Rajasthan State PCS

• 19 Jun 2023

Rs 9 Crore Approved for Protection of Wildlife

Why In News?

On June 18, 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved Rs 9 crore for development works for wildlife conservation at three places in the state.

Key Points:

• Development works of Rs 2 crore will be taken up for the conservation of crocodiles at Palighat Sawai Madhopur (National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary), Rs 2 crore for the conservation of Kurjan in Jodhpur and Rs 5 crore for the protection of Godavans in National Maru Park.
• The Chief Minister announced this in the State Budget 2023-24.

Rajasthan Farmers Festival

Why in News?

On June 18, 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot concluded the ongoing three-day Rajasthan Kisan Mahotsav in Jaipur.

Key Points:

• Through events like Rajasthan Kisan Mahotsav, farmers will get information about new farming techniques and agricultural equipment and their products will be widely publicised.
• On this occasion, 10 progressive farmers and animal herders, who made innovations in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry, were honoured with state-level farmer awards under 'Aatma Yojana'. Each farmer was given an amount of Rs 50,000 as a prize.
• Among them were Rukma Devi from Jaipur district, Bhuri Devi Meena from Tonk, Dharmaram from Barmer, Narayan from Dungarpur, Kamla Devi from Bhilwara, Puneet Chaudhary from Sriganganagar, Khushalaram from Jaisalmer, Balusinh from Rajsamand, Neeraj Kumar Tyagi from Dhaulpur and Bharatram from Tonk.
• During this, short films based on the theme '4 years dedicated to farmer welfare' and Rajasthan Kisan App were screened.
• On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that the state government has formulated policies and programs giving priority to agriculture and farmers. To fulfill the objective of making the farmers and animal herders prosperous and happy, 12 agricultural missions have been started and planning is being done at each point.
• He said that the loan of 15 thousand crore rupees of 21 lakh farmers of the state was waived off. A separate agriculture budget was presented for the first time in the country for the farmers. The budget for agriculture has almost doubled as compared to 2018-19.
• They have got great relief from the state government providing electricity to the farmers at the rate of 90 paise per unit and free electricity up to 2000 units. In the agro and food processing sector, a subsidy of up to Rs 2 crore is being given by the state government.
• MSME Act has been brought for the young entrepreneurs of the state. In this, a relaxation of 5 years has been given in the necessary permissions given by the government for setting up industries.
• The Chief Minister said that the state government has given financial assistance of Rs 175 crore to more than 40 thousand cattle herders suffering from lumpy disease. Rajasthan is the only state in the country to take such a decision.
• He said that two milch animals are being insured for Rs 40 thousand each. Milk producers are being given a subsidy of Rs 5 per liter of milk. Now Rajasthan has come first in milk production in the country.

New Sub Health Centers will be opened in 441 Villages of Different Districts

Why in News?

On June 17, 2023, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot decided to open new sub-health centres in 441 villages of different districts of the state in the direction of expansion of medical facilities in the state and to provide better treatment to the common man and one female health worker for each health centre. The proposal to create the post has been approved.

Key Points:

• With this approval of the Chief Minister, medical services will be expanded in the villages of the state and better medical facilities will be available to the local people in the area itself.
• According to the proposal, 39 of Barmer, 33 of Dausa, 25 of Jaipur-I, 25 of Sikar, 23 of Alwar, 22 of Jaisalmer, 20 of Nagaur, 20 of Jhunjhunu, 19 of Bharatpur, 17 of Ajmer, 15 of Dungarpur, Hanumangarh K15, Karauli K14, Churu K14, Jaipur-II K14, Baran 14, Bhilwara 12, Jodhpur 12 new sub-health centres will be opened.
• Apart from these, 12 from Tonk, 10 from Rajsamand, 9 from Kota, 9 from Bikaner, 6 from Dhaulpur, 6 from Bundi, 6 from Udaipur, 5 from Banswara, 5 from Chittorgarh, 5 from Sawai Madhopur, 5 from Ganganagar, 4 from Sirohi. New sub-health centres will be opened in a total of 441 villages, including 4 in Jalore and 2 in Pali.
• The operation of the sub-health centres will be done in the available government building or rented building till the construction of the building. Also, 1-1 posts of female health workers (a total of 441 posts) will be created for each sub-health centre.
• It is worth mentioning that in the budget 2023-24, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced plans to open a new sub-health centre in the state.

NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited Commissions its First Rooftop Solar Power Project at IIT Jodhpur

Why in News?

According to the information provided by the Press Information Bureau, Government of India on June 16, 2023, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN), a wholly owned subsidiary of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), has conducted its annual examination at IIT Jodhpur (Rajasthan) on June 14, 2023, has commissioned the first rooftop solar photovoltaic project.

Key Points:

• This 1 MW grid-connected solar project is implemented by NVVN under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model for a power purchase agreement period of 25 years.
• Under the RESCO model for the installation of rooftop solar installations, a Renewable Energy Services Company (RESCO) designs, builds, finances and operates the complete solar power plant (roof or ground-mounted) and the consumer receives assured monthly units per kWh of electricity generated. pays the developer for the same and the disco adjusts the electricity units generated in the electricity bill of the consumer.
• The project has been set up on the rooftops of 14 buildings on the IIT Jodhpur campus. The project will generate about 14.9 lakh units of electricity per year and will meet 15 percent of the electricity requirement of IIT Jodhpur.
• The project will result in a reduction of 1,060 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

• It is worth mentioning that NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited was formed by NTPC in the year 2002 to harness the potential of power trading in the country. NVVN holds the highest category 'I' Electricity Business License as per the latest regulation of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.
• NVVN is trading Gypsum and is now expanding its operations in the areas of renewables, e-mobility, and waste to green fuel and providing complete business solutions across the power value chain.