Daily Current Affairs: 15th September 2019: The Hindu+PIB
Daily Current Affairs: 15th September 2019: The Hindu+PIB
Context: More than 9 lakh youth are benefited from MUDRA Scheme.
About the MUDRA Scheme
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) is a scheme launched on April 8, 2015 for providing loans up to 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises. These loans are classified as MUDRA loans under PMMY.
Its mission is to create an inclusive, sustainable and value based entrepreneurial culture, in collaboration with our partner institutions in achieving economic success and financial security.
These loans are given by Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks, MFIs and NBFCs.
Under the aegis of PMMY, MUDRA there are also three products namely ‘Shishu’, ‘Kishore’ and ‘Tarun’ that will signify the stage of growth / development and funding needs of the beneficiary micro unit / entrepreneur and also will provide a reference point for the next phase of graduation / growth.
The products can be categorized as per the loan amount:
1. Shishu: Covering loans upto Rs 50,000.
2. Kishore: Covering loans between Rs 50,001 to Rs 5,00,000.
3. Tarun: Covering loans between Rs 5,00,001 to Rs 10 lakh.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
Context: The researchers fro IIT-Madras has demonstrated an environment-friendly strategy to degrade the chemically inert and physically stable plastic fluoropolymer — polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) of which Teflon is made.
Teflon was tested in different forms like, pellets, tapes and plates. The experiment was repeated using a Teflon beaker and different metals were also tried but with same result each time. The only difference was that the particles did not show bright red luminescence when copper, silver and iron were used instead of gold.
How did the process works?
When Glucose is added to water, it first leaches out ions from the metal surface. Later, when the PTFE-coated magnetic pellet is continuously rotated, triboelectric charges get generated on the pellet. In the process, the PTFE gets negatively charged and this negative charge on the PTFE surface attracts the metal ions that have been leached out.
Further the interaction between the metal ions and PTFE results in metal-polymer bonding, causing the carbon-carbon bonds to destabilise eventually resulting in degradation of PTFEs into molecules.
Similar chemical process can possibly lead to micro and nanoplastics in food during cooking as many modern cookware are coated with Teflon and hence is a potential health threat.
What is Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)?
It is used as a non-stick coating for pans and other cookware. It is non-reactive, partly because of the strength of carbon–fluorine bonds, and so it is often used in containers and pipework for reactive and corrosive chemicals.
It is to be noted that PTFE is a fluorocarbon solid, as it is a high molecular weight compound consisting wholly of carbon and fluorine.
PTFE is hydrophobic i.e., neither water nor water-containing substances wet PTFE and has lowest coefficients of friction of any solid.
The brand name of PTFE-based formulas is Teflon.
Context: The naval variant of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas has made its first-ever short arrested landing on the Shore Based Test Facility in Goa.
This is being considered as a big step for the LCA Tejas to eventually operate from the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier.
What is Arrested Landing? How is it an achievement?
It basically means to retard the speed of an aircraft very rapidly as it lands. During the process the high kinetic energy produced after the Aircraft lands is arrested by absorbing the energy so that the Aircraft does not over shoot the deck.
If we imagine Aircraft touches down at 200 to 300 kmph with a mass of a few tons depending fuel left & armaments, then that kinetic energy has to be dissipated to make the Aircraft stop within a short distance of travel. This tedious task is done by Arresters.
The event is significant in the fact that it has put India on the world map as a nation with the capability to design a deck landing aircraft.
What has been the story so far?
The naval LCA made its maiden flight in 2012 in April and two prototypes have been flying as part of the development of the facility. The first Naval Prototype (NP)-1 made its successful test flight for the first time from the SBTF in 2014.
Later, in December 2016, the Naval Chief Adm Sunil Lamba pointed out that the present form of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) does not meet the carrier capability which is supposed to be present for use in Navy.
It is to be noted that the Shore Based test Facility (SBTF), which replicates the flight deck of an aircraft carrier is specifically built to train naval pilots in the complex manoeuvres of landing on the short flight deck of an aircraft carrier before they move on to the actual carrier.
INS Hansa, Goa is the only SBTF in the country.
SMALL FINANCE BANK (SFB)
Context: “Draft Guidelines for ‘on tap’ Licensing of Small Finance Banks in Private Sector” has been released by Reserve Bank of India for comments.
Key Highlights of the Guidelines
As per the Guidelines, the Small Finance Banks shall be registered as a public ltd company under the Companies Act, 2013 and will be governed by the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and the RBI Act, 1934.
Further, the Small Finance Banks will be given the status of Scheduled Banks once they commence their operations.
All the existing NBFCs, Micro finance institutions and local area banks in the private sector, which are controlled by residents, can opt for conversion into these small finance banks. Those who are public sector entities and are large industrial house/business groups as well as the autonomous boards/bodies will not be considered as eligible.
NATIONAL PENSION SCHEME FOR TRADERS AND SELF EMPLOYED PERSONS
Context: The voluntary pension scheme, The National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self Employed Persons has been launched by Prime Minister Modi.
About the Scheme
It is a voluntary and contributory pension for the Vyaparis (shopkeepers/retail traders and self-employed persons) with annual turnover not exceeding Rs 1.5 crore.
It is a scheme for entry age of 18 to 40 years with a provision for minimum assured pension of Rs 3,000/- per month on attaining the age of 60 years.
There will be a 50:50 monthly contribution from Central Government and the beneficiary.
The enrollment in the scheme can be done through 3.50 lakh Common Service Center (CSCs) across the country. Also, at the time of enrollment, the beneficiary is required to have an Aadhar card and a saving bank/ Jan-dhan Account passbook only.
The beneficiary should be within 18 to 40 years of age group. GSTIN is required only for those with turnover above Rs. 40 lakhs.
The beneficiary should not be income tax payer and also not a member of EPFO/ESIC/NPS (Govt.)/PM-SYM.
The Scheme will have a target of enrolling 25 lakh subscribers in 2019–20 and 2 crore subscribers by 2023–24. An estimated 3 crore Vyaparis in the country are expected to be benefited under the pension scheme.
INDIA URBAN DATA EXCHANGE (IUDX)
Context: The Government is planning to make a wide range of data — from health, education to finances — of all 4,041 urban local bodies public by 2024 and eventually monetising it.
The Indian Urban Data Exchange set up by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for its Smart Cities would be expanded, eventually leading to a marketplace.
What is IUDX?
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