• 02 Mar 2022

Bihar Budget & Economic Survey

Bihar Budget

• Bihar Budget 2022-23 is based on six points – health, education, investment in industry, agriculture and allied sectors, infrastructure (rural and urban) and welfare of different sections.
• Following are the important facts related to the budget 2022-23-

• Total Expenditure - Rs 2,37,691,19 crore
  
  • Revenue Expenditure - Rs 1,91,9566.7 crore
  • Capital Expenditure - Rs 45,734.52 crore
• Total receipts - Rs 2,37,891.94 crore
• Fiscal Deficit – Rs 25,885.10 crore (3.47 per cent of GSDP)

• The budget estimate of fiscal deficit is within the prescribed limit of FRBM Act (for 2022-33 4.0 per cent).
• The economic growth rate of the state for the year 2022-23 is estimated at 9.7 percent.
• In the budget, a budget provision of Rs 500 crore has been made for the financial year 2022-23 for the Saat Nischay Part-2 scheme of Atmanirbhar Bihar under good governance.
  
  • Nischay 1. Yuva Shakti - Progress of Bihar
  • Nischay 2. Strong woman, capable woman
  • Nischay 3. Irrigation water to every field
  • Nischay 4. Clean Village - Prosperous Village
  • Nischay 5. Clean City - Developed City
  • Nischay 6. Easy Connectivity
  • Nischay 7. Additional health facilities for all

Bihar Economic Survey

• According to the Economic Survey, Bihar's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) grew by 2.5 percent in 2020-21 and the growth rate is better than the national average, despite the effect of the 'lockdown' imposed to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic.
• According to the survey, the per capita income in Bihar stood at Rs 50,555 during 2020-21 at the current market price as compared to the per capita income of India at Rs 86,659.
• During the last five years 2016-17 to 2020-21, Bihar grew at the highest rate of 2.3 per cent in primary sector, 4.8 per cent in secondary sector and 8.5 per cent in tertiary sector.
• Agriculture and allied sectors have grown at the rate of 2.1 percent in the state during the last five years 2016-17 to 2020-21.
• The total expenditure of the state government in 2020-21 increased by 13.4 percent over the previous year to Rs 1,65,696 crore, which includes Rs 26,203 crore as capital expenditure and Rs 1,39,493 crore as revenue expenditure.
• Agriculture and allied sectors have grown at the rate of 2.1 per cent during the last five years. The growth rate of livestock and fisheries was 10 percent and 7 percent respectively.
• The urbanization of the state has increased very rapidly in the last ten years. According to the 2011 census, the level of urbanization in Bihar was just 11.3 percent, which has increased to 15.3 percent at present.
• In the year 2011, Bihar had only 3.1 percent of the total urban population of the country. The state government has expressed hope that the level of urbanization in Bihar will be very high in the next decade in view of the urban economy growing at a high rate.
• Like the economic disparity among the districts of Bihar, the survey has also pointed out a great disparity in urbanization. Patna district has the highest level of urbanization (44.3 percent), apart from this, only two districts- Munger (28.3 percent) and Nalanda (26.2 percent) have more than 25 percent urbanization.
• According to the figures for the year 2019-20, Patna district tops in terms of per capita income with Rs 131.1 thousand. Begusarai district is at the second place, whose per capita income is Rs 51.4 thousand. In terms of per capita income, they are followed by Munger (44.3 thousand), Bhagalpur (41.8 thousand), Rohtas (35.8 thousand), Muzaffarpur (34.8 thousand), Aurangabad (32 thousand), Gaya (31.9 thousand), Bhojpur (31.6 thousand) and Vaishali (Rs 30.9 thousand).
• The districts with low per capita income are Sheohar (Rs 19.6 thousand), Araria (20.6 thousand), Sitamarhi (22.1 thousand), East Champaran (22.3 thousand), Madhubani (22.6 thousand), Supaul (22.9 thousand), Kishanganj (23.2 thousand) and Nawada (Rs 23.4 thousand).

Rajasthan Gaurav Alankaran

Why in News

On March 1, 2022, Rajasthan Gaurav Alankaran Ceremony-2022 was organized by Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha of Rajasthan at Hotel Uniara.

Key Points

• In the beginning of the program, Governor Kalraj Mishra got the objective and fundamental duties of the constitution read.
• The Governor honored senior Indian Police Service officer Prasanna Kumar Khmesra, Indian Administrative Service officer Rajan Vishal, Vaibhav Galaria, Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar of the former royal family of Udaipur, Sahitya Akademi awardee poet and litterateur Dr Rajesh Kumar Vyas, educationist Professor AK Gehlot and other dignitaries who made remarkable contribution in various fields.
• Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha has been working for the last 27 years to honor the talents of Rajasthan and the country related to various fields including literature, music, art, business, administration, journalism.
• HC Ganeshia, the patron of the organization, said that the Jaipur Marathon is being organized by the organization on March 13.

Two New Solar Parks in Jaisalmer and Bikaner

Why in News

Two new solar parks of 1800 MW capacity will be developed in Jaisalmer and Bikaner of the state.

Key Points

• In the first phase, 800 MW capacity solar park in Jaisalmer will be developed through Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam and 1000 MW capacity solar park in Bikaner will be developed through Rajasthan Solar Park Development, a subsidiary of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation.
• Both the parks will be developed under Mode 8 of the central government scheme. For this, approval has been received from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of the Central Government.
• Rajasthan is continuously developing in the field of renewable energy. It has become a leading state in the country in the field of green energy. Even during Invest Rajasthan, MoU LUI has been signed for investment of about 8 lakh crore rupees in the solar energy sector in the state.
• At present, the world's largest solar park of 2245 MW capacity has also been developed at Bhadla in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. Similarly, a solar park of 925 MW capacity is being developed by Renewable Energy Corporation at Nokh in Jaisalmer district.
• So far 10,560 MW solar power capacity has been developed in the state. In this way, Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to develop 10 GW of solar power.
• With the establishment of new parks, renewable energy based infrastructure will develop in the state as well as new investment and employment opportunities will develop. With this, the production of low cost and green energy will increase in the state.

'Shiv Jyoti Arpanam' program

Why in News

On the occasion of Mahashivratri on March 1, 2022, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan along with his wife Sadhna Singh started the 'Shiv Jyoti Arpanam' program by lighting 15 diyas at Ramghat of Kshipra river in Ujjain.

Key Points

• In the 'Shiv Jyoti Arpanam' program, the work of lighting the lamp started at Ramghat. The people of Ujjain registered the name of Ujjain in the Guinness Book of World Records by lighting 11 lakh 71 thousand 78 diyas together at Ramghat, Datta Akhara, Narsingh Ghat, Guru Nanak Ghat, Sunhari Ghat.
• Representative of Guinness Book of World Records Nischal Barot handed over the certificate to the Chief Minister.
• Ujjain set a new record in the Guinness Book of World Records by breaking the record of 9 lakh 41 thousand lamp lighting set in Ayodhya last November.

Inauguration of Laxman Jhoola in Rajim

Why in News

On March 1, 2022, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel dedicated the newly constructed Laxman Jhula (Suspension Bridge) at Prayag Rajim, Chhattisgarh to the general public. This swing, built near Triveni Sangam, will connect Rajim's Rajiv Lochan Temple to Kuleshwar Mahadev Temple and Lomash Rishi Ashram.

Key Points

• Known as a religious and spiritual city, this much-awaited Lakshman Jhula, built at a cost of Rs 33.12 crore in Rajim, has a width of 3.25 meters and a length of 610 meters.
• This bridge built on the Mahanadi is quite attractive due to its architecture. It has a modern and well equipped lighting system for illumination. Due to which tourists can visit easily even at night.
• It is noteworthy that the tourists had to cross the river on foot to reach Kuleshwar Mahadev Temple from Rajiv Lochan Temple or from Lomash Rishi Ashram to Kuleshwarnath Mahadev Temple, which was extremely risky during rainy days.
• It is worth mentioning that Rajim is situated on the banks of Mahanadi in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. It is famous for its magnificent temples. Here 'Rajim' or 'Rajivalochan' is an ancient temple of Lord Ramachandra, which dates back to the 8th-9th century.
• The historic Magha Purnima fair of Rajim (Rajim Punni Mela) is famous all over India. The much-awaited Laxman Jhoola will give more grandeur to the Rajim Punni Mela. The unique combination of ancient Indian culture and craftsmanship is seen in the temples of historical and archaeological importance of this holy city.

All India Hockey Competition

Why in News

On March 1, 2022, Chhattisgarh's Forest and Climate Change Minister Mohammad Akbar inaugurated the All India Hockey Tournament at BR Yadav Astroturf Hockey Ground, Bahtrai Stadium in Bilaspur district.

Key Points

• A total of thirty teams including 16 teams of men's section and 14 teams of women's section are participating in this tournament from different states.
• Men's teams from Haryana, Delhi, Mumbai, Rourkela, Rohtak, Prayagraj, Sonepat, Bangalore etc. are participating in this tournament. Similarly, women hockey players from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Nagpur, Meerut, Gwalior and Haryana are participating.
• The first opening match of the tournament was played between Sufia Sporting Club Amravati and District Hockey Association Bilaspur in men's category.

National ICT Award

Why in News

On February 28, 2022, Poonam Urmalia, a teacher of Government Girls Higher Secondary School Camp-1 Bhilai of Durg district of Chhattisgarh was awarded the National ICT Award.

Key Points

• Union Minister of State for Education, Annapurna Devi honored Poonam Urmalia by presenting her with certificates and medals at the award ceremony Ceremony for School Teachers held at Nalanda Auditorium, Ambedkar International Building, New Delhi.
• All those school teachers were awarded in the function, who have made teaching interesting and acceptable to the children by using information and communication technology.
• It is noteworthy that 10 computers were provided by the State Government to the Government Girls Higher Secondary School of Bhilai to make the children familiar with information technology. Teacher Poonam Urmalia installed Defense Open Education Resources in these computers, due to which school children were able to understand the technology of computers for the first time.
• Teacher Poonam has learnt Reflective Teaching with ICT course from Tata Institute Mumbai, which benefited the school children.

Keeda Jadi (Cordyceps sinensis)

Why in News

Recently, Dr. Ranjit Singh, scientist of Bio-Energy Defense Research Institute (Diber), Haldwani said that after the success in research related to the production of Keeda Jadi (Cordyceps sinensis) in Diber lab, its commercial production will be done now in three labs located in Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Kerala.

Key Points

• This herb is obtained from the mold released in the death of a particular type of insect. Nutrients like protein amino acids, vitamins B-1, B-2 and B-12 are found in it.
• It is used in the treatment of following diseases-
  
  • Kidney treatment
  • High blood pressure control
  • Blood formation
  • Treatment of asthma, impotence, bone joint pain etc.
• Keeda Jadi grows naturally in Chamoli of Uttarakhand and Dharchula and Munsiyari region of Pithoragarh in places above 3,500 meters.