In News The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lauded India’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme as a “logistical marvel” that has reached hundreds of millions of people and specifically benefited women, the elderly and farmers. About Direct Benefit Transfer scheme It is Government’s major reform initiative to reengineer the existing delivery processes, ensuring better and timely […]
In News The Embassy of Japan, New Delhi, has filed an application seeking a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for nihonshu/Japanese sake, an alcoholic beverage. This is the first time a product from Japan has filed for a tag at the Geographical Indication Registry in Chennai About Nihonshu It is regarded as a special and valuable […]
In News The Union minister for Railways recently launched India’s first all-aluminium freight rail rakes. More about the news About: Hindalco has developed these all-aluminium freight rail rakes. The aluminum rakes have been developed to: Modernise freight transportation and Enable large carbon savings for Indian Railways. 61-wagon rakes have been flagged off from Bhubaneswar station. […]
In News Shehan Karunatilaka has won the Booker Prize 2022 for his second novel, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. About The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida tells the story of a war photographer who has woken up dead in what seems to be a celestial visa office. He has ‘seven moons’ to try and […]
Context The Prime Minister distributed the PMJDY-MA Yojana Ayushman cards in Gujarat. About Gujarat combined the MA/MAV Yojana with the AB-PM-JAY scheme in 2019 and gave it the name PMJAY-MA Yojana (Mukhyamantri Amrutam (MA)). The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), the largest health insurance scheme in the world, was introduced by the […]
Context The city of Hyderabad has bagged the prestigious ‘World Green City Award 2022’ beating Paris, Bogota, Mexico City, Montreal, and Fortaleza in Brazil. About Additionally, the city has also won ‘Living Green for Economic Recovery and Inclusive Growth’ at the International Association of Horticulture Producers (AIPH) 2022 held in Jeju, South Korea. Hyderabad is […]
In News Vehicle-mounted ‘anti-smog guns’ have begun their rounds of Delhi, spraying water in a fine mist. What is an Anti-smog gun? It is a device that sprays atomised water into the atmosphere to reduce air pollution. It is connected to a water tank and mounted on a vehicle. It basically acts like rain to […]
In News Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs under the chairmanship of Prime Minister approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated rabi crops for marketing season 2023-24. Key Points Increase in MSPs: Rs 110 per quintal (5.46 per cent) increase for the wheat crop. Other rabi crops — barley, […]
In News Recently, Global leaders pledged $2.5 billion for polio eradication at the World Health Summit. Key Points World Health Summit: It is an international health conference which was held in Berlin, Germany, from October 16-18, 2022. Leaders pledged to give about Rs 19 crore. Pledging: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $1.2 billion to […]
In News The Indian Defence Minister recently addressed the second India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD). More about the dialogue About: India-Africa Defence Dialogue was held on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Theme: The theme of the second India-Africa defence dialogue was: “Adopting strategies for synergising and strengthening defence and security cooperation”. Gandhinagar Declaration: […]