Revision Series | Economic Survey | Contemporary Affairs | 93

Answer: D

• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched Prime Minister Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme on June 01, 2020 with the aim to facilitate collateral free working capital loan to street vendors to restart their businesses, which were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The scheme has the following objectives;
• Facilitate collateral free working capital loan upto ₹10,000, of 1 year tenure, with enhanced loan of ₹20,000 and ₹50,000 in the second and third tranches respectively, on repayments of earlier loans.
• Incentivize regular repayment, through interest subsidy @ 7% per annum; and
• Reward digital transactions, by way of cash back upto ₹1,200 per year.
• State/ULBs are responsible for identification of eligible street vendors and mobilisation of new applications under the scheme.

Answer: B

• In order to address the existing infrastructure gaps and mobilize investment in agriculture infrastructure, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme was launched in 2020 with an objective to mobilize a medium – long-term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through incentives and financial support.
• The scheme envisages provision of Rs. 1 Lakh Crore by banks and financial institutions as loans with interest subvention of 3% per annum and credit guarantee coverage under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) for loans up to Rs. 2 Crores.
• As on date, loans amounting to Rs. 26,064 Crores have been sanctioned for 33,369 projects and these sanctioned projects have mobilized an investment of Rs. 44,208 crores in the agriculture sector.
• The scheme covers post-harvest management projects like supply chain services including e-marketing platforms, warehouse, silos, pack-houses, assaying units, sorting & grading units, cold chain, logistics facilities, primary processing centers, ripening chambers and other viable projects for building community farming assets such as organic input production, bio stimulant production units, infrastructure for smart and precision agriculture, supply chain infrastructure for clusters of crops including exports clusters etc.

Answer: D

• Valuing a start-up is linked to a future date (deferred valuation method) based on subsequent round of funds raised from other investors. Based on investor opinion, market conditions, and the company’s development, valuations may change in various funding rounds.

Answer: C

• A new campaign named ‘BHARAT’ (Banks Heralding Accelerated Rural & Agriculture Transformation) has been launched by the Government under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme to provide maximum benefits to the people and to create a competitive spirit among the Banks and lending institutions to mobilize agriculture infrastructure projects loan at a faster pace.
• This is a month-long Campaign from 15thJuly 2023 to 15thAugust 2023.
• Top performing Banks under different categories i.e. commercial Banks in public and private Sector, Regional Rural Banks, Small Finance Banks (SFBs), Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and cooperative Banks will be selected at the end of the Campaign and their special contribution will be recognized.
• As on 31.07.2023, overall Rs.1239 Cr. have been sanctioned by numerous banks for 1375 projects under BHARAT campaign.
• This Campaign was launched on 12thJuly, 2023 which was attended by more than 100 Banking Executives that included MDs/Chairman, EDs of commercial Banks in public and private sector, Regional Rural Banks, Small Finance Banks, NBFCs and select cooperative Banks.
• Moreover, the daily performance under the campaign is being shared among all the Banks through messages at the closing of business hours of Banks every day.
• These daily updates generate much enthusiasm and competitive spirit among the Banks and lending institutions to perform and exceed their targets.
• Ministry is committed to have regular interactions with the Bank Executives through various modes of communication in between with a view to review performance under the campaign and to persuade the slow movers and non-starters to perform.

Answer: C

Answer: A

Answer: B

• Unlike the EPF monthly enrolment data, which generally depicts increases in contributors, the EPF Organisation’s (EPFO) annual reportsreveal that the number of regular contributorsto the scheme has remained relatively stagnant or even declined in recent years.
• Regular contributors to the EPF scheme:are those enrolled employees whose PF contributions are made on a regular basis during the year.
• This is in contrast to those employees who are merely enrolled into the scheme at some point, but whose contributions are irregular or stop shortly after.

Answer: D

Answer: C

Answer: B

Answer: C

Answer: C

Answer: A

• More than two years after Sri Lanka cancelled a joint India-Japan MoU for the East Container Terminal (ECT) project in Colombo, the three countries are studying ways of restarting trilateral cooperation, envoys at a conference said in New Delhi on Thursday.
• The cancellation of the MoU, estimated at about $500 million, and the suspension of the Japanese-funded light rail transit (LRT) project by the previous Gotabaya Rajapaksa government, had led to a freeze in ties between Tokyo and Colombo.
• With India and Japan coming to Sri Lanka’s rescue during last year’s economic crisis, and offering assistance with Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process, the Ranil Wickremesinghe government has also sought the return of infrastructure project plans and investment from both countries.
• This was the message sent during President Wickremesinghe’s visit to Delhi last month, and to Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi, who visited New Delhi and Colombo last week.

Answer: A

Answer: D

• The Union Minister of State for Ministry of Textiles has informed recently that the Cott-Ally mobile apphas been developed exclusively for the cotton farmers.
• The app has been developed by the Cotton Corporation of India Limited (CCI).
• The various features of “Cott-Ally” are as follows: 
• Easy to operate in regional languages.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP) cotton rates state-wise, variety-wise and quality-wise can be seen.
• Farmers can track real time payment status of their kapas sold to CCI under MSP.
• Contact details of procurement centers opened by the CCI.
• Direct interaction with CCI through Live chat to resolve doubts & grievances, if any.