Atomic Notes By Civilsdaily IAS- MAY 2025 Pg.
• S tructured as a Category-II AIF registered with SEBI, it operates via a Moth-
er Fund (NSIC Venture Capital Fund Ltd) and 60 Daughter Funds.
• T he fund is part of the ₹20 lakh crore Atmanirbhar Bharat package, roughly 10% of India’s GDP.
• Provides equity/quasi-equity capital to reduce MSME debt dependence and boost long-term resilience.
• Focus sectors: manufacturing, services, R&D, innovation, and export-oriented enterprises.
• It helps address India’s estimated ₹30 lakh crore MSME credit gap by complementing credit guarantee schemes.
• Eligibility revised to include firms with up to ₹500 crore turnover, widening access to SRI Fund support.
Make in India: Challenges & Prospects
8. SPICED Scheme:
• S
pices Board of India will disburse ₹130 crore to 45,000 beneficiaries in 2025–26 under SPICED Scheme.
• Spices Board of India was formed on 26 Feb 1987 by merging the Cardamom Board
and Spices Export Promotion Council under the Spices Board Act, 1986.
• The Board functions under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, is headquartered in Ko-
chi, and acts as a bridge between Indian exporters and global buyers.
• SPICED Scheme (2021–2026) has a total outlay of ₹422.30 crore, aligned with the 15th Fi-
nance Commission, aiming to boost exports and improve quality.
• Focus areas: Mission Value Addition, Clean and Safe Spices, GI promo-
tion, Spice Incubation Centres, and post-harvest enhancement.
• Special support for FPOs, SHGs, SC/ST groups, SMEs, and North-East ex-
porters; all activities are geo-tagged for transparency.
• India cultivates 75 of 109 ISO-listed spices and is a global leader in production and export of spices.
• Key spices: Chili, cumin, turmeric, ginger, and coriander form 76% of total production; chili alone earns $1.1 billion yearly.
• In 2023–24, India exported $4.25 billion worth of spices to 159 countries, with ma-
jor markets including China, USA, UAE, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
Trade Sector Updates – Falling Exports, TIES, MEIS, Foreign Trade Policy, etc.
9. Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs):
• R BI has released revised draft guidelines for Regulated Entities (REs) investing in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).
• AIFs are privately pooled investment vehicles that target alternative asset classes like ven-
ture capital, private equity, hedge funds, real estate, and commodities.
• G overned by SEBI (AIF) Regulations, 2012, AIFs can be structured as trusts, com-
panies, LLPs, or other legally allowed entities.
• M eant for High Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs) and institutional investors, not for re-
tail investors; NRIs and foreign nationals can also invest.
• M inimum investment is ₹1 crore (as of SEBI May 2024); for AIF employees/direc-
tors it’s ₹25 lakh; minimum corpus: ₹20 crore (₹10 crore for Angel Funds).
• C ategory I AIFs invest in early-stage startups, infrastructure, or social ventures (e.g., venture capital).
• C ategory II AIFs target mid/late-stage unlisted firms—typically private equity or pre-IPO investments.
• C ategory III AIFs invest in listed securities using long-only, short-sell-
ing, or mixed strategies, with greater return potential but higher risk.
• R BI’s revised guidelines aim to prevent misuse of funds by REs, promote transparen-
cy, and harmonize AIF regulations with SEBI’s investor protection framework.
Capital Markets: Challenges and Developments
10. Potato Cultivation in India:
• I ndia is projected to surpass China as the world’s largest potato produc-
er by 2050, per the International Potato Center (CIP), Peru.
• P otato (Solanum tuberosum) is India’s 4th most important food crop after rice,
wheat, and maize, introduced by Portuguese traders in the 17th century.
• G rown in 23 states, with 85% production from Indo-Gangetic plains; top produc-
ers: Uttar Pradesh (30%), West Bengal (23.5%), and Bihar (17%).
• I t is a cool-season crop: ideal growth temp 24°C, tuber formation at 20°C;
thrives in moisture-retentive, fertile, well-drained soils.
• P lanting seasons vary: Spring/Summer in hills (HP, Uttarakhand); main Octo-
ber crop in north plains; kharif & rabi in MP, Maharashtra, Karnataka.
• P opular varieties: Kufri Jyoti, Kufri Bahar, Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Chandra-
mukhi; disease-free, sprouted seeds (30–50g) are essential.
• H arvested in 90–120 days; requires balanced NPK fertilization and benefits from drip irrigation.
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