GS1
CATEGORY: SOCIAL ISSUES
- Centre launches 24/7 toll-free mental health rehab helpline
The issue in news
The Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has launched “KIRAN” – the mental health rehabilitation helpline.
- It is a 24/7 toll-free helpline to provide support to people facing anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health concerns.
- The helpline will be available in 13 languages.
- It would function as the first step for callers to get advice, counselling and referral to psychologists and psychiatrists.
Note:
- According to a NIMHANS survey in 2015-2016, while 10.6% of adults and 7.3% of adolescents faced mental illness, there was a shortage of qualified mental health professionals.
- Literacy Rate Report
The issue in news
the report on ‘Household Social Consumption: Education in India as part of 75 round of National Sample Survey – from July 2017 to June 2018’ was recently released
- This report is based on a survey of National Statistical Office (NSO) survey .
- it provides state wise information regarding the literacy rate about people aged seven years and above
Main points
Overall Literacy Rate in India is 77.7%.
- Urban Areas: 87.7%.
- Rural areas: 73.5%.
- Male Literacy Rate: 84.7%.
- Female Literacy Rate: 70.3%.
- Female literacy rate is lower than the male literacy rate
- Best Performers: Kerala > Delhi > Uttarakhand > Himachal Pradesh > Assam.
- Worst Performers: Andhra Pradesh < Rajasthan < Bihar < Telangana < Uttar Pradesh.
Data on Digital Literacy:
- Urban households – 23%
- rural households – 4%
- Goal 4 of SDG corresponds to “ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning”.
Government Initiatives For Education and Literacy:
- National Education Policy, 2020
- Samagra Shiksha: an integrated scheme for school education extending from pre-school to class XII
- Mid Day Meal Scheme
- Eklavya Model School and Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship
- Scheme
For Digital Literacy:
- Digital India Programme
- Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan
- National Digital Literacy Mission
- Bharat Net Programme
GS 3
Category: ECONOMY
- RBI sets sectoral norms for resolution of COVID-19 related stressed assets
The issue in news
The Reserve Bank has specified five financial ratios and sector-specific thresholds for resolution of COVID- 19 related stressed assets in 26 sectors, including auto components, aviation, and tourism.
Background of the issue:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had constituted the proposed expert committee under the chairmanship of K.V. Kamath to make recommendations on norms for the resolution of COVID-19 related stressed loans.
- The K.V. Kamath committee submitted its report on September 4, 2020.
Main points
- The key financial ratios suggested by the committee are total outside liabilities/adjusted tangible net worth; total debt/EBITDA; current ratio, which is current assets divided by current liabilities; debt service coverage ratio; and average debt service coverage ratio.
- The ratios prescribed are intended as floors or ceilings, but the resolution plans shall take into account the pre-COVID-19 operating and financial performance of the borrower.
- The lending institutions may, at their discretion, adopt a graded approach depending on the severity of the impact on borrowers while implementing the resolution plan.
- RBI to buy, sell G-secs worth 10,000 crore
The issue in news
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the simultaneous purchase and sale of Government of India securities (G-secs) for 10,000 crore each under the open market operations (OMO).
Government of India securities (G-secs)
- A Government Security (G-Sec) is a tradeable instrument issued by the Central Government or the State Governments.
- It acknowledges the Government’s debt obligation.
- Such securities are of two types: o Short term (usually called treasury bills, with original maturities of less than one year).
- Long term (usually called Government bonds or dated securities with an original maturity of one year or more).
- In India, the Central Government issues both treasury bills and bonds or dated securities while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs).
- G-Secs carry practically no risk of default and, hence, are called risk-free gilt-edged instruments.
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