Today's Brief 14/12/2024

1 .Bharatmala Project: is a massive road and highway development project launched by the Government of India in 2017. It's one of the largest infrastructure projects in the world, aiming to improve connectivity across the country and boost economic growth

The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The Bharatmala (approved for estimated cost of Rs. 6,92,324 crore including other ongoing schemes) is to be funded from Cess (Rs.  2,37,024 crore) collected form Petrol & Diesel (as per Central Road & Infrastructure Fund Act, 2000, erstwhile CRF Act, 2000), amount collected from toll (Rs. 46,048 crore) apart from additional budgetary support (Rs. 59,973 crore),

Expected monetisation of NHs through TOT (Toll-Operate-Transfer) (Rs. 34,000 crore), Internal & Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR)  (Rs. 2,09,279 crore ) and Private Sector Investment (Rs. 1,06,000 crore) as per Financing Plan upto 2021-22.

2 . Rajmarg Saathi : The National Highways Authority of India is planning to introduce an advanced new Route Patrolling Vehicles (RPVs) named Rajmarg Saathi to enhance highway safety.

The Road Transport and Highways Ministry said, the RPVs will conduct inspection of National Highway stretches to monitor and respond to emergency situations.

The new RPVs will feature closed cabinets and AI-Enabled dashboard cameras for Efficient Emergency Response.

The vehicles are equipped with advanced communication and safety tools to minimize traffic disruptions, improve road safety and enhancing the overall road user experience along the National Highways.

3 .PM Matru Vandana Yojana: is a government welfare scheme aimed at providing financial assistance to pregnant women and lactating mothers for their nutritional support and healthcare needs. The scheme is intended to improve the health and nutrition of women and children during pregnancy and early childhood, while also promoting institutional deliveries.

Key Features of PMMVY:

1. Cash Incentive:

   • The scheme provides a cash incentive of ₹5,000 to pregnant women and lactating mothers.

   • This financial aid is provided in three installments during the pregnancy and after the delivery of the child.

2. Installments:

   • 1st Installment (₹1,000): To be provided during the first trimester of pregnancy (subject to registration of pregnancy).

   • 2nd Installment (₹2,000): Provided after the second trimester, when the woman undergoes an antenatal check-up.

   • 3rd Installment (₹2,000): Given after the birth of the child, on the condition that the woman and child are vaccinated as per the government's immunization schedule.

3. Eligibility:

   • The scheme is applicable to all pregnant women and lactating mothers, except for those who are already receiving similar benefits from other government schemes such as maternity benefits under the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) or similar welfare programs.

   • The scheme is applicable to women who are at least 19 years of age.

   • It is available to women who have a live birth and the child is registered for immunization.

4. Conditions:

   • The cash assistance is provided to the eligible woman directly into her bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

   • The beneficiaries need to ensure that they follow the prescribed health check-ups, take the necessary vaccinations, and follow the maternal care guidelines.

5. Objective:

   • The primary goal of PMMVY is to promote maternal and child health, reduce maternal mortality rates, improve nutrition during pregnancy and lactation, and encourage institutional deliveries.

   • It is also a part of the government's efforts to address the challenges of malnutrition and undernutrition faced by women and children.

6. Implementation:

   • The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) in collaboration with state governments and Union Territories.

   • The funds are directly transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts to ensure transparency and effective implementation.

Importance:

• This scheme is part of India's efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes and reduce infant mortality rates. It also addresses the nutritional needs of mothers during a critical period of pregnancy and lactation.

1. Dark Eagle Missile System: a long-range hypersonic missile system developed by the United States. It is designed to defeat enemy air defenses and strike targets deep within enemy territory

5.Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is a state-of-the-art anti-ballistic missile defense system developed by the United States. It is designed to intercept and destroy short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase of flight