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25/01/2026

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CA-25/01/2026

• Khadi Vikas Yojana (KVY) is a flagship scheme under the Ministry of MSME, implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
• Its primary aim is to boost productivity, wages, and livelihood security of khadi artisans while modernizing infrastructure, promoting marketing, and reviving traditional village industries.
• It acts as an umbrella scheme combining several sub-programs to strengthen khadi institutions and artisans.

• Enhance livelihood security of rural artisans by increasing productivity and wages.
• Improve infrastructure for khadi production and modernize weak institutions.
• Promote marketing and exports of khadi products.
• Revive traditional skills of artisans and expand employment opportunities.
• Support village industries to increase the number of rural entrepreneurs.

Sub-Scheme	Purpose
Modified Market Development Assistance (MMDA)	Provides financial support to artisans and institutions for production and sales.
Interest Subsidy Eligibility Certificate Scheme	Helps artisans access cheaper credit.
Khadi Artisans Workshed Scheme	Improves working conditions by providing better sheds.
Strengthening Infrastructure of Weak Institutions	Revives struggling khadi institutions with financial and technical aid.
Centre of Excellence for Khadi (CoEK)	Focuses on innovation, design, and quality improvement.
Khadi Quality Assurance	Ensures standardization and certification of khadi products.
Marketing Promotion (Exhibitions)	Expands reach through fairs, exhibitions, and campaigns.
Science & Technology (S&T) Scheme	Introduces modern tools and techniques in khadi production.

• Higher wages through productivity-linked incentives.
• Better working environment with upgraded worksheds.
• Access to credit at subsidized interest rates.
• Skill development and training through CoEK.
• Increased market visibility via exhibitions and export promotion.

• Dependence on subsidies may reduce long-term sustainability.
• Modernization vs. tradition: balancing mechanization with Gandhian ideals of hand-spun khadi.
• Market competition from synthetic fabrics and fast fashion.
• Awareness gap: many rural artisans are unaware of available schemes.

• Objective:
  Empower rural women by training them in coir processing and providing them with spinning equipment at subsidized rates.
• Implemented by:
  Coir Board, under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India.
• Target Group:
  Women from coconut-growing regions, particularly those from economically weaker sections.

• Skill Development Training:
  • Women are trained in coir yarn spinning and product-making.
  • Training programs include practical sessions on coir fibre extraction, spinning, and product diversification.
• Stipend Support:
  • ₹1000 per month per trainee during training.
  • For training programs shorter than one month, stipend is given on a pro-rata basis.
• Subsidized Equipment:
  • After training, women receive motorized coir spinning equipment at subsidized rates.
  • This enables them to start self-employment ventures or join coir cooperatives.

• Start small-scale coir units producing mats, ropes, brushes, mattresses, and handicrafts.
• Join coir cooperatives or SHGs (Self-Help Groups) to collectively market products.
• Access government support for market development and export promotion under the broader Coir Vikas Yojana.

• Must be a woman from a coconut-growing state/region.
• Preference given to economically weaker sections and rural households.
• Basic interest in coir spinning and willingness to undergo training.

• Awareness Gap: Many rural women are unaware of the scheme; local NGOs and Panchayats play a key role in mobilization.
• Market Linkages: While training and equipment are provided, sustained income depends on access to buyers and cooperatives.
• Skill Upgradation: Continuous training is needed to diversify products beyond traditional ropes and mats.

Scheme	Focus Area	Beneficiaries	Assistance Provided
Mahila Coir Yojana	Women empowerment, skill training, subsidized spinning equipment	Rural women	Training stipend + subsidized equipment
Coir Udyami Yojana	Setting up coir units	Entrepreneurs (men & women)	Credit-linked subsidy (40% govt., 55% bank loan, 5% beneficiary)
Coir Vikas Yojana	Market development, skill upgradation	Coir workers & entrepreneurs	Training, welfare, trade support

• Location: Vizhinjam, near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• Coordinates: 8°22′21″N 76°59′55″E.
• Ownership: Government of Kerala.
• Operator: Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (VISL) in partnership with Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd (AVPL) under a PPP model.

• Deep-water draft: Naturally 20m+, allowing the world’s largest container ships to dock.
• Size: 450.59 hectares (4.5 km²).
• Type: All-weather, multipurpose, green, deep-draft mega seaport.
• Capacity: Initially designed for 1 million TEUs annually, already surpassed in its first year.

• India’s first transshipment hub: Competes with Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai.
• Reduces logistics costs: Direct docking of motherships avoids reliance on foreign ports.
• Boosts Kerala’s economy: Positions Thiruvananthapuram as a global logistics hub.
• Employment & trade: Expected to generate thousands of jobs and strengthen India’s maritime trade network.

• Environmental concerns: Impact on local fishing communities and coastal ecology.
• Protests & delays: The project faced resistance from fishermen and civil groups during construction.
• Global competition: Needs to consistently attract shipping lines away from Colombo and Singapore.

• Date: 25 January (annual observance).
• Started in: 2011, initiated by the Election Commission of India.
• Reason: To commemorate the establishment of the Election Commission on 25 January 1950.
• Purpose:
  • Encourage citizens, especially first-time voters, to participate in elections.
  • Strengthen democratic values and highlight the importance of voting.
  • Enroll new voters into the electoral rolls.

• Promote voter awareness through campaigns and educational programs.
• Empower youth by highlighting their role in shaping democracy.
• Celebrate democracy by recognizing voting as both a right and responsibility.
• Strengthen inclusivity by making elections accessible to all sections of society.

• Theme: “My India, My Vote – Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy.”
• Events:
  • Awareness drives under SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation).
• Reforms showcased:
  • Faster EPIC delivery (within 15 days).
  • Use of technology like cVIGIL app for reporting violations.
  • 100% webcasting at polling stations for transparency.

• Voting is Voice of the Citizen: It reflects trust in democracy and ensures representation.
• Youth Engagement: Encourages young citizens to register and vote early.
• Global Recognition: India’s electoral system is seen as one of the most transparent worldwide.

• Scientific Name: Paraechinus nudiventris (Bare-bellied Hedgehog)
• Local Name: Mulleli
• First Described: 1851 by Horsfield
• Appearance:
  • Sharp spines on the back for defense
  • Soft white fur on the belly (hence “bare-bellied”)
  • Weighs 130–315 grams
• Behavior:
  • Nocturnal, feeds on insects (can eat up to 40 insects per hour)
  • Rolls into a ball to protect itself from predators like foxes, jackals, and mongooses
• Lifespan: 5–6 years in the wild

• Found in dry scrublands, farmlands, and semi-arid grasslands.
• Endemic to southeastern India, especially Tamil Nadu (Erode, Tirupur, Theri forests), Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka

• IUCN Status: Least Concern (previously Vulnerable).
• Legal Protection: Listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 in India.
• Threats:
  • Habitat destruction due to agriculture and urbanization
  • Poaching for traditional medicine
  • Lack of awareness about its ecological role

• Acts as a natural pest controller by consuming large numbers of insects.
• Indicator species for the health of scrubland ecosystems.
• Helps maintain balance in semi-arid habitats.

• Economic diversification: Moves Tripura beyond traditional crops into high-value global markets.
• Export potential: Agarwood oil is prized in perfumery and pharmaceuticals, fetching premium prices internationally.
• Sustainability angle: Structured cultivation and processing reduce exploitation and ensure long-term resource management.
• Aimed at eliminating middlemen, enhancing branding, and scaling Tripura's agarwood turnover from Rs 100 crore to Rs 2,000 crore annually.

• Origin: Produced when Aquilaria trees (native to South and Southeast Asia) are infected by fungi such as Phaeoacremonium parasitica.
• Process: The tree secretes a dark, aromatic resin as a defense mechanism, transforming its heartwood into dense, fragrant agarwood.
• Names: Known globally as Oud (Arabic), Gaharu (Malay/Indonesian), Agar (India), and Aloeswood.

• India: Found mainly in Tripura, Assam, and Northeast states.
• Other regions: Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Southern China.
• Habitat: Thrives in tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.

• Perfume & Incense: Oud oil is one of the most expensive natural fragrances, widely used in Middle Eastern perfumery.
• Religious Traditions: Burned as incense in Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity.
• Traditional Medicine: Mentioned in Ayurveda (Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita), Unani, and Traditional Chinese Medicine for its calming and therapeutic properties.

• Ancient Texts: Referenced in Sanskrit poetry by Kalidasa (5th century CE) and Islamic literature.
• Trade History: Agarwood has been traded for thousands of years across Asia and the Middle East, often valued higher than gold.

• CITES Status: Agarwood-producing species (Aquilaria) are listed under CITES Appendix II, meaning trade is regulated to prevent overexploitation.
• Threats: Overharvesting, illegal logging, and habitat loss.
• India’s Strategy: Sustainable cultivation, scientific innovation, and community empowerment are being promoted.

• Promote domestic manufacturing of advanced battery cells (lithium-ion and other next-gen chemistries).
• Reduce dependence on imports, especially from China.
• Support EV adoption and renewable energy storage by ensuring local supply of high-quality cells.
• Create 50 GWh of capacity within five years after a two-year gestation period.
• Encourage large-scale investment: minimum ₹1,125 crore per participant.

• Total outlay: ₹18,100 crore.
• Capacity target: 50 GWh by 2026.
• Milestones:
  • Milestone 1 (2 years): ₹225 crore investment per GWh + 25% value addition.
  • Milestone 2 (5 years): 60% value addition.
• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI).

• Delays in visa approvals for foreign technical experts (especially Chinese specialists).
• Technology gaps: lack of access to critical cell chemistries.
• Slow investment realization despite strong initial interest.
• Policy execution hurdles: stringent local manufacturing requirements.

• EV ecosystem risk: India’s ambitious EV adoption goals may face supply chain bottlenecks.
• Energy security concerns: continued reliance on imported cells undermines strategic autonomy.
• Industrial competitiveness: lagging behind global leaders in battery manufacturing.

• Streamline approvals for foreign expertise and technology transfer.
• Strengthen R&D in indigenous chemistries beyond lithium-ion.
• Enhance financial incentives to attract faster investment.
• Public-private collaboration to accelerate gigafactory commissioning.

• PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances): Forever Chemicals also called PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) large group of man-made chemicals with strong carbon-fluorine bonds, making them extremely resistant to heat, water, and oil.
• Persistence: They don’t break down easily in the environment or the human body, hence the nickname “forever chemicals.”
• History: First developed in the late 1930s; Teflon (non-stick coating) was one of the earliest uses.

• Consumer Products: Non-stick cookware, waterproof fabrics, carpets, cosmetics, shampoos, wall paints, and mobile phone screens.
• Industrial Uses: Firefighting foam, electrical insulation, adhesives, and food packaging.
• Daily Exposure: They can leach into soil, water, and food, eventually entering the human body.

• Cancer: Linked to kidney and testicular cancers.
• Liver Toxicity: Can impair liver function.
• Reproductive Issues: Associated with reduced fertility and developmental problems.
• Immune System Effects: May weaken immune response and reduce vaccine effectiveness.

• Water Contamination: PFAS are found in drinking water supplies worldwide.
• Bioaccumulation: They build up in fish, wildlife, and humans.
• Soil Movement: PFAS migrate through soil, contaminating groundwater.

• Genus Size: ~350 species
• Native Regions: Tropical Asia, Madagascar; some extend into temperate Asia
• Flowers: Hooded, two-lipped, often blue, purple, pink, or white
• Growth Habit: Shrubs or herbs, mostly frost-tender

• Strobilanthes kunthiana (Neelakurinji):
  • Found in Kerala and Tamil Nadu’s Western Ghats.
  • Famous for its 12-year blooming cycle, carpeting hillsides with violet-blue flowers.
• Strobilanthes cusia (Chinese rain bell):
  • Traditionally used in Chinese medicine and as a natural dye source.
• Strobilanthes dyeriana (Persian shield):
  • Popular ornamental plant with metallic purple foliage, often grown indoors.

• Light: Prefers bright, indirect sunlight.
• Soil: Well-draining, fertile soil.
• Watering: Keep soil moist but not waterlogged.
• Temperature: Thrives in warm, humid climates; frost-sensitive.
• Propagation: Commonly through cuttings.

• Frost Sensitivity: Most species cannot tolerate cold climates.
• Invasive Potential: Some species may spread aggressively if not managed.
• Tourism Pressure: Neelakurinji bloom events often lead to overcrowding and ecological stress in the Western Ghats.

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