Current Affairs Quiz 01 December 2023

Ans: (d)

Correct Answer : C

GOBARdhan Scheme:
• The GOBARdhan Scheme, which stands for Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan, is a significant initiative of the Government of India.
• It was launched in 2018 as a national priority project under the Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen-Phase II program.
• The aim of the scheme is to convert cattle dung, agricultural residue, and other organic waste into Biogas, CBG, and bio-fertilizers to generate wealth and energy.
• The scheme adopts a comprehensive approach involving various government departments to promote a circular economy by transforming waste into valuable resources.
• The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, is the nodal ministry responsible for the implementation of the GOBARdhan Scheme.

Answer : c
• The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is a medium – long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and credit guarantee.
• The duration of the scheme shall be from FY2020 to FY2029 (10 years).
• Under the scheme, Rs. 1 Lakh Crore will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans with interest subvention of 3% per annum and credit guarantee coverage under CGTMSE scheme for loans up to Rs. 2 Crore.
• The beneficiaries will include farmers, PACS, Marketing Cooperative Societies, FPOs, SHGs, Joint Liability Groups (JLG), Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, and Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public-Private Partnership Projects.
• These assets will enable farmers to get greater value for their produce as they will be able to store and sell at higher prices, reduce wastage, and increase processing and value addition.

Ans;- c) Both 1 and 2

About SPARSH
• SPARSH is an initiative of Ministry of Defence which aims at providing a comprehensive solution to the administration of pension to the defence pensioners.
• It is in line with the Government’s vision of ‘Digital India’, ‘Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)’ and ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’.
• The system is administered by DAD, and caters to all the three Services and allied organisation.
• The system on roll-out is initially catering to the new retirees and subsequently being extended to cover the existing defence pensioners.
• The system caters to all activities of the pension cycle namely: Initiation and Sanction, Disbursement as well as Revision.
• SPARSH has been designed keeping defence pensioners at the centre, who will be given a completely transparent view of their pension account, through an online portal.
• It captures and maintains a complete history of events and entitlements of the pensioner – right from the date of commencement of pension to the date of cessation of pension due to the last eligible beneficiary.
• SPARSH has fundamentally re-engineered the process of pension disbursement – from generation of the Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) to Direct Benefit Transfer of pensions, with the motto of right pension delivered at the right time.

Answer:
B. The scheme targets 11 critical interventions through nine ministries, including the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.