Today's Brief 14/02/2025

IE Analysis:https://youtu.be/9RWt1RUYI6Q?si=x8rQCfbIwlTG0gpR

JN Analysis:https://youtu.be/YmMSfwc6IPE?si=f9vXp75HwpaKmRR_

1 .Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana: A new sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) will be implemented from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 with an outlay of ₹6,000 crore. The government will contribute ₹3,000 crore, with the rest coming from beneficiaries and the private sector.

The scheme aims to formalize the fisheries sector, improve access to credit, and enhance value chain efficiencies. It targets fishers, fish farmers, workers, vendors, micro and small enterprises, cooperatives, and FPOs. The scheme has four components:

1. Formalization and Access to Credit: Creating a National Fisheries Digital Platform for registration and providing work-based digital identities, plus facilitating access to institutional finance.

2. Aquaculture Insurance: Providing a one-time incentive for purchasing aquaculture insurance, especially for small farms.

3. Value Chain Efficiency: Offering performance-based grants to microenterprises for improving value chain activities and job creation.

4. Safety and Quality: Providing performance-based grants to micro and small enterprises for adopting safety and quality assurance systems.

The scheme aims to create 1.7 lakh new jobs (75,000 for women) and sustain 5.4 lakh existing jobs. It will support 6.4 lakh micro-enterprises and 5,500 fisheries cooperatives with access to credit.

Performance grants will be up to 25% of total investment (35% for SC/ST/Women) for micro-enterprises, and up to 35% for village-level organizations and cooperatives, with maximum limits defined for each category.

the "one-time incentive" for aquaculture insurance will be 40% of the premium (plus 10% for SC/ST/Women beneficiaries), with a maximum of ₹1 lakh. The scheme also aims to improve fish quality, domestic markets, and export competitiveness.

National Fisheries Digital Platform will be created for registration and incentive disbursement. The scheme acknowledges past improvements in fish production and exports but aims to address remaining challenges like informality and lack of crop risk mitigation.

2 . The Fishery Survey of India (FSI), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, is the principal organization responsible for surveying and assessing India's fishery resources within its Exclusive Economic Zone and adjacent waters.

FSI conducts resource assessments to estimate fish stock quantities and types, charts productive fishing grounds, and provides scientific advice for fisheries management and conservation.

They collect and research biological, oceanographic, and fisheries data, disseminating their findings through various channels to benefit the fishing industry, researchers, and policymakers.

Tracing its roots back to 1946 as the Deep Sea Fishing Station, FSI evolved into its current form in 1983. The organization plays a crucial role in ensuring the sustainable use of India's marine resources, supporting livelihoods within the fishing industry, and contributing to marine biodiversity conservation.

Their scientific work forms the basis for responsible fisheries management in India.

3.Olympic Esports Games (GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2027. This is a landmark event for both the world of esports and the Olympic movement.

The decision to host the Games in Saudi Arabia reflects the growing popularity of esports globally and the country's push to become a major player in the gaming world.

 the first time the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will host a dedicated esports competition under the Olympic banner.

This event is a result of a 12-year partnership between the IOC and the Saudi Arabian government, formalized in 2024

4.M-Gov Award 2025Three Indian computer science students from New Delhi won the Bronze Award at the Global Best M-Gov Award 2025 during the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai. The accolade recognizes innovative technological solutions advancing mobile government services and societal progress.

5 .Seva Bhoj Yojana :

(GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

The Seva Bhoj Yojana is a central sector scheme launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2018. Its primary objective is to alleviate the financial burden on charitable religious institutions that provide free meals, such as prasad, langar, or bhandara, to devotees and the public without discrimination.

The scheme achieves this by reimbursing the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and the central government's share of the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) paid on specific raw food items used in the preparation of these free meals.

To be eligible, institutions must be charitable religious organizations like temples, gurudwaras, mosques, or churches, and they must have been in existence for at least three years.

Furthermore, they should serve free food to a minimum of 5,000 people monthly and be registered under relevant acts or have exemptions under the Income Tax Act.

The key benefit is the reimbursement of CGST and the central government's share of IGST, which helps these institutions save money and continue their charitable work.

The process involves registration on the NGO Darpan Portal of NITI Aayog and application on the CSMS Portal of the Ministry of Culture. A certificate from the District Magistrate confirming their charitable activities and free food distribution is also required.

The GST Authority then verifies the claims and disburses the reimbursements. In essence, the Seva Bhoj Yojana supports the valuable work of charitable religious institutions in providing free meals, contributing to food security and social welfare.

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