Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Confarm and its objective) + Mains ( GS III Farmers' welfare + Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. + Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups)
Know! about Confarm

• It is a partnership between farmers and urban consumers in Telangana, christened ‘ConFarm' (Consumer-Farmer Compact), has been doing for the last two years.
• The consumers support farmers with their agricultural needs; in return, farmers ensure consumers are able to access food in a hassle-free manner.
• The initiative kicked off in June 2018 and has been endeavouring to bring farmers and consumers on the same platform for their benefit.

• The initiative requires consumers to support farmers in the beginning of a farming season.
• Each consumer supports a group of farmers with about Rs 12,500 per acre for their farming needs.
• In return, at the time of harvest, consumers are given products according to the value they invested, leaving the middlemen out.
• They are are provided with millets, pulses, oil, jaggery and other necessary items produced organically - either in bulk or on monthly basis.
• The initiative also aims to give millets a push in the urban market, enabling consumers to move beyond the commonly consumed grains such as rice and wheat.

• Such supply chains are the need of the hour. Farmers and consumers must come together to face crisis moments in the future as well
• When all of us are confined to our homes with restricted access to essentials, our farmer friends offer solace. They ensure access to good food even during the crisis.
• At this juncture in crisis - when free-market system and global trade are staring at an uncertain future - local solutions such as ‘Confarm' hold greater prominence

• The Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, has decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds.
• The Sovereign Gold Bonds will be issued in six tranches from April 2020 to September 2020
• The Bonds will be sold through Scheduled Commercial banks (except Small Finance Banks and Payment Banks), Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited (SHCIL), designated post offices, and recognised stock exchanges viz., National Stock Exchange of India Limited and Bombay Stock Exchange Limited.

• Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme was launched by Govt in November 2015, under Gold Monetisation Scheme.
• Under the scheme, the issues are made open for subscription in tranches by RBI in consultation with GOI. RBI Notifies the terms and conditions for the scheme from time to time.
• It offer investors an alternative to own gold. It belongs to the debt fund category.

• The Bonds will be denominated in multiples of gram(s) of gold
• The Gold Bonds will be issued as Government of India Stock under GS Act, 2006. The investors will be issued a Holding Certificate for the same. The Bonds are eligible for conversion into demat form.
• The Bonds will be restricted for sale to resident individuals, HUFs, Trusts, Universities and Charitable Institutions.
• The minimum permissible investment will be 1 gram of gold and the maximum limit of subscription shall be 4 kg for individual, 4 kg for HUF and 20 kg for trusts and similar
• The current interest rate for SGB is 2.50 percent annually. They are paid twice a year on the nominal value. Returns are usually linked to the current market price of gold.
• The tenor of the Bond will be for a period of 8 years with exit option after 5thyear to be exercised on the interest payment dates.
• Bonds can be used as collateral for loans.

• The SGB offers a superior alternative to holding gold in physical form.
• The risks and costs of storage are eliminated.
• Investors are assured of the market value of gold at the time of maturity and periodical interest.
• SGB is free from issues like making charges and purity in the case of gold in jewellery form.
• SGBs are government securities and are considered safe.
• Their value is denominated in multiples of gold grams.
• Some banks accept SGB as collateral/security against secured loans.

• The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind extend his warm greetings and good wishes on the occasion of Vaisakhi, Vishu, Rongali Bihu, Naba Barsha, Vaisakhadi, Puthandu, Pirappu, which are being celebrated in different parts of the country on 13^th and 14^th April, 2020
• These festivals are a symbol of unity inherent in the cultural diversity of India and are also an occasion to celebrate our farmers.
• Our farmers should always be at the centre of our gratitude as they not only produce food grains for us but also bring us food security and prosperity through their tireless efforts.

Vaisakhi

• The Sikh New Year festival is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar.
• It marks the start of the Punjabi New Year, but it is also a day to celebrate 1699 - the year when Sikhism was born as a collective faith.
• It is celebrated on 13 or 14 April
• Vaisakhi has been a harvest festival in Punjab - an area of northern India - for a long time, even before it became so important to Sikhs.
• In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh chose the festival as the moment to establish the Khalsa - that's the collective name given to Sikhs who've been baptised.

Vishu heralds

• The festival of Vishu heralds the beginning of the Malayalee New Year and the festival is celebrated in a big way in Kerala and the adjoining areas of Tamil Nadu.
• Malayalee people celebrate Vishu as the New Year Day celebration.

Rongali Bihu

• Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu is a festival celebrated in the state of Assam and northeastern India, and marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year.

Naba Barsha

• Naba Barsha is the celebration of Bengali New Year !! Naba Barsha in Bengal marks the first day of Baisakh - the first month of Bengali Calendar.
• The festival usually falls on the 13^th or 14^th day of April according to English Calendar Year.
• Naba Barsha festival is known as Poila Baisakh in Bangladesh and is celebrated as a national holiday.

Puthandu

• Puthandu also known as Puthuvarudam or Tamil New Year, is the first day of year on the Tamil calendar and traditionally celebrated as a festival.
• The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the lunisolar Tamil calendar, as the first day of the Tamil month Siththirai.
• It therefore falls on or about 14 April every year on the Gregorian calendar.
• The same day is observed by Hindus elsewhere as the traditional new year, but is known by other names such as Vishu in Kerala, and Vaisakhi or Baisakhi in central and northern India.

Pirappu

• Aadi "Pirappu": The first day of the Aadi Month is very significant and prescribed rituals are performed in every Hindu-Tamil household and temples across Tamil Nadu.
• Every Tamil month is named as per the Hindu zodiac star on the full-moon day or the "PournamiDivasom"
• The star on the full-moon day of Aadi month is called "Ashaada". Hence this month is called ‘Ashaadi'in the North of India and ‘Aadi' in the South. Every Sunday, Tuesday and Friday of this month are considered to be very holy.

Prelims Factoids
Unnayan: Mera Mobile, Mera Vidyalaya
Relevance IN - Prelims (about the app and its objective)
What's the NEWS

• Bihar Education Project Council (BEPC) has launched a mobile application and plans to book a slot with the All India Radio for the audio broadcast of study materials for government school students.

Know! more about the app

• The BEPC, a wing of the State Education department, launched a mobile application "Unnayan: Mera Mobile, Mera Vidyalaya" for Class VI to XII of over 70,000 government-run schools.
• The app,was jointly developed by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Bihar government and Eckovation, a social learning platform.
• The BEPC also has planned to book a slot with the All India Radio for the audio broadcast of study materials for school students.
• The BEPC has also encouraged students for the use of online education portals like Diksha.
• NCERT books are available free of cost on Diksha app for Class 1 to XII and has also integrated audio-visual media along with digital textbooks for better understanding and online assessment

Prelims Factoids
6 theme-based microsites to promote tourism spots
Relevance IN - Prelims (about the theme based microsites and its objective)
What's the NEWS

• Kerala Tourism has geared up for the post-COVID-19 era by coming up with six theme-based microsites in the official website to promote destination and tourism products and get an upper hand in the virtual marketing among brands.

Know! more about it

• The aim is to retain an edge in the post COVID-19 era for the official website that ranks first in the search results since 2004.
• The move to infuse content into the website and give a refreshing look is part of the long-term strategy to overcome the impact of COVID-19 that has taken a heavy toll on the travel and tourism industry facing job cuts and low margins.

The New microsites
1. Yoga
2. Kalaripayattu - an ancient martial art indigenous to the State
3. Temples of Kerala
4. Judaism in Kerala
5. Ayurveda
6. Discovering Malabar

• These are the new microsites that have been featured.

Human Resource Development

• YUKTI (Young India Combating COVID with Knowledge, Technology and Innovation)
• Relevance IN - Prelims (about YUKTI and its objective) + Mains (GS II Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

What's the NEWS

• Union Minister for HRD Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank" has launched a web-portal YUKTI (Young India Combating COVID with Knowledge, Technology and Innovation)

Know! more about the portal

• It's a unique portal and dashboard to monitor and record the efforts and initiatives of MHRD.
• The portal intends to cover the different dimensions of COVID-19 challenges in a very holistic and comprehensive way.
• It will cover the various initiatives and efforts of the institutions in academics, research especially related to CoVID, social initiatives by institutions and the measures taken for the betterment of the total wellbeing of the students.
• The portal will cover both qualitative and quantitative parameters for effective delivery of services to the academic community at large.
• The will also establish a two-way communication channel between the Ministry of HRD and the institutions so that the Ministry can provide the necessary support system to the institutions.
• This portal will help in critical issues related to student promotion policies, placements related challenges and physical and mental well-being of students in these challenging times.
  
  

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