9th FEBRUARY 2024 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS

9th FEBRUARY 2024 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS

Announcement of Bharat Ratna award to former Prime Ministers Saransingh, Narasimha Rao, Tamil Nadu agronomist MS Swaminathan

• Padma Awards are given annually to achievers in each field. Bharat Ratna, the highest honor in the country, has been announced for former Prime Ministers Saransingh, Narasimha Rao and agronomist MS Swaminathan from Tamil Nadu.
• Known as the father of green revolution, agronomist M.S. As Swaminathan passed away last year, the Bharat Ratna Award has been announced for him.

The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund

• Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the extension of Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund for another 3 years till 2025-26.
• To address the infrastructural needs of the fisheries sector, the Central Government created the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) in 2018-19 with a total fund size of Rs.7522.48 crore. 
• During the period 2018-19 to 2022-23, a total of 121 fisheries infrastructure projects with an investment of Rs.5588.63 crore have been approved for development of various fisheries infrastructure facilities. 
• Fishing Harbours, Fish Landing Platforms, Ice Factories, Cold Storage, Integrated Cold Chains, Modern Fish Stores, Cine Fish Banks, Hatcheries, Aquaculture Development, Aquaculture Farms, Advanced Aquaculture Training Centres, Fish Processing Units, Fish Feed Factories, Reservoirs This notification will help in developing infrastructure facilities like cage culture, deep sea fishing boats, diagnostic laboratories, etc.
• Concessional funds are available to eligible institutions including State Governments / Union Territories for development of fisheries infrastructure identified by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and all Public Sector Banks, FID, F will continue to provide. 
• For projects of entrepreneurs, individual farmers and cooperatives, the Central Government provides loan guarantee facility from the existing loan guarantee fund under Infrastructure Development Fund of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Sector.

Union Cabinet approves Prime Minister's Matsya Kisan Samriti Sa scheme

• In a Union Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Union Government's sub-scheme "Prime Minister's Fisheries" under the Prime Minister's Matsya Sampada Scheme to regularize fisheries sector and support fisheries micro and small enterprises for the next four years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 in all states/UTs. Kisan Samriti Sa” project was approved.
• This sub-project will be implemented as a central departmental sub-project at an estimated cost of Rs.6,000 crore. Of this, 50 per cent i.e. Rs 3,000 crore will be public funds including the World Bank and AFD Fund and the remaining 50 per cent i.e Rs 3,000 crore will be expected investment from the beneficiaries / private sector. It will be implemented for 4 (four) years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 in all States and Union Territories.

Union Cabinet approves 6 projects in Indian Railways to reduce carbon emissions

• The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved 6 projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total cost of Rs.12,343 crore (approx.) with 100 percent funding from the Central Government. Multiple monitoring programs will facilitate operations and reduce congestion. 
• It will provide much needed infrastructural development in the busiest sections of Indian Railways. These projects are in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's vision of New India. This will make the people in the region "self-sufficient" which will increase their employment / self-employment opportunities.
• The 6 projects covering 18 districts in 6 states of Rajasthan, Assam, Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Nagaland will increase the existing infrastructure of Indian Railways by 1020 km.
• These projects are a result of the Prime Minister's Rapid Power National Plan. These are made possible through integrated planning. These are essential routes for transportation of food grains, foodstuffs, fertilisers, coal, cement, iron, steel, ash, clinker, limestone, cargo etc. The capacity expansion works will result in additional freight traffic of 87 million tonnes per annum.

MoU between Warehouse Development Regulatory Authority and Punjab & Sind Bank to provide low interest loans to farmers

• The Warehouse Development Regulatory Authority has signed an MoU with Punjab & Sind Bank to facilitate loans to farmers and traders at low interest rates.
• On 05.02.2024 Mr. TK Manoj Kumar, Chairman, Warehousing Authority, Mr. Swaroop Kumar Saha, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Punjab & Sind Bank exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding at the Head Office of Punjab & Sind Bank. Executive Directors of Punjab & Sind Bank Dr. Ram Jas Yadav, Mr. Ravi Mehra, Deputy Director of Warehousing Authority, Mr. Naveen Barolia, Assistant Director, Mr. Sai Pradeep Gopishetti and others participated in this event.
• The MoU was signed with an aim to promote awareness of fundraising against electronic convertible warehouse receipts. The MoU aims to provide information on the benefits to depositors, besides taking steps to promote agricultural bond financing in India.
• Punjab & Sind Bank offers loans against Electronic Convertible Warehouse Receipts with no collateral and attractive interest rate. Loans up to Rs.75 lakhs in agriculture sector and up to Rs.5 crores for other sectors.