UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 10-08-2024

Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana

Cabinet recently approves an amendment in Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana for providing financial support to Advanced Biofuel Projects.

• PM JI-VAN Yojana - Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan- Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana.
• It is a scheme aimed at promoting the production of cellulosic ethanol or 2^nd-generation (2G) bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass and another renewable feedstock.

Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) is a heterogeneous polymeric material that is made up of carbohydrates, lignin, and other components.

• Launched in – 2019.

• Timeline – 5 years. (recently extended upto 2028-29).
• Implemented by - Centre for High Technology (CHT), a technical body under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• Objectives
  • Establishing commercially viable projects for 2G ethanol production,
  • Providing farmers with a direct income source from their agricultural waste, and
  • Addressing environmental pollution concerns.
• The initiative is supported financially through Viability Gap Funding (VGF).

Viability Gap Funding (VGF) is a financial support mechanism by the government to encourage private sector participation in infrastructure projects that are financially unviable but have significant economic and social importance.

• The ethanol produced by the scheme beneficiaries will be mandatorily supplied to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to benefit under the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP).

Recent amendments  

• The modified scheme extends timeline for implementation of scheme by 5 years i.e. till 2028-29 and includes advanced biofuels produced from lignocellulosic feedstocks.
• Bolt-on plants & Brownfield projects would also now be eligible to leverage their experience and improve their viability.
• To promote multiple technologies and multiple feedstocks, preference would now be given to project proposals with new technologies and innovations in the sector.

Reference

PIB | Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana

Investor Education and Protection Fund

The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, recently proposes simultaneous and successive nominations of up to 4 nominees.

• The fund is designed to promote investor education and safeguard the interests of investors, and it is responsible for making refunds of unclaimed shares and dividends.

 Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund collects unclaimed deposits from banks in India including savings, fixed deposits, current accounts, and more, that have been inactive for 10 years or longer.

• Established in - 2016.
• It is established under Section 125 of the Companies Act, 2013.
• The unpaid or unclaimed amounts belonging to a company’s investors are pooled and credited into the IEPF.
• Administered by - IEPF Authority consisting of a chairperson, a chief executive officer and such other members, not exceeding 7, appointed by the Central Government.
• The IEPF Authority maintains separate accounts and other relevant records relating to the funds as prescribed after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
• The funds of the IEPF are the amount accumulated/credited to the IEPF as per the provisions of the Act.
• The IEPF Authority will utilize and spend the money of the IEPF funds only for the purposes mentioned in the Act.
• Audited by - The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India will audit the accounts of the IEPF.
• The IEPF Authority will forward the audited accounts with the audit report annually to the Central Government.
• The IEPF Authority will also put together its annual report for every financial year, giving a complete summary related to its activities during the year and forward the copy to the Central Government.
• The Central Government will lay down the annual report by the IEPF Authority and the audit report given by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India before each House of the Parliament.

Reference

IEPF | About IEPF

MDR-TB & XDR-TB

India is getting ready to roll out BPaL (bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid) regimen for all multi/extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis patients.

• Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• Tuberculosis is spread from human to human through the release of droplets from the lungs or airways of an infected person. air when a person sneezes, coughs, or breathes.
• This spread can happen through, coughing, sneezing, singing, playing a wind instrument, and talking (to a lesser extent).

Reference

The Hindu | New Treatment regimen for drug-resistant TB

PMAY-U 2.0

Recently, the Union Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, approved Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0.

• About- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 Scheme
• Nodal agency- Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Goal- Provide all-weather pucca houses to eligible urban beneficiaries.
• Purpose- Construct, purchase, or rent affordable houses.
• Target- 1 crore urban poor and middle-class families.
• Duration- 5 years.
• Implementation- Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for all components except ISS (Central Sector Scheme).
• Credit risk guarantee
  • Corpus fund raised from ₹1,000 crore to ₹3,000 crore.
  • Management Transfer from National Housing Bank (NHB) to National Credit Guarantee Company (NCGTC).
• Eligibility criteria- EWS, LIG, Middle Income Group (MIG) families with no pucca house.
  • EWS- Up to Rs.3 lakh/year.
  • LIG- Rs.3 lakh to Rs.6 lakh/year.
  • MIG- Rs. 6 lakh to Rs.9 lakh/year.
• Scheme coverage- All statutory towns (Census 2011 and subsequent), Notified Planning Areas, and others under state legislation.

PMAY-U 2.0 Components

• Beneficiary-led construction (BLC)- Financial aid for EWS families to build new houses on vacant land.
• States/UTs may provide land rights (pattas).
• Affordable housing in partnership (AHP)- Financial aid for EWS to own homes built with various partnerships.
• Affordable rental housing (ARH)- Provide rental housing for urban migrants, workers, and others.
  • Convert government-funded vacant houses to ARH.
  • Construct and maintain rental housing by private/public agencies.
• Interest subsidy scheme (ISS)- 4% interest subsidy on home loans up to ₹25 lakh.

References

1. PIB | PMAY-U 2.0
2. The Hindu | PMAY-Urban 2.0

Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES)

Gujarat, with over 70 AES deaths recently, could benefit from Bihar's experience in managing this deadly disease.

• About- AES, including Japanese Encephalitis (JE), is a neurologic condition caused by various pathogens like viruses, bacteria, fungi, and toxins.
• Other names- Known as 'Chamki Fever' or Litchi Virus in India.
• Outbreaks- JE outbreaks typically align with the monsoon period due to increased mosquito density, while other encephalitis viruses, especially enteroviruses, occur year-round as waterborne diseases.
• Affected age group- Primarily affects children under 15 years.
• Symptoms- Sudden fever, neurological issues like confusion, disorientation, delirium, or coma.
• Endemic zones- Predominantly found in Bihar, Assam, eastern UP, West Bengal, and some areas of Tamil Nadu.
• Litchi link- Outbreaks in North and East India have been associated with children consuming unripe litchis on an empty stomach, leading to hypoglycemia and severe health issues.
• Prevention- Improve access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and reduce mosquito density.
• Vaccination- Since 2013, the Government of India has included 2 doses of JE vaccine in the Universal Immunization Program (UIP) for children at 9 months and 16-24months.

References

1. Down to Earth | Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES)
2. NIH | Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES)