The government is likely to give an extension to Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) by another three months.

The decision will be taken up in the cabinet meeting on Sep 28 . The scheme, launched in March 2020, will expire this month. Under the scheme, 5 kgs of foodgrains are provided to the poor for free of cost.

The scheme was launched when Covid pandemic had hit the country in 2020, impacting many poor people. The Centre extended the scheme many times and last time it was again extended for six months till September 30.

So far, more than 80 crore beneficiaries have been provided food grains under the scheme since it was launched. The government has spent nearly `3.4 lakh crore on this scheme. The centre provides free food grains over and above the normal quota given under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) at a highly subsidised rate of Rs 2-3 per kg. 

In a bid to check black-marketing and phone thefts in the country, the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) on  sep 27 has mandated mobile phone manufacturers to register IMEI number of every handset manufactured in India with the Indian Counterfeited Device Restriction (ICDR).

Mobile makers will have to register on the portal starting January 1, 2023. IMEI, which stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a unique number to identify GSM, WCDMA, and iDEN mobile phones, as well as satellite phones. Every phone has an IMEI number, which makes it easier to track the phone in theft situations.

The mobile makers will have to register with the international mobile equipment identity number of the mobile phones imported in India for sale, testing, research or any other purpose.  For the mobile industry, black-marketing, fake IMEI numbers, phone thefts and phone tampering are some of the major concerns.

With this move, the government believes it will check theft or black-marketing cases in the country. The government introduced the Indian Counterfeited Device Restriction in 2021 for issue of IMEI certificates for import of mobile devices through various customs ports.

The government has again extended the last date for export of broken rice in transit by 15 days till October 15.

It banned export of broken rice on September 8 but allowed shipments of certain consignments during September 9-15.

On September 20, the date was extended till September 30.

India and the Netherlands have formulated a mechanism for faster resolution of investment cases of Dutch companies operating here in the country.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Embassy of the Netherlands have signed a joint statement to formalise the bilateral Fast Track Mechanism (FTM).

Invest India, the national investment promotion and facilitation agency, is the executing body of the FTM.

It will strengthen and assist bilateral efforts to increase mutual investment activities, as well as support and develop business cooperation between companies in both countries.

Diplomatic relations between India and the Netherlands were formally established in 1947.

According to government data, the Netherlands is the fourth largest foreign direct investor in India.

Between April 2000 and June 2022, the cumulative flow of foreign direct investment from the Netherlands to India reached USD 42.3 billion.

In 2021-22, bilateral trade between the countries amounted to USD 17 billion.

India's exports to the Netherlands consist mainly of mineral fuels and mineral-based products, organic chemicals, electrical machinery and equipment, aluminium, iron and steel and pharmaceutical products.

England and Wales Cricket Board has informally offered to be the hosts if India and Pakistan plan to play a bilateral Test series but BCCI sources said chances of that happening in near future is "next to nil".

The UK daily 'Telegraph' reported that "Martin Darlow, the deputy chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has held talks with the Pakistan Cricket Board during the current Twenty20 series and offered England's grounds as venues for ideally a three-match Test series in future."

While the ECB has made the offer for its own commercial gains, the powers that be in the BCCI laughed off the suggestions and said that no such possibilities might arise at least in next few years.

India and Pakistan last played a short bilateral white-ball series back in 2012 in India and the last Test series dates back to 2007.

Q1. Who amng the following has  surpassed Rahul Dravid to become the second highest run-scorer for India in international cricket ?

1. Rohit Sharma
2. Virat Kohli
3. Cheteshwar Pujara
4. KL Rahul
5. None of These

Q2. Which of the following award has been conferred by  India to the Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2021 ?

1. Bharat Ratna
2. Padma Vibhushan
3. Padma Bhushan
4. Padma Shri
5.  None of These

Q3.  The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on  Sep 25 in his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ said people are coming forward and are adopting one TB patient or the other  under the ‘Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ and hoped that the “power of public participation” will free India from TB by

1. 2023
2. 2024
3. 2025
4. 2026
5. None of These

Q4. The Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said that the  Centre aims to deliver 10 lakh Ayushman Bharat cards daily to poor and vulnerable families under the ambitious

1. Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana
2. PM Ramban Suraksha Yojana
3. PM Digital Health Mission 2022
4. Pradhanmantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana
5. None of These

Q5. Which of the following organization has been banned by the Central govt on Sep 28 for alleged involvement in anti-national activities ?

1. Peoples  Front of India
2. Popular Front of India
3. Progressive  Front of India
4. Patriotic Front of India
5. None of These

Answers

1-------------------------------------2  Virat Kohli

2-------------------------------------  2  Padma Vibhushan

3------------------------------------------- 3 2025

4--------------------------------------------- 1  Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana

5--------------------------------------------- 2 Popular Front of India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay tributes to Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe at his state funeral in Tokyo on Sep 27 . Modi will also have a personal meeting with Abe’s wife, Akie Abe, to offer his condolences. Modi, during his 12-hour stay in Tokyo, will also meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Modi considered Abe a friend and a champion of India-Japan relationship. The two had also developed a personal bond through their various meetings. Abe was conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 2021. US Vice President Kamala Harris is also in Tokyo and has had a meeting with Kishida. However, there is no bilateral meeting lined up between Modi and Harris. Modi had earlier visited Japan for the Quad leaders’ summit in May, when he also held a bilateral meet with Kishida. The Japan PM also came to India for the India-Japan Summit in March this year.

Based on the inputs from intelligence agencies, the ministry of information and broadcasting has directed YouTube to block 45 videos uploaded on 10 channels on the digital platform. They were accused of spreading fake news to create animosity among religious communities.

The ministry’s orders to block the content were issued on  Sep 23 under the provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021

Earlier, the ministry ordered the blocking of over 100 YouTube channels and other digital platforms since December. Majority of them were being operated from Pakistan

Intel reports prompt move

Union I&B Minister Anurag Thakur, following the inputs and recommendations from the intelligence and security agencies, blocked the errant handles and digital platforms