Welfare

Context: The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, launched on December 3, 2015, coinciding with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, recently marked nine years of progress. The initiative aims to create a barrier-free environment for Divyangjans (Persons with Disabilities) across the country. Implementing Agency: Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities …

The ongoing discussions within the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) focus on establishing a global treaty to address plastic pollution. The treaty aims to provide a comprehensive framework to reduce plastic waste, with particular attention to creating fair conditions for informal waste workers. What …

Purpose: Organized by the Indian Society of Soil Science (ISSS) in collaboration with the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), the GSC aimed to address critical challenges related to sustainable soil and resource management. Theme: Caring Soils Beyond Food Security: Climate Change Mitigation & Ecosystem Services. Key Focus Areas: Recognition …

Overview: The Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the “Bhu-Neer” portal at the concluding ceremony of India Water Week 2024. It has been developed by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), in partnership with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), with the goal of enhancing groundwater regulation across the country. Key Features …

Context At COP29, the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FF-NPT) gained significant momentum. Inspired by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, this initiative seeks to regulate fossil fuel production as a targeted approach to combat climate change. Activists and countries are increasingly advocating for its adoption to address the climate crisis effectively. Need …

Context Recent initiatives like the PM Vishwakarma scheme and the National Education Policy (NEP) treat caste as a cultural and occupational identity. While these efforts aim to promote inclusion, they raise concerns about achieving real equality.   Key Concepts Culturalisation of Caste Caste is increasingly seen as part of culture, …

The PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme, a recently approved central sector initiative, aims to support students pursuing higher education. Scheme Features Eligibility: The scheme is open to students gaining admission in institutions listed within the top 100 of the NIRF rankings (overall, category-specific, and domain-specific). Collateral-Free Loans: Students can avail themselves of education …

Background: The ILO report titled ‘The Impact of Care Responsibilities on Women’s Labour Force Participation (WLP)’ highlights the barriers that caregiving responsibilities pose to Indian women’s participation in the workforce. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): Represents the proportion of individuals within a population who are either employed or actively seeking …

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) represents the total monetary value of all goods and services produced within a country’s borders over a specified period. While it is widely used as an indicator of economic performance, it has significant limitations in assessing overall well-being and environmental health. Criticisms of GDP as an …

Context (TH|DDN): The Prime Minister has introduced the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card as part of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). Coverage: Provides an annual health cover of ₹5 lakh per family specifically targeting elderly individuals aged 70 years and above. If multiple elderly members are …