SVAMITVA Scheme

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute over 65 lakh property cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme on 18th January via video conferencing.

About SVAMITVA Scheme

• SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas.
• It  is  a Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj 
• Launch Date: April 24, 2020 (National Panchayati Raj Day)
• Objectives of the Scheme
  • Boost economic development in rural areas by providing property owners with ‘Record of Rights’ for their houses in inhabited areas.
    • It utilizes drone technology for accurate land surveying.
  • Facilitate monetization of properties for institutional credit through bank loans.
  • Reduce property-related disputes.
  • Enable better property assessment and collection of property tax in rural areas.
  • Support village-level planning through improved records.
  • Progress of the Scheme
    • Drone surveys have been completed in over 3.17 lakh villages, covering 92% of the target.
    • 2.25 crore property cards have been prepared for over 1.53 lakh villages.
      • Surveys are completed in major states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and several Union Territories.

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Third launch pad

Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a third launch pad at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh India’s only spaceport.

What is a launch pad?

• A launch pad is a specially designed platform used to support and launch rockets or spacecraft into space.
• Importance of the Third Launch Pad
  • Supports Next-Generation Launch Vehicles (NGLVs):
    • Essential for launching heavier and advanced rockets.
    • Facilitates future missions like:
      • Bharatiya Antariksh Station (India’s space station).
      • Indian Crewed Lunar Landing within the next 15 years.
  • Enhances India’s Space Capabilities:
    • Expands India’s capacity to plan and execute ambitious space missions and Adds to the existing launch infrastructure:
      • First Launch Pad (FLP): Supports Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (rocket that Launches satellites into orbit) and Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)
      • Second Launch Pad (SLP): Supports Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)
        • And Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)
  • Boosts Start-Up Ecosystem:
    • Provides infrastructure to support the growing Indian space sector.
    • Encourages innovation and entrepreneurship in space technology.

Strategic Importance of Sriharikota

• Proximity to the Equator : Geographic Advantage: Sriharikota’s location near the equator (13°N latitude) helps rockets gain an extra boost from the Earth’s rotational speed, reducing fuel requirements.
• Existing Facilities: The site already has two operational launch pads and robust infrastructure, making it cost-efficient to add a third launch pad.

Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Program (FTI-TTP)

Context: The Union Home Minister is launching the Fast Track Immigration—Trusted Traveller Program (FTI-TTP) as part of the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, enhancing immigration facilities at major Indian airports.

About FTI-TTP

• Objective: To provide world-class immigration facilities ensuring safe and seamless travel for international travellers.
• Initial Launch: Introduced on June 22, 2024, at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), New Delhi, free of cost for Indian citizens and OCI cardholders.
• Phase-I Implementation:
  • Rolled out in 2025 at 21 major airports nationwide.
  • Airports included in the first phase: Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Cochin.

Significance of FTI-TTP

• Enhances the travel experience by streamlining immigration processes.
• A milestone towards achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat@2047.

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Archipelago Cabo Verde

Context: The World Bank in its recently released report, The Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) estimates that Cabo Verde will need to invest $140 million per year till 2030, to address its climate and development challenges. 

About Cabo Verde

• Cabo Verde is named after the westernmost cape of Africa, Cape Verde which is located in nearby Senegal and is the nearest point on the continent.
• Location: The Republic of Cabo Verde, is an island country and archipelagic state of West Africa located in the central Atlantic Ocean.
• Archipelago: It is a group of ten volcanic islands with a combined land area of about 4,033 square kilometres
• Official Language: Portuguese.
• Capital City: Praia on the Santiago Island

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