 Greetings dear as parents, welcome to today's current affairs session of Civil Spiria. Today we will be discussing about ENAM, about Atal Bujal Yojana, about Guru Padma Sambhava and about coal wetlands under a freelance topic and we will be discussing one main topic and one editorial topic today. So the main topic is the various M.H.R.D schemes for the students of the economically weaker sections of the society and under our editorial topic we will be discussing about the relevance of India-Iran relations, nothing but the topic the road to peace runs to Tehran. So let's move on with first film topic of the day, ENAM. So with regards to this topic you need to know something about ENAM and who implements this particular ENAM and which ministry and about the implementer, nothing but the small farmers agribusiness consortium. So let's move to the news. So about ENAM, it is basically a Pan India Electronic Trading Portal. So it will network all the existing agricultural produce marketing committees or the Mondays to in order to create a unified national market for the agricultural commodities. Because as of now there is no proper integrated market infrastructure in India. So the markets are basically pertaining to every states at the state level only it is not very much integrated. So this ENAM tries to bring all the markets and integrate them. So the lead agency for implementation will be the small farmers agribusiness consortium so we will be looking about this in a later slide. And this particular ENAM comes under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. So what is the vision of this particular ENAM as I already told the existing markets are disintegrated so we need an integrated market. So streamlining of procedures across the integrated markets. So in order to bring a state unified license for all those operators under different Mondays and removing information asymmetry between the buyers and the sellers because none would be knowing what is the actual trending price of that particular day. So it aims to remove this particular asymmetry and it will promote real time price discovery based on actual demand and supply for that particular day. So this is the vision of this particular ENAM. So who are the stakeholders under this particular ENAM portal? So the agricultural, produce and livestock market committees from different states as of now 16 states and two union territories have joined this ENAM portal. And the farmers will be the stakeholders and the traders who are involved in trading process in the Mondays will be the stakeholders. And the farmer producer organizations which have been formed under this particular SFAC will also be the stakeholders. So who are farmer producer organization? They are nothing but a group of farmers who join together in order to sell their produce, in order to market their produce. So they'll form an organization and that is called as a farmer produces organization similar to our cooperative marketing. And Monday Boats. Monday Boats are nothing but for there'll be a board for the existing Mondays in a particular state. So since 16 states and two UTS have joined all those Monday Boats under these states would also become stakeholders for this particular ENAM. So what is the current affairs? The current affairs is that the interstate trade on ENAM portal is gaining momentum. So as of now 21 ENAM Mondays of eight states are being indulged in this particular interstate trade because when the markets were not really unified, it was a big headache for trading between the different Mondays of different states. Now because of the introduction of this ENAM communication between different stakeholders in a particular Monday as improved, that is the first step. And second step is now the communication between the different Mondays in a particular state, say a state Tamil Nadu as improved. And after this, now the Mondays between the different states, a communication have started to improve so that the trading is going on between Mondays of different states. So this is the success of this particular ENAM portal. And you need to know about the implementer, the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium. So it was basically formed as an autonomous society under the Society's Registration Act of 1860. So this particular SFAC implements several schemes of the government of India. The notable ones are the Delhi-Kisan-Mundi scheme, your equity grant scheme for the farmers, venture capital assistance scheme for the farmers, and your farmers producer organization scheme which I discussed. So these are the very important schemes along with this ENAM which is being implemented by the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium. So please keep this in mind, this will be helpful in Trillium's point of view. And one more notable point is that this particular Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium is the central procurement agency for the pulses and the oil seeds, like the Food Corporation of India which procures all the cereals like rice and wheat, the major cereals. Similarly, SFAC will procure the pulses and oil seeds. So this is also an important point with respect to Trillium's point of view. So this is all about ENAM that you need to know. Let's move on to our next topic, Atal Bujal Yojana. So you need to know something about this particular scheme, which ministry is implementing this scheme and what is the type of the scheme, if it is central sector scheme or a centrally sponsored scheme. And the recent current affairs is that the World Bank has approved this particular 6000 crore project. So what is Atal Bujal Yojana? Split it into two. Bu is nothing but boomy or earth and Jal is water. So it pertains something to the groundwater. So you have to decode this or decipher this way. So it deals about sustainable management of groundwater with two things. One is active community participation and also by developing the necessary infrastructure that is required. So what are those targeted areas? They are water stressed areas and over exploited areas where the water is very much exploited that a drought-like condition will happen. So all these areas have been identified by the central groundwater authority. So this particular scheme is a central sector scheme. And it will come under the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. So the funding pattern here is 50s to 50 between the government of India and the World Bank. And now the current affairs that World Bank has approved this particular project, so it will give 50% of its share towards this particular 6000 crore project. And what are the activities under this particular Atal Bujal Yojana? So the first and foremost would be the formation of Water User Association. And it will also work towards creating the necessary groundwater infrastructure. And it will monitor and disseminate the groundwater data. It will do water budgeting. It will prepare and implement the Gram Panchayatways water security plans. And it will also carry forward the IEC activities, nothing but your information, education and communication activities. So these are the activities that would be implemented under this Atal Bujal Yojana. So please keep this in mind that it is a central sector scheme, which Ministry and what is the funding pattern. So World Bank is funding this particular project. Let's move on to our next topic, Guru Padma Sambhava. So it has been recently news, two different news. So first news is that the conference exhibition to celebrate the life of Guru Padma Sambhava was held in New Delhi. And the Odisha Chief Minister Mr. Naveen Patnaikas unveiled the statue of Guru Padma Sambhava in Bherampur in the state of Odisha. So the key words that you need to know about this particular topic is know about the personality and what are the important sites and important events associated with this personality. So about Guru Padma Sambhava is called as Guru Rinpoche. So is very famous in the Himalayan states, in the countries of India, in Tibet and also in Bhutan. So he is said that it is said that he was a founder of the Nyingma School of the Tibetan Buddhism. So there are four schools of Tibetan Buddhism that we need not know. Just know that he has found the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also said that he has spread the Vajrayana form of Buddhism in the country of Bhutan. Now the Vajrayana Buddhism is a state religion of the country of Bhutan. And he's also revered as the second Buddha by the Tibetan Buddhists. So what are the associated sites and events in India and also in Bhutan? Now the recent news is, one more news is that it is the 50th year of a formal India-Bhutan diplomatic relations. So Guru Padma Sambhava is equally important under this context. So the associated sites are, rebels are in the district of Mandi in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Because it is said that only from this lake that Guru Padma Sambhava started moving towards Tibet in order to spread Buddhism. And the second very famous event is the Hemis Festival that happens in the district of Ladakh in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. So Cham dance is also performed in this particular Hemis Festival. So this festival is celebrated, is being celebrated to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Padma Sambhava. And if you've seen Bhutan, the very famous Paro Monastery is associated with this particular Guru Padma Sambhava. Because it is said that he has meditated in this monastery for three years. So it is also called as the Tiger Nest Monastery. And you need to know what is the meaning of Guru Padma Sambhava. So it is Lotus and Sambhava is born. So it is Lotus born. So he was born out of a Lotus. And Rinpoche means precious Guru, precious Guru. So this is all the very important facts that you need to know about this particular personality Guru Padma Sambhava. So let's move on to our next preliminary topic, Kohl Wetlands. Under this wetlands topic, you just need to know about this location of this particular wetland. What is the ecosystem that is prevailing in this particular wetland? And if this particular wetland is a famous Ramsar site, designated Ramsar site. And if it is designated as an important bird area, and what are the activities that are being undertaken in this particular Kohl Wetlands? Now, the current affairs news is that the fish count as 82 species of fish count has been recorded in this Kohl wetlands. So this is the recent news. So with regards to location, so this is the terrain map of the state of Kerala. And Kohl Wetlands is located in the two districts of Kerala, namely the Trishu district and Malappuram district of Kerala. So this forms the part of central Kerala. And Kohl, along with Vemannad wetlands, has been designated as a Ramsar site in the year 2002. So Vemannad wetland is located near Ernakulam or Kochi. So all these forms are part of central Kerala. And this wetland is basically a catchment area of two rivers flowing in that particular region, the rivers Ketcheri and Karivannur. So in the northern boundary, it is being bordered by the Bharatapura River. And in the southern boundary, it is being bordered by the Chalakudi River, which is just located to the north of Kochi. So this is something that you need to know about the location. And with regards to ecosystems, it is the largest brackish, humid, tropical wetland ecosystem. So it is located near the tropics. So we are mostly likely to experience a humid climate. And brackish means salt water, wetland ecosystem. So this Kohl wetlands is basically fragmented wetlands. They are fragmented into three areas, which means it is not a continuous patch of wetland. A wetland will be located here, another wetland here. So in the nearby. And this wetland will remain submerged for half the part of here, nothing but six months for a year. So when there is monsoon, this particular wetland will be completely flooded with water. For the remaining six months, some activities like agriculture and your lotus farming or fishing, duck rearing would take place. And this particular wetland acts as a natural reservoir by controlling the floods. And it will act as a natural carbon sink. And it will also recharge the groundwater of the nearby areas, especially the city of Prishur and its suburbs. And this particular wetland along with Vemannad was designated as a Ramsar site in the year 2002, as I already told. And it is also a designated important bird area. And very famous birds, the native birds and also the migratory birds have been recorded in this particular area. And this particular wetland also falls in the path of your central Asian flyway. So as I told, one activity that needs to be discussed is the exhaustive clay mining that is being happening in this particular area. Because of this clay mining, only the top layer needs to be removed. But because of excessive clay mining, the entire ecology of that area is being affected. So this was also in the recent news. So this is all that you need to know about coal wetlands from prelims point of view. And let's move on to our main topic, the different schemes under the Ministry of Human Resource Development for the educational development of the economically weaker sections of the society. So there are some five schemes that has been given by the government of India in Lokshaba. And it has been recorded in your Public Information Bureau. So those five schemes are, first is your central sector scheme for scholarship for the college and university students and special scholarship for those students residing in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. And third is the central sector interest subsidy scheme. And fourth is your fee-waving schemes that is at present being followed in your IITs, the Indian Institute of Technologies. And the fifth one is the interest subvention scheme under the Vidya Lakshmi program. So we'll see what this Vidya Lakshmi program is also about. So under your first scheme, the eligibility is eight lakhs per annum. So if a person is earning less than eight lakhs per annum, they'll be eligible for a scholarship of rupees 10,000 for the first three years and rupees 20,000 for the fourth and the fifth year. And for Jammu and Kashmir students, again the eligibility is eight lakhs per annum. So here they will get a scholarship between 1.3 lakhs and four lakhs per annum. In order to pursue their higher studies, it can either be in Jammu and Kashmir or it can also be outside the state of Jammu and Kashmir. And third is the central sector interest subsidy scheme. Under this, a full interest subsidy during moratorium period on the loans would be given. So this would be up to rupees 7.5 lakh. And your fourth scheme is the fee-waving schemes that is at present being followed in the IITs. First one is the students from the schedule cast, schedule tribes and your physically challenged students would get a complete fee waiver. And the second fee waiver is the, for the most economically backward students where their family income is less than one lakh per annum. They'll get full remission of the fee. And if their income is between one and five lakhs per annum, they will get a remission of two thirds of the fee. And all those students who have access to loans under the Vidya Lakshmi scheme will have an interest-free loan. So for the remaining portion of the fee that has to be paid by these students. And the fifth one is the Vidya Lakshmi portal. So this was introduced by this present government for the students seeking the education loan. So it will be basically a single window platform where the students can have access to the loans of different banks that are being provided by them. And also for the government scholarships that is being handed over by the government. So the interest subvention on the educational loans for all students who have been admitted into the undergraduate courses and your five year integrated courses is being given. So subvention is basically the government paying the interest on behalf of the students. And apart from this, the government also conducts coaching schemes for all the students from the other backward classes, your STs and other minority community students. So some coachings are remedial coaching and coaching in order to appear for your net exam or the state level exams and services coaching for students to appear to the all India services or the state services. And apart from this, for the students who are being given the interest subsidy or the scholarship, the payment happens to the digital mode. So it is being processed by the public financial management system portal under the Ministry of Finance. And the scholarship on the interest subsidies being released through the direct benefit transfer mode for the students so that there is transparency in the system and there is also accountability in the system. And the recent one is the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act. So this Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed in the Lokshaba and was given as in by the president. Now it is being termed as the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act. So it has amended the articles 15 and 16 of Indian constitution and it will provide for 10% of reservation to the economically weaker sections of the society in matters of education and also employment. So this is also a big boost to those students who are from the economically weaker sections of the society. And this 10% reservation will not disturb the existing quota reservation that is being given for the other backward classes and also for the SES and the STs. So these are some of the schemes of the central government for the welfare of the students from the economically weaker sections of the society. Let's move on to our next topic, the editorial topic. The road to peace runs through Tehran. So Tehran is the capital of the country of Iran. So under this particular editorial topic, the author has discussed about the importance of Afghan security for the different countries in Asia and also for the important powers of the world. And the author has also discussed about the US engagements in Afghanistan at present and the role of regional powers. And the author has also discussed the ties between India and Iran and between Iran and USA and about its pros and cons, the positives and the adverse impacts of the present US-Iran relations and some prospective suggestions that has been given by the author for Iran, India and US alike. So let's move on to our editorial. As you know, Iran and Afghan is very strategically located. So it will act as a pivot to the entire Asian and also to Europe. If you see now Iran is very strategically located because it has access to this Hormuz Strait, Strait of Hormuz, where majority of your oil trade happens and it can also act as a gateway to Russia. And already your international north-south transport corridor is also in place. And now India is also developing the Chabahar port in the country of Iran. So Iran is very strategically located. But now there is some disturbance in this particular Central Asia because of the Afghan country, because of the terrorism that is happening in Afghan. And also the government is very much weak. So the author has given some suggestions for India to improve this particular security aspect of Afghanistan. So she has told that the author has told that India has to engage Iran and US in order to bring stability in the country of Afghanistan. So this is the crux of this particular topic. Under this, the author has first discussed the different engagements of the country of USA. So first and foremost, the author has told that India should try to dissipate the US from its thought process to treat China, Russia and Iran as its enemies. Because the present government under Donald Trump is actually treating China, Russia and Iran as its enemies. It has almost reverted all those policies of the previous US government that was in place under Barack Obama. So the author has taken some of the negotiations that was previously done by the previous regime in the US, say in the year 2014, 16, Russia and USA and arranged talks for a peaceful or a stable Afghan, Afghan peace process. So it was called the Six Plus One Group which included countries, Afghan, India, China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan and USA. And if you've seen the year November 2018, now the present government has also started the peace negotiations with the Taliban that is present in Afghanistan. So India also should actively take part in these engagements. And now India is not engaging military wise in the state of, in the country of Afghanistan, but it can go through a peaceful diplomatic negotiations with the countries of Iran and also with USA. And the author has discussed the role of regional powers because if you see all those regional powers in Asia namely your China, India and Russia all have stakes in this particular country of Afghanistan because a peaceful and a stable Afghanistan will lead to a peaceful Asia. It will lead to improved trade and other economic improvements in that particular region. And the author has told that there are doubts that if Afghanistan is not stable then the extremist exports from the country of Pakistan will increase either towards Afghanistan side or towards India side. So it would probably increase. And the author has then discussed the ties between the India and Iran. So author has told that the India must engage Iran through diplomatic relations because it is not willing to engage militarily in the country of Afghanistan. Now there are some positive indicators in our India-Iran relations. So the first one is the engagement of India towards developing the Chabahat port. So this was initiated by India. And India, Iran and Russia are together the founding members of this International North-South Transport Corridor. So this would increase the trade prospects for both Iran and India in the long run if the Afghan country is also very stable. And next prominently the author has discussed about the positives of the Iran-U.S. relations and the adversities of the Iran-U.S. relations. So first let's see the positives. So together with USA and India Iran supported to overthrow the Taliban in the 2001, in the year 2001. So post this twin tower destruction by the Al-Qaeda group in New York. So post this as a part of international negotiations that followed in Bonn in the year 2001, Iran supported the installation of Hamid Karsai as the president of Afghanistan. And also exclusion of Taliban from Indian Afghan polity. Now since 2005 USA started imposing sanctions in the country of Iran. Now the Iran which actually supported excluding Taliban from the Afghan polity started supporting Taliban by giving them arms and money in order to promote terrorism in the western portion of Afghanistan. Now this is the claim made by the USA but it was not able to actually validate this claim. So till date Iran has opposed the US presence largely because of the fear that US might target Iran because now in the name of improving the stability in the country of Afghanistan, US has deployed its military in the country of Afghanistan. Now Iran sees that as a threat. And now the USA is telling it will pull out of all its army from the state of Afghanistan. And even before that when Iran felt that there's a perceived threat that US would actually attack it, the Afghan premier told that Afghan would not allow USA to attack Iran. So that was a promise given by Afghan. And if you see in the year 2018 December month Iran initiated talks with Taliban with the knowledge of Afghan government. But now USA is actually criticizing this because it tells that formally it is engaging with Taliban in order to create a terrorism like situation in Afghanistan. But Iran is vehemently denying this. So these are some of the adverse ties that is happening between Iran and the USA. And now USA again reverted this particular deal with Iran and now again it has imposed sanctions on Iran. So now the ties between Iran and USA is very complex and very critical. Now the author has given some prospective suggestions in order to improve the USA Iran ties and also India Iran ties in order to have a peaceful Afghanistan. So some of the win-win prospects for the country of Iran is Iran could actually gain by strengthening the ties, trade ties with the secure Afghanistan. Right now in the since 2017 Iran has replaced the country of Pakistan as the largest trade partner of the country of Afghanistan. Now if Afghanistan is further more peaceful and having a stable government then it will further help Iran in order to have a proper trade ties with the secure Afghanistan. So this will also prove beneficial for Iran amidst this U.S. sanctions that is at present being over Iran. And now it can also be a win-win prospect for the country of USA if it very positively engages with Iran in order to have a stable Afghanistan. So U.S. would also gain because of this because of the geopolitical importance of Iran because it is acting as a hub connecting the Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and also your caucuses which is located in the Eastern Europe. So USA engagement in Iran would be welcomed by the America's European allies as well because they were not very much supportive of the U.S. action of imposing sanctions of Iran in this year. So U.S. should also utilize this Afghan card in order to improve its ties with Iran. Now the author has very strongly told that still America should not think that it's superpower. It should drop its superpower thinking and should start actively engaging with China and also with Russia and also with Iran because if you see with Iran now the sanctions are there, economic sanctions are there on Iran. If you see with China now the trade war is happening between U.S. and China. And also if you see with Russia the INF treaty has been canceled by both the countries of USA and also Russia. Now the climate is very severe but the USA should drop its superpower concept and come in order to have a proper relationship with all these three countries. Now the author has also suggested that Iran should actually India should actually broker between the country of USA and Iran for a regional security. So this will also improve the regional security and it will also improve the status of India and also Iran as the regional superpower. So this would be further enhanced. So these are some of the points that has been given by the author in our editorial. So all these points are very valid and it will be very helpful for your minds. So please have a look at it. With this we are winding up our today's topic. Please do like, comment and share the video and please subscribe to Shankar IAS Academy channel for latest videos and updates. Stay focused and motivated friends. Thank you.