July to Sept Flashcards

Question

The ____ Partnership for Maternal, Newborn &Child Health (PMNCH) board meeting was held in Geneva, Switzerland?

Answer 1

The 33rd meeting was held in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the world’s largest alliance committed to protecting and promoting the health, well-being and rights of women, children and adolescents.

Answer 2

** - Annual defence production hits a record high of approx. ₹ 1.27 lakh crore in Financial Year 2023-24, a Growth of 16.7% over last year; a 60% increase since 2019-20. - total value of production (VoP) in 2023-24, about 79.2% has been contributed by DPSUs/other PSUs and 20.8% by the private sector. ** Defence exports touched a record-high of ₹21,083 crore in FY 2023-24, reflecting a growth of 32.5% over the last fiscal when the figure was ₹ 15,920 crore.

Answer 3

National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)

Answer 4

- Project PARI (Public Art of India) was launched by the Ministry of Culture at the 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting, New Delhi. It is executed by Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Gallery of Modern Art. - aims to showcase India’s rich artistic heritage through public art installations. Over 150 artists are creating murals, sculptures, and installations in Delhi, drawing inspiration from traditional Indian art forms and modern themes.

Answer 5

** Budget- ₹6238 crore, Tenure- FY2021-22 to FY2028-29 ** 4% to 6% on incremental sales of goods manufactured in India for a period of five years It is estimated that over the period of five years, the PLI Scheme will lead to incremental investment of Rs. 7,920 Crore, incremental Production worth Rs. 1,68,000 Crore, exports worth Rs 64,400 Crore, direct and indirect revenues of Rs 49,300 crore and create additional four lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Answer 6

** The KLEMS (Capital, Labor, Energy, Materials, Services) database is an initiative by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to measure productivity at the industry level. It provides a comprehensive tool for monitoring and evaluating productivity growth in the Indian economy. Under KLEMS the 27 industries are aggregated to form six broad sectors, namely - Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing - Mining and Quarrying - Manufacturing - Electricity, Gas and Water supply - Construction - Services ** - Employment in the country increased to 64.33 crore in the year 2023-24 compared to 47.5 crore in 2017-18, an increase of about 16.83 crore.

Answer 7

A) From 46.8% in 2017-18 to 56% in 2022-23 B) - The labour force participation has increased in the country from 49.8% in 2017-18 to 57.9% in 2022-23. - The Unemployment Rate has declined from 6.0 % in 2017-18 to a low of 3.2% in 2022-23. C) - During 2023-24, more than 1.3 crore subscribers joined EPFO which is more than double compared to 61.12 lakh who joined EPFO during 2018-19. Moreover, during the last six and half years (from September 2017 to March 2024) more than 6.2 crore net subscribers have joined EPFO. D) More than 7.75 lakh new subscribers have joined the NPS during 2023-24 under the Central and State governments which is 30% more than 5.94 lakh new subscribers joining NPS under the government sector during 2022-23. E) - It projects a substantial increase in platform workers, which is expected to reach 2.35 crore (23.5 million) by 2029-30, underscoring the rapid expansion of the gig economy. - The gig workers are expected to form 6.7% of the non-agricultural workforce or 4.1% of the total livelihood in India by 2029-30.

Answer 8

- It will be held at Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports in Patiala. - Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports funds the ₹ 7.2 lakh prize money competition conducted by the Wushu Federation of India.

Answer 9

“Agnibaan”, was developed by Agnikul Kosmos

Answer 10

** It is an international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which was adopted on December 10, 1982 and Came into force on November 16, 1994. Currently, 160 countries have ratified UNCLOS. ** As of June 2024, 91 countries have signed the BBNJ Agreement, and 8 Parties have ratified it.

Answer 11

MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF)

Answer 12

** ₹1.5 lakh crore ** There was a 315% increase in production and 400% increase in sales in the last 10 years ** There was an 81% Increase in New Employment Generation in 10 Years.

Answer 13

- The 132nd session was held in London - India also proposed the launch of the South Asian Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (SACE-SMarT). This regional hub aims to transform the maritime sector in India and South Asia into a technologically advanced, environmentally sustainable, and digitally proficient industry, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fostering technical cooperation, capacity-building, and digital transition

Answer 14

The Ministry of Defence launched “The GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme (GAINS 2024) of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) in Kolkata. It seeks solutions to the problems related to the shipyards and promotes technology development using the start-ups created and nurtured in the country.

Answer 15

It was signed with Taiwan at the 9th Working Group on Trade Meeting with Taiwan in New Delhi. It will be implemented by APEDA, Ministry of Commerce & Industry from India and the Agriculture Food Agency, Ministry of Agriculture (AFA) from Taiwan.

Answer 16

A) ** ₹50000 crore ** 370% B) Exports: 1.49 lakh crore Imports: 1.53 lakh crore C) - Mobile phone exports increased to ₹1,28,982 crore - Mobile phone imports decreased to ₹7665 crore D) 60%

Answer 17

** - The JSS (Jan Shiksha Sansthan) was originally launched as Shramik Vidyapeeth (SVP) in 1967. It is designed to provide skill training through registered Societies (NGOs) with full funding from the Government of India. - It targets Non-literates, neo-literates, individuals with a rudimentary education, and school dropouts up to class 12th, aged 15-45 years. - The scheme was transferred from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Skill Development and Empowerment (MSDE) in 2018. ** Currently, over 290 JSSs (Training Centres) are functional in 26 States and 7 UTs including 47 in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and 3 in Delhi.

Answer 18

133 attached offices

Answer 19

** It grew by 136% from ₹52,670 crore to ₹1,24,761 crore from Q1, FY2024 to Q1 FY2025 respectively - In Q1, the FY 2025 services segment has been the prime mover clocking a GMV of more than ₹80,500 crore representing a growth of 330% over the corresponding period in FY 23-24. ** It crossed ₹1 Lakh crore milestone in this period. Out Of this ₹1 Lakh crore GMV, CPSEs share accounted for more than ₹ 91,000 Crore. ** - The sellers/service providers will be charged 0.30% of their order value up to ₹3 lakh. This was 0.45% up to ₹72.50 lakh. Thus there is a significant reduction in transaction charges on the GeM platform, by 33% to 96%, which will be very beneficial for sellers. - This is applicable for order values of more than ₹5 lakh

Answer 20

** ‘Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE). The fund will offer both equity and debt support, specifically targeting high-risk, high- impact activities in the agriculture value chain. ** A ₹750 crore Category-2 Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) will be established which includes ₹250 crores each from NABARD and the Ministry of Agriculture, and ₹250 crores from other institutions. ** NABVENTURES, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NABARD.

Answer 21

* 34.7 crore ** 7.35 crore hospital admissions have been facilitated, amounting to more than ₹1 lakh crore

Answer 22

– The name of the app and web platform is NERACE (North East Region Agri Community E-Connect) - It is designed to benefit the farming community and buyers in the Northeastern region by integrating buyers and sellers in a single platform. It is intended to support agricultural and horticultural products such as spices, fruits, vegetables, pulses, cereals, and minor forest products.

Answer 23

It will be developed in Lothan, Gujarat at a cost of ₹4500 crore on 400 acres of land

Answer 24

** MV San Fernando ** exceeding ₹80000 crores. The location of the port near international shipping routes enhances maritime trade efficiency

Answer 25

25 June. During the Emergency in India (1975-1977), the government led by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed a state of emergency, suspending civil liberties, suppressing dissent, and curtailing fundamental rights. The Constitution of India was undermined, leading to widespread arrests, censorship, and abuse of power. ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’ (Constitution Murder Day) on June 25 commemorates this dark period, honouring those who resisted and fought for democracy and constitutional values. It serves as a reminder to protect our democratic institutions and uphold the rule of law.

Answer 26

Outlay: ₹5600 crores, Age: 18 to 30 years

Answer 27

NITI Aayog, in collaboration with IIM Bangalore, Smart Freight Centre India, CALSTART/Drive to Zero, and WRI India

Answer 28

a) ** 46% shares ** UPI facilitates 13 billion transactions monthly, serving about 350 million individuals and 50 million merchants. b) India during COVID-19 transferred $4.5 billion into the bank accounts of 160 million beneficiaries. c) India facilitated the distribution of 2.5 million vaccinations in two years with digital vaccine certificates on mobiles. d) Around 1.3 billion Indians possess the Aadhar ID system and on average 10 million eKYC per day is being facilitated through Aadhar? e) 41 billion USD f) It was established in 2023 to oversee and facilitate achieving India's G20 Presidency agenda and priorities on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Financial Inclusion.

Answer 29

** 4 billion USD ** 5%

Answer 30

“World Heritage in the 21st Century: Building Capacities and Exploring Opportunities for Youth”

Answer 31

It was prepared by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), under the overall guidance of the Consultative Group on eMobility (CGeM). The report categorizes research projects into 4 important areas which are: a) Energy Storage Cells: The roadmap focuses on developing indigenous energy storage systems to reduce import dependence. b) EV Aggregates: It aims to enhance electric vehicle (EV) components and systems. c) Materials and Recycling: The report explores sustainable materials and recycling practices. d) Charging and Refueling: Clear strategies are provided to achieve global leadership and self-reliance (Atmanirbhar) within the next five years

Answer 32

** 346 items with import substitution value of ₹1048 crore ** SRIJAN portal, launched in 2020

Answer 33

Project ASMITA (Augmenting Study Materials in Indian Languages through Translation and Academic Writing) aims to develop 22,000 books in the next 5 years in 22 languages. - Bahubhasha Shabdkosh will create multilingual dictionaries. Bahubhasha Shabdkosh is led by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) in collaboration with Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti. It is an extensive initiative to create a grand repository of multilingual dictionaries.

Answer 34

- It was inaugurated in Faridabad in collaboration with the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). - The CEPI has selected BRIC-THSTI as a pre-clinical network laboratory based on its capability to handle BSL3 pathogens. - It is the 9th such network laboratory across the globe and the first such laboratory in the whole of Asia. The other labs are located in the USA, Europe and Australia.

Answer 35

R. Balasubramaniam

Answer 36

Italy. Shri Goyal highlighted the need for robust partnerships in the face of 3 Cs – Covid, Conflicts and Climate Change.

Answer 37

It was developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in Kavaratti, the capital of Lakshadweep

Answer 38

84,119 Children

Answer 39

a) Niti Ayog b) It is valued at USD 4.3 trillion, dominated by countries like China, Taiwan, the USA, South Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia. c) approximately 25 billion USD, representing less than 1% of the global share despite a 4% share in global demand. d) It stands at 101 billion USD driven primarily by mobile phones, which now constitute 43% of total electronics production. e) - India should aim to achieve USD 500 billion in electronics manufacturing by value terms by FY2030. It comprises USD 350 billion from finished goods manufacturing and USD 150 billion from components manufacturing. - It is projected to create employment for an estimated 5.5 million to 6 million people by FY30. f) Electronics exports are expected to reach USD 240 billion and domestic value addition to increase to more than 35% by FY2030

Answer 40

A) - Performance Recognition for Access to Financial Inclusion and Street Vendor Empowerment (PRAISE) - Systematic Progressive Analytical Real Time Ranking (SPARK) B) 1- Madhya Pradesh, 2- Andhra Pradesh, 3- Punjab C) 1- Canara Bank, 2- State Bank of India, 3- Bank of India D) 1- Municipal Corporation of Delhi, 2- Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Karnataka, 3- Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Gujarat E) 1- Madhya Pradesh F) Varanasi Municipal Corporation, Uttar Pradesh G) Big States: 1. Kerala 2. Uttar Pradesh 3. Rajasthan North-East Region and Hilly States: 1. Himachal Pradesh 2. Tripura 3. Uttarakhand

Answer 41

- The Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (Program) is a talent identification program for identifying and nurturing athletes. It aims to conduct 20 lakh assessments across the country in the FY2024-25 through notified Talent Assessment Centres. - The KIRTI program will help in achieving the twin objectives of the Khelo India Scheme i.e. excellence in sports, and mass participation in sports. - India aims to become a top 10 sports nation in the world by 2036 and among the top five by 2047. The first phase was launched in Chandigarh on March 12 this year. In the first phase, close to 51,000 assessments were conducted in 28 states and Union Territories and Maharashtra and Haryana had the maximum number of assessments.

Answer 42

Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Answer 43

** “Lok Samvardhan Parv” ** It will extend credit of over ₹1000 crores to over 2.5 lakh beneficiaries during 2024-25.

Answer 44

NSIC Technical Service Centre (NTSC) in Okhla, New Delhi

Answer 45

- It was launched by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) in partnership with Netflix - The program will offer Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) training for voice-over artists focusing on English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Gujarati languages. The program will be conducted in 7 major cities of India, with at least 50% women participants - 7 top participants from every batch will be chosen to contribute to Netflix’s special project, “Azaadi ki Amrit Kahaniya” " where they will lend their voices to narrate stories reflecting the Indian independence movement.

Answer 46

** The Madak Padarth Nishedh Asuchna Kendra (MANAS) has a toll-free number of “1993” ** MapDrugs app

Answer 47

** “Future is Here” ** The outlay of the scheme is ₹25 crore and Reimbursement percentages vary based on entity size a) Startups are eligible for up to 75% reimbursement, b) Micro-enterprises for up to 60% reimbursement and c) Small enterprises for up to 50% reimbursement

Answer 48

** - It was organised by the DAY-NRLM in partnership with the USAID and “lndustree Foundation” to promote sustainable rural livelihoods, women's empowerment and climate resilience through bamboo farming. - Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana aims to empower 1 million rural women as 'Lakhpati Didis' (women earning over INR 100,000 annually) through bamboo farming, driving economic independence and sustainable development across India. ** The “UGAO” app was Launched by USAID and the Ministry of Rural Development to prove real-time data support for women smallholder farmers for bamboo cultivation. The app offers timely information related to bamboo farming, including best practices, market trends, and weather updates. - Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification will also be available to build a traceable supply chain for bamboo products, boosting demand and export potential.

Answer 49

- It was inaugurated at GSI, Dharitri Campus, Salt Lake City, Kolkata. It will in due course issue early warning bulletins for all landslide-prone states, operationalizing the regional Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) nationwide by 2030. - The National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC) also launched the “Bhusanket Web portal” and “Bhooskhalan Mobile app” to facilitate the dissemination of relevant data and information on landslide hazards, initiating short-range and medium-range landslide forecasting in the country.

Answer 50

A) It was organised by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), on behalf of the Ministry of Culture. Shri Vishal V. Sharma, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO is the chairperson of the committee. B) It is based on the “Hampi” heritage site located in Karnataka C) The tagline of the logo is सह नौ यशः which means ‘May our Glory Grow’. D) 195 Countries have ratified the Convention as of date and India ratified the Convention in November 1977. E) - India was elected as its member in 2021 for a period of four years (2021- 2025), this is India’s 4th term on the WHC. - India has inscribed 42 Properties in the World Heritage List which include 34 Cultural, 7 Natural, 1 Mixed Heritage Site, - India is the 6th country on the list and 2nd in the Asia Pacific Region based on the numbers of the World Heritage List. In addition, India has 57 Sites on the Tentative List of the World Heritage. F) Project PARI (Public Art of India) was launched at the 46th World Heritage Committee Meeting, New Delhi. It is executed by Lalit Kala Akademi and the National Gallery of Modern Art. - aims to showcase India’s rich artistic heritage through public art installations. Over 150 artists are creating murals, sculptures, and installations in Delhi, drawing inspiration from traditional Indian art forms and modern themes. G) 1 million USD H) The 46th session of WHC witnessed the inscription of 24 new World Heritage Sites, including 19 cultural, 4 natural, and 1 mixed property.

Answer 51

Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom) has inaugurated a centre of excellence on “Classical and Quantum Communications for 6G” at IITM Research Park, Chennai. It is a sub-centre of Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCoE)-India and it will spearhead the development and deployment of 6G technology.

Answer 52

- Six additional languages were introduced under the GEM’s Learning Management System (LMS), making the total count of national languages in the platform 12. - GEM’s Learning Management System (LMS) is a pioneering government-driven solution that provides access to a multilingual interface and SCORM-compliant interactive e-learning courses.

Answer 53

Manu Bhakar won the Bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in the 10-metre air pistol competition

Answer 54

Ursula von der Leyen

Answer 55

It will be organised in Mumbai in partnership with FICCI with the theme "Advantage Bharat: Indian Chemicals and Petrochemicals Paving the Future"

Answer 56

- “Moidam”, burial mounds of the “Ahom dynasty” in Assam was inscribed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage list, making India’s World Heritage Sites count to 43. - This is the third World Heritage Property from Assam, following Kaziranga National Park and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary - India stands at the 6th position globally for the most number of World Heritage Properties

Answer 57

** 19.50 lakh net members ** 58.37% ** 19.62% ** 9.85 lakh

Answer 58

more than 29.79 crore unorganised workers. - The eShram portal was launched on 26 Aug 2021 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to create a national database of unorganised workers seeded with Aadhaar and facilitate delivery under existing Social Security and welfare Schemes to such workers.

Answer 59

** MSE GIFT (Green Investment and Financing for Transformation)- Objective: The scheme will provide support to the MSEs in accessing institutional finance at a concessional rate for adopting clean/green technologies and help them transform into green and sustainable business operations. Outlay: Total Outlay: - Rs.478 crore for 3 years (2023-24 to 2025-26) - Interest Subvention outlay of Rs.350 crore - Risk sharing fund of Rs.125 crores - Information Education and Communication (IEC) component of Rs.3 crores. ** MSE SPICE (Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy)- Objectives: The scheme will support MSEs engaged in circular economy projects. Outlay: - Total outlay: Rs.472.50 Crore for 4 years for 2023-24 to 2026-27. - Credit Linked Capital Subsidy of Rs.450 Crore - Awareness Generation and Demand Creation of Rs.15 crores -Information Education and Communication (IEC) component of Rs.7.50 crores ** - The MSME TEAM (Trade Enablement and Marketing Initiative) aims at assisting five lakh MSMEs (half would be women-owned MSEs) to onboard the Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform, through awareness workshops which will include hand-holding assistance for onboarding onto the ONDC. - It aims to provide financial assistance to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) through Seller Network Participants, for catalogue preparation, account management, logistics and packaging material and design. - The objective of the MSME-TEAM Initiative is to provide assistance to micro and small enterprises all across the country. However, awareness workshops will be conducted preferably in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and MSME Clusters for greater outreach, especially among women and SC/ST-owned MSMEs.

Answer 60

** - It was launched Under the mentorship of SIDBI, CIBIL, in collaboration with Online PSB Loans Limited (OPL) to provide a ranking model for MSME lending. It leverages the power of Goods and Services Tax (GST), Bank Statements, and Income Tax Returns (ITR) information to provide a ranking model for MSME lending. - The ranking model uses machine learning algorithms to arrive at the probability of an MSME becoming a non-performing asset (NPA) in the next 12 months based on its financial, income, and trade data. - The ranking is done on a scale of 1 to 10 with FIT Rank 1 for the least risky MSME and FIT Rank 10 for the most at-risk MSME. ** 30%

Answer 61

** Non-Torrefied Pellet Manufacturing Plant: CFA of Rs. 21.0 lakhs/MTPH production capacity with a maximum of Rs. 105 lakhs per project, whichever is lower Torrefied Pellet Manufacturing Plant: - CFA of Rs. 42.0 lakhs/MTPH production capacity with a Maximum of Rs. 210 lakhs per project or 30% of the capital cost considered for plant and machinery of 1 MTPH plant, whichever is lower.

Answer 62

10.15 crore

Answer 63

Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Odia

Answer 64

** 6.5 lakh villages ** It was launched by the Ministry of Culture To : - create awareness about the strengths of cultural heritage and its interface with development and cultural identity - Creation of National Registers of Artists and Art Practices. - Development of a web portal and mobile app to function as a National Cultural Work Place (NCWP). - The project aims to cover all the inhabited villages of India which is marked as ‘village’, in the Census List, 2011 published by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, including all the inhabited villages of Bihar.

Answer 65

IOCL (Indian Oil Corporation Limited)

Answer 66

a) ₹4950 crore b) 18000 Mw of RTS capacity c) - For installed capacity above 10% & up to 15%, over and above the installed base capacity: 5% of the applicable cost for capacity achieved above 10% of the installed base capacity - For installed capacity above 15% over and above the installed base capacity: 5% of the applicable cost for capacity achieved above 10% and up to 15% of the installed base capacity + 10% of the applicable cost for capacity achieved beyond 15% of the installed base capacity Applicable Cost: It is the benchmark cost for RTS Capacity of 1 Kw, which is ₹50000 for General States and ₹55000 for special category states d)- The DISCOMs shall allocate 10% of the incentives received (up to Rs. 1 crore) for a rewards system for DISCOM officials and functionaries. - The DISCOM shall allocate at least 50 % of the incentives (up to Rs 1 crore of allocation per division) for dedicated utilization at the division and subdivisional level.

Answer 67

Tourism & Hospitality industry

Answer 68

** - Eligibility: Veteran artists aged 60 years and above having annual income not exceeding Rs. 72,000/ - Maximum Financial Assistance: Rs.6,000/- per month. ** - Support is provided to 1 Guru and a maximum of 18 Shishyas in the field of theatre and 1 Guru and a maximum of 10 Shishyas in the field of music & dance. - The Amount of Assistance for Guru is Rs.15000/- p.m. and for the Shishya, the same is Rs.2000-10000/-p.m depending upon the age of the artist.

Answer 69

** The outlay of the scheme was enhanced from ₹500 crore to ₹778 crores ** 560,789 electric vehicles (EVs)

Answer 70

a) 15 crore rural households b) From 3 crore to 15 crore c) States: Goa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh UTs: Puducherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli Daman & Diu and Andaman & Nicobar Islands d) ** 2.28 lakh villages and 190 districts have reported ‘Har Ghar Jal’. ** 100 districts and over 1.25 lakh villages are ‘Har Ghar Jal’ Certified. e) 5.24 lakh Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs)/ Paani Samitis have been constituted. f) 5.12 lakh g) More than 24.59 lakh women have been trained for testing water samples using a Field Testing Kit (FTK) to ensure quality. h) In the 112 aspirational districts, tap water access has surged from 21.38 lakh (7.80%) households at the time of launch to 2.11 crore (77.16%) households as of 23rd July 2024. I) The Mission has ensured tap water supply in 9.28 lakh (88.91%) schools and 9.68 lakh (85.08%) Anganwadi centres nationwide.

Answer 71

- The Government announced financial support for loans up to Rs.10 lakh for higher education in domestic institutions to help youth who have not been eligible for any benefit under government schemes and policies. - E-vouchers for this purpose will be given directly to 1 lakh students every year for annual interest subvention of 3% of the loan amount.

Answer 72

** - An expenditure of Rs. 2708.64 crore has been incurred for 97,928 beneficiaries for SC (Scheduled Castes) - An expenditure of Rs. 585.02 crore has been incurred for 38,011 beneficiaries for OBCs and EBCs ** - Scholarship is provided to SC students for study in 266 top-class Higher Education Institutions in the country, such as IITs/IITs/IIMs/AIIMS etc. - The scholarship is provided to 125 students every year for study in the top 500 QS Ranking Institutions/ Universities abroad. - 2000 fellowships are provided every year to SC Students for Ph.D. in India. These 2000 slots are over and above the number of SC students selected under the normal reservation policy of the Government for UGC Fellowships. - Free Coaching for SCs and OBCs, is being implemented through empanelled Central Universities for 3500 economically disadvantaged Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) candidates every year with the objective of empowering them to appear in competitive examinations.

Answer 73

Budget expenditure for FY 2024-25 under NHM increased by approx. Rs 4000 Cr from Rs 31,550 Cr to Rs 36000 Cr.

Answer 74

** More than 18.56 lakh candidates ** For employability in 10 new emerging technologies ** The objective is to enable school students from classes 8th to 12th with AI tech and social skills in an inclusive manner. The programme will provide a platform for youth to learn and apply AI skills in 8 thematic areas: - Krishi - Aarogya - Shiksha - Paryavaran - Parivahan - Grameen Vikas - Smart Cities - Vidhi aur Nyaay

Answer 75

₹8282 crore

Answer 76

- It is One Nation, One Digital Platform, for providing quality e-content for school education in States/UTs. It is fully funded through the National Component of the Samagra Siksha scheme. And managed by the NCERT - The DIKSHA platform has a federated architecture, and 35 states/UTs have their own tenant on DIKSHA. - Energized Digital Textbooks are also available that provide additional resources for a topic to the students. - DIKSHA has a Dedicated vertical for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) and more than 2,700 e-contents on FLN are available on DIKSHA under various categories including Assessment sheets, Gamified contents and assessments, Infographics, Videos, Worksheets, etc.

Answer 77

In 17 languages through the toll-free no 1915

Answer 78

Rajeev Laxman Karandikar

Answer 79

Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu

Answer 80

IIT Roorkee and IIT Mandi

Answer 81

CMPDI, Ranchi

Answer 82

** 1,09,93,119. ** 1,67,60,872 ** 9,73,428

Answer 83

a) - the maximum loan limit has been raised from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹7.5 lakh - A guarantee against default for up to 75% of the loan will be provided b) Previously, only banks were eligible for facilitating loans. Now, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), NBFC-MFIs (micro-finance institutions), and small finance banks can also serve as lending institutions.

Answer 84

30.19 crore LPG consumers Under the PAHAL Scheme LPG cylinders are sold at non-subsidized prices and the applicable subsidy to LPG consumers is transferred directly into the bank account of the consumers. The subsidy is transferred either through Aadhaar Transfer Compliant (ATC) or Bank Transfer Compliant (BTC) mode.

Answer 85

- It currently has 24 members and 12 International organisations - It was launched in Sept 2023 to boost the supply and demand for biofuels. Biofuels are liquid fuels made from organic materials like sugar cane, corn, and soybeans. They offer a lower-emissions alternative for various forms of transport.

Answer 86

** Total outlay of the MSE SPICE scheme is ₹472.50 crore for the 2023-24 to 2026-27 which includes: - Credit Linked Capital Subsidy of Rs.450 Crore - Awareness Generation and Demand Creation of Rs.15 crores - Information Education and Communication (IEC) component of Rs.7.50 crores ** Eligible MSEs are eligible for a 25% capital subsidy on the cost of plant and machinery up to ₹12.5 lakh per MSE

Answer 87

** The Scheme has now been extended till 31.03.2026, at an outlay of Rs. 1952.23 cr. with Rs. 1207.24 cr. as Central Share to be incurred from Nirbhaya Fund. ** 755 FTSCs including 410 exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) Courts are functional in 30 States/UTs across the country.

Answer 88

It was launched to facilitate the filing of industrial disputes by the workmen, employers and trade unions under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

Answer 89

** An ODF Plus village is defined as a village which sustains its Open Defecation Free (ODF) Status, ensures solid and liquid waste management and is visually clean. 3 stages of ODF plus villages are: ODF Plus Aspiring village- is a village that has sustained the ODF status and has arrangements for either Liquid Waste management or Solid Wastewater Management ODF Plus Rising village- is a village that has sustained ODF status and has arrangements for both Solid and Liquid wastewater management ODF Plus model village- is a village that has sustained ODF status, has arrangements for both Solid and Liquid wastewater management along with a focus on minimum litter, minimum stagnant water, no plastic waste dump, and Information Education and Communication (IEC) ** within 90 days of ODF Plus declaration

Answer 90

a) Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) released the report at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva. b) - An investment of USD 33 billion per annum across various sectors by the government, private sector, civil society, communities, and families is projected to yield returns of USD 476 billion per annum, enhancing the GDP by an average of approximately 10.1%. - For every dollar invested, returns are estimated to range from USD 4.6 to USD 71.4. c) “India has the largest population of adolescents (10-19) in the world, 253 million strong, and growing. d) 7 key programmes e) The Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK). It is being implemented since 2014

Answer 91

- Total Outlay of the scheme is Rs.470.5 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). - It will be implemented in 315 most disaster-prone districts of the country. - It will train 1300 trained Aapda Mitra Volunteers as Master Trainers and 2.37 lakh volunteers exclusively from NCC, NSS, NYKS and BS&G (Bharat Scouts &Guides) in disaster preparedness and response. It is in line with the vision of preparing the community as first responders during any disaster.

Answer 92

The NCF is managed and administered through a Council chaired by the Minister of Culture and has a maximum strength of 25 Members to decide the policies. An Executive Committee headed by the Secretary, the Ministry of Culture and has a maximum strength of 11 Members, to execute those policies.

Answer 93

‘Ganatantra Mandap’ and ‘Ashok Mandap’ respectively.

Answer 94

** 24 languages ** ₹2000 p.a

Answer 95

Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai.

Answer 96

a) A total of 313 vessel orders encompassing both domestic and export orders have been procured by 39 shipyards since the inception of the scheme, with a total value of approximately Rs. 10,500 crores. b) ₹40 crores c) 30% d) 20%

Answer 97

** ₹386.86 crore ** - Technology-enabled integrated surveillance across sectors. - National network of Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratories (for testing high-risk or unknown pathogens). - Collaborative and integrated R&D for medical countermeasures including vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for human-animal-wildlife-livestock health. - Data integration across sectors. - Training and capacity building in all spheres related to One Health.

Answer 98

** Enrolled candidates: 7.35 crore, Trained candidates: 6.39 crore ** 4.78 crore were certified The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) is a government initiative aimed at enhancing digital literacy in rural India by training 6 crore rural citizens in digital skills and services in 22 scheduled languages and English. The beneficiaries are provided with 20 hours of training consisting of 5 modules namely: (i) Introduction to digital devices (ii) Operating digital devices (iii) Introduction to the Internet (iv) Communications using the internet (v) Application of the internet (includes citizen-centric services) and use of financial tools for undertaking digital cashless transactions.

Answer 99

The Market Development Assistance (MDA) of ₹1500/MT was approved with a total outlay of ₹1,451.84 crore (FY 2023-24 to 2025-26), which includes a corpus of ₹ 360 crore for research gap funding etc

Answer 100

** Reaching 1280 and 1292 respectively ** The year-on-year inflation rates based on CPI-AL and CPI–RL for the July month were recorded at 7.02% and 7.04%, compared to 6.31% and 6.16% in June 2023.

Answer 101

Shri Rajendra Singh, Member & HoD, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) took charge of the ADPC from China at the 5th board of trustee meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand ADPC (Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre) is an autonomous International Organization for cooperation in and implementation of disaster risk reduction and building climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific region. India and eight neighbouring countries viz. Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand are the founding members of ADPC.

Answer 102

- The Government of India and the Government of the United States of America signed the first ever 'Cultural Property Agreement' to prevent and curb the illicit trafficking of antiquities from India to the USA. - The Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) is aligned with the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, to which both countries are state parties.

Answer 103

- The Coal Gasification Mission launched in 2020 aims to gasify 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030 with a financial outlay of ₹8500 crore - Grants will be disbursed in two instalments the first after the bank loan disbursement and 30% equity contribution, and the second after achieving 50% production capacity and one year of continued production. - The Ministry has also initiated India’s first pilot project for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) at the Kasta coal block in Jharkhand.

Answer 104

** It was held in Fortaleza, Brazil under the presidency of Brazil ** - Just Transition - The creation of quality jobs and the promotion of decent work to ensure social inclusion and eliminate poverty and hunger - Gender Equality and the promotion of diversity in the world of work - The use of technology as a means of improving everyone´s quality of life.

Answer 105

Jitendra Singh

Answer 106

- Online short-term training was imparted through the eskill India portal and long-term training through the Bharat skill portal. - Bharatskills portal supporting digital skill development, provides access to a range of educational materials, including e-books, question banks, and e-learning videos, available in 12 regional language

Answer 107

The MSME innovative scheme was launched on 10 March 2022 to promote innovations in the complete value chain from developing ideas into innovative applications through incubation and design interventions. Financial assistance being provided under the scheme is: - Incubation: Financial assistance up to Rs. 15 lakh per idea and up to Rs. 1.00 crore for relevant plant and machines will be provided. - Design: Up to Rs. 40 lakhs for design projects and up to Rs. 2.5 lakh for student projects will be provided. - Intellectual Property Rights: Upto Rs. 5 lakhs for Foreign Patent, Rs. 1.00 lakh Domestic Patent, Rs. 2.00 lakh for GI Registration, Rs. 15,000/- for Design Registration, Rs.10,000/- for Trademark in the form of reimbursement.

Answer 108

** It was developed in partnership with UNICEF YuWaah to invite ideas related to products and services for inducing behavioural changes related to environment-friendly lifestyles. The winning ideas under each of the seven themes of Mission LiFE will be recognized and awarded with attractive prizes for individuals as well as for institutions. ** Save Water, Save Energy, Reduce Waste, Reduce E-Waste, Say No to Single-Use Plastics, Adopt Sustainable Food Systems, and Adopt Healthy Lifestyles.

Answer 109

Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Uttarakhand

Answer 110

The Folk artists are paid a performance fee: 1- Rs. 35,000/- (to the leader/main artist) and 2 Rs. 7000/- (to the accompanying artist) for each performance in the Festival of India.

Answer 111

IIT Kanpur

Answer 112

They were launched by the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID), under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in collaboration with the Hans Foundation - It aims to address the unique needs of children with disabilities in marginalized communities through the deployment of five Mobile Therapy Buses in Noida, Ghaziabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. - The initiative requires an initial investment of ₹2 crore per bus for capital expenditure and infrastructure, along with an annual operating budget of ₹1.2 crore to ensure ongoing maintenance, staffing, and operational efficiency.

Answer 113

Dr Sundergopal Sridhar, a Chemical Engineer and Chief Scientist at CSIR Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad

Answer 114

It was organized jointly by the International Science, Technology, and Innovation Centre for South-South Cooperation (ISTIC) under UNESCO and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), including its Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Unit (CSIR-TKDL) and the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical

Answer 115

IIM Bangalore This program aims to empower senior government officials with the knowledge necessary to spearhead digital transformation in the public sector.

Answer 116

** It is a Central Sector Scheme that aims to facilitate the low-income students belonging to the Scheduled Castes, De-notified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans category to obtain higher education such as Master’s degree, Ph. D courses by studying abroad. ** Each year scholarship is provided to 125 candidates and 30% of the scholarships for each year are earmarked for female candidates and 125 seats are distributed in the following way: - 115 are for Scheduled Castes candidates - 06 for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes - 04 are for Landless Agricultural Labourers candidates and Traditional Artisans Eligibility Criteria: - Candidates should have secured at least 60% marks or equivalent grade in the qualifying examination. - The candidate’s total family income from all sources should be less than Rs. 8.00 lakh per annum in the preceding financial year. - The candidate should be less than 35 years of age on 1st April of the selection year. - A candidate must have an unconditional offer of admission from top 500 QS ranked foreign University as per the latest QS rankings.

Answer 117

** - The scheme’s objective is to enhance the competency level of the different target groups like Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), De-notified Tribes (DNTs), Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs), Safai Mitras including Waste Pickers etc. to make them employable both in self-employment and wage-employment for their socio-economic development. - Outlay: ₹450 crore, Budgetary Outlay of FY25: Rs.130 Crore. Tenure: FY2022-FY2026 ** OBC and EWS candidates whose annual family income is less than Rs. 3.00 lakh are eligible to get training and No income limit for the candidates belonging to SC/DNT/Safai Mitras including Waste Pickers.

Answer 118

** 309.01 crore person-days were granted in the FY2023-24 under MGNREGA. person-days refer to the total number of days of employment provided to individuals. Essentially, one person equals one day of work for one person. ** It was for every Scheduled Tribe Household in a forest area provided that these households have no other private property except for the land rights provided under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. The National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) was started in the Financial Year 2021-22 to ensure more transparency in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Capturing of attendance with geo-tagged, time-stamped twice-a-day photographs of the workers through the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) App for all the works (except individual beneficiary works) has been made mandatory from 1st January 2023.

Answer 119

“Gram Manchitra“ application. Further, the Ministry has launched mActionSoft, a mobile-based solution to help in capturing photos with Geo-Tags (i.e. GPS Coordinates) for the works which have assets as an output.

Answer 120

Rs.1207 crores with budgetary support of Rs.975 crore and Industry Contribution of Rs.232 crore. The scheme aims to provide assistance to Common Technology Development and Services Infrastructure.

Answer 121

₹100 crore stipends

Answer 122

** Japan ** 181 million tonnes ** From 2017 to 2023, India’s compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) is 5.54% in comparison to 1.42% for the whole world.

Answer 123

It was developed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) and is operated by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (BHAVIN) A Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) is a type of nuclear reactor that generates more fissile material than it consumes. The primary purpose of an FBR is to efficiently utilize nuclear fuel and expand the availability of nuclear energy.

Answer 124

25 lakh women entrepreneurs. the initiative will also offer financial grants and feature their products and services on the Skill India Digital Hub, reflecting a strong commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for women entrepreneurs.

Answer 125

‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) program was launched in Gangtok, Sikkim The program has successfully implemented already in 12 States/UTs including Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Kerala and Assam

Answer 126

** 1- Supply Chain Council: This body focuses on strengthening supply chains for sectors and goods which are most critical to national security, public health, and economic well-being. Elected: USA (Chair) and India (Vice Chair). 2- Crisis Response Network: This network provides a forum for collective emergency responses to disruptions, ensuring coordinated action during crises. Elected: Republic of Korea (Chair) and Japan (Vice Chair). 3- Labor Rights Advisory Board: This board brings together workers, employers, and governments to strengthen labor rights and workforce development across regional supply chains. Elected: USA (Chair) and Fiji (Vice Chair). IPEF Supply Chain Resilience Agreement was Signed in November 2023 in Washington D.C and Ratified in February 2024 with the objective of making IPEF supply chains more resilient, robust, and well-integrated, and contributing towards economic development and progress of the Indo-Pacific region as a whole. 6 IPEF partners are parties: - Fiji - India - Japan - Korea - Singapore - The United States. Two additional partners are: - Thailand and Malaysia About IPEF - Launched in 2022 at Tokya by the USA and other partner countries. - It has 14 regional partners – Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam. - The 14 IPEF partners represent 40% of global GDP and 28% of global goods and services trade. It aims to enhance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. It is not a Free Trade Agreement but allows members to negotiate on various matters. The four main Pillars are: - Supply Chain Resilience - Clean Energy, Decarbonization and Infrastructure - Taxation and Anti-Corruption - Fair and Resilient Trade India agreed to three out of four pillars, which are Supply Chains, Tax & Anti-Corruption and Clean Energy. The Department of Commerce is the nodal agency for IPEF engagements.

Answer 127

** 1100 additional PACS ** A cumulative financial assistance of up to ₹33 lakh per FPO is provided which includes: - Equity grant of ₹2000 per FPO member for up to ₹15 lakh per FPO - FPO management cost of up to ₹18 lakh per FPO is provided for 3 years for managing the FPOs Apart from this, FPOs are provided with a loan assistance of up to ₹2 crore without any collateral through Credit Guarantee cover provided by NABSanrakshan under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for FPOs (CGSFPO).

Answer 128

a) National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL): It has been set up to undertake direct export of goods and services of cooperatives and related entities and to take up other promotion activities. So far 5,438 cooperatives have been granted membership. - Initial Paid-up capital: Rs.500 crore with contributions of Rs.100 crore each by the Five promoters. Authorized Share Capital: Rs.2000 crore. b) Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL): It has been set up to undertake the production, procurement & distribution of quality seeds under a single brand through the cooperative network to improve crop yield and develop a system for preservation and promotion of indigenous natural seeds. So far 11,713 cooperatives have been granted membership. - Initial Paid-up Capital: Rs.250 crore with contributions of Rs.50 crore each by the five promoters. Authorized capital: Rs.500 crore. c) National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL): The NCOL will help in the marketing of authentic and certified organic products to increase the production of organic products by the cooperatives at various levels. So far 3,772 cooperatives have been granted membership. - Initial Paid-up capital: Rs.100 crore with contribution of Rs. 20 Cr each by the five promoters. Authorized Share Capital: Rs.500 crore.

Answer 129

Primal Nathwani

Answer 130

It was recorded at 997.828 Million Tonne (MT) provisional in comparison to 893.191 MT in the year 2022-2023 with a growth of about 11.71%.

Answer 131

** - It increased by 4% (provisional) in June 2024 as compared to the Index in June 2023. - The final growth rate of the Index of Eight Core Industries for March 2024 stands at 6.3% ** 14.8% Index of Eight Core Industries: Base Year: 2011-12. These industries comprise a total of 40.27% of the total weight of the overall items that are included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). In the decreasing order of the weightage of these industries, the list is stated as below: - Refinery Products Industry - Electricity Industry - Steel Industry - Coal Industry - Crude Oil Industry - Natural Gas Industry - Cement Industry - Fertilizers Industry

Answer 132

The length of the project is 508 Km with 12 stations planned at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati. The sanctioned cost of the project is ₹1,08,000 Crore.

Answer 133

** - It outlines the financial terms for implementing the activities of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat. - It recognizes the establishment of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre as a key knowledge hub for evidence-based Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) aiming to advance the health and well-being of people and the planet. ** India will donate USD 85 million over 10 years (2022-2032) to support the operations of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.

Answer 134

with a budgetary outlay of ₹ 20,000 crore, for five years, up to March 2021. It has been further extended to March 2026 with a budgetary outlay of ₹ 22,500 crore.

Answer 135

Health Benefits Packages related to trauma and polytrauma care at empanelled hospitals will be provided to victims under the AB PM-JAY for up to a maximum of ₹1.5 lakh for a maximum period of 7 days from the date of the accident.

Answer 136

** for ₹2800 per quintal (excluding the cost of transportation). Additionally, if the States/UTs want to procure more than the stipulated 5 kg of free grain per individual, then they can procure that at the same price at Rs 2,800 per quintal instead of the earlier Rs 2,900 per quint ** to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries with a financial outlay of ₹11.80 lakh crore, totally to be borne by the Central Government ** The food grain distributed in 2023-2024 is 497 LMT and up to June 2024, the Centre has distributed 125 LMT.

Answer 137

- It already covers 22 commodities and 16 additional commodities will be covered under Price Monitoring from August 1st. Now, the price of a total of 38 commodities will be monitored. - The 38 commodities constitute close to 31% of the total CPI weights as against 26.5% of CPI weights captured by the 22 commodities.

Answer 138

Swapnil Kusale

Answer 139

Former Chief Economic Advisor Shri KV Subramanian wrote the book which predicts that India can achieve a $55 trillion economy by 2047 if the nation sustains an 8% annual growth rate.

Answer 140

** Rejuvenate at least 500 water bodies ** Pond area of at least 0.4 hectares and a capacity of around 10000 cubic meters

Answer 141

Sadhna Saxena Nair

Answer 142

** Its aggregate length is 781 km in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. ** With loan assistance of USd 500 million against a total project cost of USD 1288.24 million (Rs. 7,662.47 crore). The scheduled date of completion is by May 2026

Answer 143

- India was ranked 39th among 119 countries - As per the TTDI report, out of the TTDI pillars mentioned, India's scores have improved in three areas: Prioritization of Travel & Tourism, Safety & Security, and Health & Hygiene.

Answer 144

With all 13 major ports and 41 non-major ports in India. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways launched the App Version of National Logistics Portal (Marine) ‘Sagar-Setu’ in 2023.

Answer 145

4 crore OPD registrations - The ABHA-based scan and share service was launched in Oct 2022 under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. It enables patients to conveniently register for OPD appointments by scanning a QR code displayed at the OPD registration counter, thereby instantaneously sharing their ABHA profile for registration. - It is presently operational across over 8270 healthcare facilities spanning 579 districts in 35 States and Union Territories of India. - Leading states in the adoption of this service are Uttar Pradesh (1.11 crore), Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir and Notable usage recorded at AIIMS in Delhi, Bhopal, Raipur, and Bhubaneshwar. - Among all the token generations, approximately 76% are first-time users, while 24% use scan and share for subsequent visits. - NHA offers financial incentives through the ABDM's Digital Health Incentive Scheme (DHIS) for 'Scan and Share' transactions and the generation of electronic health records. The Digital Health Incentive Scheme (DHIS) came into effect on 1st January 2023 NHA has come up with some relaxations like reduced transaction limits in the existing scheme with effective from 1st April 2023. - The policy of the Digital Health Incentive Scheme DHIS of ABDM has been revised, and now all health facilities registered with the Health Facility Registry and Digital Solution Companies can earn an Incentive of up to ₹4 Crore.

Answer 146

** It aims to provide fixed-day, free-of-cost, assured, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care (ANC) on the 9th day of every month, universally to all pregnant women in their 2nd/ 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, at designated public health facilities by Obstetricians/Medical officers. ** From 10 categories to 25 high-risk pregnancy categories

Answer 147

To achieve zero indigenous cases of Malaria in the country by 2027 and to sustain elimination by 2030.

Answer 148

- 8875 FPOs have been registered across the country as of June 30 2024. The maximum number of FPOs is in Uttar Pradesh i.e., 1,246 FPOs. -The lowest number of FPOs is in Lakshadweep i.e., 1 FPOs.

Answer 149

“Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems”

Answer 150

The Ministry of Home Affairs launched e-Sakshya, Nyaay Setu, Nyaay Shruti and e-Summon apps. - About e-Sakshya App: All videography, photography and testimonies will be saved on the e-evidence server, which will also be available in the courts immediately. - Under the e-Summon, the summons will be sent electronically from the court to the police station and also to the person to whom the summons is to be sent. - Police, Medical, Forensic, Prosecution and Prisons are interlinked together on the Nyaay Setu Dashboard, which will provide the police with all the information related to the investigation in just one click. - Through Nyaay Shruti, the court will be able to hear witnesses through video conferencing. This will save time and money and also settle the cases faster.

Answer 151

It stands for Pro-Active and Responsive Facilitation by Interactive, Virtuous, and Environmental Single Window Hub (PARIVESH). It was launched on 10 Aug 2018 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to provide a comprehensive single-window solution for the administration of all green clearances (Environmental clearances, Forest Clearance, Wildlife and Coastal Regulation Zone Clearances) and monitor their subsequent compliance across the nation.

Answer 152

A total of 52.81 crore Jan-Dhan accounts with a deposit balance of ₹ 2,30,792 crores have been opened as of 19.07.2024 under PMJDY. Out of the same, 29.37 crore (55.6%) Jan-Dhan accounts belong to women and about 35.15 crore (66.6 %) PMJDY accounts have been opened in rural and semi-urban areas.

Answer 153

** up to 2000 ha ** In the 6th MI census, 231.4 lakh MI schemes were enumerated, out of which 219.3 lakh (94.8%) were groundwater schemes (Dug well/Shallow tube well/Medium tube well/Deep tube well) and 12.1 lakh (5.2%) were Surface Water schemes (surface flow/surface lift).

Answer 154

** Out of 766 districts, 732 districts have reported themselves Manual Scavenging-free as of 31 July 2024 ** ₹371 crore

Answer 155

She was bestowed with the “Companion of the Order of the Fiji”

Answer 156

The “Kasturi Cotton Bharat Initiative” has been allocated a budgetary support of ₹30 crore. This includes ₹15 crore from the Government of India and an additional ₹15 crore from trade and industry bodies.

Answer 157

** It increased by 1.5 points to 141.4 ** It moderated to 3.67% in June 2024 as compared to 5.57% in June 2023

Answer 158

a) 1- Shiksha (Education) 2- Swasthya (Health) 3- Samriddhi (Prosperity) 4- Sushashan (Governance) b) States: Uttar Pradesh leads with the highest number of accreditations, assessments, and ratings. UT: Delhi c) States: Karnataka, Kerala, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Manipur stand out with complete certification in the Ayushman Arogya Yojana UT: Chandigarh excels with 100% certification in Ayushman Arogya Yojana, and Jammu & Kashmir shows commendable performance with a 71.43% certification rate. d) States: Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra UT: Delhi, followed by J&K excelled in MELT rankings e) Gujarat, Karnataka, and Rajasthan lead with the highest number of ZED certifications, particularly in the Micro category. f) Maharashtra and Bihar No rankings under the Sushashan (Governance) were given in the framework

Answer 159

Brickwork Ratings India Private Limited

Answer 160

** 1) Accrediting CRAs for credit ratings of bank loans/facilities 2) Authorizing CRAs for independent credit evaluation of resolution plans 3) Approves CRAs for rating of public deposits raised by NBFCs ** ₹25 crore Credit Rating Agencies (CRAs) are specialized organizations that assess the creditworthiness of financial institutions that issue debt. They provide ratings that indicate the likelihood of the issuer defaulting on their debt obligations A credit rating represents the rating agency's opinion on the likelihood of a rated debt obligation being repaid in full and on time. Instruments with AAA rating are considered to have the highest degree of safety and The minus symbol associated with ratings has no negative connotations.

Answer 161

** Authorized persons can facilitate remittances under the LRS (Liberalised Remittance Scheme) to IFSCs for: a) Availing of financial services or products as per the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019 within IFSCs. b) for all current or capital account transactions, in any other foreign jurisdiction other than IFSCs through a Foreign Currency Account (FCA) held in IFSCs. c) Making investments in IFSCs in securities, except those issued by entities or companies resident in India (outside IFSCs). d) Payment of fees for education to foreign universities or institutions in IFSCs for pursuing specified courses. These provisions allow resident individuals to open Foreign Currency Accounts (FCAs) in IFSCs for these permissible purposes ** The Scheme is not available to corporates, partnership firms, HUF, Trusts, etc. **- opening of foreign currency account abroad with a bank - acquisition of immovable property abroad, Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) and Overseas Portfolio Investment (OPI) as per regulations - extending loans including loans in Indian Rupees to Non-resident Indians (NRIs) who are relatives as defined in the Companies Act, 2013

Answer 162

2.5 million USD

Answer 163

Info!! The directions apply to all Authorized Dealer Category-I banks and outline the procedures for facilitating overseas investments by Indian residents. It covers Overseas Direct Investment (ODI), Overseas Portfolio Investment (OPI), and investments in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs). A) OPI shall not be made in: 1) Any unlisted debt instruments; or 2) Any security which is issued by a person resident in India who is not in an IFSC; or 3) Any derivatives not permitted by Reserve Bank; or 4) Any commodities including Bullion Depository Receipts (BDRs) B) “Overseas Direct Investment (ODI)” means: (i) Acquisition of any unlisted equity capital or subscription as a part of the Memorandum of Association of a foreign entity, or (ii) Investment in 10% or more of the paid-up equity capital of a listed foreign entity, or (iii) Investment with control where investment is less than 10% of the paid-up equity capital of a listed foreign entity. C) - Resident individuals may make OPI within the overall limit for the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) of 250,000 USD - Financial commitment by an Indian entity, exceeding USD 1 billion (or its equivalent) in a financial year shall require prior approval of the Reserve Bank - Any person resident in India having an account appearing as a Non-Performing Asset (NPA) shall obtain a NOC from the lender bank - Overseas investment by way of cash is NOT permitted

Answer 164

Authorized Dealers (ADs) are entities authorized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to deal in foreign exchange. They are classified into three categories: Authorized Dealers Category 1- Can carry out all permissible current and capital account transactions such as trade-related transactions, remittances, and investments. Entities carrying these transactions include Commercial banks, State and Urban Cooperative banks etc Authorized Dealers Category 2- Can handle specified non-trade-related current account transactions for activities like private and business travel, education, medical treatment, and remittances for maintenance of close relatives. Entities carrying these transactions include upgraded Full-Fledged Money Changers (FFMCs), select Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) Authorized Dealers Category 3- Can carry out specific foreign exchange transactions incidental to their business or activities. This category is more restricted compared to AD-I and AD-II and includes financial institutions like SIDBI, EXIM bank, IFCI

Answer 165

- 12.52 lakh women milk producers out of 42.48 lakh milk producer members, with a significant participation of 30% - The DIDF (Dairy processing & Infrastructure Development Fund) scheme has been merged into the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, and its implementation has been extended for the next two years (2024-2026) with an outlay of Rs 29,110.25 crore.

Answer 166

- The National Urban Co-operative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC) for urban co-operative banks has been established with the objectives of accelerating the digitization of cooperative banks by leveraging collective strengths, fostering collaboration, promoting innovation, and ensuring that member banks are well-prepared to navigate the complexities of the digital era effectively. - The NUCFDC has to achieve a paid-up capital of ₹300 crore within 1 year from the date of registration with the RBI

Answer 167

The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India in collaboration with the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has organised this webinar

Answer 168

A) It was launched in 2019 to improve air quality in 131 non-attainment and Million Plus Cities/Urban Agglomerations across 24 States/UTs B) - The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has revised its targets for reducing PM10 levels. Initially, the goal was to achieve a 20-30% reduction in PM10 concentrations by 2024-25 compared to the baseline year of 2017-18. However, this target has now been updated to aim for a 40% reduction in PM10 levels by 2025-26 - Additionally, specific cities have been given annual targets ranging from a 4-15% reduction in PM10 concentrations, along with a 15% improvement in the number of days with good air quality (Air Quality Index less than 200) for 49 Million Plus cities C) Four cities of Gujarat, namely Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara are covered under both Programmes and an amount of ₹1085.2 crore has been provided till 2023-24 for these cities PM10 refers to particulate matter that is 10 micrometres or smaller in diameter. Particulate matter (PM) is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. PM10 particles are so small that they can be inhaled into the respiratory system, and their size makes them particularly harmful to human health.

Answer 169

It was commissioned in District Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. The project has been developed at a cost of Rs. 646.20 crores & is expected to generate 196.5 million units of energy in the first year.

Answer 170

- The outlay of the programme is ₹1765 crore and it aims to boost the Horticulture sector in India and improve farmers’ income. It will prioritize affordable access to clean plant material for all farmers, regardless of their landholding size or socioeconomic status. It will be implemented by The National Horticultural Board (NHB) and ICAR. - 9 world-class state-of-the-art CPCs (Clean Plant Centres), equipped with advanced diagnostic therapeutics and tissue culture labs, will be established across India.

Answer 171

- Time-Period: FY2023 to FY2029. - Total Outlay: Rs.6,940 crores. It aims to boost domestic manufacturing of bulk drugs in the country, reduce import dependence and improve our supply chain resilience.

Answer 172

a) Total outlay of Rs 3,06,137 crore for FY 2024-25 to 2028- 29 including Central Share of Rs 2,05,856 crore and State Matching Share of Rs 1,00,281 crore. b) Financial assistance will be provided for the construction of 2 crore more houses, and it is expected to benefit 10 crore individuals c) Unit cost of assistance to beneficiaries to continue at existing rates of Rs.1.20 lakh in plain areas and Rs.1.30 lakh in North Eastern Region/ Hill States. Apart from this, Administrative funds at 2% of the programme funds will be provided with the bifurcation of the administrative funds as 1.70% to be released to the States/UTs and 0.30% to be retained at the Central Level.

Answer 173

A) 20% of their Tier-1 capital B) loans of value not more than ₹25 lakh or 0.2% of their Tier I capital, whichever is higher, subject to a maximum of ₹1 crore, per borrower. - Tier-1 capital for UCBs is ₹2 crore for UCBs operating in a single district - All other UCBs (in Tier 1, 2, and 3) must have a minimum net worth of ₹5 crore. C) 2 years. A minimum of 40% of Small value loans should be achieved by March 31 2025 and 50% by March 31 2026 D) - the exposure to an individual borrower does not exceed 15% of Tier-I capital; and, - the exposure to a group of connected borrowers/parties does not exceed 25% of Tier-I capital. E) Up to ₹1.4 crore per individual borrower F) Deposits up to ₹50 crore- ₹50000 per borrower Deposits abve ₹50 crore- ₹1 lakh per borrrower G) 10% of its total assets

Answer 174

** - Capital, Asset Quality and Profitability will be the key areas for monitoring in the revised PCA Framework - Indicators to be tracked for Capital, Asset Quality and Profitability would be CRAR, Net NPA Ratio (percentage of net NPA to net advances) and net profit, respectively. ** Risk thresholds for Net NPAs are - Risk threshold 1: 6% to 9% - Risk threshold 2: 9% to 12% - Risk threshold 3: more than 12% Steps to be taken under Risk Threshold 2 are: - Bank to raise capital either from existing members or by the issuance of equity and other permissible capital instruments - Restriction on branch expansion - Restriction on declaration/payment of dividend/donation - Appropriate restrictions on capital expenditure, other than for technological upgradation ** Risk Threshold 1: i. Bank to raise capital either from existing members or by issuance of equity and other permissible capital instruments ii. Restriction on declaration/payment of dividend/donation iii. Appropriate restrictions on capital expenditure, other than for technological upgradation Risk Threshold 2: In addition to mandatory actions of Threshold 1, i. Restriction on branch expansion Risk Threshold 3: In addition to mandatory actions of Thresholds 1 & 2, i. Appropriate restrictions/ prohibition on expansion of the total size of the deposits

Answer 175

14-year and 30-year tenors

Answer 176

a) ₹25 lakh and above and the borrower or a guarantor committing the wilful default is a company, its promoters and the director (s) b) - Large defaulter means a defaulter with an outstanding amount of ₹1 crore and above - where a suit has been filed - or whose account has been classified as doubtful or lost (in accordance with the instructions issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time). C) Deliberate Non-Payment: Borrowers who have the capacity to repay but intentionally avoid fulfilling their debt obligations. Diversion of Funds: Borrowers who divert funds for purposes other than those for which the loan was sanctioned. Siphoning of Funds: Borrowers who siphon off funds, resulting in the asset becoming non-performing. Misrepresentation and Fraud: Borrowers who provide false information or commit fraud to obtain loans. Disposal of Secured Assets: Borrowers who dispose of or remove the secured assets without the bank’s knowledge or permission. D) within 21 days of issuance Other Review mechanisms against Wilful defaulters: - The evidence of wilful default shall be examined by the Identification Committee. After considering the submissions and where satisfied, the Identification Committee shall make a proposal to the Review Committee for classification as a wilful defaulter by explaining the reasons in writing. - The identification of the wilful default should be made keeping in view the track record of the borrowers and should not be decided on the basis of isolated transactions/ incidents. - An opportunity shall be provided to the borrower to make a written representation to the Review Committee within 15 days of a proposal from the Identification Committee. - The borrower shall not have the right to be represented by a lawyer. E) 1 year Other Penal measures against wilful defaulters: - No additional credit facility shall be granted by any lender to a wilful defaulter. - No additional credit facility shall be granted by any lender to any entity with which a wilful defaulter is associated. - No lender shall grant credit for new ventures to a wilful defaulter or related entities for 5 years after removal from the LWD (List of Wilful Defaulters). - Wilful defaulters or any entity with which a wilful defaulter is associated shall not be eligible for restructuring of credit facility

Answer 177

a) - The scheme was extended from FY2024-25 to FY2028-29 with an outlay of ₹10 lakh crore - The Government Assistance of ₹ 2.30 lakh crore will be provided under the Scheme. b) Families belonging to EWS/LIG/Middle Income Group (MIG) segments having no pucca house anywhere in the country are eligible to purchase or construct a house under PMAY-U 2.0. - EWS households are families with an annual income of up to ₹3 lakh. - LIG households are families with an annual income of ₹3 lakh up to ₹6 lakh. - MIG households are families with an annual income of ₹6 lakh up to ₹9 lakh. C) - The Government Assistance in AHP/BLC verticals under PMAY-U 2.0 will be ₹2.50 lakh per unit. - An additional Grant in the form of a Technology Innovation Grant (TIG) ₹1000 per sqm up to 30 sqm per dwelling unit shall be provided under the AHP component to implementing agencies using innovative building materials, and construction technologies. D) Technology Innovation Grant (TIG) of ₹5000/ per square meter will be provided under the ARH component, including ₹3000/per square metre by the Centre share and ₹2000/ per square meter by State share E) with an increased assistance of ₹2.5 lakh from the earlier ₹1 lakh F) Beneficiaries taking loans of up to ₹25 lahks for a house costing a maximum of ₹35 lahks will now be eligible for a 4% interest subsidy on the first ₹8 lakh of the loan for up to 12 years. The subsidy will be disbursed in 5-yearly instalments, and beneficiaries can access their accounts through a website, OTP, or smart cards. G) A total of 1.18 crore houses have been sanctioned in the first phase of PMAY-U 2.0, while more than 85.5 lakh houses have already been constructed and delivered to the beneficiaries. H) From ₹1000 crore to ₹3000 crore. Further Management of the Credit Risk Guarantee Fund will be transferred to the National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGTC) from the National Housing Bank (NHB) I) The funding pattern between the Centre and the State will be: - General States: 60:40 - UTs with the legislature, Northeast states & Himalayan states: 90:10 - UTs without legislature: 100:0 Other Information: 1- TISM will be set up under PMAY-U 2.0 to guide and facilitate States/UTs and other stakeholders in the adoption of modern, innovative and green technologies and building materials for faster and quality construction of houses. Under TISM, States/UTs/Cities will be assisted through innovative practices and projects in challenge mode focused on disaster-resistant and environment-friendly technologies for climate-smart buildings and resilient housing. 2- In order to seek benefits under PMAY-U 2.0, States/UTs will have to formulate an “Affordable Housing Policy” containing various reforms and incentives for ensuring the active participation of Public/Private entities and promoting the Affordable Housing Ecosystem. ‘Affordable Housing Policy’ will include such reforms which will improve the affordability of ‘Affordable Housing’.

Answer 178

** Group 1: Disorders amenable to one-time curative treatment. Group 2: Diseases requiring long-term/lifelong treatment with a relatively lower cost of treatment. Group 3: Diseases for which definitive treatment is available but challenges are to make optimal patient selection for benefit, very high cost and lifelong therapy. ** Currently, 63 rare diseases are included under the National Policy for Rare Diseases. Since the launch of the policy, a total number of 1,118 patients have benefited under NPRD. ** Up to ₹50 lakhs per patient is provided at the notified CoE for Rare Diseases and 12 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) have been identified so far, which are premier Government tertiary hospitals with facilities for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of rare diseases.

Answer 179

A) more than ₹4 lakh crore B) more than ₹9.82 lakh crore C) GeM registered more than 62 lakh transactions during FY 2023-24 and cumulative transactions on the GeM portal since inception have crossed 2.26 crore as of 30th July 2024 D) The procurement of Services on GeM has accelerated with the Gross Value Merchandise (GMV) of services reaching ₹3.91 lakh crore since its inception and In the FY 2024-25, service procurement on GeM has already reached ₹80,493 crore E) More than 1.63 lakh women-led MSEs have been registered on the GeM portal since inception and Women MSEs have fulfilled orders worth ₹35,138 crore since inception as of 30th July 2024 F) More than 25000 startups have been registered on the GeM portal since inception and Startups have fulfilled orders worth more than ₹27319 crore in GMV since inception as of 30th July 2024 GeM SAHAYAK Program: It is an initiative to create a pan India pool of 6000- 7000 trained, certified/ accredited trainers to handhold sellers and buyers on the GeM platform. About Government e-Marketplace: It was launched in 2016 as a Section 8 company for the procurement of goods and services by Central Ministries, State Departments, PSEs and Autonomous Bodies. It was set up under the administrative control of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is the first public procurement agency to use a generative AI-based Chat box to enhance users’ experience.

Answer 180

“Use of Data for Decision Making- Strengthening State Statistical System”

Answer 181

By 2027 - It is also known as elephantiasis (Haatipaon), is a serious debilitating disease transmitted through the bite of a Culex mosquito that breeds in dirty/polluted water. - Currently, the LF has been reported in 345 districts across 20 states and union territories, with 90% of the LF burden contributed by 8 states: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Answer 182

The Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the highest civilian award of Timor-Leste.

Answer 183

** A Dividend Equalisation Fund (DEF) is a reserve fund established by a company to ensure consistent dividend payouts to its shareholders, even during periods of fluctuating profits. This helps provide a stable income stream for investors. Essentially, it smooths out the dividends paid over time, making them more predictable and reliable Directions for Dividend Equalization Fund (DEF) by the RBI: - Transfer of Balances: UCBs are now permitted, as a one-time measure, to transfer the balances in the DEF to general reserves or free reserves. These balances will qualify as Tier-I capital - Prohibition on Dividend Payments from DEF: The RBI reiterated that UCBs cannot use accumulated profits or reserves, including DEF, to pay dividends. Dividends must be paid from the net profit of the current year after making all statutory and other provision - There should be no default in CRR/SLR during the year for which the dividend is proposed. - Disclosure Requirements: UCBs must make suitable disclosures of such transfers in the ‘Notes on Accounts’ to the Balance Sheet ** CRAR requirements: Greater or Equal to 12% NPA requirement: Less than 5%

Answer 184

- Large Non-Bank PSOs: April 1, 2025 - Medium non-bank PSOs: April 1, 2026 - Small Non-bank PSOs: April 1, 2028

Answer 185

** - Project Nexus is an initiative by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub aimed at enabling instant cross-border payments by interlinking domestic instant payment systems (IPS) from different countries. - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has joined this project, which will connect India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the fast payment systems (FPS) of Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Indonesia, which has been involved from the early stages, continues to be involved as a special observer. ** by 2026

Answer 186

** i. Every exporter shall furnish to the specified authority, a declaration in the Form specified by RBI, specifying the amount representing the full export value of the goods or services. ii. The exporter shall submit to the Authorised Dealer the documents pertaining to export, within 21 calendar days from the date of shipment in case of goods or from the date of invoice in case of services ** Within 9 months Other directions as per the draft circular on Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) Regulations, 2024: 1) Advance payment for the export of goods and services may be received as per the export contract. Interest payable if any, on such advance payment, shall not exceed the all-in-cost ceiling of trade credit. 2) Where an exporter is unable to fulfil the export obligation within the contracted period, the advance received shall be refunded 3) Advance payment for import of goods and services shall be repatriated by the importer and surrendered to the Authorised Dealer in case of non-import within the contract period 4) An exporter who has not realized the full value of export within the time specified (including extensions, if any) under Regulation may be caution listed by the Authorised Dealer subject to the directions issued by the Reserve Bank. An exporter who has been caution listed shall undertake export only against receipt of advance payment in full or against an irrecoverable letter of credit, to the satisfaction of the Authorised Dealer. The Authorised Dealer may remove the name of the exporter from the caution list, as per the directions issued by the Reserve Bank

Answer 187

Punjab National Bank

Answer 188

** “Managing the Known Unknowns” ** 1) Responsibility: Central banks must own the responsibility to deliver price stability and have the independence to act to achieve it. 2) Transparency and Communication: Clear communication of goals, including an explicit numerical inflation target, is crucial. This transparency enhances accountability and keeps central banks focused on their objective 3) Well-anchored inflation expectations: This principle has become a bedrock of modern central banking, as economic analysis and history have shown that anchoring inflation expectations is important in maintaining low and stable inflation. 4) Central Bank Independence: Central banks must have the autonomy to act decisively to achieve price stability

Answer 189

- It was launched with ASEAN to support postgraduate studies in various emerging fields of agriculture and allied sciences. - A total of 50 fellowships (10 per year) will be awarded to students from ASEAN member countries for a master's degree in agriculture and allied sciences in 5 years.

Answer 190

- The three new sites included are Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh. - Thus the tally of Ramsar sites is increased from 82 to 85 - Currently, Tamil Nadu harbours the maximum number of Ramsar Sites (18 sites) followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites). - India became a signatory to the convention on 1st February 1982.

Answer 191

- The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in urban areas among persons aged 15 years and above has increased from 48.8% during April – June 2023 to 50.1% in April – June 2024. LFPR among females of age 15 years and above for urban areas increased from 23.2% during April – June 2023 to 25.2% during April – June 2024. - Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in urban areas among persons aged 15 years and above has increased from 45.5% during April – June 2023 to 46.8% in April – June 2024. WPR for females of age 15 years and above for urban areas increased from 21.1% in April – June 2023 to 23.0% during April – June 2024 reflecting an overall increasing trend in female WPR. - The Unemployment Rate (UR) in urban areas among persons aged 15 years and above was 6.6% during April – June 2024. UR among females aged 15 years and above decreased from 9.1% in April – June 2023 to 9.0% in April – June 2024.

Answer 192

- The Ministry of Jal Shakti launches Version 2.0 of the ‘FloodWatch India’ mobile app to enable an extensive and detailed overview of flood conditions across the country. - It will provide Real-time Flood Forecasts from 592 monitoring stations and storage positions of 150 major reservoirs in the country to become available to the public. - It is launched with the aim of using mobile phones to disseminate information related to flood situations in the country and flood forecasts up to 7 days on a real-time basis to the public

Answer 193

** - The goal is to create one Model Solar Village per district across India, with the goal of promoting solar energy adoption and enabling village communities to become self-reliant in meeting their energy needs. - Total Outlay: Rs.800 crores, providing ₹1 crore per selected Model Solar Village. Objectives: - Solarize one village per District and promote the uptake of solar rooftops in India. - Promote green and clean energy access to electricity in the villages. - Empower village communities to become more self-reliant in meeting their energy needs and help them save money on energy bills by generating electricity locally and reducing reliance on utility companies. - Develop a 24x7 solar-powered village covering all the households and public areas that acts as a model for other villages to follow. - Promote technologies like solar-based home lighting systems in all households, solar-based water systems in the village, solar pumps for agricultural purposes and the installation of solar streetlights covering village roads and common village infrastructure. ** The village must be a revenue village with a population size of more than 5,000 as per the latest published Census. However, in the case of special category States (States/UTs of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Ladakh, States in the North East including Sikkim, UTs of A&N and Lakshadweep), revenue villages with a population size of more than 2,000 as per the latest census would be eligible. ** Central Financial Assistance: - The winning village in each district, with the highest RE capacity, will receive a central financial assistance grant of ₹1 crore. - Public projects can be supported up to 100% of the project cost, However, in case the projects are for supporting collectives (self-help groups, primary level cooperative societies (PACS, Dairy, Fishery etc) and others) in the village, contribution from the beneficiary collective of at least 10% shall be taken in order for the CFA benefits to be extended to them. - No individual beneficiaries can be included in CFA support under the project DPR for Model Solar Village. The amount of CFA that shall be released to the MSVIA (Model Solar Village Implementation Authority) is as follows: a) 40% of CFA at the time of award of all works in the DPR b) 40 % of CFA after completion of all works undertaken in the DPR and after certification to that effect by the DLC c) 20% of CFA after at least 6 months of operation of all works undertaken

Answer 194

** 2.04% (provisional) ** from 190.3 in June 2023 to 195.4 in July 2024 ** The rate of inflation (Y-o-Y) based on the WPI Food Index decreased from 8.68% in June 2024 to 3.55% in July 2024. About WPI: - Base Year: 2011-12 - Released by the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) - Components: 1. Manufactured Products (64.23%) 2. Primary Articles (22.62%) 3. Fuel and Power (13.15%)

Answer 195

** India’s total exports (Merchandise and Services combined) for July 2024 are estimated at USD 62.42 Billion, registering a positive growth of 2.81% vis-à-vis July 2023. ** - Merchandise exports during July 2024 were USD 33.98 Billion as compared to USD 34.49 Billion in July 2023. - The estimated value of services export for July 2024 is USD 28.43 Billion as compared to USD 26.22Billion in July 2023. ** Total imports (Merchandise and Services combined) for July 2024 are estimated at USD 72.03 Billion, registering a positive growth of 7.14% vis-à-vis July 2023.

Answer 196

“Dengi All”, developed by Panacea Biotec

Answer 197

- ISRO’s latest Earth Observation Satellite ‘EOS-08’ was launched by the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Shriharikota. - The primary objectives of the EOS-08 mission include designing and developing a microsatellite, creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus, and incorporating new technologies required for future operational satellites. - Built on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus, EOS-08 carries three payloads: Electro Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR), Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry payload (GNSS-R), and SiC UV Dosimeter.

Answer 198

- The National Coal Index (Provisional) has shown a significant decline of 3.48 % in June 2024 at 142.13 points compared to June 2023, where it was at 147.25 points. - This notable decrease indicates sufficient availability of coal in the market to meet the growing demands. About the National Coal Index: - Base Year: FY2017-18 - It is a price index that combines coal prices from all sales channels, viz. Notified Prices, Auction Prices, and Import Prices. It considers prices of coking and non-coking coal of various grades transacted in the regulated (power and fertilizer) and non-regulated sectors.

Answer 199

The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER)

Answer 200

Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of Science & Technology

Answer 201

* - It is an initiative under the “Panch Karma Sankalp” programme to replace conventional fuel-based harbour tugs operating in Indian Major Ports with green tugs powered by cleaner and more sustainable alternative fuels. The project focuses on integrating advanced technologies such as hybrid and electric propulsion systems, energy-efficient designs, and the use of alternative fuels like hydrogen. - Phase- 1 of the GTTP will begin on October 1, 2024, and continue until December 31, 2027. ** 4 Major Ports—Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Deendayal Port Authority, Paradip Port Authority, and V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority—will procure or charter at least two green tugs each The ‘Panch Karma Sankalp’ initiative was announced by Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, during the ministry’s second Chintan Shivir. This initiative includes 5 major announcements aimed at promoting sustainable maritime practices and digitizing port operations: 1. Financial Support for Green Shipping: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) will provide 30% financial support to promote green shipping. 2. Green Tug Transition Programme: Four major ports—Jawaharlal Nehru Port, VO Chidambaranar Port, Paradip Port, and Deendayal Port—will each procure two green tugs. 3. Development of Green Hydrogen Hubs: Deendayal Port and VO Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin, will be developed as green hydrogen hubs. 4. Single Window Portal for Cruises: A digital portal will be established to facilitate and monitor river and sea cruises. 5. Transformation into Smart Ports: Jawaharlal Nehru Port and VO Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin, will be transformed into smart ports by 2024.

Answer 202

** August 23 ** "Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga."

Answer 203

** 3.54% (Provisional) ** 5.42% (provisional) About CPI (Combined): - Base Year: 2012 - Released by the NSO, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. - All-India General Group for CPI (Combined): Food and Beverages (45.86% weightage) Pan, Tobacco and intoxicants (2.38% weightage) Clothing and Footwear (6.53% weightage) Housing (10.07% weightage) Fuel and Light (6.84% weightage) Miscellaneous (28.32% weightage)

Answer 204

The Quick Estimates of IIP with base 2011-12 stands at 150.0 in June 2024 against 143.9 in June 2023, a growth of 4.2% About Index of Industrial Production - Base Year: 2011-12 - This index gives the growth rates of different industry groups of the economy over a specified time period. - The industry groups that it measures are classified under the following broad sectors like manufacturing, mining, and electricity, Use-based sectors like capital goods, basic goods, intermediate goods, infrastructure goods, consumer durables, and consumer non-durables.

Answer 205

National Institute for MSME (NI-MSME), Hyderabad