Read Current Affairs
- Why in News?
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar is emerging as both a mass outreach and a rallying point for Opposition unity.
- Key Provisions:-
- Spanning 1,300 km over 16 days across 20 districts, it will culminate in Patna on September 1. Leaders including Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, and CPI-ML’s Dipankar Bhattacharya have joined the campaign, accusing the BJP of influencing the Election Commission of India (ECI). Allegations of “vote theft” dominate speeches, with the Opposition citing loopholes in Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Gandhi claims the deletions—around 65 lakh names—disproportionately target marginalised groups inclined to back non-BJP parties. The ECI’s defence, and its late acceptance of Aadhaar as proof of identity after a Supreme Court order, have not quelled distrust. Combined with perceived misuse of central agencies, the issue has shifted political discourse from governance to questioning electoral integrity—a troubling sign for Indian democracy.
- Why in News?
- Heavy monsoon rains have unleashed destruction across North India, isolating districts in Himachal Pradesh and claiming over 40 lives in Jammu and Kashmir, where rivers crossed flood marks in Srinagar and Anantnag. Punjab’s villages lie submerged, farmland lost, and Delhi faces a swelling Yamuna.
- Key Provisions:-
- August rainfall has come in intense bursts, overwhelming Himalayan slopes, flooding plains, and submerging low-lying areas—signs of the monsoon’s growing volatility. Beyond immediate damage, such downpours destabilise slopes, increase erosion, and threaten distant settlements. Yet, disaster preparedness remains reactive. In Himalayan States, deforestation and unsafe road-widening continue despite warnings, shrinking catchment capacity and heightening flood risks. Early-warning systems and evacuation protocols are still inadequate, and compensatory measures rarely replace what is lost. Without sustained investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, landslide mitigation, and community preparedness, each monsoon will trigger another cycle of loss. India must shift from celebrating post-disaster resilience to proactively reducing vulnerabilities.
- Why in News?
- The PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme has been extended from December 31, 2024, to March 31, 2030, targeting 1.15 crore beneficiaries, including 50 lakh new entrants.
- Key Enhancements
- Higher Loan Limits: First tranche increased to ₹15,000 (from ₹10,000), second tranche to ₹25,000 (from ₹20,000), while the third remains ₹50,000.
- UPI-linked RuPay Credit Card: Available after repayment of the second loan, enabling quick access to emergency credit.
- Digital Cashback: Up to ₹1,600 for UPI retail/wholesale transactions.
- Capacity Building: Financial literacy, entrepreneurship, digital skills, marketing support, and hygiene & safety training in partnership with FSSAI.
- A Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, PM SVANidhi provides working capital loans to urban street vendors and hawkers operating on or before March 24, 2020. It promotes financial inclusion, digital payments, and formal recognition for vendors, implemented with the Department of Financial Services through banks and financial institutions.