• 16 Jul 2022

Apparel Park to be Built in Noida

Why in News?

• On July 15, 2022 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Minister of Uttar Pradesh Rakesh Sachan said that an Apparel Park would be set up in Noida at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore.

Key Points

• In this, 115 textile units will be set up and 2 lac people will get employment.
• At a press conference held at Lok Bhawan, highlighting the achievements of the MSME department for 100 days, Rakesh Sachan said that a new scheme called 'Mukhyamantri Bunkar Saur Urja Yojana' will be launched to encourage power loom operations from solar energy in the state.
• This will reduce the consumption of conventional electrical energy. With the reduction in pollution, the cost of textile production will also come down and the weavers will get economic benefits.
• The draft Textile Policy-2022 incorporating innovation in the Textile Policy-2017 has been prepared and sent to the Government. The new policy will further increase investment in the textile sector in the state and create official employment opportunities.
• It may be mentioned that in the Mega Loan Fair held on June 30, 2022 a loan of Rs.16,000 crore was disbursed to 1.90 lac beneficiaries. Under the MSME Act, 73 enterprises have been set up in 100 days. So far, 7202 enterprises have been established under the Act.

Elevated Corridor Road of Bihar Got Green Signal

Why in News?

• On July 15, 2022, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) tendered for the construction of an elevated corridor from Danapur Railway Station to ESI Medical College, Bihta. Under this project, a 21 km long elevated corridor is to be constructed.

Key Points

• A link road has also been provided for Bihta Airport under Danapur-Bihta elevated corridor. In addition, bypasses are to be constructed at Neuraganj, Panal, Kanhauli and Bishanpura.
• The construction of the biggest elevated corridor of Bihar will be done at a cost of Rs 3737.51 crore. The entire length of the elevated road is 21 km. The 4 km road up to Koilwar bridge is also a part of this project.
• Traffic using this elevated corridor from Patna will get its way to Bihta airport through a tunnel. A ramp will be constructed for the elevated corridor from Saguna bend. An underpass and four bridges will be constructed between Bihta and Koilwar.
• It is noteworthy that the project of elevated corridor is part of the Prime Minister's Package 2015 announced for Bihar. For this, the state government has acquired land from its own amount at a cost of Rs 456 crore. In exchange for the railway land located at Danapur, the state government will provide land in the southern part of Hardinge Park.

Maharaja Ganga Singh University

Why in News?

• On July 15, 2022, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated the Indoor Sports Complex and Auditorium at Maharaja Ganga Singh University, Bikaner.

Key Points

• With a capacity of about 1000 spectators on the university campus, the new auditorium will be ready at a cost of around Rs 16.48 crore.
• The indoor sports complex, built at a cost of about Rs 24.50 crore, will provide facilities for Basketball, Volleyball, Shooting, Table tennis, Badminton, Judo, Wrestling, Gymnastics, Yoga, Aerobics, etc.
• On the occasion, the Chief Minister released the logo and T-shirts of the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Olympic Games and felicitated the former sportspersons who excelled in the Games and awarded cheques to the medal winners.
• On the occasion, the Chief Minister flagged off the torch of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Olympic Games to Barmer district.
• The Chief Minister unveiled the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Ahinsa Park of University. Details of the biography of Mahatma Gandhi have been recorded by making 29 pedestals in the newly-built Ahinsa Park at a cost of about Rs 27.61 lac.
• On this occasion, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of the Multipurpose Indoor Hall to be built in the Dr. Karni Singh Stadium Complex at the Divisional Headquarters.
• In this hall, built at a cost of about Rs 7.50 crore, players will be able to get facilities for various indoor sports training including Table tennis, Badminton, Kabaddi.

Travel + Leisure

Why in News?

• Jaipur in Rajasthan has been ranked 8th and Udaipur 10th in the list of Top 10 Best Cities of the World released by the prestigious magazine Travel + Leisure in International and Tourism world on 15^th July, 2022.

Key Points

• The list was topped by Oaxaca (Mexico), second place San Miguel de Allende (Mexico), third place Ubud (Indonesia), fourth place Florence (Italy) and fifth place Istanbul (Turkey).
• Similarly, Mexico City (Mexico) is at the sixth position, Chiang Mai (Thailand) at the seventh place and Osaka (Japan) at the ninth place.
• The list of Top 15 Best Cities in Asia has also been released by Travel + Leisure Magazine.
• In the list of top cities, Jaipur has been ranked third and Udaipur has got the fifth position. The top city in the list is Ubud (Indonesia), Chiang (Thailand) at the second place and Osaka (Japan) at the fourth place.
• Several innovations including industry status to tourism, new tourism policy, Rajasthan Film Tourism Promotion Policy are being made by the State Government.

Important Decisions of Council of Ministers

Why in News?

• Many important decisions were taken in the meeting of the Council of Ministers held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 15, 2022.

Key Points

• It was decided in the meeting of the Council of Ministers that approval and continuation of the State Hemoglobinopathy Mission Scheme should be given.
• Under the scheme, genetic counselling, community level screening for sickle cell anemia, thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies development, to reduce the morbidity and mortality of sickle cell patients and to prevent the spread of haemoglobinopathies, ensure necessary management of the disease by identifying the disease.
• It is known that the Hemoglobinopathy Mission in the state was formed in June 2021. The scheme will be extended to all the 89 tribal development blocks of the state. The scheme will be implemented in the years 2022-23 to 2023-24.
• The cabinet gave administrative approval of Rs.116 crore 90 lac for the increase of PG seats in Medical College, Bhopal. A total of 134 PG seats will be increased for postgraduate courses in medical field in various departments of Medical College, Bhopal.
• The Council of Ministers agreed to use and trade Naphtha for 5 years with effect from November 19, 2020, under the First Right of Refugee as per the MoU using Naphtha produced by India-Oman Refinery Limited.
• The Council of Ministers signed an MoU on the use of Naphtha produced by India-Oman Refinery Limited. As per the First Right of Refugee, from November 19, 2020, it has agreed to use and trade Naphtha for 5 years.
• Under the project, Rabi irrigation facility will be provided through pressurized method in 15 villages of Majhgawan tehsil of Satna district through pressurized method and necessary water will be available for continuous flow of Mandakini river.

Security Operations Center

Why in News?

• On July 15, 2022, in the meeting of the Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, it was decided to set up a Security Operations Center in Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation for the security of the applications/data under the Data Center of state .

Key Points

• It is known that the Madhya Pradesh State Data Centre (MPSDC) operates in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh.
• A Security Operations Centre in the State will be operated on managed security service provider model for cyber security of software applications operated/maintained by various departments in the State Data Centre and for cyber security of sensitive and other data related to them.
• The Security Operation Center (SOC) will provide direct support to the State Computer Security Incident Response Operation Center (CSIRT) at Madhya Pradesh State Data Center (MPSDC) under the Madhya Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (MPSEDC) under the Department of Science and Technology.
• The members of the Security Operations Center perform various IT security systems infrastructure and operations in Information Technology.
• The Network Operation Center as well as the SoC will also fulfill the various goals of IT Security by following the orders of the Infra team on a day-to-day basis.
• It is worth mentioning that the Security Operations Centre will act as an assistant in avoiding serious risks related to applications and application hosts at the State Data Centre in Madhya Pradesh.

State Industrial Land and Building Management Rules, 2019

Why in News?

• On July 15, 2022, in the meeting of the Council of Ministers under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Council of Ministers approved the new Madhya Pradesh State Industrial Land and Building Management Rules, 2019 for proper and efficient management of developed/under development and undeveloped land under the Department of Industrial Policy, Investment Promotion. Decided to modify.

Key Points

• In this clause 12 (ii) c, the allocation of land/buildings in industrial areas should be transparent and fair and revenue should be increased, for this, instead of 'first come first serve', a provision has been made for 'e-bidding' process.
• clause 12(ii) (d), clause 13(ii) clause 13(III), clause 13(a) The time limit for letter of intent, allotment order, lease deed execution, occupancy etc.
• clause 13(vii) Provision has been made for payment in instalments for vacant land stretch in identified industrial areas.
• Clause 19(b)(II) The transfer cases include an option of Rs.50 crores with a minimum amount of 25% investment amount and a separate transfer fee has been provided as per the status of investment made in the proposed project.
• clause 20 has been revised to clause 20(A) and 20(B). For transfer of unusable land of the units operating in clause 20(A), provision has been made for division and transfer of unused land of the units closed in clause 20(a) instead of 500 sqm to 1000 sqm and in clause 20(b).
• clause 24(a) In the event of surrender of the plot of land, a provision has been made for refund of the sum assured after a period of 6 years in the case of SSI and after 7 years but also after surrendering before 9 years in case of medium and large scale industries.
• clause 34 The jurisdiction of land allotment for industrially ancillary purpose has been delegated to the Board of Directors.

Madhya Pradesh District Mineral Establishment Rules, 2016

Why in News?

• In the meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 15, 2022 approval was accorded by the Council of Ministers regarding the proposed amendment to the Madhya Pradesh District Mineral Establishment Rules, 2016 under the Department of Mineral Resources.

Key Points

• It will have the District Collector as chairman of the District Mineral Establishment Board and executive committee. The Board and Executive Committee will include a member of the Lok Sabha and the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly as members of the Lok Sabha and the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly as members of the Rajya Sabha.
• The Madhya Pradesh District Mineral Establishment Rules, 2016 presently provide for transfer of the amount deposited in the District Mineral Establishment to the State Mineral Fund as per Rule 13(2)(e).
• As per the direction of the Government of India, the provision of State Mineral Fund is being done away with, therefore, earlier, there is a provision in the Rules for utilization of deposits in the State Mineral Fund under the District Mineral Establishment.
• In addition to the above, other technical improvements have been made in the Madhya Pradesh District Mineral Establishments Rules, 2016. As per the objective of the establishment, with the implementation of various developmental and welfare schemes in the mining affected areas, employment opportunities will be created for the local people.

Minor Minerals Rules, 1996

Why in News?

• The council of ministers meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 15, 2022, approved by the Council of Ministers regarding amendment to the Madhya Pradesh Minor Minerals Rules, 1996.

Key Points

• At present, the rules lay down the procedure for grant of quarrying lease through e-tender. Now, the rules for allotment of excavated lease and consolidated licence from e-tender have been amended separately.
• In private land, the present rule provides for allotment of quarrying lease of Schedule-V to the land owner or his consenting holder. The present provision also makes it mandatory for the land owner to undertake prospecting licence before granting the excavation lease.
• The present laid down procedure is consolidated licence, therefore, the rules provide for inclusion of the word "consolidated licence" in place of the word 'grant of excavation lease on private land'.
• The present rules do not require royalty and transport permit for use of their own works on the mud, siltation emanating from government ponds and other structures constructed/maintained by government ponds and other structures with the permission of the Government Department and the ponds and other structures constructed/maintained by them with the permission of the Gram Panchayat. Now royalty and transport permit will not be required even on soil along with the sludge, silt that is coming out.
• The existing rules provide for one-time deposit of advance dead tax due by the 20th of the first month of the year for the excavation lease. Now, provisions have been made to deposit this amount from the lessees in two instalments in advance.
• Interest of 12 percent per annum can be paid on late payment of research (compulsory rent, ownership, surface rent, amount of District Mineral Establishment and other dues) of minerals specified in Schedule-I, Schedule-II and Schedule-V.
• Apart from the above, other technical reforms have been made in the Madhya Pradesh Minor Minerals Rules, 1996, which will enable speeding up of allocation of mines in the State, encouraging investment in the State and creating employment opportunities with increase in mineral revenue.

Jharkhand Council of Ministers

Why in News?

• A number of important decisions were taken at a meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on July 15, 2022.

Key Points

• In the meeting of the Council of Ministers, it has been decided to provide 75 percent reservation for local people in appointments up to 40,000 rupees salary in the private sector.
• Taking a step towards providing the benefits of the old pension scheme to the state employees, the Government decided to constitute a three-member committee under the Chairmanship of the Development Commissioner. The committee will have Principal Secretary, Department of Finance and Principal Secretary, Department of Personnel as members. It is only on the recommendation of this Committee that the draft implementation of the old pension scheme will be prepared.
• The Council of Ministers has decided to extend the benefit of the old pension scheme to those personnel whose appointment process was completed by December 1, 2004 (the date of implementation of the New Pension Scheme) but who could not get the appointment letter.
• In addition, the Cabinet approved the extension of the period under the pre-run Centrally Sponsored Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan Yojana-2.0 till further orders of the Central Government.
• The Council of Ministers has decided that those consuming up to 100 units of monthly power in the state will get free electricity. There are about 31 lac 52 thousand 773 consumers in rural and urban areas who consume less than 100 units of electricity. The electricity bill of such consumers will be completely waived off.
• The Council of Ministers approved the implementation of the Seventh Revised Pension with effect from 01.01.2016 to the retired teachers/scientists/office bearers-director, founder, registrar and other equivalent pensioners of Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke.
• Other decisions of the Council of Ministers-
  • Approval of the Azim Premji University Bill, 2022 was approved.
  • Approval was given for rationalization of existing posts of professors and creation of new posts in Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University.
  • The Pandit Raghunath Murmu Tribal University Bill, 2022 was approved.
  • A family court was sanctioned in Ramgarh district.
  • The PREJHA Foundation has been entrusted with the operation of 8 new polytechnic colleges opened at Khunti, Chatra, Lohardaga, Hazaribagh, Jamtara, Godda, Bagodar and Palamu.
  • The State Council of Ministers has also approved the proposal for restructuring of the Finance Department. Under this, 505 old posts have been surrendered and 515 new posts have been created.
  • The state government has decided that Tana Bhagats will be given Rs.4000 annually for buying clothes twice a year. This benefit will be available to all Tana Bhagats above the age of 25 years.
• The cabinet has decided to give 1 kg of Chickpeas dal to all the ration card holder families of the state at the rate of Rs 1 per month. Along with this, approval was given to the process of simplification for amendment in ration cards under the public distribution system.

Integrated Akshaya Patra Kitchen

Why in News?

• On July 15, 2022, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the 63rd Centralized Mid-Day-Meal Kitchen in association with Akshaya Patra Foundation, The Hans Foundation and Education Department at Sudhowala Dehradun.

Key Points

• On the occasion, the Chief Minister flagged off vehicles to reach mid-day meal to the children of various schools.
• Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that with the collective efforts of the Uttarakhand government, Akshaya Patra Foundation and The Hans Foundation, high quality and nutritious food to children has been introduced. Right now, this mid-day-meal has been started for more than 15,000 children from 120 schools .
• In the future, more than 35,000 children in more than 500 schools will be provided food through centralized kitchens.
• The centralized kitchen, which has been launched in collaboration with Akshaya Patra Foundation, The Hans Foundation and the Department of Education, will serve delicious and nutritious food to school children under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Karyakram. More than 5 lac children in the State are provided mid-day meal by the Government.
• It may be mentioned that with the joint efforts of Hans Foundation and Akshaya Patra Foundation, the second integrated kitchen has been started in the state, before which the operation of integrated kitchen has been started at Gadarpur.