UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

  To address the problem of Drug Abuse, Government has formulated and implemented the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) under which the Government is taking a sustained and coordinated action for arresting the problem of substance abuse. This includes: Launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts of the country through more than 10000 master volunteers. It has reached out to more-than 14.79 crore people including 4.96 crore youth and 2.97 crore women. 350 Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs) are supported by the Government to provide treatment for the drug victims, preventive education, awareness generation, motivational counseling, detoxification/de-addiction, after care and re-integration into the social mainstream. 46 Community based Peer led Intervention (CPLI) Centers supported by the Government focuses on vulnerable and at risk children and adolescents. 74 Outreach and Drop In Centers (ODICs) supported by the Government pr...

The Let’s Fix Our Food (LFOF) Consortium, led by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), UNICEF-India along with other esteemed national and international partners, convened a dissemination and stakeholder consultation today at the ICMR, New Delhi. This initiative marks a significant step towards addressing the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity among Indian adolescents by working in factors influencing their food environments. Let’s Fix Our Food (LFOF) Consortium is a multi-stakeholder initiative led by ICMR-NIN, PHFI, and UNICEF, working in collaboration with national and international organizations to create healthier food environments for adolescents. It aims to advance evidence-based policies, empower youth through nutrition literacy, and advocate for regulatory frameworks that promote healthier food choices. The LFOF Consortium recognizes that bettering food environments for adolesce...

Projects are in the sectors of forest management, water supply, urban transport, aquaculture, biodiversity conservation and investment promotion. The Government of India and the Government of Japan yesterday signed loan agreements worth JPY 191.736 billion for six projects under Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) to India  in the sectors of forest management, water supply, urban transport, aquaculture, biodiversity conservation and investment promotion . The six loan agreements were signed between the Government of India and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at New Delhi for: “Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Program (Phase 3) (TNIPP-III)” (JPY 36.114 billion) “Project for Capacity Enhancement for Effective Forest Management (JPY 8.280 billion) Project for Construction of Chennai Seawater Desalination Plant (II)” (JPY 52.556 billion) “Delhi Mass Rapid Transport System Project (Phase 4 Additional Corridors) (I)” (JPY 79.726 billion) “Assam State Aquaculture...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Strengthening Multimodal and Integrated Logistics Ecosystem (SMILE) Program has the objectives of improving India’s logistics infrastructure, reducing logistics costs, and increasing efficiency. It supports the implementation of the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan by strengthening multimodal logistics, standardizing warehousing, and promoting digitalization in trade logistics. The SMILE program aims to establish and operationalize a comprehensive policy framework to enhance logistics efficiency through (i) strengthening the institutional bases for multimodal logistics infrastructure development at the National, State, and City levels; (ii) standardizing warehousing and other logistics assets to strengthen supply chains and incentivize greater private sector investment; (iii) improving efficiencies in external trade logistics; and (iv) adopting smart systems for efficient and low-emission logistics. These would im...

  The Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) was announced on 15 th   September, 2015 with the objective to reduce country’s reliance on the import of gold in the long run and mobilise gold held by households and institutions in the country to facilitate its use for productive purposes. The GMS comprised of 3 components: Short Term Bank Deposit (1-3 years) Medium Term Government Deposit (5-7 years), and Long-Term Government Deposit (12 - 15 years) Based on the examination of the performance of the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) and evolving market conditions, it has been decided to discontinue the Medium Term and Long Term Government Deposit (MLTGD) components of the GMS w.e.f. March 26, 2025. Accordingly, any gold deposits tendered at the designated Collection and Purity Testing Centre (CPTC) or GMS Mobilisation, Collection & Testing Agent (GMCTA) or the designated bank branches under the said components of GMS shall not be accepted with effect from March 26, 2025. However, the e...

  The Union Cabinet on  09-September-2015  approved the introduction of Gold Monetization Schemes (GMS), as announced in the Union Budget 2015-16.   The objective of introducing the modifications in the schemes is to make the existing schemes more effective and to broaden the ambit of the existing schemes from merely mobilizing gold held by households and institutions in the country to putting this gold into productive use. The long-term objective which is sought through this arrangement is to reduce the country's reliance on the import of gold to meet domestic demand.   GMS would benefit the Indian gems and jewellery sector which is a major contributor to India's exports. In fiscal year 2014-15, gems and jewellery constituted 12 per cent of India's total exports and the value of gold items alone was more than $13 billion (provisional figures).   The mobilized gold will also supplement RBI’s gold reserves and will help in reducing the government's borrowing...

  The ILO’s assessment of 48.8% may not fully capture India’s social security landscape, as it does not account for in-kind benefits such as food security and housing support or state-administered welfare schemes. With the integration of these factors, India’s actual social protection coverage is expected to be considerably higher, reflecting ongoing reforms and data consolidation efforts. The Ministry of Labour & Employment launched Phase 01 of India’s Social Protection Data Pooling Exercise on March 19, 2025, to create a comprehensive assessment of social security coverage. The initiative aims to consolidate data from multiple schemes for a more holistic picture of India’s welfare landscape. In the first phase, ten states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Gujarat, have been identified for data consolidation at the central level. Building on these efforts, India has already processed ...

The Department of Justice implemented a pan-India, year-long nationwide campaign titled ‘Hamara Samvidhan Hamara Samman’ to celebrate the 75th year of India as a Republic and the adoption of India’s Constitution. The campaign was launched from New Delhi on January 24, 2024, by the Hon’ble Vice-President of India. Following this, four regional events were organized in Bikaner, Rajasthan, on March 9, 2024, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on July 16, 2024, in Guwahati, Assam on November, 19, 2024 and the fourth regional event in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh on January 24, 2025. The campaign aimed to reaffirm our collective commitment to the principles enshrined in the Constitution of India and to celebrate the shared values that bind our nation. This nationwide initiative provided opportunities for every citizen to participate in various ways, empowering them to contribute through sub-campaigns namely: - (i) Sabko Nyaya Har Ghar Nyaya - Under this sub-campaign,  three activities were conduct...

NPCI BHIM Services Limited (NBSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has launched Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) 3.0. BHIM 3.0 represents its third evolution since its launch in 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  The new BHIM 3.0 app offers customer friendly and more intuitive experience. BHIM 3.0 now offers:  More Languages – Available in 15+ Indian languages for better accessibility  Works in Low Internet Areas – Optimised to ensure seamless transactions even with slow or unstable network connections  Better Money Management – Advanced tools to track, manage, and split expenses with ease. Enhanced Features for Users  Split Expenses – Users can now split bills with friends and family seamlessly. Whether it’s dining out, rent payments, or group purchases, the BHIM app allows users to divide expenses and make payments directly, ensuring hassle-free settlements.  Family Mode – Users can now onboard family m...

The Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), a joint program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), undertakes a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of a country’s financial sector. Since September 2010 the exercise has become mandatory for jurisdictions with systemically important financial sectors. Currently, it is mandatory for 32 jurisdictions including India, every five years, and for another 15 jurisdictions every ten years. Last FSAP for India was conducted in 2017 and the Financial System Stability Assessment (FSSA) report was published by IMF on 21st December, 2017. Launched in 1999 in the wake of the Asian financial crisis, the program brings together Bank and Fund expertise to help countries reduce the likelihood and severity of financial sector crises. Aim: 1. to gauge the  stability and soundness of a country’s financial sector   2. to assess the financial sector can contribute to growth and development. The IMF specializes in the sta...

Extracts from Supreme Court Order: In light of the concerns expressed above, a National Task Force to address the mental health concerns of students and prevent the commission of suicides in Higher Educational Institutions is being constituted and shall comprise of the following members:  i. Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India, as the Chairperson;  ii. Dr. Alok Sarin, Consultant Psychiatrist, Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science & Research, New Delhi;  iii. Prof. Mary E. John (retired), Former Director, Centre for Women’s Development Studies, New Delhi;  iv. Mr. Arman Ali, Executive Director, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People;  v. Prof. Rajendar Kachroo, Founder, Aman Satya Kachroo Trust;  vi. Dr. Aqsa Shaikh, Professor of the Department of Community Medicine in Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, New Delhi;  vii. Dr. Seema Mehrotra, Professor of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS;...

  ₹1,500 Cr Incentive Scheme for Low-Value BHIM-UPI Transactions Posted On: 24 MAR 2025 2:09PM by PIB Delhi The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹1,500 crore incentive scheme for FY 2024–25 to promote low-value BHIM-UPI (P2M) transactions and encourage digital payments among small merchants. The scheme ensures zero MDR on UPI transactions and offers a 0.15% incentive for transactions up to ₹2,000 made to small merchants. The scheme aims to expand UPI infrastructure across rural and semi-urban areas through tools like UPI 123PAY, Lite, and LiteX. According to the ACI Worldwide Report 2024, India contributed 49% of all global real-time transactions in 2023 — reaffirming its position as a global leader in digital payment innovation.   The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the  ‘Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Low-Value BHIM-UPI Transactions (Person to Merchant - P2M) ’ for the financial year 2024-25. This step supports the Government’s g...