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PM Vishwakarma Scheme
A group of artisans was addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently at a function honoring the PM Vishwakarma Yojana’s anniversary. At the occasion which was held at Wardha’s Swavalambai Ground the Prime Minister urged craftsmen to look into starting their own businesses.
What is the PM Vishwakarma Scheme?
A government initiative called the PM Vishwakarma Yojana aims to increase the success and productivity of those working in traditional industries like small-scale manufacturing and handicrafts. Since its inception, the program has benefited over 6.5 lakh (650,000) artisans by providing them with high-tech equipment and toolkits to enhance their work.
Financial Aid and Support
The financial assistance that the PM Vishwakarma Scheme offers is one of its main advantages. Up to 3 lakh rupees in loans are available to artisans to help fund their enterprises. 1,400 crore rupees worth of loans have been disbursed in the last year to support craftsmen especially those belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) populations.
New Schemes Announced
The Maharashtra government unveiled two new initiatives to encourage skill development and support craftsmen at the same event:
Acharya Chanakya Skill Development Center: This facility will help young people gain new skills and enhance their employment opportunities by offering free skill development courses.
Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Women Startup Scheme: This program supports women-led companies with the goal of assisting women in starting their own businesses and becoming independent.
These new initiatives aim to boost the status of craftsmen and inspire more people to start their own businesses.
About the PM Vishwakarma Scheme
The PM Vishwakarma Scheme was introduced in September 2023 with the goal of assisting traditional craftsmen and artisans throughout India. The scheme focuses on providing:
Skill enhancement to improve their crafts
Financial support through loans
Market access to more readily offer their goods
By encouraging traditional crafts the program seeks to preserve India’s cultural legacy while providing benefits to over a crore craftspeople nationwide. It includes constructing Vishwakarma Kendras where artists can access training and resources. It also fosters sustainable methods to guarantee long-term economic options for craftspeople and pushes them to embrace digital channels for product display and sales.
Union Cabinet Approves Next Generation Launch Vehicle
The Next Generation Launch Vehicle’s development has received approval from the Indian Union Cabinet which is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (NGLV). This move is a significant step toward India’s space exploration objectives and lays the groundwork for upcoming initiatives, such as the construction of the Indian Space Station (Bhartiya Antriksh Station) and a crewed lunar trip by 2040.
What is the NGLV?
The NGLV is a state-of-the-art rocket system that will enhance India’s capacity for space missions. It is a key part of India’s plan to expand its space program and take on larger more complex space projects in the future.
Payload Capacity
An essential characteristic of the NGLV is its capacity to launch substantially larger payloads into orbit. It can take up to 30 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) which is three times more than what India’s current LVM3 rocket can handle. India can now launch larger satellites and more ambitious space missions thanks to this.
Cost Efficiency
Even though the NGLV can carry a lot more into space it will only cost 50% more than the LVM3. This is significant because it renders the NGLV a financially viable option for India’s long-term space exploration projects.
Reusability Features
Reusability is one of the NGLV’s main innovations. This lowers expenses because the rocket’s components can be reused after a mission. Future space exploration will be more accessible since it will be less expensive to launch missions into space thanks to the reuse of parts.
Green Propulsion Technology
Green propulsion systems, which are made with the environment in mind will also be used by the NGLV. This is in line with the global movement toward more sustainable space practices. India is demonstrating its commitment to responsible space exploration by utilizing cleaner technologies.
Future Space Missions
Future space missions, including those that may launch humans into space will heavily rely on the NGLV. Additionally it will facilitate missions with larger payloads which are crucial for Moon exploration and the construction of the Indian Space Station. These missions are a part of India’s larger national development-focused Amrit Kaal era ambitions.
About India’s Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV)
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) created the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) to increase dependability and send larger satellites into orbit. It will feature reusable parts and is expected to have its first flight around 2025. The NGLV’s modular design allows it to be easily modified for various missions which makes it a valuable instrument for India’s expanding participation in the commercial space sector. The use of indigenous materials also highlights India’s focus on self-reliance in space technology.
In 2024 Amazon Will See Record Wildfires and Severe Drought
One of the worst droughts ever experienced by the Amazon region occurred in 2023 which caused important rivers like the Solimoes to have a severe decline in water levels. In September 2024 the Madeira River near Porto Velho had only 48 centimeters of water in it, as opposed to its typical 332 centimeters. The Brazilian government declared a state of emergency in six cities as a result of this significant development.
How the Drought Affected Biodiversity and Communities
Both the wildlife and the inhabitants of the Amazon have been severely impacted by the drought. Especially the Indigenous and riverine inhabitants, many communities rely on rivers for transportation. Travel has grown more challenging as a result of rivers drying up depriving residents of essential resources like food, fuel, and medication. The Amazon region, home to some 47 million people is particularly challenging because daily life depends heavily on its waterways.
Record-Breaking Wildfires
The drought also caused a surge in wildfires. There were roughly 11,500 fires in July 2023 but by August 2023 there were 38,000 fires the most in two decades. The amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere by these fires has increased significantly surpassing levels seen since 2005. This has worsened the environmental crisis.
What Caused the Drought?
The El Niño weather pattern which lowers rainfall, and climate change are the primary causes of the drought. The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) which regulates the amount of rain in the area, is another element. Less rain has fallen in the Amazon as a result of the ITCZ moving further north due to warmer ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
Over time the Amazon has seen an increase in the frequency and severity of droughts. There were significant droughts in 2005, 2010 and 2015–2016. There have been four significant droughts in the last 25 years indicating a concerning trend of increasingly frequent dry spells.
Long-Term Effects of the Drought
This ongoing drought could have serious long-term effects. More trees die as a result of dry circumstances which lowers the forest’s capacity to absorb carbon. Additionally it makes wildfires more likely. The entire scope of the drought’s effects is still unknown, but it will probably have a long-lasting effect on the ecosystem and the people whose livelihoods depend on the Amazon.
India Appoints Kumar Tuhin as Ambassador to the Netherlands
India now has Kumar Tuhin serving as its ambassador to the Netherlands. This was recently revealed by the Ministry of External Affairs and Tuhin is anticipated to start his new position shortly.
Professional Background
Tuhin joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1991 and is currently a member. Right now he serves as the Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ (ICCR) director general. He has held a number of significant positions both in India and elsewhere over his career.
Career Journey
From 1993 to 1995 Tuhin began his diplomatic career at the Indian embassy in Hong Kong. He later worked in Beijing in the Indian Embassy from 1995 to 1999 focusing on political concerns. Tuhin served as India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva from 1999 to 2002. Between 2009 and 2012 he was the Deputy Consul General in San Francisco after serving in Hanoi, Vietnam from 2005 to 2009.
Leadership Roles
Tuhin has been the head of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) since December 2021. Between June 2015 and October 2018 he served as Namibia’s High Commissioner and as Hungary’s Ambassador from November 2018 to November 2021.
Contributions to India’s Ministry of External Affairs
From 2002 to 2005 Tuhin served as Deputy Secretary/Director in New Delhi where he concentrated on China and East Asia. In addition he oversaw the Development Partnership Administration from 2012 to 2015 which aided India’s development and international aid initiatives.
Educational Background
Tuhin obtained a degree in mechanical engineering and began his career with the Indian Railways before enlisting in the Indian Foreign Service. Later on he joined the Indian Foreign Service and began a career in diplomacy. His extensive background and leadership in international relations are highlighted by his new role as ambassador to the Netherlands.
ADB Provides Rs 530 Crore for the Improvement of Tripura’s Water Supply
The government of Tripura will receive financial support of Rs 530 crore from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to enhance the quality of drinking water in 12 cities. Over 75,000 families will have their water problems resolved thanks to this project which will help about 400,000 people. This effort was started under the “Mukhyamantri Nagar Unnayan Prakalpa” scheme by Tripura’s Chief Minister Manik Saha. Within the following three years, the project is anticipated to be finished.
Key Details of the Scheme
Funding: The money comes from the Asian Development Bank.
Total Budget: The project has been granted a sum of Rs 530 crore.
Timeline: Three years are allotted for finishing the project.
Who Will Gain: The water supply in these 12 cities will be better for 75,000 families.
Cities Covered in the Project
The project will focus on the following 12 cities: Udaipur, Amarpur, Belonia, Melaghar, Bishramganj, Khowai, Ranir Bazar, Mohanpur, Dharmanagar, Kailashahar, Kumarghat, Ambassa. Of these, seven (Udaipur, Belonia, Bishramganj, Khowai, Dharmanagar, Kailashahar, Ambassa) are designated as district headquarters.
Infrastructure Improvements
Several significant infrastructure developments will occur as part of this project:
Installation of Pipelines: To distribute water, 305 km of new pipelines will be built.
Tubewells: 25 deep tubewells will be constructed to provide water from underground sources.
Iron Removal Plants: To improve the quality of the water, eighteen plants will be installed to remove excess iron from it.
Water Treatment Plants: Four facilities will be constructed to purify and disinfect water.
Water Reservoirs: 19 reservoirs will be constructed to store treated water.
After the current phase the project will expand to cover eight more cities including the Agartala Municipal Corporation,as part of the next phase.
About the Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has its headquarters in Manila, Philippines and was established in 1966. More than 40 of its 68 member nations are in Asia. The objectives of ADB are to encourage sustainable development and lessen poverty. It makes investments in a variety of fields, including education, health and infrastructure. Gender equality and climate change resilience are further areas of emphasis for the ADB. Masatsugu Asakawa took office as president in 2020.
India Opens First Complete Multi-Omics Cancer Data Portal
India’s first multi-omics data portal has been made available by the Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA). Researchers and physicians can now access vital patient data from Indian cancer patients thanks to this new portal. It contributes to the development of cancer medicines tailored especially for Indian patients marking a significant advancement in the field.
What are the Challenges in Cancer Treatment?
In the past, Western science was frequently the basis for cancer therapies in India. Cancers examined in the West may not always be the same as those found in Indian patients. This implies that certain treatments could not work as well since they don’t account for the particular traits that tumors have that are exclusive to Indian populations.
What is the Mission of ICGA?
The primary objective of the ICGA is to gather comprehensive data regarding the molecular features and genetic composition of malignancies in Indian patients. Afterwards with this data, medical professionals and researchers can develop more effective and customized treatment regimens especially for Indian patients.
Key Features of the Data Portal
This portal is the first of its kind in India that brings together various molecular data from patients with breast cancer, including information on their DNA, RNA and proteins. It is an important resource for further research because it also contains information on the patients’ responses to their therapies.
The portal now has data from 50 breast cancer patients, but the ICGA plans to increase this number to over 500 patients in the next year. This will provide an even larger pool of information for researchers to study.
Impact on Cancer Research
The multi-omics data gateway of the ICGA is anticipated to transform Indian cancer research. More thorough knowledge of the illness may result in advances in customized medicine, or cancer treatments designed with Indian patients’ requirements in mind.
About the Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA)
The 2020-founded ICGA seeks to use genomic research to comprehend diseases in India. It collaborates with other research institutions and focuses on malignancies that are common in India such as breast and oral cancer. By mapping genetic differences among Indian patients ICGA helps researchers develop more targeted cancer treatments and improve the understanding of how cancer works in different populations across India.
Launch of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” App by Union Ministry
At a press conference in New Delhi on October 10, 2023 Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia introduced the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” app. This software honors the relationship between moms and their children while promoting environmental protection.
What is the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” app?
The “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” app which was first released in 2020 by the Madhya Pradesh government, invites users to plant trees in memory of their moms. By monitoring tree growth and locations the app contributes to environmental awareness-building. It contributes to the battle against climate change, reforestation, strengthening ties between individuals and the natural world and enhancing community engagement with sustainable practices.
Key Features of the App
Easy to Use: Users can quickly open the app by tapping its icon which takes them to the home screen.
Easy Registration: Users are prompted to log in by entering their name and some information after hitting the upload button.
Photo Upload: The app lets users take a photo of the tree they’ve planted using their phone’s camera.
Tree Information: Users can add information on the type, location and reason for planting of the tree after capturing a photo of it.
Simple Image Submission: Without erasing any prior data users can choose to retake or submit their photo.
Location and Timestamp: When and where the tree was planted are automatically recorded by the app.
Progress tracking: To monitor the tree’s growth users are urged to submit photos every 30 days.
Carbon Credit Tracking: The app keeps track of the carbon credits obtained through tree planting and displays the contribution’s environmental impact for each one.
Social Media Sharing: People can encourage others to join by sharing their social media tree dedications.
The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ app encourages people to make a positive environmental impact by planting trees in honor of their mothers. It blends personal celebration with ecological preservation making it a meaningful approach to make the world a greener place. The official website offers the app for download and the Google Play Store will soon have it as well.