• 07 May 2022

Hi-tech nurseries to be developed in every district of Uttar Pradesh

Why In News?

• On May 7, 2022, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya directed the rural development officials to develop two hi-tech nurseries in each district of the state.

Key Point

• Under these directions, the Rural Development Department will develop 150 hi-tech nurseries to grow fruits and selected vegetable saplings within 100 days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
• The cost of each nursery will be around Rs 1 crore and one nursery will produce around 15 lakh saplings every year.
• High-tech nurseries will be developed under Israeli technology according to the standards set by the Department of Horticulture.
• The high-tech nursery developed under the MGNREGA scheme will be maintained through cluster level federation of National Rural Livelihood Mission.
• Under the MGNREGA scheme, nurseries will be developed on the collective land (as per norms laid down by the Department) of members of self-help groups/village organisations/cluster level federations.

Foundation stone of country's first animal sciences university

Why In News?

• On May 6, 2022, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone of the building complex of the country's first Animal Sciences University in Patna.

Key Point

• Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that there was no animal university anywhere in the country. Bihar Animal Sciences University will be set up in Patna in the name of animals.
• He said that the cost of building this university will be around Rs.889 crore.
• The Chief Minister said that an animal hospital will be constructed in eight to ten panchayats in Bihar. It has been inserted in seven certainty-2 so that the animals do not face any kind of problem. No animal should be deprived of treatment.
• Along with medical facilities for the animals, arrangements are being made for their vaccination, artificial insemination, deworming, door step delivery etc.

Launch of The Filo Portal

Why In News?

• On May 6, 2022, Bihar Education Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary has launched the Philo portal in government secondary and higher secondary schools at The Sri Krishna Memorial Hall in Patna.

Key Point

• The portal has been launched to facilitate more than 45 lakh students from 9th to 12th standard studying in schools, which will promote digital technology in school education on a priority basis.
• For this portal, teachers will also be trained on the use of digital technology in education as per the requirement.
• Speaking on the occasion, Additional Chief Secretary of the department, Sanjay Kumar said that in order to increase the use of digital technology in the education system of the state, all the 9,360 secondary and higher secondary schools will have free internet and Wi-Fi facility from this year.
• Explaining the meaning of the word 'Philo' to the teachers and students present in the auditorium, the Education Minister said that 'Philo' is a Greek word which means 'friend'.
• The Government has provided the Filo Digital Platform free of cost to all the students. As soon as the question is asked on the app, the tutor will connect to the students within 60 seconds and tell them how to solve the question.
• He said Bihar has become the first state in the country to provide a Filo digital platform to students by going beyond the scope of classrooms.
• With this app, you can prepare for Bihar Board exam, but also for JEE-Mains/NEET etc.

Invest Rajasthan, 2022

Why In News?

• On May 6, 2022, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot addressed a review meeting of the preparations for 'Invest Rajasthan, 2022' at the Chief Minister's residence.

Key Point

• 'Invest Rajasthan, 2022' will be held on October 7 and 8, 2022 at the 'Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre' at Sitapura, Jaipur.
• The Chief Minister said that road shows and investor connect programmes were organized across the country for Invest Rajasthan. Of these, 4,192 MoUs and LoIs have been signed for the proposed investment of Rs 10.45 lakh crore, which will provide employment to more than 9.69 lakh people in the state.
• Additional Chief Secretary, Industry and Commerce, Veenu Gupta said that in a series of connect programmes of Invest Rajasthan, golf event in coordination with Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Jaipur, Medical Device Park at Visakhapatnam, Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) of Vadodara And road shows will be held at Fintech Park in Gurugram.

12th Senior National Women's Hockey Championship, 2022

Why In News?

• Madhya Pradesh Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Yashodhara Raje Scindia on May 6, 2022, inaugurated the 12th Senior National Women's Hockey Championship, 2022 in Bhopal.

Key Point

• It is to be noted that 27 teams from the country including hosts Madhya Pradesh are participating in this championship. This includes Chandigarh, Bihar, Haryana, Assam, Bengal, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Karnataka, Teams from Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, Odisha and Himachal Pradesh are included.
• In the championship, these teams are divided into 8 pools. Pool-A includes Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh and Bihar, Pool-B includes Haryana, Assam, Bengal.
• Pool-C includes Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Tripura and Pool-D includes Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
• Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry have been placed in Pool-E, while Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar have been placed in Pool-F.
• Pool-G covers Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Goa and Gujarat, Pool-H includes Odisha, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh.
• The final match of the 12th Senior National Women's Hockey Championship, 2022 will be played on May 17.

Haryana Aerospace and Defence Production Policy, 2022

Why In News?

• The 'Haryana Aerospace and Defence Production Policy, 2022' was approved in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on May 6, 2022.

Key Point

• The objective of the policy is to attract investment of US$ 1 billion over the next five years with a focus on promoting industrial development in the aerospace and defence sector and creating a complete ecosystem for the development of the sector and to establish Haryana as the leading aerospace and defence hub of the country by creating employment opportunities for about 25,000 people.
• The policy envisages harnessing haryana's inherent strength in auto components and automobile manufacturing sector.
• Through this policy, the Government of Haryana is committed to various steps to promote human capital development in the State, such as curriculum development, Research and Innovation Scholarship Programme, Aerospace and Defence University and setting up of flying schools.
• The policy will also meet the need to create a world class MRO in Haryana. At the same time, this policy lays special emphasis on the development of the MSME sector and the development of its business.
• The state government will facilitate and encourage proposals for setting up of new MRO facilities at the existing airports or new locations in Haryana.
• Cluster development, market linkages and international cooperation, enhancing access to infrastructure and technology, regulatory simplification, infrastructure support and financial incentives have been envisaged to accelerate the growth of the MSME sector in the State and to promote entrepreneurship.
• The financial incentives offered under this policy are as under:
  • 100% of net SGST will be reimbursed for 10 years in D category blocks to the extent of 12.5 % of FCI.
  • 75% of the net SGST will be reimbursed for 8 years in C category blocks.
  • 50% of the net SGST will be reimbursed for 7 years in B category blocks.
  • Within a radius of 10 km of B, C and D blocks and all airstrips (except Hisar Airport) in Haryana, 5% of the Fixed Capital Investment (FCI), the maximum limit is Rs.10 crore.
  • Integrated Manufacturing Cluster, 5% of The Fixed Capital Investment (FCI), maximum limit of Rs.20 crore, will be invested in a radius of 10 kms around Hisar and Maharaja Agrasen Airport, Hisar (MAH).
  • A subsidy of Rs.48,000/- per annum will be provided to all categories of employees having salary above Rs.40,000/- per month in B, C and D blocks.
  • The aerospace and defence units in B, C and D blocks will be eligible for reimbursement of 100% stamp duty on sale/lease deed after commencement of commercial production within 5 years from the date of purchase of land.
  • 100% waiver in electricity charges for 10 years in B, C and D blocks.
  • A credit guarantee scheme will be offered to students pursuing aviation/aerospace related course in higher education.
  • In order to facilitate research and innovation in the State, the units registered with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research will be provided financial assistance @ 50% of the project cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 50 crore.

New Chairman of Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) appointed

Why In News?

• The Haryana government on May 6, 2022, has appointed Swatantra Kumar Singhal as the chairman of Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA).

Key Point

• Singhal was appointed as Director General, Department of New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Hanif took over in the presence of Qureshi.
• Singhal is a Master of Engineering from Roorkee University and has served as administrator, planner and consultant in the government and private sector as well as in various organizations.
• As soon as he assumes charge, newly appointed Director General Singhal has called for implementing the plan to make Haryana and adjoining National Capital Region pollution free from a scientific point of view to tackle the problem of paddy stubble burning in the fields to give a boost to the renewable energy and energy conservation programmes in Haryana.
• Apart from this, he said that efforts will be made to harness solar energy through small solar power plants. These efforts will not only generate employment but also contribute to the clean and green economy of the state.

Fisheries College Kabirdham Named after Padma Shri Punaram Nishad

Why In News?

• On May 6, 2022, an order was issued by the Chhattisgarh government to rename the Fisheries College Kabirdham after Padma Shri Punaram Nishad.

Key Point

• Fisheries College Kabirdham will now be known as Punaram Nishad Fisheries College.
• It may be mentioned that a proposal was unanimously sent by the New Fish Policy Making Committee to the Government to rename the Fisheries College Kabirdham after Padma Shri Punaram Nishad.
• After the consent of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, fisheries college Kabirdham has been renamed after Padma Shri Punaram Nishad by the state government.
• It may be mentioned that Fisheries College Kabirdham is the only fisheries college in Chhattisgarh, which was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh on July 8, 2018.
• It may be recalled that Padma Shri late Punaram Nishad was a popular singer of the Vedamati style of 'Pandwani', the popular mode of singing the Mahabharata katha in Chhattisgarh. On the strength of his prodigious talent, he popularized 'Pandwani' in the country and abroad.
• In view of his art, in the year 1974, the then President of India, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, awarded him the copper letter. The Government of India had awarded him the Padma Shri in the year 2005 for singing 'Pandwani'.