16-02-22 Daily-Himachal Pradesh-HPPSC Current Affairs

The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for providing subsidy on the purchase of pesticides to fruit growers has received a poor response. Only a handful of fruit growers have completed the required formalities to claim the subsidy. The response has been poor. Not many growers have come forward to claim the subsidy amount in Shimla district where the consumption of pesticides is the highest because of high apple production, says Desh Raj Sharma, Deputy Director, Shimla. The response in other districts, too, has been lukewarm.

Till last year, when the scheme was introduced, the growers used to get subsidised pesticides from around 350 outlets in the state. The Horticulture Department used to purchase pesticides worth Rs around Rs 18 crore to Rs 20 crore from the market and sell it to the growers on subsidised rates. Under the DBT scheme, a grower can claim a subsidy of Rs 4,000 per hectare for temperate fruits such as apple and pear, and Rs 2,000 per hectare for sub-tropical fruits such as mango, and guava. To avail of the subsidy, the growers have to buy the pesticides mentioned in the spray schedule of the Horticulture Department from the empanelled companies and then upload the bills along with the forms and revenue papers/Udyan card on the e-Udyan portal.

The scheme, however, has failed to catch the growers attention so far. Even in a big horticulture block like Theog, the department has received just eight to 10 claims so far. Maybe people are not aware of the scheme or they are hesitating because of the formalities involved, says Suneel Sharma, HDO, Theog.

More than nine crore rural households across the country are now receiving clean tap water under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the government.

Since the announcement of the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019, households across 98 districts, 1,129 blocks, 66,067 gram panchayats and 1,36,135 villages have been receiving clean tap water, according to a statement issued by the Jal Shakti Ministry.

In Goa,Haryana,, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Dadra andNagar Haveliand Daman and Diu, every rural household has tap water supply

Department of Social & Empowerment launched the SMILE: Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise scheme on February 12, 2022, in New Delhi.

SMILE is a Central Sector scheme. It is dubbed as Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. It was launched by Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment. The scheme has been designed for providing welfare measures to Transgender community and people engaged in begging.

SMILE scheme seeks to strengthens and expands the reach of Rights that give necessary legal protection and secured life to targeted group. It keeps in mind the social security required through multiple dimensions of identity, Education, medical care, shelter, and occupational opportunities.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently launched the PSLV C52 rocket successfully. The rocket carried two small satellites and EOS 04. The two small satellites were Inspiresat 1 and INS 2TD. This is the first launch of 2022. And it is the first launch since the failure of EOS 03 mission. The EOS 03 failed as the cryogenic upper stage did not ignite.

After 22 minutes of the launch, the fourth stage was passivated. This was done by removing excess propellants. The propellants used were mixed oxides of nitrogen and mono methyl hydrazine. Removing excess fuel is called passivation. Passivation lasted for ten minutes.

It is a radar imaging satellite. It was designed to provide quality image. This includes Forestry, <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture, flood mapping, moisture, plantations and hydrology. It is to supplement the data from RISAT 2B series, Cartosat and Resourcesat series. The mission life of EOS 04 is ten years. It weighs 1,710 kg.

Union Government approved the Scheme of Modernisation of State Police Forces (MPF) for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.

This is a scheme to modernise and improve police forces across the states and union territories. It will continue for another five years.

A total financial outlay ofRs 26,275 crore has been dedicated to the scheme.

Under the MPF scheme, provision has been made for law & order, Internal Security, adoption of modern technology by police, assisting states and union territories for control. It also aims to strengthen the criminal Justice system by developing a robust forensic set-up in India. Central government will provideRs 4,846 crore to modernize state police forces.

The Economic Intelligence Unit recently released the Democracy Index Report, 2021. The report described the state of democracy in 165 countries.

The report was prepared based on five parameters. They were functioning of the government, electoral process and pluralism, political participation, civil liberties and political culture.

Norway topped the index. The country scored 9.75. Following Norway, New Zealand was at the second position. Finland, Sweden and Iceland were at the third, fourth and fifth position respectively. Afghanistan scored the least with 0.32. Earlier North Korea was at the bottom most position.

One third of the world Population is living under authoritarian rule. 6.4% is having full democracy. The current global democracy score is 5.28 out of 10.

China was ranked at 148^thposition. Myanmar: 166, Nepal: 1010, Pakistan: 104, Bhutan: 81, Bangladesh: 75, Sri Lanka: 67

The Ministry of Culture arranges a worldwide Summit on reimagining museums in India.

Highlights

The summit is the first of its kind. The summit will be inaugurated by the Union Minister of Culture, Shri Kishan Reddy.

The summit is to specialize in developing museums in India. The most intention is to cultivate new practices and methods to develop the Indian museums.

The summit is organized as a neighborhood of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. It’s a program to mark the 75th anniversary of Indian independence.

The summit will compile the experts and practitioners within museum management from everywhere on the planet.