No questions on PM CARES, relief and defence funds: PMO
Syllabus: GS2/Polity
Context
- The Prime Minister’s Office has informed the Lok Sabha Secretariat that parliamentary questions and discussions related to the PM CARES Fund, Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), and the National Defence Fund (NDF) are not admissible under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
PM CARES vs. PMNRF: Key Differences
|
Feature |
PM CARES Fund |
PMNRF |
|
Purpose |
Established to tackle emergency and distress situations (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic and future emergencies). |
Originally created to support refugees from Partition (1948); now used for disaster relief and medical assistance. |
|
Date of Establishment |
March 27, 2020 |
January 1948 |
|
Governance |
PM, Home Minister, Finance Minister, and Defence Minister as trustees. |
Initially managed by a committee (until 1985). Now, the Prime Minister has full control. |
|
Utilization of Funds |
Primarily for pandemic response, healthcare infrastructure, and disaster relief. |
Assists victims of natural disasters, accidents, riots, and medical treatments. |
|
Tax Benefits |
Eligible for 80G tax exemptions and CSR deductions. |
Eligible for 80G tax exemptions but not for CSR deductions. |
|
Foreign Donations |
Permitted under FCRA, 2010. |
Also accepts foreign contributions. |
|
Audit |
Audited by M/S SARC Associates Chartered Accountants, New Delhi. |
Audited by an independent auditor (currently M/S SARC Associates Chartered Accountants). |
|
Right to Information (RTI) |
Not covered under RTI. |
Not covered under RTI. |
|
Government Oversight |
Not controlled by Parliament or CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India). |
Not controlled by Parliament or CAG. |
Reticulated Python
Environment
Context
- Guinness World Records has confirmed a 22-metre female reticulated python named Ibu Baron or “The Baroness”, from Sulawesi, Indonesia, as the longest measured snake in the world.
Reticulated Python
- Scientific Name: Malayopython reticulatus
- The species is native to South and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and parts of India.
Physical Characteristics:
- It is the longest snake species in the world.
- It is among the three heaviest snake species, after the green anaconda and Burmese python.
- It has distinctive net-like (reticulated) patterns on its scales.
- Human Predation: Reticulated pythons are among the few snake species known to prey on humans.
- They kill by constriction, suffocating their prey before swallowing it whole.
Bastar Pandum Festival
Syllabus: GS1/Culture
Context
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the people of Chhattisgarh for the special celebration of ‘Bastar Pandum’ festival.
About the Festival
- Celebrated in – It is a cultural festival celebrated in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh showcasing tribal heritage and cultural traditions.
- Significance – It has emerged as a major cultural platform highlighting Bastar’s tribal identity through art, music, dance, handicrafts, and indigenous cuisine.
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