Prelims Focus- 13th December 2023

1.National Medical Commission:

Details:

• The National Medical Commission (NMC), which is India’s main regulatory body for medical education and practice, has unveiled a new logo that features an image of the god Dhanvantri. 
• The logo also replaces the word ‘India’ with the term ‘Bharat’. 
• The NMC was established in 2020 to replace the Medical Council of India and consists of 33 members

2.Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)

Recent News:

A Supreme Court Justice has suggested creating a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate reported human rights abuses in J&K and propose ways to reconcile.

Details:

• A truth and justice commission, also known as a truth commission, is an official mechanism that acknowledges and reveals wrongdoings by both state and non-state actors. 
• Its goal is to address and resolve conflicts from the past. 
• According to Priscilla B. Hayner, a TRC focuses on the past rather than ongoing events, investigates a pattern of events over time, engages with the affected population to gather information on their experiences, and acts as a temporary body.
• It is officially authorised or empowered by the state being reviewed.

3.Gangetic Dolphin

Details:

• Recently, Uttar Pradesh declared the Gangetic Dolphin as the state’s aquatic animal. 
• This species is already recognized as the national aquatic animal and can be found in various rivers. 
• The Gangetic Dolphin is considered an endangered species according to the IUCN, and it is protected under the Wild Life (Protection) Act. 
• In 2016, the National Mission for Clean Ganga launched Project Dolphin to further conserve this species.

4.Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

In News: The number of PMUY beneficiaries using the supplement has increased to 8.41 million in 2022-23 as compared to an addition of 3.09 million in 2017-18.

• • About: It was launched  by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in 2016 to provide LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.  LPG Connection is issued in the name of an adult woman belonging to a BPL family. 
  • Objective:
    • Phase I: To provide free LPG connection to female members of 5 cr  BPL households.  
      • In 2018, the scheme covered all SC/ST households, PMAY (Gramin), forest dwellers, Most Backward Classes (MBC), tea and ex-tea garden tribes. 
    • Phase II: Announced in the Union Budget on 21-22 for the fiscal year; 1 million more connections.  
      • Features: Free LPG connections for low income families who could not be covered under the earlier phase of PMUY. Address certificates are not required for immigrants, a self-declaration is sufficient 

• Goals and significance

• • Health benefits: reducing the health risks associated with fossil fuel-based food preparation. WHO estimates that around 5,000,000 people die in India from dirty cooking  fuel. 
  • Empowerment of women: By traveling long distances, women are saved from the danger of collecting firewood. Socio-economic benefits: productive activity and association with a woman’s name.  
  • Environment: Less pollution from burning fuel.

5.Rythu Bandhu Scheme

In News: Telangana government is releasing funds for the Rythu Bandhu Scheme.

• The Government of Telangana came up with the Rythu Bandhu programme. 
• This is the first agricultural investment subsidy scheme in India. The idea is to ease the debt burden of  farmers. 
• Under the scheme, each farmer will get a direct subsidy (DBT) of Rs. 5,000/-/acre per farmer every season for purchase of inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, labor and other investments for the field work required by the farmer during the cropping season. 
• A scheme like the Prime Minister’s Kisan Samman Nidhi was meant to help farmers and the government was given permission under certain guidelines.

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