Published on: January 21, 2025

Snippets : 21 JANUARY 2025

Snippets : 21 JANUARY 2025

  • Poovanahalli, a village in K.R. Pet taluk of Mandya district, has been selected for the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) scheme. Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023 and detailed by Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, the scheme aims to empower tribal communities socially and economically through comprehensive development across India. With a budget of ₹24,104 crore (noted discrepancy in sources mentioning ₹79,000 crore), it targets the upliftment of 63,000 villages through over 25 programs spanning 18 departments. These programs focus on education, health, housing, sanitation, infrastructure, clean drinking water, skill development, nutrition, roads, telecommunication, sustainable livelihood opportunities, and tribal cottage industry training. Launched in 2023, the scheme covers Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), benefiting 75 such communities under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, with implementation running from 2023-24 to 2025-26 under Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
  • The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) launched the Internet Governance Internship and Capacity Building Scheme to enhance awareness and expertise in internet governance among Indian citizens. This initiative aims to equip participants to engage effectively in global internet governance processes involving organizations like ICANN, ISOC, IEEE, and IETF while fostering domestic talent to address emerging issues. The scheme includes bi-annual internships with six-month and three-month tracks, offering mentorship by international organization experts, retired officials, and academic advisors. Interns receive a ₹20,000 monthly stipend and participate in mandatory outreach programs. Established in 2003 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, NIXI is a not-for-profit company focused on increasing internet penetration in India by providing services such as Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), the .IN Registry, and IRINN (IPv4 and IPv6 address adoption).
  • The Rubber Board has launched two initiatives, the Indian Sustainable Natural Rubber (iSNR) Platform and INR Konnect, to enhance sustainability and productivity in the rubber sector. The iSNR platform aims to streamline compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for the Indian rubber supply chain by issuing traceability certificates to verify product origin and EUDR compliance. This initiative positions Indian natural rubber as a sustainable and competitive global choice, promoting long-term industry growth. INR Konnect, a web-based platform, connects growers of untapped rubber holdings with adopters to maximize productivity. It certifies participating parties, provides training in production management and sustainable practices, and offers a database of certified tappers.
  • The La Pérouse is a biennial multilateral maritime exercise conducted by the French Navy in the Indian Ocean Region, currently in its fourth edition. This iteration involves participation from various maritime partners, including the Royal Australian Navy, French Navy, Royal Navy, United States Navy, Indonesian Navy, Royal Malaysian Navy, Republic of Singapore Navy, and Royal Canadian Navy, showcasing a diverse array of personnel and surface and sub-surface assets.
  • Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has inaugurated the ‘British Council Corner’ at Arivu Centres, gram panchayat libraries in Karnataka, to provide children with access to high-quality English language learning resources. The British Council will provide 500 children’s books to 10 Arivu Centres and free premium memberships to the British Council’s Digital Library for 5,000 rural Arivu Centres. This initiative aims to inspire curiosity, build skills, and open doors to bigger opportunities for children in rural Karnataka.
  • The Karnataka state Cabinet has approved free bone marrow transplants (BMTs) in empanelled hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (ABArK) scheme, as first reported by DH in November 2024. This move will cover both autologous and allogeneic transplants at institutions like Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (KMIO) and select private super-speciality hospitals, with the government covering the procedure’s high cost (₹10 lakh to ₹30 lakh or more). This initiative aims to provide significant relief, particularly to those below the poverty line suffering from severe blood and immune disorders like blood cancers and thalassemia.
  • The Union government partially lifted the ban on sugar exports, authorizing one million tonnes for export in the 2024-25 season (ending September), a move announced by Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi to stabilize prices, benefit five crore farmer families and five lakh workers, and strengthen the sugar sector. This reversal of the October 2023 ban, implemented to control domestic prices, aims to ensure timely payments to farmers, improve sugar mill liquidity, and balance sugar availability and prices, allowing millers to export all sugar grades directly or via traders until September 30. The Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) praised the decision, anticipating it will resolve surplus stock issues and significantly improve sugar mill financial stability.
  • The Union agriculture ministry has launched its first-ever survey to assess edible oil consumption patterns in India, aiming to effectively implement the New Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds, a senior official said. The initiative comes as India, the world’s largest consumer and importer of edible oils, lacks recent data on consumption patterns.
  • India is set to host the FIDE World Cup 2025, marking the country’s first major international chess tournament since the 2022 Chennai Chess Olympiad.