UPSC EXAM QUIZ 10.01.2025

Explanation:

• Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released the factsheet of the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24, providing key insights into consumption patterns and economic well-being in India.
• The HCES collects data on household spending patterns to assess living standards, well-being, and consumption behavior.
• HCES has been conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) since 1951 as part of the National Sample Survey (NSS) under the MoSPI.
• Significance: Provides inputs for calculating Consumer Price Indices (CPI) and revising the base year for macroeconomic indicators like Gross Domestic Product (GDP). HCES helps to measure poverty, inequality, and social well-being.

Explanation:

• Ujala Yojana launched on 5 January 2015 celebrated its 10th anniversary as a path breaking initiative in energy efficiency. Street Lighting National Programme Scheme has also completed 10 years.

Key facts about Ujala Yojana

• It was launched in January 2015 in order to promote energy efficiency by replacing conventional lighting systems (incandescent lamps (ICL) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL)) with energy-saving LED bulbs.
• The scheme is a joint project between the Public Sector Undertakings of Government of India, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) of Union Ministry of Power and DISCOMs (Distribution Companies).
• Objective: It aims to reduce electricity use by 8.5 million kWh and reduce 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) by replacing 77 crore conventional bulbs and 3.5 crore street lights with LEDs.
• Lighting requirement: Lighting accounts for about 18-27% of residential electricity use in India.

Explanation:

• Ministry of Agriculture has urged the State Governments to prioritise the oil palm plantation targets under the National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) scheme.

Key facts about NMEO-OP scheme

• NMEO-OP is a centrally sponsored scheme to promote domestic production of crude palm oil (CPO) thereby reducing the country’s dependence on imports.

Objectives

• Area expansion: To cover additional 6.5 lakh hectares of oil palm area by 2025-26, taking the total area covered under it to 10 lakh hectares.
• Production target: To increase CPO production from 0.27 lakh tonnes (2019-20) to 11.20 lakh tonnes (2025-26) and to 28 lakh tonnes by 2029-30.
• Per capita consumption: To maintain a consumption level of 19 kg/person/year by 2025-26.
• Focus area: Special focus on North Eastern region and Andaman & Nicobar Islands to promote oil palm cultivation and CPO production.

Explanation:

• The government will launch a new credit guarantee scheme for MSMEs providing free loans up to Rs 100 crore without any guarantee.
• The proposal is expected to be presented before the Union Cabinet for approval.
• The main aim of the scheme will be to provide term loans for MSMEs to purchase machinery and equipment without collateral or third-party guarantees.
• The scheme will be implemented by pooling MSMEs' credit risks, supported by a self-financing guarantee fund.
• The MSME sector is a crucial sector of the Indian Economy. It provides employment to 50 million people.
• MSMEs have boosted India’s GDP, their Gross Value Added (GVA) contribution has grown from 29.7% in 2017-18 to 30.1% in 2022-23.

Explanation:

• Every year on 10 January, World Hindi Day is celebrated.
• It is celebrated to mark the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference organized in Nagpur on 10 January 1975.
• In the year 1975, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi organized the first World Hindi Conference in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
• 122 representatives from 30 countries participated in this conference.
• In 2006, the first World Hindi Day was celebrated by the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
• Its main aim is to promote the Hindi language across the world.
• Hindi is the third most-spoken language in the world.
• In India, Hindi Diwas is observed every year on 14th September.