UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

  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...

Introduction India has emerged as a global leader in the digital landscape, with a staggering 936 million Internet subscribers (Till Dec 2023, TRAI), transforming it into one of the largest connected nations worldwide. Termed as 'Digital Nagriks', Indians are increasingly integrating the internet into their daily lives, relying on it for essential needs such as business transactions, education, financial activities, and accessing government services digitally. Recognizing the critical importance of a secure digital environment, the Government of India has been implementing robust policies aimed at safeguarding its vast online community. These measures are designed to ensure a safe, trusted, and secure cyberspace amidst the growing prevalence of cyber threats and attacks in today's interconnected world. Understanding CERT-In Established as the national agency for incident response under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Indian Computer Emergency Respon...

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), launched in 2016, aims to provide a simple, affordable, and comprehensive crop insurance product to Indian farmers. This scheme covers all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to post-harvest, ensuring financial support in the event of crop failure due to natural calamities, pests, or diseases. Following the  "One Nation, One Crop, One Premium"  principle, PMFBY offers a comprehensive shield against crop losses caused by unpredictable natural hazards.  This protection not only stabilizes farmers' income but also encourages them to adopt innovative practices. What Makes it Better? Compared to the previous schemes, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) offers a more comprehensive and robust shield for crops. The removal of premium capping under PMFBY allows farmers to receive full claim amounts without reductions. PMFBY also covers individual farms nationwide for localized disasters like hailstorms, landslides, flood...

  Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) has been launched in 2007-08 and the scheme has been revised  with effect from 01.11.2017  as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana - Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR)  with broad objectives of making farming a remunerative economic activity through strengthening the farmer’s effort, risk mitigation with  major focus on development and creation of pre & post-harvest infrastructure.  Under this scheme, funds are released to the State Governments/UTs on the basis of projects related to agriculture and allied sectors, approved by the State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) headed by the Chief Secretary of the concerned State/UT which is the empowered body to approve projects for implementation under this scheme. There is an Agri-Entrepreneurship & innovation component in RKVY-RAFTAAR which is operated by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare. ...

Government of India has been promoting Organic farming in the country through dedicated scheme namely Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) since 2015-16.   PKVY aims at supporting and promoting organic farming, in turn resulting in improvement of soil health. The scheme promotes Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) For India (PGS- India)2 form of organic certification that is built on mutual trust, locally relevant and mandates the involvement of producers and consumers in the process of certification. PGS – India operates outside the framework of “Third Party Certification. Funding pattern under the scheme is in the ratio of 60:40 by the Central and State Governments respectively. In case of Northeastern and Himalayan States, Central Assistance is provided in the ratio of 90:10 (Centre: State) and for Union Territories, the assistance is 100%. The Scheme proposes to cover additional 6,00,000 hectare area under organic farming till 2025-26. The objective is to produce agricultu...