Table of Contents:
1. Imprisoned Iranian Women Journalists Receive UN Press Freedom Prize
2. World Press Freedom Index 2023
3. ‘Vivad se Vishwas’ - Scheme for Covid-19 Relief to MSMEs

Imprisoned Iranian Women Journalists Receive UN Press Freedom Prize 

Iranian female journalists Niloufar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi, and Narges Mohammadi who have been imprisoned have been named as the winners of the United Nations Premier Prize for Press Freedom. 

Niloufar Hamedi broke the news that 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died last September while being held by the morality police for wearing her headscarf too loosely, and Elaheh Mohammadi wrote about her funeral. The third winner Narges Mohammadi, who has worked for many years as a journalist and is one of Iran’s most prominent activists. 

UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize 

• Also known as Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 

• The Prize is named for Guillermo Cano, a Colombian journalism who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper El Espectador in Bogota  

• Established in 1997 

• Purpose: To honour a person, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger. 

• World Press Freedom Day: May 3 

World Press Freedom Index 2023 

The World Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking released by RSF. According to the latest report which is the 21^st edition, released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), India’s ranking in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index has slipped to 161 out of 180 countries. The report shows that India’s ranking has fallen 11 places since last year when it was ranked 150th in the World Press Freedom Index.  

The objective is to assess and evaluate the extent of media freedom that journalists and media outlets have in 180 countries and territories. The index is based on an evaluation of media pluralism, independence, transparency, legislative framework, and the safety of journalists in each country. 

• First Position: Norway 

• Second Position: Ireland 

• Second Last Position (179th): China 

• Last Position(180th): North Korea 

‘Vivad se Vishwas’ - Scheme for Covid-19 Relief to MSMEs 

As announced in the Union Budget 2023-24, the Government has launched the ‘Vivad se Vishwas scheme for relief to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for Covid-19 period. The relief provided under this scheme is in continuation to the efforts of the government in promoting and sustaining the MSME sector. 

Under the scheme, Ministries have been asked to refund performance security, bid security and liquidated damages forfeited/ deducted during the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme will be applicable to registered MSMEs on the date of the claim by the supplier/contractor. MSME could be registered for any category of goods and services.   

The Ministry of Finance, through this scheme, decided to give additional benefits to eligible MSMEs, affected during the Covid-19 period, including a refund of 95 percent of the performance security, bid security, liquidated damages and risk purchase amount. 

• Finance Minister of India: Nirmala Sitharaman 

• Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises: Narayan Rane