UPSC QUIZ 15.12.2023

Explanation:

• Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) Summit 2023 hosted by India and Sweden at the Conference of Parties (COP 28) in the United Arab Emirates, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced the three pillars of the second phase of LeadIT (2.0).

Leadership Group for Industry Transition

• LeadIT is a global initiative that aims to accelerate the transition of challenging sectors such as steel, cement, chemicals, aviation, and shipping to low-carbon pathways.
• The LeadIT gathers countries and companies that are committed to action to achieve the Paris Agreement.
• It was launched by the governments of Sweden and India at the United Nations Climate Action Summit in 2019 and is supported by the World Economic Forum.
• The LeadIT Secretariat is responsible for managing the work of the Leadership Group.

Explanation

• In a strategic move to enhance spatial planning at the Gram Panchayat level, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the Geographical Information System (GIS) application known as “Village Map”.
• This innovative application leverages geospatial technology to empower Gram Panchayats in their planning efforts.

Gram Manchitra

• The primary goal of Gram Manchitra is to encourage spatial planning initiatives by Gram Panchayats, leveraging the capabilities of geo-spatial technology.
• The app supports the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) by aiding decision-making.

Explanation:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has kept benchmark interest rates unchanged for the 5th consecutive time in its bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. The key repo rate has remained stable at 6.5% for five consecutive reviews.

MPC meeting

Policy Repo Rate: 6.5%

• Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country (RBI for India) lends money to commercial banks in case of shortage of funds. Here the central bank buys securities.

Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 6.25%

• SDF is a liquidity window through which RBI will give banks the option to retain excess liquidity.
• It differs from the reverse repo facility as it does not require banks to provide collateral while depositing funds.

Explanation:

• Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has recently drawn attention to Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Sanitary Napkins, an initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) to increase access to women's health and menstrual hygiene products.
• Jan Aushadhi Suvidha Sanitary Napkins are available at a discounted price of Re 1 per pad at Jan Aushadhi centers across India.
• Since its inception till November 30, 2023, more than Rs 47.87 crore of Jan Aushadhi Suvidha sanitary pads have been sold through Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
• Sanitary pads are oxy-biodegradable and maintain good quality standards.
• PMBJP is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the public.
• PMBJP stores have been set up to provide generic medicines, which are available at lower prices but at par with expensive branded medicines in quality and efficacy.

Explanation:

• India has been recognized as a lead country for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Green Voyage-2050 project, an important step towards reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships.
• The GreenVoyage-2050 project is a partnership project launched in 2019 between the Government of Norway and IMO, which aims to transform the shipping industry into a low-carbon future.
• The initial IMO strategy sets out a clear vision to reduce total annual GHG emissions by a minimum of 50% by 2050 relative to 2008 levels.
• The GreenVoyage-2050 project is underway in 12 countries: Azerbaijan, Belize, China, Cook Islands, Ecuador, Georgia, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
• The participating countries can be broadly classified into “new pilot countries” and “leading pilot countries”.