BHARAT campaign: Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched a new campaign for banks under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund titled BHARAT (Banks Heralding Accelerated Rural & Agriculture Transformation). It is a one-month-long Campaign with a target of Rs 7200 crore. It aims to get active involvement and support of members of commercial Banks in the public and private sector, Regional Rural Banks, Small Finance Banks, NBFCs and select cooperative Banks in promoting the Scheme of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
Agriculture Infrastructure Fund: It is a Central Sector Scheme that was launched in 2020The scheme shall provide a medium – long-term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and financial support. The duration of the Scheme shall be from FY2020 to FY2032 (10 years). All loans under this financing facility will have an interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of Rs. 2 crores. This subvention will be available for a maximum period of seven years. Further, credit guarantee coverage will be available for eligible borrowers from this financing facility under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for a loan up to Rs. 2 crores. The fee for this coverage will be paid by the Government.
In the case of FPOs, the credit guarantee may be availed from the facility created under the FPO promotion scheme of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DACFW). The moratorium for repayment under this financing facility may vary subject to a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 2 years.
Bard Chatbot: It is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot developed by Alphabet, the parent company of Google. It is an example of generative AI that can respond to questions in a human-like way. Users can interact with the Bard chatbot in 40 languages, including nine Indian languages. Users can change the tone and style of Bard’s responses to either simple, long, short, professional or casual. They can pin or rename conversations, export code to more places and use images in prompts.
Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS): It envisages the development of stations on a continuous basis with a long-term vision. Plans and consequent budgets will only be approved on the basis of factors such as footfall and inputs from stakeholders. Zonal railways have been given the responsibility of selecting stations, which will then be approved by a committee of senior railway officials.
Facilities Planned under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: Provision for Roof Plaza to be created in future. Free Wi-Fi, space for 5G mobile towers.Smooth access by widening roads, removal of unwanted structures, properly designed signages, dedicated pedestrian pathways, well-planned parking areas, improved lighting etc. Attempts shall be made to club different grades/types of waiting halls and provide good cafeteria/retail facilities as far as possible. Better furniture will be installed in waiting rooms, platforms, restrooms and offices. High-level platforms(760-840 mill meters) shall be provided at all categories of stations. Special amenities for the disabled as per guidelines issued by the Railway Board from time to time.
