Union Agriculture Minister inaugurates Farm Machinery Technology Summit.

• • Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare inaugurates Summit on Farm Machinery Technology.
  • 85% of small farmers in India should benefit from technology and machinery.
  • the Central Government has trained 64 lakh workers through authorised test centres.
  • Agricultural Infrastructure Fund worth 1 lakh crore introduced with approved projects worth Rs. 14,000 crore.
  • Kisan drones are promoted with subsidies for farmers, SC-ST category, and women farmers.
  • India is number one or second in the world regarding agricultural products.
  • The government is working to attract the new generation towards agriculture.
  • Farmers’ access to the market increased through e-NAM mandis.
  • More than Rs 1.5 lakh crore packages earmarked for Agriculture and Allied sectors.

195 LMT wheat procured so far during ongoing RMS, surpassing procurement done in 2022-23.

• • Wheat procurement during RMS 2023-24 has already exceeded the total procurement of RMS 2022-23 (195 LMT vs 188 LMT).
  • Significant contribution in procurement comes from Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • The combined stock position of wheat and rice in the Central Pool has surpassed 510 LMT, putting the country in a comfortable place to meet its food grain requirements.

INDO-UK JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE “AJEYA WARRIOR – 2023” TO COMMENCE AT SALISBURY PLAINS, UNITED KINGDOM.

• • India and the United Kingdom are conducting the 7th edition of the joint military exercise “AJEYA WARRIOR-23” at Salisbury Plains, UK, from April 27 to May 11 2023.
  • The exercise is conducted alternatively in the UK and India, and the last edition was held in Uttarakhand in October 2021.
  • The exercise aims to build positive military relations, promote the ability to operate together and develop inter-operability, camaraderie, and friendship between the two armies.

Enrolments under Atal Pension Yojana (APY) cross 5. 20 crore mark.

• • The total enrolment under the Atal Pension Yojana as of March 31, 2023, crossed the 5.20 crore mark.
  • About Atal Pension Yojana (APY):
    1. APY is a scheme under the finance ministry.
    2. Under APY, subscribers would receive a lifelong minimum guaranteed pension of Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000 per month from the age of 60, depending on their contributions.
    3. The same pension would be paid to the subscriber’s spouse after the subscriber’s demise.
    4. On the demise of both the subscriber and spouse, the pension wealth accumulated till age 60 of the subscriber would be returned to the nominee.