• 16 Nov 2023

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi of Rs 3849 crore sent to the accounts of farmers of the state

Why in News

On November 15, 2023, an amount of Rs 3,849 crore was transferred to the accounts of more than 1.75 crore (175.28 lakh) farmers of Uttar Pradesh as the 15^th installment of PM Kisan Nidhi.

Key Points

• It may be noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi released an amount of Rs 18 thousand crore as the 15^th instalment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi from Khunti district of Jharkhand to more than 8 crore farmers across the country. In this sequence, this amount was transferred to the accounts of more than 1.75 crore farmers of Uttar Pradesh.
• Cadastral marking, Aadhaar seeding of bank accounts and more than 1.80 crore farmers of the state.
• The e-KYC process has been completed, the 15^th instalment will be released for the remaining farmers by November 30.
• It is noteworthy that the Government of India has made Cadastral numbering, Aadhaar seeding of bank accounts and e-KYC mandatory for the beneficiaries to get the 15th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Cadastral numbering of 2.26 crore farmers, Aadhaar seeding of bank accounts of 2.04 crore farmers and e-KYC of 1.77 crore farmers have been completed in the state.
• Under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, a total amount of Rs 6000 is transferred directly into the bank account of farmers at the rate of Rs 2000 every four months as financial assistance. This scheme was started in December 2018.
• Since the inception of the scheme in Uttar Pradesh, 2,62,21,153 farmers have benefited from this scheme at least once. Under the scheme, an amount of Rs 59,149.69 crore has so far been sent to the accounts of farmers in the state.

The third largest district jail of the state is ready in Prayagraj

Why in News

According to the information received from the media on November 15, 2023, the third largest district jail of Uttar Pradesh is ready in Naini, Prayagraj. The prisoners living beyond the capacity of Naini Central Jail will be shifted to this new district jail in December.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that Naini Central Jail of Prayagraj has twice more prisoners than its capacity. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had given instructions to reduce its burden, after which Naini District Jail was constructed.
• Naini district jail with the capacity to hold 2800 prisoners is the third largest jail in the state. It has been built on a total of 65 acres of land at a cost of Rs 173 crore.
• The jail will also have facilities like rain water harvesting, sewage treatment plant and even a crèche for the small children of female prisoners.
• Prayagraj's Central Jail has the capacity to hold 2,060 prisoners, but 4,263 prisoners are kept in this jail, much more than the capacity. This jail is now going to get relief from the burden of prisoners from December. Some prisoners from Naini Central Jail will now be shifted to this newly constructed Naini District Jail.

After Ayodhya, Punaura Dham of Mithila, the birthplace of Sita, will now be developed

Why in News

On November 15, 2023, Bihar Water Resources Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha said that Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi district, the birthplace of Mata Sita, will be developed by the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation.

Key Points

• Water Resources Minister Sanjay Kumar Jha said that the State Tourism Development Corporation has floated a tender regarding the development of Punaura Dham. The entire tender process will be completed by the end of December. At the same time, the period for completing the scheme has been fixed at 24 months.
• Rs 67.39 crore will be spent on the Punaura Dham Development Scheme and it will be implemented by Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation.
• The state government is trying to establish Punaura Dham on the international map of tourism. All kinds of necessary facilities will be developed here. After this, this birthplace will emerge as a major centre of religious tourism. Devotees from all over the country and the world will reach here.
• It may be noted that in the recent cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a proposal of Rs 72 crore was approved for the development of the birthplace of Mata Sita in Punaura Dham of Sitamarhi.
• According to the plan, Punaura Dham will be equipped with world class facilities with an amount of Rs 72 crore. Under this, construction of columned colonnade parikrama path, development of Sita Vatika, Luv-Kush Vatika, Janaki Mahotsav area will be done.
• The temple complex will have walls decorated with beautiful architecture. Pavilion and internal road will be constructed. State-of-the-art parking will also be arranged for the vehicles of local and outside devotees coming to the temple. Apart from this, arrangements for accommodation, food etc.
• A 3D animation show based on Mata Sita will also be produced in the temple premises. Along with this, a display kiosk and pathway will also be built. A separate play area will be developed for children, so that children can get information about Mother Sita while playing.
• Better wall painting, sculpture and other artistic works will be done in the entire temple complex, so that tourists can be attracted. Information about the life of Mother Sita will also be available through these arts. Besides, landscaping and thematic gates will also be built.

Cooperative Minister inaugurates 48th crushing season of Karnal Sugar Mill

Why in News

On November 14, 2023, Haryana's Cooperative and Public Health Engineering Minister Dr. Banwari Lal started the 48^th crushing season by putting sugarcane in the Karnal Sugar Mill machine. He honored these farmers who were the first to bring sugarcane in the crushing session.

Key Points

• Cooperative Minister Dr. Banwari Lal said that a target of 10% sugar recovery has been set with the crushing of 55 lakh quintals of sugarcane in this sugar mill. The state government will purchase each sugarcane from the farmer and will also make payment on time.
• He said that the government has increased the price of sugarcane by Rs 14 per quintal to Rs 386, which is the highest in the entire country. Apart from this, it has already been announced to increase the price of sugarcane to Rs 400 per quintal for next year's crushing season.
• Dr. Banwari Lal said that work has been done to increase the capacity of sugar mills. Now farmers' sugarcane does not go to other states. Along with sugar, ethanol plants and biogas plants have also been started in sugar mills. A lot of reforms have been made in cooperative societies. People will benefit from the PACS being computerised.

9th India International Science Festival-2023 will be held in Faridabad

Why in News

According to the information given by the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India on November 15, 2023, the 9^th edition of the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2023 will be held in Faridabad, Haryana from January 17 to 20, 2024.

Key Points

• The mega science fair of India will be organised at the campus of Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) and Regional Center for Biotechnology (RCB) of the Department of Biotechnology in Faridabad.
• The theme of the present edition is ‘Science and Technology Public Outreach in Amrit Kaal'.
• IISF 2023 aims to inspire a wide range of people and provide a platform for individuals with diverse interests such as students, teachers, scientists, researchers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs and science communicators.
• IISF 2023 has a total of 17 themes to showcase scientific achievements providing various benefits to the participants and the general public.
• The program brings together all the stakeholders through various activities such as seminars by national and international experts, interactions with speakers, exhibitions, competitions, workshops, knowledge-sharing activities, technology shows, etc.
• It is noteworthy that this program dedicated to promoting creativity in science, technology and innovation for the advancement of a prosperous India was launched in collaboration with Vigyan Bharati through collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Since 2015, IISF has organised eight editions across different geographical regions of India and has expanded into a mega science festival. In 2021, the Department of Space and the Department of Atomic Energy became integral parts of IISF.

Gift of schemes worth Rs 7042 crore on Jharkhand Foundation Day

Why in News

In a program organised at Morhabadi, Ranchi on the 23^rd Foundation Day of Jharkhand on November 15, 2023, Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan and Chief Minister Hemant Soren inaugurated schemes worth Rs 7042 crore, laid the foundation stone, launched new policies, distributed assets among the beneficiaries, gave offer letters to the youth and rewarded the players.

Key Points

• The Governor and the Chief Minister gifted 906 schemes worth Rs 7042 crore to the people of the state. Gave offer letters to 18034 youth, showed the way to make the beneficiaries strong and self-reliant by distributing assets worth Rs 260 crore and honoured the achievements of the players by rewarding them.
• Under the Jharkhand State Sports Promotion Policy, the Chief Minister congratulated the players who won medals for Jharkhand in the 37^th National Games, the players of Jharkhand who were part of the Indian women's team that won the gold medal in the Jharkhand Asian Women's Championship Trophy and the players of Jharkhand who made records at the international and national level. 70 players were honoured with cash prizes.
• The Chief Minister launched many schemes and policies including ‘Aapki Yojana-Aapki Sarkar Aapke Dwar’ program, ‘Abua Awas Yojana’ and ‘Mukhyamantri Gram Gaadi Yojana’.
• The Chief Minister launched the ‘Abua Awas Yojana’. Under this scheme, housing will be provided to houseless families in rural areas of the state and families living in kutcha and dilapidated houses.
  • Under this scheme, houses will be provided to 8 lakh people in the next 3 years. In this, 2 lakh houses will be built in the year 2023-24, 3 lakh 50 thousand in 2024-25 and 2 lakh 50 thousand in 2025-26. A provision of Rs 16,320 crore has been made for this.
• The Chief Minister gave the gift of ‘Mukhyamantri Gram Gadi Yojana’ to the people. Under this scheme, people living in rural areas, remote tribal areas and foothills will be provided easy transport services for commuting to Panchayat, Block, Sub-Division and District Headquarters.
  • Under this scheme, senior citizens, students, disabled, HIV infected, women covered by widow pension by the state government and Jharkhand agitators recognized by the state government will get free bus transport service.
• Chief Minister Hemant Soren launched four new policies to promote enterprise, entrepreneurs and investment in the state. These include MSME Promotion Policy-2023, Jharkhand Startup Policy-2023, Jharkhand IT, Data Center and BPO Investment Promotion Policy-2023 and Jharkhand Export Policy-2023.

     

prime-minister-inaugurated-and-laid-the-foundation-stone-of-projects-worth-about-rs-7,200-crore-in-jharkhand

Why in News

On November 15, 2023, the birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda and the 23^rd Foundation Day of Jharkhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and inaugurate several development projects worth Rs 7200 crore in various sectors like rail, road, education, coal, petroleum and natural gas in Jharkhand.

Key Points

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 'Vikas Bharat Yatra' from Khunti in Jharkhand to ensure completion of major government schemes.
• The projects worth Rs 7200 crore inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi include the new campus of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ranchi, a new hostel of IIT-ISM Dhanbad, Petroleum, Oil and Lubricant (POL) Depot in Bokaro and Hatia-Pakara. Talgaria-Bokaro and Jarangdih-Patratu sections involve doubling of railway tracks.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also released the 15^th instalment of more than Rs 18,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme to more than 8 crore beneficiary farmers across the country from Khunti in Jharkhand. The Prime Minister transferred the amount digitally at the press of a button.
  • Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) is one of the world's largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes aimed at helping farmers meet their agricultural and other emergency needs.
  • Under the scheme, financial assistance of Rs 6,000 per year is transferred to the beneficiary farmers in three equal installments through DBT.
• On this occasion, the Prime Minister launched ‘PM Jayanti Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan’, an initiative with a budget of Rs 24,000 crore. The objective of this campaign is to ensure overall development of tribal groups.

State's first cyber city will be built in Rudrapur

Why in News

According to information received from the media on November 15, 2023, the Uttarakhand state government is seriously considering building the state's first cyber city around Rudrapur in Udham Singh Nagar district. Tata and Infosys have agreed to the investment.

Key Points

• According to official sources, the government is talking to renowned companies in the IT sector to implement this proposal. Companies like Tata and Infosys have agreed to invest in it. On the suggestion of companies, the government can also make changes in the policies of IT and service sector.
• According to official sources, Tata can invest Rs 5000 crore in the IT sector. The amount of investment may be more as per the circumstances. Apart from this, leading IT sector company Infosys can also make big investments in Uttarakhand.
• The government plans to provide land to all IT companies at one place. For Cyber City, land can be provided to IT companies on the land available near Parag Farm in Rudrapur.
• The government aims to garner investment of Rs 20-30 thousand crore in the IT sector. If the state government achieves its target, the path to creating a cyber city will become easier.