current affairs

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2. SCHEMES IN NEWS

10. WOMEN SCIENTISTS SCHEME
 Under the Women Scientists Scheme ( WOS), thirteen unemployed women
scientists have benefitted with the assistance of Rs.1.93 crore in the last five years.
 About The Women Scientists Scheme:
 It is a flagship program under the Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN
(WISE-KIRAN) Scheme.
 Objective: To provide opportunities to women scientists and technologists
between the ages of 27 and 60.
 Employment: Candidates who are involved in regular employment are not eligible
for WOS.
 Nodal Agency: Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and
Technology.

12. INDIAN FOREST AND WOOD CERTIFICATION SCHEME
 The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has launched the
Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme.
 About the Forest and Wood Certification Scheme:
 It is a national forest certification scheme, designed to promote sustainable management of forest
and trees outside forest.
 Implementation: The Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal will be overseeing the
implementation of the scheme.
 Guidelines: The Quality Council of India will accredit the certification bodies that will assess the
adherence of various entities on the standards of this scheme.
 Significance of Forest Certification:
 Helps the buyers know that forest product like timber has been sourced from well-managed forests
or from recycled products.
 Discourages the use of supplies from illegal sources.
 Ensures forest activities lead to environmental, social and economic benefits.

14. YOUTH FOR UNNATI AND VIKAS WITH AI (YUVAI)
 YUVAi-Youth for Unnati and Vikas with AI’ is featured at the Global
Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit.
 About YUVA-i:
 It is a collaborative initiative of the National e-Governance Division -
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and
Intel India.
 It is designed to equip the youth with essential AI skills and
commitment to enabling a future-ready workforce.
 Launch year: 2020

15. AMRIT DHAROHAR CAPACITY BUILDING SCHEME
2023
 Recently, an Alternative Livelihood Programme under the Amrit Dharohar
Capacity Building Scheme-2023 has been launched in Sultanpur National Park.
 Sultanpur National Park is a Ramsar Site in Haryana.
 About the Scheme:
 Launched By: The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) in collaboration with the Ministry of
Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC).
 Aim: Under this initiative, Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM), will
build the capacity of local community members around different Ramsar sites.
 Significance: Strengthen nature tourism at these sites and provide alternative livelihood
to the local community.
 Five Priority Sites: Sites identified in the first phase
o Sultanpur (in Haryana)
o Bhitarkanika and Chilika (in Odisha)
o Yashwant Sagar and Sirpur (in Madhya Pradesh).

16. SUB-SCHEMES UNDER RAMP PROGRAMME
 Recently, the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises has launched three
sub-schemes under the aegis of the RAMP.
 The three sub-schemes include-
o MSME Green Investment and Financing for Transformation Scheme (MSE GIFT Scheme)
o MSE Scheme for Promotion and Investment in Circular Economy (MSE SPICE Scheme)
o MSE Scheme on Online Dispute Resolution for Delayed Payments.
 About the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Programme:
 It is a World Bank-supported Central Sector Scheme.
 Administrativeand Functional Body in India: National MSME Council
 Aim:
o Improving access to market and credit
o Strengthening institutionsand governance at the Centre and State
o Improving Centre-State linkages and partnerships
o Addressing issues of delayed payments
o Greening of MSMEs

18. PARLIAMENTARY PANEL RECOMMENDS FAME-II
SCHEME’S EXTENSION
 The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry recommends extension of
the deadline of the Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME)
- II Scheme by three more years.
 More on News:
o The deadline for the ongoing FAME II scheme is March 31, 2024, with a
budget outlay of Rs 10,000 crore.
 FAME INDIA PHASE- II:
 About: The FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric
Vehicles) India Scheme is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan
(NEMMP)
 Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Heavy industries and Public Enterprise.

19. PARLIAMENTARY PANEL RECOMMENDS FAME-II
SCHEME’S EXTENSION
 Features:
o Electrification of public and shared transportation systems.
o To incentivize the purchase of approximately 5 lakh three-wheelers,
7000 electric buses, and 35,000 four-wheelers.
o Plans to establish 2700 charging stations in metros, smart cities, and
hilly states, with coverage on highways.

24. PROJECT PRAYAS
 The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) launched Project PRAYAS
(Promoting Regular & Assisted Migration for Youth and Skilled Professionals).
 About Project PRAYAS:
 The project is a joint collaboration between the IOM India and Indian Council of
World Affairs (ICWA)
 Project Goal: To facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration for Indian workers
and students.
 Improved Coordination: The Project envisages development of a roadmap for
improved coordination between Central and State Governments to encourage
sharing of best practices between States.
 Alignment with SDG: Project aligns with Goal 10.7 of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and
responsible migration and mobility of people.

26. PROJECT PRAYAS
 International Organisation for Migration (IOM):
 Genesis: IOM is a UN agency established in 1951.
 Mandate: It is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly
migration.
 Members: 175 nations including India

27. IN-SPACE LAUNCHED A SEED FUND SCHEME
 The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe)
launched a seed fund scheme for start-ups.
 Key Features of Seed Fund Scheme:
 Prototype Development: Selected start-ups will receive seed funding for transforming an
original idea into a prototype using space technology.
 Collaboration: It has been launched in collaboration with ISRO’s National Remote Sensing
Centre (NRSC).
 Aim: To support Indian space start-ups that aim to develop innovative space products and
services.
 Financial Assistance: Rs 1 crore
 Indian National Space, Promotion & Authorization Centre (INSPACe)
 Objective: To act as a single window nodal agency which will oversee and permit the
activities of the private companies into the space sector.
 Nodal agency: Department of Space (DOS) Government of India.

30. DELTA RANKING FOR ASPIRATIONAL BLOCKS
PROGRAM
 NITI Aayog released the 1st Delta Ranking of Aspirational Blocks program(ABP).
 What are Delta Rankings?
 The Delta rankings for the aspirational districts measure the incremental progress
made by them across the developmental areas of health and nutrition,
education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and basic
infrastructure.
 Key Highlights of Delta Ranking of Aspirational Blocks program(ABP)
 Top Performers:
1. Tiriyani Block of Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district, Telangana
2. Kaushambi block of Kaushambi District, Uttar Pradesh.

31. DELTA RANKING FOR ASPIRATIONAL BLOCKS
PROGRAM
 Aspirational Block Programme (ABP):
 Objective: To enhance the quality of life of citizens in the most difficult and
underdeveloped blocks of India by converging existing schemes, defining outcomes,
and monitoring them on a constant basis.
 Number of Blocks: An inter-ministerial committee in consultation with states had
identified 500 blocks from across 27 states and four Union territories.
 Key Socio-Economic Indicators (KSIs):
o Health and nutrition, Education, Agriculture and water resources, Financial
inclusion and skill development, Basic infrastructure and Social development.