Mangaluru International Airport – ASQ Award 2025
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INTERNATIONAL
Why in News:
Mangaluru International Airport won the 2025 ASQ Best Airport at Arrivals – Globally award.
Key Highlights:
• The award is given by Airports Council International World.
• This is the second consecutive year (2024 and 2025) the airport has received this honour.
• Mangaluru Airport is managed by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL).
• AAHL is India’s largest private airport operator.
Background:
ASQ Awards
About:
• The ASQ Awards are organised annually by Airports Council International World, representing airports across the globe.
• The programme measures passenger satisfaction across key service parameters.
Airport Experience Summit 2026:
• In 2026, the awards will be formally presented at the Airport Experience Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye.
• The summit is scheduled from 31 August to 4 September 2026.
• The award ceremony will take place on 2 September 2026.
UPSC/BPSC
Rice Fortification under PMGKAY
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NATIONAL
Why in News:
The Union government has decided to temporarily discontinue rice fortification under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and allied schemes after a comprehensive review based on a study conducted by IIT Kharagpur.
Key Highlights:
• The IIT Kharagpur study evaluated the shelf life of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK) and Fortified Rice (FR) across different agro-climatic zones.
• The study found that moisture content, storage conditions, temperature, relative humidity, and packaging material significantly affect the stability of fortified rice.
• Due to these factors, micronutrient levels decline over time, reducing the nutritional effectiveness of fortified rice.
Background:
Rice Fortification
About:
• Rice fortification is the deliberate addition of essential vitamins and minerals to rice during post-harvest processing to improve its nutritional quality.
• It helps address hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiencies) without changing the taste, appearance, or cooking properties of rice.
Common Micronutrients Added:
• Iron – to combat anaemia.
• Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) – to prevent neural tube defects.
• Vitamin B12.
• Zinc.
• Vitamin A.
• Other B-complex vitamins (B1, B3, B6).
India’s Policy Rollout:
• The initiative was announced by the Prime Minister on the 75th Independence Day to address malnutrition.
• The first phase began in October 2021.
• Fortified rice was supplied through Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM Poshan) scheme (earlier Mid-Day Meal Scheme).
UPSC/BPSC
Divyang Sahayak Portal – Maharashtra
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NATIONAL
Why in News:
Announced in February 2026 ,The Maharashtra State government has launched the Divyang Sahayak Portal, described as India’s first fully integrated online platform for disability welfare schemes.
Key Highlights:
• The Divyang Sahayak Portal is a one-stop digital platform for persons with disabilities in Maharashtra.
• It allows citizens to search, apply and track welfare schemes without remembering scheme names.
• Officials say it improves the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Background:
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
About:
• The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 replaced the earlier 1995 law to expand rights and protections for persons with disabilities in India.
UPSC/BPSC
Rare Disease Day
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Why in News:
Rare Disease Day is observed globally on 28 February (or 29 February in leap years, symbolically the rarest day) to highlight the unique challenges faced by people living with rare diseases.
Key Highlights:
• The objective is to achieve equity in social opportunities, healthcare, and access to diagnosis and therapies for rare disease patients.
• It was established in 2008.
• The initiative is coordinated by EURORDIS (European Organisation for Rare Diseases) in partnership with over 70 national alliance patient organisations.
Background:
Rare Disease
About:
• There is no single universal definition of a rare disease.
• It is generally determined by prevalence, with a global consensus defining it as affecting ≤ 1 in 2,000 persons in a WHO-defined region.
• In India, an estimated 72–96 million people are affected by rare diseases.
Policy Support in India:
• Under the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD) 2021, financial support of up to ₹50 lakh is provided to patients suffering from any of the 63 included rare diseases at designated Centres of Excellence.
• Under the Union Budget 2026–27, 7 additional rare diseases have been included for exemption from import duties on personal imports of drugs, medicines, and food for special medical purposes.
• Rare diseases have also been included as a focus area under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Pharmaceuticals.
Women-Centric Welfare Schemes of Delhi Government
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NATIONAL
Why in News:
President Droupadi Murmu on 2 March 2026 launched four women-centric welfare schemes of the Delhi Government at the “Sashakt Nari, Samriddh Delhi” programme in New Delhi.
Key Highlights:
Pink National Common Mobility Card
• The Pink National Common Mobility Card aims to provide seamless and integrated access to public transport.
• It supports women’s free bus travel and improves connectivity across Delhi’s transport network.
Free LPG Cylinders Scheme for Ration Card Holders
• The scheme provides two free LPG cylinders annually to ration card holders.
Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana
Key Provisions:
• ₹56,000 will be deposited in installments in the name of a girl child.
• The amount is expected to exceed ₹1 lakh with interest by the age of 21.
Eligibility:
• Annual family income up to ₹1.20 lakh.
• Delhi residence for the last three years.
• Girl child must be born in Delhi.
• Limited to two living girl children per family.
• Applicable to those pursuing graduate or professional diplomas from recognised institutions.
Meri Punji Mera Adhikaar
• The scheme focuses on clearing pending financial dues and ensuring citizens’ financial rights are addressed transparently.
UPSC/BPSC
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