Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) What is it? Launched in 2018 to provide health insurance coverage to the economically weaker sections of India.  The scheme aims to offer financial protection to around 100 million families (500 million … Continue reading →

Definition – Acid rain is a type of precipitation that contains high levels of sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which are formed when sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) released into the atmosphere from human activities such as burning … Continue reading →

Types of Air Pollutants  Primary Pollutants: Persistent in the form in which they are added to the environment, E.g. DDT etc. Secondary Pollutants: Formed by interaction among the primary pollutants. E.g. Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) is formed by the interaction of … Continue reading →

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Antimicrobial resistance is the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are used to treat infections. Causes: Overuse and misuse of antibiotics … Continue reading →

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) The ASHA program was launched in 2005-06 as part of the National Rural Health Mission, initially in rural areas. The ASHA program was introduced as a key component of the community process intervention and now … Continue reading →

Role of ICT in Development and related Issues Definition: Information and communication technologies (ICT) is defined as a diverse set of technological tools and resources used to transmit, store, create, share, or exchange information. Role of ICT in the Development … Continue reading →

What is it? E-waste refers to discarded electrical and electronic equipment, including household appliances (refrigerators, TVs, washing machines),information technology and communication equipment (computers, laptops, mobile phones), medical equipment, electronic toys. Issues Toxic Materials: E-waste contains hazardous substances like lead, mercury, … Continue reading →

Issues with the Implementation of Government Policies Bureaucratic Delays Government policies often require collaboration between multiple agencies and departments, leading to administrative bottlenecks, red tapism, and delays in implementation. Example: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) (Housing for All) faced delays … Continue reading →

Types High-Level Waste (HLW): Used nuclear fuel rods from reactors. Highly radioactive and generate heat for thousands of years. Requires secure storage and disposal solutions. Intermediate-Level Waste (ILW): Components from reactor operations, like filters and tools. Less radioactive than HLW … Continue reading →

Importance of Multi-Sectoral Participation Definition: Multi-sectoral participation refers to the collaboration and involvement of multiple sectors—such as government, private enterprises, civil society, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and communities—in addressing developmental challenges. Importance Total Approach Multi-sectoral participation ensures that development challenges are … Continue reading →