State PCS

• 18 Feb 2023

Uttar Pradesh will do Electricity Banking on a Large Scale

Why In News?

On February 17, 2023, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Chairman M. Devraj told that on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation has started power banking from other states on a large scale in order to fructify the efforts to provide uninterrupted power in all areas. has decided.

Key points

• Chairman M. Devaraj said that under power banking, during winters and normal days, when the power demand in the state is average or low, at that time the corporation will distribute surplus power available to Jammu-Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka as well as NTPC. Will give When the demand for power in the state increases, this power will be withdrawn from these states as per the requirement.
• It is noteworthy that in 2014 there were only 1 crore 42 lakh 64 thousand electricity consumers in the state, which have now increased to 3.25 crore. The peak demand for electricity, which was 12327 MW in 2014, has more than doubled to 26589 MW in 2022. There has been a huge increase in the hours of power supply. 24 hours electricity is being provided to the district headquarters and industries, 6 hours more electricity is being provided to the villages.
• With industries getting 24-hour electricity, investors are also eager to come to Uttar Pradesh. The state's economy will get a huge boost if the huge investment proposals received at the Global Investors Summit come to the ground. The output of industries will increase the per capita income as well as the economy of the state.
• It is believed that within two to three years, the economy of the state will reach one trillion dollars. However, with the arrival of industries, the Power Corporation will have to assess the potential growth of electricity demand in the coming years afresh, for which the Corporation has started preparations.
• According to the corporation's chairman M Devraj, after the major decision of power banking, the power corporation will not sell the surplus power available with the state during winter and normal days through the power exchange but will give it to the states with whom agreements are being signed.
• He told that for the first time an agreement has been signed for 249.29 million units from Jammu and Kashmir, 61.56 million units from Tamil Nadu. Agreement is proposed with Karnataka and NTPC. Rajasthan, which is linked to Uttar Pradesh through banking, had tied up for 449.6 million units last year. Now about four times more 1967.8 million units have been tied up for banking. A banking agreement has also been signed with Madhya Pradesh.
• The chairman claims that with this effort, there will be no problem of electricity in the state. In winter, when demand is low, the generating houses will be able to run at full capacity, as other states will lose excess power. Under power banking, the corporation will provide power to these states as per the agreement if there is surplus power. These states will return the electricity taken when Uttar Pradesh needs it.
• The advantage of this will be that even when the demand for electricity is maximum in the state between June and September, there will be no shortage of electricity. Electricity will not have to be purchased at the rate of Rs 12 and more from the power exchange. Always the power rate in the power exchange is very high during the summer days.
• The chairman said that 7413 MW capacity will start by the power generation from the new generation units of 2025-26. 2023-24, By the end of 5000 MW units will be operational.
• Electricity worth Rs 927 crore has been purchased in 2021-22 and Rs 2022-23 crore in 1311.91 so far. By 2030, the contracted generation capacity of electricity in the state is to be increased to 40392 MW. The contracted generation capacity is to be taken to 32356 MW in 2023.
• In 2022-23, the maximum demand for electricity reached 26589 MW, whereas in 2014 the maximum demand was only 12327 MW. The peak demand is expected to reach 27776 MW in 2023-24.

Arlekar Became the 41st Governor of Bihar

Why In News?

On February 17, 2023, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar took oath of office as the 41st Governor of Bihar. He replaced Governor Phagu Chauhan.

Key points

• He was administered the oath of office by Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh.
• On February 12, 2023, President Draupadi Murmu appointed governors of 13 states, including Bihar.
• It is noteworthy that the new Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was earlier the Governor of Himachal Pradesh. He has also held the responsibility of MLA, Minister, and Assembly Speaker in Goa.

7834 Villages of 15 Districts of the State have been Declared Poverty-Stricken.

Why In News?

On February 17, 2023, the state government issued a notification declaring 15 districts of villages in 7834 the state as drought affected. This notification will be in force till March 31, 2023.

Key points

• Based on Kharif crop-2022 (Samvat 2079) regular/special Girdawari reports received from District Collectors, notification has been issued for the villages of these districts to provide relief to the farmers in case of crop damage due to floods.
• According to the notification issued by the Disaster Management, Relief and Civil Defence Department, 1231 villages of Baran district, 957 of Bharatpur, 517 of Bundi, 58 of Dhaulpur, 02 of Sriganganagar, 1597 of Jhalawar, 13 of Karauli, 347 of Nagaur, 347 of Sawai Madhopur Relief has been provided to 14 villages, 716 in Tonk, 766 in Kota, 717 in Banswara, 625 in Pratapgarh, 47 in Jodhpur, 227 in Ajmer.

Agricultural Produce Market will be Announced soon in Sarada Subdivision of Udaipur

Why In News?

On February 17, 2023, Rajasthan's Minister of State for Agricultural Marketing Murari Lal Meena said in the assembly that in the second phase of mandi construction in the state, an announcement would be made to set up an agricultural produce market in Sarada subdivision of Udaipur district. Along with this, a secondary market will be made in Chawand as soon as the land is acquired.

Key points

• Minister of State Murari Lal Meena was replying to supplementary questions asked by members in this regard during the Question Hour. He said that in the state by the state government in the last four years88 mandis were declared, but the process had slowed down after the new laws were enacted in the middle.
• in the first phase in a phased manner Now the department is working on 50 mandis and in the second phase 38 agricultural produce markets will be announced and, in this phase, agricultural produce market will be announced in Sarada considering the income and area.
• He said that Chawand Secondary Market was declared in the year 1979. Its land has not yet been allotted, which is in process. He said that as soon as the land is received, a secondary market will also be built in Chawand.
• Earlier, the Minister of State for Agriculture Marketing said in a written reply to the original question of MLA Amritlal Meena that the agricultural produce market in Sarada, a subdivision of Salumbar assembly constituency, was not announced in the budget year 2020-21. However, in the budget year 2020-21, it has been announced to make secondary market Salumbar an independent market.

'Rose Show-2023' to be Organized at Jaipur's Famous City Park

Why In News?

On February 17, 2023, Housing Commissioner Pawan Arora told that the 48th 'Rose Show-2023' will be organized by The Rose Society of Rajasthan on February 26 at Jaipur's famous City Park.

Key points

• The office bearers of the society held a meeting with Housing Commissioner Pawan Arora and shared the action plan of the programme. Commissioner Pawan Arora said that more than 500 varieties of roses will be displayed in the 48th Rose Show.
• He said that the area of 'Jaipur Flower Show' was developed earlier in City Park, which has become a major attraction among the people. Every year in the month of February, the 'Rose Show' will be organized by the Society in City Park itself, which will also become a center of attraction for tourists in the coming days.
• Ishwar Chandra Srivastava, a retired IAS officer and patron of the society, said that every year the society has been organizing daily shows in Central Park and Youth Hostel, but this time this time this grand show will be organized in the city park, which has become the heartbeat of the city.
• He said that the general public can also participate in the show with an advanced variety of rose pen. Varieties of good roses will also be honored. Apart from this, many other creative and cultural programs including painting competition will also be held.

Nathdwara Temple (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and Shri Sanwaliyaji Temple (Amendment) Bill, 2022 Passed by Voice Vote

Why In News?

On February 17, 2023, the state assembly passed the Nathdwara Temple (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the Shri Sanwaliyaji Ji Temple (Amendment) Bill, 2022 by voice vote.

Key points

• Devasthan Minister Shakuntala Rawat presented both the bills in the House for discussion. After the discussion on the bills in the House, the Devasthan Minister, while highlighting the objectives and reasons of the bills, said that both the bills have been brought as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
• He said that before this amendment, deaf, dumb and leprosy patients could not become members in the board of both the temples. There was frustration in their minds because of this. He said the two bills will respect their sentiments and end their inferiority complex.
• Minister Shakuntala Rawat said that with the passage of these bills, deaf, dumb and leprosy patients will also be able to become presidents and members in the boards of these temples and participate in religious rituals.
• He said the state government has increased the honorarium of priests. Moksha-Kalash Scheme was run during Corona through Devasthan Department and pilgrimage is being done to the people of the state through senior citizen pilgrimage scheme.
• Earlier, the proposal to publicise the two bills for public opinion by members was rejected by the House by voice vote.

Aruna Tanwar Won Silver Medal in Egypt Para Taekwondo Championship

Why In News?

According to information received from media sources on February 16, 2023, Haryana's Para-Taekwondo player Aruna Tanwar won the silver medal in the Egypt Para Taekwondo Championship held on February 15-16 in Cairo, Egypt.

Key points

• Aruna Tanwar, a 23-year-old para-taekwondo player from Dinod village in Bhiwani district of Haryana, was also awarded the third overall women's trophy in this championship.
• This win will also improve Aruna Tanwar's world ranking, which will open the way for Aruna's Paris Para Olympics. Aruna is currently ranked 13th in the world.
• According to the information, after returning from Egypt, she will start preparing for the World Championship. The World Champion will be held in April-May in the Azerbaijani city of Baku.
• Para-taekwondo player Aruna Tanwar 2020 is the first Indian para-taekwondo player to qualify for the Tokyo Paralympics.
• Aruna already has many medals of international and national level.
• Recently, he won a gold medal in the India Taekwondo Senior National Championship held in Nashik, Maharashtra.
• He represented the country at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics 2020.
• In the year 2019, he won a bronze medal in the Aman Asian Para Taekwondo Championship held in Jordan, March a silver medal in the President Asian Region G-2 Cup held in Iran in 2019 and a bronze medal in the World Para-Taekwondo Championship held in Turkey in February 2019.
• In the year 2018-19, he won the gold medal in the sixth National Paralympic Taekwondo Competition, in the year 2018, he won the silver medal in the fourth Asian Paralympic Taekwondo Competition held in Vietnam.
• In the year 2017-18, he won the gold medal in the fifth National Paralympic Taekwondo Competition.

DVC Receives IAC Corporate Award 2023

Why In News?

On February 17, 2023, Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) was presented with the IAC Corporate Award 2023 by the Industry Academia Conference in the category of Public Sector Units.

Key points

• DVC has been awarded as the winner in 'Pioneering Work in Building Future Ready Inclusive Organization'.
• On behalf of the company, the Member Secretary received this award in New Delhi.

Proposed National Skiing Championship Cancelled from 23 to 26 in Auli

Why In News?

On February 16, 2023, Praveen Sharma, secretary of the Ski and Snow Board Association of Uttarakhand, said that the proposed National Skiing Championship from February 23 to 26 at Auli in Chamoli district has been cancelled due to lack of snow.

Key points

• Praveen Sharma said that in this regard, the Ski and Snow Board Uttarakhand has informed all the concerned units of Ski and Snow Board India.
• Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said that the state government had made all preparations for the National Skiing Championship, but due to lack of weather and less snowfall, the games had to be cancelled.
• It is known that till last year, the world-famous tourist center Auli used to be covered with snow and the crowd of tourists used to remain in Auli, but this time there was little or no snowfall in the New Year too. However, on New Year's Eve locals were speculating that snowfall would increase in Auli and there would be a National Skiing Competition, but that did not happen.
• Significantly, Auli is a major ski destination of India. Originally developed as a paramilitary base, the skiing slope of Auli is popular among tourists and professionals alike. In winter, Auli organizes many snow adventure events.
• Situated at an altitude of about 2,800 meters and surrounded by oak and coniferous forests, Auli offers panoramic views of some of India's highest peaks, including Nanda Devi 23rd highest peak (7,816 meters), the second highest peak in the country and the in the world.
• It is also the gateway to Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Park, including Hemkund Sahib Gurudwara. Popular trekking destinations like Gorsan Bugyal, Pangarchulla Summit and Tapovan can be reached through Auli.
• Apart from Auli, there are many other skiing destinations in Uttarakhand like Dayara Bugyal, Munsiyari and Mundali.