TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS (ENGLISH) – 02.02.2024

TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS (ENGLISH) – 02.02.2024

Social Justice Ministry was able to spend only small percentages of the amounts set aside for key schemes
SEED scheme for Denotified
NAMASTE scheme
Tribal Affairs Ministry fell short in spending on its flagship project
Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)
Transfers to States under the PM Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana
PM-JANMAN programme targeted towards the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups saw an allocation of
₹240 crore under the transfers to States head
₹25 crore allocation for the Central sector component of it under the Tribal Affairs Ministry
₹1,600 crore has been set aside to be disbursed as grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes

2. Karnataka – Digital Detox Initiative

Karnataka government to launch a ‘Digital Detox’ initiative in collaboration with the All India Game Developers Forum (AIGDF), and National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) with special emphasis on gaming and social media
The aim is to spread awareness about the ills of spending too much time in the digital world
And instead create an environment of responsible gaming
Both online and offline digital detox centres will be set up across the State of Karnataka Centres will offer personalised guidance
Trained professionals will provide counselling and support to individuals seeking to navigate their relationship with technology
Necessory for Observing negative outcomes of digital dependence Mental health issues, Shrinking attention spans, Fraying real-world relationships
Minister said that technology had woven itself firmly into the fabric of everyone’s lives, and being glued to screens has become the norm in this hyper-connected age

3. Bio-manufacturing and Bio-funding Scheme

The announcement is part of a bid to have the bio-economy contribute $300 billion to the Indian economy by 2030
A jump of about ₹18 lakh crore in value from current levels, and $1 trillion by 2047
The products of the bio-economy also play key roles in India’s sustainability and ‘green’ economy targets
Provide “environment-friendly alternatives” Such as biodegradable polymers, bio-plastics, bio-pharmaceuticals and bio-agri-inputs.

4. Fast Population Growth and Demographic Changes Study

A high-power committee will be constituted to consider the challenges arising from “fast population growth and demographic changes”
The announcement comes against the backdrop of an indefinitely postponed Census Which means that there is little reliable data to back up the assertion of “fast” population growth in the country
But – The little data that exist suggest that the country’s fertility rate is falling below replacement levels
Available data – The latest Sample Registration System (SRS) report for 2020 said the total fertility fate (TFR), or the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime, dropped to 2, from 2.1 in 2019
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 for 2019 to 2021, released in May 2022 Stated that the TFR declined from 2.2 to 2 at the national level, in comparison to 2015 and 2016
NFHS-5 said that there were only five outlier States which had a TFR above the replacement level of 2.1 (Bihar (2.98),Meghalaya (2.91),Uttar Pradesh (2.35), Jharkhand (2.26),Manipur (2.17).

5. BUDGET

School, Higher Education Departments

Schemes such as PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) got almost 50% more allocation than the last Budget
Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN), previously known as the mid-day meal scheme, received an outlay of ₹12,467.39 crore

Fertilizer and Food Subsidy

The Centre has decreased fertiliser subsidies
Apparently hoping the improving situation in Ukraine and increased domestic production will help in managing the situation
After the successful adoption of Nano Urea application of Nano Di Ammonium Phosphate (Nano DAP) on various crops will be expanded to all agro-climatic zones
Food subsidy has seen an increase in the allocation
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY)
Sugar Subsidy payable under Public Distribution System

ASHA, Anganwadi staff – Health Cover

Health cover under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana will be extended to all Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and anganwadi workers and helpers
Anganwadi centres would be upgraded under ‘Saksham Anganwadi’
Poshan 2.0 would be expedited to improve nutrition delivery and ensure early childhood care and development
India would utilise the services of the newly designed U-WIN platform for managing immunisation and the intensified efforts of Mission Indradhanush
Encouraging HPV vaccination for girls in the 9-14 years age group for prevention of cervical cancer

Tax Exemption

The interim Budget for 2024-25 did not propose any changes in existing taxation
Tax benefits by way of extension of exemptions by a year to March 31, 2025
Start-ups, Investments made by sovereign wealth or pension funds,International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) units
Initiatives
PM Mudra Yojana
Fund of Funds
Start-up India
Start-up Credit Guarantee schemes

ONE LINER

Lakhpati Didi’ scheme – Aims to train women self-help groups (SHGs) to earn a sustainable income of at least ₹1 lakh per annum by setting up micro-enterprises within their villages.
Tamil Nadu government has released a new scheme called UNGALAI THEDI, UNGAL OORIL Scheme to strengthen Public Service and Scheme implementation across Tamil Nadu