President Smt. Droupadi Murmu to Inaugurate Aadi Mahotsav at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi on 10th February 2024

About the Aadi Mahotsav:

• It is organised by Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) under the aegis of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and will showcase the rich diversity of India''s tribal heritage.
• It is not only a platform to exhibit the extraordinary talent and craftsmanship of tribal artisans but also an opportunity to interact, learn, and contribute to the empowerment of tribal communities.
• The festival will feature an expanded showcase with over 300 stalls, offering varied display of Tribal art, handicrafts, natural produce, and delectable tribal cuisine.

What is TRIFED?

• It is a national-level organisation under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• It is primarily engaged in the development and marketing of tribal handicrafts and natural products.
• It came into existence in 1987 and got registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 (now the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002).
• Mandate: Capability enhancement for Tribals, promotion of tribal products, and creation of marketing opportunities for the Tribals with a view to ensuring remunerative prices for their products and augmenting their income on a sustainable basis.
• It has been entrusted by the Government of India to implement its proposed Minimum Support Price Scheme for Minor Forest Produce.
• Head Office: New Delhi

Cabinet approves "Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)" a Central Sector Sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada for the fisheries sector micro and small enterprises and envisages an investment of over rupees six thousand crore in the next four years

About Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana:

• It will be implemented as a Central Sector Sub-scheme under the Central Sector Component of the PMMSY.
• Funding: Implemented at an estimated outlay of Rs.6,000 crore consisting of 50% i.e. Rs.3,000 crore public finance including the World Bank and the AFD external financing, and rest 50% i.e. Rs.3,000 crore being the anticipated investment from the beneficiaries/private sector leverage.
• Time period: It will be implemented for 4 years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 across all the States and UTs.
• Intended Beneficiaries:
• Fishers, Fish (Aquaculture) Farmers, Fish workers, Fish Vendors or such other persons directly engaged in fisheries value chain.
• Micro and Small enterprises in the form of Proprietary Firms, Partnership Firms and Companies registered in India, Societies, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), Cooperatives, Federations, Village Level Organizations like Self Help Groups (SHGs), Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs) and Startups engaged in fisheries and aquaculture value chains.
• FFPOs also include Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs).
• Any other beneficiaries that may be included by the Department of Fisheries, Gol as targeted beneficiaries.
• Aims and objectives:
• Gradual Formalisation of the unorganised fisheries sector through self-registration of fishers, fish farmers and supportive workers under a National Fisheries Sector Digital Platform including creation of work based digital identifies of fish workers for improved service delivery.
• Facilitating access to institutional financing fisheries sector micro and small enterprises.
• Providing a one-time incentive to beneficiaries for purchasing aquaculture insurance.
• incentivizing fisheries and aquaculture microenterprises through performance grants for improving fisheries sector value-chain efficiencies including creation and maintenance of jobs.
• Incentivising micro and small enterprises through performance grants for adoption and expansion of fish and fishery product safety and quality assurance systems including creation and maintenance of jobs.

Quality Council of India and Open Network for Digital Commerce launch DigiReady Certification Portal to empower MSMEs and small retailers

About DigiReady Certification:

• In this initiative, QCI, in conjunction with ONDC, aims to assess and certify digital readiness of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) entities.
• By leveraging this online self-assessment tool, MSMEs can evaluate their preparedness to seamlessly onboard as sellers on the ONDC platform, thereby expanding their digital capabilities and business potential.
• The portal is meticulously designed to facilitate a streamlined seller journey, ensuring that MSMEs and small retailers can integrate seamlessly into existing digitised workflows.
• The certification process evaluates various aspects of digital readiness, including the presence of necessary documentation for online operations, proficiency in using software and technology, integration with existing digitised workflows, and efficient management of orders and catalogue offerings.
• Significance: This initiative presents additional business prospects for sellers, allowing them to become integral to the digital ecosystem.

Key points about Quality Council of India

• It was established in 1997 jointly by the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and the Indian industry.
• It is registered as a non-profit organisation under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.
• It is operated through the constituent Boards of QCI, primarily the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), and the National Accreditation Board for Testing & Calibration Laboratories (NABL),
• Composition
• It is governed by a Council of 38 members with equal representations of government, industry and consumers.
• The Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the industry to the government.

Will the new BoT model bring back private developers?

About Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Model:

• It is a type of agreement often used in infrastructure projects, particularly in the construction and operation of public facilities or utilities.
• It is a conventional public-private partnership (PPP) model in which a private entity (usually a company or consortium) is granted the rights and responsibilities to design, finance, construct, operate, and maintain a specific project or facility for a defined period of time.
• The private entity, known as the "concessionaire" or "developer," bears the financial and operational risks associated with the project during the contract period.
• The typical lifecycle of a BOT contract involves three phases:
• Build: The concessionaire is responsible for financing, designing, and constructing the infrastructure project. This phase usually includes obtaining the necessary permits and approvals.
• Operate: After the construction is completed,
• specified duration. This can involve providing services, managing operations, and generating revenue from the facility (e.g., tolls, fees, or user charges).
• Transfer: At the end of the contract period, the ownership and control of the facility are transferred back to the government or public authority, which may have been the original owner. The transfer is often accompanied by a predetermined valuation or compensation mechanism.
• The private company gains revenue during the concession period, while the government benefits from infrastructure development without upfront investment.
• However, the specifics of the financial arrangements and incentives vary depending on the individual BOT contract.
• BOT is particularly well-suited for greenfield projects (new projects without prior work) and large-scale, capital-intensive projects.

Researchers unveil method to detect ''forever chemicals'' in under 3 minutes

About Forever Chemicals:

• PFAS (Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances), also known as the Forever Chemicals, are a large chemical family of over 4,700 highly persistent man-made chemicals.
• These were first developed in the 1940s and are now found in a variety of consumer products, including nonstick pans, water-resistant textiles, and fire suppression foams, due to their ability to repel both grease and water.
• PFAS are the most persistent synthetic chemicals to date. They hardly degrade in the natural environment and have been found in the blood of people and animals all over the world, and are present at low levels in a variety of food products.
• The secret to PFAS’s indestructibility lies in its chemical bonds. PFAS contains many carbon-fluorine bonds, which are the strongest bonds in organic chemistry.
• These chemicals also cause pollution at every stage of production. At the PFAS chemical manufacturing facilities and garment factories, they often contaminate the air, water, and soil of the surrounding environment.
• Exposure to PFAS is linked to cancers, weakened immune systems among children, weight gain, and a wide range of other health problems.

Over 600 rescued turtles released in Gomti river

About Gomti River:

• It is a tributary of the Ganges River. 
• Course:
• Origin: It is an alluvial river that originates from the Gomat Taal, otherwise called Fulhaar Jheel, found near the Madho Tanda in Pilibhit district in Uttar Pradesh, India. 
• After flowing through an incised valley southwards through the districts of Sitapur, Lucknow, Barabanki, Sultanpur, and Jaunpur, it joins River Ganga near Varanasi.
• The river extends to about 900 km.
• The total drainage area of the river is 30,437 sq. km.
• It is a perennial river. The river is characterised by sluggish flow throughout the year, except during the monsoon season, when heavy rainfall causes a manifold increase in the runoff.
• Major Cities: There are various cities that are situated on the banks of the River Gomti, such as Sultanpur, Lucknow, Jaunpur, and Lakhimpur Kheri.
• Tributaries: Kathina, Bhainsi, Sarayan, Gon, Reth, Sai, Pili, and Kalyani.