Today's Brief 7/11/2024

IE Analysis: https://youtu.be/lkJ5aRPXg04?si=h9g6RozI6mOhv2H9

JN Analysis: https://youtu.be/By0Qq583-fU?si=IM_McgQMsMJogmS8

1 .Donald Trump: has been elected to return to the White House as the 47th United States president.

2 .Digital Life Certificate 3.0: is a digital service for pensioners to easily obtain life certificates. This simplifies the process, especially for elderly or disabled pensioners who may find it difficult to visit offices.

To get a certificate, pensioners can visit a Jeevan Pramaan Centre or use the mobile app. They will need their Aadhaar number and biometric authentication. Once verified, the digital certificate is stored online and can be accessed by pension disbursing agencies.

3 .PM Vidyalaxmi: a new Central Sector scheme that seeks to provide financial support to meritorious students so that financial constraints do not prevent anyone from pursuing higher studies. PM Vidyalaxmi is another key initiative stemming out of the National Education Policy, 2020, which had recommended that financial assistance should be made available to meritorious students through various measures in both public and private HEIs.

Under the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme, any student who gets admission in quality Higher Education Institution (QHEIs) will be eligible to get collateral free, guarantor free loan from banks and financial institutions to cover full amount of tuition fees and other expenses related to the course.

The scheme will be administered through a simple, transparent and student-friendly system that will be inter-operable and entirely digital.

PM Vidyalaxmi will build on and further enhance the scope and reach of the range of initiatives undertaken by the Government of India over the past decade in the domains of education and financial inclusion, for maximizing access to quality higher education for the youth of India.

This will supplement the Central Sector Interest Subsidy (CSIS) and Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (CGFSEL), the two component schemes of PM-USP, being implemented by the Department of Higher Education. Under the PM-USP CSIS, students with annual family income up to ₹ 4.5 lakhs and pursuing technical/ professional courses from approved institutions get full interest subvention during moratorium period for education loans up to ₹ 10 lakhs.

Thus, PM Vidyalaxmi and PM-USP will together provide holistic support to all deserving students to pursue higher education in quality HEIs and technical/ professional education in approved HEIs.

4 . Jal Utsav:   NITI Aayog is going to launch a 15-day ‘Jal Utsav’ from tomorrow to create awareness and sensitization towards water management, conservation and sustainability.

The campaign follows the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who mooted the idea of ​​‘Jal Utsav’ on the lines of ‘River Festival’ during the 3rd Chief Secretaries Conference held in December, 2023.

Jal Utsav is being implemented in 20 aspiring districts/blocks from 6-24 November, 2024 in partnership with National Jal Jeevan Mission, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti. The Mahotsav, being launched in 20 States, envisages community participation in conservation and protection of water resources.

AIM:

it aims to promote efficient use of water in households and instill a sense of responsibility towards water management among utilities and agencies. In this initiative, school students are being enrolled in water management activities, empowering them to act as catalysts of change in their families and communities.

The fortnight-long celebration will begin with 'Jal Bandhan' - wherein eminent personalities and local leaders will tie a sacred thread on water assets. They will also launch "Fact Sheet on Jal Sampada (Water Wealth)" of their respective blocks and districts. Apart from discussing the departmental activities planned in the fortnight, people will also take the 'Jal Utsav Shapath', pledging to maintain and protect water resources, to ensure judicious and sustainable use. Through this oath, communities are being encouraged to follow the 5Rs: Respect, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recharge while using water.

The following days of the Jal Utsav fortnight will include cleaning of water assets, observing Jal Sanchay Diwas, encouraging teachers to create water management awareness through stories, experiments and visits to water bodies, and training students on water quality testing using Field Test Kits (FTKs).

Demonstration of water supply and treatment plants will be conducted for students for greater awareness about water management; Organising Jal Utsav race or marathon; planting trees under Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam at Jal Sampada premises are also the activities planned for the fortnight. People will also be enrolled for skill development under Nal Jal Mitra initiative of the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation during Jal Utsav. Self-help groups and ASHA workers are also being involved in this festival for sensitisation and capacity building.

The aim of Jal Utsav is to celebrate water as a vital element for life by inculcating a sense of responsibility among people from all walks of life including students, families and local communities in conserving water resources.