Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) Scheme

Context: Ruby Fresh Snacks in Kerala exemplifies how the PM FME Scheme supports micro food entrepreneurs. Government-backed loans enabled the unit to double production.

Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) Scheme

• Launch: 29 June 2020
• Ministry: Ministry of Food Processing Industries
• Duration: FY 2020-21 to FY 2025-26
• Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)
• Aim: Formalise and support micro food processing units across India. Make units competitive and bring them into the organised sector and support Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan and Vocal for Local initiatives.
• Financial Outlay: ₹10,000 crores
• Funding Pattern:
• • General States: 60:40 (Centre: State)
  • North Eastern & Himalayan States: 90:10
  • Union Territories with Legislature: 60:40
  • Other UTs: 100% by Centre

Key Features of the Scheme

• Credit-Linked Subsidies: Support for 2 lakh micro food processing units for setting up new units or upgrading existing ones
• Common Infrastructure: Establishment of mega food parks, agro-processing clusters, cold chains, and processing units
• Institutional Support: Technical, financial, and business assistance to entrepreneurs

Big Four Snakes in India

Context: A recent study has found that the ‘Big Four’ venomous snakes are likely to shift their habitats northwards and northeastwards due to climate change.

Key Findings of the Study

• Medical Significance: The Big Four snakes are responsible for over 90% of snakebite fatalities in India. Snakebite is classified as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) in the country.
• India’s Global Burden: India accounts for nearly half of all global snakebite deaths, highlighting the public health challenge.

Impact of Climate Change on Habitats

• Southern Regions: Expected decline in suitable habitats, particularly in Karnataka (currently key habitat for saw-scaled viper).
• Northern & Northeastern Regions: Predicted expansion of suitable habitats in states such as Haryana, Rajasthan, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Northeastern States: Some may experience a >100% increase in habitat suitability due to shifting climate conditions.

The ‘Big Four’ Indian Snakes

• Indian Cobra (Naja naja): Venomous, black or brown with a distinctive hood.
  Oviparous, builds nests for eggs. Distributed across India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal.
• Russell’s Viper (Daboia russelii): Large, thick-bodied snake with keeled scales. Found across South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia.
• Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus): Glossy black or bluish-black with white bands. Distributed across South Asia.
• Indian Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus): Small, stout-bodied with a saw-like ridge on its back. Found in India and neighboring South Asian countries.

Global Peace Index 2025

Context:  The Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025 ranked Iceland as the most peaceful country, while India stood at 115th out of 163 nations, reflecting a modest improvement in its peace score.

About Global Peace Index

• Published by: Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), an international think tank based in Sydney, Australia.
• Analysis: The GPI 2025 analyzed 163 countries, representing 99.7% of the world’s population.
• Criteria: Assesses countries across 23 indicators in 3 domains:
  • Societal Safety & Security: Crime rates, political stability, refugee impact
  • Ongoing Domestic & International Conflict: War, terrorism, civil unrest
  • Militarisation: Military expenditure, arms imports/exports, armed personnel

Key Findings of Global Peace Index 2025

• Most peaceful: Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia
• Least peaceful: Russia, Ukraine, Sudan, DR Congo, Yemen
• Regional trends:
  • Europe dominates the top 10
  • South America shows improvements (Argentina, Peru)
  • Sub-Saharan Africa & Middle East remain least peaceful
• Global trend: Overall peacefulness declined due to internal conflicts, militarisation, and geopolitical divides
• India’s Rank in 2024: India’s rank in the Global Peace Index (GPI) for 2024 was 116th out of 163 countries.

Exercise Bright Star 2025

Context: INS Trikand reaches Egypt to join multilateral drill Bright Star 2025

About the Exercise Bright Star 2025

• Type: Biennial multilateral military exercise; one of the largest and longest-running tri-service drills in the Middle East–North Africa (MENA) region.
• History: Initiated in 1980 as a US-Egypt bilateral exercise, it has evolved into a full-scale multilateral drill involving multiple countries.
• Objective: Enhance jointness and interoperability among participating nations, promote regional peace and stability, and strengthen multi-domain warfare preparedness through coordinated training.
  

Other Key Multilateral Military Exercises Involving India

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