• 04 Oct 2022

Proposal to Invest Rs 19,000 crore in Uttar Pradesh's Green Energy Sector

Why in News?

On October 3, 2022, official sources in the Uttar Pradesh government informed that private sector firms have proposed to invest around Rs 19,000 crore in the state's green energy sector.

Key Points

• The proposals include investment proposals of about Rs 13,000 crore and Rs 5,900 crore in various renewable energy projects by Greeno and JSW Group respectively. For the first time Uttar Pradesh government has received such a huge investment proposal in the domestic green energy sector.
• According to official sources, the state is aligning with the Centre's broad target of achieving 450 gigawatts (GW) in renewable energy and 500 GW in non-fossil energy capacity by 2030. This is part of India's commitment to meet its international climate and green energy goals.
• Green energy will play a major role in reducing carbon emissions and preventing environmental pollution in the future.
• For the mega UP Global Investors Summit 2023 next year, the state government is making all efforts to woo private sector companies in many sectors, including green energy. The state is targeting Rs 10 lakh crore in fresh investment proposals from domestic and multinational companies (MNCs) in January 2023.
• To give momentum to the summit, the state has planned roadshows in major countries including the US, UK, Canada, UAE, Sweden, Singapore, Netherlands, Israel, France, Germany, South Korea and Australia.
• The state claims that in the last six months, they have received investment proposals worth Rs 45,000 crore from 55 private sector companies, including multinational companies. These include projects in the green energy sector.
• The Cossi's Group has proposed to invest Rs 6,000 crore in green mass transit projects, while Varun Beverages will invest around Rs 3,600 crore in four different beverage projects. Similarly, JK Paints and Kyyan Distilleries will invest Rs 600 crore and Rs 500 crore respectively in their projects.
• The Information Technology (IT) and Electronics sector has received maximum investment proposals of about Rs 95,000 crore in the last five years. These include seven projects in the data center space with a total investment profile of around Rs 20,000 crore. Of these, five projects have been approved, the remaining two are expected to get the nod of the state cabinet soon.

World Record on Gandhi Jayanti in the State

Why in News?

On October 2, 2022, the World Book of Records organization gave a provisional certificate to the Art and Culture Department for organizing Sarva Dharma Prarthana Sabha by about 1.5 crore people across the state on the occasion of World Non-Violence Day and the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi.

Key Points

• Art and Culture Minister Dr. BD Kalla, Principal Secretary Gayatri Rathod and Joint Government Secretary Pankaj Ojha handed over this certificate to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
• It is noteworthy that in the meeting organized across the state on October 2, the dignitaries of the state, Gandhians, thinkers, school and college students, self-help groups, Rajivika group self-help groups, parents, public representatives, MPs, legislators, ministers and by the general public. By participating, about 15 million people made this world record.

'Rajasthan Ratna' Award

Why in News?

On October 3, 2022, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced the names of the persons selected for the 'Rajasthan Ratna' award.

Key Points

• This year the 'Rajasthan Ratna' award will be conferred on Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Justice RM Lodha, Industrialist Anil Agarwal, Industrialist LN Mittal, Sheen Kauf Nizam and KC Malu.
• Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will present the award to the dignitaries during the Rajasthan summit to be held on October 7 and 8. Around 3,000 participants from India and abroad will participate in this conference.
• It is known that 'Rajasthan Ratna' is the highest award given by the Government of Rajasthan. This award was started in the year 2012. This award is given every year since 2012.
• It is to be known that the highest civilian award of India is 'Bharat Ratna'. On the lines of the same, the highest civilian award of Rajasthan is 'Rajasthan Ratna'. The Rajasthan Ratna Award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and a citation.

Boxer Bharat Joon Selected in Youth Boxing World Championships

Why in News?

On October 3, 2022, Boxer Bharat June of Haryana's Jhajjar district was informed by his coach Hitesh Deshwal about the selection in the Youth Boxing World Championship to be held in Spain (from November 14 to November 26).

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that India June participated in the Youth World Championships held in Guwahati. At the same time, now he has been selected in the Indian Boxing Youth Team, from which he will now participate in the Youth Boxing World Championship to be held in Spain.
• Coach Hitesh Deshwal said that India June has won the gold medal in the 92 plus competition to be held in Serbia from September 12 to 19. This was his third gold medal in Serbia. India June has also won two gold medals in the Asian Games before this.

Food Supply Department to Install GPS System on Vehicles

Why in News?

On October 3, 2022, Jharkhand Food Supplies Minister Rameshwar Oraon, while talking to media persons, said that the state government will monitor the vehicles lifting food grains from godowns and other centers with GPS tracking system to keep an eye on the disturbances in ration distribution in the state.

Key Points

• Food Supplies Minister Rameshwar Oraon said the new system was being implemented by the state government following complaints that PDS shopkeepers and beneficiaries were getting less foodgrains.
• Vehicles carrying ration will have GPS tracking systems, he said. For this, a plan is being worked out to set up a command-and-control room in the State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited. Through this, the government will monitor the movement of these vehicles.
• The state government has floated a tender for setting up a GPS-based vehicle tracking system and command and control centre.
• He informed that the total priority household ration cards (PHH) in the state are 5112307, in which total family members are 22906422; Antyodaya ration card holders in the state are 896614, total members in the family of Antyodaya ration cardholders are 3519024; The white ration card holders are 372792, the white ration card holder's family members are 1404506 and the state green ration card holders are 461292 and the green ration card holder's family has total members 1478083.

Bilaspur-Indore Flight Launched

Why in News?

On October 3, 2022, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia virtual launched the Bilaspur-Indore airline.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Baghel flagged off the flight from his residence office in the capital Raipur and Union Minister Scindia from New Delhi flagged off the flight from Bilasa Devi Kenwat Airport, Chakarbhata Bilaspur.
• Bilaspur-Indore-Bilaspur Air Service will leave Bilaspur at 11.35 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, four days a week, to reach Indore at 1.25 p.m. and depart Indore at 1.55 p.m. and return to Bilaspur at 3.45 p.m.
• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel urged Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to start international air service from Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur and establish an international cargo hub here, saying that Raipur airport has been prepared according to international standards. Raipur airport is now ready to operate international flights.
• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel urged Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to start international air service from Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur and establish an international cargo hub here, saying that Raipur airport has been prepared according to international standards. Raipur airport is now ready to operate international flights.
• The Chief Minister said that 461.20 acres of land has been provided free of cost by the State Government to the Airport Authority of India for Raipur Airport. On which runway expansion, new terminal building construction, ATC tower construction and it has been prepared according to international standard. The pending demand of land for airport development, security related problems of airport complex have been resolved by the state government.
• Chief Minister Baghel also urged the Union Minister Scindia to start air service for cities like Varanasi, Ranchi, Patna, Bhubaneshwar connecting Ambikapur to Bilaspur, Raipur under the Regional Connectivity Scheme.
• Giving information about the efforts made by the state government for the expansion of Bilaspur airport, Chief Minister Baghel said that the Bilaspur airport has been upgraded to 3-C VFR category by the state government.
• Alliance Air Company started the first regular domestic air service from Bilaspur to Delhi-Jabalpur-Bilaspur-Prayagraj on 1st March 2021 and regular air service from Bilaspur to Bhopal was also started from 5th June 2022.
• Approval is being issued for works costing Rs 22 crore to prepare Bilaspur airport as per 3-C IFR standard and to develop night landing facility here. For the installation of PBN navigation system for smooth operation of aircraft from the airport, the amount has been paid by the state government to Indian airports.
• To develop Ambikapur airport as per 3-C VFR category, administrative approval has been issued for Rs 48.00 crore for runway development and expansion, city side development works. The target is to develop the airport and apply for its licensing by December 31, 2022.
• Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that both the cities of Bilaspur and Indore are of great economic and religious importance, connecting these two cities with air connectivity will provide a good facility to the people of both the cities.

Himalayan Darshan Service

Why in News?

On October 3, 2022, State Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj duly inaugurated the Himalaya Darshan Seva from George Everest in Mussoorie. Himalaya Darshan Seva has been launched after a one-week trial.

Key Points

• The tourism minister said that with this Heli service, tourists will get to see the Himalayas from close quarters. At the same time, the economy of the state will also increase, and new employment opportunities will be created.
• He said that soon the George Everest Museum in the memory of the great surveyor George Everest would be ready in Mussoorie. In this museum the statues of late Nain Singh Rawat and Radhanath Sikandar, the pioneers of Indian cartography, along with their achievements will be kept.
• The tourism minister said that many other attractive activities related to air sports are also being started from George Everest. For this, the tourism department has also signed a contract with a reputed company for the trial.
• He said that an attractive photography and videography contest has been inaugurated for tourism lovers on World Tourism Day. Under this, photos and videos are being invited online in five different categories. Through this contest, prizes worth more than Rs 25 lakh will be given to nature tourism lovers.