• 11 Jul 2022

Biggest Mall of North India

Why in News?

• On July 10, 2022, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated North India's largest 'Lulu Mall' in Lucknow at a cost of Rs 2 thousand crores.

Key Points

• The mall has been constructed in about 22 lakh square feet on Shaheed Path in Sushant Golf City. Its main attraction is not the largest hyper market and gaming zone of the state built here. Apart from this, the wedding arena for wedding shopping and the 11-screen superplex for entertainment have also been prepared here.
• Here, with international standards and facilities, the purchase of brand goods from India and abroad can be done. Inside the mall there are also 15 restaurants, 25 outlets along with a food court built with a seating capacity of 1600 people. It has a parking capacity of 3,000 vehicles. 50,000 people can shop together.
• The company is also considering to provide shuttle service to tourists. From groceries to fashion and electronics, home decoration items are also available here.
• This is the fifth shopping mall of the Lulu Group. The company is also working on new shopping malls in Prayagraj and Varanasi. Apart from retail projects, Lulu Group has also announced a food processing hub, which is under construction in Greater Noida with an investment of around Rs 500 crore.

Food Processing Institute in Bihar

Why in News?

• Recently, Union Food Processing Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras during a meeting with Bihar Industries Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain talked about opening of a food processing institute NIFTEM (National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management) in Bihar.

Key Points

• Various aspects of setting up of Agro Processing Clusters in Bihar under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) were discussed in a meeting between Union Food Processing Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras and Bihar Industries Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain in Delhi.
• During this it was also decided that soon a high-level meeting would be held in Patna between the Union Ministry of Food Processing and Industries Department, Government of Bihar, as well as a Food Processing Conclave in the presence of big industrialists of this sector in Patna.
• Bihar's Industries Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said that the farmers of Bihar can benefit greatly from the Agro Processing Clusters scheme of the Union Food Processing Ministry under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana. Besides, setting up of food processing units will generate employment opportunities on a large scale.
• 10 acres of land would be required for setting up agro processing clusters and the target would be to set up at least five food processing units costing Rs 25 crore or more.
• According to the plan, in each agro processing cluster, the state and the center will jointly provide all the facilities like road, water, electricity, drainage, warehouse, cold storage, tetra pack, sorting, grading.

11 New Sports Stadiums to be Built in Rajasthan

Why in News?

• On July 10, 2022, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved a proposal of Rs 16.50 crore for 11 new sports stadiums in the state.

Key Points

• According to the proposal, Girva (Udaipur), Keru (Jodhpur), Hindaun (Karauli), Dhod (Sikar), Parbatsar (Nagaur), Parasrampura (Jhunjhunu), Bansur (Alwar), Rupwas (Bharatpur), Uchhaun (Bharatpur), Taranagar (New sports stadiums will be constructed at Churu) and Bagru (Jaipur).
• One crore, 50 lakh rupees will be spent on the construction of each stadium. The stadium will be constructed by the Rajasthan State Road Construction and Development Corporation (RSRDC) and the Public Works Department.
• With this decision of the Chief Minister, all the newly constructed sports stadiums will be developed with 200-metre cinder athletic track, Basketball Court, Volleyball, Kho-Kho and Kabaddi grounds etc. At the same time, construction of stadium office building, toilet blocks, tube wells, interior roads and boundary walls etc. will also be constructed as infrastructure facilities.
• It may be recalled that the Chief Minister in the Budget for the year 2022-23 had announced to construct new sports stadiums in various districts of the state.

International Webinar of Delphic Council of Rajasthan

Why in News?

• On July 9, 2022, an International Webinar was organized to mark the completion of one year of 'Delphic Council of Rajasthan', a chapter of the Indian Delphic Council and International Delphic Council. In the webinar the speakers discussed enhancing the activities of Delphic.

Key Points

• President of the Delphic Council of Rajasthan IAS Shreya Guha said that this online international webinar was organized by the council under the series 'DCR @:The Road Ahead' of the Delphic Dialogue.
• Indian Delphic Council Secretary IAS Shantanu Agrahari said that the Delphic National Games will be held in the year 2023 and the State Games of Delphic will begin from January 2023. In the webinar the speakers discussed enhancing the activities of Delphic.
• It is worth mentioning that the Delphic Council of Rajasthan is acting as a platform in encouraging and preserving art, which will not only provide the basis for the extinct arts, but will also create an art base bridge for the new generation.

Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart

Why in News?

• On July 9, 2022, Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh informed that 'Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart (RDTM)' will be organized from July 22 to 24. The launch event of Travel Mart from 22nd July will be at Hotel Clarks Amer.

Key Points

• The Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart will have two-day B2B meetings between exhibitors from Rajasthan and buyers from Pan India. Around 200 exhibitors will showcase their tourism products at the Travel Mart. Around 250 domestic tour operators from different states of the country will participate. These travel marts will prove to be very beneficial for the tourism sector.
• The Tourism Minister informed that the 'Rajasthan Film Tourism Promotion Policy' will also be released at the inaugural function of Rajasthan Domestic Travel Mart .
• He informed that Rajasthan Film Tourism Promotion Policy has been brought in with the objective of establishing Rajasthan as a film shooting destination and to promote film making in Rajasthani language.
• This will provide employment to the people and youth associated with the film industry in the state and promote Rajasthani language. Along with this, people associated with this business will also get other benefits including subsidy, State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) and exemption in fees payable on monuments under the state government.
• It is worth mentioning that road shows were organized in Jaipur, Mandawa, Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Udaipur districts of the state to invite domestic tour operators to RDTM.

World Class Hernia Conference

Why in News?

• From July 9 to 10, 2022, a two-day world-class Hernia Conference of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha and Hernia Society of India was held at Jahanuma Palace in the capital, which was inaugurated by the Medical Education Minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang on 9 July.

Key Points

• More than 500 doctors and medical students from different states of the country participated in the two-day conference. The conference also featured a live telecast of the robot surgery in Ahmedabad.
• Speaking on the occasion, Minister Sarang said that 'Medical Knowledge Sharing Mission' has also been launched by the Medical Education Department in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to launch this mission.
• Through this Mission, the latest techniques, innovations and research of medical education and medical treatment at the national and international level are being extended to the doctors and medical students of Madhya Pradesh.
• Minister Sarang said Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country where a medical incubation center has been set up. The incubation center is being developed at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, which will give an opportunity to doctors and medical students of the state to research and develop new medical devices.
• The Minister said that in order to promote the use of medical robotics in the field of surgery, training will be given for the use of medical robots in various surgical procedures of orthopedic, urology, neuro surgery by entering into MoUs with various government and private sector medical institutions of the country.
• In Madhya Pradesh, the use of 3D printing will be used in surgery by producing replicas in the context of development of prosthesis, specific diseases of teeth, bones and various organs, which will lead to better results.

Backward Classes Commission will be Constituted Afresh

Why in News?

• On July 10, 2022, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced the formation of the Backward Classes Commission afresh, giving a big gift to the people of backward classes at the birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Makhan Shah Labana and Baba Lakhi Shah Banjara in Kurukshetra.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that after its formation, all the problems of the society will be taken care of by this Commission. It will be ensured that the benefits of all the schemes reach the beneficiaries through the Commission.
• The Chief Minister said that the State Government has constituted a separate Commission or Board for the welfare of all sections of the people who have been left behind in the race for progress due to some reasons.
• Manohar Lal Khattar said that the government has run more than 300 schemes for the social, economic and educational upliftment of backward classes, scheduled castes and the poor. Haryana is the first state in the country to provide 618 services of 47 departments online through 117 Antyodaya Bhawans and about 20,000 Atal Seva Kendra in the state to provide their benefits under one roof.
• On this occasion, Manohar Lal Khattar also announced the construction of a community center in the name of Lakkhi Shah Banjara in Kurukshetra Municipality.

ICFAI Launches 'Vidya Daan' Initiative to Educate Rural Students

Why in News?

• Recently an innovative initiative named 'Vidya Daan' was launched in the campus of ICFAI University, Ranchi to improve the education level of rural students of neighbouring villages of Jharkhand.

Key Points

• The Vice Chancellor of ICFAI, Prof. O.R.S. Rao said the university had adopted five neighboring villages, Simalia, Swadgi, Gutua, Tilta and Pundag, under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) scheme of the Government of India.
• After conducting a survey in these five villages, it has been decided to launch 'Vidya Daan' scheme to improve the quality of education and IT skills of rural students . Under this, remedial classes will be conducted for class 8 students in mathematics and physics from 4:30 PM in the university campus.
• Apart from this, it is being planned to set up Vidya Dan Kendra in 5 Panchayats, in which computer centers will be set up to train youth in IT skills.
• Prof Rao said that a mobile library is also being planned to be set up in which a vehicle with a mobile library of text books and story books will travel to all the 5 villages.

Hypothecation Termination

Why in News?

• On July 9, 2022, Transport Commissioner of Chhattisgarh Dipanshu Kabra informed that taking important steps towards strengthening and empowering 'Tunhar Sarkar Tuhar Dwar' by the Transport Department, now all services related to hypothecation have been made faceless.

Key Points

• Transport Commissioner Deepanshu Kabra said that no physical document will be taken in the RTO office regarding addition and termination of hypothecation under it. The people of the state will now be able to avail all the services related to the hypothecation (HP) sitting at home.
• Around 75 banks, financial institutions and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) have been integrated with their hypothecation (HP) services.
• Banks and lending institutions will have to submit all documents and NOCs digitally through software through OTP received on mobile number linked with Aadhaar card, without the need for physical signature.
• Once the loan is disbursed or paid in the bank by the vehicle owner, the data will be directly transferred to the vehicle database by the bank. The verification and approval of HPT service will be done automatically by the Transport Department through the software.
• The 'Tunhar Sarkar Tunhar Dwar' scheme run by the Transport Department is an important scheme for the convenience of the people. With the facilities of the transport department so easily found sitting at home, people no longer need to make frequent rounds of the transport department. This will save the time and money of the applicants.
• Under this, more than 11 lakh smart card based registration certificates and driving licenses have been sent to the homes of applicants in a period of less than one year. These include 7 lakh 50 thousand 934 smart card based registration certificates and 3 lakh 67 thousand 785 driving licences. In this, 22 transport services are being provided to the people at the door of their house.
• The Transport Commissioner said that chief minister Bhupesh Baghel had made an announcement on January 26 to set up transport facilitation centers across the state to expand transport related services. In pursuance of this, about 1,000 transport facilitation centers are being opened across the state. At the same time, the establishment of transport facilitation centers will also create the possibility of generating employment of about five thousand youth.
• Chhattisgarh is the first state in the country to provide online medical certificates required for driving licences for the convenience of motorists. Under this, so far 1.5 lakh people of the state have availed this user-friendly rule through online medium.
• In the last week of March in Chhattisgarh, Transport Minister Muhammad Akbar had launched the portal to issue medical certificates for driving licences online keeping in mind the Corona epidemic. The availability of paperless medical proof in the Corona period has facilitated both the applicant and the doctor.
• Similarly, Chhattisgarh has also become the first state in the country to release the fitness of vehicles through photo footage app by doing GO fencing to the RTO office. The advent of this app has helped in taking effective and transparent fitness action.
• Voluntary 'Aadhaar' authentication in this facility will provide immediate access to transport services. With the launch of this service, Chhattisgarh has become the first state in the country where the Transport Department is integrating driving licence and registration related services with Aadhaar.

Roka-Cheka Campaign

Why in News?

• On July 10, 2022, a statewide 'Roka-Chheka Abhiyan' was launched to protect kharif crops in Chhattisgarh, which will continue till July 20.

Key Points

• During this, to save the crop from grazing, the animals will be brought to Gothan regularly under the Roka-Chheka campaign.
• Veterinary camps will be organized in Gothans to check the health of animals, castration, artificial insemination and vaccination will be done for the improvement of animal breed.
• Roka-Chheka is an old tradition of the state. Through this, the herders resolve not to leave their animals for grazing in the open, so that the crops are not damaged. The animals are kept in their houses, enclosures and goths and their fodder and water has to be arranged.
• The work of the cattle Roka-Chheka has now become easier with the formation of Gothans in the village. The Gothan committees have started taking up the work of taking care of the animals in the Gothans and managing their fodder and water.
• Gothans are being built in the village with the aim of taking better care of livestock in the state. So far, approval has been given for the construction of 10,624 Gothans, out of which 8,408 Gothans have been completed. In order to provide dry fodder as well as green fodder for the cattle coming to the Gothans, pastures are being developed in all the Gothans. Green fodder is also being produced for livestock in more than 1200 Gothans of the state.

Increase in the Amount of Cow Protection Maintenance

Why in News?

• On July 9, 2022, it was decided to increase the amount of maintenance of protected animals five times during the meeting of the Go Sadan State Grant Selection Committee under the chairmanship of Animal Husbandry Minister Saurabh Bahuguna in the office of the Vidhan Sabha.

Key Points

• In the meeting, the amount received per animal by the recognised cow houses operating in the state has been increased from six rupees to 30 rupees.
• At present there are 39 recognized Gau Sadans operating in the state. In these, about 10,000 animals are being fed. On the lines of Uttar Pradesh, the maintenance amount of protected animals was increased by five times due to increase in the price of straw for animal feed.
• It was decided to provide 90 per cent grant for efficiency improvement activities, equipment, and material to go sadans which feed more than 200 protected animals.
• Along with this, it was decided in the meeting that through Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA), the Go Sadans would be given grant money for Gobar Gas Power Generation Plants and Solar Lights. Go Sadans will be given 60 percent grant money for the construction of straw stores and cowsheds.
• The Animal Husbandry Minister said that a budget provision of Rs. 3 crore will be given to Uttarakhand Govansh Sanrakshan Nidhi for conducting welfare activities for protected animals.
• The Animal Husbandry Minister said that the government would soon start 'Gram Go Sevak Yojna' as a pilot project for the protection of unclaimed animals in the state. In this, at the village level, the protected animals will be maintained through Gram Go Sevaks.
• It was decided to give 90 percent grant for efficiency improvement activities, equipment, tools, materials to the Gau Sadans which feed more than 200 protected animals.