- Indian Heritage
- Culture
- Modern Indian history
- The Freedom Struggle
- Post-independence
- Indian Society
A. population and associated issues
B. poverty and developmental issues
C.urbanization
7. Geographical features
8.Indian Constitution
9. Polity
10. Governance
A. institutions
- National Legal Services Authority (NALSA):
- 19th All India Legal Services Authorities Meet was inaugurated by Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud, Chief Justice of India and Patron-in-Chief, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on 30th June, 2023 in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir.The02 day event held on 30th June, 2023 and 1st July, 2023was organised by the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority. The future course of action for Legal Services Authorities, setting targets, addressing various challenges and implementing steps to strengthen and streamline legal aid programs in the country were discussed during the meet.
- The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), with the approval of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India and the support of Government of India, organized the 1st Regional Conference on Access to Legal Aid: Strengthening Access to Justice, on 27 & 28 November, 2023, in collaboration with the International Legal Foundation (ILF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Over the course of two days, a total of 16 sessions were conducted on different themes of access to legal aid and access to justice. This was the first of the kind of gathering wherein Chief Justices, Judges, Ministers, senior ministry officials, heads of legal aid bodies and civil society experts from more than 40 Africa, Asia & Pacific countries of the Global South, all came together to find solutions to the most pressing challenges of access to justice in the Global South and carve out actionable outcomes for strengthening legal aid and justice systems.
B. regulatory
C. Government policies
D. role of NGOs
E. measures
11. Social Justice
A. Welfare schemes
agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme
griculture Infrastructure Fund is a medium – long term debt financing facility scheme launched in 2020. for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets. Under the Scheme, one lakh crore rupees is to be provided to the eligible borrowers by banks and financial institutions with Interest Subvention @ 3% and Credit Guarantee facility. As on date Rs.32,472 Crores have been sanctioned for 43,318 projects under AIF, out of this total sanctioned amount Rs. 20102 crores have already been disbursed. These sanctioned projects have mobilized an investment of Rs 55,248 Crores in agriculture sector.
Accordingly, Rs 500 crores as B.E. and 150 crores as R.E. was allocated in 2022-23 for payment of interest subvention and CGTMSE fee to banks and financial institutions.
During the initial years of the launch of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme, the widespread Covid-19 infection all over the country badly hit the progress of the Scheme. Also, the severity of the deadly virus prevented reaching out to various stakeholders that hindered the spread of awareness about the Scheme. The slow pace of disbursement out of the sanctioned loan is also due to the fact that setting up of infra projects takes time and disbursement takes place in a phased manner over a period of time. However, during FY 22-23, there has been a growth of around 251% from last year i.e. FY 21-22, and the progress of the FY 2023-24 is expected to bring in good results in so far as an amount of Rs 9854 crore has been sanctioned with the disbursement of Rs 7272 crore as on 01.12.2023. In total, Rs.32,472 Crores have been sanctioned for 43,318 projects under AIF, out of this total sanctioned amount Rs. 20102 crores have already been disbursed.
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare holds periodic review sessions with the Central Project Monitoring Unit (CPMUs), the State Project Monitoring Units (SPMUs), Nodal Officers of Banks and State Governments both in physical and virtual mode. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare participates in AIF Conclaves of different States and organizes Bankers Conclave with the sole objective of spreading awareness on AIF. One-to-one meeting with Banks for increased sanction and prompt disbursement of sanctioned loans has been a routine exercise of this department. Campaigns like NOBOL (Nationwide One Branch One Loan), BEST (Bankers Enabling Sustainable Transformation), BHARAT (Banks Heralding Acceleration of Rural and Agricultural Transformation) etc. among Banks are being conducted periodically and as of now, 5 campaigns have been run, which contributed Rs. 16937 crores i.e. over 52% of the total sanctions under AIF. Last year the best performing Banks and States in these contests were honoured by the Agriculture Minister in an Award Ceremony. Also, this department participates in various workshops with the training institutions /Colleges of Banks and Central and State level Exhibitions to promote AIF Scheme. These activities help in sourcing more applications and sanction loans by banks and other lending institutions. Apart from coordinating with SLBC meetings of States and BLBCs, DLCs, this department conducts many other outreach programs with various stakeholders like Agripreneurs and Farmers, PACS, FPOs & CBNBOs, APMCs etc. with the said purpose in mind.
Per Drop More Crop
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare implemented the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) in the Country from the year 2015-16 to 2021-22 as a component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). From the year 2022-23, the scheme is being implemented under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). PDMC scheme focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation, namely, Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems.
Financial Assistance @ 55% for Small & Marginal farmers and @ 45% for other farmers is provided by the Government for installation of Micro Irrigation under the Scheme. In addition, some States provide additional incentives/top up subsidy for encouraging farmers to adopt Micro Irrigation.
Further, 25% higher unit cost is taken into consideration for calculation of subsidy for the North Eastern and Himalayan states and 15% higher for States with low penetration of Micro Irrigation for larger adoption of Micro Irrigation systems by the farmers under the PDMC scheme.
Farmers are encouraged to take advantage of the PDMC scheme by giving wide publicity to the scheme through press & print media, publication of leaflets/booklets, organization of workshops, exhibitions, farmer fairs, information on State/Government of India web portals etc.
RASHTRIYA GRAM SWARAJ ABHIYAN
The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) approved for the implementation from financial year 2022-23 to 2025-26 for capacity building of elected representative of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The primary objective of Revamped RGSA is to develop the governance capabilities of the Panchayats to deliver on SDGs which covered within the purview of Panchayats. For effective implementation of the scheme, utilization of funds is closely monitored with the States through meetings, video-conferences, PFMS etc. In addition to this, Training Management Portal (TMP) is in place to monitor real time trainings conducted by States/ UTs under the scheme.
B Health
Update On Status Of Mental Health In The Country
The Government has launched a “National Tele Mental Health Programme” on 10th October, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As on 04.12.2023, 34 States/ UTs have set up 46 Tele MANAS Cells and have started mental health services and more than 5,00,000 calls have been handled on the helpline.
The Government is also taking steps to strengthen mental healthcare services at primary healthcare level. The Government has upgraded more than 1.6 lakh SHCs, PHCs, UPHCs and UHWCs to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Mental health services have been added in the package of services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care provided at these Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Operational guidelines on Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders (MNS) at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been released under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat.
The Government is also augmenting the availability of manpower to deliver mental healthcare services in the underserved areas of the country by providing online training courses to various categories of general healthcare medical and para medical professionals through the Digital Academies, since 2018, established at the three Central Mental Health Institutes namely National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam, and Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi.
For providing affordable and accessible mental healthcare facilities in the country, the Government is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in the country. The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) component of the NMHP has been sanctioned for implementation in 738 districts for which support is provided to States/UTs through the National Health Mission. Facilities made available under DMHP at the Community Health Centre (CHC) and Primary Health Centre (PHC) levels include outpatient services, assessment, counselling/ psycho-social interventions, continuing care and support to persons with severe mental disorders, drugs, outreach services, ambulance services etc. In addition to above services there is a provision of 10 bedded in-patient facility at the district level.
Under the tertiary care component of NMHP, 25 Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to increase the intake of students in PG departments in mental health specialities as well as to provide tertiary level treatment facilities. Further, the Government has also supported 19 Government medical colleges/institutions to strengthen 47 PG Departments in mental health specialties. Mental Health Services are also provisioned for 22 AIIMS. These services are also available under PMJAY.
As per the reports of National Crime Record Bureau, the rate of suicide per lakh population was 12.0 in 2021 and 12.4 in 2022. The Government has released the National Suicide Prevention Strategy in November, 2022. The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention provides a framework for multiple stakeholders to implement activities for prevention of suicides in India. This national strategy aims to reduce suicide mortality by 10% in the country by 2030. The national strategy includes an action framework with proposed actions with key stakeholders, implementation framework and mechanism, thus providing a path forward for preventing suicides.
As per the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS) conducted by the Government through National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore in 12 States of the country, the prevalence of mental disorders including common mental disorders, severe mental disorders, and alcohol and substance use disorders (excluding tobacco use disorder) in adults over the age of 18 years is about 10.6%.
C. Education
D. Human Resources
E. poverty and hunger
National Food Security Mission
The year 2023 has been declared the International Year of Millets (IYoM) by the United Nations on the proposal initiated by the Government of India. The Government is celebrating the International Year of Millets to make it a people’s movement so that value-added products are accepted globally. Both the Central and State Governments have taken numerous steps for promoting millets (Shree Anna). The action plan of IYoM 2023 focuses on a strategy to enhance production, productivity, consumption, export, strengthening the value chains, branding and also creating awareness for health benefits etc.
To increase the production of Nutri Cereals for meeting their enhanced demand, the Central Government is implementing the National Food Security Mission – Nutri Cereals (NFSM-Nutri Cereals). The interventions covered under NFSM-Nutri Cereals include cluster front line demonstrations on improved package of practices, seed distribution & micronutrients, biofertilizers, production of certified seeds of High Yielding Varieties, plant protection chemicals, weedicides, sprayer, efficient water application tools, cropping system based training. Seed Hubs for millets have also been set up. Further interventions include breeder seed production, production of certified seeds, distribution of seed mini kits (HYVs) etc. Further, States such as Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have initiated Millet Missions in the States to promote millets.
The Government also incentivizes farmers to increase the production and productivity of millets through Rashtriya Krishi VikasYojana. It has also fixed the MSP for major millets to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices.
To increase the production of millets based products, a Productivity Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been notified by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in June 2022. Millets are also included under the Poshan Abhiyan of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Further, the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution has revised its guidelines to increase the procurement of millets under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal. The Ministry has also advised the State Governments and Union Territories to increase the procurement of millets.
12. International relations
A. India and its neighbourhood
B. groupings and agreements
C.Indian diaspora
13. Economic Development
A. Government Budgeting
B. industrial
E.issues
14. Technology
15. Environment
As fireworks light up night sky, air pollution spikes to 120 times WHO limit
16. Security
17. Disaster Management
DISASTER MANAGEMENT POLICY
One of the objectives of the National Policy on Disaster Management is to ensure efficient response and relief with a caring approach towards the needs of the vulnerable sections of the society. The National Policy on Disaster Management has addressed the issues of vulnerable groups at many places including Preamble, Approach and Objectives, Response & Reconstruction and Recovery. Further, the National DisasterManagement Plan (NDMP) 2019 has also addressed the issues pertaining to groups with higher vulnerabilities like gender based, children, weaker and marginalized communities and for disabled persons. A National Guidelines on Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) has also been issued addressing issues of disabled persons particularly.
Over the last five years, Government of India has advanced regional cooperation on disaster risk management through active engagement under multiple regional organizations, such as Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical & Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Through these organizations, Government has conducted joint exercises as well as facilitated sharing of good practices in disaster management.