Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs – March 4, 2023 [Mock Test]
March 21, 2023 March 21, 2023
1. Consider the following statements with respect to the Atal Innovation Mission:
- It is a flagship initiative set up under Ministry of Science and Technology.
- Atal Research and Innovation for Small Enterprises is an initiative under it to promote innovation and research in the school children.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Neither 1 nor 2]
Notes:- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
- It was set up in 2016 under NITI Aayog.
- Major Initiatives:
- Atal Tinkering Labs are creating problem solving mindset across schools in India.
- Atal Incubation Centers aims at fostering world class startups and adding a new dimension to the incubator model.
- Atal New India Challenge aims at fostering product innovations and aligning them to the needs of various sectors/ministries.
- Mentor India Campaign is a national mentor network in collaboration with the public sector, corporates and institutions, to support all the initiatives of the mission.
- Atal Community Innovation Center aims to stimulate community centric innovation and ideas in the unserved/underserved regions of the country including Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
- Atal Research and Innovation for Small Enterprises (ARISE) aims to stimulate innovation and research in the MSME industry.
2. Which of the following agencies is responsible for ensuring the pricing cap on essential medicines?
[A] Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
[B] Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
[C] Cabinet Committee of Parliamentary Affairs
[D] Ministry of Home Affairs
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers]
Notes:- Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, which is responsible for ensuring the pricing cap, has brought 34 new essential medicines (in NLEM) under its pricing regulation.
- While the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare revises the National list of Essential medicines (NLEM), the cap on its pricing is decided by NPPA under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
- The move will help ensure availability at cheaper rates
- The listed drugs are essentially required to be stored in bulk in all the hospitals to ensure their availability.
- The ceiling price is determined by calculating the average price to retailers of all generics and branded generics with a market share of more than 1% and then adding a small retailer margin to it.
- NPPA (under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers) was set up in 1997 under the Drugs (Prices Control) order, 1995, to fix/revise prices of controlled bulk drugs and ensure their availability.
3. With respect to the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana Scheme (PMGKAY), consider the following statements:
- Under it, beneficiaries will get 5 kg wheat and 3 kg rice and 1 kg preferred pulses for free every month per person.
- It does not cover direct benefit transfer beneficiaries.
- Its nodal ministry is Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 3
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [None of the above]
Notes:- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana scheme (PMGKAY) was initially introduced to help the poor fight the battle against Covid-19.
- Under it, 80 crore NFSA (National Food Security Act) beneficiaries will get 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month per person (this is apart from 35kg per month per family under Antyodaya Anna Yojana and 5 Kg per month per person for Priority Households, under National Food Security Act (NFSA))
- PMGKAY covers even Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) beneficiaries
- Its nodal Ministry is the Ministry of Finance
