<\/span><\/h3>\nContext<\/strong>: The Soil Health Card Scheme, introduced on February 19, 2015, in Rajasthan, has completed 10 years in operation.<\/p>\nSoil Health Cards Scheme<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- Objective:<\/strong>\u00a0Soil health card provides information to farmers on\u00a0nutrient status\u00a0of their soil along with\u00a0recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied\u00a0for improving soil health and its fertility.\n
\n- The scheme assists State Governments to issue soil health cards to all farmers in the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- The Soil Health Card contains status of the soil with respect to\u00a012 parameters\u00a0that determine soil health:\n
\n- Macro-nutrients:\u00a0<\/strong>Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sulfur (S).<\/li>\n
- Micro-nutrients:\u00a0<\/strong>Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (Bo).<\/li>\n
- Other Indicators:<\/strong>\u00a0pH level (Acidity or Basicity of soil), Electrical Conductivity (Indicates the presence of salts in soil), Organic Carbon (OC).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Soil Health Card scheme has been merged in\u00a0Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme\u00a0as one of its components under the name\u00a0\u2018Soil Health & Fertility\u2019\u00a0from the year\u00a02022-23.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n<\/span>International Organization of Aids to Marine Navigation (IALA): <\/strong>20 February 2025<\/span><\/h3>\nContext<\/strong>: India is elected to the Vice Presidency of the International Organization of Aids to Marine Navigation (IALA) in Singapore.<\/p>\nKey Facts<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- It was the\u00a0first General Assembly of IALA\u00a0and also marks its transition from a non-governmental organization (NGO) to an inter-governmental organization (IGO).<\/li>\n
- This underscores India\u2019s strong leadership and contributions to maritime affairs, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable and secure marine navigation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
International Organization of Aids to Marine Navigation (IALA)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- IALA was established in\u00a01957 as an NGO.<\/li>\n
- New IGO Status:<\/strong>\u00a0Expands IALA\u2019s role in harmonizing global maritime navigation systems, promoting safety, and addressing emerging challenges in safety and environmental protection.<\/li>\n
- India will host the IALA Council meeting in December 2025 and the IALA Conference & General Assembly in September 2027 in Mumbai.<\/li>\n
- Significance for India:<\/strong>\u00a0India\u2019s election highlights its commitment to maritime safety, navigational aids, and international cooperation in the maritime sector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n<\/span>Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM)<\/strong>: <\/strong>20 February 2025<\/span><\/h3>\nContext:<\/strong> The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched\u00a0DBIM\u00a0and held the\u00a0first Chief Information Officer (CIO) Conference 2025\u00a0in New Delhi.<\/p>\nAbout Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- It creates a consistent digital brand for the Government of India through standardized design elements.<\/li>\n
- It is aimed at \u201cMinimum Government, Maximum Governance\u201d and \u201cUniform Governance.\u201d<\/li>\n
- It ensures a standardized, cohesive digital presence across all ministries and platforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Key Features of DBIM<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- DBIM Toolkit\u00a0ensures uniformity in digital identity.<\/li>\n
- gov.in CMS Platform\u00a0streamlined website management.<\/li>\n
- Central Content Publishing System (CCPS)\u00a0for centralized content governance.<\/li>\n
- Social Media Campaign Guidelines\u00a0standardizes digital communication.<\/li>\n
- MeitY Website:<\/strong> First DBIM-compliant website unveiled.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Importance\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- It strengthens the integrity of government data and improves the user experience across websites, mobile apps, and social media platforms.<\/li>\n
- It supports the \u201cReform, Perform, and Transform\u201d vision, focusing on accessibility, inclusivity, and a citizen-centric approach to digital governance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n<\/span>Ayushman Bharat Scheme: <\/strong>21 February 2025<\/span><\/h3>\nContext<\/strong>: Delhi Cabinet approved the implementation of\u00a0Ayushman Bharat scheme\u00a0<\/strong>in the National Capital.<\/p>\nAyushman Bharat Scheme<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- It was launched in\u00a02018\u00a0with the aim of achieving\u00a0universal health coverage. It has two key components:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri- Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)<\/li>\n
- Ayushman Arogya Mandir<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri- Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- AB PM-JAY\u00a0is the largest publicly funded health assurance scheme in the world which provides health cover of\u00a0Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year\u00a0<\/strong>for\u00a0secondary\u00a0and\u00a0tertiary care\u00a0hospitalization.<\/li>\n
- The Scheme will apply to all aged 70 and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status<\/li>\n
- Coverage:<\/strong>\u00a0It covers up to\u00a03 days\u00a0of pre-hospitalization and\u00a015 days\u00a0of post \u2013 hospitalization expenses such as\u00a0diagnostics and medicines.\n
\n- The beneficiary can visit any empanelled public or private hospital in India to avail cashless treatment.<\/li>\n
- There is\u00a0no restriction\u00a0on the\u00a0family size, age or gender.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Eligibility:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>The inclusion of households is based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas, respectively.<\/li>\n
- This number also includes families that were covered in the\u00a0Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY)\u00a0but were not present in the\u00a0SECC 2011\u00a0database.<\/li>\n
- Funding:\u00a0<\/strong>The funding for the scheme is shared by the Centre and the state in a\u00a060:40 ratio.<\/li>\n
- However, for North-Eastern states, Himalayan states (such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh), and Union Territories, the\u00a0ratio is 90:10.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ayushman Arogya Mandir<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- The component led to creation of\u00a01,50,000\u00a0Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs), renamed as Ayushman Arogya Mandir.<\/li>\n
- They are created by upgrading the\u00a0Sub Health Centres (SHCs)\u00a0and rural and urban\u00a0Primary Health Centres (PHCs), to bring health care closer to the community.<\/li>\n
- The\u00a0aim\u00a0is to provide Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) along with the provision of\u00a0follow-up care\u00a0to the patients in the community.<\/li>\n
- The essential health services along with the\u00a0provisioning of essential medicines and diagnostics\u00a0are provided closer to the community through these centers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n<\/span>Technology Adoption Fund (TAF): <\/strong>21 February 2025<\/span><\/h3>\nContext:<\/strong> The\u00a0Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), an indigenous arm of the Department of Space (DoS), has launched the\u00a0\u20b9500 crore\u00a0Technology Adoption Fund (TAF).<\/p>\nKey Highlights<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- Aim:<\/strong>\u00a0To accelerate the development of indigenous space technology, reducing reliance on imported solutions.<\/li>\n
- Features:<\/strong>\u00a0Provide financial support up to 60% for startups\/MSMEs in space tech and 40% for larger industries, with a cap of Rs 25 Crores per project.\n
\n- Encourage creation of intellectual property and new space products.<\/li>\n
- Open to all eligible Non-Government Entities (NGEs) with commercial potential.<\/li>\n
- Offers partial funding and technical guidance\/mentoring for product development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Significance:<\/strong>\n
\n- Invest in domestic R&D and foster collaboration between government and private sector.<\/li>\n
- Position India as a global leader in the space industry.<\/li>\n
- Enhance technology, production processes, and meet market demands.<\/li>\n
- Contribute to job creation and economic growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n<\/span>REITs and InvITs<\/strong>: <\/strong>21 February 2025<\/span><\/h3>\nContext:<\/strong> The SEBI proposed a framework for undertaking fast-track follow-on offers by real estate investment trusts (REITs) and infrastructure investment trusts (InVITs) to make fundraising more efficient.<\/p>\nAbout REITs<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- Real Estate Investment Trusts or REITs are investment trusts (like mutual funds) that pool funds from investors to\u00a0own and operate income-generating real estate\u00a0properties.<\/li>\n
- They pool funds from investors offering them a\u00a0liquid way of entering the real estate market\u00a0while helping them diversify their portfolio and earn regular income plus long-term capital appreciation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
About InvITs<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs)\u00a0are investment vehicles that\u00a0pool funds from investors\u00a0to own and operate infrastructure assets like highways, pipelines, and power plants.<\/li>\n
- They\u00a0offer regular income through dividends\u00a0and long-term capital appreciation while helping monetize assets and attract private investment in public infrastructure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n<\/span>Purnima Devi Barman: <\/strong>22 February 2025
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nContext<\/strong>: A biologist from Assam, Purnima Devi Barman, was featured on the\u00a0Time\u2019s Women of The Year 2025 list.<\/p>\nKey Facts<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- Purnima Devi Barman is the\u00a0only Indian woman on Time\u2019s 2025 Women of the Year list.<\/li>\n
- The list includes notable women such as actress Nicole Kidman and Gisele Pelicot, a survivor of sexual violence who became an advocate for the cause.<\/li>\n
- In 2007, Barman\u2019s intervened to save a tree home to\u00a0greater adjutant storks\u00a0in Assam, inspired by the birds\u2019 vulnerability.\n
\n- She found the\u00a0Hargila Army,\u00a0a group of 20,000 women who protect the\u00a0storks\u2019 nests and educate about their conservation.<\/li>\n
- The population of greater adjutant storks in Assam grew from\u00a0450 in 2007 to over 1,800 in 2023,\u00a0with the\u00a0bird\u2019s conservation status\u00a0improved from\u00a0\u201cendangered\u201d to \u201cnear threatened.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Time\u2019s Women of the Year is an\u00a0annual recognition by Time magazine\u00a0that highlights women making significant changes in the face of challenges like gender violence, climate issues, and women\u2019s rights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n<\/span>Bharat Tech Triumph Program: <\/strong>22 February 2025
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\nContext<\/strong>: The\u00a0Bharat Tech Triumph Program\u00a0<\/strong>is a significant initiative aimed at fostering India\u2019s digital and online gaming industry.<\/p>\nKey Highlights<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n- Launched by:<\/strong>\u00a0Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council (IEIC), in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB).<\/li>\n
- Objective:<\/strong>\u00a0To identify and showcase India\u2019s gaming talent on the global stage.<\/li>\n
- Significance:\u00a0<\/strong>Provides Indian innovators a global platform to highlight their expertise.\n
\n- Expands India\u2019s presence in the international gaming industry.<\/li>\n
- Encourages technological advancements and innovations in the gaming sector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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