Pradhan Mantri Mudra Scheme:
- In the last 10 years, loans of around Rs 30 crore have been provided through the Mudra scheme, which ensures easy credit to small traders who are not big companies.
- The Prime Minister’s Mudra scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 08 April 2015.
- Through this scheme, loans up to Rs 10 lakh are provided to non-corporate industries and non-agricultural small/micro enterprises.
- Loans are provided by banks, non-banking financial institutions, microfinance institutions and other financial institutions under the MUDRA scheme.
- Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka are in the top 5 in the list of states and Union Territories with the most loans.
- Under the Prime Minister’s Mudra Scheme, loans up to Rs 10 lakh are provided under 3 categories namely Banks, Non-Banking Financial Institutions, Microfinance Institutions, Other Financial Intermediary Institutions, ‘Shishu’, ‘Kishore’ and ‘Tarun’.
- It indicates the financial need of the borrower and the level of progress or development.
- Shishu – This includes loans up to Rs 50,000.
- Kishore – This includes loans above Rs 50,000 and up to Rs 5 lakh.
- Tarun – This includes loans above Rs 5 lakh and up to Rs 10 lakh.
Census:
- Since 1981, the central government has been conducting population census every 10 years.
- The first phase of census was scheduled to start on April 1, 2020.
- But the central government postponed the work due to the Corona outbreak and in the absence of new census data, it is to be conducted on the basis of the 2011 census.
- World Population Day is observed on 11th July every year.
- India’s first post-independence census was conducted in 1951.
- In 1872 AD, the first census in India was conducted under the rule of Lord Mayo.
- The first official census in India was carried out in 1881 under Lord Ripon.
- 1951 is also known as the year of population boom.
- Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state and Sikkim is the least populous state.
- According to the 2011 census, the population of Tamil Nadu is 7,21,38,958.
- Chennai is the most populous district.
Operation ‘Sadbhav’:
- India has launched ‘Sadbhav’ to show our solidarity with the people affected by Cyclone Yagi.
- India has provided relief items under ‘Sadbhav’ operation to help Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos affected by Cyclone Yagi.
- Under it, 10-tonne relief items including food items, clothes and medicines were sent to Myanmar on board the Indian Navy ship INS Satpura.
- Relief items such as water purifiers, water containers, blankets, kitchen utensils, solar lights were sent to Vietnam.
September 16: World Ozone Day
- World Ozone Day is observed annually on 16 September.
- On this day in 1987, the Montreal Protocol was signed, and since 1994, World Ozone Day has been celebrated, established by the United Nations General Assembly.
- This day reminds people about the depletion of the ozone layer and the solutions to protect it.
Important Facts:
- Prime Minister will inaugurate the country’s first ‘Vande Metro’ service between Gujarat’s Bhuj and Ahmedabad.
- The GST Council has set up a 13-member committee of ministers to review the GST rate levied on life and medical insurance, headed by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
- Currently, 18 percent GST is levied on premiums for life and medical insurance.
- The 54th GST Council meeting was held in Delhi under the chairmanship of Nirmala Sitharaman.
- In Kemmarampalayam village next to Karamadai at the foothills of Mettupalayam, Coimbatore district, the panchayat administration and the forest department have jointly used artificial intelligence (AI) technology to repel wild animals.