1) Mission Antyodaya Survey (MAS) 2022-23: The Department of Rural Development has been conducting Mission Antyodaya Survey across all Gram Panchayats in the country since 2017-18 with the purpose of transforming the lives and livelihoods of people on measurable outcomes through the convergence of various schemes. The village-wise survey is expected to be conducted over a period of one month involving Community Resource Persons (CRPs)
- Mission Antyodaya was launched in 2017-18 by Ministry of Rural Development. The main objective of the mission is to bring optimum use of natural resources in rural areas. The purpose is to aid the panchayats in creating their development plan.
2) Formula E: Hyderabad will host the first-ever E-Prix race that will take place on India’s first street circuit. Formula E is an electric equivalent of the widely followed Formula 1 which was staged in India from 2011 to 2013. However, other than the ‘Formula’ prefix, there is no similarity between the two FIA world championship status events.
- It is the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint
3) UPI123Pay: It is a three-step method to initiate and execute services for users which will work on simple phones. It will allow customers to use feature phones for almost all transactions except scan and pay. It doesn’t need an internet connection for transactions. Customers have to link their bank account with feature phones to use this facility.
- UCO bank has launched UPI123 pay IVR based services called UCO Bhim in 10 languages for citizens holding account in any bank.
- Interactive Voice Response (IVR): Users would be required to initiate a secured call from their feature phones to a predetermined IVR number and complete UPI on-boarding formalities to be able to start making financial transactions like money transfer, mobile recharge, EMI repayment, balance check, among others.
4) Digital Payment Se Pragati Ko Gati: An initiative by MeitY, to increase awareness and accelerate the adoption of digital payments in the country. This initiative will empower the end user even in the farthest corner of the country with basic feature phones to check their account balance, send money, recharge their mobile number, book LPG and pay their electricity bill just by calling a given number from their registered mobile number.
5) Article 105 of Constitution: It deals with the powers, and privileges of the Houses of Parliament (collective), its members (individual) and committees. It has the following provisions –
- There shall be freedom of speech in Parliament. MPs are exempted from any legal action for any statement made or act done in the course of their duties in Parliament.
- This immunity extends to certain non-members as well – the Attorney General of India or a Minister who may not be an MP but speaks in the House.
- Instead of the court, the Speaker of the House will deal with instances where a Member goes beyond the bounds of permissible free expression.
- Exception: In accordance with Article 121 of the Indian Constitution, no judge’s conduct may be discussed in Parliament unless it is part of a motion that asks the President to remove the judge. Under these privileges, the members of Parliament are exempted from any civil liability (but not criminal liability) for any statement made or act done in the course of their duties. The privileges are claimed only when the person is a member of the house.
