1.Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)

• Launched in 2018: Aims to achieve universal health coverage.
• Key Components: AB PM-JAY and Ayushman Arogya Mandir.
• AB PM-JAY:
  • Largest publicly funded health assurance scheme in the world.
  • Provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
  • Covers pre-hospitalization (3 days) and post-hospitalization (15 days) expenses.
  • Cashless treatment at empanelled public or private hospitals.
  • No restriction on family size, age, or gender.
  • Eligibility based on SECC 2011 data.
  • Funding shared by Centre and state (60:40 ratio, 90:10 for NE states and UTs).
• Ayushman Arogya Mandir:
  • 1,50,000 Health and Wellness Centres created.
  • Upgraded SHCs and PHCs to bring healthcare closer to the community.
  • Aim to provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) and follow-up care.
  • Provide essential health services, medicines, and diagnostics.

 

 

2.India Eliminated Trachoma

• WHO Declaration: India declared trachoma-free as a public health problem.
• Trachoma: Eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, contagious, and can lead to blindness.
• India’s Efforts:
  • National Trachoma Control Program launched in 1963.
  • Integrated into National Program for Control of Blindness.
  • WHO-SAFE strategy implemented (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial hygiene, Environmental cleanliness).
  • Declared free from infective trachoma in 2017.
  • Continued surveillance till 2024.

 

 

3.Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana (NPY)

• Centrally sponsored scheme: Under National Health Mission (NHM).
• Launched: 2018.
• Benefits: Provides monthly nutrition support (Rs. 1,000/month) to TB patients.
• Aim: To aid nutritional recovery, improve treatment response, and reduce TB mortality.
• India’s TB burden: Highest in the world, with an estimated 4,80,000 deaths annually.
• Target: India aims to eliminate TB by 2025 (global target is 2030).

 

 

 

4.Atal Pension Yojana (APY)

• Launched: 9th May 2015.
• Aim: Universal social security for poor, underprivileged, and unorganized sector workers.
• Administered by: PFRDA under NPS.
• Benefits: Guaranteed pension for life, extended to spouse after demise, accumulated corpus returned to nominee.
• Eligibility: Open to bank account holders aged 18-40, not income taxpayers.
• Contributions: Vary based on chosen pension amount (guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs. 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, or 5000 after 60).
• Progress: Scheme in its 10th year, focusing on bringing vulnerable sections under pension coverage.

 

 

 

5.USCIRF Report on India: Clashing Perspectives on Religious Freedom

About USCIRF

• The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent U.S. agency monitoring global religious freedom.
• It assesses countries based on international standards and recommends designations like “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) to the State Department.
• It differs from the State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF), which issues reports impacting U.S. foreign policy.

USCIRF’s Concerns

• 2024 update highlights a decline in religious freedom in India, citing violence, arrests of minorities, and destruction of religious sites.
• It criticizes discriminatory laws like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), anti-conversion laws, and cow slaughter bans.
• USCIRF recommends designating India as a CPC, potentially leading to sanctions.

India’s Response

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly rejects the report, calling USCIRF “biased” and its narrative “motivated.”
• India criticizes the report for misrepresenting facts and promoting an inaccurate view of religious freedom in the country.

 

 

6.MACE Observatory: India’s Giant Leap in Astronomy

A Pioneering Endeavor

• Largest in Asia: MACE marks a significant milestone for India, becoming the biggest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia.
• Reaching New Heights: Located at a staggering 4,300 meters, MACE is the world’s highest Cherenkov telescope, pushing the boundaries of space exploration.
• Made in India: This indigenous project, led by BARC with Indian industry partners, showcases India’s growing prowess in cutting-edge technology development.

Unlocking the Universe’s Secrets

• Cosmic Ray Powerhouse: MACE propels India to the forefront of cosmic-ray research, unraveling the mysteries of high-energy phenomena in the cosmos.
• Understanding the Energetic Universe: By studying gamma rays from supernovae, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts, MACE will shed light on the most powerful events in the universe.

A Beacon for Collaboration and Development

• Global Impact: MACE complements existing observatories worldwide, fostering international collaboration in space research and solidifying India’s position in multi-messenger astronomy.
• Benefits for Ladakh: The project contributes to the region’s development by promoting scientific research and potentially creating new opportunities.
• Legacy of Dr. Homi J. Bhabha: MACE honors the vision of Dr. Bhabha, a pioneer in Indian science, and inspires future generations of astrophysicists.

 

 

7.Humsafar Policy

• Launched by: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways.
• Aim: To offer a convenient, safe, and enjoyable highway user experience.
• Key features:
  • Hygienic and well-maintained toilets.
  • Dedicated rooms for baby care and wheelchair provisions.
  • EV charging stations at strategic points.
  • Restaurants and food courts at regular intervals.
  • Dormitories at fuel stations for short-term accommodation.

 

 

8.Plankton Bloom

• Cause: Drought in southern Africa led to dust emission, which was transported and deposited into nutrient-limited surface waters southeast of Madagascar.
• Definition: Sudden increase in the population of phytoplankton (microscopic plants) and zooplankton (microscopic animals) in aquatic ecosystems.
• Factors: Physical conditions and nutrient levels.
• Duration: Can be quick events lasting a few days or several weeks.
• Scale: Can occur on a small scale or cover hundreds of square kilometers.

 

 

 

9.Silicosis

• Lung disease: Caused by inhaling silica dust (found in mining, construction, stone cutting).
• Symptoms: Coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain.
• Types: Chronic, accelerated, acute.
• Non-contagious: Not caused by virus or bacteria.
• No cure: Lung damage is irreversible.

 

 

10.70th National Film Awards

• Most prestigious awards in India for filmmaking talent.
• Awarded annually in three sections: Features, Non-Features, Best Writing on Cinema.
• History: First presented in 1954 as “State Awards,” separate awards for artists and technicians instituted in 1968.
• Key Recipients:
  • Best Feature Film: Aattam (The Play)
  • Best Non-feature film: Ayena (Mirror)
  • Best Actor: Rishab Shetty (Kantara)
  • Best Actress: Nithya Menen (Thiruchitrambalam) and Manasi Parekh (Kutch Express)
  • Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award: Mithun Chakraborty (for 2022)