• Minister of State for Communications, Shri Devusinh Chauhan, attended the opening ceremony of World Summit of Information Society (WSIS) 2022, being organized by International Telecommunications Unions(ITU) at its headquarter in Geneva, Switzerland
• It's beginning of 4 days event where India will showcase its telecom prowess during multilateral & bilateral engagements.
• The participation comes with India contesting the re-election to the ITU Council, for the term 2023-2026.
• India has been a member of ITU, since 1869 and has been continuously participating, actively in the works, and activities of the Union.

• The World Summit on the Information Society Forum 2022 represents the world's largest annual gathering of the ICT for development community.
• The WSIS Forum 2022 started from 15 March onwards in a virtual format with the final week being held physically with enhanced remote participation from 30 May to 3 June 2022 at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme of ICTs for Well-Being, Inclusion and Resilience: WSIS Cooperation for Accelerating Progress on the SDGs.
• The WSIS Forum, co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD, in close collaboration with all WSIS Action Line Facilitators/Co-Facilitators
• The Forum has proven to be an efficient mechanism for coordination of multi-stakeholder implementation activities, information exchange, creation of knowledge and sharing of best practices

• The International Telecommunication Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for many matters related to information and communication technologies.
• It was established on 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, making it the oldest UN agency.
• On 15 November 1947, the ITU entered into an agreement with the newly created United Nations to become a specialized agency within the UN system, which formally entered into force on 1 January 1949.
• The ITU promotes the shared global use of the radio spectrum, facilitates international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, assists in developing and coordinating worldwide technical standards, and works to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world.
• It is also active in the areas of broadband Internet, wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, satellite-based meteorology, TV broadcasting, amateur radio, and next-generation networks.
• Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the ITU's global membership includes 193 countries and around 900 business, academic institutions, and international and regional organizations.

• Ministry of Defence, on May 31, 2022, signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for supply of ASTRA MK-I Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air to Air Missile (AAM) and associated equipment for the Indian Air Force & Indian Navy at a cost of Rs 2,971 crore under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.
• Till now, the technology to manufacture missile of this class indigenously was not available.
• ASTRA MK-I BVR AAM
• Astra Mk1, a beyond visual range (BVR), air-to-air missile, has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Limited.
• At present, India imports similar missiles from Israel, Russia and some other manufacturers.
• It has been designed and developed based on the Staff Requirements issued by the Indian Air Force (IAF) catering for Beyond Visual Range as well as Close Combat Engagement reducing the dependency on foreign sources.
• Air to Air missile with BVR capability provides large Stand Off Ranges to own fighter aircraft which can neutralise the adversary aircraft without exposing itself to adversary Air Defence measures, thereby gaining & sustaining superiority of the Air Space.
• This missile is technologically and economically superior to many such imported missile systems.
• ASTRA MK-I missile and all associated systems for its launch, ground handling & testing has been developed by DRDO in coordination with the IAF.
• The missile, for which successful trials have already been undertaken by the IAF, is fully integrated on the Su 30 MK-I fighter aircraft & will be integrated with other fighter aircraft in a phased manner, including the Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas).
• The Indian Navy will integrate the missile on the MiG 29K fighter aircraft.
• The Transfer of Technology from DRDO to BDL for production of ASTRA MK-I missile and all associated systems has been completed and production at BDL is in progress.

• ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)' category refers to the procurement of products from an Indian vendor that have been indigenously designed, developed and manufactured with a minimum of 50% Indigenous Content (IC) on cost basis of the total contract value.

• A beyond-visual-range missile (BVR) is an air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) that is capable of engaging at ranges of 20 nmi (37 km) or beyond.
• This range has been achieved using dual pulse rocket motors or booster rocket motor and ramjet sustainer motor.
• In addition to the range capability, the missile must also be capable of tracking its target at this range or of acquiring the target in flight.

• In view of the long-standing adverse claims experience of the schemes, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and in order to make them economically viable, the premium rates of the schemes have been revised by making it Rs 1.25 per day premium for both schemes that includes revising PMJJBY from Rs. 330 to Rs. 436 and PMSBY from Rs. 12 to Rs. 20.
• The number of active subscribers enrolled under PMJJBY and PMSBY as on 31.3.2022 are 6.4 crore and 22 crore, respectively.

• The PMJJBY is available to people in the age group of 18 to 50 years having a bank account who give their consent to join / enable auto-debit.
• Aadhar would be the primary KYC for the bank account.
• The life cover of Rs. 2 lakhs shall be for the one year period stretching from 1st June to 31st May and will be renewable.
• Risk coverage under this scheme is for Rs. 2 Lakh in case of death of the insured, due to any reason.
• The premium is Rs. 436 per annum which is to be auto-debited in one installment from the subscriber's bank account as per the option given by him on or before 31st May of each annual coverage period under the scheme.
• The scheme is being offered by Life Insurance Corporation and all other life insurers who are willing to offer the product on similar terms with necessary approvals and tie up with banks for this purpose.

• The Scheme is available to people in the age group 18 to 70 years with a bank account who give their consent to join / enable auto-debit on or before 31st May for the coverage period 1st June to 31st May on an annual renewal basis.
• Aadhar would be the primary KYC for the bank account.
• The risk coverage under the scheme isRs.2 lakh for accidental death and full disability and Rs. 1 lakh for partial disability.
• The premium of Rs. 20 per annum is to be deducted from the account holder's bank account through ‘auto-debit' facility in one installment.
• The scheme is being offered by Public Sector General Insurance Companies or any other General Insurance Company who are willing to offer the product on similar terms with necessary approvals and tie up with banks for this purpose.

• The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the 'Garib Kalyan Sammelan' in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
• This unique public event was organized in state capitals, district headquarters and Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the country to commemorate the completion of eight years of the government led by Prime Minister Modi.
• The idea behind this programme was to enable the elected public representatives across the country to interact directly with the public to get feedback about the various welfare programmes being run by the government.
• On the occasion, the Prime Minister released the 11th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan)

• PM-KISAN is a new Central Sector Scheme to provide income support to all landholding farmers' families in the country to supplement their financial needs for procuring various inputs related to agriculture and allied. Under activities as well as domestic needs.
• Under the PM-KISAN scheme, all landholding farmers' families shall be provided the financial benefit of Rs. 6000 per annum per family payable in three equal installments of Rs. 2000 each, every four months.
• The eligible farmers may apply with the village Patwaris, revenue officials or other designated officers / agencies and submit their required details to them.
• Farmers can also visit their nearest Common Service Centres (CSCs) for registration in the Scheme upon payment of fees.
• Farmers can also do their self-registration through the Farmers Corner in the PM KISAN portal.

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