SHAILAJA IAS DAILY PRELIMS BULLETIN Date: 11/11/23

Pradhan Mantri Ø It was launched in 2020.

Garib Kalyan Anna Ø Under the scheme, 5 kg of food grain per person per month is provided free of cost. This
Yojana (PMGKAY) assistance is in addition to the subsidized ration provided under the National Food
Security Act (NFSA).
In news: It will be Ø It is operated by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
extended for another Ø Beneficiaries - All the beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA)
5 years i.e till [Antodaya Anna Yojana & Priority Households] including those covered under Direct
December,2028. Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Ø In Jan 2023, the govt approved the integration of PM-GKAY benefits with the provisions of
the NFSA Act. This integration will streamline the delivery of free food grains.
o It also ensures that families falling under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana(AAY) & priority
households (PHH) categories receive free food grains according to their entitlement
under NFSA.
Feature Antyodaya Anna Yojana Priority Households (PHH)
Identification criteria Poorest of the poor Households identified by state
households governments based on
socioeconomic criteria
Food grain entitlement 35 kg per family per month 5 kg per person per month
under NFSA
Meri Maati Mera Ø Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Culture.
Desh campaign Ø Aim- To honour the brave freedom fighters & bravehearts who sacrificed their lives for the
country.
In news: centre plans Ø Activities under the campaign -
nationwide events o Shilaphalakams (memorial plaques): It will be built in every village or panchayat to pay
under campaign tribute to those who laid down their lives during the freedom struggle or defence
personnel who lost their lives.
o Vasudha Vandhan: every gram panchayat is encouraged to plant 75 saplings of
indigenous species.
o Veeron Ka Vandan: will felicitate freedom fighters & families of the deceased freedom
fighters.
o Amrit Vatika: Volunteers have been tasked with collecting “mitti” from each of the
panchayats or villages & bring them to the block level. From each block, a “mitti kalash”,
will be carried to Delhi. The soil will be utilized to develop a unique garden, called Amrit
Vatika.
INDUS-X Ø It was launched in June 2023 with the aim to expand strategic technology partnership &
(India – U.S. Defense defence industrial cooperation b/w governments, businesses & academic institutions of
Acceleration India & US.
Ecosystem) Ø From Indian side it is led by India’s Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX)
Ø It will organize several initiatives such as joint prize challenges for start-ups, round table
In news: First INDUS- events, mentor-protege initiatives b/w major primes & startups, formation of a Senior
X Investors Meet Advisory Group among others.
held in Delhi
About Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX) :
Ø It is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), launched in April 2018.
Ø Aim: to achieve self-reliance & foster innovation & technology development in Defence &
Aerospace by engaging Industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D
institutes & academia.
Ø iDEX will be funded & managed by a ‘Defence Innovation Organization (DIO)’ which has
been formed as a ‘not for profit company under Companies Act 2013.
Composite Water Ø launched by NITI Aayog in 2018 to provide an annual snapshot of the water sector status
Management Index & water management performance of the states & union territories (UTs) in India.
(CWMI) Ø It comprises 9 themes -
o Source augmentation & restoration of waterbodies
o Source augmentation (Groundwater)
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 SHAILAJA IAS DAILY PRELIMS BULLETIN Date: 11/11/23

In news: serving as a o Major & medium irrigation — Supply side management

significant barometer o Watershed development — Supply side management
for assessing states' o Participatory irrigation practices — Demand side management
efficacy in water o Sustainable on - farm water use practices — Demand side management
management o Rural drinking water
o Urban water supply & sanitation
o Policy and governance
Alliance In news: WHO unveils framework for climate resilient & low carbon health systems
for Transformative Ø It is a World Health Organisation (WHO) initiative established in 2022.
Action on Climate Ø It is an informal voluntary network which works to realize the ambition set at COP26 (held
and Health in Glasgow, UK) to build climate resilient & sustainable health systems.
(ATACH) Ø It provides a platform for coordination, knowledge & best practice exchange, networks &
access to support & link up to existing initiatives, tackling common challenges &
monitoring global progress.
Environmental Ø It refers to genetic material that organisms shed into their environment. It can be found
DNA(eDNA) in various environmental sources such as soil, water or air.
Ø This genetic material is derived from shed skin cells, mucus, urine, faeces, hair or any
In news: (LaCONES) organic material released by organisms into their surroundings.
have developed a Ø Significance -
method for detecting o eDNA is a powerful tool used in environmental monitoring & biodiversity studies.
all life forms in an o It allows scientists to detect the presence of organisms without directly observing them.
ecosystem using
eDNA About Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) :
Ø Located in Hyderabad, it is a dedicated Laboratory of CSIR’s Centre for Cellular and
Molecular Biology (CCMB) established in 1998.
Ø It is India’s only research facility engaged in conservation & preservation of wildlife & its
resources.
Mount St Helens Ø Location- in the Cascade Range of USA
Ø It is a volcanic peak & a part of the larger Pacific Ring of Fire.
In news: more than o Pacific Ring of Fire is also known as the Circum-Pacific Belt, is a path along the Pacific
400 earthquakes Ocean characterized by active volcanoes & frequent earthquakes.
recorded o It traces boundaries b/w several tectonic plates—including the Pacific, Juan de Fuca,
Cocos, Indian-Australian, Nazca, North American & Philippine Plates.
Bhima River Ø Origin- in the Bhimashankar hills on the western side of Western Ghats in Maharashtra
Ø It is a major tributary of the Krishna River.
In news: it dries up, Ø It through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka & Telangana.
leaves 100 villages in Ø Major tributaries - Sina & Nira rivers.
lurch Ø Pandharpur is an important pilgrimage centre located on the Bhima River.

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