• 04 Jul 2024

Greenfield Airport in Kota

Why in News?

Recently, Rajasthan Cabinet approved building of a Greenfield airport in Kota and an aerocity project in Jaipur.

Key Points

• According to the officials, Cargo services will be initiated at multiple airports in the state.
• Rajasthan aims to achieve self-reliance in power generation. New technology will be developed for solar energy.
  • Three flying schools will be opened in the state in Kishangarh, Bhilwara and Jhalawar, which will generate employment opportunities.

Steps Government has Taken for the Aviation Sector

• Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate reduced to 5% from 18% for domestic Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services.
• Benefits under Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 3.0 have been extended to the civil aviation sector.
• Operation of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) - UDAN (UdeDeshKaAamNagrik) flights promoted private investments in existing and new airports through the PPP route.
• Route rationalisation in the Indian airspace in coordination with the Indian Air Force for efficient airspace management, shorter routes and reduced fuel burn.
• RCS-UDAN was launched to promote air connectivity to unserved and underserved airports in Tier-II and Tier-III cities to stimulate regional growth and provide affordable air travel to the citizens.

Landslide in Dharchula

Why in News?

Recently, A severe landslide has completely blocked the road to Dharchula in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.

• Due to heavy rain, six highways and 96 roads are closed in Uttarakhand. Landslides have blocked 47 rural roads.

Key Points

• Heavy rainfall causes landslides and accidents, posing a significant challenge for Uttarakhand every monsoon.
  • In 2023, nearly 100 people died and many went missing from June to September.
• The CM Pushkar Dhami called for a safety audit of all transformers during the monsoon and urged for rapid development of industrial institutions in the state to boost power generation.

Landslide

• A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope.
• They are a type of mass wasting, which denotes any downward movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity.
• The term landslide encompasses five modes of slope movement: falls, topples, slides, spreads, and flows.
• Causes:
  • Slope movement occurs when forces acting downward (mainly due to gravity) exceed the strength of the earth materials that compose the slope.
  • Landslides are caused due to three major factors: geology, morphology, and human activity.
    • Geology refers to characteristics of the material. The earth or rock might be weak or fractured, or different layers may have different strengths and stiffness.
    • Morphology refers to the structure of the land. For example, slopes that lose their vegetation to fire or drought are more vulnerable to landslides.
      • Vegetation holds soil in place, and without the root systems of trees, bushes, and other plants, the land is more likely to slide away.
    • Human activity which includes agriculture and construction increases the risk of a landslide.
• Landslide-Prone Areas:
  • The entire Himalayan tract, hills/mountains in sub-Himalayan terrains of North-east India, Western Ghats, the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu Konkan areas are landslide-prone.

Hemant Soren to Return as Chief Minister of Jharkhand

Why in News?

Jharkhand Chief minister Champai Soren is likely to resign to pave the way for Hemant Soren’s return as Jharkhand’s CM after he was released on bail.

Key Points

• Formalities for the new government formation would begin accordingly and an unanimous decision in this regard was taken at the legislature party meeting of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance.
• Champai Soren assumed the role of chief minister after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Hemant Soren over money laundering charges related to an alleged land scam.

Directorate of Enforcement (ED)

• The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is a multi-disciplinary organization mandated with investigation of offences of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws.
• It functions under the Department of Revenue of the Ministry of Finance.
• As a premier financial investigation agency of the Government of India, the Enforcement Directorate functions in strict compliance with the Constitution and Laws of India.

Money Laundering

• Money laundering is concealing or disguising the identity of illegally obtained money so that they appear to have originated from legitimate sources. It is frequently a component of other, much more serious, crimes such as drug trafficking, robbery or extortion.
• According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), global money laundering is estimated between 2 to 5% of World Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Bihar Appeals Supreme Court

Why in News?

Recently, The Bihar government appealed to the Supreme Court against the Patna High Court’s decision to strike down the new reservation law in the state.

Key Points

• The quota was raised by the Bihar government after it carried out a caste survey in the state.
• The Patna High Court struck down the Bihar government's decision to increase the reservation quota from 50% to 65% for Backward Classes (BC), Extremely Backward Classes (EBC), Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in educational institutions and government jobs.

Reservation

• Reservation is a form of positive discrimination, created to promote equality among marginalised sections and to protect them from social and historical injustice.
• It gives preferential treatment to marginalised sections of society in employment and access to education.
• It was also originally developed to correct years of discrimination and to give a boost to disadvantaged groups.

Madhya Pradesh Budget

Why in News?

Recently, Madhya Pradesh finance minister Jagdish Deoda presented a budget of Rs 3.65 lakh crores in the state assembly.

Key points

• Highlights of the Budget:
  • Provision of Rs 26,560 crore for women and child development. An 81% jump in the allocation of funds from the previous Budget.
  • In the health sector, the government has allocated Rs 21,444 crore.
    • Three medical universities to be set up in Neemuch, Mandsore and Siwani districts.
  • For roadways, the government has allocated Rs 10,000 crore for the financial year 2024-25.
    • Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana target for construction of 1,000 km roads in the financial year 2024-2025.
  • Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has provision of Rs 520 crore in the budget for financial year 2024-25.
  • Provision of Rs 50 crore for Chief Minister Teerth Darshan Scheme.
  • Provision of Rs 4,725 crore for forest and environment.
  • Estimated cost of Ken-Betwa Link Project’ is Rs 44,605 crore. This project will be a boon for the people in Bundelkhand region.
  • For education, the government has allocated Rs 22,600 crore.
  • For the Sports and Youth Welfare Department the government has allocated Rs 586 crore.
  • For Gaushalas in the state, a provision of Rs 250 crore has been made in the Budget 2024-25.
  • A budget provision Rs 1,081 crore is proposed for the Culture Department and Rs 666 crore is proposed for tourist facilities.
  • A provision of Rs 13,596 crore was proposed for the construction and maintenance of irrigation projects.
  • A budget provision of Rs 27,870 crore is proposed for panchayat and rural development.
  • Over 57 lakh beneficiaries have benefited in Fiscal year 2023-24 under the following schemes:
    • National Widow Pension Scheme, National Disabled Pension Scheme, National Family Assistance Scheme,Samagra Samajik Suraksha Pension Yojana, Mukhyamantri Kanya Abhibhavak Pension Yojana, Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah and Nikah Yojana etc.

Broken Idols Found at Bhojshala Complex

Why in News?

Recently, 1,710 relics, including 39 broken idols, were found during a survey carried out by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to establish Bhojshala/ Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district.

Key Points

• Hindus consider Bhojshala, an ASI-protected 11^th-century monument, to be a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim community call it Kamal Maula Mosque.
• As per an arrangement made by the ASI on 7^th April 2003, Hindus perform puja in the Bhojshala premises on Tuesdays, while Muslims offer namaz in the complex on Fridays.
• The high court had on 11^th March 2024 ordered the ASI to conduct a "scientific survey" of the Bhojshala-Kamal Moula mosque complex within six weeks.
  • The idols which were uncovered include those of Vagdevi (Saraswati), Mahishasur Mardini, Ganesh, Krishna, Mahadev, Brahma and Hanuman.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

• ASI, under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological research and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation.
• It administers more than 3650 ancient monuments, archaeological sites, and remains of national importance.
• Its activities include carrying out surveys of antiquarian remains, exploration and excavation of archaeological sites, conservation and maintenance of protected monuments, etc.
• It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham- the first Director-General of ASI. Alexander Cunningham is also known as the “Father of Indian Archaeology”.