One of the most recent government decisions to impact India’s economically disadvantaged households is the extension of a Rs. 200 per cylinder subsidy under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). This decision, made by the Central government, affects approximately 9.59 crore beneficiaries with the subsidy directly credited to the accounts of those eligible. The move follows soaring international LPG prices resulting from various geopolitical factors. As a result, the Indian government chose to shield PMUY beneficiaries from these steep prices.
Launched in 2016, PMUY is a significant government scheme focused on providing LPG access to India’s economically weaker households. The primary objective revolves around protecting women and children’s health by ensuring access to clean cooking fuel, specifically LPG.
North Korea’s Radioactive Tsunami: The Haeil Underwater Drone
In recent international news, North Korea announced testing a nuclear-capable underwater drone named “Haeil”. Derived from the Korean word for tidal waves or tsunamis, the name hints at the drone’s destructive purpose. The notion of a radioactive tsunami emerges if a nuclear explosion occurs underwater, a situation this drone is designed to create.
Deployed from the coast or towed by surface ships, Haeil aims to infiltrate operational waters stealthily and generate a “super-scale radioactive tsunami” through an underwater explosion. The intended targets for such an attack include naval strike groups and ports.
DigiClaim: A Digital Leap in Claim Settlement
Transitioning to electronic realms, DigiClaim is a digitized claim settlement module introduced under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). With this new model, claim dispersals are electronic, thus benefiting farmers in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. As of 23 March 2023, insurance claims amounting to Rs 1260.35 crore have been disbursed to insured farmers.
The automated claim settlement process is an ongoing initiative aimed to ease the lives of all insured farmers and provide them with regular financial support. This system streamlines claims by processing them directly to farmers’ bank accounts and promotes transparency and accountability. The technology backing DigiClaim integrates the National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) and the Public Finance Management System (PFMS).
Abel Prize 2023: Honoring Luis Caffarelli’s Work
In the sphere of mathematics, Luis Caffarelli has bagged the Abel Prize 2023 for his significant contributions to the regularity theory for nonlinear partial differential equations. This includes his work on free-boundary problems and the Monge-Ampère equation.
Named after the Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel, the Abel Prize stands as the epitome of recognition for pioneering mathematical achievements. Instituted by the Norwegian Parliament in 2002, the esteemed award is administered by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters on the Norwegian Ministry of Education’s behalf. In addition to a glass plaque, the prize includes a monetary component of 7.5 million kroner (around $720,000).