part 6

[Virtual Presenter] Wildlife Sanctuaries– Binsar wildlife sanctuary, Mussoorie wildlife sanctuary Airports– Jolly Grant Airport, Pant Nagar Airport Telangana Becomes First State to Launch a Chapter of niti Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform In a landmark initiative to boost women led businesses, Telangana became the first state in India to launch its own state chapter of National Institution for Transforming India(N-I-T-I-) Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (W-E-P--). The ‘WEP Telangana Chapter’ was launched by B-V-R Subrahmanyam, Chief Executive Officer (C-E-O--) of niti Aayog in the presence of State Information and Technology(I-T---) and Industries secretary, Jayesh Ranjan and co chair of W-E-P--, Sangeetha Reddy in Hyderabad(Telangana). Sita Pallocholla has been appointed as the Mission Director of the W-E-P Telangana Chapter. Women Entrepreneurs Hub(WE HUB), Telangana will be the nodal body for the scheme in the State. This state specific chapter aims to offer comprehensive support to women entrepreneurs by providing access to mentorship, financial resources, and digital tools that empower women in both urban and rural areas. Role of WE Hub: i.WE Hub, a Telangana government initiative, is a special platform set up in 2018 to support women entrepreneurs in the state. ii.It will manage Telangana’s W-E-P chapter, ensuring that women entrepreneurs in the state can benefit from this platform. Objectives of W-E-P Telangana Chapter: i.The main objective is to offer support to women entrepreneurs in Telangana, with a focus on mentoring, financing, and skill development. ii.A crucial focus is on ensuring that women from all parts of the state, both urban and rural, have access to the same resources and opportunities. iii. By supporting women entrepreneurs, the platform hopes to boost the economy by encouraging more women to start businesses. iv.By encouraging women to take up entrepreneurship, the Telangana chapter of W-E-P aims to contribute significantly to thestate’s economic development.v.The platform will work with other organizations to create a network where women entrepreneurs can learn, collaborate, and get the support they need to succeed. vi.This initiative is expected to create a positive impact on Telangana’s economy and help more women succeed in business, making the state a leader in promoting women’s entrepreneurship in India. About Telangana Chief Minister (C-M---) Revanth Reddy Governor– Jishnu Dev Varma Capital Hyderabad unesco Heritage Site Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple (Cultural Heritage) About niti Aayog Chief Executing Officer (C-E-O--) B 5 R Subrahmanyam Chairperson– Narendra Modi Established in – 2015 Report Errors in the P-D-F ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 68.

[Audio] Assam Becomes 1st State to Implement Co-Districts, the new administrative structure Assam has become the first state in India to launch and operationalize Co-Districts, a pioneering initiative to decentralise district administration and take governance to grassroots. Co-Districts are the targeted administrative units in a district. 21 such co-districts were launched across Assam with an aim of bringing governance and administrative work closer to citizens' homes. Background: i.Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the administrative revamp in 2023, which eliminates the previous system of 24 civil sub-divisions. ii.This is a part of Sarma's larger vision of "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance." About Co-Districts: i.Co-Districts, the smaller administrative units, will function below the district level. ii.This will streamline the delivery of essential services like issuing certificates, ration cards, land permits, and government approvals. iii.This will empower local officials, providing services such as land sale permissions and welfare schemes at the grassroots level. iv.The guardian ministers of each district will oversee the governance and act as chief ministers for their respective districts. Points to note: i.The government aims to introduce such co-district offices in all 126 assembly constituencies in Assam. iii.On 4th October 2024, Phase 1 of this initiative began and on 5th October 2024, 18 co-districts were inaugurated. About Assam: Chief Minister(CM)– Himanta Biswa Sarma Governor– Lakshman Prasad Acharya Airports– Jorhat Airport (Rowriah Airport); Salonibari airport UNESCO Heritage Sites– Kaziranga National Park; Manas Wildlife Sanctuary MoEFCC Declares Namdapha National Park and Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh as ESZ The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) designated Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve and Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve located in Changlang and Lohit of Arunachal Pradesh (AR) respectively, as Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ). This ESZ designation is a major initiative to conserve the delicate ecosystems of Arunachal Pradesh, strengthening measures to safeguard these natural regions and their biodiversity for future generations. ESZ status is intended to protect the areas' rich biodiversity and unique landscapes, creating a buffer against potentially damaging human activities and bolstering conservation efforts in the Eastern Himalayas. Note: India has more than 600 ESZ declared across different states. About Namdapha National Park: i.Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve is one of India's largest and most biologically diverse protected areas within the Eastern Himalayas. It was declared as Tiger Reserve by the Government in 1983. It was the 15th Tiger Project of India. Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 69.

[Audio] ii.Namdapha is home to over 1,000 plant species and approximately 1,400 animal species, representing a range of unique and endangered flora and fauna. iii.Namdapha is the name of a river which originates from Daphabum (Dapha is the name of the hill, and Bum means the peak of hill) and meets Noa-Dehing River. iv.The terrain varies from tropical to temperate zones, which supports a wide variety of ecosystems. About Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary: i.Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary, designated as a sanctuary in 1989, was named after the Kamlang River that flows through its terrain. ii.In 2016, the Government declared the sanctuary as the 50th Tiger Reserve of India. iii.The sanctuary lies between the Lang River to the north and Namdapha National Park to the south, creating a continuous protected corridor for wildlife. iv.It is known for its scenic Glow Lake and its diverse tropical and sub-tropical climatic zones, which make it an ideal habitat for a variety of wildlife, including all four of India's big cat species—tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, and snow leopard. About Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC): Union Minister– Bhupender Yadav (Constituency- Alwar, Rajasthan) Minister of State (MoS)- Kirti Vardhan Singh (Constituency- Gonda, Uttar Pradesh) KAP Sinha Appointed as New Chief Secretary of Punjab The government of Punjab has appointed KAP Sinha, a 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, as the chief secretary of Punjab, replacing Anurag Verma. He becomes the 43rd chief secretary of Punjab. KAP Sinha will also hold the additional charge of principal secretary, personnel, vigilance and general administration. i.Prior to this, KAP Sinha served as special chief secretary in the departments of Revenue, Rehabilitation and disaster management; agriculture and farmer welfare; horticulture; and soil and water conservation. ii.Anurag Verma, a 1993-batch IAS officer, served as the chief secretary of Punjab since 26th June 2023. He will now be holding the charges held by KAP Sinha Karnataka Launches 'Shiksha Copilot': AI Assistant for Empowering Teachers with Technology The Government of Karnataka has introduced 'Shiksha Copilot', a new Artificial Intelligence (AI)powered digital assistant designed to help teachers create lesson plans and improve student learning outcomes. It was launched by Madhu Bangarappa, Minister of School Education and Literacy, Karnataka. The initiative is a collaboration between the Sikshana Foundation and Microsoft Research India. About Shiksha Copilot: i.It is a generative AI tool that quickly creates lesson plans, including activities, videos, and quizzes, tailored to local curriculums. ii.This initiative aims to empower teachers in government schools by providing them with valuable resources. iii.The initiative is a collaboration between the Sikshana Foundation and Microsoft Research India. It is part of Project VeLLM, (Very Large Language Model), a Microsoft Research India initiative that focuses on developing specialized AI copilots for various users, including teachers and farmers. Functionality: i.Two Chatbot Modes: The assistant includes two features: A mode for teachers to ask.

[Audio] ii.Personalized Content Generation: Teachers can develop tailored lesson plans and resources suited to their students' needs, whether for specific chapters or sub-topics. Key Features: i.Automated Lesson Planning: The assistant helps teachers save time by automating the process of lesson creation. ii.Multimodal Learning: It integrates texts, images, and videos, enhancing the learning experience by using publicly available content from the internet. iii.Targeted Subjects: The tool supports students in Classes 5 to 10 across subjects like Mathematics, Science, English, and Social Science in both Kannada and English. Benefits for Teachers: i.The Shiksha Copilot aims to address the challenges faced by teachers in government schools, such as managing multi-grade classrooms with diverse student needs. By offering personalized content generation, teachers can create lesson plans that align with the 5Es model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. ii.Shiksha Copilot is accessible via a web portal on both computers and smartphones, making it flexible and user-friendly. About Karnataka: Chief Minister (CM)- Siddaramaiah Governor- Thawar Chand Gehlot Capital-Bengaluru National Park –Bandipur National Park, Anshi National Park GOVT SHCEMES CENTRAL SCHEMES Make in India Celebrates 10 Years: A Decade of Transformational Growth On 25th September 2024, "Make in India", the flagship programme of the Government of India (GoI), completed a decade (10 years) of empowering India to become a global manufacturing hub. It has played a crucial role in boosting domestic manufacturing, fostering innovation, enhancing skill development, and facilitating foreign investment. Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi launched the "Make in India" initiative on 25th September, 2014 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi. It is being implemented by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I). Note: Under Make in India 2.0, it focuses on 27 sectors including, 15 sectors under the manufacturing sectors, which is coordinated by DPIIT, MoCI and 12 sectors under the service sector, which is coordinated by Department of Commerce, MoC&I. Key Progress under Make in India initiative: FDI Reforms: Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Reforms have played a pivotal role in promoting India's industrial growth. Since 2014, India's FDI inflow has increased exponentially by 119%, from USD 304 billion (200414) to USD 667.4 billion (2014-24). This investment inflow spans across 31 states and 57 sectors, promoting growth across diverse industries. Currently, most sectors, except some strategically important sectors, are open for 100% FDI under the automatic route. Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 71.

[Audio] FDI equity inflows into the manufacturing sector have increased by 69% over the last decade (2014-24), from USD 97.7 billion (2004-14) to USD 165.1 billion (2014-24). PLI Scheme: The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme was launched in 2020 across 14 key manufacturing sectors, with budget allocation of Rs 1.97 lakh crores. The scheme aims to create 60 lakh new jobs and an additional production of 30 lakh crore during the next 5 years. Since 2020, the PLI schemes have resulted in Rs 1.32 lakh crore (USD 16 billion) in investments and given a significant boost in the manufacturing sector of Rs 10.90 lakh crore (USD 130 billion) as of June 2024. So far, more than 8.5 lakh jobs have been created directly or indirectly due to this initiative. Exports & Employment: India's merchandise exports have breached the mark of USD 437 billion in Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24). Exports have increased, with an additional Rs 4 lakh crore generated due to the PLI schemes and also employment in the manufacturing sector increased from 57 million (in 2022-23) to 64.4 million (in 201718). Ease of Doing Business: Over the last decade, India has made significant improvement in the ease of doing business, which is evident from the fact that India has improved its ranking from 142nd (in 2014) to 63rd (in 2019) in the World Bank's Doing Business Report. Moreover, more than 42,000 compliances have been reduced and 3,800 provisions decriminalized. Also, the Government of India (GoI) has introduced certain key reforms such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016; the Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023. Such reforms have been instrumental in making India a global business hub. Key Initiatives: Semiconductor Ecosystem Development: In 2021, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi had approved the Semicon India Program, with the budget outlay of Rs 76,000 crore. This initiative aims to provide a boost to semiconductor and display manufacturing by facilitating capital support and fostering technological collaborations. NSWS: The National Single Window System (NSWS) was launched in September 2021 as a single digital platform for approvals and clearances. The platform has simplified investor experience by integrating clearances from 32 ministries/ departments and 29 states/ Union Territories (UTs) facilitating rapid approvals. PM GatiShakti: PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP), a strategic initiative of Government of India (GoI) launched on 13th October, 2021, aimed at achieving Aatmanirbhar Bharat and a USD 5 trillion economy by 2025 through the creation of multimodal and last-mile connectivity infrastructure. The scheme aims to promote holistic planning and coordination among 36 Ministries/Departments, integrating progress, and synchronizing project implementation..

[Audio] in India. It aims to promote economic growth and competitiveness through an integrated, efficient and sustainable logistics network by leveraging advancing technology, enhanced processes, and skilled manpower. The key targets of the scheme include reducing logistics costs, improving India's Logistics Performance Index ranking to among the top 25 countries by 2030, and developing a datadriven decision support system. Industrial Corridors & Infrastructure: Under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP), 11 industrial corridors have seen the approval of 12 new projects with an estimated investment of Rs 28,602 crore. These corridors enhance India's competitiveness by providing world-class infrastructure. ODOP initiative: The One-District-One-Product (ODOP) aims to facilitate the promotion and production of indigenous products from every district in India. So far, the initiative has fostered local economic development, with Unity Malls being set up in 27 states across the country, to provide platforms for these unique products. Startup India initiative: It was launched on 16th January, 2016, has introduced various programs aimed at supporting entrepreneurs, building a robust start ecosystem. As of 25th September 2024, India emerged as the 3rd largest ecosystem in the world with over 1.48 lakh DPIIT recognised startups, which have created more than 15.5 lakh direct jobs. Key Achievements under Make in India: i.Vande Bharat trains, India's 1st indigenous semi-high speed trains, introduced under 'Make in India' initiative. At present, there are 102 Vande Bharat train services (51 trains) are operational across Indian Railways. ii.India has achieved major milestones in defence production, for instance, the launch of Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant, India's 1st domestically made aircraft carrier. In FY24, India's defence production increased to Rs 1.27 lakh crore, with exports reaching more than 90 countries. iii.The electronics sector in India has witnessed rapid growth, reaching USD 155 billion in FY23. Production has increased from USD 48 billion (in FY17) to USD 101(in FY23), attributed mainly by mobile phones, which now account 43% of total electronics production in India. India is the 2nd largest manufacturer of mobile phones in the world and has significantly reduced its dependence on smartphone imports as now 99% of smartphones are manufacturing domestically. iv.India registered merchandise exports worth USD 437.06 billion in FY24, which reflects India's emerging role in global trade. v.The textile industry has generated 14.5 crore job opportunities across the country. MoC&I Introduced BRAP 2024 to Strengthen Make in India Initiative On 30th September 2024, the MoC&I introduced the 7th Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP 2024) to further strengthen the Make in India initiative. It aims to establish a seamless business regulatory framework across the country, enhancing the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB). The new initiative will be led by the DPIIT under the MoC&I and will introduce next-generation reforms to address the evolving needs of both businesses and citizens. About BRAP 2024: i.It is alignment with key GoI initiatives such as Reducing Compliance Burden (RCB) and.

[Audio] It aims to reduce approval time, integrate online service delivery, and initiatives like NSWS and PM Gati Shakti to make the regulatory environment more transparent, efficient, and dynamic. iii.It will cover various critical sectors like: labor, environment, taxes, land administration, utility permits, inspection and construction,Information and Communications Technology (ICT) adoption and process reengineering through the Time and Document Study (TDS) to ensure robust and more efficient government-to-business service delivery. Background: i.It was initially launched in 2014-15 and since then, 6 editions of BRAP have successfully reshaped the business landscape of India, exhibiting the spirit of competitive federalism. ii.It has emphasized on transparent service delivery, which ensures that both businesses and citizens have access to clear information on procedures, fees and timelines. About Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I): Union Minister- Piyush Goyal (Constituency- Mumbai North, Maharashtra) Minister of State (MoS)- Jitin Prasada (Constituency- Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, UP) Government launched a new scheme 'Jal Hi AMRIT' Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal announced that the government had launched the Jal Hi AMRIT scheme under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 in its first 100 days with the goal of promoting effective water management. The government also approved 3 metro projects worth Rs 31,000 crores. This consists of Bengaluru Metro Phase-3, Thane Internal Ring Road Metro Projects and Southward extension of Pune Metro Rail Project. About Jal Hi AMRIT: i.Government is focusing on recycling and processing of water along with reuse in both rural and urban areas. The Jal Hi AMRIT scheme has been launched to support water management efforts. ii.The Clean Water Credit System aims to motivate States and Union Territories(UTs) to properly manage used Water (Sewage) Treatment Plants (UWTPs/STPs) in order to ensure recyclable, high-quality treated water. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and parastatal organizations are in the process of nominating STPs for their respective states. iii. This system promotes competition among cities, enhances their capacities, and incentivizes them to produce high-quality treated water. iv.STPs will receive star ratings (ranging from 3 to 5 stars) as clean water credits, valid for 6 months. v.Incentives will be provided to STPs based on their star ratings and clean water credits. vi.It will promotes the reuse and recycling of water. Additional Info: i.Under AMRUT 2.0, 68 projects worth Rs 3,020 crore and 41 projects worth Rs 3,805 crore, totaling Rs 6,825 crore, will be implemented in the states of Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh(MP), Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh(UP) as part of the 100 days achievement program. ii.Cumulatively in 100 days, Inauguration, and foundation laying of 263 projects worth Rs 9,352 crore will be completed. MoF Kept Interest Rate on Small Savings Schemes Unchanged for Q3FY25 On 30th September 2024, the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA-Budget Division), Ministry of Finance (MoF) has.

[Audio] financial Year 2024-25(Q3 FY25) i.e. from 1st October, 2024 to 31st December, 2024 from those notified for Q2FY25. This is for the 3rd consecutive quarter of FY25 that interest rate on SSCs remain unchanged. Points to Note: i.In December 2023, the Government of India (GoI)increased the interest rates of some of the small savings scheme such as: Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) and 3-year Time Deposit, were increased by 20 basis points (bps) for Q4FY24. ii.The PPF rates has remain unchanged for since April 2020. It was last changed in April-June 2020, when it was declined from 7.9% to 7.1%. Interest Rates on Small Savings Schemes for Q3 FY25: Instruments Rate of Interest from 1st October, 2024 to 31st December, 2024 Savings Deposit 4.0% 1-Year Post Office Time Deposits (POTD) 6.9% 2-Year Post Office Time Deposits (POTD) 7.0% 3-Year Post Office Time Deposits (POTD) 7.1% 5-Year Post Office Time Deposits (POTD) 7.5% 5-Year Post Office Recurring Deposits(PORD) 6.7% Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) 7.5% (will mature in 115 months) Public Provident Fund (PPF) 7.1% Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) 8.2% National Savings Certificate (NSC) 7.7% Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme(SCSS) 8.2% Monthly Income Scheme (MIS) 7.4% Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC) 7.5% About Small Savings Schemes (SSSs): i.These are savings instruments managed by the GoI to encourage citizens to save regularly. ii.These SSSs are broadly classified into 3 categories: savings deposits, social security schemes, and monthly income plan. iii.Interest rates for SSSs are notified on a quarterly basis by the GoI. The methodology to determine the interest rates for SSSs was recommended by Shyamala Gopinath Committee in January 2023. The committee suggested that interest rates for these schemes should range from 25 to 100 bps above the yields on corresponding government bonds. Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 75.

[Audio] iv.Some of these SSSs has some tax benefits such as: NSC, SCSS, SSY and PPF, get tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act of 1961. Gov launched Prime Minister's Internship Scheme 2024 On October 3 2024, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is collaborating with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to roll out the pilot phase of 'Prime Minister's Internship Scheme 2024', a key initiative from the 2024-2025 budget, aimed at providing 1.25 lakh internships for Indian youth, with a budget of approximately Rs 800 crore in the Financial Year 2024-25(FY25). The aim of the PM Internship Scheme is to generate one crore internships by March 2029. It will provide financial assistance of Rs 60,000 per annum over a period of five years. The scheme is implemented in two phases, through an online portal(www.pminternship.mca.gov.in.) managed by the MCA, and registration is scheduled to open between October 12 and October 25, 2024. Prime Minister's Internship Scheme 2024: i.The scheme focuses on providing opportunities to Indian youth aged 21-24 in partnership with 500 top companies. ii.A candidates whose family income is below Rs 8 lakh for the Financial Year 2023–24(FY24) are eligible to apply for this scheme. Full-time employees or students engaged in full-time education are not eligible. However, students pursuing online or distance learning programs can participate. iii.The PM Internship Scheme targets those who have completed high school, hold undergraduate degrees like Bachelor of Arts(BA), Bachelor of Science(BSc), Bachelor of Commerce(BCom), Bachelor of Business Administration(BBA), Bachelor of Computer Applications(BCA), or Bachelor of Pharmacy(BPharma) or diplomas. Graduates from top-tier institutions like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) or Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), or those with professional degrees such as Master of Business Administration(MBA), Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery(MBBS), Chartered Accountant(CA), Certified Management Accountant(CMA) are ineligible, ensuring that the focus remains on individuals who need opportunities the most. iv.The internships begin on December 2, 2024. Interns receive a stipend of Rs 5,000 per month: Rs 4,500 is covered by the government, and Rs 500 is contributed by partner companies through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. Furthermore, a one-time grant of Rs 6,000 is allocated to cover incidental expenses. v.Interns are also provided with insurance under government schemes like the PM JeevanJyoti Bima Yojana and PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, with the government paying the premiums. Companies may offer additional coverage if they wish. vi.Interns will gain practical skills through a structured 12-month program. To support interns and ensure a smooth process, the scheme includes a multilingual helpline(1800-116-090) and a grievance redressal mechanism. vii.Overall, the Prime Minister's Internship Scheme is a strategic effort to address the skill gap and unemployment challenges faced by the youth in India, aligning with the government's vision of an empowered and skilled workforce. Eligible Companies: To be.

[Audio] Companies can partner voluntarily and are encouraged to provide internships that align with the government's objective of creating practical work experiences for young people. Under the PM Internship Scheme, companies must adhere to the government's reservation policy. This includes specific quotas for individuals from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). Recent Related News: Union Minister of State(MoS) Jayant Chaudhary(Independent Charge/IC), Ministry of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE) has launched an enhanced 'Model Skill Loan Scheme' for skill development courses with an increased maximum loan limit to Rs 7.5 lakh from Rs 1.5 lakh. It was announced in the Union Budget 2024-2025, the revised scheme aims to benefit 25,000 students annually. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission Completes a Transformative 3-Year Journey towards Enabling Digital Health On 27th September 2024, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), a key component of Ayushman Bharat (AB), a flagship scheme of Government of India (GoI), which emerged from the National Health Policy 2017, successfully completed 3 years of implementation. It was launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on 27th September, 2021 with the objective to revolutionize the country's digital healthcare ecosystem to enhance healthcare accessibility, efficiency, and transparency. It is being implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). Key Features of ABDM: i.Unique Health Identification(ID)for citizens: Under the ABDM, a unique health Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Account Identifier (ABHA ID) is assigned to every individual, which helps in storing and managing the health records of an individual securely. Note: ABHA number is a 14-digit number that will uniquely identifie an individual in India's digital healthcare ecosystem. ii.Health Professionals Registry (HPR): It is a comprehensive repository of all healthcare professionals involved in providing healthcare services across both modern and traditional systems of medicine. It allows them to get connected to the digital health ecosystem of India. iii.Health Facility Registries (HFR): It is also a comprehensive repository of all health facilities of the country across various systems of medicine, including both private and public health facilities such as: hospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories and imaging centers, pharmacies, among others. iv.Health Information Exchange and Consent Manager (HIE-CM): This feature empowers citizens to securely access and share their health records, which further ensures that data sharing is driven by informed consent. v.Unified Health Interface (UHI): It provides the discovery and delivery of health services, thus streamlining healthcare interactions and enhancing service accessibility. vi.National Health Claim Exchange (NHCX): It optimizes the insurance payment ecosystem, which helps in simplifying and expediting the claim process. vii.Data Privacy and Security: The ABDM is designed in alignment with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act,.

[Audio] ix.Transparency: It provides option to individuals to access both public and private health services, facilitate compliance with guidelines and protocols framed under ABDM, and ensure transparency in pricing of services and accountability for the health services being provided. Key Initiatives under ABDM: i.Scan and Share: A Quick Response (QR)-code based Outpatient Department (OPD) registration service, enable the patients to scan the QR code of the facility and share their demographic details. This initiative helps to minimize the long queues at the registration counter and also minimizes the entry of incomplete and inaccurate data. It has registered more than 5 crore OPD tokens, thus halved the waiting time i.e. from1 hour to half an hour (30 minutes), saving 2.5 crore man-hours. ii.Digital Health Incentive Scheme (DHIS): It was introduced with effect from 1st January, 2023, providing financial incentives to boost adoption and promote the ecosystem to participate in the ABDM initiative. It offers the opportunity to earn incentives of maximum 4 crores and has gained great response from both private and public health sectors. In June 2024, the Government of India (GoI) has decided to extend the DHIS by a year until 30th June, 2025 (or till funds for DHIS are available). iii.Mircrosites for Private Sector Adoption: This initiative was launched with the main objective of addressing various challenges in ABDM adoption, especially for private sector providers, and has successfully operationalised 106 microsites , breaching the initial target of 100. iv.End to End ABDM Adoption Pilot: This initiative aimed to digitize public and private facilities panIndia across different facility levels through end-to-end adoption. It also aims to make these facilities into model ABDM facilities that will act as a benchmark for future digitization efforts. Key Milestones Achieved under ABDM: i.So far, more than 67 crore ABHA have been created. Also, over 42 crore health records have been linked to ABHA, which enable for seamless access to medical histories and enhancing healthcare delivery. ii.More than 236 private entities including labs, pharmacies, digital solution companies have been integrated with the ABDM ecosystem, which will help in achieving interoperability. iii.Also, 3.3 lakh health facilities and 4.7 lakh healthcare professionals have been successfully registered in the NHPR. Apart from the launch of NHPR, NHA has developed various other portals to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem such as: the National Medical Register (NMR) for the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the National Dental Register (NDR) for the National Dental Council (NDC). At present, there are over 1.3 lakh facilities are ABDM-enabled, which includes over 17, 000 private facilities. iv.As per the GoI data, public sector institutions like: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi and AIIM Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (MP) have emerged as top performers in generating Scan and Share OPD registrations. Other Key initiatives under ABDM: i.ABDM has been able to drive transformation in the healthcare sector by fostering various partnerships to enhance digital healthcare services like: It has collaborated with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (UP) for the development.

[Audio] ii.ABDM has driven transformation through training and raising awareness among various stakeholders to better understand and adopt digital health practices like: NHA has introduced a Whatsapp Chatbot, acting as a user-friendly platform to train stakeholders involved in ABDM. iii.It has initiated various initiatives which are advocating for the integration of digital health as a critical component of healthcare, for instance, the National Accreditation Board of Hospitals (NABH) launched the 1st edition of its Digital Health Standards for HIS/EMR systems, aimed at boosting the adoption of digital health technologies in India. Also, the eSwasthya Dham portal has been integrated with ABDM, which has now extended its benefits to Char Dham Yatris. iv.Under ABDM, the Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) is being made available to healthcare professionals to facilitate the adoption of digital health practices. It aims to improve clinical decision-making, enhance patient outcomes, and streamline healthcare delivery. Naga Hospital Authority Kohima Recognised as Best Performing Hospital under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY On 30th September 2024, Kohima (Nagaland)-based Naga Hospital Authority Kohima (NHAK) was recognised as the best performing hospital in Kohima district under the Ayushman Bharat Pradan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). This recognition was conferred to NHAK during a program commemorating the 6th anniversary of PM-JAY and the 3rd anniversary of ABDM at the Conference Hall, Office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Kohima district, Nagaland. NHAK has witnessed the highest registration and transaction under PM-JAY, with 2,558 patients treated and 1,601 beneficiaries registered. About National Health Authority (NHA): It is the apex body responsible for implementing GoI's flagship scheme called AB PM-JAY. It is the successor of the National Health Agency, which has been functioning as a registered society since 23rd May, 2018. Later, the National Health Agency was reconstituted as NHA on 2nd January, 2019. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- LS Changsan Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi PM Modi Celebrated 10 Years of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan On 2nd October 2024, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi participated in the Swachh Bharat Diwas program held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi on the occasion of the 155th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The program was organised to commemorate the successful completion of 10 years of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), one of the most significant mass movements for cleanliness in India. The Swachh Bharat Diwas programme has showcased India's decade-long sanitation achievements and of recently concluded Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 (SHS 2024) campaign. Key Dignitaries: Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA); Union Minister CR Patil, Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS); Union Minister of State (MoS) Tokhan Sahu, MoHUA; Union MoS Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary, MoJS were present at the event. About SBM: i.The Campaign Clean India was launched by PM Narendra Modi on {2nd.

[Audio] iii. It has two main components: SBM-Gramin (SBM-G), implemented by the DDWS, MoJS and SBM-Urban (SBM-U), implemented by the MoHUA. Key Achievements of SBM: i.Increased Toilet Access: Under the SBM, over 10 crore toilets have been constructed and 6 lakh villages were declared Open Defecation-Free (ODF)on 2nd October, 2019. As per the MoHUA, Urban India, except for cities in West Bengal (WB) was announced as ODF in 2019. As per the DDWS, over 55% of villages in India have been declared "ODF Plus Model", 5lakh waste collection vehicles in operation, ii.Better Safety for Women: According to UNICEF report, 93% of women in India felt safe in India after the construction of toilets in their homes. iii.Increased in Family Savings: Households in ODF villages save an average of Rs 50,000 per year on health-related expenses. iv.Enhanced Health Facilities: According to the 2018 World Health Organisation (WHO) report, over 3 lakh diarrhoeal deaths were prevented in 2019 compared to 2014, attributed to enhanced sanitation facilities. Also, Nature Magazine has estimated that the efforts of SBM helped to avert 60,000-70,000 child deaths annually. v.Reduced Groundwater Contamination: Villages which are declared ODF, the risk of contamination due to human waste is 12.7 times lower. vi.Global Recognition: In 2019, PM Narendra Modi received the Goalkeeper Award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for the progress made under the SBM. SBM– G : Phase II (2019–2025): i.Building on the success of Phase I, SBM-G Phase II was launched in 2019 with an investment of Rs. 1.40 lakh crores to sustain the ODF status and manage solid and liquid waste by 2025. This phase focuses on "Sampoorn Swachhata (complete cleanliness)", which includes creating ODF Plus villages that maintain and improve sanitation standards. ii.As of September 2024, over 5.87 lakh villages across India have achieved ODF Plus status, with over 3.92 lakh villages implementing solid waste management systems and over 4.95 lakh villages establishing liquid waste management systems. SBM-U2: i.The SBM-U was launched on October 2, 2014, has significantly transformed urban sanitation and cleanliness in India. Focused on achieving 100% Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, ensuring scientific Solid Waste Management (SWM), and driving behaviour change through a "Jan Andolan" (people's movement), SBM-U has had a far-reaching impact. ii.As of September 2024, the initiative has seen the construction of over 63 lakh household toilets and more than 6.3 lakh public toilets. Other Key Achievements of SBM: i.Also, significant progress was made in grey water and plastic waste management. Plastic waste management is being implemented in 3,000 blocks across India, with plastic waste being used in road construction to replace bitumen ii.Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), about 40,000 kilometer (km) of rural roads have been built using the plastic waste management technique, with 13,000 km completed in the last 2 years.