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(29 Mar, 2023)

Rhinoceros

State of India’s Environment Report 2023

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India is facing challenges in 11 of the 17 SDGs, including SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3
For Prelims: CSE, DTE, Air Pollution, Plastic Waste, Municipal Solid Waste, Landfills.
(good health and wellbeing), SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 11 (Sustainable cities).
Plastic Waste:
For Mains: State of India’s Environment report 2023.
While the magnitude of the problem related to Plastic Waste remains gargantuan, a plethora
Why in News?
of policies and urgency are on the right path.
Recently, State of India’s Environment report 2023 was launched by Centre for Science and
Environment (CSE) and DTE (Down to Earth) magazine, covering an extensive gamut of Cities are becoming waste-wise, learning to segregate at source, minimise plastics and
subject assessments, ranging from climate change, agriculture and industry to water, plastics, reuse reprocess waste into wealth.
forests and biodiversity.
Agriculture:
The report is the annual publication, focusing on climate change, migration, health and food In agriculture, strong evidence is emerging of the efficacy of traditional and regenerative
systems. It also covers biodiversity, forest and wildlife, energy, industry, habitat, pollution, farming methods.
waste, agriculture and rural development. On the issue of forests and biodiversity, losses of forests are a dark truth, but at the same
CSE is a public interest research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi. time more and more communities are demanding rights over forests – what is more, these
rights are being granted.
What are the Key Highlights of the Report?
What are the Recommendations?
Encroachment:

Over 30,000 water bodies have been encroached on in the country and India is generating We need to have a common minimum programme that brings all countries together on the only
150,000 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) every day — more than half of which is issues that matter for humanity: how to avert the existential crisis we face today and how to
either dumped in landfills or remains unattended. build a just and inclusive world order.
In fact, the pandemic treaty is a welcome development in this direction.
Air Pollution:

Four years and 11 months is the average duration of life lost to air pollution in India. Source: DTE
Rural India is losing more years due to air pollution-related health issues than the urban
belt.
Rural India needs 35 % more community health centers.

Environmental Crimes:
Cattle Dehorning & Castration
Environmental crimes continue unabated — courts need to decide on 245 cases every day
For Prelims: Cattle Dehorning & Castration, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960,
to clear the backlog.
Animal Rearing, Animal Welfare Board of India.
Extreme Weather Events:
For Mains: Cattle Dehorning & Castration.
Between January and October 2022, India witnessed extreme weather events on 271
days. Why in News?
These extreme weather events claimed over 2,900 lives. Recently, the central government has laid down the procedures for Dehorning Cattle and
Castration, branding or nose-roping of any animal.
SDGs:
What is Dehorning and Castration of Cattle?
Over the past five years, India’s overall global rank in meeting the United Nations-mandated
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has slipped by nine places — ranking 121 in Dehorning is the process of removing or reducing the horns of cattle, while castration is the

2022. process of removing the testicles of male cattle. Both practices are commonly performed
India ranks below four south Asian countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. on cattle for a variety of reasons, such as to improve safety for handlers and other animals,
prevent injury, reduce aggression, and improve meat quality.
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Dehorning can be done using several methods, including chemical or electrical methods, Discusses different forms of cruelty, exceptions, and killing of a suffering animal in case any
saws, and dehorning irons. In many cases, dehorning is done when the animal is young to cruelty has been committed against it, so as to relieve it from further suffering.
minimize pain and discomfort. Provides guidelines relating to experimentation on animals for scientific purposes.
The Act enshrines the provisions relating to the exhibition of the performing animals, and
The existing methods involve pushing a bull to the ground to use a castrator san painkiller.
offences committed against the performing animals.
Castration is typically done to male cattle that will not be used for breeding purposes, as it can This Act provides for the limitation period of 3 months beyond which no prosecution shall lie for
help to reduce aggression and improve meat quality. any offences under this Act.
The castration method involves crushing the blood vessels, nerves and vas deferns (a coiled
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
tube that carries the sperm out of the testes) to cause the testicles to become defunct.
Q. Consider the following statements: (2014)

What are the New Rules?

1. Animal Welfare Board of India is established under the Environment (Protection) Act,
All procedures are to be carried out with the involvement of a registered veterinary 1986.
practitioner, along with the mandatory use of general and local anaesthetics. 2. National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body.
The rules demand the breeding of naturally hornless cattle over dehorning and using face 3. National Ganga River Basin Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
halters and other humane procedures for nose roping and preventing cold and hot branding on
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
live tissues.
The rules prescribe a methodology for euthanasia for ill animals to avoid a painful death. (a) 1 only
The issue is concerning as most dairy owners and farmers abandon their bulls on roads as it (b) 2 and 3 only
incurs extra cost or effort to sustain them. (c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

What are the Related Existing Provisions?

Ans: (b)

The Dehorning and Castration procedures were earlier undefined under Sections 11 and
Exp:
subsection 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, which made it difficult to
The Animal Welfare Board of India was established in 1962 under Section 4 of the
prevent cruelty against animals.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
Section 11 defined the acts that amount to treating animals with cruelty.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority is a statutory body under the Ministry of
But subsection 3 allowed exceptions for animal husbandry procedures, which involve Environment, Forests and Climate Change constituted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
dehorning cattle and castration, branding and nose roping of animals in a prescribed
1972. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
manner. National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was established in 2009 under the
Section 3(c) of the law also offered exceptions in “the extermination or destruction of any Environment Protection Act, 1986, which declared Ganges as the “National River” of
animal under the authority of any law for the time being in force. India. It is a financing, planning, implementing, monitoring and coordinating authority for
the river Ganges. It functions under the erstwhile Ministry of Water Resources, River
What is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960? Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (now Ministry of Jal Shakti). It is chaired by the
The legislative intent of the Act is to “prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or Prime Minister of India. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
suffering on animals”. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) was established in 1962 under Section 4 of the
Act.
Source: DTE
This Act provides for punishment for causing unnecessary cruelty and suffering to animals. The
Act defines animals and different forms of animals.

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PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Support for Common Infrastructure:

Scheme Credit-linked capital subsidy of 35%, with a maximum of Rs. 3 crore, to support FPOs,
SHGs, Cooperatives, and any Government agency for setting up of common
For Prelims: PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme, One
District One Product (ODOP), Aspirational Districts, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), infrastructure.
NABARD.
Capacity Building:

For Mains: Features of the PMFME Scheme, Status of the Food Processing Industry in The scheme envisages training for Entrepreneurship Development Skilling (EDP+), a
India. program modified to meet the requirements of the food processing industry and product
specific skilling.
Why in News?
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is implementing a centrally sponsored District Resource Persons (DRPs) have been appointed to provide handholding support to
PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME) Scheme for
providing financial, technical, and business support to micro food processing enterprises micro food processing enterprises for the compliance of FSSAI and other statutory
in India. requirements.

This scheme is a part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan - Vocal for Local Initiative in the What is the Status of the Food Processing Industry in India?
food processing sector.
About:
What are the Features of the PMFME Scheme? Food processing is a type of manufacturing in which raw materials are processed into
intermediate foods or edible items using scientific knowledge and technology. 
About:
It improves the storability, portability, palatability, and convenience of the finished
The PMFME scheme aims to enhance the competitiveness of new and existing product.
individual micro-enterprises in the unorganized segment of the food processing industry
Significance:
and promote formalization of the sector.
The PMFME scheme is operational for a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with During the last five years ending FY21, the food processing industries sector has been
an outlay of Rs. 10,000 Crore. growing at an average annual growth rate of around 8.3%
As per the latest Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2019-20, 12.2% of persons in the
Focus Areas:
registered manufacturing sector were employed in the food processing sector.
The scheme adopts the One District One Product (ODOP) approach to reap the benefit of The value of agri-food exports, including processed food exports, was about 10.9 % of
scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of India's total exports during 2021-22
products.
Issues:
Other Focus areas include Waste to wealth products, minor forest products and
Aspirational Districts. Lack of Infrastructure: The food processing industry in India faces challenges with
infrastructure, including inadequate cold storage facilities, transport facilities, and
Assistance Available under PMFME Scheme:
processing plants.
Support to Individual/Group Category Micro Enterprises: Limited Access to Finance: Many small and medium-sized food processing businesses

Credit-linked capital subsidy of 35% of the eligible project cost, with a maximum ceiling in India struggle to access finance to invest in their operations and improve their products.
of Rs.10 lakh per unit. This limits their ability to expand and compete with larger players in the industry.
Support to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for Seed Capital: Inadequate Quality Control: There are concerns about the quality of food processing in
Seed capital up to Rs. 40,000/- per member of SHG engaged in food processing for India, particularly in relation to food safety and hygiene standards.
working capital and purchase of small tools, subject to a maximum of Rs. 4 lakh per SHG.

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This is a major challenge for the industry, as it affects consumer confidence and limits
For Prelims: Marine Protected Areas, Antarctica, Climate Change, Krill, Marine Resources,
export opportunities.
Fisheries.
Government Initiatives:

100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) approval under automatic route has been permitted For Mains: Marine Protected Areas.

for the food processing sector

Why in News?
A Special Food Processing Fund of Rs. 2000 crore was set up with National Bank for Recently, the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India has announced that India will
Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to provide affordable credit for support setting up two Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in Antarctica to protect marine life and
its ecosystem services.
investments in setting up Mega Food Parks (MFP) as well as processing units in the MFPs. 

In 2019, the coverage of the fund was extended to the setting up of Agro-Processing
Clusters along with setting up of individual manufacturing units.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims
Q. With what purpose is the Government of India promoting the concept of “Mega
Food Parks”? (2011)

1. To provide good infrastructure facilities for the food processing industry.

2. To increase the processing of perishable items and reduce wastage.
3. To provide emerging and eco-friendly food processing technologies to entrepreneurs.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Mains
Q. What are the reasons for the poor acceptance of a cost-effective small processing unit?
How will the food processing unit be helpful to uplift the socioeconomic status of poor
farmers? (2017)

Source: PIB

What are the MPAs?

About:

Marine Protected Areas

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MPA is a defined region managed for the long-term conservation of marine resources, Krill are small, shrimp-like crustaceans that are found in all the world's oceans. They are
ecosystem services or cultural heritage. an important part of the marine food chain, serving as a primary food source for many species
Within the region, certain activities are limited, or entirely prohibited, to meet specific of fish, birds, and whales.
conservation, habitat protection, ecosystem monitoring or fisheries management objectives. Krill are typically 1 to 6 centimeters in length and are known for their distinctive
MPAs do not necessarily exclude fishing, research or other human activities; in fact, appearance, which includes large eyes, a translucent body, and long, feathery antennae.
many MPAs are multi-purpose areas. Krill plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate by removing carbon dioxide from
Need for Setting MPAs in Antarctica: the atmosphere and storing it in the deep ocean.

The Southern Ocean that encircles Antarctica covers around 10 % of the global ocean and
is home to nearly 10,000 unique polar species.
Climate change is altering habitats such as sea ice and the sheltered seafloor under ice
shelves that are home to a variety of species.
Commercial fishery harvest krill, to produce fish meal for feeding farmed fish and nutritional
supplements for people.
Increased harvesting of krill threatens animals that feed on them. These include fish,
whales, seals, penguins and other seabirds.

A 2022 study that analysed over forty years of krill fishery data found that krill fishing was
highest in the regions surrounding the Western Antarctic Peninsula and near the
South Orkney Islands.
Source: DTE
Climate change and commercial fishing of the region need to be minimised, and therefore
MPA is necessary.

What is the Status of MPAs in Antarctica?

The Southern Ocean has two MPAs, one in the southern shelf of the South Orkney Islands IBC Reform: Distribution of Proceeds
and the other in the Ross Sea. These fully protect only 5% of the ocean.
For Prelims: Non-Performing Assets (NPA), Liquidation value, National Company Law
All types of fishing, other than scientific research, are prohibited within the southern shelf of Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
the South Orkney Islands MPA. Discharges and dumping from fishing vessels are also not (UNCITRAL).
allowed.
For Mains: Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC), Proceeds Distributed Among Creditors
In Ross MPA, 72% of the waters are closed to commercial fishing.
Under the IBC.
Since 2012, the European Union and Australia have proposed an MPA in East Antarctica. An
MPA was proposed in the Weddell Sea by the EU and Norway and in the waters surrounding Why in News?
the Antarctic Peninsula by Chile and Argentina. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has proposed several changes to the Insolvency &
Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016.
In 2021, India extended its support for designating East Antarctica and the Weddell Sea as
MPA.
What are the Suggested Changes in IBC?
st
But according to reports, China and Russia blocked these efforts at the 41 annual meeting The Ministry recognizes that some creditors are worried about not receiving a fair share of
of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources the money when a company's debts are resolved.
(CCAMLR).
To address this, it suggests creating a fair system for dividing the money among
What is Krill? creditors.

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This would involve using a specific formula to divide the money based on the size of each What is the Jurisprudence on the Subject of Proceeds Distribution?
creditor's claim.
The Supreme Court ruled on a case involving how to pay back creditors in the Essar Steel
Any surplus over the liquidation value shall be pro-rated amongst all the creditors in ratio of India Limited case.
their unsatisfied claim.
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) had said that all creditors should
What is Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016? be paid equally, regardless of whether they had security or not.
However, the Supreme Court disagreed with the NCLAT and said that secured
The Government implemented the IBC, 2016 to consolidate all laws related to insolvency creditors should be paid back first because their security interest needs to be protected.
and bankruptcy and to tackle Non-Performing Assets (NPA), a problem that has been
Section 30(4) of the Code allows for the Committee of Creditors to consider the value of
pulling the Indian economy down for years.
security interest when approving a resolution plan.
Insolvency is a situation where individuals or companies are unable to repay their The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Legislative
outstanding debt. Guide on Insolvency Law says that secured creditors can receive payment based on the
Bankruptcy, on the other hand, is a situation whereby a court of competent jurisdiction has value of their security, while unsecured and junior creditors may not receive anything.
declared a person or other entity insolvent, having passed appropriate orders to
resolve it and protect the rights of the creditors. It is a legal declaration of one’s inability
to pay off debts. UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Q. Which of the following statements best describes the term ‘Scheme for
The IBC Covers all individuals, companies, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) and Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A)’, recently seen in the news? (2017)
partnership firms.
(a) It is a procedure for considering ecological costs of developmental schemes formulated
Adjudicating authority: by the Government.
National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for companies and LLPs. (b) It is a scheme of RBI for reworking the financial structure of big corporate entities facing
genuine difficulties.
Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) for individuals and partnership firms. (c) It is a disinvestment plan of the Government regarding Central Public Sector
Undertakings.
How are Proceeds Distributed Among Creditors Under the IBC? (d) It is an important provision in ‘The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code’ recently
implemented by the Government.
A company has various creditors — public sector banks, private lenders, non-banking
financial companies, trade creditors, vendors, workmen, employees, governments, etc. Ans: (b)

The Code puts these creditors into different categories based on the nature of debt. Source: IE

Banks, bond issuers, and lenders are classified as financial creditors. Financial creditors are
further categorised as secured and unsecured creditors, based on the security furnished
by the borrower company.
Section 53 of the Code prescribes an order of priority in which proceeds will be distributed to
Institution Of Eminence Scheme
the creditors based on the liquidation value.
As per this waterfall mechanism, secured financial creditors rank the highest in the order of For Prelims: UGC, World-class teaching systems, Higher education, Quality teaching and
priority. They are followed by unsecured financial creditors, government dues and, Research.
finally, operational creditors.
For Mains: Institution of Eminence Scheme.
Hence, financial creditors like banks have the first claim until exhaustion. Proceeds may be
extinguished at the level of financial creditors itself, leaving almost nothing for other Why in News?
There are many Institutes which, after being selected for the Institution of Eminence (IoE)
creditors in the waterfall mechanism.
Status, are still waiting for the IOE status for more than three years.

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What is the Institution of Eminence Scheme? Autonomy: Institutes with IOE tag will be given greater autonomy and freedom to decide

About: fees, course durations and governance structures.

Grant: The public institutions under the IOE tag will receive a government grant of Rs 1,000
The central Government formulated the IoE scheme to establish 20 prestigious
crore, while the private institutions will not get any funding under the scheme.
educational institutions in the country.
It was introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2017 that required the Source: IE
IoE scheme to receive accreditation within five years of notification.
The status of ‘Institute of Eminence’ was launched to empower higher education institutions
in India and help them implement world-class teaching systems to enhance affordable
access to high-quality education.

Twenty institutions (10 Public and 10 Private Institutions) received the grant, and eleven
Daylight Saving Time
Why in News?
among the selected ones got the Institutions of Eminence status in April 2021. Recently, the Lebanon Government has delayed the start of Daylight-Saving Time (DST) by a
month. Meanwhile, Greenland has chosen to stay with DST forever.
Objective:

Excellence and Innovation: To provide for higher education leading to excellence and Lebanon usually sets its clocks forward an hour on the last Sunday in March. However, its
innovations in such branches of knowledge as may be deemed fit at post-graduate, graduate Prime Minister said this year, the clocks would be reset on 21 April, without citing any
and research degree levels. reason.
Specialization: To engage in areas of specialization to make distinctive contributions to the
objectives of the university education system. What is Daylight Saving Time?
Global Rating: To aim to be rated internationally for its teaching and research as a top
According to Norway-based Time and Date, DST is the practice of setting the clocks
hundred Institution in the world over time.
forward one hour from the standard time during the summer and back again in the autumn.
Quality Teaching and Research: To provide for high quality teaching and research and for
This is done to make better use of natural daylight. India does not follow daylight saving time
the advancement of knowledge and its dissemination
as countries near the Equator do not experience high variations in daytime hours between
Criteria: seasons.
Global/National Ranking: Only those institutions which have appeared in any of the
What is the Significance of DST?
global/national ranks (e.g., QS, NIRF) shall be recommended for the IoE status. The
Institutions should be among: Those in favour of DST argue that it means a longer evening daytime. Individuals will
Top 50 in the National institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in their category. complete their daily work routines an hour earlier, and that extra hour of daylight means a
Top 500 in internationally recognised rankings like the Times Higher Education World lower consumption of energy.
University Rankings, QS. In April 1916, during World War I, Germany and Austria introduced DST to minimise the use of
artificial lighting. It gradually caught on in many countries.
Greenfield Proposals: Only after exhausting the above criterion, if any slot remains vacant,
shall consideration be given to yet to be established (Greenfield) proposals. In the EU, clocks in the 28 member states move forward on the last Sunday in March and fall
back on the last Sunday in October.
The term greenfield project generally refers to the initiation of a project without the need to
consider any prior work. What are the Disadvantages of DST?
The Greenfield Institutions would get a 3-year period to establish and operationalize the
institution, and thereafter, EEC will consider giving IoE status to such institutions. According to a study in Popular Science magazine in the US, one hour of lost sleep in the US
increases the fatal crash rate by 5.4% to 7.6% for six days following the transition.
Benefits:
Other studies found a higher rate of workplace injuries after the switch, leading to lost days
of work; a slight drop in stock market performance; health problems as a result of disruption of
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the Circadian Rhythm. CITES: Appendix I

Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I
Source: IE
Gir National Park
Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat.

It was declared as a sanctuary in 1965 and a national park in 1975.

Government to Re-examine Asiatic Lion Translocation Plan The Gir Forests is the largest compact tract of dry deciduous forests in the semi-arid
Why in News? western part of India.
The Indian government is re-examining the long-standing plan to translocate Asiatic lions
(Panthera leo persica) from Gir National Park to Kuno National Park. Gir is often linked with "Maldharis" who have survived through the ages by having symbiotic
relationship with the lion.
What are the Developments Related to Translocation of Asiatic Lions?
Kuno National Park
In 2013, the Supreme Court ordered the government to translocate Asiatic lions from
Gujarat to the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. However, the lion translocation Kuno National Park is a protected area located in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh
remains on paper. state in India.
However, the Centre's 25-year roadmap for Project Lion has no provision for any It has a healthy population of chital, sambar, nilgai, wild pig, chinkara and cattle.
translocation outside Gujarat.

Instead, the focus is on assisted natural dispersal across Saurashtra by 2047. UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Q. Consider the following statements: (2019)
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has recently pointed out that the lion
population increased by 29% over the past 5 years.
1. Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only.
In view of the recent introduction of cheetahs in Kuno and NTCA is looking for measures to 2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only.
secure the lion’s future beyond Gir. 3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only.

What are the Key Points Related to Asiatic Lions? Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

About: (a) 1 only

(b) 2 only
The Asiatic Lion (also known as the Persian Lion or Indian Lion) is a member of the (c) 1 and 3 only
Panthera Leo Leo subspecies that is restricted to India. (d) 1, 2 and 3
Its previous habitats consisted of West Asia and the Middle East before it became extinct
Ans: (a)
in these regions.

Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than African lions. Source: IE

Distribution:

Asiatic lions were once distributed to the state of West Bengal in east and Rewa in
Madhya Pradesh, in central India.
At present Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the only abode of the Asiatic lion. Rapid Fire Current Affairs
SMILE and SHRESHTA Scheme
Protection Status: The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in India is implementing two schemes: The
Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas
IUCN Red List: Endangered

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(SHRESHTA) and the Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise The government is also working towards reducing logistics costs to 7.5% of GDP from the
(SMILE). current 13%, as development without the development of infrastructure and reduction of
logistics costs is not possible. To achieve this, the government has planned to invest ₹100 lakh
SHRESHTA provides financial assistance to NGOs for education projects related to crore in infrastructure, including mega projects such as doubling railway lines, dedicated
students belonging to Scheduled Castes, with three types of projects covered they are freight corridors, and 11 industrial corridors.
Residential Schools, Non-Residential Schools, and Hostels, both for Primary and
Secondary Students. The scheme has been revised and a new component, Mode-I, has been Read More: Jammu and Kashmir
added for quality residential education for meritorious SC students in top-class residential
High Schools through a nationwide entrance test conducted by National Testing Agency
(NTA).

SMILE, on the other hand, supports marginalized individuals for livelihood and enterprise,
but does not specifically cover persons belonging to Scheduled Castes. India and Romania Defence Cooperation
The Department for Defence Policy, Planning and International Relations of Romania held
Read more: SHRESHTA, SMILE a bilateral meeting with Indian officials. The meeting covered a wide range of issues, including
military to military cooperation, military training and courses, defence co-development
and co-production, and capacity building.

The two countries signed an Agreement on Defence Cooperation, further enhancing bilateral
defence cooperation. During the meeting, both sides discussed regional security challenges and
Initiatives Against Cyber Crime expressed their commitment to work together to enhance cooperation in all defence sectors.
The Indian government has taken several measures to combat cybercrime and other criminal
activities in the country. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has been This meeting reflects the growing partnership between India and Romania in the field of defence,
established under the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide a platform for dealing with as both countries seek to strengthen their capabilities and promote stability and security in the
cybercrimes in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. region.

The I4C has recommended the blocking of over 500 internet-based applications, which were
found to be involved in criminal activities. In addition, the National Database of Offends of
Foreign Origin (NDOFO) has been launched, which is a registry of foreigners involved in
crime in India and has details of convicted and accused foreign offenders

The National Database of Sexual Offenders (NDSO) is another initiative that has a
searchable registry of convicts involved in sexual offences such as rape, molestation,
stalking, and child abuse. The NDSO has a record of 13 lakh offenders so far. To further
combat financial fraud, a cyber fraud helpline number 1930 has been established. If a victim
of financial fraud complains immediately on the toll-free number, agencies can freeze the SIM
card and bank account involved in the crime, increasing the chance of recovering the money.

Read more: Cyber crimes

Conducive Policy in J&K

During the annual session of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(ASSOCHAM), Indian government highlighted its efforts to create a conducive environment for
investment in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) through improved law and order situations and
policies.

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