Current Context :  Recently, the central government has revised the prices of food items provided to children under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Yojana.

About Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme:

• Formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme; renamed in September 2021.
• Aims to improve child nutrition, enhance school attendance, and tackle hunger.

Coverage:

• Applicable to Balvatika (pre-primary) and Classes I-VIII in government and aided schools.
• Benefits ~11.8 crore students in ~11.2 lakh schools.

Nutrition Standards:

• Primary students: 450 calories and 12g protein per meal.
• Upper Primary students: 700 calories and 20g protein per meal.

Recent changes:

• Cooking costs increased by 13.7% to adjust for inflation (2023).
• ₹54,062 crore allocated for 2021-2026 under the central share.

Special Features:

• Food Security Allowance: Provided during COVID-19 school closures and summer vacations.
• School Nutrition Gardens (SNGs):Promote sustainable food production and learning.

Nodal Ministry :  Implemented by the Ministry of Education.

Current Context : Recently, the Reserve Bank of India asked banks to collaborate with its initiative MuleHunter.AI to weed out mule accounts which are used to commit financial fraud

What is MuleHunter.AI?

AI/ML-based model developed by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), a subsidiary of RBI.

Detects mule accounts used in financial fraud.

Key Features:

• Mule Detection: Identifies suspicious accounts used for illegal fund transfers.
• Real-time Monitoring: Flags fraudulent transactions promptly.
• Advanced Analytics: Uses data patterns to preempt scams.

Collaboration: Connects banks, payment services, and law enforcement for better fraud prevention.

Regulatory Compliance: Assists in anti-money laundering (AML) and combating terrorism financing (CFT).

About Mule Accounts

• Definition: Bank accounts used by criminals for laundering illicit funds.

Involvement:

• Often acquired from low-income or technically naive individuals.
• Victims, known as money mules, unknowingly facilitate crimes and face investigations.

Observed annually on December 12.

Aim : to highlight the importance of equitable access to healthcare for all.

• It was proclaimed by the United Nations in 2017, marking the anniversary of a historic UN resolution on health coverage in 2012.
• It advocates for affordable, quality healthcare, leaving no one behind, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3).

Current Context : Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced plans to establish drone stations across the state as part of a transformative project to enhance  disaster management.

Objective: Enhance disaster response and management using drone technology, addressing challenges like landslides, flash floods, and earthquakes.

Budget: The state government has allocated ₹800 crore for the project.

Functionality:

• Drone stations will operate like terminals, enabling real-time disaster monitoring and rapid delivery of aid.
• Focus on efficient response to climate-related disasters.

Current Context : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch Bima Sakhi Yojana in Panipat on December 09, 2024.

Objective: Empower women through financial literacy, employment in the insurance sector, and skill development.

Eligibility:

• Women aged 18 to 70 years.
• Must have completed Class X education.

Training and Employment:

• Special training provided to become LIC agents.
• Graduates can pursue Development Officer roles.
• Participants will receive stipends for the first three years to encourage workforce engagement.

Benefits:

• Enhances women’s participation in financial services.
• Promotes gender equality in the insurance sector​

Current Context : Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in India to completely adopt the central government’s GeM system.

• Objective: GeM aims to eliminate corruption and promote fair competition among suppliers.
• Transition: The state replaced its traditional tendering system, requiring all suppliers to follow GeM guidelines.

About Government e-Marketplace (GeM)

1. Launch: Introduced by the Government of India in 2016 to streamline public procurement.
2. Objective: To eliminate corruption, ensure fair competition, and bring transparency in government purchases.
3. Platform Features:
   1. Open Access: Available to both government buyers and certified suppliers.
   2. Wide Product Range: Covers office supplies, machinery, vehicles, and services.
   3. Automated Process: Simplifies procurement through online bidding and purchasing.

Current Context : The Maharashtra government plans to submit a proposal to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to include the famous Lonar Lake in Buldhana district in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.

About Lonar Lake:

• It is a lake of lagoon in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra
• It was created due to a meteorite.
• It is the only known saline crater lake in the world, formed by the impact of a meteorite about 50,000 years ago.
• Its water is seven times saltier than seawater.
• The lake has a diameter of 1.2 kilometers and a depth of 150 meters, and is surrounded by a rim of hills that rise up to 75 degrees.

One of the most striking aspects is its color, which changes from green to pink depending on the season and the water conditions. This is caused by the presence of microorganisms that thrive in the saline and alkaline environment of the lake.

Current Context : Recently, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a global leader in agricultural research, has launched its 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD).

Purpose:

• Focuses on improving food security, conserving biodiversity, and building resilient livelihoods for 2.7 billion people living in drylands, especially in Asia and Africa.

About CGIAR

Established: In 1971, as a global agricultural research partnership.

Goal :

1. Reduce poverty and hunger.
2. Enhance human health, nutrition, and ecosystem resilience.

Objectives:

1. Food for People: Boost sustainable food productivity and availability for the poor.
2. Environment for People: Protect biodiversity and natural resources while addressing climate challenges.
3. Policies for People: Support policy reforms for agricultural growth and equity, focusing on rural women and disadvantaged groups.

Current Context : Revenue secretary Sanjay Malhotra has been appointed as the new Reserve Bank of India governor.

• Malhotra, a 1990 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS Officer, will replace Shaktikanta Das, whose tenure comes to an end on Tuesday.
• He will be the 26th governor of the central bank.

Celebrated annually on December 11.

• Theme : Mountain solutions for a sustainable future – innovation, adaptation, youth and beyond”
• Established by the UN General Assembly in 2003.