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Daily Current Affairs for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, BPSC, MPPSC, RPSC and All State PCS Examinations

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NISHTHA Programme

Why in NEWS ?

• The first on-line NISHTHA programme for 1200 Key Resources Persons of Andhra Pradesh was launched by Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriya 'Nishank' and Minister of State for HRD Shri Sanjay Dhotre virtually in New Delhi on 16th July,2020.

About

• Around 23,000 Key Resource Persons and 17.5 lakh teachers and school heads have been trained under this NISHTHA face to face mode till date.
• For training the remaining 24 lakh teachers and school heads, NISHTHA has been customized for online mode.

What is NISHTHA ?

• It is a National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement at the elementary stage under Samagra Shiksha -a flagship programme of MHRD to improve learning outcomes.
• It is the world’s largest teachers’ training programme.
• Its objective is to motivate and equip teachers to encourage and foster critical thinking in students.
• Teachers will develop their skills on various aspects related to Learning Outcomes, School Safety and Security, ICT in teaching-learning including Artificial Intelligence, Environmental Concerns and School Based Assessment in a joyful learning manner.
• Aims to build the capacities of around 42 lakh participants covering all teachers and Heads of Schools at the elementary level in all Government schools, faculty members of SCERTs, DIETs as well as Block Resource Coordinators and Cluster Resource Coordinators in all States/UTs.
• NISHTHA’s face-to-face mode was launched on 21st August, 2019. Thereafter, 33 states/UTs have launched this programme in their states/UTs in collaboration under Samagra Shiksha, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund

Why in NEWS ?

• Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Giriraj Singh launched the Implementation Guidelines for Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund(AHIDF).

What is Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) ?

• AHIDF is part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan stimulus package and Rs. 15,000 crores was approved by the Union Cabinet on 24.06.2020 for ensuring growth in several sectors.
• AHIDF will facilitate incentivization of investments in establishment of infrastructure for dairy and meat processing and value addition, and establishment of animal feed plants in the private sector.

Beneficiaries, Funding and Time duration

• The eligible beneficiaries under the Scheme would be Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), MSMEs, Section 8 Companies, Private Companies and individual entrepreneurs with minimum 10% margin money contribution by them. The balance 90% would be the loan component to be made available by scheduled banks.
• Government of India will provide 3% interest subvention to eligible beneficiaries. There will be 2 years moratorium period for principal loan amount and 6 years repayment period thereafter.
• Government of India would also set up Credit Guarantee Fund of Rs. 750 crore to be managed by NABARD.

Major Goals and Significance of AHIDF

• India is producing milk of 188 million tonnes and by 2024 the milk production is expected to rise up to 330 million tons. Only 20-25% milk is coming under processing sector and Government is trying to bring the same upto 40%.
• AHIDF is a first type of scheme for infrastructure development in cooperative or private sector.
• This will also increase export of dairy products which is presently negligible. India needs to go up to the standards of countries like New Zealand in the Dairy sector.