PIB Summary- 22th July, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Heat Index

Why in News?
Recently, the Union Minister of Earth Sciences informed that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has launched the Heat Index on experimental basis.

Heat Index

• The Heat Index is a measure that combines temperature and humidity to provide a “feel like” temperature for human beings.
• It indicates the impact of humidity on high temperatures, helping people understand the level of discomfort they might experience due to heat.

Color Codes for Experimental Heat Index
The Experimental Heat Index uses color codes to represent different ranges of “feel like” temperatures:

• Green: Experimental Heat Index below 35°C
• Yellow: Experimental Heat Index between 36°C and 45°C
• Orange: Experimental Heat Index between 46°C and 55°C
• Red: Experimental Heat Index above 55°C

Importance and Implementation

• The Heat Index is a valuable tool that guides people on taking additional precautions to reduce discomfort during hot weather.
• It is currently being implemented on an experimental basis throughout India, including the State of Andhra Pradesh.
• The heat index equation used by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is similar to the one used by the National Weather Service in the USA.

Key Facts about IMD

• The India Meteorological Department is the primary agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology in India.
• It operates numerous observation stations across India and Antarctica.
• The IMD has regional offices in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Nagpur, Guwahati, and New Delhi.
• One of its critical responsibilities is forecasting, naming, and issuing warnings for tropical cyclones in the Northern Indian Ocean region, including the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and surrounding areas.
• The IMD operates under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, overseeing weather-related services and research in the country.

Credit Guarantee Scheme

Why in News?
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying (DAHD) has introduced the ‘Credit Guarantee Scheme’ under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) to support the Livestock sector’s Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Credit Guarantee Scheme for Livestock Sector

• The Credit Guarantee Scheme aims to strengthen the credit delivery system and provide easy access to finance for entrepreneurs in the Livestock sector.
• It encourages lenders to focus on project viability and offer credit facilities based on the primary security of the assets being financed.
• The scheme promotes investments in various areas of the livestock sector, such as dairy and meat processing, animal feed plants, breed improvement technology, waste management, and veterinary vaccine and drug manufacturing facilities.

Funding and Key Features

• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has established a credit guarantee fund trust of Rs 750 crore.
• This fund will cover up to 25% of credit facilities extended to eligible Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by lending institutions.
• The trust, formed in partnership with NAB Sanrakshan Trustee Company Private Ltd (a subsidiary of NABARD), ensures credit guarantee for MSMEs under the AHIDF scheme.
• Key features of the scheme include:
  • Interest subvention of three percent.
  • Loan of up to 90% of the total project cost from any Scheduled Bank or National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

Eligibility

• The scheme targets underserved sections of society, including first-generation entrepreneurs and underprivileged individuals.
• These entrepreneurs often lack collateral security for their ventures, making it challenging for them to access traditional credit facilities.