About Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme:

• Launched on June 29, 2020, PMFMPE is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
• It is designed to address the challenges faced by micro-enterprises and to tap the potential of groups and cooperatives to support the upgradation and formalization of these enterprises.
• Objectives: To build the capability of microenterprises to enable:
  • Increased access to credit by existing micro food processing entrepreneurs, FPOs, self-help groups, and co-operatives.
  • Integration with an organized supply chain by strengthening branding & marketing.
  • Support for the transition of existing 200,000 enterprises into a formal framework.
  • Increased access to common services like common processing facilities, laboratories, storage, packaging, marketing, and incubation services.
  • Strengthening of institutions, research, and training in the food processing sector; and
  • Increased access for enterprises to professional and technical support.
• Outlay:
  • The scheme envisages an outlay of ₹ 10,000 crores over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
  • The expenditure under the scheme would be shared in a 60:40 ratio between Central and State Governments, in a 90:10 ratio with the Northeastern and the Himalayan States, a 60:40 ratio with UTs with the legislature, and 100% by the Center for other UTs.
• Coverage:
  • Under the scheme, 2,00,000 micro food processing units will be directly assisted with credit-linked subsidies.
  • Adequate, supportive common infrastructure and institutional architecture will be supported to accelerate the growth of the sector.
• Benefits: The program has four broad components addressing the needs of the sector:
  • Support to individuals and groups of micro-enterprises.
  • Branding and Marketing support.
  • Support the strengthening of institutions.
  • Setting up a robust project management framework.
• Financial Support:
• Support to Individual Micro Units:
  • Micro enterprises will get a credit-linked subsidy at 35% of the eligible project cost with a ceiling of Rs.10 lakh.
  • Beneficiary contribution will be a minimum of 10%, and balance from the loan.
  • On-site skill training & Handholding for DPR and technical upgradation.
• Support to FPOs/SHGs/Cooperatives:
• Seed capital will be given to SHGs (@Rs. 4 lakh per SHG) for loans to members for working capital and small tools.
• Credit-linked capital subsidy at 35% subject to a maximum of Rs. 3 crore, to support FPOs, SHGs, cooperatives, and any Government agency for setting up common infrastructure.
• Grant up to 50% for branding and marketing to groups of FPOs/ SHGs/Cooperatives or an SPV of micro food processing enterprises.
• Skill training & Handholding support.
• Credit-linked capital subsidy
• The Eligible Borrowers for PMFMPE can be:
  • Farmer Producer Organization (FPO)
  • Self-Help Groups
  • Co-operatives
  • Existing Micro Food Processing Entrepreneurs
  • New Units, whether for individuals or groups, would only be supported for One District One Product (ODOP).

About Zambezi River:

• The Zambezi River, sometimes spelled as Zambesi or Zambeze, is Africa’s 4th longest river and the continent’s longest east-flowing stream.
• Course:
  • It starts off in Angola’s southern highlands, at the source of a river called the Lungwebungu.
  • It flows for about 3,421 kilometers through Angola, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique before emptying into the Indian Ocean.
• The river is known for several notable waterfalls, including Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls, and the Chavuma Falls on the Zambia-Angola border.
• The Cohara Bassa and Kariba Dams, two of Africa’s major hydroelectric power sources, are located along the Zambezi’s course.
• Zambia accounts for the largest drainage area (41.6%) of the river.
• Tributaries: The main tributaries of the Zambezi River include the Shire, Kafue, Luangwa, Kabompo, and Cuando (Kwando) rivers.

About Onchocerciasis:

• Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is a disease caused by Onchocerca volvulus, a parasitic worm.
• The parasite can spread to humans through repeated bites of infected blackflies of the Simulium species.
• The flies breed by fast-flowing rivers and streams in certain remote, tropical, agricultural areas.
• Onchocerciasis itself isn’t contagious because it can’t spread directly from one person to another.
• But the disease can spread when blackflies bite infected people, ingest the larvae, and then bite people who aren’t infected.
• It is common throughout sub-Saharan Africa and certain areas of Brazil and Venezuela in South America.
• Symptoms include a potentially disfiguring skin rash and vision problems, even blindness.
• Globally, it is second only to trachoma in causing infection-related blindness.
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), river blindness remains one of the most neglected tropical diseases, especially in remote and rural areas.
• Treatment: Treatment for river blindness is ivermectin, an oral antiparasitic medication.

About Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR):

• It is located in Rajasthan’s Bundi district.
• Spread over 1,501.89 sq.km., the reserve has a 481.90 sq.km. core area and a 1,019.98 sq.km. buffer zone.
• It is strategically positioned to serve as a crucial corridor between the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve to the northeast and the Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve to the south.
• It was notified as a tiger reserve on May 16, 2022.
• The Mez River, a tributary of the Chambal River, meanders through the reserve.
• The reserve’s topography is characterized by the rugged terrains of the Aravalli and Vindhyan mountain ranges, interspersed with valleys and plateaus.
• Vegetation: Dry Deciduous Forest
• Flora:
  • The habitat is dominated by Dhok (Anogeissus pendula) trees.
  • Other important flora includes Khair, Ronj, Amaltas, Gurjan, Saler, etc.
• Fauna:
  • The area is dominated by leopards and sloth bears.
  • Other important fauna include the Jungle cat, Golden jackal, Hyaena, Crested Porcupine, Indian Hedgehog, Rhesus macaque, hanuman langur, etc.

Key Facts about Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR):

• It is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh and shares the southern boundary with Maharashtra.
• It is named after the Pench River, meandering through the reserve from north to south.
• It comprises the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, the Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, and a buffer.
• The area of the PTR and the surrounding area is the real story area of Rudyard Kipling’s famous “The Jungle Book”.
• Vegetation: The undulating topography supports a mosaic of vegetation ranging from a moist sheltered valley to an open, dry deciduous forest.
• Flora:
  • The reserve boasts a diverse range of flora, including teak, saag, mahua, and various grasses and shrubs.
  • Teak forests are found in about one quarter of the area.
• Fauna:
  • The area is especially famous for large herds of Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Gaur (Indian Bison), and wild boar.
  • The key predator is the tiger, followed by the leopard, wild dogs, and wolf.
  • There are over 325 species of resident and migratory birds, including the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Pitta, Osprey, Grey Headed Fishing Eagle, White Eyed Buzzard, etc.

About Red-breasted Parakeet:

• The red-breasted parakeet, or moustached parakeet, is a colorful bird found across many parts of Asia.
• Scientific Name: Psittacula alexandri
• It's known for its bright feathers and a unique "moustache" marking.
• These parakeets are quite common and have several different looks depending on where they live.
• Distribution: Their home stretches from parts of India and Nepal, through Southeast Asia, including countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
• Habitat: They prefer living in forests, woodlands, and even in areas near farms or towns.
• Features:
  • It is a medium-sized parrot.
  • It can grow to about 33 to 38 centimeters long, including its long tail.
  • The male has overall green plumage with a distinct pink breast and belly, a grey head, a blue upper tail, a green tail tip, and a red upper bill.
  • The female is similar to the male but has duller pink underparts and a black upper bill.
  • These birds are very social and often live in small groups or larger flocks.
  • They are quite noisy, especially when flying or feeding.
  • Their calls are usually loud squawks and screeches.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

About UMEED Portal:

• The ‘Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Portal is a centralised digital platform to register Waqf properties across the country.
• It aims to promote better management and enhance transparency.
• It serves as a centralized digital platform for real-time uploading, verification, and monitoring of Waqf properties. 
• Under this initiative registrations of properties are facilitated by respective State Waqf Boards.
• Legal Support: It was formed under the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Minority Affairs
• Key Features of the Portal
  • Creation of a digital inventory with geo-tagging of all Waqf properties
  • Online grievance redressal system for better responsiveness
  • Transparent leasing and usage tracking
  • Integration with GIS mapping and other e-Governance tools
  • Public access to verified records and reports
  • Properties that are registered under women’s names will not be eligible to be classified as Waqf properties.

About Technology Development Fund Scheme:

• It has been established to promote self-reliance in Defence Technology as a part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
• It encourages the participation of public/private industries, especially MSMEs and startups, so as to create an ecosystem for enhancing cutting-edge technology capability in the defence sector.
• Funding Support:
  • The project cost of up to INR 50 crore will be considered for funding.
  • The funding may be up to 90% of the total project cost.
  • Project Duration: The maximum development period will be four (4) years.
• Eligibility:
  • Entity Type: A public limited company, a private limited company, a partnership firm, a limited liability partnership, a one-person company, or a sole proprietorship registered as per applicable Indian laws registered in India especially MSMEs and Startups.
  • The industry must be owned and controlled by a resident Indian citizen.
  • An entity with excess of 49 percent foreign investment not be eligible.
  • Start ups
    • Startups must be recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as per Government of India (GOI) guidelines.
    • Startups incorporated for less than three years from date of submission of application will be considered as nascent startups.
    • Startups should not have received any grants/grants-in-aid by any government scheme for a similar technology.
    • The startup must be owned and controlled by a Resident Indian citizen with a shareholding of at least 51%.
    • A nascent Startup should be incubated at one of the Central/State government assisted incubators.
  • Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Defence.

About Shingles Disease:

• Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash.
• Cause: It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus— the same virus that causes chickenpox.
  • After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the nerve cells and can reactivate years later, especially when the immune system is weakened due to age, illness, or immunosuppressive medications.
• Symptoms of Shingles:
  • Shingles typically presents as a painful rash, often forming a stripe of blisters on one side of the torso, neck, or face.
  • Other symptoms may include itching, tingling, burning, headache, fever, and sensitivity to light or touch.
• Transmission: It is not contagious, but the virus can be spread to someone who has never had chickenpox.
• It is most common in people over 50 or those with weakened immune systems.
• Treatment: There is a vaccine called Shingrix available, which helps in preventing shingles and its complications.

About Directorate General of Civil Aviation:

• It is the regulatory body in the field of civil aviation primarily dealing with safety issues.
• It is an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• It is responsible for regulation of air transport services to/from/within India and for enforcement of civil air regulations, air safety and airworthiness standards.
• It also coordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
• Headquarters: New Delhi 
• Functions and Responsibilities of the DGCA:
  • One of the main functions of the DGCA is to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members on all flights operating in India.
  • It conducts regular safety inspections of all airlines and aircraft to meet the required safety standards.
  • It also investigates any incidents or accidents that occur within the Indian airspace.
  • It plays a crucial role in developing new airports and modernizing existing facilities to ensure that they can meet the growing demands of the aviation industry.
  • It is responsible for the regulation of air traffic in India. It works closely with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to ensure air traffic is managed safely and efficiently.
  • The DGCA also plays a key role in developing new air traffic control systems and technologies to improve the overall efficiency of Indian airspace.
  • It is also responsible for issuing licenses and certificates to pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, and other aviation personnel.

About Infrastructure Investment Trust:

• It is Collective Investment Scheme similar to a mutual fund, which enables direct investment of money from individual and institutional investors in infrastructure projects 
• These are like mutual funds in structure which can be established as a trust and registered with Sebi.
• Objective: To provide retail investors with access to investment opportunities in infrastructure projects, which were previously only available to large institutional investors. 
• Features of the INVITs:
  • An InvIT has 4 parties namely; Trustee, Sponsor(s) and Investment Manager and Project Manager.
  • INVITs are created by sponsors, who are typically infrastructure companies or private equity firms.
  • The sponsor sets up the INVITs and transfers ownership of the underlying infrastructure assets to the trust.
  • The trust then issues units to investors, which represent an ownership stake in the trust and thus the underlying assets.
  • While the trustee (certified by Sebi) has the responsibility of inspecting the performance of an InvIT, sponsor(s) are promoters of the company that set up the InvIT.
• InvITs are regulated by the SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.