• 13 Feb 2025

Subsidy on Electric vehicles

Why in News? 

Under the Electric Vehicle Policy, the Rajasthan government has constituted an e-vehicle promotion fund of Rs 200 crore to promote electric vehicles. 

Key Points 

• About the Fund: 
  • The State Government's "Electric Vehicle Policy-2022" includes a provision to reimburse the State GST amount and offer a one-time grant from the E-Vehicle Promotion Fund to buyers of electric vehicles equipped with modern batteries, following the guidelines of FAME-2. 
  • The reimbursement and one-time grant amount will be payable on vehicles purchased from 1^st January 2022 and registered in the state.  
  • The Process: 
    • To avail the subsidy, firstly the vehicle manufacturer is required to register on the departmental portal.  
    • After verification, the department will allow the vehicle buyer to apply for the grant.  
  • Under this policy, all types of electric vehicles ranging from two-wheelers to heavy vehicles have been included. 
  • The government aims to encourage more people to use electric vehicles instead of diesel and petrol, reducing pollution and preserving environmental balance.  
• Advantages of Electric Vehicles: 
  • It produces zero tailpipe emissions, contributing to cleaner air and improved public health. 
  • Electricity can be cheaper than gasoline, leading to lower fuel costs per kilometer. 
  • Electric motors produce significantly less noise than gasoline engines. 
  • Electric motors convert a higher percentage of energy into useful power than gasoline engines. 

 Electric Vehicles 

• Electric vehicles are types of vehicles that use one or more electric motors for propulsion, instead of conventional internal combustion engines (ICE), which burn gasoline or diesel. 
• Types of Electric Vehicles: 
  • Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV): These rely solely on battery power for propulsion and produce zero tailpipe emissions. 
  • Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV): Combine an electric motor with a gasoline engine. These can be charged externally and run on battery power for a limited distance, then switch to the gasoline engine for longer trips. 
  • Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs): These use both an electric motor and a gasoline engine, but the battery cannot be charged by plugging in directly. 

New Expressways Approved

Why in News? 

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved the construction of 7 new expressways to facilitate road transport in the state .  

Key Points 

• About the Expressway: 
  • The Chief Minister has announced to invest Rs 50 thousand crores on this project.  
  • These 7 expressways will connect 56 districts of Uttar Pradesh between Lucknow and Delhi.  
  • The total length of these seven expressways will be 866 km which will be completed in the coming 2-3 years. 
  • This step will play an important role in the Uttar Pradesh government's mission to make the state's economy one trillion dollars. 
• Proposed 7 expressways: 
  • Chitrakoot Link Expressway: This 120 km long expressway will connect various districts of Bundelkhand. 
  • Jhansi Link Expressway:  Its length will be 100 km and through this the major districts of Bundelkhand will get direct connectivity with the expressway. 
  • Jewar Link Expressway: This expressway will connect Jewar Airport to Yamuna Expressway so that people can directly connect to the airport. 
  • Vindhya Expressway: Its length is 320 km and this expressway will provide better transport facilities to the backward districts of Uttar Pradesh.  
    • In this, districts like Mirzapur, Banaras, Jaunpur will be connected to Prayagraj. 
  • Vindhya Purvanchal Link Expressway: Its length is 100 km and will be constructed between Mirzapur to Ghazipur to connect Vindhyachal region with Purvanchal. 
  • Lucknow Link Expressway: This 50 km long expressway will connect Purvanchal and Agra Expressway. 
  • Agra-Lucknow Ganga Expressway Link Road: The length of this link expressway will be 90 km, which will be built to connect Ganga Expressway between Prayagraj and Meerut to Lucknow. 

 Expressway network in Uttar Pradesh:  

• Uttar Pradesh has the largest expressway network in the country. The following are the major expressways of Uttar Pradesh- 
  • Yamuna Expressway: Uttar Pradesh's first expressway 
  • Ganga Expressway:  The longest expressway of Uttar Pradesh  
  • Agra-Lucknow Expressway: Greenfield Expressway of Uttar Pradesh  
  • Delhi-Meerut Expressway  
  • Purvanchal Expressway  
  • Bundelkhand Expressway  
  • Gorakhpur Link Expressway   
  • Lucknow Kanpur Expressway 

Organising awareness campaigns

Why in News? 

Recently, on completion of 10 years of the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, an awareness campaign was organized in the Government Girls Hostel in Betul. 

Key Points 

• Objective:   
  • The main objective of this program was to make women aware about education and to develop positive thinking regarding their rights in the society. 
  • During this campaign, the girls were given information on POCSO Act , Child Helpline (1098), One Stop Centre services and menstrual hygiene management . 
• The POCSO Act: 
  • It came into force on November 14, 2012, as a result of India's ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in the year 1992 . 
  • This Act defines any person below the age of 18 as a child . And provides for punishment based on the severity of the crime.  
    • In the year 2019, this law was reviewed and amended, which provided for harsher punishments like death penalty in cases of sexual abuse of children.  
  • The Government of India has also notified  the POCSO Rules, 2020 . 

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao 

• Introduction:  
  • 22 January 2025 marks the completion of 10 years since the launch of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme . 
  • It was launched on 22 January 2015 with the aim of addressing sex selective abortion and declining child sex ratio, which stood at 918 girls per 1,000 boys in 2011. 
  • It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource Development. 
• Main objectives: 
  • Prevention of gender based selection. 
  • To ensure the survival and protection of girl children. 
  • To ensure proper arrangement of education for girls and their participation. 
  • Protecting the rights of the girl child.  

Guru Ravidas Jayanti

Why in News? 

Guru Ravidas Jayanti was celebrated in Uttar Pradesh on 12 February 2025. The Chief Minister extended his heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the people of the state. 

Key Points 

• About Guru Ravidas: 
  • Ravidas Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day of Magh month according to the Hindu lunar calendar . 
  • Guru Ravidas or Raidas was a 14th-century saint and reformer of the Bhakti movement in North India. 
  • He is believed to have been born in a cobbler family in Varanasi.  
  • He dedicated his entire life towards the abolition of the caste system and openly despised the concept of Brahminical society. 
  • His devotional songs had an immediate impact on the Bhakti movement and about 41 of his poems were included in the Sikh religious text 'Guru Granth Sahib'. 

 

•  Saint Raidas was a disciple of Swami Ramanand . While Mirabai is said to be the disciple of  Saint Raidas . 
• He founded the Radasiya or Ravidasiya sect. 

National Conference on Combating Human Trafficking

Why in News? 

Recently, the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), inaugurated a day-long National Conference on ‘Combating Human Trafficking in the Digital Era’.  

The Commission organized the event in collaboration with Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. 

 Key Points 

• About the Conference: 
  • The conference examined the increasing exploitation of digital technologies in human trafficking. 
  • Discussions focused on the role of the internet, social media, cryptocurrency, and other online tools in facilitating trafficking crimes. 
  • Experts deliberated on preventive measures involving technology, law enforcement agencies, and community participation. 
• Keynote Address by the Chairman: 
  • The Chairman highlighted various forms of digital trafficking, including sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, organ trafficking, and forced marriage. 
  • He elaborated on recruitment strategies such as: 
    • Active Recruitment ("Hook Fishing") – Direct targeting of victims online. 
    • Passive Recruitment ("Net Fishing") – Using digital platforms to attract potential victims. 
  • He emphasized the need for public awareness, stronger regulatory frameworks, and technological solutions to counter digital exploitation. 
• Key Recommendations: 
  • Amend the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) to clearly differentiate between child and adult trafficking and explicitly include cyber trafficking. 
  • Establish formal linkages between the ITPA and the IT Act to address digital trafficking-related legal gaps. 
  • Increase public awareness on self-reporting portals like the Centralized Complaint and Prevention of Women and Children (CCPWC) for improved public participation. 
  • Enhance training and resources for Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) to tackle trafficking in the digital era. 
  • Improve data collection mechanisms to systematically track human trafficking cases across different categories for informed policymaking. 
  • Strengthen community engagement to encourage local communities to actively participate in preventing and reporting trafficking crimes. 

 National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) 

• About: 
  • It ensures the protection of rights related to life, liberty, equality, and dignity of individuals. 
  • Rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution and international covenants enforceable by Indian courts. 
• Establishment: 
  • Established on 12^th October 1993, under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993. 
  • Amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006, and Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2019. 
  • Established in conformity with the Paris Principles, adopted for promoting and protecting human rights.

MoU to Empower Unemployed Youth

Why in News? 

Recently, Apparel Training & Design Centre (ATDC), Gurugram, and South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), Bilaspur, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to start a vocational training program for underprivileged youth from economically weaker sections. 

 Key Points 

• About the Agreement: 
  • The program aims to uplift underprivileged youth from economically weaker sections by providing skill-based training. 
• CSR Initiative: 
  • The initiative is part of SECL’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts. 
  • A total of Rs 3.12 crore has been allocated to train 400 candidates. 
  • Training Program Structure: 
    • Non-Residential Training: 
      • ATDC will set up training centers for 300 candidates under the Self-Employed Tailor Program. 
      • Training centers will be established in SECL Bishrampur, Sohagpur, and Korba areas. 
    • Residential Training: 
      • 100 candidates will undergo a fully residential training program at the ATDC Training Center in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh. 
      • The program will provide free boarding and lodging. 
      • Candidates will be selected from within a 25-kilometer radius of SECL establishments. 
• Objective and Vision: 
  • Under the guidance of the Ministry of Coal, this initiative aims to: 
    • Empower underprivileged youth in coalfield regions. 
    • Create self-employment and job opportunities. 
    • Contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat. 

 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)  

• CSR in general can be referred to as a corporate initiative to assess and take responsibility for the company's effects on the environment and impact on social welfare. 
• It is a self-regulating business model that helps a company to be socially accountable. By practising corporate social responsibility, companies can be conscious of the impact they are having on economic, social, and environmental factors. 
• India is the first country to mandate CSR spending under clause 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, with a framework for identifying potential CSR activities. 
  • Unlike India, most countries have voluntary CSR frameworks. Norway and Sweden, which have moved to mandatory CSR provisions, began with voluntary models. 

38th Surajkund International Crafts Mela

Why in News? 

The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism inaugurated the 38th Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Faridabad district of Haryana. 

 Key Points 

• About Surajkund Mela:  
  • The Surajkund International Crafts Mela will run from 7th February to 23rd February 2025. 
  • The event will showcase art, craftsmanship, and talent from artisans across India and the world. 
  • The Union Minister described Surajkund Mela as more than just a marketplace, highlighting its role in preserving and promoting ancient craftsmanship. 
• MICE Tourism Potential in Haryana: 
  • Haryana's close proximity to Delhi gives it a strategic advantage, positioning it as an ideal hub for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism. 
  • The Minister encouraged the state to: 
    • Expand Surajkund Mela’s reach through digital marketing. 
    • Engage YouTubers, photographers, and social media influencers to enhance global visibility. 
    • Provide new business opportunities for artisans through digital exposure. 
• Symbol of Cultural Identity: 
  • Haryana Chief Minister called Surajkund Mela a symbol of Haryana’s and India’s rich heritage. 
  • He described the event as a reflection of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World is One Family). 
  • He congratulated the Haryana Tourism Department, Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and other supporting ministries for organizing the grand event successfully. 

 MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) 

• MICE is a term used in the tourism and events industry to categorize and represent a segment related to business and corporate tourism. 
  • MICE tourism involves organizing and hosting events, meetings, conferences, exhibitions, and incentives for companies and groups. 
  • These activities aim to facilitate networking, knowledge exchange, business collaborations, and the showcasing of products and services within a professional or business context. 
• The main purpose is to create a networking platform for business, industry, government and Academic Community and engage in meaningful conversations. 

Tribute to Guru Ravidas

Why in News? 

The Chief Minister of Haryana paid tribute to Guru Ravidas on his birth anniversary. Guru Ravidas Jayanti is celebrated on Purnima Tithi of Magha Month. 

 

Key Points 

• Government Initiative for Honoring Saints 
  • The Haryana government launched the Sant-Mahapurush Samman and Vichar Prachar-Prasar Yojana. 
  • Under this initiative, birth anniversaries and centenaries of saints and great personalities will be celebrated at the state level. 
• About Guru Ravidas: 
  • Sant Guru Ravidas, born in 1377 CE in Seer Govardhanpur, Uttar Pradesh, is revered as a saint, philosopher, poet, and social reformer. 
  • Known by various names like Raidas, Rohidas, and Ruhidas, he hailed from a community traditionally associated with leatherwork. 
  • Guru Ravidas made significant contributions to the Bhakti Movement, emphasising devotion to the divine and promoting spiritual equality. 
  • His teachings emphasised human rights, equality, and spiritual enlightenment. 
  • Some of his compositions are included in the revered scripture, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, adding to his literary and philosophical significance. 

 Bhakti Movement 

• The development of the Bhakti movement took place in Tamil Nadu between the 7th and 9th centuries. 
• It was reflected in the emotional poems of the Nayanars (devotees of Shiva) and Alvars (devotees of Vishnu).  
  • These saints looked upon religion not as a cold formal worship but as a loving bond based upon love between the worshipped and worshipper. 
• In course of time, the ideas of the South moved up to the North but it was a very slow process. 
• A more effective method for spreading the Bhakti ideology was the use of local languages. The Bhakti saints composed their verses in local languages. 
• They also translated Sanskrit works to make them understandable to a wider audience.  
  • Examples include Jnanadeva writing in Marathi, Kabir, Surdas and Tulsidas in Hindi, Shankaradeva popularising Assamese, Chaitanya and Chandidas spreading their message in Bengali, Mirabai in Hindi and Rajasthani. 

Mushroom Cultivation

Why in News? 

Farmers in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir are leading an agricultural revolution by embracing mushroom cultivation, yielding remarkable results. This year, they have produced over 2,500 quintals of mushrooms, generating revenue of more than Rs 3.15 crore.  

 Key Points 

• Mushroom Farming Expansion: 
  • 1,220 mushroom growers in Udhampur have successfully cultivated nearly one lakh bags of mushrooms. 
  • The region has witnessed a significant expansion in mushroom farming. 
• Year-Round Cultivation and Profitability: 
  • Mushroom cultivation can be done year-round in controlled units, generating higher income during the off-season. 
  • The venture is highly lucrative and accessible with the right training and guidance. 
  • The ease of accessibility attracts many groups in agriculture to explore mushroom farming. 
  • The initiative has particularly empowered local women and elderly residents, offering them a new source of income. 
• Impact of Agricultural Initiatives: 
  • This highlights the effectiveness of targeted agricultural initiatives that create sustainable income opportunities for farmers. 
  • As the season progresses, Udhampur anticipates increased production and a significant boost in monetary returns for its farming community. 

 Mushrooms 

• About: 
  • Mushrooms are fungi that typically have a stem, a cap, and gills.  
  • They are classified as fungi because they lack chlorophyll and cannot produce their food through photosynthesis. 
  • Mushrooms, belonging to the fungi species, are a nutritious vegetarian delicacy and also possess several medicinal properties. 
  • They are a good source of high-quality protein, containing 20-35% protein by dry weight. 
• Varieties: 
  • Currently, three main varieties of mushrooms are cultivated: 
    • Button Mushroom 
    • Paddy-Straw Mushroom 
    • Oyster Mushroom