UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelimbits 11-08-2025

Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants

Why in News?

Recently, government has approved projects under integrated Component of Scheme for Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants.

• It is a central sector scheme that was approved by the cabinet in 2008.
• Aim – To provide project-based support throughout the country for different activities.
• Implemented by - National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of Ayush.
• Coverage – All across India.
• Support – Both financial and technical support are provided.
• Technical support was provided to farmers including tribal farmers.
• Integrated component – Forward and backward linkage in supply chain of medicinal plants.
• It includes activities like
  • Infrastructure for Quality Planting Material
  • Information Education Communication (IEC) activities
  • Infrastructure for Post-Harvest Management and Marketing
  • Quality Testing and Certification of raw material
• Importance – It provided local employment through project activities approved under integrated component.
• It provided short-term income especially to women.
• These efforts led to direct income generation and promoted inclusive economic growth at the grassroots level.

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushrooms, spices.

References

1. PIB| Conservation of Medicinal Plants
2. NMBP| National Medical Plants Board

BHU-NEER Portal

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Jalshakti includes some of the latest and user-friendly features to the BHU-NEER portal.

• Bhu-Neer portal is designed to serve as a one-stop platform for managing and regulating ground water resources in 2024.
• Launched by – Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
• Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Coverage - Project supports in 19 States/UTs.
• Aim – To control indiscriminate groundwater extraction and promote sustainable management.
• Features
  • Centralized Database - It maintains a centralized database containing crucial information on groundwater compliance, policies, and sustainable practices.
  • Target Users - It caters to industries, infrastructure projects, and mining projects that require groundwater extraction permits.
  • No Objection Certificate (NOC) Applications – It provides a quick and easy platform for filing online applications for No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for groundwater abstraction.
  • Compliance and Water Conservation - It emphasizes compliance such as the construction of rooftop rainwater harvesting structures and installation of sewage treatment plants.
  • Pan based single id system provides ease of access and integration
  • Query module for one-to-one interaction with CGWA
  • Real time Sms & Email alerts.
• Significance – Promotes transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business in groundwater governance.
• The portal also aims to ensure building rooftop rainwater harvesting systems and setting up sewage treatment plants.

Reference

PIB| Bhu-Neer portal

Telecom Industry Expansion in Rural Areas

Why in News?

Recently, the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development highlighted the infrastructural expansion of the telecom industry in rural areas.

• The approved projects have been funded through Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), which inter alia, includes the following: -
  • Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan (CTDP) for mobile connectivity in the North Eastern Region, Andaman & Nicobar islands and Lakshadweep islands.
  • Scheme for providing mobile services in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas and Aspirational Districts.
  • 4G Saturation Project for providing 4G mobile services in uncovered villages.
  • Amended BharatNet project to provide broadband connectivity to the Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages.

BharatNet project aimed at providing broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. It is one of the biggest rural telecom projects in the world.

• Policy initiatives for expanding of 5G services –These initiatives include to make available affordable services to users.
• Auction of spectrum for 5G mobile services.
• Financial reforms to rationalize Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), Bank Guarantees (BGs) and interest rates.
• Removal of Spectrum Usage Charges for spectrum acquired in auction of 2022 and thereafter.
• Simplification of procedure for SACFA (Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocations) clearance.
• Launch of GatiShakti Sanchar portal to enable fast-track growth of digital communications infrastructure.
•  RoW(Right of Way) Rules to streamline RoW permissions for installation of telecom infrastructure.
• Time-bound permission for use of street furniture for installation of small cells and telecommunication line.
• Benefits – With the availability of high-speed mobile network, there has been increased adoption of online banking services, e-commerce.
• Improved online education as well as online government services among the users across all sections of society including those in rural and semi-urban areas.

Related links   Digital Bharat Nidhi 

Reference

PIB| Telecom Industry Expansion in Rural areas

India’s Deep Ocean Exploration

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences noted India’s deep ocean exploration activities in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

• Ministry – Ministry of Earth Science.
• Indias exploration activities conducted under the Deep Ocean Mission.
• Allocation for exploration – As a part of ISA, India has been allotted a 75,000 square km area in the Central Indian Ocean Basin.
• 10,000 square km area in the Central Indian Ridge and Southwest Indian Ridge of the Southern Indian Ocean.
• Exploration activities – Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (Kochi), attached to Ministry of Earth Sciences, has conducted biodiversity surveys across 19 seamounts in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal,
• From the survey, 1300 deep-sea organisms have been collected, studied and vouchered, including genomic analysis for select organisms and the discovery of nearly 23 species that are new to science.
• Collaborative research – Projects are undertaken and funded to various government and private laboratories, universities and institutions.
• Data dissemination – The Marine biodiversity data is collected through research publications and shared with the UN Ocean Biodiversity Information System.
• The Marine Microbial Information Portal, developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (Chennai), provides genomic sequence data of deep-sea microbes collected in the public domain.
• India is a member of the International Seabed Authority.

Quick Facts

Reference

PIB| India’s Deep Ocean Exploration