PIB Summary- 28th August, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

PMJDY – Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

Context
PMJDY – completes eight years of successful implementation.

Details

• Financial inclusion is the delivery of appropriate financial services at an affordable cost to the marginalised and socio-economic weak sections of the society, who do not have the access to the basic banking services. PMJDY is one of the biggest financial inclusion initiatives in the world.

It was launched on 28th August 2014 by PM, Shri Narendra Modi.

• On the occasion of the 8th anniversary of PMJDY, Union Finance Minister- Smt Nirmala Sitharaman said that financial inclusion is a step towards inclusive growth which ensures the overall economic development of the marginalised sections of the society. There are over 46 cr bank accounts with a deposit balance of Rs. 1.74 lakh crore with its expanded coverage to 67% rural or semi-urban areas, 56 % of the Jan Dhan account holders are women. After 2018, there was a shift from “every household” to “every adult”, with added emphasis on usage of accounts by enhancing DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) flows through these accounts, promoting digital payments through the use of RuPay cards etc. 
• The main features of PMJDY are – banking the unbanked, securing the unsecured, funding the unfunded, serving the unserved and underserved.
• The digital pipeline based on the Jan Dhan, Aadhar and Mobile (JAM) mechanism provides the necessary backbone for the flow of the DBT, under various government welfare schemes to the eligible beneficiaries. 
•  PMJDY has become the foundation stone for the government’s people-centric economic initiatives. Whether it is direct benefit transfers, COVID-19 financial assistance, PM-KISAN, increased wages under MGNREGA, life and health insurance cover.

Pan India Coastal Clean-Up Campaign

Context 
75 day long coastal clean-up campaign.

Details

• The 75 day long coastal campaign was launched on 5th July, 2022 and will conclude on 17th September “International Coastal Clean-up Day”.
• The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh stated that there has been an overwhelming response to the ongoing pan – India Campaign  from the film celebrities, students, public figures and people from all walks of life. The minister also launched a website to boost the Coastal Cleaning Mission – Coastal Cleanup | Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar !.
• The campaign Logo-Vasuki dedicated to the youth of the country, was also launched by the minister as they, along with the school students, take keen interest and join the coastal and beach cleaning activities.
• The minister also said that the campaign has been designed on the model of “whole of government” approach; many ministers and MPs have pledged full support to the first-of-its-kind and longest running coastal clean-up campaign in the world.
• The minister reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a lead in the cleanliness campaign and has motivated the entire nation to keep the 7500 Kilometres long coastal line of India clean, safe and healthy for mankind. He also added that this year’s event also coincides with the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in the 75th year of the country’s independence.

Vajra Prahar, 2022

Context
Vajra – Prahar – a Joint Exercise of Indo-US special forces culminates at Bakhoh, Himachal Pradesh.

Details

• Vajra Prahar is an annual exercise hosted alternately between India and the US. Its 12th edition was conducted at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington (USA), October 2021.
• It was a 21 day long joint training programme. It provides an opportunity for the special forces from  both nations to train in Airborne operations, special operations and counterterrorism operations in a joint environment under the United Nations Charter.
• The exercise, Vajra Prahar, was conducted in two phases- the first phase involved combat conditioning and tactical level special training exercises and its second phase included 48 hours of validation of training received by both the contingents in the first phase.
• This exercise has helped in strengthening the bond of friendship between the special forces of both the nations and has also improved bilateral defence cooperation between India and the USA.

Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Details

• On the auspicious occasion of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Shri Narendra Modi extended his greetings to everyone, especially the Sikh Community. He said that the holy teachings of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji gives strength to millions of people and makes one’s society more just, inclusive and compassionate.
• Guru Granth Sahib Parkash Utsav commemorates the very first prakash, which means the opening ceremony of the Guru Granth Sahib at the Golden Temple (Amritsar) in 1604.
• The scripture of the Sikh is known as the Guru Granth Sahib, and it reveals the words spoken by Sikh Gurus and many other saints. The words of the Scripture are known as Gurbani which means ‘from the Guru’s mouth.