PIB Summary- 3rd September, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Project NAMAN

Context

Recently, the Indian Army launched the first phase of Project NAMAN, in presence of General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff along with Mrs Sunita Dwivedi, President Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA).

About Project Naman

• Objective: Project Naman aims to establish facilitation and grievance redressal centers to assist veterans and the families of personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
• Location: The inaugural center will be set up in Delhi Cantonment.
• Services: ‘Naman’ will host a Common Service Center, providing access to various government-to-customer services. Additionally, it will support the updating of pensioner accounts on the SPARSH portal for veterans, next of kin, and dependents.

SPARSH Portal (System for Pension-related Information & Services Handled Electronically):

• Implemented by: The Ministry of Defence is responsible for implementing the SPARSH portal.
• Purpose: The portal serves the pension sanction and disbursement requirements for the Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Defence Civilians.
• Transparency: SPARSH offers transparency to defence pensioners by maintaining a comprehensive record of their pension accounts, encompassing all events and entitlements from the pension’s initiation to its cessation upon the last eligible beneficiary.
• Administration: The Defence Accounts Department, under the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), manages this system.
• Functionalities: SPARSH covers various pension-related activities, including initiation and sanction, disbursement, revision, and managing service and grievance requests.

World Coconut Day

Context

World Coconut Day (WCD), observed annually on September 2nd, emphasizes the importance of coconuts in our lives and promotes sustainable farming practices.  

World Coconut Day Highlights:

• Purpose: Celebrated to increase awareness about the multiple uses of coconuts and promote their consumption globally.
• Theme for 2024: “Coconut for a Circular Economy: Building Partnership for Maximum Value.”
• History and Organization:
  • Initiated in 2009 by the International Coconut Community, affiliated with UNESCAP.
  • The day commemorates the establishment of the ICC on September 2, 1969, with India as a founding nation.
• Location of ICC: Headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia; previously known as the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community until 2018.
• Health Benefits:
  • Enhances cardiovascular health and red blood cell production.
  • Aids in managing diabetes and provides antioxidant benefits.
  • Supports skin health, digestion, hydration, and general well-being through its rich nutrient composition.
• Coconut Development Board (CDB) in India:
  • A statutory entity under the Ministry of Agriculture tasked with advancing coconut cultivation and industry through heightened productivity and diversified products.
• Production in India:
  • Major producing states: Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
  • Total production for the fiscal year 2022-23 stood at approximately 20,535.88 million nuts.