In this address, the Prime Minister focused on major national achievements in science and upcoming civic initiatives:

• Nuclear Science Milestone: PM Modi lauded the achievement of criticality by the Fast Breeder Reactor in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. He highlighted that this reactor was built using entirely indigenous technology, marking a historic milestone in India's nuclear energy journey.
• Digital Census 2027: The Prime Minister announced that the upcoming census (Census 2027) will be the world's largest digital census exercise. He noted that citizens will have the facility to self-enumerate through digital platforms 15 days before staff visits their homes.
• National Development: He discussed how the civil nuclear programme is significantly contributing to industrial growth, healthcare, and the agriculture sector.

About 'Mann Ki Baat' Program:

• It is a monthly radio program hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Objective: To establish a dialogue with the general public and to raise awareness regarding various social issues.
• First Broadcast: October 3, 2014.
• Broadcast Schedule: On the last Sunday of every month.
• 100th Episode: Broadcast on April 30, 2023.
• January 2015 Episode: Featured the participation of then-US President Barack Obama.

• Formation (by bifurcation): 1 May 1960
• Governor: Jishnu Dev Varma
• Parliamentary Seats: 48 seats in Lok Sabha and 19 seats in Rajya Sabha.
• Highest Peak: Kalsubai (1,646 m) in the Sahyadri range
• Festivals: Ganesh Chaturthi, Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year), and Pola.
• Folk Arts: Lavani and Tamasha; Warli painting is a famous tribal art.
• Saint Tradition: Known as the "Land of Saints" (Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram, Sant Namdev).
• Major Rivers: Godavari (the longest in the state, often called the "Dakshin Ganga"), Krishna, Tapi, and Bhima.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Seven sites including Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai.

• A premier policy think tank of the Government of India,
• Established: January 1, 2015, to replace the 65-year-old Planning Commission.
• Type: Executive Body created via a Union Cabinet resolution, serving as a non-constitutional, non-statutory body.
• Chairperson: Prime Minister (Narendra Modi)
• Key Programs: Includes the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Aspirational Districts Programme, and various ranking indices (SDG, Innovation).

• Scientific Name: Triticum aestivum
• Botany: Belongs to the Poaceae (Graminae) family, monocot.
• Season: Rabi crop (sown October-December, harvested March-April).
• Disease : Wheat Blast (Magnaporthe oryzae)
• Conditions: Cool growing season with bright sunshine; moderate rainfall (approx.).
• Rainfall: Needs moderate rainfall between 50–75 cm, evenly distributed. The 100 cm isohyet line generally separates wheat-growing regions from rice-growing areas.
• Soil: Grows best in well-drained fertile loamy and clayey loamy soils.
• Largest Producing States: Uttar Pradesh (Largest producer), Punjab (highest yield per hectare), Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

SEBI is the apex regulator for the securities (stock) market in India. Its primary mandate is to protect investor interests and ensure a transparent marketplace.

• Establishment: Originally formed in 1988 as a non-statutory body, it became a statutory body on April 12, 1992, under the SEBI Act, 1992.
• Headquarters: Mumbai, with regional offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Ahmedabad.

Key Functions:

• • Quasi-Legislative: Drafts regulations for the market.
  • Quasi-Executive: Conducts investigations and audits of stock exchanges and intermediaries.
  • Quasi-Judicial: Passes rulings and imposes penalties for malpractices like insider trading.
• Governance: Managed by a board consisting of a Chairman (currently Tuhin Kanta Pandey) and members nominated by the Union Government and the RBI.
• Appellate Body: Any person aggrieved by SEBI’s orders can appeal to the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT).

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

SIDBI is the principal financial institution for the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in India.

• Establishment: Established on April 2, 1990, under an Act of Parliament. It was originally a subsidiary of IDBI but is now an independent All India Financial Institution (AIFI).
• Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
• Chairman: Manoj Mittal

Core Role:

• • Promotion & Financing: Provides direct and indirect loans to MSMEs to bridge credit gaps.
  • Refinancing: Provides funds to banks and NBFCs, which then lend to small industries.
  • Green Financing: Supports projects involving renewable energy and energy efficiency for small units.

Key Initiatives:

• • MUDRA Bank is a subsidiary of SIDBI.
  • Udyami Mitra Portal for easy access to MSME loans.
  • Fund of Funds: Manages government funds to support emerging startups.

Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)

AIFs are privately pooled investment vehicles that collect funds from sophisticated investors (Indian or foreign) for non-traditional asset classes.

• Regulator: They are regulated by SEBI under the SEBI (AIF) Regulations, 2012.
• Eligibility: Primarily for High Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs) and institutional investors; the minimum investment is typically ₹1 crore.

Centrally sponsored scheme (2025-26 to 2030-31) launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to accelerate sustainable urban infrastructure through competitive, market-linked financing.

• Total Outlay: ₹1 lakh crore central assistance, targeting a total investment of ₹4 lakh crore over five years.
• Funding Structure: 25% of project costs provided by the fund, with at least 50% mobilized from market sources (bonds, bank loans, PPPs)
• Focus Areas: The funds are aimed at "Cities as Growth Hubs," "Creative Redevelopment," and "Water & Sanitation" projects.

• Thrissur Pooram is a major annual Hindu temple festival in Kerala (April-May) started in 1797 by Shakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Kochi.
• Held at the Vadakkunnathan Temple (Shiva temple) in Thrissur, it is known as the "Mother of all Poorams," featuring massive elephant processions, traditional Percussion (Pandimellam), and the Kudamattam ceremony.

1. National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)

The NBA is a statutory, autonomous body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

• Establishment & HQ: Set up in 2003; headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Structure: Part of a three-tier system—NBA (National), State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs at State level), and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs at Local level).

Key Functions:

• • Regulates access to biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.
  • Prevents biopiracy by checking unauthorised Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) claims outside India.
  • Ensures Fair and Equitable Benefit Sharing (ABS) between users and local providers of genetic resources.
  • Advises the government on the notification of Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS).

2. Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The GEF is a multilateral financial mechanism that helps developing countries tackle global environmental problems.

• Origin: Established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA.
• Financial Mechanism for 5 Conventions: It serves as the official financial arm for:

1. 1. CBD: Convention on Biological Diversity.
   2. UNFCCC: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
   3. UNCCD: UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
   4. Stockholm Convention: On Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
   5. Minamata Convention: On Mercury.

• India's Role: India is both a donor and a recipient of GEF funds. The Ministry of Finance is the Political Focal Point, and the MoEFCC is the Operational Focal Point.

3. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The UNDP is the United Nations' lead agency on international development, working in 170 countries.

• HQ & Origin: Headquartered in New York City; established in 1965.
• Primary Objective: To help countries eliminate poverty, reduce inequalities, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Key Report: Publishes the Human Development Report (HDR), which includes the Human Development Index (HDI).
• Relation to GEF/NBA: The UNDP is one of the three original implementing agencies of the GEF (alongside the World Bank and UNEP). In India, it collaborates with the NBA on projects like the UNEP-GEF MoEF Project for strengthening the Biological Diversity Act's implementation.