Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launches ‘SUBHADRA’ - the largest women-centric scheme in Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Key Highlights from the Prime Minister''s Recent Visit to Odisha

Launch of SUBHADRA Scheme:

• Objective: The SUBHADRA scheme is the largest single women-centric initiative by the Government of Odisha, targeting over 1 crore women.
• Financial Assistance: Each eligible beneficiary between the ages of 21-60 years will receive Rs. 50,000 over five years (2024-25 to 2028-29), with Rs. 10,000 distributed annually in two instalments.

Special Emphasis on Tribal Communities:

• Janman Yojana: Supporting the most backward tribes in Odisha, with 13 identified tribes receiving development benefits.
• Health Campaign: Screening of over 13 lakh people for sickle cell anemia.

Vishwakarma Yojana:

• Objective: Preserving traditional skills and supporting artisans like blacksmiths, potters, and sculptors.
• Financial Assistance: 13,000 crores allocated, with 20 lakh people registered for training and modern tools.

Overview of the SUBHADRA Scheme

Objective and Scope:

• Purpose: The SUBHADRA Scheme is designed to provide financial support specifically to women, aiming to uplift their socio-economic status.
• Target Group: Over 1 crore women across Odisha are expected to benefit from this scheme.

Financial Assistance:

• Amount: Each eligible beneficiary will receive a total of Rs. 50,000 over a period of five years (from 2024-25 to 2028-29).
• Disbursement: The amount will be distributed in two equal installments of Rs. 10,000 each per year. This will be directly credited to the beneficiaries'' Aadhaar-enabled and DBT-enabled bank accounts.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Age: Beneficiaries must be between 21 and 60 years of age.
• Criteria: Specific eligibility criteria were outlined to ensure that the scheme targets the intended demographic effectively. Generally, this might include income thresholds, social status, or other parameters defined by the state government.

Digital Integration:

• RBI Digital Currency Pilot: The scheme is linked to a pilot project of the RBI''s digital currency, reflecting the government''s push towards digital financial transactions and inclusion.
• Banking: The use of Aadhaar-enabled and DBT-enabled bank accounts ensures direct and transparent transfer of funds to the beneficiaries.

Impact:

• Economic Empowerment: The scheme is expected to enhance the economic stability and empowerment of women by providing direct financial assistance.
• Social Benefits: By targeting a large number of women, the scheme aims to improve their overall quality of life, contributing to gender equality and social development.

U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership Ministerial Joint Statement

Highlights of the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP)

RETAP Launch:

• The Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP), launched in August 2023, aims to develop actionable roadmaps for critical clean energy technologies. This includes hydrogen, long-duration energy storage, offshore wind, and geothermal energy through collaborative research, pilot projects, and industry networks.

Hydrogen Collaboration:

• The National Centre for Hydrogen Safety in India was recognized for its role in promoting safe hydrogen practices. Additionally, the 2nd International Conference on Green Hydrogen, held in September 2024, highlighted bilateral efforts in advancing hydrogen technologies and their implementation.

Energy Storage:

• The formation of the public-private Energy Storage Task Force was announced to address key issues related to energy storage. This includes exploring new storage technologies, improving safety, and developing regulatory frameworks. The task force will focus on long-duration energy storage and alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, with pilot projects planned for Assam and Haryana.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF):

• The partnership welcomed new engagement on SAF, including an inaugural workshop that will address R&D, supply chain development, market opportunities, and certification. Joint reports on SAF and biofuels under the Biofuels Task Force were also highlighted.

Electrification:

• The ministers discussed efforts to electrify medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, supported by workshops and expert exchanges. The PM eBus Sewa Scheme, which aims to deploy 10,000 electric buses in India, was recognized as a key initiative.

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS):

• Progress was noted in CCUS efforts, including a workshop held in Delhi in August 2024. This workshop focused on geologic carbon storage and addressed technical and regulatory aspects of carbon capture.

Strategic Clean Energy Partnership

• The SCEP was launched in accordance with the US - India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership announced by both countries at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate held in 2021.
• The SCEP advances energy security and innovation with greater emphasis on electrification and decarbonization of processes and end uses;scaling up emerging clean energy technologies; finding solutions for hard-to-decarbonize sectors; and deploying technical solutions.
• The SCEP was earlier establishedas the Strategic Energy Partnership in 2018 and had replaced the U.S.-India Energy Dialogue, the previous intergovernmental engagement for energy cooperation.

Over ₹3,148 Crore Loans Disbursed Under PMEGP in First 100 Days of Modi Govt’s 3rd Term

• Around two lakh 10 thousand employment opportunities were generated as more than 26 thousand Micro enterprises were established under PMEGP.
• MSME sector has contributed more than 30 per cent to the nation’s GDP.

PMEGP Scheme

Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) 

• The Government of India approved theintroduction of a credit linked subsidy programme called Prime Minister''s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) in 2008 for generation of employment opportunities through establishment of micro enterprises in rural as well as urban areas.
• It allows entrepreneursto set up factories or units.

Administration:

• It is a central sector scheme being administered by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME).
• Implementing Agency at the National Level:Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) a statutory organization under the administrative control of the Ministry of MSME.

Objectives:

• To generate employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas of the country through setting up of new self-employment ventures/projects/micro enterprises.
• To bring together widely dispersed traditional artisans, rural and urban unemployed youth and give them self-employment opportunities to the extent possible, at their place.
• To provide continuous and sustainable employment to a large segment of traditional and prospective artisans and rural and urban unemployed youth in the country, so as to help arrest migration of rural youth to urban areas.
• To increase the wage-earning capacity of workers and artisans and contribute to increase in the growth rate of rural and urban employment.

Eligibility:

• Individuals above 18 years of age.
• There will be no income ceiling for assistance for setting up projects under PMEGP.
• For setting up of projects costing above 10 lakhs in the Manufacturing sector and above  5 lakhs in the Business /Service sector, the beneficiaries should possess at least VIII standard pass educational qualification.

Maximum Cost of Project/Unit Admissible:

• Manufacturing Sector: Rs. 50 lakhs
• Service Sector: Rs.20 lakh

Government Subsidy:

• Rural Areas: 25% for general category and 35% for special category, which includes SC/ST/OBC/Minorities, NER, Hill and Border Areas, transgender, physically disabled, north eastern region, aspirational and border district applicants.
• Urban Areas: 15% for general category and 25% for special category.
• Role of Banks: Loans are provided by Public Sector Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Co-operative Banks and Private Scheduled Commercial Banks approved by respective State Task Force Committee.

50 Jan Aushadhi Kendras inaugurated in Madhya Pradesh today

• More than 2000 quality generic medicines and 300 surgical, nutraceuticals and devices will be made available at rates 50% to 90% cheaper than those of branded medicines. 

Jan Aushadhi Kendras

• Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) is a government initiative launched to provide affordable and quality medicines to the public.
• They operate under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

Establishment:

• The scheme was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, in 2008 under the brand name Jan Aushadhi Scheme.
• The initiative was rebranded as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in 2015 to enhance its reach and impact.

Benefits of Jan Aushadhi Kendras:

• Increased affordability of medicines: JAKs have significantly reduced healthcare costs for many people and reduced out-of-pocket expenditure.
• Indian citizens have collectivelysaved over Rs. 28,000 crores over the last decade by purchasing medicines from Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
• Improved access to medicines: JAKs has made essential medicines more readily available in underserved areas.
• Around 10 to 12 lakh people visit JAKs daily.
• Promotion of rational medicine use: JAKs provide information and counselling on the appropriate use of medicines, which can help to reduce misuse and overuse.

Expansion of Jan Aushadhi Kendras:

• PMBJP has expanded significantly in recent years, from only 80 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in 2014, to around11,000 units operating across the country today.
• The government aims to further increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras to 25,000 in the next two years.

Who is eligible to open a Jan Aushadhi Kendra?

• State Governments or any organization / reputed NGOs / Trusts / Private hospitals/ charitable institutions / Doctors / Unemployed pharmacists/ individual entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for the new Jan Aushadhi Kendra.
• The applicants shall have to employ one B Pharma / D Pharma degree holder as Pharmacist in their proposed store.
• Primary Agricultural Credit Societies. 

Challenges

• Awareness and Accessibility: Despite the expansion, there are still areas with limited awareness and accessibility to Jan Aushadhi Kendras. Efforts are ongoing to address these gaps.
• Supply Chain Issues: Maintaining a consistent supply of medicines and ensuring the availability of all required drugs can be challenging, particularly in remote areas.
• Competition with Branded Medicines: Increasing competition from branded medicines and other pharmaceutical retail outlets can affect the uptake of Jan Aushadhi medicines.

What is a Telescope? How good are modern telescope?

A telescope is an optical instrument designed to observe distant celestial objects by collecting and magnifying light. It typically uses mirrors (in reflecting telescopes) or lenses (in refracting telescopes) to gather light, allowing astronomers to view and analyse objects such as stars, planets, and galaxies with enhanced brightness and clarity. Telescopes play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of the universe.

Principles of Telescopes:

• Light Collection: Telescopes collect light emitted from celestial objects and concentrate it into an image.

Types of Telescopes:

• Reflecting Telescopes: Use concave mirrors to focus light. Most contemporary telescopes fall under this category due to their efficiency. Giant telescopes use parabolic mirrors to avoid multiple focal points, which blur the image.
• Refracting Telescopes: Use lenses to bend light and form an image directly. Limited by the maximum size of the lenses (~1 m), as larger lenses deform under their weight.

Primary Function of Telescopes:

• Light-Gathering Power: The main purpose is to enhance the brightness of celestial objects by gathering more light, rather than magnifying them. Telescopes are like larger containers that can collect more light, similar to a tub collecting more rain than a small cup.

 Features of Telescopes:

• Apparent Magnitude: The brightness of stars and celestial objects is measured logarithmically. A star with magnitude 4.0 is 2.512 times brighter than one with magnitude 5.0. Lower magnitudes mean brighter objects (e.g., Sun = -26.78, Venus = -4.92, Sirius = -1.46).
• Resolution: Telescopes'' resolution depends on overcoming atmospheric turbulence, which is why many telescopes are located atop mountains.

 Why Telescopes are Built on Mountains:

• Reduced Atmospheric Disturbance: Higher altitudes reduce air turbulence, enhancing telescope performance. For example, space telescopes like Hubble, located beyond the Earth''s atmosphere, have significantly better resolution (0.04 arcsec) compared to ground-based telescopes (0.3-0.5 arcsec).

New Technologies in Telescopes:

• Adaptive Optics: Use lasers to create artificial stars in the upper atmosphere. By analyzing air turbulence and correcting it using deformable mirrors, astronomers can obtain clearer images.
• Tomography: Further enhances resolution by examining air columns and correcting aberrations for more precise images.

 Limitations of Telescope Size:

• Primary Mirror Size:Larger mirrors can sag under their own weight, distorting images. Current technology limits mirror sizes to about 8.5 meters. Solutions include using segmented mirrors to counteract this issue.

Advanced Telescopes Around the World:

• Large Binocular Telescope (LBT): The largest operating telescope, with two 8.4-m mirrors and an effective aperture of 11.9 m, located in Arizona, USA.
• Extremely Large Telescope (ELT): Under construction in Chile, it will be the world''s largest optical telescope upon completion in 2028.
• Subaru Telescope: An 8.2-m-wide Japanese telescope that captured a faint object with a magnitude of 27.7 after 10 hours of exposure time.