Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan

• Total Outlay: ₹79,156 crore (Central Share: ₹56,333 crore, State Share: ₹22,823 crore).
• Target Beneficiaries: Over 5 crore tribal people across approximately 63,000 villages.
• Coverage: 549 districts, 2,740 blocks across 30 States/UTs.

Goals and Objectives

1. Developing Enabling Infrastructure:

• Housing: Provide pucca houses and essential services (water, electricity) to eligible Scheduled Tribe (ST) households under PMAY (Gramin).
• Village Infrastructure: Improve road connectivity, mobile access, and health/nutrition/education facilities.

2. Promotion of Economic Empowerment:

• Skill Development: Training for ST youth, entrepreneurship promotion, and access to long-term skill courses.
• Livelihood Support: Marketing support via Tribal Multipurpose Marketing Centres (TMMCs) and assistance for agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries.

3. Universalization of Access to Good Education:

• Quality Education: Increase Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) and set up tribal hostels for better access to education.

4. Healthy Lives and Dignified Ageing:

• Healthcare Access: Enhance healthcare services to meet national standards, particularly in maternal and infant health, using Mobile Medical Units in remote areas.

Implementation and Monitoring

• Mapping and Monitoring: Tribal villages mapped on PM Gati Shakti Portal for identifying gaps and monitoring progress.
• Award System: Best-performing districts will receive recognition based on physical and financial progress.

Innovative Schemes

• Tribal Home Stay Initiative: Promote tourism through 1,000 home stays in tribal areas, funding provided for construction and renovation.
• Support for FRA Patta Holders: Focus on sustainable livelihoods for 22 lakh Forest Rights Act (FRA) patta holders, with convergence of multiple government schemes.
• Infrastructure Development for Schools: Upgrade facilities for tribal residential schools and hostels.

Health Initiatives

• Sickle Cell Disease Management: Establish Centers of Competence (CoC) for diagnosis and management of Sickle Cell Disease, with advanced facilities and prenatal diagnosis.

Marketing and Economic Support

• Tribal Multipurpose Marketing Centres (TMMCs): Set up 100 TMMCs to enhance marketing infrastructure, branding, and direct sales for tribal products.

Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PMJUGA)

• Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PMJUGA) is an initiative launched by the Government of India aimed at bringing socio-economic development to tribal communities residing in rural areas.
• The scheme will adopt saturation coverage for tribal families in tribal-majority villages and aspirational districts.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will act as the nodal ministry for the overall monitoring and implementation of the scheme. 

Cabinet approves ‘Bio-RIDE’ scheme to support cutting edge research and development in Biotechnology

Key highlights of the Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme

Overview

• Continuation of Umbrella Schemes: The scheme merges two existing initiatives under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
• Total Outlay: ₹9,197 crore for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Components of Bio-RIDE

• Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D).
• Industrial & Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED).
• Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry(new component).

Objectives

• Foster Innovation: Enhance research and product development in biotechnology.
• Promote Bio-Entrepreneurship: Nurture startups through seed funding, incubation, and mentorship.
• Facilitate Industry-Academia Collaboration: Create synergies to accelerate commercialization of bio-based products.
• Encourage Sustainable Practices: Focus on environmentally friendly biomanufacturing aligned with India’s green goals.
• Support Extramural Funding: Provide funding for diverse fields, including agriculture, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.
• Nurture Human Resources: Develop skills and capacity among students, young researchers, and scientists in biotechnology.

Circular Bioeconomy

• Biomanufacturing and Biofoundry Component: Aligns with the ''Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE)'' initiative to promote green solutions and tackle climate change.
• Goals: Improve healthcare outcomes, enhance agricultural productivity, and foster growth in the bioeconomy.

Vision and Impact

• Global Competitiveness: Position India as a leader in biotechnology research and innovation.
• Economic Target: Aim for a US$300 billion bioeconomy by 2030.
• Contribute to ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’: Support India’s long-term development goals.

Department of Biotechnology (DBT) 

It is a key ministry under the Government of India, established in 1986, focused on promoting research and innovation in biotechnology and its applications.

Objectives

• Promote Excellence in Biotechnology: Foster innovative research and development in biotechnology to enhance public health, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.
• Facilitate Technology Transfer: Support the commercialization of biotechnological innovations through partnerships with industry.
• Strengthen Human Resources: Develop skilled manpower in biotechnology through training and capacity-building initiatives.

Key Areas of Focus

• Health Care: Development of biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and diagnostic tools.
• Agriculture: Enhancing crop yield and resistance through biotechnological methods, including genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
• Environmental Biotechnology: Promoting bioremediation and sustainable practices to address environmental challenges.
• Industrial Biotechnology: Supporting the production of biofuels, bioplastics, and other bio-based products.

Cabinet approves continuation of schemes of Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)

• Cabinet Approval: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of PM-AASHA.
• Financial Outlay: ₹35,000 crore during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle (up to 2025-26).
• Objective: To provide remunerative prices to farmers and control price volatility of essential commodities for consumers.

Scheme Components

1. Price Support Scheme (PSS): Procurement of notified pulses, oilseeds, and copra at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
2. Price Stabilization Fund (PSF): Maintains strategic buffer stocks to manage price volatility.
3. Price Deficit Payment Scheme (PDPS): Compensation to farmers when market prices fall below MSP.
4. Market Intervention Scheme (MIS): Direct support to farmers for perishable horticultural crops.

Key Features

• Procurement Strategy: Starting from the 2024-25 season, procurement under PSS will be limited to 25% of national production for notified crops (except Tur, Urad, and Masur, which will have 100% procurement).
• Enhanced Government Guarantee: Increased to ₹45,000 crore for the procurement of notified crops at MSP.
• Support for Pre-registered Farmers: Procurement from farmers registered on the eSamridhi portal (NAFED) and eSamyukti portal (NCCF) when market prices fall below MSP.

Price Stabilization Fund (PSF)

• Buffer Stock Maintenance: Strategic stocks of pulses and onions to manage price fluctuations and protect consumers.
• Market Price Interventions: Procurement at market prices when they exceed MSP.

Price Deficit Payment Scheme (PDPS)

• Enhanced Coverage: Coverage increased from 25% to 40% of state production of oilseeds.
• Extended Implementation Period: Increased from 3 months to 4 months for farmer benefits.

Market Intervention Scheme (MIS)

• Increased Coverage: From 20% to 25% of production of perishable horticultural crops.
• Direct Payments to Farmers: New provision for direct payments into farmers'' accounts instead of physical procurement.
• Support for TOP Crops: Government will cover transportation and storage expenses for operations by NAFED and NCCF during peak harvest times.

Pradhan Mantri AASHA Scheme

• PM AASHA Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan) is an umbrella scheme designed to ensure farmers receive fair prices for their produce.
• The scheme is part of the Union Government’s commitment in the 2018 Union Budget to pay farmers a fair price for their produce.
• The scheme is intended to supplement the increase in Minimum Support Price (MSP), translated into farmer income through a robust procurement mechanism developed in collaboration with the states.
• Additionally, the Indian government implemented this program in response to farmer unrest across the nation due to many important agricultural commodities trading below their MSP.

Concerns and Challenges of the PM AASHA Scheme

• There is a lack of awareness about the scheme among farmers, especially small and marginal farmers.

This is due to many factors:

1. poor communication and outreach efforts by the government,
2. illiteracy among farmers, and 
3. the remoteness of many rural areas.

• The prices offered to farmers under the scheme are often lower than the market prices.

This is due to many factors:

1. high cost of production,
2. low demand for agricultural produce, and 
3. government''s monopoly on the procurement of agricultural produce.
4. The infrastructure for the storage, processing, and marketing of agricultural produce is inadequate. 
5. The scheme is heavily dependent on government support. This makes it vulnerable to political interference and to changes in government policies.

India goes to Moon again: This time to come back to Earth after landing on the Moon

• Cabinet gave approval for CHANDRAYAAN-4 Mission in the series of Chandrayaan-1,2&3.
• Mission to Moon after the successful Chandrayaan-3 to demonstrate technologies to come back to Earth from Moon and to bring samples.
• The mission is part of India’s broader vision for its space program during the Amrit Kaal, which includes:

1. Establishing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035
2. Achieving an Indian landing on the Moon by 2040

Chandrayaan-4 Mission

• Following the success of Chandrayaan-3, ISRO is now turning its attention to Chandrayaan-4, a lunar sample-return mission.
• This ambitious project aims to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, collect lunar rock samples, and return them to Earth.
• If successful, India would join the ranks of the United States, Russia, and China in accomplishing this challenging feat.

Key Objectives of the Mission

• Achieving a safe and gentle landing on the lunar surface.
• Collecting and storing lunar samples.
• Lifting off from the Moon''s surface.
• Docking and undocking in lunar orbit.
• Transferring samples between spacecraft modules.
• Returning the collected samples safely to Earth.

Mission Strategy and Components

• Chandrayaan-4’s strategy is notably complex, involving five distinct components of the spacecraft:
• Propulsion System: Responsible for transporting the lander and ascender stages to the Moon.
• Descender: Designed for the lunar landing, carrying equipment for soil sampling.
• Ascender: Detaches from the lander after collecting samples, then lifts off from the lunar surface.
• Transfer Module: Receives samples from the Ascender and transports them to the Re-entry module.
• Re-entry Module: Safely brings the lunar samples back to Earth, designed to withstand the re-entry into Earth''s atmosphere.

Bharatiya Antariksh Station

• The Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) is envisioned as India’s first operational space station, planned to enhance the country''s capabilities in space research and technology.
• It aims to serve as a hub for scientific experiments and technological developments in microgravity environments.

Benefits of BAS

• Microgravity Research: BAS will enable extensive research in microgravity conditions, which is crucial for advancements in medicine, pharmaceuticals, and material sciences.
• Space Technology Development: The station will facilitate the development of new space technologies, including robotics and artificial intelligence applications for space exploration.
• Environmental Studies: BAS will provide a unique vantage point to study Earth’s climate and environmental changes, offering valuable data that can inform global climate initiatives.
• Educational Opportunities: BAS will offer unprecedented opportunities for Indian researchers and students to engage directly in space research, enhancing educational programs and inspiring future innovations.

Indus waters: India to freeze talks with Pak

Indus Water Treaty (IWT) Overview

The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan to regulate the sharing of six major rivers of the Indus basin, namely the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab (Western rivers), and Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej (Eastern rivers). The treaty was brokered by the World Bank and has been instrumental in resolving water-sharing disputes between the two countries, even during periods of war and political tensions.

Permanent Indus Commission (PIC)

• The PIC is the most consequential product of the IWT, created to oversee the implementation of the treaty.
• Commissioners from both India and Pakistan are mandated to meet at least once a year, with multiple meetings possible if necessary.
• These meetings help resolve issues related to water-sharing and construction of hydropower projects on the rivers covered by the treaty.

Despite tensions and conflicts between India and Pakistan, the PIC has functioned continuously, acting as a critical tool for water diplomacy.

Current Developments: India’s Call for Renegotiation

• Suspension of Meetings: No further PIC meetings will take place until the governments of India and Pakistan meet to discuss the renegotiation of the 64-year-old IWT, as informed by a senior Indian official.
• Lack of Response: India has sent four communications to Pakistan since January 2023, requesting talks on revising the treaty, but has not received a "satisfactory response."
• Renegotiation Trigger: India’s main concern is the need to reassess certain obligations under the treaty due to fundamental and unforeseen changes. These include:
  • Changes in population demographics.
  • Environmental challenges, including the need to accelerate clean energy development.
  • The impact of persistent cross-border terrorism.

Impact on the Permanent Indus Commission

• India has proposed that only governments can renegotiate the treaty, not the commissioners, as their role is limited to executing the terms of the treaty.
• If governmental negotiations are initiated, India may consider reviving the PIC as a goodwill gesture.

Dispute Resolution Mechanism

• One of India''s primary focuses in renegotiating the treaty is the dispute resolution mechanism.
• Treaty Allocation:
• India has full rights over the eastern rivers (Beas, Ravi, Sutlej) and limited rights over the western rivers (Chenab, Jhelum, Indus).
• India can use the waters of the western rivers for non-consumptive purposes like hydropower generation and limited irrigation.

The treaty has remained a cornerstone of water diplomacy between India and Pakistan, but the evolving challenges in the region, including climate change, energy needs, and security concerns, necessitate a reassessment of the treaty''s terms.