1) Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED):
- Genesis: Established in 1987 under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984.
- About: National-level cooperative body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
- Scheme: PM Van Dhan Yojana
- Objective: Socio-economic development of tribal people in the country by way of marketing development of tribal products.
- Function: institutionalizing the trade of Minor Forest Produce and surplus Agricultural Produce (SAP) collected/ cultivated by tribals.
2) Asian Development Bank (ADB): ADB has approved a $400 million policy-based loan to India for Sustainable Urban Development and Service Delivery Program which aims to improve access to basic urban services in India.
- Genesis: Established in 1966 after a resolution was passed at first Ministerial Conference on Asian Economic Cooperation held by UN Economic Commission for Asia and Far East in 1963.
- About: It envisions a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in region.
- Members: 68 members (49 are from within Asia and Pacific). India is a member.
- Other Key Information:
- ADB’s highest policy-making body is Board of Governors.
- ADB’s five largest shareholders are Japan, United States, People’s Republic of China, India, and Australia.
3) Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (VCDR): New Zealand criticized India’s demand for 41 Canadian diplomats to leave referring to VCDR.
- The Convention was signed in 1961 and currently has 193 parties to it.
- India ratified the convention in 1965.
- Aim: to ensure the ‘development of friendly relations among nations’.
- It puts forth a framework for diplomatic interactions between nations.
- Key provisions:
- It specifies the functions of diplomatic missions.
- Lists Special rules on immunities and privileges accorded to diplomats and their missions.
- Guarantees free communication between a mission and its sending State
4) Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana-Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (PMKSY-AIBP): Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the inclusion of Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project of Uttarakhand under PMKSYAIBP.
- It envisages construction of a dam across river Gaula (tributary of river Ramganga).
- PMKSY, launched in 2015-16, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Objective: To expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency, etc.
- PMKSY Components
- AIBP component (Ministry of Jal Shakti) provides central assistance to major/ medium irrigation projects.
- Har Khet ko Pani (Ministry of Jal Shakti).
- Per Drop More Crop (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare).
- Integrated Watershed Management Programme (Ministry of Rural Development).
Places in News:
1) Iceland (Capital: Reykjavík)
- Prime Minister of Iceland joined the women on strike over equal pay.
- Political Boundaries
- Island country in North Atlantic Ocean located between Greenland and Norway.
- Iceland is a member of NATO.
- Its coastline meets Greenland Sea (north), Norwegian Sea (east), Atlantic Ocean (south and west), and Denmark Strait (separates it from Greenland on northwest).
- Geographical features
- Highest point: Hvannadals Peak.
- Longest River: The Þjórsá River.
- Climate: Affected by confluence of two ocean currents i.e. Gulf Stream from near Equator, and East Greenland Current.
