%)
followed by science (14.83%).
Number of Institutions:
• The total number of Universities / University like institutions registered is 1,113, Colleges 43,796 and
Standalone Institutions 11,296.
• During 2020-21, the number of Universities has increased by 70, and the number of Colleges has
increased by 1,453.
• The Institutes of National Importance (INIs) have almost doubled from 75 in 2014-15 to 149 in 2020-
21.
• Highest number of universities is in Rajasthan (92), Uttar Pradesh (84) and Gujarat (83).
• The College Density, the number of colleges per lakh eligible population (population in the age-group
18-23 years) has been 31. This was 27 in 2014-15.
• States with Highest college density: Karnataka (62), Telangana (53), Kerala (50), Himachal Pradesh (50),
Andhra Pradesh (49),Uttarakhand (40), Rajasthan (40), Tamil Nadu (40).
• 43% universities and 61.4% colleges are located in Rural Areas.
Faculty:
• The total number of faculty/teachers are 15,51,070 of which about 57.1% are male and 42.9% are
female.
• The female per 100 male faculty has improved to 75 in 2020-21 from 74 in 2019-20 and 63 in 2014-15.
Global Reports & Indices
• Nikkei Asia’s Report
According to Nikkei Asia’s report, India has surpassed Japan to become the third-largest auto market globally
in 2022. China continued to lead the global auto market, followed by the USA.
India's sales volume is expected to rise further with the inclusion of pending fourth-quarter sales figures for
commercial vehicles.
As per the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, new vehicles delivered in India totalled 4.13 million
between January and November 2022.
• Henley Passport Index – 2023
London-based Henley & Partners, a global citizenship and residence advisory firm, has recently released the
Henley Passport Index 2023. The index includes 199 passports and 227 travel destinations, providing users
with the most comprehensive and reliable information about their global access and mobility.
Global:
• Japan’s passport has remained the most powerful in the world.
• Singapore & South Korea share the second spot, providing visa-free entry to 192 countries.
• In terms of the least powerful passport, Afghanistan’s passport ranks 109th, as the world’s worst
passport with a visa-free score of 27.
India’s performance:
• The passport index has ranked India at the 85th position, meaning that Indian passport holders can
access 59 countries without needing a visa.
• Previously, India was ranked 82nd, 84th, 85th & 83rd in 2019, 2020, 2021, & 2022, respectively.
• Global Risks Report – 2023
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has published the 18th edition of the Global Risks Report 2023, which lists
the biggest risks for India over the short and medium terms. The report summarises the findings of the latest
Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS).
Key highlights:
• The report has highlighted the cost-of-living crisis as the biggest short-term risk facing the world right
now, with climate change as the biggest long-term threat.
• The report states that Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic have propelled the energy
crisis, food scarcity, and inflation as the most pressing global issues.
• The most-cited two-year term risks included natural disasters, geo-economic confrontation, the erosion
of social cohesion, widespread cybercrime, large-scale involuntary migration, and natural resource
crises, alongside climate change.
• The report states that the world must collaborate more effectively on climate mitigation and adaptation
over the next decade to avoid “ecological breakdown” and continued global warming.
About WEF:
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international organization: headquartered in Geneva,
Switzerland.
• It brings together: its membership of political and business leaders each year to discuss major issues
that impact the global economy.
o These include but are not limited to political, economic, social, and environmental concerns.
• Davos: The WEF is best known for its annual World Economic Forum Meeting at Davos, the Swiss ski
resort.
o The event regularly draws business and political leaders from around the world for a series of
discussions about global issues.
• The WEF has no independent decision-making power: but seeks to influence powerful people to make
decisions that benefit the global community.
• The organization is funded: through its own membership, which includes many prominent business and
political figures.
• World Social Report 2023
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) has published the World Social
Report 2023.
Highlights of the report:
• The report has projected that the number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide will more than
double from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050.
• The report has suggested the countries should undertake pension reforms including raising the
retirement age to ensure income security for all older persons, including informal workers.
• Northern Africa, Western Asia, and sub-Saharan Asia are expected to experience the fastest growth in
the number of older people over the next three decades.
• Older persons should be able to continue working for as long as they desire and are able, but should not
be compelled to do so.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA):
• It was formed in the year 1948.
• It is the development pillar of the United Nations.
• UN DESA is a pioneer of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• It brings the global community together to work towards common solutions to the world’s most
pressing problems.
• It helps countries translate their global commitments into national action in the economic, social and
environmental spheres.
• World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2023
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has recently published its annual report titled ‘World Employment
and Social Outlook: Trends 2023’ (WESO Trends) which provides labour market projections for 2023 and 2024
and presents trends in labour productivity growth.
Key highlights of the report:
• The report states that global employment will grow by just 1 percent in 2023, and global unemployment
rate has been pegged at 5.8 percent.
• The emerging geopolitical tensions, recovery from pandemic, and issue in supply chains fuelled
conditions for labour market deterioration.
• Labour force participation rate of women stood at 47.4 percent in 2022, compared with 72.3 percent
for men.
• In Asia and the Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean, annual employment growth is projected to
be around 1%.
International Labour Organization (ILO) is the only tripartite U.N. agency, since 1919. It brings
together governments, employers and workers of 187 member States, to set labour standards, develop
policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
 Established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations.
 Became the first affiliated specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946.
 Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
 Founding Mission: social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.
 Promotes internationally recognized human and labour rights.
 Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.
o For improving peace among classes
o Pursuing decent work and justice for workers
o Providing technical assistance to other developing nations
• Survival of the Richest
Oxfam International has released a new study titled “Survival of the Richest”. It has been released on the first
day of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting held at Davos, Switzerland.
• The richest 1% in India now own more than 40% of the country’s total wealth, while the bottom half of
the population together share just 3% of wealth between 2012 and 2021.
• Female workers earned only 63 paise for every 1 rupee earned by male workers.
• Since the pandemic began till November 2022, billionaires wealth surged by 121%.
Oxfam International:
• Oxfam International is a group of independent non-governmental organisations formed in 1995.
• The name “Oxfam” comes from the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, founded in Britain in 1942.
• The group campaigned for food supplies to starving women and children in enemy-occupied Greece
during the Second World War.
• It aims to maximize efficiency and achieve greater impact to reduce global poverty and injustice.
• The Oxfam International Secretariat is based in Nairobi, Kenya.
DESCRIPTIVE SEGMENT
Note: Write in 600 words
Q1. India’s path toward a knowledge intense economy.
Q2. The future of the world economy and humanity rests in the hands of the youth.
Q3. With a growing global profile, interest in visiting and knowing India is also increasing.
Q4. 'BharOS' is an important initiative towards fulfilling the vision of a strong, indigenous & self-reliant digital
infrastructure in India.
Q5. Green Hydrogen can fuel India’s economic growth to a historic high.
MCQs
1. UPI is an initiative that was taken by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in ____ as they
partnered with the Reserve Bank of India and the Indian Banks Association (IBA).
(1) 2014
(2) 2015
(3) 2016
(4) 2017
(5) None of these
2. The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation releases the First
Advance Estimates (FAE) of National Income at both Constant (2011-12) and Current Prices, for the financial
year 2022-23. The growth in real GDP during 2022-23 is estimated at ___(A)___ percent as compared to 8.7
percent in 2021-22.
Identify (A).
(1) 6.0
(2) 6.3
(3) 6.5
(4) 6.8
(5) 7.0
3. To commemorate National Startup Day on _______, DPIIT is organizing the felicitation ceremony for the
winners of National Startup Awards 2022, a flagship initiative under Startup India.
(1) 16th December 2023
(2) 16th January 2023
(3) 16th February 2023
(4) 16th March 2023
(5) None of these
4. Which of the following statements is/are true about the National Board of MSME?
A. The National Board for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (NBMSME) was established/notified for the first
time on 15th May 2008 consisting of 47 members including the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Member
Secretary in accordance with the Sub Section 1 of Section 3 of MSMED Act, 2006 and National Board for Micro,
Small & Medium Enterprises Rules, 2006.
B. The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the National Board.
C. It examines the factors affecting the promotion and development of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and
review the policies & programmes of the Central Government in regards to facilitating the promotion &
development & enhancing the competitiveness of such enterprises and the impact thereof on such enterprises.
(1) Only A and B
(2) Only B and C
(3) Only A and C
(4) Only C
(5) A, B and C
5. Which of the following statements is/are true about the Consumer Price Index?
A. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of price changes in a basket of consumer goods and services
purchased by households.
B. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures price fluctuations at the consumer level.
C. The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) releases
All India Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Base 2012=100 and corresponding Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI)
for Rural (R), Urban (U) and Combined (C).
(1) Only A and B
(2) Only B and C
(3) Only A and C
(4) Only C
(5) A, B and C
6. Which of the following statements is/are true about the Index of Industrial Production?
A. Ministry: Ministry of Heavy Industries
B. Base year: 2011-2012
C. Sources of data: NSO compiles the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) using secondary data received from
14 source agencies in various Ministries/Departments or their attached/subordinate offices.
(1) Only A and B
(2) Only B and C
(3) Only A and C
(4) Only C
(5) A, B and C
7. Which of the following statements is/are true about the Eight Core Sectors?
A. These comprise 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
B. Steel has the highest weightage.
C. Fertilizers has the lowest weightage.
(1) Only A and B
(2) Only B and C
(3) Only A and C
(4) Only C
(5) A, B and C
8. Which of the following statements is/are true about the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)?
A. EPFO is one of the World's largest Social Security Organisations in terms of clientele and the volume of
B. The EPFO is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
C. Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) was established by an act of Parliament of India, to provide
social security to workers working in India. It came into force by Employee Provident Fund and Miscellaneous
Provision Act, 1952.
(1) Only A and B
(2) Only B and C
(3) Only A and C
(4) Only C
(5) A, B and C
9. Which of the following statements is/are true about the Wholesale Price Index (WPI)?
A. The annual rate of inflation based on all India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) number is 4.95% (Provisional) for
the month of December 2022 (over December, 2021) against 5.85% recorded in November, 2022.
B. The Office of Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce, releases index numbers of wholesale price in India
on monthly basis on 12th of every month (or next working day) with a time lag of two weeks of the reference
month, and the index numbers is compiled with data received from institutional sources and selected
manufacturing units across the country.
C. It measures the changes in the prices of goods sold and traded in bulk by wholesale businesses to other
businesses.
(1) Only A and B
(2) Only B and C
(3) Only A and C
(4) Only C
(5) A, B and C
10. Choose the correct statements regarding India’s Foreign Trade.

A. India’s overall exports (Merchandise and Services combined) in April-December 2022 is estimated to exhibit
a positive growth of 16.11 per cent over the same period last year (April-December 2021).
B. In April 2022, India and the EU agreed to launch the EU-India Trade and Technology Council and planned to
sign a free trade agreement by next year.
C. As of April 2022, India signed 13 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with its trading partners including major
trade agreements like the India-UAE Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the India-Australia
Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (IndAus ECTA).
(1) Only A and B
(2) Only B and C
(3) Only A and C
(4) Only C
(5) A, B and C
11. ESG is a framework that helps stakeholders understand how an organization is managing risks and
opportunities related to environmental, _____, and governance criteria.
(1) Strategy
(2) Social
(3) Sustainable
(4) Service
(5) None of these
12. Choose the Incorrect statements about the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
A. The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has been established on April 27, 2019, under
the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019.
B. It is headquartered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
C. The IFSCA is a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services,
and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in India.
(1) Only A and B
(2) Only B and C
(3) Only A and C
(4) Only A
(5) A, B and C
13. Choose the Incorrect statements about World Economic Forum (WEF).
A. Its membership of political and business leaders each year to discuss major issues that impact the global
economy.
B. The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international organization: headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
C. The WEF is best known for its annual World Economic Forum Meeting at Davos, the Swiss ski resort.
(1) Only A and B
(2) Only B and C
(3) Only A and C
(4) Only A
(5) None of these
14. The All-India Consumer Price Index Number for Agricultural Labourers (Base: _____(A)____) for the month
of December, 2022 remained stationary at 1167.
Identify (A).
(1) 1978-79
(2) 1986-87
(3) 1998-99
(4) 2008-09
(5) 2011-12
15. CPI was adopted as the key measure of retail inflation by the Reserve Bank of India in ______.
(1) 2014
(2) 2015
(3) 2016
(4) 2017
(5) 2018
16. Choose the correct statements about the FAME Scheme.

A. FAME was launched in 2015, by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, with the objective to support
hybrid/electric vehicles market development and manufacturing ecosystem.
B. The scheme has 4 focus areas i.e., Technology Development, Demand Creation, Pilot Projects and Charging
Infrastructure.
C. FAME India Scheme targets to convert 30% of total transportation into electric vehicles by the year 2030.
(1) Only A and B
(2) Only B and C
(3) Only A and C
(4) Only A
(5) A, B and C
17. Choose the Incorrect statements about PM Gati Shakti.

A. The Union Cabinet cleared the PM GatiShakti - National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity to
economic zones on 21st October 2020. It is a giant stride in India’s ambitious goal of achieving US $5 trillion
economy.
B. PM Gati Shakti shall bring in various stakeholders together and help integrate different modes of
transportation. It will give new energy to the present and future generations of the country to build India of
21st century and lay the foundation of Aatmanirbharta for the next 25 years.
C. The master plan takes a holistic approach to sector-specific developments by integrating 18 ministries in a
joint committee to implement and monitor Rs. 100 lakh crores of investment.
(1) Only A and B
(2) Only B and C
(3) Only A and C
(4) Only A
(5) A, B and C
18. India has declared the goal to achieve Net Zero emissions by _____(A)____.
Identify (A).
(1) 2030
(2) 2050
(3) 2070
(4) 2100
(5) None of these
19. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) provides an excellent opportunity of self-
employment with sustainable and regular earnings. Under PMBJP, an incentive of Rs. ______ is provided to the
Jan Aushadhi Kendras as financial assistance and one-time additional incentive of Rs. 2.00 lakh (as
reimbursement for IT and Infra expenditure) is provided to Jan Aushadhi Kendras opened in North-Eastern
States, Himalayan areas, island territories and backward areas identified as aspirational districts by NITI Aayog
or if opened by Women Entrepreneur, Ex-serviceman, Divyang, SCs & STs.
(1) Rs. 1 lakh
(2) Rs. 2 lakh
(3) Rs. 3 lakh
(4) Rs. 4 lakh
(5) Rs. 5 lakh
20. The PM SVANidhi scheme intends to empower Street Vendors by not only extending loans to them but also
for their holistic development and economic upliftment and offers incentives in the form of interest subsidy @
____(A)____% per annum on regular repayment of loans.
Identify (A) in the above excerpt.
(1) 3
(2) 4
(3) 5
(4) 7
(5) 9
21. The concept of LiFE was introduced by the Prime Minister at COP26 at ______on 1 November 2021.
(1) Santiago
(2) Madrid
(3) Glasgow
(4) Cairo
(5) None of these
22. The objective of National SC-ST Hub is to develop a supportive ecosystem for SC/ST entrepreneurs to
achieve the mandated ______% procurement by the CPSEs from the SC/ST entrepreneurs as laid down in
Central Government Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises Order 2012.
(1) 3
(2) 6
(3) 9
(4) 12
(5) None of these
23. Agriculture Infra Fund (AIF) is a financing facility launched on 8th July 2020 under the visionary guidance of
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, for the creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and
community farm assets. Under this scheme, Rs 1 lakh crore is to be disbursed by the financial year 2025-26 and
the interest subvention and credit guarantee assistance will be given till the year ______.
(1) 2027-28
(2) 2029-30
(3) 2032-33
(4) 2035-36
(5) 2039-40
24. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) under which financial assistance for setting up
of Post-Harvest Management Infrastructure including cold storage, cold room facilities for horticultural
produce @ ___(A)___% of the project cost in general areas and ___(B)___% in case of hilly and scheduled areas
per beneficiary is available. The component is demand/ entrepreneur driven through commercial ventures for
which Government assistance is credit-linked and back-ended.
Identify (A) and (B) respectively.
(1) 25; 50
(2) 35; 50
(3) 25; 60
(4) 35; 60
(5) 35; 70
25. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank established on 19 December ____,
which is headquartered in Manila, Philippines.
(1) 1945
(2) 1953
(3) 1966
(4) 1972
(5) None of these
Question Ans Question Ans Question Ans Question Ans Question Ans
1 3 6 2 11 2 16 5 21 3
2 5 7 3 12 4 17 3 22 5
3 2 8 3 13 5 18 3 23 3
4 4 9 3 14 2 19 5 24 2
5 5 10 5 15 1 20 4 25 3

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PIB SUTRA

A MONTHLY PIB COMPENDIUM

Economy & Finance

• National Board of MSME

MSME Sector in India:

• Index of Industrial Production

End-to-end functionality to perform self-clearance digitally Online transaction with

Complete domestic tracking of the shipment with notifications on each stage

State of the Economy 2022-23: Recovery Complete

• National Infrastructure Pipeline

• National Monetisation Pipeline

Making Indian Logistics Globally Competitive

India’s Digital Public Infrastructure

Social & Environmental Issues

Child Rights champions through this Quiz.

Agriculture & Allied Activities

• A Report on Gross bond issuances by Indian banks

• Groundwater Yearbook 2021 – 22

10. Choose the correct statements regarding India’s Foreign Trade.

16. Choose the correct statements about the FAME Scheme.

17. Choose the Incorrect statements about PM Gati Shakti.

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