State PCS

• 12 Aug 2024

Uttar Pradesh to Commemorate Partition Horrors

Why in News?

According to the sources, The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to observe Partition Horrors Remembrance Day on 14th August, 2024.

Key Points

• In order to pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the partition of India, it has been decided to commemorate the 'Partition Horrors Memorial Day'.
• It serves as a powerful reminder to eliminate discrimination, animosity, and ill will, while also inspiring unity, social harmony, and the empowerment of humanity.
• On this occasion, the state government will organize various events and programs across the 75 districts of the state.
  • Films and documentaries related to the 'Partition' will be screened in schools, colleges, and universities, as well as at the exhibition site.
  • Students of various educational institutions will be taken on a tour of these exhibitions and they should be made aware of this historical event.

Partition of India

• The Partition of India in 1947 was a pivotal moment in South Asian history, leading to the division of British India into two independent countries: India and Pakistan.
  • This separation was based on religious distinctions, with India emerging as a predominantly Hindu nation and Pakistan being established as a separate homeland for Muslims.
• The partition was a response to escalating religious tensions and the demands for distinct nations.
• The process was characterized by widespread violence and mass migrations, as millions of people moved between the two newly formed nations.
• The partition triggered one of the largest and most tragic human migrations in history, accompanied by communal riots and interreligious conflict.
  • The legacy of the partition continues to influence the region, with ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, especially over the contested region of Kashmir.

UP Targets Five-Fold Growth in Tourism by 2028

Why in News?

According to the sources, the Uttar Pradesh government is revitalizing tourist destinations and infrastructure, with the goal of increasingtourism fivefold by 2028.

• The target is to achieve a Gross Value Added (GVA) of ₹70,000 crore and attract 80 crore tourists.

Key Points

• The state government has been concentrating on revitalizing tourist destinations and enhancing transport infrastructure over the past seven and a half years to boost tourism in the state.
  • This initiative has resulted in a substantial rise in tourist footfall, with over 48 crore visitors opting to discover the captivating beauty of Uttar Pradesh in 2023.
• Tourism has surged in cities of spiritual importance, such as Kashi, Ayodhya, Mathura, Chitrakoot, Prayagraj, Naimisharanya, and Gorakhpur.
  • The government is improving top-notch infrastructure in these cities and motivating tourists to discover various destinations.
  • The One District, One Product (ODOP) initiative is vital in showcasing local products to travelers.
• The government is also concentrating on increasing the accessibility of hotels, guest houses, and homestays.
• Simultaneously, they are planning to revitalize government-operated tourist and Rahi bungalows to cater to the rising number of tourists.

One District One Product (ODOP) Initiative

• ODOP is an initiative to boost economic growth at the district level by promoting and branding one product from each district of the country.
  • The idea is to leverage the local potential, resources, skills, and culture of each district and create a unique identity for them in the domestic and international markets.
• The concept of ODOP was first launched by the Uttar Pradesh government in January 2018.
• Over 1000 products have been selected from all 761 districts in the country. The initiative covers a wide range of sectors, including textiles, agriculture, processed goods, pharmaceuticals, and industrial items.
• Also, multiple ODOP products were displayed at the World Economic Forum in January 2023 in the Indian Pavilion at Davos in Switzerland.

Heavy Rain Forecasts

Why in News?

Recently, The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Chandigarh, Haryana, and Punjab and forecast heavy to very heavy rain in isolated areas.

Key Points

• Colour- Coded Weather Warning is issued by the IMD whose objective is to alert people ahead of severe or hazardous weather which has the potential to cause damage, widespread disruption or danger to life.
• Warnings are updated daily.
• The IMD uses 4 colour codes are:
  • Green (All is well): No advisory is issued.
  • Yellow (Be Aware): Yellow indicates severely bad weather spanning across several days. It also suggests that the weather could change for the worse, causing disruption in day-to-day activities.
  • Orange/Amber (Be prepared): The orange alert is issued as a warning of extremely bad weather with the potential of disruption in commute with road and rail closures, and interruption of power supply.
  • Red (Take Action): When the extremely bad weather conditions are certainly going to disrupt travel and power and have significant risk to life, the red alert is issued.
• These alerts are universal in nature and are also issued during floods, depending on the amount of water rising above land/in a river as a result of torrential rainfall.
  • For instance, when the water in a river is ‘above normal’ level, or between the ‘warning’ and ‘danger’ levels, a yellow alert is issued.

India Meteorological Department (IMD)

• IMD was established in 1875. It is the National Meteorological Service of the country and the principal government agency in all matters relating to meteorology and allied subjects.
  • It works as an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi.
• IMD is also one of the six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organization.

Land Subsidence in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

According to the sources, Uttarakhand is facing the impact of monsoon rains, with extensive damage to roads and residential buildings.

• The state has been experiencing continuous rainfall since the onset of the monsoon, leading to persistent weather challenges.

Key Points

• Multiple landslides have occurred on the Kund-Ukhimath-Chopta-Gopeshwar highway, while the iron bridge over the Mandakini River in Kund, which connects Rudraprayag-Gaurikund National Highway to Kedarghati and Kedarnath, is under threat due to strong river currents.
  • The National Highway Construction Division inspected the bridge site and immediately imposed a ban on the movement of heavy vehicles on the bridge.
• The Uttarakhand government has sounded a high alert in the affected areas, with emergency services on standby to respond to any further emergencies.
  • The situation is being closely monitored, and residents are advised to exercise extreme caution.

The Mandakini River

• It is a tributary of the Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand.
• The river runs for approximately 81 kilometers between the Rudraprayag and Sonprayag areas and emerges from the Chorabari Glacier.
• The Mandakini merges with river Songanga at Sonprayag and flows past the Madhyamaheshwar temple at Ukhimath.
• At the end of its course it drains into the Alaknanda, which flows into the Ganges.

Honorarium for Adopting Destitute Bovine Animals

Why in News?

• According to the sources, the Uttarakhand government is planning to provide a fixed honorarium to state residents who adopt destitute bovine animals.

Key Points

• As per officials, Rs 80 to be given to people per animal and the amount may go up to Rs 100 in special cases if the animal is extremely sick and needs extra care.
• According to the data provided by the Uttarakhand Animal Welfare Board (UAWB), there are a total of 60 registered bovine shelters in the State in which 14,000 bovines are currently residing.

Note: A bovine animal is a domesticated, cloven-hoofed ruminant of the genus Bos, such as a goat, cow, buffalo, bison, deer, or sheep.

Electricity for Farmers in Rajasthan

Why in News?

According to the sources, the Rajasthan government has signed new agreements to promote renewable energy which will help Farmers to receive electricity for irrigating their fields during the day.

Key Points

• The State government's initiatives to boost power generation would guarantee an uninterrupted daytime electricity supply to agricultural users by 2027.
• A letter of intent was issued for 4,386 Megawatts projects under the Prime Minister's KUSUM-C Scheme and a memorandum of understanding was signed for two gas-based power plants in Jaipur.
• In 2020, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) introduced implementation of feeder level solarization under Component-C of PM-KUSUM Scheme.
  • Under the scheme, agriculture feeders already segregated or, feeders having a major load for agriculture may be solarized using installation of grid connected solar power plants to cater the annual power requirement of feeder. This will lead to lower cost both in terms of lower capital cost and cost of power.

PM-KUSUM

• About:
  • The PM-KUSUM is a flagship scheme initiated by the Indian government in 2019 with the primary objective of transforming the agricultural sector by promoting the adoption of solar energy solutions.
  • It operates on a demand-driven approach. Capacities are allocated based on the demands received from various states and union territories (UTs).
  • Through various components and financial support, PM-KUSUM envisions achieving a significant solar power capacity addition of 30.8 GW by March 31, 2026.
• Objectives of PM-KUSUM:
  • De-dieselisation of the Farm Sector: The scheme aims to reduce the dependence on diesel for irrigation by encouraging the use of solar-powered pumps and other renewable energy sources.
    • It also seeks to increase farmers' income by reducing irrigation costs through the use of solar pumps and enabling them to sell surplus solar power to the grid.
  • Water and Energy Security for Farmers: By providing access to solar pumps and promoting solar-based community irrigation projects, the scheme aims to enhance water and energy security for farmers.
  • Curbing Environmental Pollution: Through the adoption of clean and renewable solar energy, the scheme aims to mitigate environmental pollution caused by conventional energy sources.