Why in news?

• Chie f Electoral Officer’s office of Punjabunveiled its election mascot, “Shera” (Lion).
• It aims to increase voter awareness, participation and promote ethical voting in the Punjab Assembly polls that is scheduled on 20 February 2022.
• The mascot “Shera”, depicts a lion. It represents the rich cultural heritage of Punjab.
• It is promoted under the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP)project of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
• SVEEP project was started in 2009, as the flagship program of the ECI for voter education.

Why in news?

• The three days long Torgya Festivalof the Monpa tribal community of Arunachal Pradesh is celebrated at Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh. 
• The main attraction of the festival is the ‘Sha-na Cham’,the ritual dance performed by monks to showcase the Choe-G yal Yap & Yum Tsa-Munde deity.
• This year is the ‘Dungyur Torgya’ festival, which marks a special occasion as every 3rd year, the festival is organized on a broader level with the name Dungyur Festival during which Dalai Lama offers blessings (also known as Tse-Boom) to other lamas by sending Feb Jum which is a holy item to be used in rituals.

Why in news?

• The Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costohas been re-elected after his centre-left Socialist Party secured a landslide victory in the 2022 Portuguese legislative election.

About Portugal

• Portugal, is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira. It features the westernmost poi nt in mainland Europe, and its Iberian portion is bordered to the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean and to the north and east by Spain, the sole country to have a land border with Portugal. Its two archipelagos form two autonomous regions with their own regional governments.
• The official and national language is Portuguese.
• Lisbon is the capitaland largest city.
• Portugal President: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa;
• Portugal Currency: Euro.

Why in news?

• North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) under Saffron Bowl project has identified few locations in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya for saffron cultivation.
• In Arunachal Pradesh, there is a good growth of organic saffron with flowers. In Meghalaya, sample plantations were grown at Cherrapunji, Mawsmai and Lalingtop sites.
• The following sites have been identified in Meghalaya under the Saffron Bowl project: Barapani, Cherrapunji, Mawsmai, Shillong, and Lalingtop.

About NECTAR

• NECTAR is an autonomous society, set up under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, with its headquarters at Shillong, Meghalaya.
• With this, the government is looking at harnessing and leveraging niche frontier technologies available with central scientific departments and institutions.
• The aim is to be the leading Centre to foster, nurture and ensure the delivery, sustenance, and use of technology applications for public and social good; and to reach and expand the benefits of technology among people, communities, institutions, and governments for equitable and inclusive social and economic development of the Northeastern Region of the country.

About Saffron

• Saffron is a plant whose dried stigmas (thread-like parts of the flower) are used to make saffron spice.
• Saffron cultivation is believed to have been introduced in Kashmir by Central Asian immigrantsaround the 1st Century BCE.
• It has been associated with traditional Kashmiri cuisine and represents the rich cultural heritage of the region.
• In ancient Sanskrit literature, saffron is referred to as ‘bahukam’.
• It is presently cultivated and harvested in the Karewa (highlands) of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Pampore region,commonly known as Saffron bowl of Kashmir, is the main contributor to saffron production.
• Pampore Saffron Heritage of Kashmiris one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage systems (GIAHS) recognised sites in India

Why in news?

• Two new Ramsar sites — Khijadiya wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat and Bakhira wildlife sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh — were announced on the occasion of World Wetlands Day at Sultanpur national park.
• India now has a network of 49 such sites, the highest in South Asia, covering 10,93,636 hectares.
• Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance as per UNESCO’s 1971 Convention on Wetlands held in Ramsar, Iran.

About World Wetlands Day

• World Wetlands Day, celebrated annually on 2 February, aims to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and planet.
• This day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.
• This year is especially significant as World Wetlands Day 2022 will be observed as a United Nations international day for the first time.
• The theme of World Wetlands Day 2022 is ‘Wetlands Action for People and Nature’.
• It aims to highlight the importance of actions to conserve and sustain wetlands.

Why in news?

• The fifth submarine of Project 75, Yard 11879, Indian Navy’s Kalvari class commenced her sea trials on 01 Feb 22. The submarine was launched in Nov 2020 from the Kanhoji Angre Wet Basin of Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
• The submarine would be named Vagir, after commissioning.
• Three submarines INS Kalavari, INS Khanderi and INS Kharanj have been commissioned into the Indian Navy.
• Trials of 4th and 5th submarines, the INS Vela and INS Vagirare underway while the construction of the 6th Vagsheer is underw ay.

About Project 75

• Project-75 (I) envisages indigenous construction of six modern conventional submarines with contemporary equipment, weapons & sensors including Fuel-Cell based AIP (Air Independent Propulsion Plant), advanced torpedoes, modern missiles and state-of-the-art countermeasure systems.
• This would provide a major boost to the indigenous design and construction capability of submarines in India, in addition to bringing in the latest submarine design and technologies as part of the project.
• The overall aim is to progressively build indigenous capabilities in the private sector to design, develop and manufacture complex weapon systems for the future needs of the Armed Forces.
• The project would not only aid in boosting the core submarine/shipbuilding industry but would also greatly enhance the manufacturing/industrial sector, especially the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by developing an industrial ecosystem for the manufacture of associated spares/systems/equipment related to submarines.
• This will be an important step towards meeting broader national objectives, encouraging self-reliance and aligning the defence sector with the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government.

Why in news?

• The Prime Minister presented a Chadar which shall be offered at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah on the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

About Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti 

• Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti was born in Sijistan (modern-day Sistan) in Iran in 1141-42 CE.
• He went on to Hajj, Mecca, and Medina after receiving Khilafat at the age of 52 from Sheikh Usman Harawani.
• Later, he started living and preaching in Ajmer.
• He was soon able to draw the local populace, poor people, peasants, and nobles from far and wide and even drew the attention of the Kings.
• The Dargah complex of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti was built in Indo-Islamic style of architecture.
• A golden crown offered by Nawab Haider Ali Khan of Rampur sits on top of it and a lotus adorns the dome.
• Moinuddin Hasan Chishti earned the name Khwaja Garib Nawaz, or cherisher of the poor.

Why in news?

• The ONORC plan for nation-wide portability of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) ration cards has been enabled in the Chhattisgarh State from 2^ndFebruary 2022.
• With the integration of Chhattisgarh, the ONORC plan is now operational in 35 States/UTscovering almost 8% NFSA population (about 77 Crore NFSA beneficiaries) in the country.

About ONORC

• ONORC is a techn ology driven distribution system which makes food security portable across the country and is very beneficial for migratory NFSA beneficiaries, who frequently change their place of dwelling in search of temporary employments, etc.
• This provides them with an option to get their entitled quota of foodgrains from any FPS of their choice, anywhere in the country, by using their same/existing ration card.
• It is also noteworthy that the families of the migratory beneficiaries back home, can also avail the balance ration without any difficulty.

Salient Features of One Nation One Ration Card Scheme

• It is being implemented under the Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS.)
• 65 crores beneficiaries are being covered under the ONORC scheme.
• 80 percent of beneficiaries registered under NFSA have been covered under the scheme.
• 81 crores beneficiaries are reported to get the benefits of this scheme once all states/UTs will be integrated under the scheme.

Why in News

• The defence ministry will roll out the home delivery of medicines for veterans and serving military personnel in Delhi, seeking healthcare services under an online medical consultation platform.
• The home delivery of medicines under Services e-Health Assistance and Teleconsultation (SeHAT) will be started with the Base Hospital in Delhi Cantonment and the scheme would be extended to more and more stations in the future.
• It is a tri-services teleconsultation service designed for “all entitled personnel” and their families.

Why In News

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled a bigger ₹39.45 lakh crore Budget, with higher spending on highways to affordable housing with a view to fire up the key engines of the economy to sustain a world-beating recovery from the pandemic.
• A Made in India tablet has replaced the traditional ‘Bahi Khata’ as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman leaves the Finance Ministry’s office to go to the Parliament to present the Budget.

Fom where rupee Come and Goes

• For every rupee in the government coffer, 58 paise will come from direct and indirect taxes, 35 paise from borrowings and other liabilities, 5 paise from non-tax revenue like disinvestment and 2 paise from non-debt capital receipts, according to the Budget documents for 2022-23.
• Goods and services tax will contribute 16 paise in every rupee revenue, while corporation tax will contribute 15 paise to each rupee earned.
• The government is also looking to earn 7 paise for every rupee from Union excise duty and 5 paise from customs duty.
• Income tax will yield 15 paise to every rupee collection.
• Allocation for the defence stood at 8 paise.
• Expenditure on central sector schemes will be 15 paise, while the allocation for centrally-sponsored schemes will be 9 paise.
• The expenditure on the ‘Finance Commission and other transfers’ is pegged at 10 paise. Subsidies and pension will account for 8 paise and 4 paise, respectively, in each rupee spending.
• Government will spend 9 paise in every rupee on ‘other expenditures’.

Key facts of Budget 2022- 23

• GDP of Country is expected to grow at 9.27 per cent.
• Focus areas:
• PM Gati Shakti, Inclusive Development, Productivity Enhancement, Sunrise Opportunities, Energy Transition, Climate Action and Financing of investments.
• Lay the foundation & give a blueprint of the economy over ‘Amrit Kal’ of next 25 years – from India at 75 to India at 100.
• Startups will be promoted to facilitate Drone Shakti to make drone a service. In select ITIs in all states, courses will be started.
• Govt continuously encouraging digital banking. Taking forward, 75 digital banking units will be set up in 75 districts.
• Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme will be extended up to March 2023 and the guaranteed cover will be expanded by Rs 50,000 crore to cover an amount of Rs 5 lakh crore.
• Issuance of e-passports will be rolled out in 2022-23 to make it easier for citizens. Ease of business 2.0 will be launched.
• 5G spectrum auctions to be carried out in calendar 2022 to enable the launch of services within FY22-23.
• Digital rupee to be issued using blockchain and other technologies and will be issued by RBI starting 2022-23. This will give a big boost to the economy. This will give a big boost to the economy. Introduction of central bank digital currency to boost digital economy, and lays down a solid plan of the government to have a public digital currency.
• Income from transfer of digital assets (Cryptocurrency) to be charged 30% tax, plus 1% tax on the transaction.
• Corporate surcharge to be reduced from 12% to 7%, says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
• Existing tax benefits for startups, which were offered redemption of taxes for 3 consecutive years, to be extended by 1 more year.
• Proposes fiscal deficit of 4.5% of GDP by 2025/26
• Projects fiscal deficit of 6.4% of GDP in 2022/23
• Revised fiscal deficit for 2021/22 at 6.9% of GDP
• Total expenditure in 2022/23 seen at 39.45 trillion rupees
• States will be allowed 4% fiscal deficit to GDP in FY23
• 50 year interest free loans over and above normal borrowing allocated to states
• Scheme for financial assistance to states for capital investment outlay to be 1 trillion rupees in 2022/23
• 100% of 1.5 lakh post offices will come on the core banking system, enabling financial inclusion and access to accounts through net banking, mobile banking, ATMs, and also providing online transfer of funds between post office accounts and bank accounts.
• This will be helpful especially for farmers and senior citizens in rural areas, enabling interoperability, and financial inclusion.
• Fiscal Deficit target set at 6.4% for FY23:
• FY23 total expenditure seen at Rs 39.45 lakh crore.
• Total Receipts other than borrowing seen at Rs 22.84 lakh crore.
• Revised Fiscal Deficit 6.9% of GDP in FY22 as against 6.8% in Budget estimates.
• Fiscal Deficit target set at 6.4% for FY23.
• National Telehealth programme:
• Announced a National telehealth programme in Budget 2022. An open platform for the National Digital Health Ecosystem will be rolled out. It will consist of digital registries of health providers and health facilities, unique health identity and universal access to health facilities The pandemic has accentuated mental health problems in people of all ages.
• States will be encouraged to revise syllabi of agricultural universities to meet needs of natural, zero-budget & organic farming, modern-day agriculture. One class, one TV channel’ program of PM eVIDYA will be expanded from 12 to 200 TV channels. This will enable all states to provide supplementary education in regional languages for classes 1 to 12.
• PM Gati Shakti plans one of the four pillars of growth. 25,000 km of national highways to be built in 2022-23.
• 400 new-generation Vande Bharat trains with higher efficiency and better facilities for passengers will be developed in the next three years. Over 2,000 km of the rail network to be brought under the indigenous world-class technology KAWACH, for safety and capacity augmentation.
• India’s farmers
• Procurement of wheat in Rabi season 2021-22 and the estimated procurement of paddy in Kharif season 2021-22 will cover 1,208 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and paddy from 163 lakh farmers & Rs 2.37 lakh crores will be the direct payment of MSP value to their accounts.
• Chemical-free natural farming to be promoted in India
• Use of drones to be promoted for crop assessment, digitization of land records, spraying of insecticides and nutrients. Fund to be facilitated through NABARD to finance start-ups for agriculture and rural enterprise which are relevant for the farm produce value chain.
• In 2022-23, 80 lakh houses will be completed for identified beneficiaries of PM Awas Yojana; 60,000 houses will be identified as beneficiaries for PM Awas Yojana in rural & urban areas.
• 60,000 crore allocated for providing access to tap water to 3.8 crore households. In 2022-23, 80 lakh households will be identified for the affordable housing scheme.
• 68% of the capital procurement budget for Defence to be earmarked for domestic industry to promote Aatmanirbharta and reduce dependence on imports.
• This is up from 58% last fiscal. Defense R&D will be opened up for industry, startups and academia with 25% of the defence R&D budget.
• National Ropeways Development Program, Parvatmala to be taken up on PPP mode.
• Contracts to be awarded in 2022-23 for 8 ropeway projects of 60 Km length.
• Digital Ecosystem for Skilling and Livelihood (DESH-Stack e-portal) will be launched to empower citizens to skill, reskill or upskill through on-line training.
• Startups will be promoted to facilitate ‘Drone Shakti’ and for Drone-As-A-Service (DrAAS).