Why in news?

• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)has launched the ‘Waste to Wealth Creation’ programme for women in the Sundarbans in West Bengal.
• In this, the women will make ornaments and showpieces from the fish scales.
• SIDBI will extend benefits to 50 women indirectly generating revenues from alternate livelihoods.
• Later, these women are expected to become a trainer for replicating and disseminating the knowledge among other aspirants. This is a part of mission Swavalamban of SIDBI that aims to support artisans to become sustainable.

Why in news?

• The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)is organising a “Darkathon-2022” to find solutions to counter drug trafficking through the
• The initiative aims at involving students, youth and technical experts to find effective solutions to unravel the anonymity of darknet markets.
• The agency recently smashed three groups of drug peddlers that were operating on the network that is accessed through encryption software which enables anonymity of users.

About Darknet

• Internet consists of three layers:
  • The first layer is public, consisting of sites that one uses frequently such as Facebook, Twitter, Amazon and LinkedIn. This layer makes up only 4% of the entire internet.
  • The second layer, the deep web, is a network where data is stored in inaccessible databases (i.e. cannot be accessed through traditional search engines like Google). It is used to provide access to a specific group of people.
    The data is generally sensitive and private (government private data, bank data, cloud data etc), so kept out of reach.
  • The third layer is the darknet which is also known as a part of the ‘Deep Web’. It is a network built over the internet which is encrypted.
    • It is basically a layer of the Internet accessible only by using special software like Tor (The Onion Router),or I2P, which stands for Invisible Internet Project.
    • Anything present on the dark web will not be pulled up in internet searches, thereby offering a high degree of anonymity.

Why in news?

• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps(IRGC) of Iran has reveled a long range ballistic Surface to surface missile.
• The missile, which uses solid fuel and has a range of 1,450 km is called the Kheiber Shekhan (Khaibar-buster), a reference to a Jewish castle overrun by Muslim warriors in the early days of Islam.
• The missile has high accuracy, is manufactured completely domestically, and can defeat missile shield systems.

Why in news?

• The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday extended the timeline by six months till September 30, 2022 for NBFCs to adhere the new Non Performing Assets recognition norms.
• Earlier the regulator had set March 31 deadline for non-bank lenders to upgrade NPAs only after all arrears and principal dues are paid.

About Non-Banking Financial Companies

• A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/ stocks/ bonds/ debentures/ securities issued by Government or local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance business, chit business but does not include any institution whose principal business is that of agriculture activity, industrial activity, purchase or sale of any goods (other than securities) or providing any services and sale/purchase/construction of immovable property.
• A non-banking institution which is a company and has principal business of receiving deposits under any scheme or arrangement in one lump sum or in installments by way of contributions or in any other manner, is also a non-banking financial company.
• NBFCs lend and make investments and hence their activities are akin to that of banks; however there are a few differences as given below:
  • NBFC cannot accept demand deposits;
  • NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself;
  • deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not available to depositors of NBFCs, unlike in case of banks.

About NPAs

• Non-Performing Assets is a loan or advance wherein interest or installments of principal remain overdue for a period of 90 days.

Classification of NPAs

• Substandard Assets-These are the assets which have remained NPA for a period of less than or equal to 12 months.
• Doubtful Assets– If the asset is in the substandard category for a period of 12 months
• Loss Assets– These assets are of little value, it can no longer continue as a bankable asset, there could be some recovery value.

Why in news?

• Project proposals for the construction of over 60,000 houses were approved across the states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan under the Pradhan MantriAwasYojana (Urban) recently.
• The total number of sanctioned houses under PMAY(U) stands at 114.07 lakh, of which around 93.25 lakh have been grounded for construction and around 54.78 lakh have been delivered to the beneficiaries.
• The total investment under the PMAY(U) stands at ₹7.52 lakh crore, with ₹1.87 lakh crore central assistance out of which ₹1.21 lakh crore has already been released.

About Pradhan MantriAwasYojana (Urban)

• It is a flagship Mission of Government of India being implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• It was launched on 25th June 2015 and addresses urban housing shortage among the EWS/LIG and MIG categories including the slum dwellers by ensuring a pucca house to all eligible urban households by the year 2022, when Nation completes 75 years of its Independence.
• PMAY(U) adopts a demand driven approach wherein the Housing shortage is decided based on demand assessment by States/Union Territories.
• Coverage: The Mission covers the entire urban area consisting of Statutory Towns, Notified Planning Areas, Development Authorities, Special Area Development Authorities, Industrial Development Authorities or any such authority under State legislation which is entrusted with the functions of urban planning & regulations.

Why in news?

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivered the inaugural address at The Energy and Resources Institute’s (TERI) World Sustainable Development Summit today via video message.
• The theme of the event is ‘Towards a Resilient Planet: Ensuring a Sustainable and Equitable Future’
• The Summit would also see participation of Ministers for Environment from about a dozen countries, representatives from the United Nations, heads of inter-governmental organizations, and delegates from 126 countries.

About The Energy and Resources Institute(TERI)

• TERI is a non-profit research institution that conducts research work in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development.
• Established in 1974 as Tata Energy Research Institute and was renamed The Energy and Resources Institute in 2003.
• It aims to focus on formulating local and national level strategies for shaping global solutions to critical issues.
• It conducts research work in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development.
• Its key focus lies in promoting clean energy, water management, pollution management, sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.

Why in news?

• The Ministry of Ayush HAS reiterated that Giloy/Gudduchi (Tinosporacordifolia) is safe and as per available data, Guduchi does not produce any toxic effect.
  • Certain sections of the media have earlier falsely linked again Giloy/Guduchi to liver damage.
• The medicinal herb has to be used in an appropriate dose as prescribed by a qualified physician to get medicinal effects.
• Giloy/Guduchi is used as anti-oxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, cardiovascular protective, neuroprotective, osteoprotective, radioprotective, anti-anxiety, adaptogenic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-diarrheal, anti-ulcer, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer medicinal herb.
• It is used as a major component of therapeutics for ameliorating metabolic, endocrinal, and several other ailments, aiding in the betterment of human life expectancy.

Why in news?

• Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, launched the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) for the welfare of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities.
• DNTs, NTs, SNTs are the one of the most deprived and economically weaker communities in India.
• The misery of these communities began with the enactment of the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 during the British rule. These communities were subjugated, persecuted and neglected. The policies of the colonial government affected lives and livelihood adversely. They were branded as criminals under various colonial acts. This led to the forcible alienation from their traditional occupations and habitations. They remained hunter gatherers and pastoral/peripatetic.
• Even after the Independence; they have not benefitted much from the planned development of over seven decades. They were deprived of state support like the SCs/STs.
• Commissions set up for DNTs
  • Renke Commission was set up in 2008
  • National Commission was constituted in 2015 under the chairmanship of Shri BhikuRamjiIdate.
• Based on the recommendation of Idate commission, the Government of India set up the Development and Welfare Board for DNTs, SNTs &NTs (DWBDNCs) in 2019.

About SEED scheme

• It is an an umbrella scheme for empowerment of these communities.
• The four component of the SEED scheme are:

1. Educational empowerment– Free coaching to students from these communities for Civil Services, entry to professional courses like medicine, engineering, MBA, etc.
2. Health Insurance through PMJAY of National Health Authority.
3. Livelihoods to support income generation, and
4. Housing (through PMAY/IAY)

• The scheme will ensure expenditure of Rs.200 crore to be spent over five years beginning 2021-22. The DWBDNCs has been tasked with the implementation of this scheme.

Why in news?

• Guru Ravidas Jayanti was observed on February 16, 2022, in the honour of birthday of Guru Ravidas.
• This festival is celebrated with joviality in North India, specifically in Punjab.
• The day marks the birthday of Indian mystic poet-saint, Ravidas and is celebrated on MaghPurnima.

About Guru Ravidas

• Guru Ravidas or BhagatRavidas was a renowned saint, who is remembered for his contribution to Bhakti movement. He was contemporary to saint Kabir.
• Guru Ravidas was born in Seer Goverdhanpur village in Uttar Pradesh in an underprivileged family.
• He was an advocate of human rights and a progressive thinker who spread the message of equality by means of his poems and teachings based on spirituality.
• His written verses are included in Sikh scriptures “Guru Granth Sahib”.
• MeeraBai, who was an eminent personality in Hindu spiritualism, recognised Guru Ravidas as her spiritual guide.
• He is considered as the founder of 21^st-century Ravidassia religion.

Why in news?

• The G20 Secretariat will be responsible for implementing overall policy decisions and arrangements needed to steer India’s forthcoming Presidency of the forum for international economic cooperation.
• It is being established for handling the work related to substantive/ content/knowledge media, technical, security and logistical aspects of India’s G20 Presidency.
• It will be manned by staff and officers from Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and other line Ministries or Departments and domain knowledge experts.
• The Secretariat will be functional till February 2024.
• The G20 Secretariat will be guided by an apex committee, headed by Prime Minister. It will also comprise of Finance Minister, External Affairs Minister, Home Minister, and G20 Sherpa (Commerce & Industry Minister). It will provide overall guidance to India’s G20 Presidency.
• India will hold G20 Presidency from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023. It will culminate with the G20 Summit in India in 2023.

About G20

• G20 is an intergovernmental forum, consisting of 19 countries and the European Union (EU). It works for addressing major issues related to global economy, like climate change mitigation, international financial stability, and sustainable development.
• It is composed of most of world’s largest economies, including industrialized and developing nations. It accounts for 90% of gross world product (GWP), 75–80% of international trade, half of world’s land area and two-thirds of the global population.
• The G20 was founded in 1999. Since 2008, it has convened at least once a year. The summits involve head of government or state, foreign minister, finance minister, and other high-ranking officials from each member state. EU is represented by European Commission and European Central Bank.
• Currently, Italy, Indonesia and India are the G20 troika countries.