PM dedicates 75 Digital Banking Units across 75 districts (GS Paper 3, Economy)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Prime Minister dedicated 75 Digital Banking Units (DBU) across 75 districts to the nation via video conferencing.
- He informed that in such a banking setup, the government aims to provide maximum services with minimum infrastructure, and all of this will happen digitally without involving any paperwork.
What is Digital Banking Units (DBU)?
- The DBUs will enable those who do not have ICT infrastructure to access banking services digitally.
- They will also assist those who are not tech savvy to adopt digital banking.
Modes:
- In DBU, the products and services will be offered to customers in 2 modes:
- Self Service Mode
- Digital Assistance Mode
DBUs will be different from traditional branch in following aspects:
- They will provide banking services including cash deposit & withdrawal 24 x 7.
- Services shall be provided digitally.
- People not having connectivity or computing devices can do banking transactions from DBU in a paperless mode.
- Bank staff will be available to help and guide users for banking transactions in assisted mode
- Will help in providing digital financial literacy and create awareness for adopting digital banking.
Services Offered:
- Services being offered through DBU include banking facilities like opening of savings account, balance-check, print passbook, transfer of funds, investment in fixed deposits, loan applications, stop-payment instructions for cheques issued, application for credit / debit cards, view statement of account, pay taxes, pay bills, make nominations, etc.
- The DBUs will also facilitate onboarding to Government credit link schemes through the Jan Samarth portal and end-to-end digital processing of a small ticket MSME/retail loans.
Background:
- As part of the Union budget speech for 2022-23, the Finance Minister announced setting up the 75 DBUs in 75 districts to commemorate our country's 75 years of independence.
- The DBUs are being set up with the objective to ensure the benefits of digital banking reach every nook and corner of the country and will cover all the States and Union territories.
- 11 Public Sector Banks, 12 Private Sector Banks and one Small Finance Bank are participating in the endeavour.
Significance:
- DBUs will enable customers to have cost-effective, convenient access and enhanced digital experience of banking products and services throughout the year.
- They will spread Digital Financial Literacy and special emphasis will be given to customer education on cyber security awareness and safeguards.
- Also, there shall be adequate digital mechanisms to offer real-time assistance and redress customer grievances arising from business and services provided by the DBUs directly or through Business Facilitators/ Correspondents.
‘Child Marriage Free India’ campaign
(GS Paper 1, Social Issues)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Nobel Peace Laureate and child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi launched a nationwide campaign called ‘Child Marriage Free India’ to end the social evil of child marriage.
- The Kailash Satyarthi Foundation called the drive the “world’s biggest-ever grassroots campaign against child marriage.”
Details:
- The campaign that aims to raise people’s awareness against child marriage was launched at a public gathering at Navranpura village in Rajasthan’s Vrat Nagar.
- Another Nobel Peace Laureate LeymahGbowee who is from Liberia was among the attendees.
- As a part of the campaign, women and girls led people in lighting lamps, torchlight procession in around 10,000 villages (6,015 villages by KSCF and rest by government’s and other agencies) from over 500 districts in 26 states.
Child marriage in India:
- The 2011 census reported over 12 million child marriages in the country, which is also supported by a study by National Family Health Survey. Out of 12 million child marriages, 5.2 million were girls.
- According to NFHS 23.3 percent of women between the ages of 20 to 24 are married before turning 18.
- The campaign launched by the Nobel Peace Laureate aims to reduce the number of child marriages by 10 percent from 23.3 percent.
Objectives:
- The ‘Child Marriage Free India’ campaign has set three objectives for realising an end to the practice of child marriage:
- First, to ensure the strict implementation of the laws on the legal age of marriage and those protecting children against abuse.
- Second, to enhance the social and economic participation of women and children and ensure their empowerment by giving them free education till the age of 18.
- Third, to provide safety to children against sexual exploitation.
Way Forward:
- The child marriage is a violation of human rights and dignity, which unfortunately still has social acceptance.
- Child marriage has a serious impact on the education, health, and safety of our children. Elimination of child marriage has also been given priority in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
MP to be first state to have medical education in Hindi
(GS Paper 2, Education)
Why in news?
- Recently, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched of first Hindi MBBS textbooks in Bhopal.
- Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to start the MBBS course in the Hindi language.
Key Highlights:
- Initially, three subjects have been selected to be studied in Hindi, which include Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.
- A team of 97 experts have been working on the preparation of books for the last 232 days at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. They have been translating the book from English to Hindi.
New editions:
- The new edition of Medical Biochemistry contains the application of some new chapters which include Sodium, Potassium, Water Homeostasis, Biochemistry Techniques, Radiation, Radioisotopes and Environmental Pollutants and Toxins.
- Besides, several new line diagrams, tables and text boxes have been added to make information more memorable.
- Similarly in the Anatomy edition, new chapters of surface anatomy have been added in both the abdomen and lower limb sections. New line diagrams, CT and MRI diagram tables and flow charts are added to increase the retention of knowledge.
Way Forward:
- Uttar Pradesh is also following suit by providing Medical and Engineering education in Hindi.
