• 12 Dec 2023

The biggest defence centre will be built in Ayodhya: British company will invest Rs 75 thousand crores

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on December 11, 2023, the big British company Trafalgar Square Capital will set up defence manufacturing units in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. For this the company will invest a total of Rs 75000 crore.

Key Points:

• 5 big multinational companies have shown interest in the state under the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) policy. These include Hong Kong company Taushan International Group, RG Group, Austin Consulting Group, Cosis Group, Indo European Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises, Britain's Trafalgar Square Capital Group, ABC Cleantech, Unicorn Energy Germany etc.
• Britain's Trafalgar Square has signed five MoUs and Germany's Unicorn Energy has signed two MoUs. Trafalgar Square Defense manufacturing units will be set up here. An investment of Rs 75 thousand crore will be made on these. At least 26 thousand new jobs will be created with this investment.
• Investments in the defence sector are being made outside the defence corridor. An investment of Rs 75 thousand crore in one district will probably be the biggest investment in any one district in the country.
• Germany's Unicorn Energy will invest about Rs 42 thousand crore in two projects in Lucknow and Jaunpur. Both these projects will be in the solar energy sector. About 2200 people will get employment in these.
• GMR Group has also signed an MoU worth Rs 40 thousand crore for investment in solar energy. The place has not been chosen yet. Whereas Aditya Birla Group has signed a new MoU worth Rs 25 thousand crore in the field of textile and readymade.
• Hinduja Group has also invested Rs 25 thousand crore in the film, media and solar energy sectors after signing the EV vehicle agreement with Ashok Leyland. Both the companies have not selected the location.
• National Thermal Power Corporation has signed 6 MoUs in the solar power and energy sector. The corporation will set up plants in Jhansi, Sonbhadra and Prayagraj with a cost of Rs 74 thousand crore.

Mohan Yadav will be the new CM of Madhya Pradesh

Why in News?

Mohan Yadav, who became MLA for the third time from Ujjain South seat, was unanimously elected as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh in the Madhya Pradesh BJP Legislative Party meeting on December 11, 2023 in the presence of observers appointed by the Bharatiya Janata Party central leadership.

Key Points:

• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan had proposed Mohan Yadav's name in the legislature party meeting in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, OBC Morcha chief K. Laxman and Secretary Asha Lakra, who were sent as observers.
• After Mohan Yadav was elected as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tendered his resignation to the Governor. Future Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has met the Governor and staked a claim to form the government. The new government will take oath on 13 or 14 December.
• Jagdish Deora and Rajendra Shukla were elected Deputy Chief Ministers in the legislature party meeting. Apart from these, Narendra Singh Tomar will be made the Assembly Speaker.
• 58 year old Mohan Yadav comes from OBC category. He was made the Higher Education Minister in the Shivraj government in 2020. He has worked in many positions in the Sangh for a long time.
• It is worth mentioning that in the voting held on November 17, 2023 on all 230 assembly seats of Madhya Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party had won an overwhelming majority. After counting of votes on December 3, BJP had won 163 seats.

Haryana selected for National Energy Conservation Award-2023

Why in News?

On December 10, 2023, Haryana was selected for the National Energy Conservation Award (NECA) 2023 due to its excellent performance in the State Energy Efficiency Index.

Key Points:

• Haryana has been selected as the winner of the 2^nd prize in the State Energy Efficiency Performance Award (Group 1) region.
• The main objective of the National Energy Conservation Award is to recognize and encourage ideal energy management, leading to social & economic benefits.
• This award will be given to Haryana by President Draupadi Murmu at a function to be organised at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on National Energy Conservation Day on 14^th December.
• National Energy Conservation Day is organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Power.
• It may be noted that National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) are given to industrial units/establishments/organisations from various sectors of the Indian economy for their exceptional achievements in energy saving.

About 4 lakh 90 thousand School Boys & Girls of the state got the benefit of Bicycle Distribution Scheme

Why in News?

According to the instructions of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, by December 10, 2023, the state government has sent an amount of more than Rs 220 crore under DBT to the bank accounts of 4 lakh 90 thousand boys & girls studying in various government schools of Jharkhand for the purchase of bicycles.

Key Points:

• Funds for purchasing bicycles are being distributed under the Aapki Yojana-Aapki Sarkar-Aapke Dwar campaign.
• So far, the state government has deposited an amount of more than Rs 220 crore in the bank accounts of eligible boys & girls studying in schools for the purchase of bicycles.
• A total amount of Rs 360 crore will be distributed for the purchase of bicycles till December 29, 2023.
• Beneficiary students of 8^th class of session 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 are included under the Cycle Distribution Scheme.
• The amount is being deposited in the bank accounts of approximately 3 lakh 10 thousand remaining beneficiary students of the said session to buy bicycles by December 29, 2023.
• It may be noted that the Welfare Department had received the list of about 8 lakh eligible beneficiary children including all the 24 districts of Jharkhand.

Tehri Lake Development Project will be completed at a cost of Rs 7708 crore

Why in News?

On December 11, 2023, Tourism, Endowments and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj said in the review meeting that the Tehri Lake Development Project will be completed at a cost of Rs 7708 crore.

Key Points:

• While reviewing the works of the Tourism and Culture Department in the auditorium of Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council, the Tourism Minister said that the 42 km area of Tehri Lake will be developed from a tourism point of view.
• Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council is preparing the DPR of this project. The construction of the project will boost tourism and will also directly benefit 84 thousand people of 173 villages of Tehri district.
• Minister Satpal Maharaj said that with the construction of the proposed ring road, it will be easy for tourists coming from the country and the world to reach Tehri. Organisation of water sports and adventure sports will be encouraged throughout the year in the lake. This will also increase the government's revenue.
• He said that currently work is being done for the feasibility survey of the project. DPR is being prepared by the department to develop the area from Kothi to Dobra Chanti bridge in the project.