part 1

[Virtual Presenter] Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 1.

[Audio] Current Affairs Study PDF – October 2024 Current Affairs for Competitive Exam Table of Contents NATIONAL AFFAIRS .......................................................................................................................................... 6 CABINET APPROVALS ............................................................................................................................................... 6 PARLIAMENT NEWS ................................................................................................................................................ 16 LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION ............................................................................................................................... 18 FESTIVAL ................................................................................................................................................................... 41 OTHER NEWS ............................................................................................................................................................ 41 STATE NEWS .................................................................................................................................................... 67 GOVT SHCEMES ................................................................................................................................................. 71 CENTRAL SCHEMES ................................................................................................................................................. 71 STATE GOVT SCHEMES ........................................................................................................................................... 87 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS .............................................................................................................................. 88 VISITS............................................................................................................................................................... 95 INDIAN VISITS .......................................................................................................................................................... 95 FOREIGN VISITS ..................................................................................................................................................... 101 BANKING & FINANCE NEWS .......................................................................................................................... 111 BANKING NEWS ..................................................................................................................................................... 111 RBI IN NEWS ........................................................................................................................................................... 111 SEBI .......................................................................................................................................................................... 118 LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS ..................................................................................................................................... 125 AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED............................................................................................................................ 128 OTHER BANK NEWS .............................................................................................................................................. 134 FINANCE NEWS....................................................................................................................................................... 141 ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS ....................................................................................................................... 148 MoU's & AGREEMENTS .................................................................................................................................. 153 COMMITTEES & MEETINGS ........................................................................................................................... 163 SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE .............................................................................................................. 170 INDEX ............................................................................................................................................................. 184 RANKING ................................................................................................................................................................. 184 REPORTS ................................................................................................................................................................. 192 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS .......................................................................................................................... 209 Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 4.

[Audio] APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS .............................................................................................................. 235 ACQUISITION & MERGERS ............................................................................................................................ 249 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY .............................................................................................................................. 253 DEFENCE ........................................................................................................................................................ 260 EXERCISE ................................................................................................................................................................. 260 MoU Signed ............................................................................................................................................................. 263 TEST ......................................................................................................................................................................... 264 OTHER DEFENCE NEWS ........................................................................................................................................ 264 SPORTS .......................................................................................................................................................... 273 OBITUARY ..................................................................................................................................................... 285 BOOKS & AUTHORS ....................................................................................................................................... 288 IMPORTANT DAYS ........................................................................................................................................ 290 APPS & WEB PORTAL .................................................................................................................................... 335 ENVIRONMENT .............................................................................................................................................. 336 Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 5.

[Audio] NATIONAL AFFAIRS CABINET APPROVALS Union Cabinet Approved Establishment of NCoE for AVGC in Mumbai On 18th September 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It will be administered by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoI&B). This marks a significant step in strengthening India's media and entertainment industry. It is expected to boost Indian economy while creating new job opportunities in the rapidly growing AVGC sector. Note: i.In Union Budget for Financial Year 2022-23 (FY23), the Union Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs (MoF&CA) had announced the establishment of NCoE for AVGC-XR in India. ii.According to the FICCI-EY Report 2023, the animation industry in India is boasting a growth rate of 25% and an estimated value of Rs 46 billion by 2023. About NCoE AVGC-XR: i.It will be established as Section 8 Company under the Companies Act, 2013 in India with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) representing the industry bodies as partners with the Government of India (GoI). ii.It aims to create a world class talent pool in India to address to the Indian as well as global entertainment industry. The centre is estimated to generate 5 lakh jobs. iii.It has been named provisionally as Indian Institute for Immersive Creators (IIIC), which will revolutionalise the AVGC sector and promote innovation in immersive technologies. It will be modeled after prestigious Indian institutes: Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institute of Management (IIMs). Key Features: i.It will mainly focus on creation of India's Intellectual Property (IP) for both domestic and international consumption. ii.It will act as an incubation centre by providing resources for supporting startups and early stage companies in AVGC-XR field. iii.It will help India to position as content hub for providing the state-of-the art content. iv.It will foster Research and Development (R&D) and will bring together experts across fields of science and arts that can lead to major breakthroughs in AVGC-XR. v.It will enhance India's soft power globally and will attract foreign investment into the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector. Key Objectives: i.It will have integrated focus on education, skilling industry, development, and innovation. ii.IIIC as the hub and various other centre's dedicated to innovation and research fund to support start-up ecosystem. iii.It will create a dynamic ecosystem and R&D, and innovation in immersive technologies by fostering Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 6.

[Audio] collaborations between the centre and state governments, academia and industry. About Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB): Union Minister- Ashwini Vaishnaw (Rajya Sabha member- Odisha) Minister of State (MoS)- Longanathan Murugan (Rajya Sabha- Madhya Pradesh, MP) Cabinet Approvals on 3rd October 2024 On 3rd October 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the following, Modified Productivity Linked Reward (PLR) Scheme for the major ports and dock labour Board employees/workers from 2020-21 to 2025-26. The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) to promote sustainable agriculture and the Krishonnati Yojana (KY) to achieve food security for self-sufficiency. India to Join the International Energy Efficiency Hub by signing the Letter of Intent(LoI). Conferring the status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages. Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase II comprises three corridors. Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) for 78 days to railway employees. the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds) for 2024-25 to 2030-31. Creation of a post of the Presiding Officer for the Special Tribunal (full time) at Talcher, Odisha under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957. Cabinet approves modified PLR Scheme for the major ports and dock labour Board employees/workers from 2020-21 to 2025-26 The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the improvisation of the existing Productivity Linked Reward (PLR) Scheme for the major ports and dock labour Board employees/workers from 2020-21 to 2025-26. The total financial outlay for the entire period will be about Rs 200 crore. This scheme will benefit about 20,704 employees of Major Port Authorities and Dock Labour Board Employees/workers. Key Points i.Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways(MoPSW) has modified the Productivity Linked Reward (PLR) Scheme for all Major Port Authorities and Dock Labor Board employees/workers for 2020-21 to 2025-26 that has increased the weightage for calculation of PLR specific to port performance instead of weightage to all India performance. ii.PLR has been calculated on the wage ceiling for the calculation of Bonus at Rs 7000 per month. PLR will be paid annually by increasing the port-specific performance weightage from 50% to 55% and further increasing to 60%. iii.The All-India Port performance weightage is expected to decline to 40% over a period till 2025-26. Currently, equal weightage of 50% was provided for the All-India port performance and the specific Port performance. iv.This PLR Scheme will foster better industrial relationships and boost productivity. Note: PLR is an existing scheme for the employees/workers of Major Port Trusts and Dock Labour Board in which financial rewards are being provided to employees/workers every year according to the settlement arrived at between Management and the Labour Federations of the Major Port Authorities. Cabinet approves the PM-RKVY and Krishonnati Yojana (KY): The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of.

[Audio] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers's Welfare (MoA&FW) into two umbrella Schemes- Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY), a cafeteria scheme and Krishonnati Yojana (KY). PM-RKVY will promote sustainable agriculture, while KY will work towards achieving food security & agricultural self-sufficiency. Key Points i.The total allocated expenditure for both the PM-RKVY and KY will be Rs 1,01,321.61 crore. ii.Out of the total provided expenditure, the projected expenditure towards central share of DA&FW is Rs 69,088.98 crore and the states share is Rs 32,232.63 crore. This includes Rs 57,074.72 crore for RKVY and Rs 44,246.89 crore for KY. iii.These Schemes will be implemented through the State Governments. Highlights of the Amendments: i. The scheme Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) which is a component under the KY, is being modified through the addition of a component namely MOVCDNER- Detailed Project Report (MOVCDNER-DPR), which will provide flexibility to the North Eastern states to address critical challenges. ii.Another aim of the change is to provide freedom to the state governments to re-allocate funds from one component to another based on their state-specific requirements in PMRKVY. iii. The rationalisation will also help focus on emergent challenges of Agriculture – Nutrition security, Sustainability, Climate resilience, value chain development & private sector participation. iv.Annual Action Plan (AAP) of States can be approved directly rather approving individual scheme-wise AAPs. Note The PM-RKVY comprises of the following schemes: Soil Health Management Rainfed Area Development Agro Forestry Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana Agricultural Mechanization including Crop Residue Management Per Drop More Crop Crop Diversification Programme RKVY DPR component Accelerator Fund for Agri Startups Cabinet approves India to Join International Energy Efficiency Hub by signing the Letter of Intent The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of 'Letter of Intent' that led India to join the 'Energy Efficiency Hub'. India will join the International Energy Efficiency Hub (Hub), a global platform working towards enhancing collaboration and promoting energy efficiency worldwide. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), the statutory agency, will work as the implementing agency for the Hub on behalf of India promoting India's participation in the Hub's activities and aligning its contributions align with its energy efficiency goals. About International Energy Efficiency Hub i.This was established in 2020 succeeding the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC), in which India was a member. Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 8.

[Audio] ii.The Hub integrates governments, international organizations, and private sector entities to share knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions. iii.As of July, 2024, sixteen countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, European Commission, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United States and United Kingdom) have joined the Hub. Cabinet approves conferring status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages The Union Cabinet has approved to provide the status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages. As of now, India has six classical languages – Tamil(2004), Sanskrit(2005), Kannada(2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam(2013) and Odia(2014). Tamil was the first language to get classical language status. Benefits of Classical Language Status Once a language is classified as a classical language, the Ministry of Education(MoE) provides certain benefits to promote it. They are Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in the said languages. A Centre of Excellence(CoE) for studies in classical languages. The University Grants Commission is requested to create, to start with initially in the Central Universities, a certain number of professional chairs for the classical languages. Key Points i.A Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) was formed by the Ministry of Culture (MoC) under Sahitya Akademi in 2004 to examine the recommended languages for the status of Classical Language. ii.Accordingly, Linguistics Experts Committee was formed in 2024 to revise the criteria. Sahitya Akademi has been appointed as nodal agency for the LEC. High antiquity of (its) is early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500- 2000 years. A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a heritage by generations of speakers. Knowledge texts, especially prose texts in addition to poetry, epigraphical and inscriptional evidence. The Classical Languages and literature could be different from its current form or could be discontinuous with later forms of its offshoots. Cabinet approves Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase II: The Union Cabinet has provided approval to the proposal of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs(MoHUA) for Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase-II comprising three corridors. The total length of the 3 lines will be 118.9 km with 128 stations. The total project cost is Rs 63,246 crore and is planned to be completed by 2027. When Phase II is completed, Chennai will have a total Metro Rail network of 173 Km. Details of the Phase II Project The Phase II Project comprises three corridors: Corridor-(i): from Madhavaram to SIPCOT for a length of 45.8 Km with 50 stations. Corridor-(ii): from Lighthouse to Poonamalle Bypass for a length of 26.1 Km with 30 stations. Corridor-(iii): from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur for a length of 47 Km with 48 stations. Benefits of the Project i.Increased connectivity from North to South and East to the West of Chennai. ii.Reduced traffic congestion and travel time iii.Decreased carbon emissions iv.Increased productivity of individuals Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com.

[Audio] v.More equitable access to public transport, benefiting diverse socio-economic groups and reducing transport disparities Cabinet approves and announces Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) for 78 days to railway employees The Union Cabinet has approved payment of Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) of 78 days for Rs 2028.57 crore to 11,72,240 railway employees to reward the performance of the Railway Staff. The amount will be paid to various categories, of Railway staff like Track maintainers, Loco Pilots, Train Managers (Guards), Station Masters, Supervisors, Technicians, Technician Helpers, Pointsman, Ministerial staff and other Group C staff. The maximum payable to each eligible railway employee is Rs 17,951/- for 78 days. Note: Railways loaded a record cargo of 1588 Million Tonnes and carried nearly 6.7 Billion Passengers in 2023-24. Cabinet Approves NMEO-Oilseeds for 2024-25 to 2030-31 The Union Cabinet has approved the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds) to boost domestic oilseed production and achieve self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in edible oils. The mission will be implemented from 2024-25 to 2030-31, with a financial outlay of Rs 10,103 crore. The newly approved NMEO-Oilseeds will help in increasing the production of key primary oilseed crops such as Rapeseed-Mustard, Groundnut, Soybean, Sunflower, and Sesamum, as well as increasing collection and extraction efficiency from secondary sources like Cottonseed, Rice Bran, and Tree Borne Oils. Highlights of the Mission: i.The mission aims to increase primary oilseed production from 39 million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31. Along with NMEO-OP (Oil Palm), the Mission aims to increase domestic edible oil production to 25.45 million tonnes by 2030-31 to cover around 72% of our projected domestic requirement. ii. The mission will introduce an online 5-year rolling seed plan through the 'Seed Authentication, Traceability & Holistic Inventory (SATHI)' Portal, helping states to make advance tie-ups with seed-producing agencies, including cooperatives, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and government or private seed corporations and to ensure the timely availability of quality seeds. 65 new seed hubs and 50 seed storage units will be established in the public sector to improve the seed production infrastructure. iii.Additionally, over 600 Value Chain Clusters will be developed in 347 unique districts, covering more than 10 lakh hectares annually and will be managed by FPOs, cooperatives, and public or private entities. iv.The mission aims to add 40 lakh hectares to oilseed cultivation by targeting rice and potato fallow lands, promoting intercropping, and promoting crop diversification. v.Support will be extended to FPOs, cooperatives, and industry players to establish or upgrade postharvest units, enhancing recovery from sources such as cottonseed, rice bran, corn oil, and Tree-Borne Oils (TBOs). Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 10.

[Audio] vi.Furthermore, the Mission will promote information related to dietary guidelines for edible oils through an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign. Additional info: The Government of India has undertaken a series of measures to enhance domestic production of edible oils, including the launch of National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) with an outlay of Rs 11,040 crore to boost oil palm cultivation in India in 2021. Creation of a post of the Presiding Officer for the Special Tribunal (full time) at Talcher, Odisha The Cabinet has approved the creation of the post of Presiding Officer for a full-time Special Tribunal at Talcher, Odisha, under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition & Development) Act, 1957. This decision has been taken to enable effective and speedy disposal of cases related to land acquisition and compensation in the Talcher coalfield, benefiting farmers and landowners in the region. Currently, the part-time tribunal at Talcher was handling the disputes resulting in a backlog of 860 cases as of 31st May 2024. Thus, to prevent this, the Government is setting up a special Tribunal ensuring faster resolutions and greater satisfaction for farmers & landowners. Key Points: i.The Special Tribunal will have the powers of a civil court, allowing it to summon witnesses, examine documents, and issue commissions for witness examinations enhancing legal framework for these disputes. ii.This initiative will also strengthen public accountability, the rule of law, and improve the ease of living in the region. Cabinet Approvals on 9th October 2024 On 9th October 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, has approved the following proposals for, i.Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Lothal, Gujarat. ii.Road construction in border areas of Rajasthan and Punjab with Rs 4,406 crore. iii.Continuation of Supply of free Fortified Rice under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and other welfare schemes. Cabinet approves Development of NMHC in Lothal, Gujarat i.The Union Cabinet has approved the development of the world-class National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) by Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) at Lothal, Gujarat, to be executed in two phases. The project aims to highlight India's 4,500-year-old maritime heritage which will benefit local communities, tourists, researchers, and cultural organizations. ii.With the foundation stone laid in March 2019, the NMHC is envisioned to be one of the largest maritime complexes in the world. iii.Its phase 1A is already in progress, with over 60% completion and is set for completion by 2025, while in-principle approval has been granted for Phases 1B and 2 raising funds through voluntary resources or contributions. iv.A dedicated society will be established to oversee the development of future phases. It will be governed by a Governing Council headed by MoPSW, under Societies Registration Act, 1860 for implementation, development, management, and operation of NMHC. Report Errors.

[Audio] Points to Note: i.Implementation Authority: MoPSW has designated the Indian Ports Association (IPA) as the nodal agency to oversee the overall implementation of the NMHC, with the Indian Port Rail Corporation Ltd (IPRCL) as the executing agency. ii.Master Plan: It is designed by M/s Architect Hafeez Contractor; Phase 1A construction assigned to Tata Projects Ltd. iii.Land Allocation: The Government of Gujarat has allocated 400 acres for the project and will enhance external infrastructure, and some basic internal infrastructure. iv.Job Creation: It is expected to create 22,000 jobs, including 15,000 direct and 7,000 indirect employment opportunities. Phases of Development: i.Phase 1A: It includes an NMHC museum featuring six galleries. It also includes an Indian Navy (IN) & Indian Coast Guard (ICG) gallery envisaged to be one of the largest in the country with external naval artefacts (INS Nishank, Sea Harrier war aircraft, UH3 helicopter etc.). Estimated cost: Rs 1,238.05 crore, including contributions of Rs 209 crore from Major Ports, Rs 178.9 crore from the Ministry of Defence/MoD (IN), and Rs 15 crore from the Ministry of Culture (MoC). ii.Phase 1B: It is planned to include eight additional galleries, a lighthouse museum (world's tallest), and a Bagicha complex. The cost of Light House Museum is Rs 266.11 crore, funded by Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL). iii.Phase 2: It will feature Coastal States Pavilions (developed by respective coastal states and Union Territories/UTs), a maritime-themed eco resort, a recreation of ancient Lothal, a maritime institute, and four theme parks viz. Maritime & Naval Theme Park, Climate Change Theme Park, Monuments Park and Adventure & Amusement Park. It should be noted that Phases 1A and 1B of the project are to be developed in Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode, while Phase 2 of project will be developed through land subleasing/ Public-Private Partnership (PPP). Cabinet approves Road Construction in Border Areas of Rajasthan & Punjab The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of 2,280 km of roads in Rajasthan and Punjab, with an investment of Rs 4,406 crore. This initiative aims to enhance infrastructure in border areas, improve rural livelihoods, and boost connectivity with the National Highway (NH) network. It will also facilitate better access to essential services like water, healthcare, and education in these areas . Cabinet approves Continuation of Supply of free Fortified Rice under PMGKAY and Other Welfare Schemes The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the universal supply of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) under various Central Government schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), from July 2024 to December 2028, at a cost of Rs 17,082 crore. Key Points: i.This initiative, aimed at ensuring nutritional security, will be fully funded by.

[Audio] CCS Approved two high-profile deals for 31 MQ-9B HALE UAV The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved deals for the purchase of 31 MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) from General Atomics of the United States of America (USA), and indigenous construction of two Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSN). Key Points: i.31 MQ-9B HALE UAVs are for the three services viz, Indian Army (IA), Indian Navy (IN), and Indian Air Force (IAF). ii.As part of the deal, General Atomics to establish a Global Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India. Recent Related News: i.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved 8 National High-Speed Road Corridor projects with a length of 936 kilometers (km) for Rs. 50,655 crore across India. ii.The Union Cabinet has approved the modification of the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, extending its implementation timeline by 5 years, till 2028-29. About Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL): Director General– N. Muruganandam Parent Ministry– Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) Headquarters– Noida, Uttar Pradesh (UP) Cabinet Approvals on 16th October 2024 The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved various schemes and projects on 16th October 2024. i.The Cabinet has approved, The additional instalment of 3% of Dearness Allowance(DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief(DR) to Pensioners. The Varanasi-Pt.Deen Dayal Upadhyaya multi-tracking project of the Ministry of Railways with an estimated cost of Rs 2642 crore. Rs. 35,000 crores allotted for the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) schemes to support farmers and control price volatility. ii.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26. Additional instalment of 3% of DA Government employees & DR to Pensioners The Union Cabinet has approved a 3% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners, with effect from 1st July 2024. This additional instalment represents an increase of 3% over the existing rate of 50% of the Basic Pay/Pension. This aims to compensate for the price rise. This brings the dearness relief to 53%. i.This will benefit about 49.18 lakh central government employees and 64.89 lakh pensioners. This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. iii.The combined impact on the finances of the government on account of both DA and DR would be Rs.9,448.35 crore per annum. Note: i.This is the second time the two components have been revised this year, the first time was on 1st January 2024..

[Audio] Varanasi-Pt.Deen Dayal Upadhyaya multi-tracking Project: The Union Cabinet has approved a Varanasi-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya multi-tracking project of the Ministry of Railways with a total estimated cost of Rs. 2,642 crores. The project traverses through Varanasi and Chandauli districts in Uttar Pradesh(UP). Details of the project: i.The multi-tracking projects include the development of a new rail-cum-road bridge over the Ganga River and the addition of 3rd and 4th railway lines. ii.The new bridge will replace the 137-year-old Malviya Bridge, which currently has two rail lines and two road lanes. The new bridge with four railway lines and a six-lane highway is constructed to last for 150 years and spanning over one kilometer, will connect the districts of Varanasi and Chandauli increasing the existing network of Indian Railways by about 30 Kms. iii.The project is a result of the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which has been possible through integrated planning. Benefits: i.These enhancements aim to improve capacity, efficiency and support the region's socio-economic growth. ii.The project will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 30 Kilometers (Km). Additional info: The Railways will help in achieving climate goals and minimising the logistics cost of India and lower Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (149 Crore Kg) which is equivalent to the plantation of 6 Crore trees. Cabinet approves Rs. 35,000 crore for Continuation of PM-AASHA Schemes The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) to provide fair prices for farmers and monitor price fluctuations in essential commodities for consumers. The total financial outgo will be Rs. 35,000 crore during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle up to 2025-26. Key changes in PM-AASHA The government has integrated the Price Support Scheme (PSS) and Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF) schemes under PM-AASHA. This integration will provide farmers with remunerative prices for their crops, while stabilizing the market prices of essential commodities to make them affordable for consumers. The revamped PM-AASHA now includes components like: Price Support Scheme (PSS) Price Stabilization Fund (PSF) Price Deficit Payment Scheme (PDPS) Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) About PM AASHA: PM-AASHA, launched by the Government of India in 2018 is an umbrella scheme which aims to provide MSP assurance to farmers. Nodal ministry – Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare(MoA&FW). Objective: i.To improve farmer's income by strengthening procurement mechanisms in coordination with the State Governments. ii.To ensure farmers receive remunerative prices for their oilseeds, pulses, and copra. Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 14.

[Audio] Components: Price Support Scheme (PSS); Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS); and Pilot of Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPPS). Minimum Support Prices for Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26 The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26. The absolute highest increase in MSP has been announced for Rapeseed & Mustard at Rs.300 per quintal followed by Lentil (Masur) at Rs.275 per quintal. For gram, wheat, safflower and barley, there is an increase of Rs.210 per quintal, Rs.150 per quintal, Rs.140 per quintal and Rs.130 per quintal respectively. MSP for all Rabi crops for Marketing Season 2025-26 MSP RMS Increase in MSP S. No. Crops (Absolute) 2025-26 (Rs. per quintal) (Rs. per quintal) 1 Wheat 2425 150 2 Barley 1980 130 3 Gram 5650 210 4 Lentil (Masur) 6700 275 5 Rapeseed & Mustard 5950 300 6 Safflower 5940 140 Note: i.The increase in MSP for mandated Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2025-26 is according to the mandate of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times of the All-India weighted average Cost of Production. ii.The expected margin over the All-India weighted average cost of production is 105 % for wheat, followed by 98% for rapeseed & mustard; 89% for lentil; 60% for gram; 60% for barley; and 50% for safflower. Reforms in procurement policies i.The government will procure pulses, oilseeds, and copra at Minimum Support Price (MSP) under the Price Support Scheme from 2024-25 season. It will cover 25% of national production through which states can buy more of these crops ensuring fair prices to farmers and preventing distress sales. However, a 100% procurement policy will apply to Tur, Urad, and Masur for the 2024-25 season. ii.The government has increased its financial guarantee to Rs 45,000 crore. This will enable the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare(MoA&FW), to buy more pulses, oilseeds, and copra from registered farmers on platforms like the eSamridhi portal of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and eSamyukti portal of National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) when market prices fall below MSP. It will increase domestic production and reduce dependence on imports. Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 15.