UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

A National Disaster Response Fund may be constituted as mandated in the Act. The National Disaster Response Fund will be applied by the National Executive Committee (NEC) towards meeting the expenses for emergency response, relief and rehabilitation, in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Central Government in consultation with the NDMA. The proposal of merger of National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) with National Disaster Response Fund shall be as recommended by the Finance Commission from time to time. Similarly, as mandated by the Act, the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) may be created for projects exclusively for the purpose of mitigation. NDMF shall be applied by the NDMA and shall be as recommended by the Finance Commission from time to time It shall be the responsibility of the States to constitute the Disaster Mitigation and Response Funds at the State as well as District levels. The modalities for the application of these funds will be worked out in ac...

  Introduction World Day of Social Justice , observed annually on  February 20 th  by the  United Nations , serves as a global call to action for addressing poverty, exclusion, and unemployment while promoting solidarity, harmony, and equality of opportunity within and between societies. Aligned with the ethos of the World Day of Social Justice, India’s  Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE)  has intensified efforts to bridge socio-economic gaps through legislative reforms, grassroots empowerment, and global partnerships. Background & Global Context Established by the  United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)  during the 62 nd  session on November 26, 2007, the  World Day of Social Justice  has been celebrated annually on 20 th  Feb since the  63 rd   session in  2009 . This observance stems from the recognition that  social development and social justice  are indispensable for achieving ...

India and Argentina signed  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will pave the way for deeper collaboration in exploration and resource development of critical minerals. It was signed between  Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL), a PSU under the Ministry of Mines, and the Provincial Government of Catamarca, Argentina. Argentina, known for its vast lithium reserves as part of the 'Lithium Triangle,' is a crucial partner for India in securing essential minerals required for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage. The Lithium Triangle (Spanish: Triángulo del Litio) is a region of the Andes that is rich in lithium reserves, encompassed by the borders of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. The lithium in the triangle is concentrated in various salt pans that exist along the Atacama Desert and neighboring arid areas. The largest areas three main salt pans that define its vertices are the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, Salar de Atacama in Chile, and Salar de...

India is elected to the Vice Presidency of the International Organization of Aids to Marine Navigation (IALA) in Singapore. The first General Assembly of IALA also marks its transition from a non-governmental organization (NGO) to an inter-governmental organization (IGO), where India was elected to its Vice Presidency.  This underscores India’s strong leadership and contributions to maritime affairs, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable and secure marine navigation. IALA, established in 1957 as an NGO, transitioned to an IGO to enhance its role in shaping international standards and best practices for safe and efficient navigation. The new IGO status amplifies IALA’s mandate to harmonise global maritime navigation systems, promote maritime safety initiatives, and collaborate with member states, international organizations, and industry stakeholders to address emerging challenges in maritime safety and environmental protection. India is hosting the IALA Council meeting in Decem...

Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan will inaugurate the National Geospatial Knowledge-based Land Survey of Urban Habitations (NAKSHA)   in 152 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across 26 States and 3 Union Territories (UTs) at Raisen, Madhya Pradesh tomorrow.  The NAKSHA program aims to create and update land records in urban areas to ensure accurate and reliable documentation of land ownership. This initiative will empower citizens, improve ease of living, enhance urban planning, and reduce land-related disputes. The IT-based system for property record administration will foster transparency, efficiency and support sustainable development. The Survey of India is the technical partner for NAKSHA programme which is responsible for conducting aerial surveys and providing orthorectified imagery, through third party vendors, to state and Union Territory governments. The end-to-end web-GIS platform will be developed by the M...

  The President of the United States of America, The Honorable Donald J. Trump hosted the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi for an Official Working Visit in Washington, DC on February 13, 2025. They have announced following initiatives: Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA):  It was announced  to scale industry partnerships and production in the Indo-Pacific. A new partnership between Anduril Industries and Mahindra Group on advanced autonomous technologies announced to co-develop and co-produce state-of-the-art maritime systems and advanced AI-enabled counter Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to strengthen regional security, and between L3 Harris and Bharat Electronics for co-development of active towed array systems. "U.S.-India COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century” :  It was announced to  drive transformative change across key pillars of cooperation. Under this initi...

  Safeguarding India’s Ancient Wonders Posted On: 14 FEB 2025 4:53PM by PIB Delhi “Heritage is not only history. Rather a shared consciousness of humanity. Whenever we look at historical sites, it lifts our mind from the current geo-political factors.” ~Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi   India, a land of surprises is home to some of the world’s most iconic cultural and archaeological treasures. From the intricately carved temples of Khajuraho and the historic ruins of Hampi to the revered Somnath temple, the country boasts a vast array of monuments that reflect its rich history, diverse traditions and architectural brilliance. These sites stretching from the northern Himalayas to the southern tip of Kanyakumari are a testament to India’s glorious past and cultural legacy. However, climate change and extreme weather patterns such as rising sea levels, heatwaves, forest fires, torrential rains and strong winds are putting these invaluable landmarks at significant risk. The dama...

India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein – have taken a significant step towards deeper economic collaboration with the inauguration of the India-EFTA Desk. This initiative follows the recently concluded India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which positions EFTA as the first European bloc to formalize a trade pact with India. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal hailed TEPA as a landmark agreement, emphasizing India’s growing role in global trade. “This desk will serve as the bridge between businesses on both sides, ensuring transparency, trust, and ease of doing business,” he stated. He underscored India’s ambition to surpass $100 billion in EFTA investments, highlighting the country’s commitment to fostering equitable and mutually beneficial trade relationships. The India-EFTA Desk will provide structured support to EFTA businesses looking to invest, expand, or establ...

India took part in the 63 rd  session of the Commission for Social Development (CSoCD), held from February 10 to 14, 2025 at New York ,USA .  The Commission for Social Development (CSocD) is one of the eight functional commissions established by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 1946 to advise and assist it in carrying its work. The Commission for Social Development consists of 46 members elected by ECOSOC. Since the convening of the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995, the commission has been the key UN body in charge of the follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. As a result of the Summit, the mandate of the commission was reviewed and its membership expanded from 32 to 46 members in 1996. It meets once a year at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, usually in February for about two weeks. In 2020, the Commission celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Copenhagen Declara...

Bali Jatra is a festival that commemorates the maritime trade and cultural exchange between Odisha and Southeast Asian countries, particularly Bali. The festival is celebrated annually in Cuttack, Odisha, and attracts million of visitors. The term Bali Jatra literally means ‘Voyage to Bali’. Every year Kartika Purnima marks the day that the seafaring traders departed for the Indonesian islands. For this festival, people of Odisha gather in large numbers in colourful attire to celebrate their glorious maritime history. The celebration features grand fairs, elaborate rides, food and dance. Indian women perform ‘Boita Bandana’, they make boats of paper or banana leaf (sholapith) with lighted lamps inside and float them down the Mahanadi as a part of the celebrations. The Bali Jatra celebrates the ingenuity and skill of those expert sailors who made Kalinga, one of the most prosperous empires of its time. The festival is organized by Department of Culture and Tourism, Govt. of Odisha. Ea...