Govt.

Schemes & Projects

The National Quantum Mission has been, launched in 2023, with a budget allocation of ₹6,003.65 crore,
has been launched for how many years?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8

‘Vivad se Vishwas I – Relief to MSMEs’ Scheme Launched

• The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, has launched the scheme,
“Vivad se Vishwas I – Relief to MSMEs” for providing relief to Micro, Small
and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for COVID-19 period.
• The scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24 by Union Finance
Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.
• Under the scheme, Ministries have been asked to refund performance security,
bid security and liquidated damages forfeited/ deducted during the COVID-19
pandemic. Certain relief has also been provided to MSMEs debarred for default
in execution of contracts during the COVID-19 period.
PMSBY, PMJJBY and APY complete 8 years of inception
• Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima
Yojana (PMJJBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) have completed their 8 years of
providing social security cover on May 9.
• PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9,
2015.
• PMJJBY: One-year life insurance scheme renewable from year to year offering
coverage for death for any reason.
• PMSBY: is a one-year accidental insurance scheme renewable from year to year
offering coverage for death or disability due to an accident.
• Atal Pension Yojana (APY): was launched to create a universal social security system
for all Indians, especially the poor, the underprivileged and the workers in the
unorganised sector.
CITIIS 2.0 Program:

• Union Cabinet chaired by Indian Prime Minister has approved the City
Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0) programme.
• CITIIS 2.0 is a program conceived by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
(MoHUA) in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), KfW
Development Bank, the European Union (EU), and National Institute of Urban
Affairs (NIUA).
• The program will run for four years, from 2023 to 2027.
• The program envisages supporting competitively selected projects promoting a circular
economy with a focus on integrated waste management at the city level, climate-oriented
reform actions at the State level, and institutional strengthening and knowledge
dissemination at the National level.

Que:Prime Minster Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme has recently
successfully completed how many years?
Ans: 3 Years

The scheme was launched in June 2020.

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It is a Special Micro-Credit Facility launched by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, for providing
affordable loans to street vendors.
‘Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research’ (MAHIR) to be launched
• Ministry of Power and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy joined hands to launch a
National Mission titled “Mission on Advanced and High-Impact Research
(MAHIR)”.
• Aim: To quickly identify emerging technologies in the power sector and
develop them indigenously, at scale, for deployment within and outside India
• Funded by: Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and
CPSEs under the two Ministries
• Tenure: Five years, 2023-24 to 2027-28

Cabinet approves continuation of ‘Exploration of Coal and Lignite’ Scheme

• The union cabinet has approved the continuation of the Central Sector Scheme of “Exploration of
Coal and Lignite scheme”.
• It has been approved with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 2980 crore from 2021-
22 to 2025-26.
• Exploration for Coal and Lignite is required to prove and estimate coal resources
available in the country, which helps in preparing detailed project reports to start
coal mining.

Que: Which union minister announced schemes worth over Rs 8,000 crore for disaster management?
Ans: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced 3 major disaster management schemes worth Rs 8,000
crore that would cover:
• Modernisation of fire brigade services in all states (Rs 5,000 crore)
• Flood mitigation in seven major cities (Rs 2,500 crore)
• Prevention of landslides in 17 states (Rs 825 crore).
Flood mitigation in seven major cities (Rs 2,500 crore) – Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru,
Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Pune

Cabinet approves Introduction of National Research Foundation Bill, 2023

• The Union Cabinet on 28th June under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has
granted approval for the introduction of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill, 2023 in the
Parliament.
• This bill will facilitate the establishment of NRF, which will play a pivotal
role in nurturing and advancing Research and Development (R&D)
efforts and fostering a culture of research and innovation across
universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories in
India.
• The estimated total cost for NRF's operations over a span of five years (2023-28) is projected to
be Rs 50,000 crore.
The administrative responsibilities of NRF will be overseen by the Department of Science and
Technology (DST).
The Prime Minister will serve as the ex-officio President of the Board,
Union Minister of Science & Technology and Union Minister of Education will act as the ex-officio
Vice-Presidents.
Sarbananda Sonowal launches New CSR guidelines ‘Sagar Samajik Sahayog’
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• The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda
Sonowal, has introduced a set of new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
guidelines called 'Sagar Samajik Sahayog'
• The purpose of these guidelines is to enable ports to effectively address
local community issues in a collaborative and efficient manner.
• CSR funding guidelines:
• Under the new CSR guidelines, ports in India will allocate a specific percentage of their net annual
profit towards CSR activities.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Under CSR, companies integrate social and environmental concerns with their business partners
with their stakeholders.
• It is regulated under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.
• India is the first country in the world to make CSR mandatory.
• The provision of CSR is applicable to companies whose net worth is more than ₹ 500 crores or
turnover is more than ₹ 1000 crores or net profit is more than ₹ 5 crores.

Project-SMART for Station Area Development

• Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Ministry of Railways jointly signed an MoU with
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for ‘Station Area
Development along Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail’ (Project-SMART).
• MoUs were signed for four high speed rail stations – Sabarmati & Surat in
Gujarat and Virar & Thane in Maharashtra.
• Surat, Virar and Thane are green fields while Sabarmati is a brown field
development.

JJM Achieves Milestone of 12 Crore Tap Water Connections

• The Jal Jeevan Mission, a flagship program launched by the Government of
India, has provided 12 crore tap water connections across the country.
• This achievement marks a major step towards ensuring access to clean drinking
water for every household.
• At the time of announcement of launch of JJM only 3.23 Crore (16.64%)
households in villages had access to piped water connection.
• As on date, Gujarat, Telangana, Goa, Haryana, Punjab and the Union territories of Andaman &
Nicobar Islands, Daman Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli and Puducherry have achieved 100% coverage.
Jal Jeevan Mission
• Announced by the Prime Minister on August 15, 2019.
• Objective - to supply potable tap water in adequate quantity, prescribed quality and on a regular
and long-term basis to every rural household of the country by 2024.
• This mission comes under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Funding Pattern :
• The fund sharing pattern between the Center and the states under the mission is 90:10 for
Himalayan and North-Eastern states and 50:50 for other states.
• In the case of Union Territories, 100% contribution is made by the Centre.

Govt extends PM-KUSUM scheme till March 2026

The government has extended Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-
KUSUM) scheme till March 2026.
Reason: It could not bear the desired result till now due to the COVID uncertainty.
PM-KUSUM was launched in 2019.
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Aim: Ensuring energy security for farmers in India. To add a solar capacity of 30,800 MW by 2022 (now till
31.3.2026) with a total central financial support of Rs 34,422 crore.

PM – VIKAS: Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman or PM Vishwakarma

PM Vishwakarma Scheme was announced by Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman during the Budget
presentation.
The main objective of the scheme is to improve the status of the craftsmen in the country, by:
• by increasing the calibre of the artisans
• by increasing the reach of their goods
• provide financial support to the artisans
• Artisans will be taught to use the latest technologies in their
workmanship
• will be introduced to paperless payments
MISHTI, Amrit Dharohar, PM PRANAM ecological conservation initiative in the
budget
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budget speech launched various schemes and policies aimed
at ecological conservation.
MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes)
• It aims at intensive afforestation of coastal mangrove forests, across 11 States and 2 Union
Territories during five years commencing FY 2023-24 onwards.
Mangrove - a tropical tree that grows in wet ground at the edge of rivers and has some roots that are
above ground
Indian mangroves are facing limitations such as an increase in salinity, lack of oxygen, and diurnal tidal
inundations
Amrit Dharohar

• The scheme will be implemented over the next three years to encourage optimum use of
wetlands and enhance biodiversity, carbon stock, ecotourism opportunities and income
generation for local communities.
• It will emphasise on the importance of lakes and their conservation.

Cabinet approves PM-PRANAM

• The Centre has approved a new scheme PM-PRANAM to incentivise states to promote alternative
fertilisers and reduce the use of chemical fertilisers.
• PM-PRANAM stands for PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment
and Amelioration of Mother Earth.
• The scheme aims to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers by incentivising state.

Features of the scheme

• The scheme will not have a separate budget.
• It will be financed by the savings of existing fertiliser subsidy under schemes run by the Department
of fertilisers.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Modi, announced:
• A package of ₹3.68 lakh crore has been committed for urea subsidy for the next three years (2022-
23 to 2024-25).
• The CCEA also decided to introduce sulphur-coated urea (Urea Gold) in the country for the first
time to address sulphur deficiency in the soil.
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• Sulphur-coated urea is more economical and will increase nitrogen absorption efficiency to 78%.

PMAY-U scheme extended up to next year

Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri said the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-
Urban (PMAY-U) scheme has been extended up to next year, to complete all the houses sanctioned
during the last financial year.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U)
It was launched on 25 June 2015
The scheme aims to provide houses to all the eligible beneficiaries by
2022.
Around 1.12 crore houses are to be constructed under the scheme.

Namami Gange Mission-II approved with a budgetary outlay of ₹22,500 cr

The government has approved Namami Gange Mission-II with a budgetary outlay of Rs.22,500 crore till
2026.
The Government has released a total of Rs.14,084.72 crore to the National
Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), from 2014-15 till 31st January 2023.

Projects for Ramping Up Border Infrastructure

According to India’s External Affairs Minister, the government’s recent border infrastructure projects
focus on the north and east along India’s 3,488 km border with China (or LAC).
Ramping up infrastructure in Ladakh, HP, UK, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

Projects executed in Neighbouring countries

Nepal:
South Asia’s first cross-border petroleum products pipeline Motihari - Amlekhgunj Pipeline .
Mahakali motorable bridge over the Mahakali River connecting Dharchula (India) with Darchula
(Nepal), under Indian grant assistance.
Bangladesh:
Maitri Setu, High Speed Diesel pipeline with Bangladesh that will reduce petrol prices and road
congestion.
Myanmar:
Sittwe port project, Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP).
Bhutan:
Dry port in Pasakha bordering West Bengal is being developed under an Indian government grant.

Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana:

• Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana is a skill development scheme with a special focus on providing training
for jobs that are relevant to the Railways.
• It is a sub-scheme under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Railway.
Key Features of the scheme:
The training is imparted in industry-relevant technical trades such as Electrician, Welder,
Machinist, Fitter etc.
The training is provided free of cost to the candidates and there is no provision for providing employment
under this scheme.
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Eligibility Criteria: Candidates, who had passed class X and are aged between 18
and 35 are eligible to apply.
Union Cabinet approves Indian Space Policy, 2023 to increase private sector
participation in space sector
• The Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the
Indian Space Policy 2023.
• The policy seeks to institutionalise the private sector participation in the space sector, and
channelise the focus of ISRO on research and development of advanced space technologies.
• The private sector will be able to take part in end-to-end space activities including building
satellites, rockets and launch vehicles, data collection and dissemination.
As per the policy:
• ISRO will not do any operational and production work for the space sector. It shall focus on
developing new technologies, new systems and research and development.
• The strategic activities related to the space sector will be carried out by space sector PSU
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)
• Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) will be the interface
between ISRO and non-governmental entities

MUDRA Yojana completes 8 years

• About 68% of accounts under the scheme belong to Women entrepreneurs.
• 51% of accounts belong to entrepreneurs of SC/ST and OBC categories.
MUDRA Yojana:
• Launched: 8 April, 2015
• Aim: To facilitate easy collateral-free micro-credit of up to Rs 10 lakh to
the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.
• Mudra targets young educated or skilled workers and entrepreneurs including women
entrepreneurs.
• The loans are provided through Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), Micro Financial
Institutions (MFIs), and other financial intermediaries.
• 3 types of loans (signify the stage of growth and funding needs):
• Shishu- Loans up to Rs.50,000.
• Kishor - Loans above Rs.50,000 and less than Rs.5 lakh.
• Tarun- Loans above Rs.5 lakh and up to Rs.10 lakh
Union Cabinet launches ₹6,000-crore National Quantum Mission
• Aim - to strengthen India’s research and development in the quantum arena alongside
indigenously building quantum-based (physical qubit) computers.
• The mission will work on developing quantum supercomputers and establishing
secure quantum communications with other nations.
• While traditional computing is wave based, quantum computing is atom based,
faster and more secure.
• The National Quantum Mission has been launched for eight-year period, 2023 –
2031. The total budget allocated to the mission is ₹6,003.65 crore.
• Till date only six other nations are doing research and development in quantum technologies.
• They are the US, Canada, China, Austria, Finland and Scotland.
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Ministry of Civil Aviation Launches UDAN 5.0

• 5th phase of Regional Air Connectivity Scheme (RCS) – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik
(UDAN) to further enhance connectivity in remote and regional areas of the
country and achieve last mile air connectivity.
• This round of UDAN focuses on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-3 (>80
seats) aircrafts.
• The 600 km limit has been removed and there is no restriction for the distance between the
origin and destination of the flight.
• Airlines will have to start operations within 4 months of being granted the route. Earlier this time
limit was 6 months.
• Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) was launched in 2016 as a Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)
under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Current Minister of Civil Aviation & Steel, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia

Cabinet approves National Medical Devices Policy, 2023

• Policy is expected to help the Medical Devices Sector, grow from present $11 Bn to $50 Bn by 2030
• It will help to reduce India’s heavy import dependence on the medical sector.
Strategies to Promote Medical Device Sector:
• Regulatory Streamlining:
• Enabling Infrastructure
• Facilitating R&D and Innovation
• Attracting Investments in the Sector
• Human Resources Development
• Brand Positioning and Awareness Creation::

Cabinet approves “Vibrant Villages Programme

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Vibrant
Villages Programme” for the Financial Years 2022-23 to 2025-26 with a financial
allocation of Rs. 4800 Crore.
• The scheme will provide funds for the development of essential infrastructure and the creation of
livelihood opportunities.
• In the first phase, 663 Villages will be taken up in the program.
• Aim: To improve the quality of life of people living in identified border villages.

Revised guidelines for the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)
• The Government of India has launched revised guidelines for the Members of Parliament Local
Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)
• The Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Rao
Inderjit Singh, launched the new guidelines and the web portal, which will
come into effect from April 1, 2023, according to the Ministry of Statistics
& Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• The focus is on improving the functioning, implementation, and monitoring of the MPLAD
scheme, enabling MPs to recommend developmental works according to the requirements of their
constituency.
• Under the revised guidelines, the entire process of fund flow will operate through the web portal.
The portal will enable real-time monitoring, greater transparency, and accountability in the system,
resulting in improved efficiency and effectiveness of the MPLAD Scheme, as per the ministry's
statement.
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MPLADS:
• Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme
• Launch year: 1993 by Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao
• Ministry: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
• Each year, MPs receive Rs. 5 crore in two instalments of Rs. 2.5 crore each. Funds under MPLADS are non-
lapsable.
PM announces ‘Aarogya Maitri’ project to provide medical supplies to developing nations
• India will provide essential medical supplies to developing countries affected by natural disasters
or humanitarian crises.
• PM announced it at the Concluding Session of the two-day virtual ‘Voice of Global South Summit’,
hosted by India.
• India will also set up a ‘Global South Center of Excellence’ for research on development solutions
which can be scaled up and implemented around the world.
• During the Covid pandemic, India's 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative supplied vaccines made in India to
over 100 countries.
Monument Mitra Scheme
• Culture Ministry will launch a new version of the Monument Mitra scheme by partnering with
private industries for the maintenance of one thousand ASI monuments.
• The private sector will revamp the monuments as a part of their Corporate
Social Responsibility.
• ‘Monument Mitra' is the term coined for an entity partnering with the
government under the 'Adopt A Heritage' project.
• Objective - to develop monuments, heritage and tourist places across India by inviting corporate
entities, public sector companies or individuals to 'adopt' them.
• Recently the Monument Mitra scheme was shifted from Ministry of Tourism to Ministry of Culture.

‘SMART’ program launched for Ayurveda professionals

• The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and the Central Council for
Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) have launched ‘SMART’ program.
• 'SMART' refers to ‘Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching
Professionals’.
• Aim: To boost scientific research in priority healthcare research areas
through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.
• The program was launched by Vaidya Jayant Deopujari (Chairman, NCISM)

Union Government approves National Green Hydrogen Mission with an initial outlay of 19,744 crore
rupees.
Aim:
• To make India a Global Hub for production, utilisation and export of Green
Hydrogen.
• To enable India to meet its target of net zero carbon emission by 2070

Achieve the capacity to produce 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen
per year by 2030
• Capacity addition of 125 GW of renewable energy by 2030.
• Reduction in carbon dioxide emission of nearly 50 MMT per annum by 2030.
• Reduction in fossil fuel imports worth Rs 1 lakh crore by 2030.
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Government approved BIND Scheme

• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved Central Sector
‘Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development’ (BIND) Scheme with an
outlay of 2,539.61 crore rupees up to 2025-26.
• Aim: For the infrastructure development of Prasar Bharati i.e. All India Radio (AIR)
and Doordarshan (DD).
• The Scheme will increase coverage of AIR FM transmitters in the country to 66% by geographical
area and 80% by population up from 59% and 68% respectively.
• The scheme is also focusing on development of high-quality content for both domestic and
international audience. To ensure this DTH capacity will be upgraded.
• All India Radio, officially known since 1957 as Akashvani, is the national public radio broadcaster
of India and is a division of Prasar Bharati. It was established in 1936.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY)

• The new integrated food security scheme has been named as PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
(PMGKAY) to provide free food grains to the beneficiaries of Antyodaya Anna
Yojana (AAY) and Primary Household (PHH).
• This integrated scheme will strengthen the provisions of National Food Security
Act (NFSA), 2013 in terms of access, affordability and availability of food grains to
the poor.
• The implementation of this new scheme has started from January 1, 2023, which is benefiting more
than 80 crore poor people.
• The central government will spend over Rs 2 lakh crore in 2023 as food subsidy under NFSA and
other welfare schemes to ease the financial burden of the poor.
PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana ((PMGKAY)
• It is a part of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to help the poor fight the battle
against Covid-19.
• Its nodal Ministry is the Ministry of Finance.
• Under this scheme, the government provides additional free of cost 5 kg per person per month
food-grains (rice/wheat) to around 80 crore beneficiaries of National Food Security Act (NFSA)
including the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) beneficiaries.

India’s Proposed Global Initiative ‘MIIRA’ to Promote Millets

• MIIRA - ‘Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness’.
• MIIRA will aim to connect millet research organisations across the world. It is in
line with the UN declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets
• India has introduced a draft to launch a global initiative to encourage the
consumption and production of millet
• Jowar is the most widely grown millet crop; its major producers are the US,
China, Australia, India, Argentina, Nigeria, and Sudan.
• Millets - jowar, bajra, ragi/ mandua, some minor millets such as kangani/ kakun, chena
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has described millets as “Shree Anna”
India-UK Young Professionals Scheme
• The UK Government has launched the Young Professionals Scheme. Under the
scheme, Indian nationals of age 18 years to 30 years can live and work in Britain
for up to two years The UK is a country that comprises England, Wales, Scotland,
and Northern Ireland. Britain or Great Britain means England, Scotland, and
Wales. It does not include Northern Ireland.
• So the scheme is not applicable to Northern Ireland
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Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana

• IN NEWS: Under the scheme, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras
(PMBKs) are set up and PMBKs have increased to 9,082 as on January 31, 2023.
• Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana was launched by the Department
of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in November 2008.
• Objective: To provide quality medicines at affordable prices for all, particularly the poor, so as to
reduce out-of-pocket expenses in healthcare.
Que:‘SAMARTH scheme’, which was seen in the news, is associated with which Ministry?
Ans: Ministry of Textiles

The SAMARTH (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector) scheme is an umbrella
skilling initiative that aims to provide incentives and create jobs in the textile industry.
It will be implemented until March 2024.
This initiative is part of the steps taken by the government to make the textile sector
worth 250 billion USD by the end of this decade from the present 150-155 billion USD.

Centre launches MSME Competitive (LEAN) Scheme

• Union Minister for MSME Narayan Rane launched the MSME Competitive (LEAN) Scheme.
• It aims to provide a roadmap to global competitiveness for the MSMEs of India.
• The scheme will not only strive to improve quality, productivity and performance, but also change
the mindset of manufacturers and provide them the ability to become world class manufacturers.
• Under this scheme, MSMEs will implement LEAN manufacturing tools like 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, Visual
Workplace, Poka Yoka etc. under the able guidance of trained and competent LEAN consultants to
acquire LEAN levels like Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.
• Lean manufacturing is a production process based on an ideology of maximising productivity
while simultaneously minimising waste within a manufacturing operation.
• Kaizen is a Japanese word that essentially means "change for the better" or "good change.“
• The goal is to provide the customer with a defect free product or service when it is needed and, in
quantity, it is needed.
• Kanban is a popular Lean workflow management method for defining, managing, and improving
services that deliver knowledge work.
• To assist MSMEs, the government will contribute 90 per cent of the implementation cost and
consultancy fee for providing initial support.
• Nodal Agency of the scheme - National Productivity Council (NPC).

Ujjwala Yojana: Union Cabinet extends subsidy of 200 rupees per cylinder for 12 refills annually for
beneficiaries for one year
PM Ujjwala Scheme
It is a scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for providing LPG connections to
women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
The scheme was originally launched on May 1, 2016, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh by the Prime
Minister of India with a target of releasing 8 crore connections by March 2020.

30 Years of Project Elephant

Project Elephant was launched by the Government of India in 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with
following objectives:
1. To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors
2. To address issues of man-animal conflict
3. Welfare of captive elephants
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Project elephant (Indian elephant Elephas maximus) is mainly implemented in 16

States.
Singhbhum Elephant Reserve in Jharkhand was the first ER. Total ER – 33 (Source:
MoEFCC, New Delhi)
Conservation status of Asian Elephant
IUCN: Endangered
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.

PM SHRI Scheme
• In NEWS: Education Ministry shortlisted 9000 schools for flagship Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising
India (PM SHRI).
• The institutions were selected based on six broad parameters
including curriculum, access and infrastructure, human resources, and
gender equity were assessed.
• About PM SHRI:
• PM Modi announced this scheme on 5th September 2022.
• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Aim: To upgrade and develop around 14,500 schools

Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Vikas Yojana (PMJVM)

• IN NEWS: The government is providing 15 lakh rupees per Van Dhan Vikas
Kendra (VDVK) under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Vikas Yojna (PMJVM).
• Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Vikas Yojna was launched in 2018.
• It seeks to improve tribal incomes through the value addition of tribal products.
• The scheme will be implemented through the Ministry of Tribal Affairs as Nodal Department.
• Tribal Co-Operative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) will be the Nodal
Agency at the National Level.

Atal Bhujal Yojana water scheme extended by two years

• Union government has extended the Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal) for two more years until
December 2025.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana is a groundwater management scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on the 95th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on 25 December
2019.
• The purpose of the scheme is to improve groundwater management in seven states of India -
Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• Atal Jal plans to bring 4,50,000 hectares of irrigated area under efficient water techniques like drip
irrigation and crop diversification.
• It has been launched under the Jal Jeevan Mission of the government.

Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agricultural Resilience Through

Innovative Development (REWARD) Program:
REWARD is a World Bank assisted Watershed development
program which is being implemented from 2021 to 2026.
Objectives - to “Strengthen capacities of National and State
institutions to adopt improved watershed management for
increasing farmers resilience and support value chains in selected watersheds of participating States”.
The total budget outlay - USD 167.71 million over a program period of 4.5 years.
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Watersheds
• Watersheds are areas of land that drain water into a common outlet, such as a river, lake, or ocean.
They provide vital ecosystem services, such as water supply, soil fertility, biodiversity, and climate
regulation.
• Many watersheds in India are degraded due to unsustainable land use practices, such as
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion.