PMFIAS CA Prelims 2024 Schemes and Initiatives 1

PMF IAS Schemes & Initiatives of Various Ministries Current Affairs
Compilation for UPSC CSE Prelims 2024
These are Prelims Specific Compilations that cover Current Affairs from July 2023 to February 2024.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare......................................................................................... 1

{Initiatives} Global Symposium on Farmers' Rights ........................................................................................... 1
{Initiatives} Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) ............................................................................................. 1
{Initiatives} Initiatives to Revolutionise Agriculture .......................................................................................... 1
{Initiatives} NAFED .......................................................................................................................................... 2
{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) ........................................................................... 2
Ministry of Ayush................................................................................................................................... 3
{Initiatives} Gujarat Declaration ...................................................................................................................... 3
{Initiatives} Year End Review of AYUSH Ministry .............................................................................................. 3
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers ...................................................................................................... 4

{Schemes} PMBJP ............................................................................................................................................ 4
{Schemes} PRIP Scheme ................................................................................................................................... 4
Ministry of Civil Aviation ........................................................................................................................ 5

{Schemes} Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) .................................................................................................... 5
Ministry of Commerce and Industry ....................................................................................................... 6

{Initiatives} AHEAD Scheme ............................................................................................................................. 6
{Initiatives} Government e-Marketplace (GeM) ................................................................................................ 6
{Initiatives} RoDTEP ........................................................................................................................................ 6
{Schemes} One District One Product (ODOP) Wall ............................................................................................ 7
Ministry of Communications .................................................................................................................. 8

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{Initiatives} Sanchar Saathi portal ................................................................................................................... 8
{Schemes} PM-WANI ....................................................................................................................................... 8
Schemes & Initiatives
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution .................................................................... 9

{Initiatives} Fair Price Shops on ONDC .............................................................................................................. 9
{Initiatives} Initiatives for Consumer Protection ............................................................................................... 9
{Initiatives} Mandatory Hallmarking................................................................................................................ 9
{Initiatives} Standard Clubs ............................................................................................................................10
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region .................................................................................11
{Initiatives} Year End Review of MoDNER........................................................................................................11
{Schemes} NE Special Infrastructure Development Scheme ..............................................................................11
Ministry of Earth Science.......................................................................................................................13

{Schemes} Samudrayaan Mission ...................................................................................................................13
{Schemes} PRITHvi Vigyan Scheme..................................................................................................................13
{Schemes} PRITHvi Vigyan Scheme..................................................................................................................13
Ministry of Education ............................................................................................................................15

{Initiatives} Deemed-to-be-University Status...................................................................................................15
{Initiatives} DIKSHA ........................................................................................................................................15
{Initiatives} Education For All..........................................................................................................................15
{Initiatives} Football for Schools (F4S) Programme ..........................................................................................16
{Initiatives} Performance Grading Index (PGI) .................................................................................................16
{Schemes} Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Program .............................................................................................16
{Schemes} Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) ...............................................................................17
{Schemes} Higher Education: PM-USHA ..........................................................................................................17
{Schemes} Malaviya Mission ..........................................................................................................................18
{Schemes} Prerana Programme ......................................................................................................................18
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ..............................................................................19

{Initiatives} GPAI ............................................................................................................................................19
{Initiatives} LEAP AHEAD Initiative ..................................................................................................................19
{Initiatives} Semicon India 2024 ......................................................................................................................19
{Schemes} Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme .............................................................................................20
{Schemes} PLI Scheme – Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing .......................................................................21
{Schemes} PLI Scheme for IT Hardware ...........................................................................................................21
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ............................................................................22

{Initiatives} Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme ..................................................................................22
{Initiatives} Mission LiFE .................................................................................................................................22 ii
{Initiatives} National Transit Pass System (NTPS) ............................................................................................22

{Initiatives} National Transit Pass System (NTPS) ............................................................................................22

{Organisation} Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education ...................................................................22
Ministry of Finance ...............................................................................................................................23

{Initiatives} Initiatives by the Department of Financial Services .......................................................................23
{Initiatives} Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India .......................................................................23
{Initiatives} Year End Recap of Department of Economic Affairs, 2023 .............................................................23
{Schemes} SWAMIH Scheme ...........................................................................................................................24
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying ...........................................................................26

{Initiatives} Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund ....................................................................26
{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana .......................................................................26
Ministry of Food Processing Industries ..................................................................................................27

{Initiatives} One District One Product (ODOP) .................................................................................................27
{Schemes} Mega Food Park Scheme ................................................................................................................27
{Schemes} Operation Greens Scheme ..............................................................................................................27
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare .....................................................................................................29

{Initiatives} Ayushman Bhav Campaign ..........................................................................................................29
{Initiatives} Mandatory Prescription of Generics .............................................................................................29
{Schemes} AMRIT Pharmacies ........................................................................................................................30
{Schemes} Kilkari Scheme ...............................................................................................................................30
{Schemes} Microsites project ..........................................................................................................................31
{Schemes} PM-JAY..........................................................................................................................................31
{Schemes} Tele MANAS Scheme ......................................................................................................................32
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ..................................................................................................33

{Initiatives} Amplifi Portal 2.0 .........................................................................................................................33
{Initiatives} AMRUT........................................................................................................................................33
{Initiatives} GOBARdhan Scheme ....................................................................................................................34
{Initiatives} Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) ............................................................................34
{Initiatives} Women for Water, Water for Women ..........................................................................................34
{Schemes} Nation First Transit Card ................................................................................................................34
{Schemes} PM e-Bus Sewa ..............................................................................................................................35
{Schemes} PM SVANidhi .................................................................................................................................35
{Schemes} PM SVANidhi Scheme.....................................................................................................................36
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting .............................................................................................37 iii

{Initiatives} Changes to the National Film Awards ...........................................................................................37
Ministry of Jal Shakti ............................................................................................................................38

{Initiatives} AMRIT Technology .......................................................................................................................38
{Schemes} Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).................................................................................................................38
{Schemes} Namami Gange Programme...........................................................................................................39
Ministry of Labour and Employment .....................................................................................................40

{Initiatives} e-Shram Portal ............................................................................................................................40
{Schemes} Employee State Insurance (ESI) Scheme ..........................................................................................40
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises .................................................................................41

{Schemes} National SC/ST Hub .......................................................................................................................41
{Schemes} PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana ....................................................................................41
{Schemes} RAMP Scheme ...............................................................................................................................41
{Schemes} Udyam Sakhi Portal .......................................................................................................................41
Ministry of Minority Affairs...................................................................................................................42

{Schemes} Scholarships for Religious Minorities ..............................................................................................42
{Schemes} Nai Manzil Scheme ........................................................................................................................43
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy ................................................................................................44

{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana.................................................................................................44
{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana.................................................................................................44
Ministry of Panchayati Raj ....................................................................................................................45

{Schemes} Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) .........................................................................................45
{Schemes} SVAMITVA Scheme ........................................................................................................................45
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions ..........................................................................47

{Initiatives} CPGRAMS and MoPPGP ...............................................................................................................47
{Initiatives} NeSDA report...............................................................................................................................47
{Schemes} D-Remit QR code for NPS ...............................................................................................................47
{Schemes} New and Old Pension Scheme ........................................................................................................48
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas .................................................................................................49

{Initiatives} Compressed Biogas Blending Obligation (CBO) .............................................................................49
{Initiatives} Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme .....................................................................................49
{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) ........................................................................................49
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Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways ...........................................................................................50
{Initiatives} Inland Waterways for E-Commerce Cargo Movement ...................................................................50
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.............................................................................................51

{Initiatives} Safety: Air-Conditioning in Vehicle Cabins.....................................................................................51
{Schemes} Bharat NCAP .................................................................................................................................51
{Schemes} Year End Recap of MoRTH ..............................................................................................................51
{Schemes} Year End Recap of MoRTH ..............................................................................................................52
Ministry of Rural Development .............................................................................................................53
{Initiatives} Cactus for Green Economy in Watershed Projects .........................................................................53
{Initiatives} Smart Gram Panchayat ................................................................................................................53
{Schemes} Amrit Sarovar Scheme ...................................................................................................................53
{Schemes} Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme ...................................................................53
{Schemes} MGNREGS .....................................................................................................................................54
Ministry of Science & Technology ..........................................................................................................55

{Initiatives} Indian National Young Academy of Science (INYAS) ......................................................................55
{Initiatives} National Biopharma Mission ........................................................................................................55
{Initiatives} One Week One Lab Campaign (OWOL) .........................................................................................55
Ministry of Shipping..............................................................................................................................56
{Initiatives} Steel Slag Road ............................................................................................................................56
{Schemes} Sagarmala Programme ..................................................................................................................56
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship .............................................................................57

{Initiatives} Project AMBER ............................................................................................................................57
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment .........................................................................................58

{Initiatives} Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for Scheduled Castes (CEGSSC) ........................................58
{Initiatives} NSFDC .........................................................................................................................................58
{Schemes} National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP) ...........................................................................58
{Schemes} New Swarnima Scheme for Women (NSSW) ...................................................................................59
{Schemes} NSKFDC .........................................................................................................................................59
{Schemes} PM-DAKSH Yojana .........................................................................................................................59
{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojna ...........................................................................60
{Schemes} SHRESHTA .....................................................................................................................................60
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation ..........................................................................61

{Initiatives} 7th Economic Census .....................................................................................................................61
{Initiatives} Household Consumption Expenditure Survey ................................................................................61 v
{Initiatives} Household Consumption Expenditure Survey ................................................................................62
{Initiatives} MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application ..........................................................................................63

{Initiatives} Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)..............................................................................................63
{Initiatives} Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS) .......................................................................................63
{Schemes} MPLADS ........................................................................................................................................64
Ministry of Textiles ...............................................................................................................................65

{Schemes} GREAT Scheme ..............................................................................................................................65
{Schemes} Schemes in News ...........................................................................................................................65
Ministry of Tribal Affairs .......................................................................................................................66

{Initiatives} TRIFED .........................................................................................................................................66
{Schemes} Year-end Recap of MoTA................................................................................................................66
{Schemes} Year-end Recap of MoTA................................................................................................................66
Ministry of Women and Child Development ..........................................................................................67

{Initiatives} Mission Utkarsh ...........................................................................................................................67
{Initiatives} Track Child and GHAR Portal ........................................................................................................67
{Initiatives} Women Empowerment: Nari Adalat (Women’s Court) ..................................................................67
{Schemes} Palna – Creche Facility ...................................................................................................................67
{Schemes} Palna Scheme ................................................................................................................................68
{Schemes} Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi Programme ...............................................................................................68
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports ......................................................................................................69

{Initiatives} PDUNWFS....................................................................................................................................69
{Schemes} Khelo India Programme (6th edition: Chennai).................................................................................69
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Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
{Initiatives} Global Symposium on Farmers' Rights
❖ India is hosting the first Global Symposium on Farmers' Rights (GSFR).

• Organised by: Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agricul-
ture (ITPGRFA) of the FAO, Rome.
• Hosted by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) with Protection of Plant Varieties
and Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Authority, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), ICAR-Indian
Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR).
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
• Legally binding international treaty, adopted in 2001 (operational in 2004) at Rome by FAO.
• 149 contracting parties including India. Its Governing Body sessions are held biennially.
• Objectives:
❖ Conservation and sustainable use of all PGR for food and agriculture
❖ Fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of PGR, in harmony with the Con-
vention on Biological Diversity, for sustainable agriculture and food security.
• It is the first legally binding international instrument to formally acknowledge the contribution of in-
digenous people and farmers as traditional custodians of the world’s food crops.
{Initiatives} Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
• Center sector scheme launched in 2020 under Min. of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare.
• Medium and long-term debt financing for post-harvest management infrastructure and community
farming assets through interest subvention and financial support.
• Duration of the scheme: Financial Year 2020-21 to 2032-33.
Benefits of AIF
✓ Rs. 1 lakh crore by banks and financial institutions as loans to beneficiaries.
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✓ Interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of Rs. 2 crores for a maximum period of seven years.
✓ Credit guarantee coverage under the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises
(CGTMSE) scheme for a loan up to Rs. 2 crores. The Government will pay the fee for this coverage.
✓ Moratorium for repayment from 6 months up to 2 years.
{Initiatives} Initiatives to Revolutionise Agriculture
• Kisan Rin Portal (KRP): Offers a comprehensive view of farmer data, scheme utilisation progress, loan
disbursement specifics, and interest subvention claims.
• KCC Ghar Ghar Abhiyaan: Door-to-door campaign to extend the benefits of KCC to non-KCC holders
of beneficiaries of the central scheme PM-KISAN.
• YES-TECH Manual: It is a technology-driven yield estimation system at the Gram Panchayat level.
• AIDE Mobile App: Aims to bring the crop insurance enrolment process directly to farmers' doorstep.
• Weather Information Network Data Systems (WINDS) portal leverages advanced weather data ana-
lytics to provide stakeholders with actionable insights for making informed decisions on agriculture.
{Initiatives} NAFED
• Established in 1958, registered as Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, under Ministry of Agricul-
ture that deals with cooperative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit the farmers.
• NAFED is the nodal agency to implement price stabilisation measures.
Objectives
✓ Develop marketing, processing and storage of agricultural, horticultural and forest produce.
✓ Distribution of agricultural machinery, implements and other inputs.
✓ Undertake inter-state, import and export trade, wholesale or retail as the case may be.
✓ Act as a warehouseman under the Warehousing Act and construct its own godowns/cold storages.
✓ Advance loans to its members and on the security of goods.
National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF)

• Registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 under Ministry of Consumer Af-
fairs, Food and Public Distribution.
• Apex body of consumer cooperatives in the country.
{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
• Operational from 1.12.2018. Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
• All cultivable landholding farmers, regardless of the land size.
• Financial needs of the farmers, rural consumption, and to double farmers' income by 2022.
• Rs.6000 is distributed annually in three equal instalments every four months.
• No specific restrictions, free to use as per the needs. 2
• Central sector scheme with DBT provision.

• Identification by State and UT governments.

Ministry of Ayush
{Initiatives} Gujarat Declaration
❖ 1st WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit 2023 in Gujarat, Co-hosted by Ministry of Ayush.
Highlights of the Gujarat Declaration

• Reaffirmed global commitments towards indigenous knowledge, biodiversity, and traditional, com-
plementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM).
• The declaration has advised to:
❖ Scale-up efforts to implement TCIM to achieve the goal of universal health coverage (UHC).
❖ Take action to safeguard, restore, and sustainably manage biodiversity.
❖ Ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of indigenous knowledge.
❖ Fully recognise, respect, and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
{Initiatives} Year End Review of AYUSH Ministry
• Gujarat Declaration: 1st ever Global Summit on Traditional Medicine (2023) by WHO, and co-hosted
by Ministry of Ayush, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, emphasising importance of Traditional Medicine.
Ayush Visa
• Special visa scheme for foreigners visiting India seeking treatment under the Indian system of
Medicines like therapeutic care, wellness, yoga, etc.
• By: Ministry of Ayush and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
SMART (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) Program

• By: National Commission for Indian System of Medicine & Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic
Sciences to boost scientific research through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.
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Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers
{Schemes} PMBJP
• Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) has added new products under Pra-
dhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
• Launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoC&F) in 2008
to make quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all.
• Operated by government agencies and private entrepreneurs.
• Implemented by Pharma and Medical Bureau of India (PMBI – MoC&F).
{Schemes} PRIP Scheme
❖ Promotion of Research & Innovation in Pharma-MedTech sector (PRIP) scheme with an outlay of
₹5,000 crore for five years to shift from cost-based competitiveness to innovation-based growth.
• Two components:
❖ Strengthening research infrastructure through Centres of Excellence (CoE) in seven existing Na-
tional Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs).
❖ Supporting R&D projects of pharmaceutical companies, startups and researchers.
• Implementation by: Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, under the
guidance of an Empowered Committee under the chairmanship of CEO, NITI Aayog.
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Ministry of Civil Aviation
{Schemes} Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)
• By Ministry of Civil Aviation, as part of the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016.
• Applicable for ten years. Nodal agency: Airports Authority of India (AAI).
• For: Existing airports and new ones (developing Brownfield and Greenfield airports.
• Market-driven scheme with viability gap funding (VGF).
Recent changes under UDAN 5.0

• Focuses on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-3 (>80 seats) aircraft.
• VGF will be capped at 600 km stage length for priority and non-priority areas; earlier 500 km.
• The same route would not be awarded to a single airline more than once.
• Airlines would be required to commence operations within four months.
• Novation process for routes has been simplified and incentivised.
 Novation: The process of substituting an existing contract with a replacement contract with consensus.
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Ministry of Commerce and Industry
{Initiatives} AHEAD Scheme
• Alleviating Heat Stress by Enhancing Production of Affordable Cooling Devices (AHEAD)

• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
World Bank, Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF&CC) and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency
(BEE).
Global Cooling Pledge (GCP)

• World's first Global Cooling Pledge (COP28 of UNFCCC) by 63 countries, including the US.
• Mandates countries to cut cooling emissions by at least 68% by 2050.
• India didn’t sign the pledge.
{Initiatives} Government e-Marketplace (GeM)
• Coal Ministry bags the “Best Engagement” Award for Procurement through GeM Portal.
• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is the Public Procurement Portal for procuring goods and ser-
vices for all Central and State Government Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Units (PSUs), etc.
• Launched in 2016 to bring transparency and efficiency to the government buying process.
• 100 per cent GoI-owned under Ministry of Commerce.
• In 2017, GoI made it mandatory for all ministries to procure goods/services from the GeM.
{Initiatives} RoDTEP
• Under Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Introduced to replace existing Merchandise Exports from
India Scheme (MEIS).
• WTO ruling against India's export subsidy led to the birth of the WTO-compliant RoDTEP Scheme.
• Exporters receive refunds on the embedded taxes and duties that were previously non-recoverable.
Eligibility criteria for the RoDTEP Scheme

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• All sectors, including textiles including manufacturer exporters and merchant exporters (traders).
• No specific turnover threshold to claim the RoDTEP.
• Country of origin must be India. Re-exported Products are not eligible.

• Special Economic Zone and Export Oriented Units can also claim benefits.
Features of the RoDTEP Scheme

❖ Refund of previously non-refundable duties and taxes in the form of transferable electronic slips.
❖ All items under the MEIS and the RoSTCL (Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies).
Taxes and Duties covered by the RoDTEP Scheme
• Offset the duties, taxes, and levies incurred on the exported goods at Central, State, and Local levels.
• Some of the duties and taxes covered:
✓ VAT and Excise Duty on fuel used in transportation and machinery operation, etc.
✓ Electricity Duty on the purchase of electricity.
✓ Mandi Tax/Municipal Taxes/Property Taxes and Various local taxes.
✓ Stamp Duty on export documents.
{Schemes} One District One Product (ODOP) Wall
❖ ODOP initiative and DAY-NRLM collaborated to launch the ODOP Wall, a visually appealing display of
India's diverse and unique handicrafts.
• ODOP Program of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Com-
merce and Industry identifies distinctive and culturally significant products from each district.
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme (Center and state 60:40 contributions).
• Operationally merged with the ‘Districts as Export Hub’ initiative.
• States will identify the ODOP food product for a district.
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Ministry of Communications
{Initiatives} Sanchar Saathi portal
❖ Launched to reduce cyber frauds performed through fraudulently acquired SIM cards.
• By: Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Communication to empower mobile
subscribers, security and increase awareness.
• It has been to prevent frauds such as identity theft, forged KYC, banking frauds etc.
Three reforms
1. CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register): the tracking and blocking of lost or stolen phones.
2. Know your mobile connections: To check the number of mobile connections issued in their name.
Unauthorised or unwanted connections can be blocked immediately.
3. ASTR (Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber
Verification): This AI-based technology facilitates mobile connection analysis and includes features
such as IMEI-based phone theft information messaging to law enforcement agencies and the owner.
{Schemes} PM-WANI
❖ PM-WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) is a scheme to increase Wi-fi access.

• By: Ministry of Communications (MoC).
• Allows the distribution of broadband internet through Public Data Offices (PDOs).
• An opportunity for aggregators (PDOAs) to start a business without additional licensing fees.
Entities Involved in PM WANI Scheme

❖ Public Data Office (PDO): The Wi-Fi access point is deployed at the final delivery point, which may
be owned by a small business owner, without requiring registration of any kind.
❖ Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA): They provide PDO tech support and complete WANI proce-
dures on their behalf.
❖ User App Provider: They provide backend services for the User App which interacts with PDOAs.
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❖ Central Registry: A central registry by the WANI governance body to register different PDOs.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
{Initiatives} Fair Price Shops on ONDC
❖ Fair Price Shops of Una and Hamirpur (HP) are the first to onboard Open Network Digital Commerce
(ONDC).
Fair Price Shops (FPSs)

• Licensed under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 distributes commodities under Targeted Public Dis-
tribution System (TPDS). Defined in National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA 2013).
• Established by State Governments and can fix an amount as the FPS owner's margin.
• State Governments may allow the sale of commodities other than the TPDS ones.
{Initiatives} Initiatives for Consumer Protection
• edaakhil.nic.in an Online application portal has been developed to file consumer complaints.
• Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, has been issued by CCPA.
Dark patterns
• Dark patterns use design to deceive or influence consumers.
• Examples include drip pricing, disguised ads, bait and switch, and false urgency.
• Considered "unfair trade practices" under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
{Initiatives} Mandatory Hallmarking
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• In India, this applies to gold and silver items. If there is an issue with the quality of hallmarked jewellery,
the buyer is eligible for compensation under BIS Rules 2018.
• Implemented by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
 BIS Care App: Checks authenticity of item by using HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) number.
{Initiatives} Standard Clubs
• Launched in 2021 By Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food
and Public Distribution (MoCAFPD).
Eligibility
• Students of class IX and above who are studying science subjects are eligible to be part of the Clubs.
• In any educational institution in India comprising teachers (mentors) and students (members).
• A minimum of fifteen student members shall be required to form a Standards Club.
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Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
{Initiatives} Year End Review of MoDNER
• Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDNER) is the only Ministry with territorial juris-
diction.
North Eastern Council (NEC)

• Nodal agency of MoDNER. Statutory advisory body under the NEC Act 1971. HQ: Shillong
• Members: Governors and Chief Ministers of the eight North Eastern States.
• Chairman and three Members nominated by the President of India.
North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS)

• Central Sector Scheme.Ministry of Development of the Northeast region.
• For Physical Infrastructure like water supply, connectivity, enhancing tourism, and social infrastructure.
• Restructured (2022-23) in two components: NESIDS-Road & NESIDS-Other Than Road Infrastructure.
Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE)
• Announced in Budget 2022-23 as Central Sector Scheme with outlay of Rs. 6,600 crore for four
years.
• Implementation by: Ministry of DoNER through the North Eastern Council (NEC).
• Convergence with PM GatiShakti for social and physical infrastructure development.
Special Development Packages

Bodoland Territorial Council
• Autonomous district council in Assam, under Sixth Schedule following the Bodo Accord in 2003
• Four districts: Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang.
• 46 members: 40 elected representatives and 6 nominated by the Governor.
Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC)

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• Under Sixth Schedule covering Karbi Anglong & West Karbi Anglong districts of Assam. Earlier, un-
der the North-East Frontier Regulation of 1945.
• Karbi people are also known as Mikir.

• 30 members: 26 elected representatives and 4 nominated by the Governor.
{Schemes} NE Special Infrastructure Development Scheme
❖ Central Sector Scheme under Ministry of Development of the northeast region launched in 2017
for Physical Infrastructure projects related to water supply, power, connectivity, etc.
• Restructured in 2022-23 to include two components:
1. NESIDS-Road
2. NESIDS-Other Than Road Infrastructure (OTRI)
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Ministry of Earth Science
{Schemes} Samudrayaan Mission
• India’s first manned deep ocean mission. Depth of 6,000 m in the Indian Ocean.
• Components:
1. Development of deep-sea mining technologies and a manned submersible
2. Creating ocean climate change advisory services and future climate models
3. Innovations for deep-sea biodiversity exploration and conservation
4. Deep-sea survey for potential multi-metal hydrothermal mineral sites
5. Harnessing energy and freshwater from the ocean
6. Establishing an advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology
• Launched in 2021, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is the nodal ministry implementing it.
MATSYA 6000
• MATSYA 6000 is an indigenously built manned submersible under the Samudrayaan Mission.
• Developed by NIOT, it is designed to carry three humans to a depth of 6000 m.
• After the US, Russia, Japan, France, and China, India will be 6th such country.
 National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, is an autonomous institute under MoES.
 Submarine: self-propelled underwater vessel capable of independent operation for extended period.
 Submersible: Underwater vehicle that needs to be transported and supported by a larger watercraft
or platform. Smaller & less capable than submarines but can be more versatile and specialised.
{Schemes} PRITHvi Vigyan Scheme
• By Ministry of Earth Sciences integrating five existing sub-schemes: Atmosphere & Climate Re-
search-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS), Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Re-
sources and Technology (O-SMART), Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER), Seismology and
Geosciences (SAGE), Research, Education, Training and Outreach (REACHOUT)
• Objectives: Long-term observations of atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere, and solid earth, 13
models for predicting weather and climate hazards, exploration of polar and high seas regions.
{Schemes} PRITHvi Vigyan Scheme
• By Ministry of Earth Sciences integrating five existing sub-schemes: Atmosphere & Climate Re-
search-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS), Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Re-
sources and Technology (O-SMART), Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER), Seismology and
Geosciences (SAGE), Research, Education, Training and Outreach (REACHOUT)
• Objectives: Long-term observations of atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere, and solid earth,
models for predicting weather and climate hazards, exploration of polar and high seas regions.
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Ministry of Education
{Initiatives} Deemed-to-be-University Status
❖ NCERT, the apex decision-making body for school education has been granted the deemed-to-be-
university status by the Ministry of Education on its 63rd Foundation Day.
• NCERT is an autonomous organization that was established in 1961 to advise the Central and State
Governments on programmes for school education.
• NCERT is also responsible for developing curriculum frameworks, teacher education programmes,
educational research, and innovation.
• With the deemed university status, NCERT will be able to offer undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral,
and post-doctoral programmes in various disciplines related to school education.
Types Of Universities in India

❖ Central universities: Established by an Act of Parliament. Under Department of Higher Education in
the HRD Ministry.
❖ State universities: Set up by special act of state legislature. Funded by state governments & UGC.
❖ Deemed universities: Institutions of higher learning that are not universities but are granted the status
of a university by the UGC under Section 3 of the UGC Act.
❖ Private universities: Approved by UGC. Can grant degrees but no off-campus affiliated colleges.
Concept Of Deemed Universities

• UGC Act of 1956: Only those institutes that are established by state or union laws can be recognised as
universities.
• HEIs not established by such laws but have achieved excellence can be designated as deemed univer-
sities by the Central Government.
❖ It must be offering postgraduate and research programmes for at least five years.
{Initiatives} DIKSHA
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• Platform for school education, an initiative of NCERT, under the Ministry of Education.
• It offers engaging learning material to teachers, students and parents in 35 plus languages.
• It features digitised NCERT textbooks used by national and State Boards. It also has embedded assis-
tive technologies for learners with visual or hearing impairments. It is a static content repository.
{Initiatives} Education For All
• Ministry of Education (MoE) launched the Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society
(ULLAS) mobile application to promote basic literacy.
• Will serve as a digital gateway for learners through the DIKSHA portal of NCERT.
ULLAS: New India Literacy Programme

• MoE launched the ULLAS scheme for FYs 2022-2027 to cover all the aspects of Education For All.
• Target group: Citizens aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling.
• Imparts basic education, digital and financial literacy and critical/essential 21st century skills.
{Initiatives} Football for Schools (F4S) Programme
❖ Ministry of Education with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for school students.
• Launched by: Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) with UNESCO.
• Objective: It seeks to make football more accessible to both boys and girls by integrating football ac-
tivities into the education system in collaboration with relevant authorities and stakeholders.
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

• International governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal.
• Non-profit organisation founded in 1904. HQ: Zurich, Switzerland.
All India Football Federation (AIFF)

• Founded in 1937 and gained FIFA affiliation in 1948.
• Also affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation and the South Asian Football Federation.
{Initiatives} Performance Grading Index (PGI)
• Ministry of Education released Performance Grading Index 2.0.

• PGI measures the performance of states & UTs in school education.
• States are graded and not ranked.
PGI 2.0
• First released in 2017-18 and has been released every year till 2020-21. Revised for 2021-22 as PGI 2.0.
• Covers 73 indicators, focuses on qualitative assessment.
• Highest achievable Grade is Daksh, which is for a score more than 940 points out of 1000 points.
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• The lowest grade is Akanshi-3 which is for a score up to 460.
Highlights of the PGI 2.0 report

• None of the States/UTs achieved the top grades: Daksh, Utkarsh, Atti-Uttam, Uttam or Prachesta 1.
• Only Punjab and Chandigarh achieved Prachesta 2 grade (641 to 700 points).
{Schemes} Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Program
❖ Students engaged in the Auroville Exposure tour as part of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat program.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat program
• It was announced by the prime minister in 2015 on the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• Aim to promote engagement amongst the people of different States/UT.
• It is an initiative of the Ministry of Education.
• Every State and UT in the country would be paired with another State/UT for some time. During this,
they would carry out a structured engagement with one another in the spheres of language, literature,
cuisine, festivals, cultural events, tourism, etc.
Auroville
• Auroville (City of Dawn) is an experimental township in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, with some
parts in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
• It was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa (known as “the mother” & the spiritual collaborator of Sri Au-
robindo.) and designed by architect Roger Anger.
• Auroville was meant to be a universal town where men and women of all countries can live in peace
and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics, and all nationalities.
• Auroville is recognised as an international living experiment in human unity, endorsed by UNESCO
and supported by the Government of India.
• The Township has been under the administrative control of the Ministry of Education since 1980.
• It is administered as per the provisions of the Auroville Foundation Act, 1988, passed by the Parlia-
ment of India.
Matri mandir Auroville
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{Schemes} Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN)
• Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Education. Promotes interaction of students, faculty & industry.
• System of Guest Lectures towards a comprehensive Faculty Development Programme.

• Minimum duration is one week, maximum is 3 weeks.
{Schemes} Higher Education: PM-USHA
❖ Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA) is a CSS launched in 2013 as a Rashtriya
Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) under the Ministry of Education (MoE).
• In 2023, in light of the National Education Policy (NEP), RUSA was launched as PM-USHA.
• Aims to provide funding to higher education institutions throughout the country.
• To be eligible under PM-USHA, states must sign an MoU with the MoE, which mandates the implemen-
tation of the National Education Policy, 2020.
• It aims to establish New Model Degree Colleges in districts with no Government and Government-
aided institutions.
Focus Districts
❖ Maximum 50% of Districts of a states as focus districts including Remote/rural areas, LWE (Left-Wing
Extremism) prone districts, NER (North Eastern Region), Areas with low GER (Gross Enrolment
Ratio), Border area districts, Aspirational Districts, Districts with a higher SC/ST population.
Grants Provided To
1. Multi-Disciplinary Education & Research Universities (MERU): 35 accredited state universities in In-
dia will be given Rs. 100 crore each to take up multi-disciplinary education & research.
2. Accredited and Unaccredited Universities and Colleges.
3. New Model Degree Colleges.
{Schemes} Malaviya Mission
❖ A teacher training programme by UGC with Ministry of Education to provide tailored training pro-
grammes for teachers in higher educational institutions (HEIs), both online and offline components.
Madan Mohan Malaviya

• Born on 25 December 1861 in Prayagraj, UP, into a Hindu Brahmin family of Sanskrit scholars.
• He graduated from Muir Central College, Allahabad, in 1884 and became a teacher and a journalist.
• Joined Indian National Congress in 1886 and became its president four times. Founded the Hindu
Mahasabha in 1906. Member of the Imperial Legislative Council from 1909 to 1920.
• Founded English newspaper called “The Leader”. Principal founder of the Banaras Hindu University in
Varanasi in 1916, also served as its vice-chancellor from 1919 to 1938.
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• Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2014.
{Schemes} Prerana Programme

• By Ministry of Education | Will run from a Vernacular School in Vadnagar, Gujarat (established in
1888). Curriculum by: IIT Gandhi Nagar.
• A week-long residential program based on value-based themes for classes IX to XII.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
{Initiatives} GPAI
❖ Annual Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit for 2023 At New Delhi.
• Focus on responsible evolution of AI built around the OECD Recommendation on AI
• Launched in 2020 with 15 members: Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, India,
Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovenia, the UK and the US.
• Now expanded to 28 countries and the EU. India: Council Chair of the GPAI in 2022 after France.
Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI (YUVAi)

• By National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
(MeitY) and Intel India to equip students (class 8-12)with essential AI skills.
{Initiatives} LEAP AHEAD Initiative
• Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) launched the LEAP AHEAD (Launchpad
for Tech Entrepreneurs towards Accelerated Growth and Pioneering AHEAD) initiative for startups.
• Collaboration of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE).
• Eligibility: Startups involved in software product development, registered with DPIIT under the
Startup India program and have demonstrated revenue generation and external investment.
• Start-ups can receive funding support of up to ₹ 1 Crore.
Software Technology Parks of India

• Established in 1991. Autonomous Society under the MeitY. HQ: New Delhi.
• Objective: To encourage, promote and boost the Software Exports from India.
The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE)

• Non-profit Company for nurturing startups by mentoring, networking, incubating, and funding.
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Start-up
⚫ Defined by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as:
❖ Registered in India not prior to 10 years.
❖ Annual turnover not exceeding INR 100 crore in any preceding financial year and
❖ Working towards innovation and development of products or services or, if it has a scalable
business model with a high potential of employment generation or wealth creation.
{Initiatives} Semicon India 2024
❖ 3rd edition of the annual conference will be at the Bengaluru.

• Theme: "India: A Trusted Partner and a Rising Force in the Global Electronics Industry."
 Semicon India 2023 was held in Gujarat.
• Aims to provide attractive incentive support for the development of semiconductors and displays.
India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)

• Specialised and independent Business Division within the Digital India Corporation.
• To build a vibrant semiconductor and display ecosystem to make India a global hub of it.
Digital India Corporation (DIC)

• Set up by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as 'Media Lab Asia'.
• DIC leads and guides in realising Digital India programme.
{Schemes} Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme
Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme

• Financial incentives, design infrastructure support to Domestic companies, startups, and MSMEs.
• Target Segments: Semiconductor design for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips
(SoCs), Systems & IP Cores and semiconductor-linked design.
• Nodal agency: C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing), operating under MeitY.
• Aim: At least 20 domestic companies involved to achieve turnover > Rs.1500 Crore in 5 years.
• Three components: Chip Design infrastructure support ( India Chip Centre in C-DAC ), Product De-
sign Linked Incentive, Deployment Linked Incentive.
Semiconductor
• Controllable electrical conductivity between a conductor (ex. copper) and insulator (ex. rubber).
• Concern: Toxicity (Arsenic, antimony, and phosphorus) in the fabrication process.
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India's History
• Govt. Semiconductor Complex Limited (SCL) at Mohali in Punjab burnt in 1989, later restructured as
research & development centre ‘Semiconductor Lab’ within the Department of Space.
For more details visit >Significance of domestic manufacturing of semiconductors.
{Schemes} PLI Scheme – Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing
❖ Under the Ministry of Electronics & IT to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large invest-
ments in mobile phone manufacturing, including Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP)
units.
• Offers a production-linked incentive of 4% to 6% on incremental sales (over a base year) of goods
manufactured in India and covered under target segments, for a period of five years.
{Schemes} PLI Scheme for IT Hardware
• Under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY).
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme

• To promote domestic manufacturing to enhance India’s self-reliance and global competitiveness.
• Provides financial incentives to eligible companies based on their incremental sales of products manu-
factured in India over a base year.
• 13 Key Sectors: Including electronics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, textiles, food processing, telecom,
solar PV modules and white goods.
What is PLI Scheme for IT Hardware?

• Encourage domestic manufacturing of laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs and servers in India.
• Announced in 2021 for four years, revised in May 2023 with increased budget and tenure of 6 years.
• Penalty if production lags behind set thresholds by deducting as much as 10% from the subsidies.
• Reduce India’s imports of electronic goods, especially from China.
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Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
{Initiatives} Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme
• Voluntary third-party certification scheme to promote sustainable forest management and agroforestry.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• Operating agency: Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal.
• Overseen by: Indian Forest and Wood Certification Council.
• The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies under the Quality Council of India will
accredit the certification bodies.
• Separate Trees Outside Forests Standard is introduced as a part of the scheme.
{Initiatives} Mission LiFE
• Envisions replacing the 'use-and-dispose' economy with a circular economy.

• Core principle: "Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet, and by the planet".
• 3 Phases: Demand Transformation, Supply Transformation, Policy Transformation from 2022-2028.
{Initiatives} National Transit Pass System (NTPS)
• Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, “One Nation-One Pass" regime instead of
state-specific transit rules, valid of all states. Permit and NOCs can be Self-generated.
{Initiatives} National Transit Pass System (NTPS)
• Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, “One Nation-One Pass" regime instead of
state-specific transit rules, valid of all states. Permit and NOCs can be Self-generated.
{Organisation} Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education
• Kanchan Devi(IFS) is 1st female Director General of Indian Council of Forestry Research Education.
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• ICFRE was established in 1986 for forestry research and education in India.
• In 1991, it was declared an autonomous council and registered society under MoEFCC.
• HQ: Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Administers the Green Credits Programme (GCP).
Green Credits Programme (GCP)

• By MoEFCC, an initiative within the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) Movement.
• To create market-based incentives for various environment-positive actions.
• Mirroring GCP, Green Credit Initiative at COP-28 summit.
For details on Green Credits Programme and Green Credit Initiative > 2nd December 2023 CA
Ministry of Finance
{Initiatives} Initiatives by the Department of Financial Services
Enhanced Access and Service Excellence (EASE) Reforms

• PSB Manthan 2.0 (2022) resulted in the launch of the EASENext program.
• EASE 6.0 (FY24) targets digital enablement, analytical operations, and Tech-enabled capability build-
ing.
Indian Banks' Association (IBA)

• IBA was formed in 1946.
• Members: Public Sector Banks, Private Sector Banks, Foreign Banks having offices in India, Co-
operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks and All India Financial Institutions.
UPI related initiatives

• E-RUPI: Person and purpose-specific voucher management system to enable direct benefit transfer.
• 123 Pay: UPI for feature phone users, available in 20 languages.
• Credit Line on UPI: Enables pre-sanctioned credit lines from banks via UPI.
• Hello! UPI: An AI-voice-enabled payment feature built by Bhashini (under MeitY) and NPCI for con-
versation-based UPI transactions in Hindi and English using feature phones and smartphones.
{Initiatives} Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India
• Coloured souvenir coin on Endangered Animals of India - Greater One Horned Rhino.
• Bi-metallic clad souvenir coin on the Enlightenment of Buddha.
• Coloured souvenir coin of Ram Lalla and Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
About SPMCIL
• Miniratna Category–I, Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).
23
• Under: Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
• Manufacture/production of Currency and banknotes, Security paper, Non-judicial stamp papers,
Postage stamps and stationery, Travel documents (passports and visas), cheques, bonds, Circulation
and commemorative coins, medallions, Refining of gold, silver, and assay of precious metals, etc.
{Initiatives} Year End Recap of Department of Economic Affairs, 2023
Sovereign Green Bonds

• Announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 to fund Green projects.
Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC)
• To commemorate the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Eligibility : Any female ; Deposit : Minimum ₹1000/-
and Maximum ₹2 Lakhs. Available for two years up to March 2025.
• Has partial withdrawal and premature closure facility on compassionate grounds.
• The Department of Posts, all Public Sector Banks and four Private Sector Banks will operate MSSC.
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) in 2023

• NIIF launched its first bilateral fund, the India-Japan Fund (IJF), with the Japan Bank for Interna-
tional Cooperation (JBIC).
• Govt. of India and JBIC will contribute 49% and 51% respectively.
• IJF will work towards environmental sustainability and low carbon emission strategies.
New Financial Inclusion Action Plan 2024-26

• Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) with India as one of the Co-Chairs.
• Financial inclusion of individuals and MSMEs in G20 through Digital Public Infrastructure.
Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR)

• By IMF, World Bank, and the Indian G20 Presidency to facilitate effective debt restructuring.
⇨ GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, includes a multi-service
Special Economic Zone (SEZ), housing India’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC)
and an exclusive Domestic Tariff Area (DTA).
{Schemes} SWAMIH Scheme
❖ SWAMIH Scheme (Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing) is an initiative to provide
funding for the completion of stalled housing projects.
• Launched in 2019 with the following objectives:
❖ To provide priority debt financing for the completion of stalled housing projects.
❖ To boost the growth of the real estate sector in India.
SWAMIH FUND
24
• Implementation through SWAMIH Fund (Government-backed Category-II AIF debt fund registered
with SEBI and sponsored by the Ministry of Finance and is managed by SBICAP Ventures Ltd.
• No precedent or comparable peer fund in India or global markets.

• The government has committed to infuse up to Rs. 10,000 crore in the fund.
• The maximum finance for any single project is Rs. 400 crore.
Eligibility Criteria for the Projects to Receive Funding from SWAMIH Fund
• Funding shall be provided to the projects that meet the following criteria:
➢ Stalled for lack of adequate funds
➢ Affordable and Middle-Income Category
➢ Net worth positive projects
➢ RERA registered
➢ Priority for projects very close to completion
Alternative investment fund (AIF)

• Any fund that invests in assets other than traditional ones like stocks, bonds, and cash.
• AIFs are regulated by the SEBI under the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012.
25
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
{Initiatives} Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund
• Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (Central sector scheme) will continue till
2025-26.
• Dept. of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying) runs it.
• Eligible Beneficiaries: Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO), Private companies, Individual entrepre-
neurs, MSMEs, and Dairy Cooperatives.
• Objectives: Better price realisation for the producer, availability of quality milk and meat products, en-
trepreneurship development, employment generation, export promotion and increase in productivity.
• Benefits: 90% loan by scheduled banks with 3% interest subvention and 2-year moratorium, and
credit guarantee up to 25% of borrowed funds.
{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana
• Central Sector Component of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• Funding: 50% from public finance, including World Bank and Agence Française de Development
(AFD) and remaining 50% from beneficiaries/private sector.
• Components: Formalisation, insurance, quality assurance, safety, entrepreneurship.
• Beneficiaries: Fishers, aquaculture farmers, vendors, related MSMEs, FPOs and startups.
• Duration: 4 years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27) across all the States and UTs.
26
Ministry of Food Processing Industries
{Initiatives} One District One Product (ODOP)
❖ Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has approved ODOP under the Pradhan Mantri For-
malisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.
Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme

• Under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the MoFPI.
• Objective: Competitiveness and formalisation of the sector
One District One Product Scheme

• UP Government launched ODOP, and later adopted by GoI. Merged in ‘Districts as Export Hub’.
• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Centrally sponsored scheme with 60:40 Center-state funding.
• Idea: To select, brand, and promote one product from each district of the country.
{Schemes} Mega Food Park Scheme
❖ Discontinued from 2021. Launched in 2008, by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).
• Component scheme of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY).
• Aim: It aims to create modern infrastructure for the food processing sector.
• Approach: Cluster-based approach with strong forward and backward linkages.
• Grant-in-aid: 50% (general areas) and 75 % (NE region and difficult areas) upto Rs. 50Cr.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)

• Central sector scheme launched in 2017 as SAMPADA - Scheme for Agro-marine Processing and De-
velopment of Agro-processing Clusters, subsequently ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana’.
• Objective: To create modern infrastructure and improve supply chain efficiency from farm to retail.
• It will continue until 2026 (coterminous with the 15th Finance Commission cycle).
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI). 27
{Schemes} Operation Greens Scheme

• Launched in Union Budget 2018-19 on the lines of “Operation Flood”.

• Central Sector Scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY).
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).
• Eligible Entities: FPOs, Individual farmers, Exporters, State Marketing Federation, Retailers etc.
• Scope: TOP (Tomato, Onion and Potato) to TOTAL (all fruits and vegetables in 2020). Union
Budget 2021-22 was enlarged to include 22 perishable crops, including seafood shrimp.
28
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
{Initiatives} Ayushman Bhav Campaign
❖ By Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to deliver healthcare services to the last mile.
• Objectives: Facilitating Access to Ayushman Cards, Generating ABHA IDs, Raising Awareness.
1. Components: Ayushman – Apke Dwar 3.0, Ayushman Melas, Ayushman Sabhas.
{Initiatives} Mandatory Prescription of Generics
❖ National Medical Commission (NMC) put on hold its NMC Registered Medical Practitioner (Pro-
fessional Conduct) Regulations, 2023 guidelines that made it mandatory for doctors to only pre-
scribe generic drugs.
• The guidelines were opposed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Central Drugs Stand-
ard Drug Control Organisation (CDSCO), the country’s apex drug regulator.
 IMA: Largest representative voluntary organization of doctors in India. It was founded in 1928.
NMC Guidelines on Generic Medicines

• Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) can only write the generic names of the medicine on the
prescription.
• E.g., a doctor will have to prescribe paracetamol for fever instead of Dolo or Calpol.
• Reason: Will lower cost as Generic medicines are 30% to 80% cheaper than the branded versions.
• Exception: Guidelines can only be relaxed for medicines
❖ With a narrow therapeutic index (a small difference in dosage may lead to adverse outcomes),
❖ Biosimilars (a different version of biological products that are manufactured in living systems),
❖ Similar other exceptional cases.
 Generic Name: Also called non-proprietary or approved name of a drug, it is the name accepted by a
competent scientific body/regulatory authority.
 Generic Drug/Medicine: It is defined as a drug product comparable to the brand/reference listed product
in dosage form, strength, route of administration, quality and performance characteristics. 29
 Branded Generic Drug: It is a generic drug that has come off patent and is manufactured and sold
under different companies' brand names.

❖ These drugs may be less costly than the branded patent version but costlier than the bulk-
manufactured generic version.
❖ There is less regulatory control over the prices of these “branded” generic drugs.
 Off-patent: A product is said to be off-patent when the patent that protects it has expired. Other com-
panies can manufacture and sell the product without the patent holder's permission.
NMC RMP (Professional Conduct) Regulations 2023
• NMC Regulations are mandatory for every medical practitioner registered under the NMC Act.
• NMC Regulations 2023 replaces the Medical Council of India’s Code of Medical Ethics 2002.
Key Guidelines for RMPs under NMC Regulations 2023
Generic Medicine and Prescription

• Prescribe drugs with generic names, except for specific cases.
• Both overprescribing and underprescribing are to be avoided.
• Prescriptions should be legible and preferably in full CAPITALS.
Right to Refuse Treatment

• Can refuse treatment to abusive, unruly, or violent patients and relatives.
• Can refuse treatment if the agreed-upon fees are not paid, except for government doctors.
• These provisions are not applicable in case of emergencies.
National Medical Commission (NMC)

• NMC is a statutory body established under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
• The NMC replaced the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) which was established in 1934.
{Schemes} AMRIT Pharmacies
❖ Context (IE): South Eastern Coalfields Ltd will open AMRIT Pharmacies in its hospitals.
• Amrit pharmacies offer generic and life-saving drugs in one place.
• They provide medicines, implants, surgical consumables, etc., at highly subsidised rates.
AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment)

• Nodal Ministry: Health and Family Welfare.
• Launched: In 2015.
• Beneficiaries: Patients suffering from cancer and heart diseases (non-communicable diseases).
• Features: These pharmacies offer more than 5,200 drugs, implants, surgical disposables, and other con-
sumables at average discounts of up to 60% of the maximum retail price. 30
• It is being implemented through Mini-Ratna PSU, HLL Lifecar Ltd.

{Schemes} Kilkari Scheme
❖ The Kilkari Project expanded to include Maharashtra and Gujarat (now total 20 States and UTs).
Kilkari Scheme
• Centralised interactive voice response (IVR)-based mobile health service launched in 2016.
• Launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
• Objective: To provide essential health information to pregnant women and new mothers.
• Free, weekly, time-appropriate audio messages (related to pregnancy, maternal, neonatal, child-
birth, and childcare) directly to beneficiaries’ mobile phones.
Mobile Academy
• Audio training courses for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs).
{Schemes} Microsites project
❖ National Health Authority (NHA) announced 100 microsite projects for accelerated adoption of the
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) across the country.
• Mizoram becomes the first state in India to operationalize an ABDM Microsite.
• Under this, All healthcare facilities including the private clinics, small hospitals and labs in the re-
gion shall be made ABDM-Enabled and will offer digital health services to the patients.
ABDM Microsites
• Small and specific geographical regions where the ABDM aims to onboard small and medium-scale
private healthcare providers.
• These providers include clinics, nursing homes, diagnostic centres, etc., that offer primary and second-
ary healthcare services to the people.
• To create a Network of ABDM-Enabled Facilities, which can interact seamlessly with each other and
with other stakeholders in the digital health ecosystem.
• Also links their health records generated at these facilities with their Ayushman Bharat Health Ac-
counts (ABHAs).
Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA)

• 14-digit number to digitally share their health records with registered healthcare providers.
• 'ABHA' is the first step towards creating a digital health record. This is currently optional.
• The National Health Authority is the apex body responsible for ABHA.
{Schemes} PM-JAY
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• The Health Ministry explained that:
❖ AB-PMJAY identifies the beneficiary through Aadhaar identification.
❖ Mobile numbers did not play any role in verifying scheme beneficiaries.
Ayushman Bharat
• Launched in 2018 to achieve the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) vision.
• Components: Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs), Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
National Health Authority (NHA)
• NHA has been set up to implement PM-JAY.
• An attached office of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with full functional autonomy.
{Schemes} Tele MANAS Scheme
• Under the National Tele Mental Health Programme (NTMHP), announced in Budget 2022-23.
• Aim is to provide free tele-mental health services with at least one Tele-MANAS Cell in each State/UT.
• 2 Tier System
1. Tier 1 of state Tele-MANAS cells with trained counsellors and mental health specialists.
2. Tier 2 of specialists at District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)/Medical College resources for
physical consultation and/or e-Sanjeevani for audio visual consultation.
• Implementing Agency: NIMHANS, National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHRSC), and Interna-
tional Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIITB).
32
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
{Initiatives} Amplifi Portal 2.0
❖ By Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. Amplifi = Assessment and Monitoring Platform for Liveable,
Inclusive and Future-Ready Urban India portal. Part of the Urban Outcomes Framework 2022.
• Objective: Make raw data from Indian cities available on a single platform for academics, research-
ers, and stakeholders to help data-driven policymaking.
• Provides data on: Total diesel consumption, Number of water quality samples tested, Average annual
healthcare expenditure, Total population residing in slums, Recorded fatalities from road accidents.
• Currently, 225 urban local bodies (ULB) have been on-boarded.
Urban Outcomes Framework 2022

• Developed by the National Institute of Urban Affairs and Ernst and Young.
• Shifts the focus from the indices to the data across 14 sectors to increase focus on data collection,
and domain experts can analyse disaggregated data.
{Initiatives} AMRUT
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched "Women for Water, Water for Women"
campaign under AMRUT.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

• Centrally sponsored scheme under MoHUA in 2015.
• Aim: to improve basic urban services, particularly for the poor and disadvantaged.
• Thrust areas: Water supply, Sewerage facilities, Stormwater drains, public transport facilities, parking
spaces, pedestrian facilities, green spaces and parks, especially for children.
AMRUT 2.0
• Launched in 2021 for the period of 5 years.
• Aims: 33
❖ Universal coverage of water supply through functional taps to all households in all the statuto-
ry towns in the country

❖ Coverage of sewerage/septage management in 500 cities covered in first phase of the AMRUT
Other Components of AMRUT 2.0

• Pey Jal Survekshan: Equitable water distribution, wastewater reuse, and water body mapping.
• Technology Sub-Mission to leverage the latest global technologies in the field of water.
{Initiatives} GOBARdhan Scheme
• Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBARdhan) is an umbrella initiative of GoI.

• It aims to convert waste to wealth towards promoting a circular economy.
• Launched by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2018 as a part of Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
• GOBARdhan is executed in partnership with state governments and the private sector.
⇨ Biogas: Renewable fuel produced by the anaerobic digestion of organic matter, comprises methane
(CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2).
⇨ Compressed Biogas (CBG): Biogas is purified to eliminate hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide (CO2),
and water vapour and then compressed into CBG. It has a methane content of more than 90%.
⇨ Bio-compressed natural gas (Bio-CNG): It is biogas-derived biomethane compressed to CNG. Bio-
CNG has equivalent performance characteristics when compared to fossil CNG.
{Initiatives} Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF)
• Under National Housing Bank (NHB), under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Projects set to be funded include sewage treatment plants and sewerage networks.
• Cities can get loans at a rate of 1.5 percentage less than the prevailing bank interest rate.
• Repayment period: Seven years including a two-year moratorium period.
• Fund cannot be used for Maintenance, administrative expenses, Housing and Urban Transport, Power
and Telecom, Health and Education projects.
{Initiatives} Women for Water, Water for Women

34
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under AMRUT with National Urban Livelihood Mission.
Odisha Urban Academy is the knowledge partner of this campaign which celebrates "Jal Diwali"
•
• Aims: to provide a platform for inclusion of women in water governance.
• First-hand knowledge to women Self Help Groups (SHGs) about water treatment.
• Phase I of this campaign will involve all States/UTs.
{Schemes} Nation First Transit Card

❖ By SBI for easy digital ticketing fare payments in metro, buses, etc., through a single card.
• Can also be used for retail and e-commerce transactions.
• Operates on the technology of RuPay and the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC).
National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)

• Launched in 2019, allowing bank customers to use their debit cards as travel cards.
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
{Schemes} PM e-Bus Sewa
• The PM e-Bus Sewa scheme is an initiative to promote green mobility by deploying electric buses.
• Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.
• Estimated cost of Rs.57,613 crore including Rs.20,000 crore by the Central government, which will
support bus operations for 10 years.
• States or cities will run the bus services and pay for the bus operators.
• The scheme will cover:
✓ Cities with a Population of three lahks and above.
✓ All the capital cities of UT
✓ Northeastern and hill States.
35
{Schemes} PM SVANidhi
• Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) is a Central Sector Scheme i.e., fully
funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Only those States/UTs which have notified Rules and Scheme under the Street Vendors (Protection
of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
• Implementation by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
{Schemes} PM SVANidhi Scheme
• Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic 2020 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
(MoUHA) and provides collateral-free loans up to Rs 50,000 for eligible street vendors in incremen-
tal tranches: Rs 10,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000 upon repayment of the second loan.
36
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
{Initiatives} Changes to the National Film Awards
• Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director renamed "Best Debut Film of a Director".
• Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration → "Best Feature Film Promoting Na-
tional, Social, and Environmental Values".
Other Changes
• Prize money increased for Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Swarn Kamal and Rajat Kamal awards.
• “Best Animation Film” and “Best Special Effects” combined into a new category “Best AVGC (ani-
mation, visual effects, gaming, and comics) Film”.
• Non-feature film category will have a new reward for the "Best Script".
• “Best Feature Film” in each language specified in Schedule VIII of the Constitution has been re-
named as the "Best (name of the language) Feature Film".
National Film Awards

• Established in 1954, administered by the Indian Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.
• Two main categories: Feature Films and Non-Feature Films.
• Award ceremony takes place in New Delhi, where the President presents the awards.
37
Ministry of Jal Shakti
{Initiatives} AMRIT Technology
❖ ‘AMRIT’ (Arsenic and Metal Removal by Indian Technology) by IIT Madras.

• Nano-scale iron oxy-hydroxide, which removes arsenic when water is passed through it.
• Aligns with the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) guidelines.
⇨ The choice of technology for water quality in piped water supply schemes in affected areas lies with the
respective State/UT Governments, as drinking water is a State subject.
• Arsenic is a metalloid (Exihibits properties of both metals and nonmetals).
• Metal ions are charged atoms that have lost one or more electrons.
Types of Metal Ions in Waters

• Essential metals: Iron, copper, manganese, & zinc
• Non-essential metals: Lead, mercury, cadmium, & arsenic (Toxic even at low concentrations)
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)

• Launched in 2019 under the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS).
• To provide 55 litres per capita per day through Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to
every rural household, i.e., Har Ghar Nal Se Jal (HGNSJ), by 2024.
• Funding: Centre and State is 90:10 for Himalayan (Uttarakhand, HP) and NE States, 100:0 for UTs and
50:50 for the rest of the States.
{Schemes} Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
• Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation and Echo India (NGO) to establish JJM Digital Academy.
• JJM Digital Academy aims to build the capacity of various stakeholders.
Jal Jeevan Mission – Rural (JJM Rural)

• Centrally sponsored scheme announced in 2019 under Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation,
38
Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS).
• Aims to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual functional household tap con-
nections (FHTC) by 2024 to all households in rural India.

• Envisages the supply of 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household.
• Sustainability measures: Recharge & reuse through grey water management, water conservation,
rainwater harvesting, etc.
• Based on a community approach to water (Jan Andolan for water).
• Converge with other Central and State Government Schemes.
• Dedicated fund called Rashtriya Jal Jeevan Kosh was set up for the mission.
 Har Ghar Jal certified States/UTs: 5 States (Goa, Telangana, Haryana, Gujarat and Punjab) and 3 UTs
(Puducherry, Diu and Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Andaman and Nicobar Islands)
have reported 100% coverage.
Jal Jeevan Mission – Urban (JJM Urban)

• Under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoUHA).
• For Universal coverage of water supply to all households through functional taps in all statutory
towns in accordance with SDG- 6 (clean water and sanitation for all).
• It also aims to provide liquid waste management connections to households in 500 AMRUT cities.
{Schemes} Namami Gange Programme
• Centrally sponsored scheme Flagship Programme launched in 2014, under Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Implemented by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and its state counterpart.
• Main Pillars: Sewage Treatment Infrastructure, River-Front Development, River-Surface Cleaning, Biodi-
versity Conservation, Afforestation, Public Awareness, Industrial Effluent Monitoring.
• Ganga Gram: By Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation along the bank of Ganga in 5 states (UK,
UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, & WB) to construct toilets.
National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

• Implementation wing of the National Ganga Council, established in 2011.
• Implementation of National Ganga River Basin Authority (under Environment Protection Act,
1986).
National Ganga Council

• Set up in 2016, replaced the National River Ganga Basin Authority (NRGBA).
• Formed under the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA),1986, the Prime Minister chairs it.
39
Ministry of Labour and Employment
{Initiatives} e-Shram Portal
Recent developments in e-shram portal

• Family details of migrant workers can be included.
• e-Shram has been integrated with National Career Service (NCS) Portal, Pradhan Mantri Shram-
yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM), Skill India Digital portal, myScheme portal.
⇨ An unorganised worker can register on National career service (NCS) portal using his/ her Universal Ac-
count Number (UAN) and search for suitable job opportunities.
⇨ Pradhan Mantri Shram-yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM): A pension scheme for unorganised workers aged
between 18-40 years. Using the UAN (eShram) number, any unorganised worker can easily register on the
Maandhan portal.
⇨ Myscheme portal: It aims to offer a one-stop search and discovery of Government schemes. Through this
integration, all the e Shram registrants can check the schemes for which they are eligible.
About e-Shram portal

• First-ever national database of unorganised workers including migrant workers, construction workers,
gig and platform workers, etc. Developed by Ministry of Labour & Employment.
• Eligibility: Unorganized sector worker, Aged 16-59 years, Not a member of ESIC or NPS (Govt. funded).
Features of e-shram portal

• Registration of unorganised sector worker on self-declaration basis.
• Rs 2 Lakh Accidental Insurance cover for every registered (on eShram portal) unorganised worker.
• eSHRAM card with a unique Universal Account Number (UAN).
{Schemes} Employee State Insurance (ESI) Scheme
• Self-financed. Administered by the Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) under Ministry
of Labour and Employment (MoLE). Implementation is district-wise basis. 40
• Coverage: Designed for non-seasonal factories employing 10 or more persons.
• However, the threshold limit for coverage of establishments is still 20 employees in some states.
Eligibility
• Salary of up to Rs. 21,000 per month (25,000 per month for persons with disabilities).
• Monthly Contributions: Employees = 0.75% of the wages, employers = 3.25% of the wages.
• Employees earning < Rs. 137/- a day are exempted from payment of their share of contribution.
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
{Schemes} National SC/ST Hub
• Central sector scheme of Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME).
• Applicability: Existing and Aspiring SC/ST Entrepreneurs.
• Aims at providing professional support to SCs and STs entrepreneurs to fulfil the obligations under
the Central Government Public Procurement Policy.
{Schemes} PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana
• Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the GOI.

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MoMSME).
• To uplift traditional artisans and craftspeople in various occupations like blacksmithing, goldsmith-
ing, pottery, carpentry, and sculpting.
• Features: PM Vishwakarma certificate, collateral-free credit support at a concessional interest rate.
{Schemes} RAMP Scheme
• Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Programme is a World Bank-assisted pro-
gram to improve the performance of MSMEs.
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of MSME.
❖ Objectives: Access to the market and credit for MSMEs, centre-state linkages, Greening of MSMEs,
technology upgradation.
{Schemes} Udyam Sakhi Portal
• Launched in 2018, under the administrative control of the Ministry of MSME.

• Provides information on policies and schemes to make women entrepreneurs self-reliant.
41
Ministry of Minority Affairs
{Schemes} Scholarships for Religious Minorities
Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA)

• Established in 2006 by the GoI to address needs and issues of the notified minority communities.
• Revised 15-point programme includes a provision for scholarships for minority communities at pre-
matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means levels.
Revised 15-Point Programme

• 15% of targets and outlays under various schemes should be earmarked for minorities.
Religious Minorities in India

• India is home to over 30 crore people (20% Population) from religious minority communities.
• Six religious minorities under the National Commission for Minorities Act 1992: Muslims (14.2%),
Christians (2.3%), Sikhs (1.7%), Buddhists (0.7%), Jains (0.4%), Zoroastrians (around 57,000).
Welfare Schemes for the Educational Empowerment of Minorities and their Status
Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF)

• Financial assistance to research scholars from minority communities pursuing an M.Phil and PhD from
UGC-recognised institutions. Cancelled in 2022.
Padho Pardesh
• Interest subsidy on education loans for overseas studies to students from economically weaker sec-
tions of minority communities. Discontinued from 2022-23.
Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship

• Scholarship for meritorious girls from minority communities for higher secondary education provided
by the MAEF. The scholarship had zero allocation in 2023-24.
42
Naya Savera
• Free coaching to minority students for entrance and competitive examinations.
• New component in 2013-14 for students of classes 11-12 with science subjects.
• Discontinued in 2023, as the NEP 2020 does not support coaching programmes.
Nai Udaan
• To support minority students preparing for the preliminary examinations conducted by the UPSC, SSC
and State PSCs. The scheme had no funds allocated in 2023-24.
Scheme for Providing Education to Madarsas and Minorities (SPEMM)
• To support quality education in madrasas by introducing modern subjects.
• Allocation of Rs 10 crore in 2023-24, more than 90% less than the allocation in 2022-23.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)

• To provide infrastructure in minority concentration areas, including education and skill development.
• Budgetary allocation was reduced from Rs 1,650 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 600 crore in 2023-24.
{Schemes} Nai Manzil Scheme
• Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, supported by the World Bank.
• Aims to benefit the minority youths who do not have a formal school leaving certificate, i.e., school
dropouts or those educated in community education institutions like Madarsas.
• Aims to provide them with formal education and skills to seek employment in the organised sector.
 Six centrally notified minority communities: Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jain and Zoro-
astrians (Parsis). These six communities have been notified as minority communities under the Na-
tional Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
43
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana
• Revamped version of Rooftop solar programme of 2014, Target: Annual 40GW for next 5 years and
one crore households.
⇨ Rooftop solar panels: Photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of a building.
⇨ One gigawatt = 1,000 megawatts, One megawatt = 1,000 kilowatts, One kilowatts= 1,000 watts.
India's current solar capacity
Total Solar Capacity (GW) Rooftop Solar Capacity (GW)

• 73.31 (as of Dec 2023) • 11.08 (as of Dec 2023)
• Rajasthan followed by Gujarat. • Gujarat followed by Maharashtra.
India's current renewable energy capacity is 180 GW, globally 4th in Installed Capacity.
⇨ India is the 3rd largest energy-consuming country in the world.
⇨ India is the 5th largest solar country in the world. (REN21 Renewables 2022 Global Status Report:
China > USA > Japan > Germany > India)
{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana
• Revamped version of Rooftop solar programme of 2014, Target: Annual 40GW for next 5 years and
one crore households.
⇨ Rooftop solar panels: Photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of a building.
⇨ One gigawatt = 1,000 megawatts, One megawatt = 1,000 kilowatts, One kilowatts= 1,000 watts.
India's current solar capacity
Total Solar Capacity (GW) Rooftop Solar Capacity (GW)

• 73.31 (as of Dec 2023) • 11.08 (as of Dec 2023)
• Rajasthan followed by Gujarat. • Gujarat followed by Maharashtra.
44
India's current renewable energy capacity is 180 GW, globally 4th in Installed Capacity.
⇨ India is the 3rd largest energy-consuming country in the world.
⇨ India is the 5th largest solar country in the world. (REN21 Renewables 2022 Global Status Report:
China > USA > Japan > Germany > India)
Ministry of Panchayati Raj
{Schemes} Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme approved in 2018 for four years.

• Under Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) to strengthen PRIs to achieve SDGs.
• It also included rural local government in non-Part IX areas where Panchayats do not exist.
Revamped RGSA (2022-23 to 2025-26)

❖ Promote devolution of powers and responsibilities to Panchayats according to the spirit of the Consti-
tution and PESA Act 1996.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPJ)

• Created in May 2004.
• Primary objectives:
❖ Overseeing the implementation of Part IX of IC (was inserted by the Constitution (73rd Amend-
ment) Act, 1992. It contains provisions for local self government at the rural level).
❖ Implementation of the provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
(PESA Act) in the Fifth Schedule areas (Scheduled Areas as well as of Scheduled Tribes residing
in any State other than the States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram).
❖ Operationalizing District Planning Committees in terms of Article 243-ZD (committee for district
planning) of Part IX-A (74th Amendment) of the IC (urban local self government).
{Schemes} SVAMITVA Scheme
❖ SVAMITVA Scheme received the National Award for e-Governance 2023 (Gold) for Application of
Emerging Technologies for Providing Citizen Centric Services.
• SVAMITVA: Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas.
• Launched in 2021 on the National Panchayati Raj Day (24th April).
45
• Central sector scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• Provides a ‘Record of Rights’ to establish clear ownership of property in rural inhabited areas.
• It is implemented with the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and
✓ The State Revenue Department and the State Panchayati Raj Department and
✓ Survey of India (SoI – National Mapping Agency under Department of Science & Technology,
Ministry of Science and Technology).
National Awards for e-Governance

• By Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DAR&PG – Ministry of Personnel,
Public Grievances and Pensions) presents National e-Governance Awards annually.
• Given since 2003 to recognise excellence in implementing e-governance initiatives.
46
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
{Initiatives} CPGRAMS and MoPPGP
• Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) released the monthly report on
the CPGRAMS, an analysis of types and categories of public grievances and the nature of disposal.
Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS)

• Online platform created in 2007 by DARPG. PM is its the supreme head.
• It is a single portal connected to all the Ministries/Departments of Government of India and States.
{Initiatives} NeSDA report
• National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) – Way Forward is a monthly report
released by the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG).
• It provides a detailed overview of the status of e-service delivery across States/UTs.
Key highlights of the Report

✓ J&K provides the maximum number of e-services.
✓ J&K, Kerala, and Odisha provide 100% of their services through their identified Single Unified Ser-
vice Delivery Portal, i.e., e-UNNAT, e-Sevanam, and Odisha One, respectively.
✓ Haryana provides the maximum number of e-services in the labour and employment sector.
{Schemes} D-Remit QR code for NPS
❖ The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has now allowed the use of the
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) QR code to the National Pension System (NPS).
• It will take place through a D-Remit virtual account, distinct from the Permanent Retirement Ac-
count Number (PRAN- unique 12-digit number for users registered in NPS).
⇨ D-Remit is an electronic system through which money can be directly transferred from one's Bank ac-
47
count to the Trustee Bank.
PFRDA
• Statutory (PFRDA Act, 2013) under the Ministry of Finance.

• First constituted through government resolution in 2003 to run NPS. Also runs Atal Pension
Yojana.
New Pension Scheme (NPS)

⇨ NPS was started in 2004 based on the project "OASIS” (Old Age Social & Income Security) report.
⇨ Initially, it was for central and state government employees except for the armed forces. After 2009, it
was extended to all citizens in the 18-60 age group.
{Schemes} New and Old Pension Scheme
Features Old Pension Scheme New Pension Scheme

Introduction It was introduced in the 1950s. It was introduced in 2004.
Eligibility Only government employees who Started for government employees, but in 2009,
have completed at least ten years of extended the scope to all citizens between 18-60
service are eligible. years (including NRIs).
Contributions Does’nt require employee contribu- Employees contribute 10% of their base pay,
tions. while their employers can contribute up to 14%.
Return Government employees are entitled to 60% lump sum after retirement and 40% invested
receive 50% of their last drawn basic in annuities.
salary plus a dearness allowance
upon retirement.
Tax Benefits Income is not subject to taxation. 60% tax-free, remaining 40% is taxable.
Flexibility It does not have much flexibility as it The subscribers can choose their asset allocation,
provides a fixed monthly income. allowing them to generate higher returns and
build a larger retirement corpus.
Return Cer- It provides return certainty, as it is It offers market-linked returns. Subscribers can
tainty based on the last wage received by benefit from market-linked returns without any
the employee. guarantee of returns.
48
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
{Initiatives} Compressed Biogas Blending Obligation (CBO)
Implementation of CBG Blending Obligation (CBO)

• Voluntary until FY 2024-2025 & mandatory from FY 2025-26.
• 1% of total CNG/PNG consumption for FY 2025-26 and increase to 5% in 2028-29.
Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT)

• Launched in 2018 by the MoPNG with Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Oil Marketing Companies.
• Aim: To establish Compressed Bio-Gas production plants and make biogas available for automotive
fuels by inviting Expression of Interest (EOI) from potential entrepreneurs.
{Initiatives} Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme
• Launched in 2003 with 5% blending of ethanol in petrol. Target: 20% by 2025-26.
Ethanol (C2H5OH)
• Ethanol is 99.9% pure alcohol, can be used as a biofuel.
• Naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts.
• It is also produced via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration.
• It is mostly extracted from molasses (byproduct from refining sugarcane) and surplus food grains.
{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
• Launched in 2016 under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG).
Ujjawala 2.0
• First refill and stove will also be provided free of cost to Ujjwala beneficiaries.
• Targeted subsidy of Rs.200 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for up to 12 refills per year is being provided.
49
• Per capita consumption of PMUY beneficiaries of LPG Cylinders has increased.
Eligibility Criteria to Avail of Connection Under Ujjwala 2.0

• Applicant (woman only) must have attained 18 years of age.

• There should not be any other LPG connection in the same household.
• Adult women belonging with poor socio-econmoic conditions.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
{Initiatives} Inland Waterways for E-Commerce Cargo Movement
❖ MoU was signed between Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Amazon to boost cargo
movement via inland waterways using the Ganga River (National Waterway 1).
Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047

• Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 is the long-term blueprint for the Indian maritime blue economy.
• Unveiled in the Global Maritime India Summit 2023.
Global Maritime India Summit: Annual event organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Water-
ways.
National Waterways (NWs)

• 111 waterways (including 5 existing and 106 new) under the National Waterways Act, 2016.
• Only 13 NWs are currently operational. Agency: Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
50
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
{Initiatives} Safety: Air-Conditioning in Vehicle Cabins
• From January 1, 2025, all vehicles in categories N2 and N3 will be required to have air-conditioning
systems installed in their cabins, according to a new Draft regulation by the Ministry of Road
Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
{Schemes} Bharat NCAP
❖ Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) launched the Bharat New Car Assessment Pro-
gramme (Bharat NCAP) to enhance road safety.
• Indigenous car crash testing programme modelled on the Global New Car Assessment Programme
(Global NCAP). It will come into effect from October 1, 2023.
• Cars voluntarily nominated by manufacturers will be crash-tested.
Features
Applicability
• Only the base model of a particular variant will be tested.
• It applies to:
❖ Passenger vehicles made/sold in India with up to eight seats (excluding the driver's seat), and
❖ Weight less than 3500 kg.
Mandatory provisions for safety

❖ Six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Three-point seatbelts for every passenger.
❖ Improved emergency braking systems
Global NCAP
• Major project of the Towards Zero Foundation (UK-registered charity).
• It serves as a platform for cooperation among NCAPs worldwide.
51
• It promotes the universal adoption of the UN’s motor vehicle safety standards worldwide.
{Schemes} Year End Recap of MoRTH
Bharatmala Pariyojana
• Corridor-based NH development, infrastructure symmetry, consistent road user experience.
• Key components: Economic corridor development, Inter-corridor and feeder routes development,
National corridor efficiency Improvement, Border and International Connectivity Roads, Coastal
and Port Connectivity Roads and Expressways are critical components of the scheme.
• 35 Multimodal Logistics Parks, first International MMLP at Jogighopa, Assam.
"RajmargYatra" and "NHAI One"

• "RajmargYatra" is a citizen-centric Mobile Application with an in-built complaint redressal system.
• “NHAI One” is a mobile app facilitating the execution of National Highway Projects.
Bharat series (BH-series) of vehicle registration since 2021

• Under Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (Central act implemented by State Governments/UT)
• Voluntary. Eligibility: Defense personnel, Central Government/ State Government/ Central/ State
Public Sector Undertakings employees and private sector workers with offices in four or more
States/Union territories.
{Schemes} Year End Recap of MoRTH
Bharatmala Pariyojana
• Corridor-based NH development, infrastructure symmetry, consistent road user experience.
• Key components: Economic corridor development, Inter-corridor and feeder routes development,
National corridor efficiency Improvement, Border and International Connectivity Roads, Coastal
and Port Connectivity Roads and Expressways are critical components of the scheme.
• 35 Multimodal Logistics Parks, first International MMLP at Jogighopa, Assam.
"RajmargYatra" and "NHAI One"

• "RajmargYatra" is a citizen-centric Mobile Application with an in-built complaint redressal system.
• “NHAI One” is a mobile app facilitating the execution of National Highway Projects.
Bharat series (BH-series) of vehicle registration since 2021

• Under Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (Central act implemented by State Governments/UT)
• Voluntary. Eligibility: Defense personnel, Central Government/ State Government/ Central/ State
Public Sector Undertakings employees and private sector workers with offices in four or more
States/Union territories.
52
Ministry of Rural Development
{Initiatives} Cactus for Green Economy in Watershed Projects
❖ Cactus to be planted in rain-fed/degraded lands under the Watershed Development Component of

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY).
Watershed Development Component of PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY)

• Centrally sponsored scheme by the Department of Land Resources- Ministry of Rural Development.
• To develop rainfed/degraded lands in the country sustainably.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

• Centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Access to water on farm, expand irrigation on cultivable area, improve on farm water efficiency.
• Components: Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP).
{Initiatives} Smart Gram Panchayat
❖ By Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department of Panchayati Raj, Government
of Bihar and BSNL as pilot project at Paprour GP, Begusarai, Bihar.
• Aims to extend PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) Service to Gram Pancha-
yats of Begusarai and Rohtas in Bihar for the Financial Year 2023–24.
• Funding: Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA).
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA)

• Launched in 2018, it is an umbrella scheme under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• Its primary objective is to develop and strengthen the Panchayati Raj System across rural India.
To know more about the PM-WANI Scheme, visit > PMF IAS CA-August-12-2023.
{Schemes} Amrit Sarovar Scheme

53
❖ The Mission Amrit Sarovar has been completed on 15th August 2023.
• Launched on National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April 2022 as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Aim: Development and rejuvenation of 75 water bodies in each district of the Indian states.
{Schemes} Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme
• Central Sector scheme. Formerly National Land Record Modernisation Programme (NLRMP).
• By Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.
• To develop an Integrated Land Information Management System (ILIMS) across India.
SAMVITA Scheme
• SVAMITVA: Survey of Villages Abadi and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas.
• Launched on the National Panchayati Raj Day (24th April) in 2021.
• Central sector scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• It provides a ‘Record of Rights’ to village household owners.
• It aims to establish clear ownership of property in rural inhabited areas.
{Schemes} MGNREGS
• MGNREGS is a social security scheme guaranteeing 100 days of work to any rural household willing
to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage.
• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) is monitoring the entire implementation of this scheme.
• The wages are revised according to the Consumer Price Index-Agricultural Labourers (CPI-AL).
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 or MGNREGA

• The act obligates the state to give rural households work on demand.
• An unemployment allowance if such employment is not provided within 15 days of registration.
• Employment will be provided within a radius of 5 km. If it is >5 km, an extra wage will be paid.
• Priority shall be given to women, and at least one-third of the beneficiaries shall be women who have
registered and requested work.
• All work sites should have crèches, drinking water and first aid facilities.
• Social Audit must be done by the Gram Sabha.
Funding pattern
• 100% of the unskilled labour cost and 75% of the material cost (including wages of skilled and semi-
skilled workers) of the programme is borne by the Centre.
• The Act provides for the wage and material costs to be in the proportion of 60:40.
Mates
• They are the frontline supervisors of the programme and are listed as semi-skilled workers because
54
of the specialist nature of their job.
• Their wages come from the "material component", 60% of which the Union government pays.
Section 27 of MGNREGA
• Empowers the Centre to give directions to the State for the effective implementation of the Act.
Ministry of Science & Technology
{Initiatives} Indian National Young Academy of Science (INYAS)
• First and only recognised academy for young scientists in India., founded by the Indian National
Science Academy (INSA) council in 2014.
• Membership: PhD degree (pure and applied sciences, engineering) or M.S. /M.D. in medical science.
• Age less than 40 years of age.
• Activities by INYAS:
❖ Saransh: Three Minute Thesis Competition to encourage quality scientific communication.
❖ SciPADReC (Science Policy, Advisory, and Diplomacy Centre): Collaborative project involving the In-
ter-Academy Partnership with INYAS, the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), the South Afri-
can Young Academy of Science (SAYAS), and the National Young Academy of Nepal (NaYAN).
{Initiatives} National Biopharma Mission
• Industry-academia collaborative mission for research to early development of Biopharmaceuti-

cals.
• By Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the World Bank.
• Implemented by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

• It is a public sector enterprise set up by the DBT (Ministry of Science and Technology).
{Initiatives} One Week One Lab Campaign (OWOL)
• Nationwide campaign launched by the CSIR in 2023.

• Objective: to showcase the technological breakthroughs and innovations in CSIR’s 37 laboratories.
55
Ministry of Shipping
{Initiatives} Steel Slag Road
❖ India’s first six-lane steel slag-based road connecting NH-6 to Hazira Port has been constructed.
• Surat has become the first city in the country to get a processed steel slag road.
• By Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Central Road Research Institute (CRRI),
Ministry of Steel (MoS), NITI Aayog, and ArcelorMtttal-Nippon Steel.
Steel Slag
• Steel slag, a by-product of steelmaking, is produced during the separation of the molten steel from
impurities in steel-making furnaces.
• It is a solution of silicates and oxides in a molten state which solidifies upon cooling.
• The steel slag road's upper surface will be 1-2°C warmer.
• But the impact on tires from such roads would be negligible because:
❖ Steel slag melts at over 200°C, while peak summer temperatures in India don't exceed 45°C.
❖ The upper layer comprises bitumen layers with low thermal conductivity.
{Schemes} Sagarmala Programme
❖ Ministry of Shipping to promote port-led development through harnessing India’s 7,500 km long
coastline and 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways.
• Vision: To reduce logistics costs for EXIM (Export-Import) and domestic trade with minimal infrastruc-
ture investment.
56
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
{Initiatives} Project AMBER
❖ Project AMBER stands for Accelerated Mission for Better Employment and Retention. 92
❖ By: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Generation India Foundation, Amazon
Web Services (AWS India) for providing cloud skills training.
• Part of SANKALP Programme of MSDE with a focus on women.
• Project AMBER aims to train 30,000 youth, 50% of whom will be women, in cloud computing skills
and connect them with job opportunities in the cloud or IT sector.
• Covers the cost for learners to take the AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification exam.
SANKALP Programme
• SANKALP = Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion.
• World Bank loan-assisted project aims to improve quality and relevance of skill development in India.
57
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
{Initiatives} Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for Scheduled Castes (CEGSSC)
• Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment | Nodal Agency: IFCI Ltd | Launched: 2014-15
• Objective: Credit Enhancement Guarantee to Member Lending Institutions (banks) for financial assis-
tance to SC entrepreneurs.
• Eligibility: Individuals, Companies, Partnerships and societies belonging to Scheduled Castes.
• Loan Amounts: ₹15 lakhs up to more than ₹5 crore with No collateral requirement.
• Guarantee Period: Maximum of 7 years.
{Initiatives} NSFDC
National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC)

• 1989: National Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation.
• HQ: Delhi. After 2001, solely working for the empowerment of Schedules Castes.
• Fully owned GoI company under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MOSJ&E).
• Financial assistance for income-generating schemes through State Channelising Agencies (SCAs).
• Eligibility: Annual SC family income up to Rs. 3.00 lakh for both rural and urban areas.
{Schemes} National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP)
• Related to welfare of transgender and intersex persons, as well as individuals with diverse GIESC
(gender identity/expression and sex characteristics) identities.
• Statutory body established in 2020 under Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
• Headed by: Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment. Four representatives from the
transgender community and one from the intersex community, representing different regions.
• Joint Secretaries of various departments (ex-officio members) and five expert members from NGOs.
GarimaGreh
58
• Component of Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE).
• Launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in India to provide shelter to desti-
tute and abandoned transgender persons.

• Geo-tagged.
The SMILE scheme

• By Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to rehabilitate poor and marginalised individuals by
providing essential support for their livelihood and entrepreneurial endeavours.
• Two Central Sector sub-schemes: Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Per-
sons, Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in the Act of Begging.
{Schemes} New Swarnima Scheme for Women (NSSW)
• Eligibility: Women from Backward Classes with annual income less than Rs. 3.00 Lakh.
• Being run by National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC).
• Maximum loan amount is Rs.2 lakhs with a subsidised interest rate of 5%.
• NBCFDC and the challenging partner = 95:5 of the loan amount.
• Repayment period: Maximum of 8 years with a 6-month moratorium on principle.
National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC)

• Govt. of India undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Skill development and entrepreneurship among Backward Classes.
{Schemes} NSKFDC
❖ Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoJSE) and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and
Development Corporation (NSKFDC) signed a MoU.
• Aims socio-economic upliftment of Safai Karamcharis, Manual Scavengers, Waste Pickers, and their
dependants.
National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)

• Wholly-owned GoI undertaking under the MoSJE, Set up in 1997 as a Company "Not for Profit" un-
der the Companies Act, 1956.
• Functions through various loan and non-loan based schemes.
• Implementing agency for National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) scheme.
National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme

• Formulated by MoSJE in 2022, it has replaced the Self-Employment Scheme for the Rehabilitation of
Manual Scavengers (SRMS).
• By Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the MoSJE. 59
• Aims to eradicate unsafe sewer and septic tank cleaning practices to ensure zero fatalities.
Benefits Under the Scheme

✓ Capital subsidies of up to ₹5 lakh on sanitation machinery costing up to ₹15 lakh.
✓ Training for the operators, during which a monthly stipend of up to ₹3,000 will be provided.
✓ Training sanitation workers in alternative occupations like agriculture, electronics assembling, etc.
{Schemes} PM-DAKSH Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalata Sampanna Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana is a Central Sector
Scheme launched by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE).
• Objective: Enhance competency level of target groups for self-employment & wage-employment.
• The target groups include Artisans, Women and Youth.
• 18-45 years. No income limit for SCs, Safai Karamcharis, including waste pickers and denotified tribes.
• For EWS and OBC: Annual family income less than Rs.3 lakh.
• Implemented by: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment) PSUs: National Scheduled Castes Finance
and Development Corporation (NSFDC), National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corpora-
tion (NBCFDC), National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)
{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojna
• PM- AJAY is a 100% centrally sponsored scheme under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• Merged: Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Caste
Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP), Babu Jagjivan Ram Chatrawas Yojana (BJRCY).
• Components: Development of SC-dominated villages into an ‘Adarsh Gram’ component, Grants-in-
aid for District/State-level Projects for SCs, Construction of Hostels.
{Schemes} SHRESHTA
• Scheme For Residential Education For Students In High Schools In Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA).
• Under: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• Objectives: Socio-economic upliftment of SCs through education.
Two Modes of Implementation

1) Admissions in private residential schools through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS)
to be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
2) Grants-in-aid will be released to NGO/VO-operated Schools/Hostels having classes up to class 12.
60
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
{Initiatives} 7th Economic Census
• West Bengal is the only state not participating in the 7th Economic Census.
• IT-based digital platform for the first time.
Economic Census
• Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI) with Common Service Centre (CSC).
⇨ CSC is a special purpose vehicle (SPV) under the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
• Starting from 1978, it is conducted every five years.
• Geographical spread, ownership pattern, persons engaged, etc., of economic activities are recorded.
{Initiatives} Household Consumption Expenditure Survey
• Monthly Percapita Household Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) more than doubled during 2011-
12 to 2022-23. Last survey repoort was not released due to data quality issues.
Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES)

• Conducted by: National Sample Survey Office, MoSPI.
• Period: Conducted every five years (quinquennial). But this one releasaed after 11 years.
• Purpose: Information on the consumption patterns of Urban and rural households.
• Data Focus: Average expenditure on goods (food and non-food) and services.
 The MPCE figure excludes estimated values of items obtained through social welfare programs but in-
cludes certain non-food items like computers and clothing.
Key Findings
Average Monthly Spending

• Urban households: 33.5% rise in average MPCE since 2011-12, reaching ₹3,510.
61
• Rural Households: 40.42% rise in average MPCE to ₹2,008 during the same period.
Expenditure on food
• Share of food has declined for both urban and rural households.
• For the first time fallen to less than 50 per cent of the total consumption expenditure in rural In-
dia and less than 40 per cent in urban India.
Non-Food Expenditure
• Increased; higher spending on conveyance, consumer services, durable goods in 2022-23.
• Share of expenditure on cereals, pulses, and vegetables moderated.
Rural-Urban Disparities
• Gap in rural and urban households narrowed to 71.2% in 2022-23 from 83.9% in 2011-12.
Income Disparities
• Bottom 5%: Rural Average MPCE of ₹1,373. Urban Average MPCE of ₹2,001.
• Top 5%: Rural Average MPCE of ₹10,501. Urban Average MPCE of ₹20,824.
• Sikkim has the highest MPCE in both rural (₹7,731) and urban areas (₹12,105).
• Chhattisgarh has the lowest MPCE, with ₹2,466 (rural households) and ₹4,483 (urban households).
{Initiatives} Household Consumption Expenditure Survey
• Monthly Percapita Household Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) more than doubled during 2011-
12 to 2022-23. Last survey repoort was not released due to data quality issues.
Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES)

• Conducted by: National Sample Survey Office, MoSPI.
• Period: Conducted every five years (quinquennial). But this one releasaed after 11 years.
• Purpose: Information on the consumption patterns of Urban and rural households.
• Data Focus: Average expenditure on goods (food and non-food) and services.
 The MPCE figure excludes estimated values of items obtained through social welfare programs but in-
cludes certain non-food items like computers and clothing.
Key Findings
Average Monthly Spending

• Urban households: 33.5% rise in average MPCE since 2011-12, reaching ₹3,510.
• Rural Households: 40.42% rise in average MPCE to ₹2,008 during the same period.
Expenditure on food
• Share of food has declined for both urban and rural households.
• For the first time fallen to less than 50 per cent of the total consumption expenditure in rural In-
dia and less than 40 per cent in urban India. 62
Non-Food Expenditure
• Increased; higher spending on conveyance, consumer services, durable goods in 2022-23.

• Share of expenditure on cereals, pulses, and vegetables moderated.
Rural-Urban Disparities
• Gap in rural and urban households narrowed to 71.2% in 2022-23 from 83.9% in 2011-12.
Income Disparities
• Bottom 5%: Rural Average MPCE of ₹1,373. Urban Average MPCE of ₹2,001.
• Top 5%: Rural Average MPCE of ₹10,501. Urban Average MPCE of ₹20,824.
• Sikkim has the highest MPCE in both rural (₹7,731) and urban areas (₹12,105).
• Chhattisgarh has the lowest MPCE, with ₹2,466 (rural households) and ₹4,483 (urban households).
{Initiatives} MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application
❖ Context (PIB): MoSPI launched the e-SAKSHI Mobile Application.

• Objective: Streamline the revised fund flow procedure under the MPLAD Scheme.
For details on MPLADS Scheme >MPLADS Scheme.
{Initiatives} Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)
❖ By Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

• Tracks a 12-month period and provides yearly estimates for rural & urban regions.
• Initiated by the National Statistical Office in 2017 with first report in 2019.
• PLFS’s objective is to estimate vital employment and unemployment indicators.
Key Indicators of PLFS

• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): Percentage of persons in labour force (working or seeking or
available for work) in the population.
• Worker Population Ratio (WPR): Percentage of employed persons in the population.
• Unemployment Rate (UR): Percentage of persons unemployed among the persons in the labour force.
• Unemployment involves being jobless, available and actively seeking employment (ILO).
• Activity Status is determined based on the activities pursued by person in specified reference period.
o Usual Status (US): Reference period of the last 365 days preceding the survey date.
o Current Weekly Status (CWS): Reference period one week preceding the survey date.
• Usual status unemployment rates will always be lower than CWS rates because there is a greater
probability that an individual would find work over a year compared to a week.
• Three categories of PLFS employment status: Self-employed, Regular wage/salaried, Casual labour.
{Initiatives} Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS) 63
• Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has replaced the Standing Commit-
tee on Economic Statistics (SCES) with the Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS).
• SCoS has ten official members and four non-official members who are eminent academics. It can
have up to 16 members.
• Will review framework and results of all surveys conducted under National Statistical Office (NSO).
Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES)

• MoSPI constituted SCES in 2019 with 28 members, including ten non-official members.
• To review framework for economic indicators the industrial sectorthe services sector, and the labour
force statistics.
SCoS vis-à-vis SCES

• SCoS has a broader mandate than SCES. It will advise the government on technical aspects of all
surveys against the SCES, whose mandate is restricted to economic data only.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)

• Independent Ministry in 1999 after the merger of the Department of Statistics and the Department of
Programme Implementation.
• Two wings: Statistics and Programme Implementation.
• The Statistics Wing, called the National Statistical Office (NSO), consists of the Central Statistical
Office (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
{Schemes} MPLADS
• Central Sector Scheme under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
 The Ministry of Finance has revised the MPLADS rules to require MPs to deposit the interest accrued
on these funds to the Consolidated Fund of India. This means that MPs will no longer be able to use
this interest for development works.
❖ Amount: Rs. 5Cr. annually with mandatory allocation for SCs (15%) and STs (7.5%) of the total amount.
❖ Work areas: Lok Sabha MPs : Within their Constituencies. Elected Rajya Sabha MPs: Within the
State of Election. Nominated MPs: Anywhere in India.
❖ For durable assets and specific non-durable items.
64
Ministry of Textiles
{Schemes} GREAT Scheme
❖ By the Ministry of Textiles to support the development and commercialisation of innovative products
and technologies in the field of Technical Textiles.
• Technical textiles are used for functional properties rather than aesthetic/decorative characteristics.
• They have applications in various sectors: agriculture, health, defence, infrastructure, sports, etc.
• The GREAT scheme aims to provide a grant-in-aid of up to Rs 50 lakh for up to 18 months to individu-
als and companies for technical textiles products.
• Aims to provide 10 % of the total grant-in-aid to incubators to mentor and support the innovators.
National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM)

• Four-year mission launched by Ministry of Textiles in 2020 to boost the growth and competitiveness
of the technical textiles sector in India, support the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
{Schemes} Schemes in News
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0)

• Themes: Culture and Heritage, Adventure Tourism, Eco-Tourism, Wellness Tourism, MICE Tourism, Ru-
ral Tourism, Beach Tourism, Cruises – Ocean and inland.
⇨ MICE tourism stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, or Business Tourism or
Business Events.
Swadesh Darshan
• Central Sector Scheme. Launched in 2014 -15. Ministry of Tourism.
• Central Financial Assistance (CFA) to State Governments/UT for it.
• Thematic circuits: Buddhist Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit, Eco Circuit, Heritage Circuit, Hima-
layan Circuit, Krishna Circuit, North East Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Sufi
Circuit, Tirthankar Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Wildlife Circuit. 65
Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme

• Launched in 2014-2015 by Ministry of Tourism to develop religious tourism experience in India.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs
{Initiatives} TRIFED
• Established in 1987 under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984.

• Administrative control: Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MTA).
• TRIFED is a nodal agency for implementing the MSP for Minor Forest Produce (MFP).
Minor Forest Produce (MFP)

• Under PESA Act-1996, & Forest Rights Act (FRA)-2006.
• MFP includes all non-timber forest produce of plant origin including bamboo, brushwood, stumps,
cane, tussar, cocoons, honey, wax, lac, tendu leaves, medicinal plants and herbs, tubers and the like.
• FRA 2006, entitles tribals with the “right of ownership, access to collect, use and dispose of minor for-
est produce which has been traditionally collected within or outside village boundaries”.
{Schemes} Year-end Recap of MoTA
• The Vibrant Villages Programme: Outcome-oriented Centrally Sponsored Scheme for selected vil-
lages in 19 districts to reverse outmigration,.
{Schemes} Year-end Recap of MoTA
• The Vibrant Villages Programme: Outcome-oriented Centrally Sponsored Scheme for selected vil-
lages in 19 districts to reverse outmigration,.
66
Ministry of Women and Child Development
{Initiatives} Mission Utkarsh
❖ Collaboration of Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Women and Child Development.

• Aims to control Anaemia among adolescent girls using Ayurvedic interventions.
• Initially, will be launched in five aspirational districts across five states as a pilot project.
{Initiatives} Track Child and GHAR Portal
• Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD)

• Track Child Portal: Developed with the Ministry of Home Affairs, CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Track-
ing & Network Systems), State Governments/UT Administrations developed it.
• GHAR Portal: Digital platform to facilitate the restoration and repatriation of children as per the
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, involving digital case transfer.
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights

• Statutory body under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.
• Administrative control: Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD).
• Coordinating body for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Other portals: MASI Portal (seamless inspection at shelter homes), Baal Swaraj Portal (online tracking
and real-time monitoring of children in need of care and protection).
{Initiatives} Women Empowerment: Nari Adalat (Women’s Court)
• At the village level, as an alternative dispute resolution, exclusively dedicated to women and girls.
• Will be a platform for women to voice their problems and fight for their rights.
• Under Sambal sub-scheme of Mission Shakti of Ministry of Women & Child Development.
• It will not hold any legal status. It will function as a pressure group.
Composition
67
• Each Nari Adalat village will have seven to nine members:
1. Half of which would be the elected members of the gram panchayat
2. Other half will include teachers, doctors and social workers –nominated by the villagers.
{Schemes} Palna – Creche Facility
• Centrally sponsored scheme of Ministry of Women and Child Development.

• Crèches are designed to provide group care to children up to 6 years of age.
• It enables parents to leave their children while they are at work.
{Schemes} Palna Scheme
• National Creche Scheme is reorganized as Palna Scheme under ‘Samarthya’ of ‘Mission Shakti’.
• Under Palna Scheme, the provision of Anganwadi cum Creches has been introduced.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Women & Child Development.
• Implementation: By State Governments through other suitable voluntary/ NGOs.
• Target Group: Children of 6 months-6 years of working women in rural and urban areas
• Recurring Grant of Rs.152600/- per annum and Non-recurring grant will be provided to creche.
Mission Shakti
• Ministry of Women and Child Development for women's safety, security, and empowerment.
• It will be implemented during the 15th Finance Commission period 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• 2 Sub-schemes: Sambal (safety and security) and Samarthya (empowerment)
❖ Sub-schemes of Sambal: One Stop Centres (OSC), Women Helplines (181-WHL), Beti Bachao Beti
Padhao (BBBP), Nari Adalat.
❖ Sub-schemes of Samarthya: Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Shakti Sadan (Ujjwala &
Swadhar Greh), Working Women Hostel (Sakhi Niwas), National Creche Scheme (Palna).
{Schemes} Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi Programme
• Ministry of Women & Child Development launched it to strengthen Early Childhood Care and Edu-
cation (ECCE) at anganwadis.
• Provides for:
❖ Mother tongue as primary teacher instruction medium.
❖ Different types of teaching-learning material (audio-visual and bodily-kinesthetic aids).
Objectives
❖ To transform Anganwadis into nutrition hubs and education-imparting centres.
❖ To ensure holistic child development as outlined in the National Curriculum Framework.
68
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
{Initiatives} PDUNWFS
❖ Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay National Welfare Fund for Sportspersons (PDUNWFS) was established in
March 1982 to support distinguished sportspersons from the past who are now living in impover-
ished conditions and have brought honour to India in sports.
• Under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYAS).
Eligibility Criteria
• Serving or retired sportsperson (including sports officials and other staff).
• Must have represented India at a national or international sports competition.
• Applicant's or family's annual income (from all sources) must be less than Rs. 4 LPA.
• Must have injured or disabled during duty, impoverished, dependent on a deceased sportsperson.
{Schemes} Khelo India Programme (6th edition: Chennai)
• Central Sector Scheme, a pan India Sports Scholarship scheme covering the 1000 athletes every
year.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Subsumed: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan, Urban
Sports Infrastructure Scheme, National Sports Talent Search Scheme.
• Categories: under-17 category (below the age of 17), under-21(below the age of 21).
• Scholarship: Rs 5 lakh per annum for eight years.
69

PMFIAS CA Prelims 2024 Schemes and Initiatives 1

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PMFIAS CA Prelims 2024 Schemes and Initiatives 1

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PMF IAS Schemes & Initiatives of Various Ministries Current Affairs

Compilation for UPSC CSE Prelims 2024

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare......................................................................................... 1

Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers ...................................................................................................... 4

Ministry of Civil Aviation ........................................................................................................................ 5

Ministry of Commerce and Industry ....................................................................................................... 6

Ministry of Communications .................................................................................................................. 8

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution .................................................................... 9

Ministry of Earth Science.......................................................................................................................13

Ministry of Education ............................................................................................................................15

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ..............................................................................19

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ............................................................................22

{Initiatives} National Transit Pass System (NTPS) ............................................................................................22

{Initiatives} National Transit Pass System (NTPS) ............................................................................................22

Ministry of Finance ...............................................................................................................................23

Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying ...........................................................................26

Ministry of Food Processing Industries ..................................................................................................27

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare .....................................................................................................29

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs ..................................................................................................33

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting .............................................................................................37 iii

Ministry of Jal Shakti ............................................................................................................................38

Ministry of Labour and Employment .....................................................................................................40

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises .................................................................................41

Ministry of Minority Affairs...................................................................................................................42

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy ................................................................................................44

Ministry of Panchayati Raj ....................................................................................................................45

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions ..........................................................................47

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas .................................................................................................49

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.............................................................................................51

Ministry of Science & Technology ..........................................................................................................55

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship .............................................................................57

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment .........................................................................................58

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation ..........................................................................61

{Initiatives} MPLADS e-SAKSHI Mobile Application ..........................................................................................63

Ministry of Textiles ...............................................................................................................................65

Ministry of Tribal Affairs .......................................................................................................................66

Ministry of Women and Child Development ..........................................................................................67

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports ......................................................................................................69

{Initiatives} Global Symposium on Farmers' Rights

❖ India is hosting the first Global Symposium on Farmers' Rights (GSFR).

{Initiatives} Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

{Initiatives} Initiatives to Revolutionise Agriculture

National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF)

{Schemes} Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)

• Central sector scheme with DBT provision.

• Identification by State and UT governments.

{Initiatives} Gujarat Declaration

Highlights of the Gujarat Declaration

{Initiatives} Year End Review of AYUSH Ministry

SMART (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) Program

{Schemes} PRIP Scheme

{Schemes} Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)

Recent changes under UDAN 5.0

{Initiatives} AHEAD Scheme

• Alleviating Heat Stress by Enhancing Production of Affordable Cooling Devices (AHEAD)

Global Cooling Pledge (GCP)

{Initiatives} Government e-Marketplace (GeM)

Eligibility criteria for the RoDTEP Scheme

• Country of origin must be India. Re-exported Products are not eligible.

Features of the RoDTEP Scheme

{Schemes} One District One Product (ODOP) Wall

{Initiatives} Sanchar Saathi portal

❖ PM-WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) is a scheme to increase Wi-fi access.