Current Context : Food Corporation of India (FCI) has launched an initiative ANNA DARPAN, to modernize its supply chain management system.

• Aim : to improve efficiency, streamline operations from Mandis (markets) to FCI headquarters, and enhance decision-making by leveraging data.

FEATURES:

• Centralized Analytics Platform: For better data-driven decisions.
• Integration: Merges internal applications, reduces redundancy, and improves efficiency.
• Mobile-First: Designed to be accessible on mobile devices anywhere.

Goals:

• Boost efficiency and productivity.
• Create a user-friendly interface.
• Ensure smooth integration with both internal and external systems.

Scope: Covers operations at Mandis, Mills, Depots (owned and hired), and at all organizational levels including divisional, regional, zonal, and headquarters.

ABOUT FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA (FCI)

• Established in 1965, as a statutory body under the Food Corporation Act 1964.
• Ministry : Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
• It buys food grains like wheat and rice from farmers at Minimum Support Prices (MSPs), these prices are set by the government every year. FCI stores them in its own warehouses or hired silos.

It keeps enough grains to meet monthly demands and to handle emergencies, such as natural disasters.

Current Context : The Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai has granted the GI tag to eight products from Assam.

• These products were recognized for their distinctiveness and craftsmanship, which highlight Assam’s traditional industries.

ABOUT PRODUCTS :

Traditionally fermented rice-based alcoholic beverage (3):

• Maibra Jou Bidwi : a beloved rice beer served as a customary welcome drink in Bodo households.
• Bodo Jou Gwran : a powerful rice beer that holds an alcohol content of approximately 16.11%.
• Bodo Jou Gishi : This drink, steeped in mythology, is believed to have roots in legends surrounding Lord Shiva.

Traditional Dishes (4):

• Bodo Napham : Dish of fermented fish.
• Bodo Ondla : a rice powder-based curry flavored with garlic, ginger, salt, and alkali.
• Bodo Gwkha : Locally also known as ‘Gwka Gwkhi’, traditionally cooked during the Bwisagu festival.
• Bodo Narzi : a semi-fermented dish made from jute leaves (Corchorus capsularis).

Traditional fabric (1) :

• Bodo Aronai : a traditional shawl or scarf.

Current Context : Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has traced the flow of the Sahibi river.

ABOUT SAHIBI RIVER

• It originates in Rajasthan and flows through Haryana before entering Delhi near Dhansa.
• It was known as Drishadvati River in ancient times.
• It flows from the Saiwar hills in Sikar district in Rajasthan.
• It is a tributary of the Yamuna River.
• The river eventually merges with the Yamuna River through the Najafgarh Drain, now largely functioning as a drainage channel​
• Due to pollution and encroachment, the river’s natural flow has been significantly reduced.
• It flows only when it rains heavily in the catchment areas.

Current Context : The Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the People’s Plan Campaign (Jan Yojana Abhiyan).

ABOUT JAN YOJANA ABHIYAN

• Theme: Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas(Everyone’s Plan, Everyone’s Development)
• Objective: To involve rural citizens in planning for local development, ensuring inclusive growth in villages (Grameen Bharat).
• Purpose: Strengthen grassroots democracy by encouraging active participation of rural citizens in village-level planning.
• Plan: The campaign is designed to prepare Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs)for the year 2025–26.
• As part of this campaign, special Gram Sabhas are being organized in over 55 lakh Gram Panchayats.
• Significance: This campaign gives people the opportunity to actively shape the future of their villages by contributing to the planning and development process.

National Wildlife Week 2024 was celebrated in India from October 2^nd to 8^th.

• Aim : to raise awareness about wildlife conservation, featuring educational events, community engagement, and activities in national parks to promote the protection of India’s diverse ecosystems and endangered species.
• Theme : Wildlife Conservation Through Coexistence.
• It was established by the Indian Board of Wildlife in 1952.
• Wildlife Day was observed in 1955, but it was later expanded and renamed Wildlife Week in 1957.

Celebrated on 8^th October all over India.

• This day Marks the foundation day of the Indian Air Force established on 8 October 1932.
• Theme : ‘Bharatiya Vayusena: Saksham, Sashakt aur Aatmnirbhar’ (Indian Air Force: Capable, Strong, and Self-reliant).
• Objective : to honour the Indian Air Force (IAF) and its pilots who dedicate their lives to protecting India.

Current Context : The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced that Mithun Chakraborty, actor and former Rajya Sabha MP, will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his significant contributions to Indian cinema.

• The award will be given during the 70th National Film Awards ceremony, making Chakraborty the 54th recipient of this prestigious honor.

ABOUT AWARD

• It is the country’s highest film honour conferred for “Outstanding contribution for the growth and development of Indian cinema”.
• Established: In 1969, by the Indian government, in honor of Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of Indian cinema.
• Recognition: Awarded for lifetime contributions to the growth and development of Indian cinema.

COMPONENTS OF THE AWARD:

• Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus).
• Cash Prize of 10 Lakh
• A certificate, a silk roll, and a shawl.
• It is presented by the President of India.
• Devika Rani was the first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, which was given to her in 1969.

Current Context : Recently the government launched the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme.

ABOUT SCHEME

• This scheme is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry skills, increasing the employability of young graduates across India.
• Aim : to provide 25 lakh internships in top 500 companies during the financial year 2024-25. It is part of a larger goal to create one crore internships over five years.​
• The pilot project will be implemented through an online portal managed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
• Eligibility: Candidates must be aged 21-24 and hold qualifications such as High School, ITI diploma, or degrees like BA, BSc, BCom, BBA, or BCA. However, those enrolled in full-time education or employed full-time, as well as graduates from premier institutes like IITs, IIMs, are not eligible.​

BENEFITS:

• A monthly stipend of ₹5,000, with ₹4,500 from the government and ₹500 from companies via Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
• A one-time grant of ₹6,000 for joining expenses.
• Insurance coverage under PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, with government-paid premiums​
• Duration: The internship lasts for 12 months, with at least half the period involving practical work in a real-world job setting.​

Current Context : Recently, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization under Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has become an affiliate member of the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF).

• Benefits: This membership will help harmonize medical device regulations across countries, simplifying global market access for Indian manufacturers and promoting public health safety.
• Opportunities for India: Indian medical device manufacturers will gain access to new markets, improve product competitiveness, and contribute to global medical device regulations, boosting India’s presence on the global stage.

ABOUT IMDRF 

• It is a group of global medical device regulators whose aim is to speed up the adoption of international medical device regulatory harmonisation and convergence.
• Established in 2011.
• Members include national regulatory authorities of the US, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, the UK, Brazil, Russia, China, South Korea, Singapore and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Current Context : World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan (SPRP) to tackle dengue and other Aedes-borne arboviruses.

Aim : to reduce the disease burden, suffering, and deaths from dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and other Aedes-borne arboviruses.

Implementation: The plan will run until September 2025 and requires USD 55 million for health preparedness and response efforts.

FIVE KEY COMPONENTS:

• Emergency Coordination: Strengthening leadership and coordinated responses.
• Collaborative Surveillance: Improving tools for early detection, lab diagnostics, and outbreak response.
• Community Protection: Involving communities in mosquito control and outbreak prevention.
• Safe and Scalable Care: Ensuring effective clinical management and resilient health services.
• Access to Countermeasures: Promoting research into better treatments and vaccines.

Global Impact of disease: 4 billion people are at risk from dengue and Aedes-borne diseases, which could rise to 5 billion by 2050.

Surging Cases: Dengue cases have doubled annually since 2021, with 12.3 million cases reported by mid-2024